The Sun. — 1868-08-05 (London, England)

THE PUBLIC HEALTH.  The Registrar-General's weekly return of births and deaths in London and in thirteen other large towns of the United Kingdom states that in the week that ended on Saturday, August 1, 4,416 births and 3,770 deaths were registered in London and in thirteen other large towns of  the United Kingdom. The annual rate of mortality was 31 per 1,000 persons living. The annual rate of mortality last week was 28 per 1,000 in London, 25 in Edinburgh, and 23 in Dublin ; 25 in Bristol, 39 in Birmingham, 36 in Liverpool, 36 in Manchester, 39 in Salford, 38 in Sheffield, 39 in Bradford, 39 in Leeds, 36 in Hull, 26 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and 30 in Glasgow. The rate in Vienna was 35 per 1,000 during the week ending the 25th ult., when the mean temperature was s'l deg. Fahrenheit higher than in the same week in London, where the rate was 31. The'mortality from diarrlicea sheaved a decline last week in London, but had further increased in several of the other large towns, especially in Birmingham and Liverpool. The annual death-rate from this disease during last week was 4 per 1,000 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 5 in Bristol, 6 in London, 9 in Bradford, 10 in Manchester and Hull, 11 in Liverpool, 12 in Salford, 13 in Sheffield, 14 in Leeds, and so high as 20 per 1,000 in Birmingham. There is little doubt that under a well-organised system for treating the disease in its earlier stages, this mortality would rapidly decrease, and the risk of the more dangerous choleraic forms would be reduced to a minimum. In London the births of 1,078 boys and 1,028 girls, in all 2,106 children, were registered in the week. In the corresponding weeks of ten years, 1858-67, the average number, corrected for increase of population, is 2,026. The deaths of 859 males and 806 females, in all 1,665 persons, were registered in London during the week. It was the thirty-first week of the year, and the average number of deaths for that week is, with a correction for increase of population, 1,583, The deaths in the present return exceed by 82 the estimated amount, but are less by 220 than the number recorded in the preceding week. The deaths from zymotic diseases were 691, the corrected average number being 638. Five deaths from smallpox, 46 from measles, 47 from scarlatina, 9 from diphtheria, 32 from whooping-cough, and 52 from fever were registered. Thirty-eight deaths from choleraic diarrhoea or cholera were recorded ; 27 fatal cases were those of children under 3 years of age ; 5 children who died were aged from 2 to 10 years, and 6 fatal cases occurred in adults. The deaths of G persons from sunstroke were recorded ; and in many cases the fatal termination ol diseases was stated to have been accelerated by the great heat. The deaths of 10 infants from syphilis, of 4 persons from burns or scalds, of 13 persons from drowning, of 8 infants from suffocation, of 6 persons who committee suicide, and of 4 persons who were killed by horses os carriages in the streets, were registered. At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height of the barometer in the week was 29.801 in. The barometrical reading increased from 29'51 in. on Tuesday, 28th July, to 30'16 in. on Saturday, Ist August. The mean tempo rature of the air in the week was 67'6 deg., Which is s'; deg. above the average of the same week in 50 year, (as determined by Mr. Glaisher). The highest day tempe rature was 90'1 deg. on Tuesday, 28th July. The lowest night temperature was 49'4 deg., on Saturday, Ist August The entire range of temperature in the week was, there fore, 407 deg. The highest reading of the thermometein the sun was 167'0 deg. on the 28th July.  Brighton intends to invite the British Associa tion to hold their next annual congress there.  It is claimed as a fact worthy of note that then( have been fewer persons apprehended during the Good wood Races this year than for several years past, as th following statistics will shew :—ln 1805, 12; in 1866, 10 in 1867, 21: in 1863, 8.  The announcement in a contemporary that se Vera gentlemen who have distinguished themselves as supporter of the Government would be advanced to the dignity o the peerage after the prorogation, is very premature Nothing of the kind will be done at present, and autum will be far advanced before any such question is taken int consideration by the Prime Minister and the Crown.Post.