The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-30 00:00:00

THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

INCIIBAIS OF POPULATION.
As the number of births was 173,244, and the number of
deaths 100,310, the natural increase of the population of
England was 72,891 in the three months of April, May,
and June ; so 1,903 lives were added, 1,102 were taken
away, daily; leaving 801 as the daily increase. But in the
same three months 60,379 emigrants left the ports of the
united kingdom at which Government agents are stationed;
and of that number about 21,304 were of English origin.
England, exclusive of Scotland and Ireland, sent about
234 emigrants daily over the seas to Australia, to the
United .states, and to the North American colonies. Of
the immigrants who enter England from Scotland, Ireland,
and other parts no statistical records are kept.
The emigration from the ports of the united kingdom is
less by nearly 6,000 than the emigration (66,111) in the
spring quarter of 1855, and is less than half the average
emigration (113,141) of the corresponding quarters of the
eight years 1817-54.

THE PRICE 010 PROVISIONS, AND THE WEATHER.
The prices of some of the principal articles of food are
shown below, with a view of determining the effect of their
variations on the birth; deaths, and marriages.
During the last three months wheat was sold, on a❑
average, at the rate of 68s 8d per quarter; York regent
potatoes, at 80s per ton, at the waterside market, South-
wark; beef at 51d per lb, mutton at sid per lb, in the
Leadenhall and Newgate-markets. The price of wheat in
the corresponding three months of 1851, 1555, and 1856
declined from 78s 4d to 68s Bcl, or nearly lOs per quarter.
Potatoes fell from 155 s to 80s per ton; beef fell only from
Nd to sld per lb. Mutton, on the other hand, rose from
50 to sid per lb. Upon the whole, the prices of articles of
most extensive consumption as food declined.
The value of the public securities rose.
The mean temperature at Greenwich was 52°3, the fall
of rain 7'4.

STATE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

The deaths in the three spring months were 100,310;
and the annual mortality was at the rate of 2'117 per cent.,
or nearly 21 in 1,000, the average annual rate of the sea-
son being nearly 23 in 1,000. The mortality has been dur-
ing the whole of the half-year much below the average
rate.

The mortality in the spring quarter among the people
living in the districts and the Baia-districts comprising the
chief towns of England was at the annual rate of 23.85
(nearly 24) per 1,000. The mortality of the rest of the
people in the small towns and in the country parishes was
at the annual rate of 1818 (nearly 19) per 1,000. The rate
of mortality is in both classes of districts below the aver-
age, but the reduction of the rate is less considerable in the
town than in the country populations.
The changes in the diseases and the low mortality that
has reigned in London have been noticed in the weekly
tables. The salutary effects of the improved water supply
and of other sanitary measures in Bermondsey are pointed
out by one of the registrars. As similar improvements in
Lambeth and other districts are referable to the same
causes, the whole of the results can be collected and dis-
cussed most conveniently together when a greater number
of facts has accumulated.
The deaths (8,158) in the south-eastern counties are
below the average number, and nearly a thousand less than
the deaths in the spring quarter of the previous year. In
Kent the deaths slightly exceeded the average; in Surrey,
Sussex, Hants, and Borks the decrease was well marked.
Scarlatina and measles prevailed in some districts of Kent;
at Faversham malignant scarlatina prevailed through the
whole quarter, and the deaths were nearly doubled. Tho
registrar of Newport, in the Isle of Wight, states that he
has registered four deaths from smallpox in the Parkhurst
barracks. In the Isle of Wight generally, in the New
Forest, and in some other districts of the division, the
mortality has been at as low a rate as 16 in 1,000.
The south midland counties were generally in a healthy
state; the deaths in the quarter were 6,270. In Oxford
shire, Northamptonshire, and Huntingdonshire the mor-
tality was nearly at the average rate ; in Buckinghamshire
and in Cambridgeshire the rate of mortality was much
below the average. Smallpox was very prevalent in
Northampton, and the deaths from all causes were 265 ;
so the mortality was at the annual rate of nearly 35 in
1,000. At Cambridge the deaths during the last three
spring quarters were 155, 150, and 101. The register of
St. Andrew's, Cambridge, says—
" The decrease in the deaths compared with those of
the same quarter in 1855 speaks well for the healthy con-
dition of this district, and may in some measure be ac-
counted for by the introduction of a large and constant
supply of water last autumn in pipes from a distance of
two or three miles, which will not only be the means of
great comfort and convenience to the inhabitants, but will
also materially assist in cleansing the town. Scarlatina
appears to be the most prominent, if not the only, disease
among children."
The beneficial effects of a constant supply of pure water
on the health of the town populations become every day
more apparent.

