The Sun.
London, England, 1851-04-10 00:00:00

HEALTH of LONDON during the WEEK.
_ . - .

(From the Report of the Registrar-General.)
The last week has witnessed a great improvement in the
public health. The deaths in the metropolitan districts,
which bad ranged above 1,400 in the last three weeks of
March, fell in the week ending last Saturday to 1,059. But
this is still a high rate of mortality, not only as compared
with what prevails in country districts, under conditions
more favourable to health, but also with that which the
population of London usually suffer at this period of the
year. In none of the ten corresponding weeks of 1841-50,
with the exception of that of 1850, did the number of
deaths exceed 1,028, while the average of these weeks was
946, which, if a correction be made for increase of. popu-
lation will become 1,032. Compared with the latter esti-
mated result, the deaths registered last week show an in-
crease of twenty-seven.
A decrease in the mortality from complaints which have
lately been prevalent is now perceptible. The zymotic or
epidemic class of diseases, which comprises hooping-cough
and influenza, with nineteen other forms of malady, has de-
clined from 245 deaths, which it numbered in the previous
week, to 180 in the last; the class of diseases of the respi-
ratory organs, from 272 in the preceding week to 220 in the
present return. The tubercular class, which includes scro-
fula, tabes mesenteries, phthisis or consumption, and.hydroce-
phalus, has remained nearly the same in the two weeks;
while complaints of the digestive organs show precisely the
same. amount.
Last week 95 persons died of bronchitis, 81 of Pneumonia,
24 of asthma, only the first of these diseases showing more
than the usual. fatality; 59 children died 9f hooping-cough,
which is more than the average of corresponding weeks.
The cases in which the fatal' 'cause is specified as influenza
have now sensibly decreased ; the number in this return
is 23.
The progress and decline of influenza during the last six
weeks may be traced in the deaths registered, which were
successively 8,15, 38, 65, 37, and 23. The fatal effects of
"diseases of the respiratory organs" (phthisis not being in-
cluded in this category) may also be traced during the same
period in the following weekly numbers :-281, 321, 352, 350,
272, and 220.
Small-pox has further declined, and last week the deaths
of only 7 children and two adults are ascribed to it; measles
also exhibits a more favourable result; and only 6 fatal cases
of scarlatina are recorded.

STATE OF THE WEATHER DURING THE PAST WEEK.
Strarnny.—The amount of cloud was very variable
throughout the day; there were frequent showers of hail
and rain.
amßoluOnNtDoArYc.
lkvYarwiaasble
olVfteer Cr a:at
rtaisll;
TUESDAY.—The sky was for the most part covered with
7chirrFo.s3itr.a,
cloud till near noon ; then till the evening about one-third
roud was
The
part was covered, and it was overcast at night. tuans.d the
WEDNESDAY.—The sky was overcast throughout the
day. Rain fell occasionally.
THURSDAY,—The sky was overcast till 4h. rat., and
three-fourths were mostly covered afterwards.
FRIDAY.--The sky, with slight exceptions, was covered
with cumuli, cumulostrati, cirrostirati, and scud throughout
the day.
SATURDAY.—The sky was mostly covered with cloud
throughout the day; at times large portions of the sky were
free from cloud. A cold day.
ELECTRICITY.—ApriI kid tension strong.
April 2d—positive, and tension strong throughout the day.
.The mean reading of a thermometer placed on the inetn-
mast, and read= eacli,day ith:A.3•l was 41 ; and the ,
mean reading at 9h. rat. was 44.3 e; the mean readings at;
the Royal ObservatorYfot the; swag times were 44.8 Q, and '
42.3 Q respectively.
The direction of the wind varied from S.W. and W. to N.
during the first four days,
.and was chiefly N.E. during the,
three remaining days..
The reading of the barometei increased froni 29.41 in. at
the beginning of the week to 30.03 in. by noon on April let ;
decreased to 29.92 in. by 9 A.m, on the 3d; increased to
30.03 in. by '9h. P.M. on the same day ; • decreased to 29.86
in. by noon on the sth ; and increased to 2993 in. by the
end of the week.

MORTALITY in the METROPOLIS.
NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED IN
THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 1851.
Epidemic, Endemic, and Contagious Diseases ...*lBO
Diseases of Uncertain Seat ... ..„ 47
Tubercular Diseases
Diseases of the Brain, Nerves, and Senses... ... 123
Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels ... 35
Diseases of the Lungs, and other Organs of
Respiration ... 220
Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs
of Digestion... ...
Diseases of the Kidneys, &c.
•• •••
Childbirth, Diseases of tho Uterus, i&e.
Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles
Diseases of the Skin, &c.
Malformations... ...
Premature Birth ... •• •••
Atrophy ..• ••• ••• ••• •••
Old Age
Sudden ... •..
Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance
Causes not specified ...

... 2

... 21
... 33
... 42

... 3
... 2

DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES ...
Population Deaths In corre- Deaths
Enumerated, sponding week in the
1841. of 1850. Week.
West Districts... 301,189 . . 182 ... 151
North Districts.. 376,568 .. 210 ... 226
Central Districts 374,199 ... 187 ... 195
East Districts ... 393,067 ... 224 ... 214
South Districts.. 503,346 ... 321 ... 273

1,049

Totals... ..... 1,948,369 ... 1,124
Males •••1111. 11.11 ..11
Females ... ... •.• ..11

... 1,059
O. 571
... 479