The Sun.
London, England, 1859-04-20 00:00:00

HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE

WEEK.

(From the Registrar-General's Report.)

The deaths registered in London, which were

1,201 in the previous week, declined to 1,084 in the
week that ended last Saturday. In the ten years
1840-58 the average number of deaths in the weeks
corresponding with last week was 1,118, but as the
deaths returned for last week occurred in a popula-
tion which has increased, they can only be compared
with the average raised in population to that in-
crease—namely, with 1,230. The result of the com-
parison is that the deaths of last week were 146 less
than the number which would have occurred if the
average rate of mortality for the second week of
April had prevailed.
It is satisfactory to note in the present return a
decrease of scarlatina and diphtheria. The deaths
referred to the former were in the previous week
58; last week they were 42. Those referred to the
latter were in the previous week 13 ; last week
they were 9. The 9 fatal cases of diphtheria oc-
curred in the following sub-districts :—Chelsea,
South, 1 ; Hackney, 1 ; Old-street, 1 ; West London,
North, 1; Haggerstone, East, 1 ; Church (Bethnal-
green), 1 ; Mile-end Old-town East, 1 ; St. Peter's,
Walworth, 1; and Lambeth Church (second), 1.
Sixteen persons, of whom 13 were children, and 3
were 20 years old and upwards, died of small-pox.
Measles exhibit a decided decrease, the fatal cases

in the last two weeks having been only 15 and 16.
Whooping-cough, which was the most fatal of the
zymotic diseases, carried off 56 children last week.
The total number of deaths included in this class of
diseases is 229, while the corrected average for
corresponding week is 265. Diseases of the respi-
ratory organs, exclusive of phthisis, were fatal in
199 cases, while the corrected average is 240.
Zymotic and pulmonary diseases are those by which
principally the mortality rises or falls, and under
both heads the results are favourable, as indications
of the present state of public health.
Last week a house painter in Kenton-street died
from lead paralysis. Three persons died of intem-
perance, besides four whose deaths are referred to
delirium tremens.

Last week the births of 865 boys and 771 girls,
in all 1,636 children, were registered in London.
In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1849-
58 the average number was 1,655.
At .the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean
height of the barometer last week was 29.277 in.
IThe variation of readings was from 29.57 in. on
Tuesday to 28.75 in. on Friday, after which the ba-
rometer again rose to 19.57 in. the mean tempera-
ture of the week was 42.4 deg. (having been 56.3
in the previous week), which is 2.9 deg. below the
average of the same week in 43 years (as deter-
mined by Mr. Glaisher). The mean daily tempera-
ture was below the average on every day after
Monday, and on the last two days the extent of
depression was more than 8 deg. The thermometer
fell from 59.8 deg. on Sunday, the highest point
attained in the week, to 30.8 deg. on Thursday, its
lowest point, and the entire range was therefore 29
deg. The mean daily range was 15.9 deg. ; and the
range on Thursday was 23.2 deg. The difference'
between the mean dew point temperature and air
temperature was 6 deg. The mean degree of humi-
dity of the air was 81. The mean temperature of
the water of the Thames was 51.8 deg. After
Monday the wind blew generally from the N.W.
Rain fell on every day, and the amount in the week
was 0.86 in. Snow, as- well as hail and rain, fell
frequently on Saturday.

THE SUPPOSED MURDER AT
RAMSGATE.

RAMSGATE, TUESDAY.

Some very important additional particulars con-
necting the presence of the deceased with the
spot where the hatchet and boots were found, and
where, it is believed, his hand was mutilated and
chopped off, have just been brought to light. It
will be seen that this statement forms a connecting
link with the facts that have been previously pub-
lished, and assists materially in accounting for the
time of the deceased up to within a very short
period of his death.
Sarah Packer, of 2, Zion-row, Ramsgate, states
that on Sunday evening, the 10th inst., between
eight and half-past she was in company with a
young man near the shoot in the cliff, on the sands,
when she saw a man sitting alone on the rock at
the water's edge. It was between Augusta Stairs
and the East Cliff Lodge. She remarked to the
young man with whom she was walking, " Perhaps
he wants assistance : you had better go across to
him." The young man answered, " Oh, perhaps he
is only washing his feet." Shortly after this the
man moved, but she cannot say positively in which
direction.

The statement of the girl Packer, although it
may not be received as strictly legal evidence,
proves that a man like the deceased was at that spot,
and alone, shortly before the time it is supposed the
deed was perpetrated. The time also corresponds
with information furnished by a young woman
named Maxted, who speaks positively to seeing the
deceased on the East•parade, at a quarter-past 8
o'clock. From this point he must have gone down
to Augusta Stairs and along the rocks to the place
pointed out by Packer, and here, no doubt, the hand
was severed, if not the fatal stab inflicted.

It was mentioned on Monday, that a German
Bible had been picked up, which it was believed
the deceased had thrown from the omnibus whilst
travelling between Dover and Deal, on Friday. A
bundle of pieces of cloth has been also found near
the same spot, and they correspond exactly with
the cloth of the coat and trousers worn by the de-
ceased, and would appear to have been kept by him
for the purpose of repairing his clothing as occasion
might require.
Yesterday, the coroner (Mr. R. J. Emmerson)
inspected the spot on the sands where the body was
discovered, and it was elicited from a number of
seafaring men present that it might have floated to
the place where it was found, although deprived of
life, some fifty or sixty yards farther out, towards
the edge of the rocks.
The public mind is still unsettled as to whether
it is a case of murder or suicide, and demands
further investigation. Accordingly police-con-
stable Hogben, of the harbour force, is prosecuting
further inquiries at Margate with reference to this
man's movements, and also as to what transpired
while the deceased was .at Brazier's house with the
girl Nines. These parties will be produced at the
adjourned inquiry before the coroner tomorrow
(Wednesday) ; and the girl Lucas will also be pre-
sent, to see if she can identify either of them as
being the persons she saw pass the deceased near
the wall of Sir Moses Montefiore shortly after seven
on Sunday evening. This is necessary, as rumours
have been afloat that the deceased had been dogged
about by them and subsequently murdered. The
result of the inquiry is looked forward to with a
good deal of interest.

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