The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-19 00:00:00

1-IBALTH OF LONDON DURING THE

WEEK.
_
(From the Registrar-General's Report.)
In the week that ended last Saturday the num-
ber of deaths registered in London was 1,015, ex-
hibiting an increase on that of the previous week,
which was 919. For the corresponding weeks of 10
years 1850-59 the average number of deaths after
correction for increase of population is 1,104. The
deaths in the present return are therefore less by 89
than they would have been if the Average rate of
mortality for the second week of July had pre-
vailed.

Measles carried off 61 children. This disease is
at present the most fatal of those that form the
zymotic class. Three deaths from it are returned

for the rectory sub-disi;ict—ofMarilebone7:3fo;
Gray's-inn-lane, 3 for St. Botolph, 3 for the north
sub-district of West London, 4 for the Leather-
market, 3 for the west sub-district of Greenwich.
Only 9 deaths from smallpox were returned in the
week, showing a clear decrease in the mortality of
this complaint. Scarlatina was fatal in 29 cases,
diphtheria in 5, diarrhoea in 21.

The daughter of a labourer, aged 15 years, was
burnt by herclothestaking fire. A child was fatally
scalded. Two infants were suffocated in bed. A
labourer, aged 30 years, was suffocated by carbonic
acid gas from a brick clamp at Islington. Two
widows died at the ages of 95 and 96 years.
With reference to the death of a child, aged nine
months, the son of a stableman, which occurred on
the 29th June at 12, Brick-street, Mayfair, from
" teething ; foul air of drains into kitchen (six
weeks); hydrocephalus," Dr. Druitt writes as fol-
lows :—" It may be well to put on record, that al-
though a house may be well drained as regards the
removal of refuse water therefrom, yet the ground
on which they stand may be utterly undrained and
nothing more than a marsh. This is the case with
the house in question, No. 12, Brick-street, and its
neighbours. Underneath the kitchen floor there are
pools of water, which are kept down by bailing
every day. The site is at the bottom of a hill, and
on a bed of clay ; and, as I am advised, the nearest
sewer is on too high a level to carry away the water
which comes to the surface. Last year there was a
severe case of ague in one of these houses. I enclose
a report, by which you will see that I endeavoured
to call attention to this four years ago ; and I Yen'
ture to call your attention to the fact that, although
houses may be drained, yet the land on which thei
stand in various parts of London may be totally
undrained."
Last week the births of 935 boys and 819 girls'
in all 1,754 children, were registered in London.
In the 10 corresponding weeks of the years 1850-
59 the average number was 1,488.
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the moll
height of the barometer in the week was 29.870 ill'
The readings fell from 30.14 in. on Sunday to
29.66 in. on Saturday. The mean temperature ofthe
air in the week was 57.4 deg., which is 4.3 deg'
below the average of the same week in 43 years (0;
determined by Mr. Glaisher). The mean daily
e
temperature was below the average throughout th„
week. The thermometer in the shade fell to 44
deg. on Sunday, the lowest point in the week, etl°
it rose to 74 3 deg., the highest point, on Saturday'
The extreme range in the week was therefore 29't
deg. The difference between the mean dew-poili
temperature and air temperature was 4.8 dete
showing the degree of dryness of the air. TP,
mean degree of humidity was 85, complete sattil
tion being represented by 100. On Sunday It„°,o
Thursday the thermometer on the grass fell to P,O
deg. The mean temperature of the water of t''o
Thames was 62.6 deg. The wind was generallllo
the north-east till the last two dr,,ys, when it -9708/0
the south and south-west. No -rain fell in the Wee