The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-07 00:00:00

HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE

WEEK.

(From the _Report of the Registrar-General.)

In the week that ended on Saturday, Oct. 3, the
number of deaths registered in London was 1,087.
In the 10 years 1847-56 the average number of
deaths in the weeks corresponding with last week
was 1,136, which, if raised in proportion to increase
of population, becomes 1,250. The deaths from
diarrhoea last week were 79, being nearly the same
as in the previous week, when they were 83. There
were no deaths from cholera among adults ; but
two cases of infants who died of choleraic diarrhoea
are referred to this bead. A potman, aged 34
years, died in the Hackney Workhouse on Sept. 28,
of " natural decay, accelerated by want." On the
3d of July the wife of a serjeant committed suicide
with cyanide of potassium; on the 15th of July a
woman committed suicide with the same substance;
and on the 29th of August the son of a serjeant,
aged six years, was poisoned by it, the bottle which
Old it having been left within his reach. Cyanide
of potassium is used by soldiers for cleaning their
lace. Of six nonagenarians whose deaths are re-
turned, the oldest are two men, aged respectively
94 and 95 years, • and a woman who died in the
workhouse, Newington, at the age (as stated) of
105 years.
Last week the births of 916 boys and 849 girls,
in all 1,765 children, were registered in London.
In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1847-
56 the average number was 1,141.
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean
height of the barometer in the week was 29.868 in.
The mean temperature was 58.4 deg., which is 4.6
deg. above the average. The mean daily tempera-
ture was more or less above the average throughout
the week. The wind was generally in the south-
west. No rain fell except on Monday, when the
amount was 0.17 in.

Fourteen thousand two hundred and fifty-nine
persons died in the quarter that ended Sept. 26.
The number exceeds by nearly 200 that of the
same period in 1836. But if diarrhoea had not pre-
vailed more in the past summer than it did in
1856, other conditions being unaffected, the pre-
sent returns would have indicated a superior de-
gree of health. In the last three summers the
total deaths were (taking them in the order of
time) 13,042, 14,066, 14,259; and the deaths from
diarrhoea were 1258, 1610, 2343. The influence of
a particular disease in raising the total mortality,
which would otherwise be stationary or depressed,
is palpable in these numbers ; and a like increase is
traced in the deaths attributed to complaints of a
kindred character, and to some sporadic diseases
affecting the alimentary system. Dy-seute►y was
fatal in the threesuminersto 4(3, 73, and 84 persons ;
cholera to 106, 131, and 177 persons. To tabes.
mesenterica 262, 284, 333 deaths are referred ; to
disease of the liver 122, 143, 187 ; and under teeth
lug, though th• number decreased in 1856 from 141
to 122, it rose this summer to 163. The unusual
heat experienced in the first months of the quarter,
co-operating with agencies that are more under
control, has perhaps been mainly efficacious in pro
clueing these results ; but with the knowledge that
cholera has been lately infesting parts little re-
moved from our coast, it may be conjectured that
the epidemic virus extended itself in a milder form
beyond the immediate field of action, its advance in
force being only a question of time and opportunity.
The speculation may be futile, but the fdc•s must be
admitted, and supply a more than sufficient motive
for preparation. . .

The teat of the last quarter is its Wriking meteor-
ological feature, and will be described by stating
that the mean temperature was 63.6 deg., which is
3.5 deg. above the average, and that there was an
excess of the mean temperature above its average in
12 weeks out of the 13, and ou 71 days out of the
91. The result is a reduction in the mortality of
pulmonary diseases, particularly bronchitis and
pneumonia ; and it will be seen also that cephalitis,
apoplexy, and paralysis were less fatal than usual.

MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS