The Sun. — 1859-02-23 (London, England)

HEALTH OF LONDON .DURING THE WE.EK.  (From the Registrar-General's Report.)  The returns for London exhibit a comparatively satisfactory state of the public health. The deaths registered; which in the previous week were 1,274, declined to 1,156 in the week that ended last Saturday. In the 10 years, 1849-58, the average number of deaths in the weeks corresponding with last week was 1,178; but as the deaths in the present return occurred in a population which has increased, they should be compared with the average after it is raised in proportion to that increase--namely, with 1,296. The result of the comparison is that 140' persons survived last week whose deaths would have been placed on the registers if the mortality had been equal to the average rate for this period of the year. The mortality from scarlatina and diphtheria showed a decrease in the first week of the present month, but it has been stationary since that time. The deaths from these two diseases last -week were 90, the corrected average for corresponding weeks being 36. Diphtheria was recorded in 21 cases, which occurred in the following sub-districts : One in St. Mary's, Paddington ; one in Chelsea, north-east ; two in Belgrave, one in Long-acre, one in Golden-square, one in Regent's-park, one in Tottenham-court-road, one in Gray's-inn-lane, one in • Kentish-town, one in St. Mary-le- Strand, one in London City, north-east ; one in Ratcliff, one in St. Saviour, one in St. Olave, one in London-road, one in Trinity, Newington ' • two in Peckham, one in Woolwich Dockyard, and one in Lee. A girl diedifrom diphtheria last week at 7, Rush-grove, Woolwich, and it appears that six children, five of whom were in one family, have died in that house from the same disease since January 3. It is satisfactory to observe that smallpox was less fatal last week, the deaths, which had risen to 29, having again declined to 13. Seven children died of syphilitic disease; two persons from internperance, five infants from malformations, two by murder. Five minagenarians, all women, were registered ; the oldest was a widow, aged 96 years. Last week the birth of 996 boys and 944 girls, in all 1,940 children, were registered in London. In the 10 corresponding weeks of the years 1849-5.8 the average number was 1,662. At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height of the barometer in the week was 29.991 inches. The mean daily reading was above 30 inches on three days. The barometrical readings varied from 29.69 inches on Sunday to 30.25 inches on Saturday. The mean temperature of the week was 45.1 deg., which is 6'9 deg. above the average of the same week in 43 years (as determined byMr. Glaisher). The mean daily temperature was above the average throughout the week, and on Wednesday and Thursday this excess was equal to about 12 deg. The thermometer in the shade reached its highest point, 59 deg., on Wednesday, and fell to its lowest, 33.2 deg. on Saturday. The range of the week was therefore 25.8 deg. The mean daily range was 14.7 deg. The difference between the mean dew point temperature and air temperature was 5.1 deg. The mean temperature of the water of the Thames was 44.3 deg. The wind blew generally from the south-west. On Friday it was in the north-west. On Wednesday the horizontal movement of the air was 255 miles, and on that day the wind reached a maximum pressure of 121 b. on the square foot. The amount of rain in the week was not more than o'o9 in ches.