The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-01 00:00:00

STATE OP THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

16,423 deaths were registered in the three
months ending in September, or less by 17,916 than
the deaths (104,339) registered in the correspond-
ing quarter of last year. To every six deaths in
the last there were only five in the present sum-
mer. The rate of mortality was 17, whereas the
average of the season is 20 per 1,000.
The reduction of the mortality is observable in
the town and in the country districts; but it is
by far the greatest in the town districts. The
average number of deaths in the town dis-
tricts during the summers of 1850-9 was 52,861;
whereas the deaths in the last summer were 45,495 ;
in the country districts during the same periods the
deaths were 43,697 and 40,928. The rate of mor-
tality in the town districts fell from 23.75 to 18.42
per 1,000 ; in the country and small town districts
from 17.59 to 1587, or 5.33 degrees in the town
and 1.72 in the country 'districts.
This is exceedingly gratifying ; and if the supply
of vegetables prove adequate through the year, it is
not probable that the reaction will deprive the
population of all its gains. The drainage of the
banks of the Thames and of the other marshy dis-
tricts of the country would secure the inhabitants
from the attacks of neuralgia, rheumatism, ague,
and fever, which often follow rainy seasons.
In London the mortality was low ; the prevailing
diseases have been described in the quarterly sum-
mary of the weekly tables.
The south-eastern division has been healthy ; the
deaths much below the average in every county.
Three deaths from diphtheria were registered at
Leatherhead, and Woking is said to have suffered
exceptionally, but in Chobham, Ripley, and Kings-
ston, the deaths were much below the average. The
deaths in St. Peter's, Brighton, were 40 below the
average, and the district has been unusually healthy.
The sewers have been well flushed and cleansed by
the constant rains. In Kent nearly every district
was healthy ; but in Ashford scarlatina prevailed ;
in Barham diphtheria. Portsmouth, generally an
unhealthy place, has suffered less than usual ; 400
persons died in the district. In Southampton the
mortality has been low ; none of the epidemic
diarrhoea has appeared in Winchester,
5,358 deaths were registered in the south mid-
land counties, and in every county the mortality-
was below the average. In the parish of Kneb-
worth, Hertfordshire, with a population of 200, how-
ever, 12 children died of diphtheria, and several are
suffering from it now. Small-pox is still epidemic
in Northamptonshire ; Daventry and Peterborough
are especially mentioned. Small-pox is also very
prevalent in Newmarket.
The eastern counties have been healthy ; the
deaths, which were 6,153 in the previous summer
quarter, amounted only to 4,565. Diphtheria caused
7 deaths in the South Walsham sub-district of
Blowfield, but is mentioned in no other district of
Norfolk, Essex, or Suffolk. In Watton,Wayland,
two families were attacked by typhoid fever,
brought, the registrar asserts, from London ; other-
wise the district was healthy. The sanitary arange-
meats have been a great benefit to this district.
Colchester is now healthy, and there has been no
death from diarrhoea.

The south-western counties, out of a population
of nearly two millions, lost 7,071 by death ;
whereas the deaths in the previous summer quar-
ter were 8,486. Every county, Wilts, Dorset,
Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, alike enjoyed this im-
munity. Out of a population of about six thousand
in Wilton only one death occurred in 32 days.
Small-pox bas attacked several children in Sum-
mercourt, Newlyn, where vaccination has been
very generally neglected, In Clitton, Somerset-
shire, the reduced mortality is referred to improved
sanitary arrangements, better dwellings, more pro-
vident habits, and fuller employment in the coal
mines and hisbandry than is generally obtained in
the neighbourhood. The deaths in Bath have
fallen in three successive summer quarters from 406
to 370 and 286. In the Bridport district the deaths
(75) were more numerous than they were in the
previous summer (59) • and, as is evident from a
laionsehaaltboinquiry, the mortality of the town is so high
itaandtms
appear to. be
tgrbe great reduction
ctitoo adopt.nb
y sanitary
arrangements; which the enlightened part of the
The west midland counties generally experience
a mortality above
the average; but there are