The Sun.
London, England, 1859-07-13 00:00:00

HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE

WEEK.

(From the RegistraT-General's Report)
The London returns of mortality for the last three
weeks exhibit a rapid increase. In the week ending
the 2d of July the deaths were 1,024 ; last week
they rose to 1,226, and exceeded the average (cor-
rected for increase of population) of the correspond-
ing; weeks in ten previous years by 128. Diarrhoea,
which numbered six cases in the first week of June
rose to 132 in the first week of July. Nine of these
occurred in the sub-district of St. John, Westmin-
ster. It should be observed, however, that the com-
plaint was as fatal at the same early period of the
year 1857 and 1858. Besides the 132 deaths last
week, there were 11 from summer cholera, all, ex-
cept two, among children. Small-pox' was fatal
in 24 cases, scarlatina' in 38, diphtheria in nine.
A' widow died at the age of 95 years ;
,and a man
formerly a private in the Scots Grey s, died in the
Westminster Workhouse on the 2d inst., whose age
is stated to have been 104 years. Two children
died from the heat of the sun.

Last week the births of 833 boys and 785 girls—
in all 1,618 children—were registered in London.
En the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1849-
'5B the average number was 1,433.
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean
height of the barometer in the week was 30.071 in.
The mean daily reading of the barometer was above
30 in. on every day after Sunday. The instrument
rose from 29.94 in. on Snnday, to 30.20 in. on Tues-
day, being the lowest and highest readings in the
week. The mean temperature of the week was 67'4
deg., which is 5.8 deg. above the average of fhe same
week in 43 years (as determined by Mr. Glaisher).
The mean daily temperature was above the average
throughout the week. The thermometer in the shade
rose to 84.5 deg. on Wednesday, and on the same
day it rose in the sun to 108 deg., both being the
highest in the week. The lowest temperature was
52.9 deg. on Tuesday. The mean daily range -was,
25.4 deg. The mean' temperature of the water of
the Thames was 68.1 deg., which is 0.7 deg. higher
than that of the air. Un four days the wind bloc
from the south=swest. Rain fell on Sunday to the
amount of 0.20 in.

In the 13 weeks ending Saturday, July. 2, the
mortality of London was comparatively low ; it yeas
at the rate of 20 per thousand living, annually. 111
three out of the four corresponding quarters of the
years 1855-58 the deaths ranged from 14,000 to
15,000 ; in the quarter that has now terminated thei,
were 13,724. The mean temperature of last quarter
was 54.1 deg., which is nearly as high as that of the
last year, and is higher than in any correspond'
ing period of the three preceding years. Deaths
arising from diseases of the respiratory organs (es'
elusive of phthisis) were decidedly low last quartets
for they numbered 1)974, while they were not less
than 2,217 in any of the four corresponding quay"
ters ; and in 1855, when' the temperature was tovh
they rose to 2,552. Phthisis carried off nearly
2,000 persons in the quarter ; this number is
and exceeds the aggregate mortality of Other ,pul-
monary complaints, which apparently are mitigate'
by causes that are not effectual in retarding the
course of that most fatal disease in the list. The
deaths produced by the zymotic class of diseases
were 3,135, whereas in the same quarter of 180
they were 3,604 ; for, though smallpox and scarliva
tina have increased, measles, whooping-cough, o°_,
diarrhoea have shown a decrease. Smallpox vm"
fatal chiefly in the east districts, where the death
from it rose to 96. The district of Bethnal-green
in that division suffered most ; there were al°
many deaths froin this disease in Hoxton and Wig:
gerstone. Of 173 cases in which diphtheria had ;
fatal issue, 159 occurred to young persons, 6 in 04
periotl of life 20-40 years, 4 at 40.60 years, and
at a more advanced age. The deaths from rheinlity
tism and rheumatic fever were 109, which is cc°
siderably more than in corresponding quarter_!:
Those from syphilitic disease also exhibit an exce"o
In the two spring quarters of 1858-59, both seast
of high temperature, disease of the kidneys IT,
registered as the cause of death more frequently
then in three former springs.