The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-05 00:00:00

STATE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

100,205 deaths were registered in the quarter
ending on June 30, and this implied an annual
mortality at the rate of 2.086 per cent. The
mortality iu the districts containing the principal
towns was ut the annual rate of 2.323—that is
.125 less than 2.448, the average of the preceding
10 spring quar'ers. In the remaining district,
comprising chiefly small towns and country parishes
the reduction in the annual rate of mortality was
.210 ; it was 1.873, while the average rate of the
season was 2.083.
The deaths in London have fallen progres-
sively since 1855, notwithstanding the increase of
population, from 15,001 to 13,201 ; and the dimi-
nution has been proportionally sensible on the
south side of the Thames, where the improvement
in the water supply has been greatest. The
registrar of St. James, Bermondsey, notes that to
208 births there were 86 deaths. This district, he
says, " having suffered so fearfully during the pre-
valence of cholera, when the water supply was very
bad, and the open tidal ditches poisoned the atmos-
phere, it is very satisfactory to observe the excel-
lent state of health now existing, proving the
beneficial effects of good water, excellent drainage,
paving, cleansing, &c. ; and I may remark that, an
improvement is perceptible in the market gardens
and in the foliage generally since the partial abate-
ment of the smoke nuisance."
En Lambeth, Waterloo (Ist Part), the registrar
notes—births, 145 ; deaths, 55. The deaths are
about 20 below the 'average of the three preceding
"
- years. "I have a strong opinion," he says, re-
garding the unwhOlesomeness of the water we have
for years been drinking. There is now a marked
difference in the quality of the supply on this side
the river, though there is still occasionally room
for improvement. There has been no prevailing
epidemic."
The Registrar-General formerly called attention
to the effects of the bad water on the people of
London ; and the improvement in the public
ealth that has been the result fully establishes

[PRICE 4D. STAMPED 5 o

the corrOotnesi of his remarks. The effects of the
constant f,upply of.the best water that can be pro-
cured have yet to be registered.
In the Southern and the Eastern divisions the
deaths were fewer than in the spring of 1855, and
generally fewer than they were in the spring of
1856. Some partial epidemics of scarlatina, mea-
sles, whooping-cough, typhui, and smallp-x, how-
ever, are mentioned by . registrars of these
divisions. Two persons were killed by lightning
while taking shelter und'r a tree in Kiiitt,ury,
Hungerford.* At Chalfont, Amersham, one death
occurred in digging for chalk, this making the
fifth death ff om that calve within two yearA,
"owing to the careless mode of performing till
work." :

In the West Mid'and division, Yorkshire and
the northern rout-tiles, the number of deaths in
the spring of 1857 excee I the number of deaths in
the spring of 1855. In the north midland division,
in Cheshire and in Lancashire, the diminution in
.the numb rof deaths was not considerable. Among
the districts in which the deaths were in excess of
the deaths in the previous quarters may be enu-
merated Cheltenham, Ludlow, Bridgenorth, Leek,
Burton-upon-Trent, Lichfield, Wolverhampton
(1,000 deaths occurred here), Walsall, Westbrorn-
wich, Dudley. All the South Stiffordshire districts
are in an unsatisfactory sanitary state. The pottery
.districts of North Staffordshire have been recently
rupp'ied with good water, and their mortality has
fallen considerably. King's Norton, Coventry,
Hayfield, Chester (Great Broughton), gull; New- '
astle2upon-Tyne, have al go lost more lives.than-in•
the pr vions spring quarters.
Many districts of the country still suffer from
marsh malaria. In Malden' the Registrar says,
" Ague is very prevalent in Tollesbury, Goldhan-
eer, Tolleshunt-d'Arcy and its neighbourhood."
The lower levels of the basin of the Thames as high
up the stream as Oxford, and as low as Hoo and
Sheppey, suffer from malarious diseases in spring
and autumn. The mortality on the high grounds
at the sources of the Thames is at the average rate
of 17 and 18 annual deaths inl,oooliving ; in the low
flooded districts on its banks the mortality rises to
20, 21, 22, 23 id 1000 ; in Orsett, Essex, the mor-
tality is at the rate of 24 in 1,000 ; in Hoo, the
Isle of Grain, 24 ; and in Sheppey, containing
Sheerness, 24 in 1,000.
Thus in the marshy districts the mortality is
raised from 17, the natural state, to 24 in 1,000,
eifly in consequence of the noxious emanations
from a rich, ill-drained soil.
. Sheppey may be taken as a type of these dis-
tricts. The inhabitants have that pallid, blue
aspect which characterises aguish districts; they
frequently suffer from ague, and sometimes from
typhoid fever. A considerable number of men in
the Sheerness Dockyard, and in the ships on the
station, have been struck dawn and disabled by
fevers during the present year. Sheppey has its
high lands, but a large quantity of it is marsh,
drained imperfectly by ditches containing stag-
nant water and putrid vegetable and animal
matter. The owners of this property are
absentees, and `the tenants mostly commit
their farms to the care of a bailiff. No effort
is made at improvement by the small occupiers,
although experience has shown that the investment
of money in the deep effectual drainage of the
marsh is remunerative in a high degree. His Ex-
celleacy Lord Harris has published a highly inte-
resting statistical document showing the outlay and
receipts in detail on the Rayham farm, of 439
acres, in Sheppey, during the seven years ending
Michaelmas, 1856. 2,2001. has been obtained from
the Government Drainage Fund and expended on
the land during the last four years. After allowing
a liberal interest for all the money invested, the
profit, whioh was set down at 1411. in the first
year, rose progressively to 6931. ; and upon taking
the value from the inventory at the beginning and
end of last year, in connexion with the surplus of
the receipts over outgoings, 9721. remains as a
balance towards the rent of a farm in 1856, for
which a tenant could not be obtained at Michael-
mas, 1849, who would pay a higher rent than 1001.
The whole of this remarkable docuirentt deservEs
to be closely scrutinized and studied by all the
owners of the marsh land which now prejudices the
health of the inhabitants and deters people from
building in its neighbourhood. Sheerness should
be immediately drained and supplied with pure
water.

