The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-10 00:00:00

CAUSES OF DEATH IN MADRAS.

Dr. Smith, the secretary of the Sanitary Commis-
sion, in his report on the causes of death in the town
of Madras, states that the year 1865, as compared
with former periods, was healthy. The registration
of dea!lls in Madras is not compulsory, so that the
mortality returns are still somewhat imperfect.
The number of deaths registered during the year
amounted to 11,216, being 807 in excess- of the
number in the previous year, which was, however,
extraordinarily healthy. The death rate in 1865
was 26 per 1,000 of population ; the average
annual rate in the five years 1860-4 was 30 per
1,000. More than one-third of the deaths of chil-
dren under 1 year of age were caused by convul-
sions ; the proportional number of children dying
from this cause to the entire population was as 1 to
8, while in London the proportion was as 1 to 30.
This excessive mortality is chiefly attributed to the
effects of foul air, overcrowding, and filth, which,:it
would appear, destroy infant life through the opera-
tion of their poisonous influence upon the brain and
nerves. Miasmatic diseases—the chief causes of
the mortality among the adult population—are much
influenced by the variations in the climate. The prin-
cipal diseases under this head are cholera, small-pox,
fevers, diarrhoea, and dysentery. The deaths regis-
tered from this class, to 1,000 persons livingin 1865
were 11, while in London the proportional number was
only 4, showing how much yet remains to be done
in the way of removing preventible sources of dis-
ease. Dr. Smith states, however, that it must be
borne in mind that miasmatic diseases in Madras
take the place of tubercular diseases in London.
The deaths in Madras from smallpox were 399 be-
low the average—an improvement which is partly'
attributed to the ex' ension of vaccination. The
lliiidoos were the greatest suff,3rers from this dis-
ease, as they are prejudiced against vaccination
through religious scruples; 39 of the 44 deaths by
smallpox in 1865 occurred among this class of the
community. The number of deaths from cholera
was 941, and although this disease was never absent
from the town throughout the year, except for a
period of about three weeks in June, yet there were
none of those severe outbreaks which characterised
previDus epidemics. In 1862 and 1863 respectively
the deaths from cholera were 3,635 and 1,681. It
is noticed that the large number of deaths from
dysentery in 1865—viz., 1,159, is an indication of
the bad sanitary state of the town, and is owing
to bad drainage, impure water, and a polluted
atmosphere. With the view of showing the effects
of climate .on;. the European, as compared with the
native population, the mortality, per 1,000 of poP_ a
tt;
lation, from.,each class of diseases is reco(rideFdlst
follows :—Zymotic diseases=-Europeans a
Indians, l c•O3 ; Mahoeamedans, 10.2,,
; Ilnind on onsd,
13.70. Constitutional diseases-7Euro3paB6
;s on_
c
East Indians, 2.62 ; Mahommedans,
doos, 2.41. Local diseases—Europeans
G. 81; in oos,
Indians, 818 ; Mahommedans,.
and
dEast
East Indians, 4.21„. Mahomme Eat.l3rB7e lalni sudoaonsd,
6 65. Developmental diseases—Enrol' sdeasbi-15,
esuffered equal lY
24 ; Hindoos,
East Indians, •85
; Malmin'"eda' E. uropeans and
313. Violent and sudden dea.t.
.35. Total from all diseases—Europeansd and East
s 25.5 ; and llindoos,
Indians, 27.8 ;
among
gm
theor -
t2a6l.i2ty. f
rFom nzly these
tic diseases
Ilindoos. All three and
diseases,Mat
c4:oibsn nfd:tal
w‘ apspears greatesttbaat
were
medans dropsy and ph_ti
d convulsions.
from cholera, and both also
epilepsy, paralysis, an

-- -
RAILWAY.—The
THE NOETII-EA
STEEN effect of
the strike on this line has been so far overcome that the
to the York races. In additinooi,voina
company on Tuesday had spare hands enough to run the
c:irossir oftrtahinostrains which had been discontinued
neteitm.ttehde
3ursoui::(line;
the strike were resumed, and are now running
during
punctually. Every train absolutely required is
full working, and there are hands in plenty to
requirements of the Summer tragic. Mauy of the old
hands are, it i 3 said, in a miserable plight.

•
SUNDAY SCHOLARS OIFERING ON BEHALF OF
THE ALBERT ORPHAN ASYLUM, AND THE HOMELESS
BOYS OF LONDON.—Great preparations are in progress for
a large gathering of Sunday school children to sing in the
Handel Orchestra of the Crystal Palace, on some day in
the month of August next. The children who will take
part in the concert will be selected from all the principal
Sunday schools in the metropolis, who with their teachers
will number about G,OOO singers. As so large a number of
Sunday schools, with the congregations to which they
belong, will bo interested in this delightful movement, it
is anticipated that the attendance at the Crystal Palace
will be one of the largest of the season. The programme
will to selected by a committee of gentlemen, on whose
judgment every reliance can be placed, and only that kind
of Music will be sung which can be introduced with pro-
, priety on 0114 an Werekting occasion.

NOTICE IS HEREBY• GIVEN, That the
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. of the
EUROPEAN ASSURANCE SOCIETY will be holden
a.t, the Offices, 316, Regent-street, London, on. FIiIDAY,
the 31st day of May, 1867, at twelve o'clock at noon.
By Order of the Board.
HENRY LAKE, Manager.
316, Regent-street, London, May 8, 1867.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, That an
EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING of
the EUROPEAN ASSURANCE SOCIETY will be
holden at the Offices, 316, Regent-street, London, on
FRIDAY, the 31st day of May, 1867, at half-past one
o'clock in the afternoon, for the purpose of Altering or
Amending Clause 34 of the Deed of Settlement of the
Society, with respect to the time within which Notice of
Claims under Guarantee Policies must be given by certain
parties under certain circumstances.
By Order of the Beard.
HENRY LAKE, Manager.
316, Regent-street, London, May 8, 1867.

BENSON'S WATCIIES AND CLOCKS.—
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TILE PRINCE OF WALES.
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PRICES AND DESCRIPTIONS, SEE ILLUSTRATED PAMPHLET,
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f 1 'IIEATRE ROYAL DRURY-LANE.
-1- Sole L3ssee and Manager, Mr. I.'. B. Chatterton.
TATS P.VENING, TII AT RAS(7AL JACK, Mvssrs. J.
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To conclude with T RE GREAT CITY. Messrs. C. Warner,
F. Morton, J Fitzjames, C. liareourt, F Vi hers, J. C.
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Thompson.