View report page

15
reasonable penalties as they think fit, not exceeding forty shillings, for each
breach of such bye-laws. Would it not be quite within the meaning of this
proviso that they should legislate for the cleansing of mews, and the removal
of dung from them? If so, I certainly think they should be urged to make such
bye-laws.
WORKHOUSE.
The number of deaths in this building has been 376, last year it was 438,
and in 1857 it was 347. There were 8 deaths from Measles, instead of 39 in
1858, 3 from Scarlatina, 2 from Diphtheria, 9 from Hooping Cough, 4 from
Diarrhoea, and none from Low Fever. The number of births was 196, of
which 27 were stillborn children, and do not appear on the Register. The
deaths under the age of 5 years numbered 53.
The number of cases under the care of the District Surgeons is given in
Table VII.; and compared with the same number in 1858, it will be seen that
the total number of cases was a little lower, that there were fewer cases of
Measles, Scarlet Fever, Hooping Cough, and more cases of Small Pox, Diarrhoea,
and Low Fever. Nearly half of the cases of Small Pox occurred in the North
District, and more than one-third of the cases of Measles, and a quarter of the
Diarrhoea, in the same District.
METEOROLOGY.
The average temperature of the year 1859 was 50.8, which is 2°.3 above the
average of 88 years, and l°.6 above that of 18 previous years. The first or
winter quarter was much milder than usual, being 40.9 above the average of 88
years. The second or spring quarter was also warmer than usual, being 1°.6
above the average. The third or summer quarter was also hotter than usual,
being 3°.3 above the average. The fourth or autumn quarter was a little
colder than usual, being half a degree below the average of 88, and 1°.3 below
the average of 18 years. The mean daily range of temperature was 160.6, being
0o-9 more than the average of 18 years. The humidity of the air was 80°, being
2 degrees less than the average. The mean height of the barometer was 29.772,
a small fraction lower than usual. Rain fell to the amount of 25.9 inches,
which was six-tenths of an inch more than the average. The number of nights
on which the thermometer fell below 30° was 96, and on which it was between
30 and 40 degrees was 88.
The whole of the above items are from the records kept at Greenwich.
As compared with 1858, the year was much warmer, especially the winter
and summer quarters; there was a lower daily range of temperature, so that
extreme sudden transitions from heat to cold and cold to heat were less frequent.
The mildness of the winter explains the great reduction in the number of deaths
from Bronchitis and Pneumonia. The heat of the summer will probably account
for the increased fatality of Diarrhoea; and to the extreme heat of the same
must be ascribed three deaths registered as from coup de soleil or sunstroke, which
does not often appear on our Registers as a cause of death. During the two
preceding years, 1857 and 1858, there had been a great deficiency of rain below
the average, whilst in 1859 there was a small excess; and in the second quarter
of 1860 there appears to be a still greater excess.
I have the honor to remain, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
THOMAS HILLIER.
21, Upper Gower Street,
June 26th, 1860.