As a Government fund affords very proper facili-
Ves for the loan of money, drainage should be made
compulsory on the owners of the land in districts
which are so fatal to the inhabitants as Orsett,
Hoo' and Sheppey ; more particularly when the
naval force of the country is seriously impaired by
ill's standing insalubrity. It is evident that a large
portion of our naval reserve may be paralyzed by
ague and fever at the very time that it may be called
upon to fight. A force which lives in an aguish
atmosphere is necessarily enervated, and loses some
of its courage. It cannot be always ready to meet
the enemies of England at the gates of the Thames
and the Medway.

* The sub-district and district are designated by the
,wo names in this a►nd similar cases.

t Publidbed at Sittingbourne, Kent.

_HEALTH 07 LONDON DURING T.HE
WEEK.

(From the Report of the Registrar-general. )

. _
In the first three weeks of July the deaths regiss
tered in London were consecutively 988, 1,061, and
1,209 ; in the week that ended on Saturday (August 1)
they exhibit a further increase, the number being
1,238, of which 632 are deaths of males, and 606 those
of females. In the ten years 1847.56 the average number
of deaths in the weeks corresponding with last week was
1,138. But as the deaths of last week occurred in an
increased population, it is necessary, for the purpose of
comparison to raise the average in proportion to the
increase, in which case it will become 1,252, which
differs little from the number actually returned. The
average is derived, in part, from two seasons—viz.,
those of 1849 and 1854, when epidemic cholera bad
made progress ; and hence it may be inferred that the
mortality that prevails is high for a time when the
population is only subject to the ordinary sickness of
summer.
Last week the births of 843 boys and 830 girls, in all
1,673 children, were registered in London. In the ten
corresponding weeks of the years 1847.56 the average
number was 1,482.
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean
height of the barometer in the week was 29.870 inches.
The highest reeding was 3003 inches on Wednesday.
The moan temperature of the week was 65.6 degrees,
which is nearly 3 degrees below that of the two previous
weeks, but is 3.2 degrees above the average of the same
week in 43 years (as determined by )\lr. Glaisher). The
mean temperature was above the average on every day
except Sunday, July 26, on Friday it was 70.8 degrees,
which exceeds the average by 8.3 degrees. The highest
readings in the shade and the sun ocourred on that day,
the former being 83.4 degrees, the latter 109.4 degrees.
The lowest temperature was 49.5 degrees on Wednes-
day; and the tango of the week was 33.9 degrees. The
mean dew point temperature was 56•1 degrees, and the
difference between this and the mean temperature of the
air was 9 5 degrees. The temperature of the water of
the Thames rose to 71.4 degrees on Wednesday ; its
mean temperature in the week was 68'3 degrees. The
usual direction of the wind was south west. Rain to the
amount of 0.60 in. fell on Tuesday. It fell in heavy
showers, and was followed by a thunderstorm between I
and 8 o'clock a.tn.

MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS
NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM AIL CAUSES REGISTERED
IN THE WEEK FINDING SATURDAY, AUG. 1.
Zymotic Diseases
Diseases of Uncertain Seat '''''''''''''''' ............. ' 44
Tubercular Diseases ............... . ....
235
Diseases of the Brain, Nerves and Senses
Diseases of the Heart and Biood-vessels
Diseases of the Lv.ngs and other Organs of
Respiration .......................... 68
Diseases of the Stom &eh, Liver, and other Organs
of Digestion ............ ............................ 73
Diseases of the Sidi's
t ith ars, ........................ 16
e -Uterus, Sc.

