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63 degrees, or more than 3 degress in excess of the average temperature
of the season during the last 88 years." "The thermometer exceeded a
heat of above 90 degrees in the shade on four days, and for ten successive
days and nights the mean temperature of each 24 hours was above 70
degrees," which has not been paralleled since accurate records have been
kept. As regards the Summer Quarter of 1860 I wrote. "The weather
during this Quarter has been, taking it altogether, the most extraordinary
on record. The mean temperature for July was only 57.9 degrees; for
August, 58.0 degrees; and for September, 53.4 degrees;" making
together the coldest summer which has yet been recorded. In 1861 the
contrast was very great, the mean temperature for July having been 60.9
degrees; for August, 63.2 degrees; and for September, 57.1 degrees.
The deaths and temperature were greatest in 1859, smallest in 1860, and
intermediate in 1861. I have for many years pointed out the intimate
connection between the mortality and temperature, and especially as
regards this District, which being elevated, suffers more from change of
temperature than those which are lower. At the same time it must be
remembered that an elevated district is, upon the whole, more healthy
than a low-lying one. The practical deductions which I draw from this
comparison, and others I have previously made is, that the greatest
cleanliness should be observed at all times, but especially in hot weather,
that no house refuse should be allowed to accumulate, no unripe fruit
eaten, and the water butt frequently cleaned out. The poorer classes
suffer most from the diseases of hot weather, because their houses are
dirty, the drainage often neglected or carelessly damaged, the food
unwholesome, and their clothes worn too long without washing.
As above stated, there were 430 deaths in the District, of which 219
were males, and 211 females. Of these 28 died in Stoke Newington,
20 in Stamford Hill sub-district, 111 in West Hackney, 189 in Hackney,
and 82 in South Hackney sub-district. Against the 430 deaths there
were no less than 680 births, of which 354 were of males, and 326 of
females. Of these 35 were registered in Stoke Newington sub-district,
28 in Stamford Hill, 215 in West Hackney, 278 in Hackney, and 124 in
South Hackney sub-district.