The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-06 00:00:00

THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

(Front the Registrar-General's Return.)
The deaths in London, which had fallen consider-
ably below a thousand in the previous week, rose
in the week ending last Saturday, Oct. 2, to 1021.
In the ten years 1848-57 the average number of
deaths in the weeks corresponding with last week
was 1281; and as the number now returned oc-
curred in an increased population, and the average,
if raised in proportion to that increase, becomes
1412, a rate of mortality diminished to the extent
shown by a comparison of these numbers will ap-
pear an eminently favourable result. If, however,
the excess of deaths that arose in epidemic seasons
is withdrawn from the above average, the compa-
rison will still give a reduction of 240, to show that
the present time is unusually healthy.
Sixty-three districts of England in which the
mortality is least have been - selected, and their
average rate of mortality in the last three months
been
7
of the year has been ascertained. If the deaths in
London la%t week had been according to the
numberhav of f
" healthy rate" thus obtained, and which it is use-
fu7lo to
and adopt
the as
actual standard,
excess, o
they
thlevouhl
natural deaths, is 251.
It is to be regretted that scarlatina shows a con-
stant, though not a rapid increase. During four
weeks that have elapsed since the weekly deaths from
it rose above 100, the numbers
week)ersha 134. O
ve bee n consecu-
tively
these
115, 118, 125, and
134 there occurred 11 under one year of age, 18 at
one year, 19 at two years, the same number at three.
21 at four, 37 at five, 5 at ten and under fifteen, 4
at twenty years and upwards. To take a few of the
sub-districts where scarlatina appears to be most
prevalent, there were 8 deaths from it in Islington
West, 7 in Limehouse, 6 in Bow, and 5 in St. Peter,
Walworth.

Of 40 deaths registered last week, and placed in
the tables to violence, 30 were accidental, 4 were by
suicide, and no fewer than 6 by murder or man-
slaughter. Of these last 5 were the deaths of infants.
Of nonagenarians in the present returns 3 were
men, and of these the oldest had attained the age
of 97 years.
Last week the births of 861 boys and 865 girls,
in all 1,726 children were registered in London. In
the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1848-57
the average number was 1,571.

At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean
height of the barometer in the week was 29.942 in.
On the first three days the mean daily reading was
above 30 in. The highest reading was 30.36 in.,
and the lowest 29.47 in. The mean temperature of
the week was 57.6 deg., which is 3.6 deg. above
the average of the same week in 43 years. The
highest point attained by the thermometer in the
shade .was 71.8 deg. on Wednesday; the lowest
point was 40.1 deg. on Friday. The entire range
of the week was 31.7 deg. The mean daily range
was 16.3 deg. The range of temperature on Monday
and Tuesday was remarkably small—namely, 9.9
wtdmeag,
tee.
rwon
oa
fst
thle.
e4fTodihengaim.e re
sdTalhyve,a andsi
e 60.4 a 6n. idtedegem.gp.
Teorinai
et
uthermee latter.aonf
thed e-
On Friday it was 25.3 deg. The difference between
the mean dew-point temperature and air tempera-
citteYv a:yal isit eBY: on
wind
Wednesday
from the
except Wednesday. No
Tig• arhue south-westlfooedfl
al h,
yu me
morning,x night and
amounting to 0.06 in.