Childbirth, Diseases
Bones,
Diseases of the Joint , and Museles
Diseases of the Skin, Ste.
sr
Malformations ......... 3
-id. Debility -••
20

Premature Birth an,
44
oC°A
Suddenit dr
P Ageh Y '
. '''
Cold,-c
Inter
43326

Violence,
Causes not specifie d
6

;mperance _

At ALL CAUSES
DEATHS Eitr 1,238
Population Deaths in corre- Deaths
Enumerated. sponding week in the
West Distrie' 1851. of 1856. Wee
0
376,427
North DiB4riets 490,396
CeLatral liistriets 393,256
Eas t D istricts 485,522 .. 215
Sou lb. MEtaricta

1,025

7.9,tav3
:Viales
Fomales
BIRTHS IN THE WEEK.

1,238
632
606

Males
Females

843
830
„--

.._.MAN... 1,6
Total

c
;521Z_
TELEGRAPHIC COAL R
The first symptoms of India Inlay ißßen
were telegraphed to all the headqual t r in
dostan, and Lord Canning was at (atc , en ,hle,:i to
take decisive steps and mike big policy in
drich an
emergency known to those through whom :xis orders
were to be carried out. One Resideiat issues a pro-
clamation, offering pardon on ceriaiik conditions ;
he is instructed by telegraph to with .raw it. Ano-
ther Resident takes energetic meal area tip quell the
spirit of insubordination ; the Governor-Gtneral
approves of his conduct.

- It is said that " the Telegraph bas s tved India."
Without . underrating its imporance a. the thst
outbreak, we may fairly ask how it assists in the
" maintenance of India ?" In that respect it has
signally failed, and failed for the very reason' which
those who disbelieve in the permanence of an over-
land telegraph to. India have. urged ovi-r and ever
again—the insecurity of such. a comm unication when
it becomes politically important. . .
The last mail steamer Iffft D imbay on the Ist of
July. The last news from De,liii ii dated. the 17th
.
June ; and even that is double t, the le ison gives
being
,t htahte
m telegraphicutineer
ah
avi n b
,
cut the wires.
communicAt!on
.is inter-
If a telegraph is important iii tlie•peiiceful, itdmi_
r uge
d
nistration of a country to keep root n, ir its ev(n
tenor, its non-existence during a cala'Aity which
risks the loss of an empire muss b., d, uhly seriouB,
and reflective minds unbiassed I,,,tecanical hobbies,
seeing the evil, will try and apply a retncd.y.
Telegraphic communication A ithin lod,a, is not
more important, nor so important, as between Eng-
land and India ; and the ch trees of inter..uptini
are certainly greater on territory net itnr.nediately
within our own control.

It is to be presumed that every of rt will now be
made to secure a telegraph between India and
Europe as rapidly as possible, and with th 3 be.*
guarantees of efficiency, particularly during any-
crisis whea its services are more than usually czoi
for. Two projects are before the pubic ; one down'
the Valley of the Euphratel-7,,jytea!td ; :o,e other
down the Red Sea—submarine. The Government,
or more properly the Treasury, support the former
—and upon what grounds ? Can it be so iner
made ? Will it be more efficient and ry?rm.tnent ?
Will it clst less ? We fearles4ly answer all three
conditions with a decided negative. The lied Sear,
line can be completed within twelve mon-he ; and
we add with regret it would have been in operation
six months ago hied not the Treasury, f,r steme un-
accountable reason, and when no other pr“ject was
before them, refused to enterta'n the question in
the same.spirit which the East India Company did.
The Euphrates line has as yet no concession from
the Porte; nor is it likely to obtain on-, because
the Porte cannot engage to protect th wires
against nomadic Arab' tribes who own no all.giance
to it, and will not allow alien; • establish a pro-
tecting force which may prove disastrous to the
rule they claim over this country, but vihich they
cannot enforce.

The Euphrates line is for 1,000 miles exposed to
wanton or accidental injury, and is certain to be in-
terrupted upon the least feud between one tribe and
another. The Red Sea line is submarine, and
touches only at places where a military garrison is
already established, and English or Ottoman rule
acknowledged and in full force.
The cost of the two routes as to estiblishment is
about the same ; the cost of maintenance groatly in
favour of the submarine line.

The Red Sea Telegraph Company were dis-
couraged by the Treasury two .years since ; they are
now again urging the question on Government,
and they offer to complete a telegraphic communi-
cation with Suez from Constantinopl.r this autumn,
and with Bombay from Suez by next autumn, go-
vernment support being contingent upon success.
This is no bubble project got up under the pres-
sure of the late news from India. All the neces-
sary Firmans are in the hand 4 of the company,
these Firmans have been obtained through the sup-
port of Lord Stratford de Redeliffe ; the Direction
is formed of influential monied men, wh.) are pre-
pared to carry out the engagements th-y enter in-
to ;_ and a Contractor is ready to make the cables
and take the risk of laying them. if the cold
breath of Treasury prejudice—or worse—bai not
blighted this undertaking two years sinca, a Tele-
graph to India would have been a reality, and its
absence would not now; I,e3n in every one's
mouth as a matter of regret. Are the same intim-
oboes to delay so vital a link by which t..) retain
India ; or have we at the head• of our government a
man who bas courage to upset intrigues meant to
gain selfish ends at the sacrifice of public interests
What we want is a Telegraph to India which shall
be efficient, and we want that quickly. The Eu-
phrates line cannot satisfy these conditions, and to
prove it refer to the best authority upon that
'country, and one whose hobby it has been for 20
years to see Mesopotamia utilised as a transit
route to India.

General Chesney, in a lecture rn the Euphrates
route to India, delivered at the United Service In-
stitution on the 31st ult., stated that he had refused
to connect himself with the Euphrates Telegraph,
because he did not 13.-lieve that isolated wires would
be secure ; that his hopes for the secinty of the
railway rested upon its being gradually brought
into operation, and its advantage being experimen-
tally demonstrated to the Anths—eumiiderations
which did not apply to the Telegraph. Lie added
that if the Telegraph were m ute, it must be by
establishing a permanent functionary of high rank
in Mesopotamia, by careful arrangements with the
Arab tribes, who would, neverthele:.s, be likely
constantly to increase their demands ; and that it
would, in any case, be a work of time, wh ht the
Red Sea line could be immediately established ;
and that he did not attach any weight to the
ob-
jections made to it. He concluded by stating tbat
he himself wished to see both lines made.—Daily
News.

The Bank of Amsterdam yesterday raised -their rate
of discount to 44 per cent. It had stood at 4 per cent
since the end of March.
CALCUTTA ITEMS, June 22.—The name of the officer
who died from apoplexy—i.e., sunstroke--on the march
to Barrackpore to disarm the Sepoys was Capt Clutter.
buck. It is reported in Calcutta that if the Queen of
Oude has left England she is to be stopped and arrested
at Galle. Another report was current that the King of
Delhi had taken poison, because he could not agree with
the mutineers ; but in all probability he had been assas-
sinated. Another report declares that he has been hanged
by the mutineers.
THE BRITISH STEAM MARINE. —The attention of
shipowners and merchants in the northern Atlantic
cities is now earnestly if not anxiously directed to wards
England, where stupendous efforts are making for an
immense increase in its steam marine. The following
article from the Ness York Journal of Commerce con'
tains many important and sugge.tive tact:a:n:lo;oe°
our contemporaries says that at this moment there is no
less than 300 steam propellers, ranging of
1,500 tons, building on the Clyde and iu the ports of
Great Britain. The steam-engine builders were never
more busy than at the present time, and we learn that
Napier, the celebrated steam-engine builder, hai more
work engaged than can b 3 executed by him for three
to come. This statement corresponds with a remark
which we heard a few years ago from an engineer on
the Gyde who recently arrived in this country. The iron
works of England and Scotland were fully occupied in
constructing steam propellers for foreign and domestic
service, and Napier was taking contrae.s three years in
advance. Side-wheel steamers were spoken of as likely
to be wholly superseded, no vessels of that description
being constructed. Meanwhile our ship-yards are de.
serted, and scarcely a single steamship .4 aiy size is
is playingbuilding i natt,
high Unitedgam e Satnadt eiss.
determinedEgland woitwt.t doubt,
euhbvot
et,
terotshsr7ort f
importations from England and F.rannicoe-itn
already been shown that two-fifths of the g
foreignp ; and
New York is by ocean steatner;
'rintenclent of the emi-
grantmore recently Mr. Kennedy,n
'the last six month, 18,460
sengers arriving here during
and that of 57 stratus rs bring.
were brought on steamers,
depot at Castle-garden, showedeuP that of BG,OBO pap.
18two were
States' flag against 35 under the Bri-
under the United.
• another sign of the times, it is stated that the
bah. As
l packet ship Columbia has h.,ets detained
in passengers during the last months only
the Liverpool
' since the let inst. on account of her ioability to complete
her engagements for a full cargo—the first instance in 30
years that any ship of the line to wh ch sl-ht belongs has
had to lay, over for so long a time after her regular day
of Washington Union.

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justicena ge , lfittoh
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_ .