The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-01 00:00:00

HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE

WEEK.

(From the Report of the Registrar-General.)

The present return exhibits a higher mortality
than that recorded in any previous return since the
beginning of the year. The deaths in London in
the week that ended last Saturday were 1,386. In
the ten years, 1850-59, the average number of deaths
in the weeks corresponding with last week was
1,174; but as the deaths contained in the present
return occurred in a population which has increased,
they should be compared with the average raised
in proportion to the increase, namely, with 1,291.
It appears from the comparison that the mortality
of last week exceeded to the extent of 93
deaths the number which the average rate of mor-
tality, as calculated for the fourth week of January,
would have produced.
By comparing the results of the last two weeks,
it will be seen that from zyraotic diseases in the
aggregate there was no increase ; that the mortality
from "constitutional" diseases remained exactly
the same, and that there was an increase from
" local" and also " developmental" diseases. Under
the third head (local diseases) the deaths by affes.
tions of the nervous system rose from 123 to 139;
those by diseases of the heart rose from 53 to 65;
those by diseases of the respiratory organs from
357 to 368 ; and by diseases of the digestive organs
the deaths rose from 52 to 62.
While there is an increase which is not inconsi-
derable in the " deaths from all causes," it is satis-
factory to remark a decrease last week in small-pox,
and also a continued decrease in scarlatina. '!he
deaths from the former disease were 26; 2 of these
occurred in one family in the London-road sub-dis-
trict. From scarlatina the deaths in the last three
weeks were successively 62, 48, and 33. Last week
there were 11 diphtheria. Nine infants died from:
syphilitic diseases; and no less than 16 from suffo-
cation, apparently by accident, and all or for this.
most part in bed. Two children, one at the age of
6 weeks, the other 7 weeks, and belonging to Ow
same family, were suffocated in bed, the former on
the 7th and the latter on the 17th inst. The regis-
trar of the Kent-road sub-district returns
three
children, belonging to different families, who
were
inst.,“ae andcidentaolnlye suffocatedonthe23. din
Twob e d, ';etrswoonso died
from h
privation.
wildlohwe,oalgdeedst96p who died last week was a
years.erwn
registered London.
in all 2,067 children, were
Last week the births of 1,089. boys and. 9781, girls,
In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1850-9,
the average number was 1,691.
At the Reyal Observatory, G
reenw ic., the mean
height of the barometer in the week was 29 258 in.
The barometer increased from 28.56 in. on Tuesday
to 29.99 in. on Saturday, these being respectively
the lowest and highest readings in the week. The
mean temperature of the air in the week was 38.4
deg., which is 0.6 deg, above the average of the
same week in 43 years (as determined by Mr.
Glaisher). The thermometer fell from 49 deg. on
Friday, the highest point attained in the week, to
27.5 deg. on the following day, the lowest point in
the week, viz., 4.5 deg. below the freezing point of
water. The range of temperature in the week was
21.5 deg. The mean daily range was 11.5 deg.
The difference between the mean dew-point tempe-
rature and the air temperature was 5.50 deg. The
mean degree of humidity of the air was 80 (com-
plete saturation being represented by 100). The air
on Sunday and Saturday was unusually dry. The
wind generally blew from the south-west. It blew
' strong at the beginning of the week ; the maximum
pressure on Sunday and Monday was 171bs. on the
square foot. Rain was measured on four days, and
the total amount was 0.25 in. There were heav'y
showers on the afternoon of Tuesday, and on the
evening of that day, and next morning, lightning
was very frequent.