The deaths in the eastern counties wore 5,758, while the
numbers in the previous spring quarter were 6,191. The
mortality was low in Norwich. Scarlatina in a Fever()
form prevailed in Epping, Great Warley, Bradwell, Hemp-
stead (parish), South Walsham, and Hillington. The
fishermen in King's Lynn North refuse generally to have
their children vaccinated, and 10 died of small-pox.
The south-western counties lost 8,516 of the inhabitants
by death ; but the mortality was low in every county, and
the deaths were 1,177 less than the deaths in the spring
quarter of 1855. At Trowbridge, in Wilts, it is gratifying
to find that many families have removed with the beet
effect from unhealthy yards to healthy cottages, with small
gardens attached, in the outskirts of the town. The im-
provement of the houses is sure to be followed by the im-
provement of the inhabitants. The pernicious effects of
the night soil, which is still left under the houses in our
towns, have been fatally proved in Poole, where three men
died from descending in the vaults. The registrar remarks
—" If the machine with hose had been used this sad re-
sult, which has rendered seven children fatherless and three
wives widows, could not have occurred."
In

proceeding northwards the diminution in the morta-
,ty of the divisions is less considerable. In Staffcrdshire
,he deaths (4,081) are rather more numerous than the
deaths in the previous spring quarter, but in the other
counties of the west midland division the deaths exhibit a
decrease. 1,133 deaths were recorded in the Birmingham
district. Smallpox, scarlatina, and measles prevailed in
some districts.

In the north midland counties 6,290 deaths were regis-
tered. In Lincolnshire a remarkable decreased is observed
in the deaths, which were 2,067, 2,251, isnd 1,714 in the
three last spring quarters.

The deaths in the north-western division were 16,038--
namely, 2,318 in Cheshire, and 13,770 in Lancashire. The
numbers aro a little below the average. Liverpool and
West Derby exhibit a gratifying decrease in the mortality;
the deaths in the two districts were 2,799 to a population
of 411,515 in 1851. The registrar of the West Derby sub-
district makes the following remarks :

"My district during the whole of the quarter has been
in a more healthy state than at any former period ; so much
so that during the week ending Saturday, the 24th of May,
there were only thieo deaths in the whole sub-district,
which, at the census of 1851, contained 33,013 inhabitants,
and there will be an increase on that number of at least
5,000 since that time. The township of West Derby has
always been noted as the most healthy locality in the vici-
nity of Liverpool, and this usually favourable state of the
district is further improved by the excellent system of
draining, sevvering, and cleansing the streets that has been
adopted. The births have for some time past been double
the number of the deaths, owing to the healthy state of
district and the increased population."

Sanitary measures in Liverpool will, we may hope, hence-
forward reduce the high mortality which has reigned there,

( Prom the Quarterly Return of the Registrar-General.)
This return comprises the births aid deaths registered by
2,196 registrars in all the districts of England during the
spring quarter that ended on Juno 30, 1E56; and the mar-
riages in 12,180 churches or chapels, about 3,754 registered
places of worship unconnected with the Established Church,
and 628 superintendent registrars' offices, in the quarter
that ended on March 31sti 1856.
The marriage rate, which was low, is now slightly above
the average rate ; the birth rate is high, and the death rate
is low, so that the state of the population, in the light of
these returns, is favourable.

MARRIAGES.
66,776 persons were married in the three months of
January, February, and March. The annual rate in the
quarter was 707 marriages to every 100,000 of the popula-
tion ; while the rate in the winter of 1855 was 631 (or lens
by 1-10th), and the average rate of the preceding winter
quarters was 704. The marriages (33,388) were more by
4,527 than the marriages (29,131) in the winter quarter of
1855; and the increase is a sure indication of the pro-
sperity of the country. The increase of marriages is ob-
served in every division. The excess in the numbers in
Portsmouth, Plymouth, and Hull is probably due to the
return of oar gallant seamen from the Black Sea and the
Baltic.

BIRTHS.
173,201 boys and girls were born alive and registered in
the spring quarter that ended on the last day of June,
giving an increase of 7,951 children on the numbers of the
corresponding quarter of 1855. It is the spring quarter in
which the greatPst number of births generally occurs ; and
this number is the highest,that has ever been returned in
England. The number or registereci births rose from
130,9411 n the spring quarter of 1844 to 175,204 in the last
spring quarter.