The Sun. — 1859-12-14 (London, England)

HEALTH OF LONDON DURING TILE WEEK.  (From the Report of the Registrar-General.)  The return of deaths in London in the week that ended last Saturday exhibits a small decrease on the numbers of the two previous weeks, which a little exceeded 1,300, while that tow given is 1,289. In the 10,years 1849.58 the.average number of deaths in the weeks corresponding with last week was 1,221; but as the deaths now registered occurred in a population which has increased, they should be compared with the average raised in proportion to the increase—namely, with 1,343. , The comparison shows that the 1,289 deaths of last week were less by 54 than the number that would have occurred if the average rate of mortality for the first week of December kad prevailed. The births of last week exceeded the deaths in, • the same time by 549. The fatal cases of smallpox recorded last week were 40, of which 29 occurred under 10 years of age, 1 at 10 years and under 15, 3 at 15 and under 20 years, and 7at 20 and under 40 years. Seven deaths from the disease occurred in the Smallpox Hospital. Of 31 deaths from measles, 5 occurred in the Green sub-district of Bethnal-green. Eightytwo deaths are referred to scarlatina, and 15 to diphtheria. From the former disease 9 occurred in Islington,land 7in Mile-end Old Town. The deaths from bronchitis were 181, of which two-thirds occurred to persons who were 40 years old and upwards. The greatest age recorded in the week's returns is that of a widow, who died at the age of 93. Twelve persons died.by suicide r 2 infants by murder, 5 by suffocation, 28(from having been born prematurely. Four deaths ,were the direct result of intemperance. Of bricklayers 3 died in the week,sof bricklayers' wives 2, ok bricklayers' children 5 ;' of carpenters 8 died, of carpenters' wives 2, of carpenters' children 28; of masons 1 died, of masons' wives 1, of masons' children ,2 ; of painters 9 died, of painters' wives 3, .of painters' children 11 ; of plasterers 1 died; of plasterers' children 4. Last week'the 'births of 920 boys and 918 girls, in all 1,833 children, were registered in London In the 10 corresponding weeks of the years 1849-58 the average number was 1,585.  At the—Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height of the barometer iu the week was 29.923 inches. The daily barometrical reading rose steadily on the last five days, and was above 3t) inches on the last three days. The barometry fell to 99.21 inches on Monday, and rose to 30.59 inches on Saturday, being the lowest and highest points respectively in the week. The mean temperature of the air in the week was 4P3 deg., which is 6.4 deg. above the average of the same week in 43 years (as determined by Mr. Glaisher). The thermometer fell to 26.9 deg. on Sunday, or 5.1 deg. below the freezing point of water, and rose to 55.5 deg. on the next day, these being the lowest and the highest in the week. The entire range in the week was therefore 28.6 deg. The mean daily range was 12.1 deg. The, temperature fell towards the end of the week. The mean temperature of the water of the Thames was 411 deg. The difference between the mean-dew temperature and air temperature was 2 4 deg. The mean degree of humidity of the air was 92. The wind blew from the southwest in the earlier half of the week ; afterwards chiefly from the south-east and east. Rain fell to the amount of 0.41 inches, most of it on Monday.