The Sun.
London, England, 1850-04-04 00:00:00

BIRTHS IN THE WEEK.

Males ... ... ... ... ... 711
Ftmales ... ... ... ... ... 720

Total ... ...1,431
*ln this number are included 15 by Scarlatina, 39
by Typhus Fever. end 12 by Dierrham.

I.IEALTH of LONDON during the WEEK.
(From the Registrar-General's Returns.)
In the week ending last Saturday, 1,167 deaths
were registered in the metropolis. In the 10 cerres-
ponding weeks, namely, the thirteenth in each of the
years 1840-9, the _average number of deaths was
1,054, or corrected for increase of population, was
1,150,; there iF, therefore, an apparent excess of
mortality in last wei k above the average, but it
amounts to only 17. The weekly number, of
deaths has continuously increased during the
,last month, as the returns which follow, com-
mencing with the first week of March will show ;
the deaths were succesively. 875, 967, 1,026, and
1,167. Part of the great increase in the last return is
due to the augmented mortality of diseases that affect
the organs of respiration, for in this class the deaths
registered last week are 252 (namely, from bronchitis,
113 ; from pneumonia, 88 ; from asthma, 29 ; from
laryngitis, pleurisy, and other diseases of the respita,
tory organs, 22): This class numbered in the pre-
vious week 231 ; and in both weeks the numbers are
much above the average, which is not more than 184.
The extraordinary coldness of the weather serves to
explain this result. From consumption there were in
the previous week 135, and in the last 115 ; in both
there were considerably less than the corrected
average, which is about 150. In the epidemic class,
small-pose and scarlatina are still less fatal than
usual, especially the latter ; meazles, booping-
cough, and typhus, from which there were last
week 19, 44,,and 39 respectively, show about the or-
dinary amount of fatality; seven persons died of'
influeoz3, being an .increase; 13 of diarrhea and
dysentery, which is less than in the previous week,
but more than the average. But the excess in last
return over the weeks immediately preceding is only
to a small extent, caused by an increased rate of mor-
tality ; coroners' cases, many of which were not duly
registered during the quarter as they occurred, but
were kept in reserve till the end of it, swell the ac-
Count. These chiefly consist of deaths from fractures,
wounds, burns and scalds, hanging, drowning, and
poison, amounting, in the present case, to 91, of which
only 10 cccurred in the week, and of 52 " sudden"
deaths, cf which the cause's had not been sufficiently
ascertained, or are impropely returned, and of which
only six occurred in the week. Amongst others are
five children suffocated in bed or on the mother's
breast, three persons who died of intemperance, and a
man from exposure to cold. The following is an
analysis of the week's returns :
Deaths certified by written statements of qua-
lified practitioners ...
Deaths not certified by medical attendants, or
not reported as certified ...
Deaths not certified because the deceased had
no medical attendance
Deaths returned by coroners

946

..• ... Is
.. 185

t derths registered in
f coroners, and fatal
LoFndroorno wt•hitishtatbhlee istigaPti Total
pt
l
diseases registered under the authority of medical
certificates, are to the whole number in the proportion
of nearly 97 per cent.
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean
daily reading of the barometer was above 30 in. on
Friday ; the mean of the week was 29.746. The
mean temperature of the week was 35'9 deg., and was
throughout lower than the average of the same week
in seven years ; from Sunday to Thursday inclusive.
this decrease en the average fluctuated between 9
deg. and 13 deg. Taking the corresponding weeks
of ten previous years (1840-49)1 Appears that it