The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-27 00:00:00

HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE WEEK.

(From the Registrar-General's Weekly Return.)
In the week that ended last Saturday 1,214
deaths were registered, a number which is very
nearly the same as that of the previous return. The
average number of deaths as obtained from corre-
sponding weeks of ten previous years 1851-60, and
corrected for increase of population, is 1,432, and
the reduction of the mortality at the present time to
the extent of 218 deaths in a week below the esti-
mated number is to be regarded as a very favour-
able indication of the state of the public health.
The births of last week exceeded the deaths in
the same period by 766.
Seventy-five children, all of whom except 13 were
under three years of age, died of whooping-cough,
which at present is about twice as fatal as either
scarlatina or measles. Four infants and one adult
died of syphilitic disease. Twenty-six deaths
occurred from cancer. Bronchitis was fatal in 121
cases, and pneumonia in 59 ; the corrected average
for the former being 170, and that for the latter 108.
Of 9 fatal malformations 5 were cases spina bifida.
Two infants were murdered. The deaths of 9 nona-
genarians, one of whom was 94 years old, 3 were 95,
and 2 were 96 years, are recorded. Besides these
there is a centenarian, the widow of a carpenter,
who died at 6, Fashion-street, St. John's, Horsley-
down, on the 21st of March, at the age of 100 years.
9, on the 16th of
do f
fromM are,h, ,the
son of
con-
tinuous exposure to cold and damp ever since birth;
acute rheumatism (three weeks)." At 9, Princess-
street, Marylebone, on the 2d March, the daughter
of a cab-driver, aged 21 months, died from " natural
disease and want of sufficient nourishment ; no
default of parochial officers." (Inquest.) A man
aged 64 years was suffocated in the Strand Work-
house " by swallowing an orange."
Measles seems to prevail much in Kentish-town,
where 5 children died from it. Five died from
whooping-cough in the east sub district of Islington,
and 5 in St. John's, Westminster.
Last week the births of 991 boys and 989 girls, in
all 1,980 children, were. registered in London. In
the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1851-60
the average number was 1,74
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean
height of the barometer in the week was 29 375 in.
Tile readings rose to 29.85 in. on Sunday, and fell
to 28.81 in. on Tuesday. The mean temperature of
the air in the week was 41.3 deg., which is 0.6 deg.
below the average of the same week in 43 years (as
determined by Mr. Glaisher). The thermometer in
the shade fell to 31.8 deg., the lowest point in the
week, on Sunday, and rose to its highest point
57.3 deg. on Saturday. The entire range in the
week was therefore 25.5 deg. The mean daily range
was 15.8 deg. The range on the last two days was
about 20 deg. The difference between the mean dew
point temperature and air temperature was 2.3 deg.
The mean degree of humidity of the air was 94.
complete saturation being representedby 100,which
point was closely approached on Wednesday and
Saturday. The wind blew almost exclusively from
W. and S.W. Rain fell on four days, but chiefly on
Sunday and Wednesday, the total amount being
0.69 in. Showers of sleet, hail, and rain fell on the
: afternoon of Thursday. The mean temperature of
the water of the Thames was 43.8 deg.