The Sun. — 1853-06-08 (London, England)

HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE WEEK.  The registrar's report says :—The present return exhibits a lower amount of mortality in the metropolis than has been observed in any previous week since January. The deaths registered last week were 1,023, which is about a hundred less than in the week immediately preceding. In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1843-52 the average number was 892, which with a correction for increase of population becomes 981. Hence it appears that the 1,023 deaths now returned exceed the calculated amount by 42. The recent decrease is generally apparent throughout the table of fatal diseases, but is most considerable in those affecting the respiratory organs. This class has declined in the number of fatal cases to 129, of which 63 are referred to bronchitis, and 42 to pneumonia. Phthisis, which numbers 152, maintains its preponderance in the list. Typhus has declined in the last two weeks from 53 to 41, diarrhcea from 32 to 21, measles increased from 19 to 28 ; with these exception, zymotic diseases discover no important fluctuation. The following case of cholera was registered in the week : •  On the 27th May, at Saint Mary's Hospital, Paddington, a labourer, aged 49 years, from Brook-mews, Paddington, died of "cholera (3 days as far as known) ; only well marked the last 25 hours." Post mort.  With reference to two deaths from cholera, which have been registered in the sub-district of Fulham, since the registration of last week was completed, Mr. Knight, the registrar, writes as follows :—" I beg to state that I have this day (sth June), registered one of two children who died at 11, Palace-place, one according to certificate from cholera infantum ; the other, I believe, from the same disease. They were nurse children, and the female who had care of them only came to reside at Fulham on Saturday, 28th April, from Putney, when the children were well. The house in which they died is a new one. The woman herself is very poorly, and if this disease spread I should consider that I had not done my duty if I had not taken the earliest opportunity to give information."  At 101, Queen's-head-lane, Islington, on Ist June, the daughter of a house-painter, aged six years, died of " scarlatina maligna, effusion into pericardium, exhaustion." Mr. Butterfield, the registrar, states that "this is the third death from scarlatina within a month in this family, and the fourth in the house. The drains are defective."  On 29th May, at 6, Great Stanhope-street, May-fair, a carver, aged 38 years, "drowning, suicide, when insane, found dead," in a tub of water. Inquest. Dr. Walsh, the registrar, adds—" The widow states that this man had been under private medical treatment for symptoms of insanity. Very early on the morning of his death he went out with a friend, saying he feared he should do his wife some mischief, applied for admission at Bethlehem and St. George's Hospitals, and, not succeeding, nearly killed his companion, then climbed a hoard, and put his head into the shallow water tub of the plasterers." The following additional cases are selected from the return of the week :—On 30th May, at 13, Circus-street, Marylebone, the son of a domestic servant, aged 3 weeks, " pemphigus (12 days), jaundice (9 days)." In the Clapham-road, a gentleman, aged 68 years, "carbuncles (4 months)." In Belgrave sub-district, a lady, 83 years, " 'carbuncle (14 days), erysipelas (24 hours)." In St. George's Hospital, a woodcutter, 54 years, "wound of finger, secondary suppuration, inlammation of lungs." Post mort. The disease in the finger began as a carbuncle, or whitlow, and was opened before going into the hospital. At 47, Sidney-street, Islington, a brickmaker, aged 53, died from "wound of the hand from glass whilst engaged in moulding bricks ; locked jaw (4 days)." A boy and a girl, twins, were born prematurely ; one was stillborn, the other lived 3 days ; the mother had been residing at Holloway, and premature labour was brought on by hearing of a murder being committed in the neighbourhood. A journeyman carpenter, aged 44 years, died from "the bursting of a pharyngeal abscess into the windpipe." Post mort. At Bermondsey, New-road, a coach-painter, aged 47 years, died of " carditis combined with gastritis (5 days)." The medical attendant states that " the attack was caused by drinking cold liquids whilst in a state of great heat and perspira,tion.At Lewisham, on 28th May, the daughter of a wheelwright, aged 18 years, died of " confluent small-pox (25 days)." She had not been vaccinated, but had small-pox previously some years ago. In King's College Hospital, a banker's clerk, aged 29 years, died of "epilepsy depending on tumour in the brain." Post mort. He had 35 fits in the last twelve hours before he died. On 2nd April at 9, Blue-gate fields, Shadwell, a child, aged six months, died from "impure air in an over-crowded room." Inquest. A woman, aged 46 years, died from cancer ; she had concealed her disease, and neglected to call in medical aid. Last week the births of 758 boys and 686 girls, in all 1,444 children, were registered in London. The average number in eight corresponding weeks of-1845-52 was 1,384.  At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height of the barometer in the week was 29.880 in. The mean temperature was 51.8 deg., which is 4.8 deg. less than the average of the same week in 38 years. The mean daily temperature was below the average on every day of the week. The wind was in the north.