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16
energetically enforced. I would also observe with reference to thi
subject, that bv statute it is rendered a penal offence to expose in thi
public thoroughfare any patient labouring under small pox. I consider tha
the very absence of this scourge from ievery effort to keep it from our doors, and that the public attention shoulc
be occasionally drawn by the authorities to the importance of doing so
births.
The number of births registered in the year was 1126, showing an exces
of births over deaths of 353.
I have the greatest pleasure in stating that the Board of Guardians hav<
kindly given me permission to inspect the medical relief book# at thi
workhouse, each Thursday, by which I am enabled to gain early informa
tion of prevailing sickness in the district.
meteorology.
The meteorology of the year has presented one or two striking
peculiarities,; extreme heat, extreme cold, and remarkably small rain fall,
although the number of days on which it fell has been above the average.
The mean temperature of the 13 weeks ending April 3rd, was 37*6, the
highest 67"0, the lowest 22'3 During the five consecutive weeks ending
March 13th, the weather was exceedingly cold, and the mean of each
week considerably below the average ; indeed the mean daily temperature
was below the average on every day except Feb. 13th, from Feb. 7th to
March 12th inclusive. The effect of this severity of weather was sensibly
shown in the mortality. The deaths which in January and February
were 108, rose in March and April to 152. The temperature of June was
remarkably high, the thermometer having tisen in the shade on the 16th
to 92'0. The lowest point obtained was 46'5, which occurred on the 28th.
Only *9th of an inch of rain fell during the month. Mr. Glaisher states that
" the mean temperature of this month has been but once exceeded since
the year 1771, a period of 87 years, viz., in the year 1846.." The
weather in November and December was exceedingly severe and
trying. In the former, frost and fog prevailed up to the 25th, the
thermometer having descended on the 24th to 18 5. The air was
remarkably stagnant throughout, except on the 14th and 15th. The general
direction of the wind was from north and east. Kain fell on the 25th,
and continued for several days. And heie again the mortality was
considerably influenced by atmospheric conditions, the number of deaths,
which in September and October were 116, rose in November and December
to 146, and this excess continued to be evidenced through the
succeeding month of January. No ozone was registered on 56 out of the
66 days occurring between October 14th and December 18th, inclusive, and
coincident with the absence of this oxydizing agent, much sickness existed.
In conjunction with Dr. Tripe of Hackney, I have been for some time
engaged in observations^ this important element, and we have found thrat
it is completely removed from the air which has passed over the Metropolis.
The total rain fall of the year was only 17 465 inches, and the
number of days on which it fell, 150.