The Sun. — 1861-01-30 (London, England)

HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE WEEK.  (From the Registrar-Gelerar s Weekly Return.) Notwithstanding the late mildness of the weather, the effects of the cold that preceded it are still legible in large characters in the registers of mortality. The number of deaths in London returned for the week that ended last Saturday, is 1,783, and exhibits a decrease which is not very considerable, on that of the previous week, 1,926. The mean temperature of the air at Greenwich, which had been below the average on every day since the Ist inst., rose above it on Sunday, the 20th, and, with the exception of two days, continued above it during last week. On the last two days the mean temperature was nearly 10 degrees above the average. The average number of deaths as obtained from corresponding weeks of ten previous years 1851-60, and corrected for increase of population, is 1,330. The 1,783 deaths of last week therefore show an excess of 453 over the estimated number. The deaths from diseases of the respiratory organs, exclusive of phthisis, were 702 in the preceding week ; they decreased to 545 last week. Bronchitis was fatal last week in 354 cases ; the corrected average of corresponding weeks is 161. Pneumonia numbered 117 against an average of 97; and asthma 46 against 25. The deaths from phthisis or consumption were 171, the average being 151. Half of the deaths from bronchitis occurred at 60 years of age and 'upwards. Whooping-cough exhibits a considerable increase on the former returns, for the deaths from it in the two previous weeks having been 72 and 83 they rose last week to 108. Nine persons, aged 90 years and upwards, are recorded," the two oldest of whom, both women, were aged respectively 96 and 97 years. Five infants and an adult died of syphilitic disease ; four persons from intemperance as the direet cause; two infants were murdered. Of 21 deaths from burns and scalds seven were caused by the clothes taking fire. Of the remaining 14 it is very probable that many others occurred inconsequence of clothes taking fire, though the circumstance is not stated in the returns. A man who died from this cause received the injury when in a state of intoxication. No less than 18 children were suffocated. 16 of these in _hed _ it carman, aged 18 years, died in St. Mary's Hospital from frost bite.  Last week the births of 1,034 boys and 944 girls —in all 1,978 children—were registered in London. In the 10 corresponding weeks of the years 185160 the average number was 1,749. At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height of the barometer in the week was above 30089. On five days the mean reading was 30 inches. The barometrical readings fell fr0m:30.34 inches on Monday to 29 77 inches on Friday. The mean temperature of the air in the week was 41 deg, which is 3.5 deg above the average of the same week in 43 years, as determined by Mr. Glaisher. The thermometer in the shade rose to 53 deg on Friday, the highest point in the week ; it fell to its lowest point, 31.7 deg on the previous day. The range of the week was therefore 21.3 deg. The mean daily range was 9.3 deg. The difference between the mean dew point temperature and air temperature was only 1.7 deg. The mean degree of humidity of the air was 94, complete saturation being represented by 100, which point was nearly approached on each of the first four days. The wind blew almost constantly from the south-west. The rain in the week did not exceed 8-100ths of an. inch. There was magnetic disturbances on Tuesday and on subsequent days of the week. The mean temperature of the water of the Thames was 35.5 deg.