The Sun. — 1860-04-26 (London, England)

HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE  WEEK.  (From the Report of the Registrar-General.) The deaths in London were 1,254 in the week  that ended last Saturday, and exhibited a decreaso on the number of the previous week, which was 1,407. In the ten years 1850-9 the average number of deaths in the weeks corresponding with last week was 1,073; but, as the deaths in the present return occurred in an increased population, they should be compared with the average raised iu proportion to the increase—namely, with 1,180. The comparison shows that the deaths of last week were more numerous by 104 than they would have been if the average rate of mortality for the middle of April had prevailed. Though the mean temperature of the air was rather higher than that of the previous week, the weather continued cold, and was remarkably cold on the last three days. In the last two weeks bronchitis has declined  'rom 208 deaths to 157; pneumonia from 116 to  • . 73 ; but phthisis continued fatal last week, the deaths from it being 181, while the corrected average is 154. Whooping-cough was fatal to 51 children, the corrected average being 60. The deaths from scarlatina were 26; those from diphtheria 11, of which 3 occurred in the sub-district of Plumstead. Those from measles rose to 33.  Smallpox was returned in 20 cases, 14 of which occurred to children, 6to adults. Medical informants are requested to return in all cases the primary as well as the secondary disease. Thus, when smallpox is followed by a secondary disease, the smallpox should be returned as the primary cause.  Of 13 deaths from suffocation returned last week, 11 were those of infants suffocated in the bedclothes. Three infants were murdered, or died  from neglect. Seven deaths were from burns. Of six persons who died from their clothes taking fire, one was a spinster, aged 22 years ; another war; man who had ben a banker's clerk, aged 80 years ; a third, the son of a mason's labourer, aged 4 years ; a fourth, the son of a leather finisher, aged 2 years ; a fifth, the daughter of a solicitor, 10 years; and a sixth, the son of a soldier, aged 6 years. Also a child was scalded by upsetting a saucepan. A photographic artist poisoned himself with cyanide of potassium, an instrument of death to which persons of that profession with suicidal intentions seem not seldom to resort. Last week the births of 923 boys and 834 girls, in all 1,757 children, were registered in London. In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 185059 the average number was 1,685. At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height of the barometer in the week was 29 926 in. The mean daily reading was above 30 in. on the first three days. The highest reading was 30.18 in., and occurred on Monday. The mean temperature of the air in the week was 42.3 deg., which is 4 deg. below the average of the same week in 43 years (as determined by Mr. Glaisher). The mean daily temperature was below the average on every day except Monday, and the air became so cold towards the end of the week that on the last three days the depression below the average was from 7 deg. to 9 deg. The thermometer in the shade attained its highest point, 6P2 deg., ma Monday, and it fell to its lowest, 30.8 deg., on Saturday. The range in the week was therefore 30.4 deg. ; the mean daily range was 18.7 deg. On Saturday the thermometer on the grass fell as low as 23 deg. On Monday and t wo following days the thermometer in the sun rose to 102 deg. and 104 dug. The mc au tonperature ef the water of the Thames way; 45.5 deg. The difference between the mean dew-point tetnperatu; e aid air temperature was 7.4 deg., showin,, the dryness of the air.