The Sun.
London, England, 1851-02-27 00:00:00

HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE WEEK.

(From the Registrar-General's Return.)
The following is the weekly return of births and
deaths in London:—

The mortality of the metropolitan districts, which in
the preceding week had declined to 1,036, has risen to a
much larger amount than is usual at this period; the
deaths registered in the week ending last Saturday hav-
ing been 1,213. Taking the 10 corresponding weeks in
the years 1841-50, the only example of a greater mor-
tality occurred iu 1847, when the deaths for the week
were 1,253; while the average of the 10 weeks was 1,057.
Correcting this average according to the supposed rate
of increase in the population, it becomes 1,164, com-
pared with which the present return shows an excess
of 49.

This increase, both on the previous week and on the
average, runs through different periods of life, but is
most considerable among persons of advanced age.
Complaints of the respiratory organs have been more
than usually active; and in this class bronchitis,
which carries off the aged, numbers 119 persons, of
whom 23 were children, 40 wore persons between 15
and 60, and 54 had turned CO years of age. Besides
these laryngitis anti laryngismus stridulus were
fatal to 7 children and an adult; pleurisy to 8
persons; pneumonia (or inflammation of the lungs) to
98, of whom 77 were children; asthma to 32; and other
diseases of the lungs, exclusive of phthisis, to 12. The
tubercular class of diseases, which comprises scrofula,
tabes mesenterica, phtbisis (or consumption), and hydro-
cephalus, also exhibit a alight increase on the previous
week; the deaths in this return attributed to these
diseases being in the aggregate 190, of which 137 were
caused by consumption alone. By far the largest pro-
portion of the victims of this destructive malady were of
middle age, 116 out of the 137 having died between 15
years and 60. Among those diseases of a tubercular
character, which are mostly confined to children, tabes
mesenterica was fatal in 13 cases, and hydrocephalus (or
water in the head) to 32. The average number of deaths
simply described es arising from "fits" or " convulsions"
is 50; and this week's table shows nearly the same
amount.

At this period of the year the zymotic or epidemic
class of diseases on an average causes about 200, or
nearly a fifth part of the total number of deaths; and
i❑ the present return it contributes 208, which is of ar
the usual number, though the proportion it bears to the
total mortality is considerably less.
It is satisfactory to observe that smallpox now shows
a tendency to become less fatal. Twenty-six persons
died from it in the previous week; but that number has
now fallen to 18. Vaccination appears to have been per-
formed in only two of these cases. Two children, aged
respectively 6 months and 11 months, died o❑ the 17th
of February in the Smallpox Hospital of confluent small-
pox, both after 7 days' illness, and " unprotected."
Hooping cought has increased, and now predominates
among epidemics; 65 children having died from it in the
week, which is considerably wore than the average.
Twenty-nine died of measles, only 9 of scarlatina, and
Bof croup. Typhus was fatal in 35 caseiof which 20
occurred in the middle period of life.
Daring the week 130 deaths were rtgisterd which bad
occurred in workhouses, 13 in military and naval asylums,
40 in general hospitals, 3 in military and naval hospitals,
and 9 in lunatic asylums.
The births of 792 boys and 775 girls, in all 1,567
children, were registered in the week. The average in
six corresponding weeks of 1845-50 was 1,426.

STATE OF THE WEATHER DURING THE WEEK.
Sunday—The sky was cloudless throughout the day.
Monday—The sky was cloudless till 811.30 m. r 3f., and over-
cast afterwards; cumulostrati, cirrostrati, and scud.
Tuesday—The sky, with slight exceptions, was covered with
cloud throughout the day ; cirrostratus, fleecy clouds, and
scud. _

Wednesday—The sky was overcast throughout the day;
cirrostratus and scud.
Thursday—The sky was overcast throughout the day;
cirrostratus and scud. Rain fell during the evening.
Friday—The sky was generkll3,- covered with cloud till 6h.
P.M., and clear afterwards; cirrostratus and haze. A solar
halo was visible during the morning.
_

Saturday—The sky was overcast tiff 10h. A.M. ; from this
time till 4h. Y.m. three•fourths of it were covered, and it
was generally clear afterwards. A fine solar halo between
the hours of 10 A.M. and afternoon.

During the morning of the 17th active positive electricity
was shown; and on Saturday active positive electricity was
shown throughout i.he day.

MORTALITY in the METROPOLIS.
.N UMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED IN

THE WEEK ENDING SATIIRDAY:TiiiT2,IBii7
Epidemic, Endemic, and Contagious Diseases ...`2OB
Diseases of Uncertain Seat ... 58
Tubercular Diseases ... 190
Diseases of the Brain, Nerves, and Senses... ... 144
Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels .. 66
Diseases of thu Lungs, and other Organs of
Respiration ... ... 277
Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs
cf Digestion... ... ••• ... 55
Diseases of the Kidneys, &c. ... 14
••
Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &c. 9
Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles ... 13
Diseases of the Skin, &c. 3
Malformations... ••• ... 3
Premature Birth
Atrophy
Old Age
Sudden ... ... 16

Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance ::: 36.
Causes not specified ... 2

DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES ... ... 1,213
Population Deaths in corre- Deattie
Enumerated. spondinz week in the

1841. of 1850. Week
West Districts... 301,189 .. 143 ... 179
worth Districts.. 376,568 .. 193 ... 250
Central Districts 374,199 ... 151 ... 216
East Dis►ricts ... 393,067 ... 182 ... 285
South Districts.. 503,346 ... 242 ... :283

Totals... ..... 1,948,369 ... 911 ... 1,213
Males ... ... ... ... ... 607
Females ... ... ... ... ... 606