vital statistics

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used, we may confidently hope for a further reduction ofzymotic mortality in Bristol.Cork -During the four weeks ending January 27th there

were 196 births recorded and 180 deaths. The annual death- Irate per 1000 inhabitants gives a total ratio of mortality of 29 ’0,but deducting those (40) who died in the workhouse, the death-rate will then stand at 23’4. These figures, when comparedwith those for the corresponding period of last year, showthat the ratio of mortality has been somewhat increased,the urban death-rate being then 19’3, as compared with 23’4.

THE HOMERTON HOSPITAL.

To meet the requirements of the Local Government Boardin respect of the arrangements adopted in the HomertonHospital for the more complete separation of the fever casesfrom those of small-pox the committee have decided that thebest plan would be to devote such part of the small-poxhospital as was certified for ninety-six cases of a mixedcharacter to the accommodation of forty severe cases ; to

provide separate entrances for the two classes of patients,and separate administrative entrances ; also waiting-roomsand stewards’ offices apart from the hospital proper. Theacquisition of adjacent ]and for the establishment of anambulance station was recommended.

VITAL STATISTICS.

HEALTH OF ENGLISH TOWNS.

In twenty-eight of the largest English townq, 5939 birthsand 3611 deaths were registered during the week ending the17th inst. The annual death-rate in these towns, which hadbeen equal to 23-7 and 23 5 per 1000 in the two precedingweeks, declined last week to 21’9. Daring the first sevenweeks of the current quarter the death-rate in these townsaveraged only 22’7 per 1000, against 28’1, 254, and 25-3in the corresponding periods of the three years 1880-1-2.The lowest rates in these towns last week were 15’3 inBirkenhead, 17’4 in Brighton, and 18’1 in Leicester. Therates in the other towns ranged upwards to 26’5 in Hudders-field, 26’9 in Wolverhampton, 27’2 in Liverpool, and 27’5 inHull. The deaths referred to the principal zymoticdiseases in these twenty-eight towns, which had been 411and 383 in the two previous weeks, further declined to341 last week, and were ’fewer than in any week since thebeginning tof 1882 ; 100 resulted form whooping-cough, 76from scarlet fever, 74 from "fever " (principally enteric),30 from measles, 29 from diarrhoea, 3 from diphtheria,and 9 from small-pox. No deaths from any of thesezymotic diseases were recorded either in Norwich or Birkenhead, whereas they caused the highest death-rates in Blackburnand Hull. Whooping-cough was proportionately most fatalin Halifax and Hull; scarlet fever in Sheffield and Blackburn;and " fever " in Preston, Halifax, and Blackburn. The 23deaths from diphtheria in the twenty-eight towns, included 14 Iin London, 2 in Birmingham, 2 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and2 in Sunderland. Small.pox caused 3 deaths in London,3 in Birmingham, 2 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and one inSunderland. The number of small-pox patients in themetropolitan asylum hospitals, which had been 93 and97 on the two preceding Saturdays, were 95 at theend of last week ; 15 new cases of small-pox were

admitted to these hospitals during the week, against15 and 18 in the two previous weeks. The HigbgateSmall-pox Hospital contained 9 patients on Saturday last,no new case having been admitted during the week. Thedeaths referred to diseases of the respiratory organs in Lon-don, which had increased from 369 to 390 in the three pre-ceding weeks, further rose to 401 last week; these, however,were no fewer than 196 below the weekly average. Thecauses of 95, or 2’7 per cent., of the deaths in the twenty-eight towns last week were not certified either by a registeredmedical practitioner or by a coroner. All the causes ofdeath were duly certified in Portsmouth, Cardiff, Norwich,and in three other smaller towns. The proportions of un-certified deaths were largest in Leicester, Oldham, Hudders-field, and Preston.

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HEALTH OF SCOTCH TOWNS.

The annual rate of mortality in the eight Scotch towns,which had been equal to 26 3 and 28 per 1000 in the twopreceding weeks, declined to 25-8 last week, but exceeded by

3’9 the mean rate in the twenty-eight English towns. Therates in the eight towns ranged from 18’1 in Aberdeen to29’3 in Glasgow and 29’6 in Dundee. The deaths in theeight towns included 88 which were referred to the principalzymotic diseases, showing a decline of 12 from the number inthe previous week ; these deaths were equal to an annualrateof 4’0 per 1000, which was nearly double the rate from thesesame diseases in the large English towns. Whooping.cough was again lastweekthe most fatal zymotic disease in theScotch towns, and caused 46 deaths, being 4 less than thenumber in the previous week ; these included 24 in Glas.gow and 12 in Dundee. The 12 deaths referred to diph.theria showed a decline from the numbers in recent weeks,and included 6 in Glasgow, and 2 both in Edinburgh andAberdeen. The 12 fatal cases of scarlet fever, of which9 occurred in Glasgow and 2 in Edinburgh, correspondedwith the number in the previous week. The 8 deaths reoferred to " fever" were 5 below the number in the previousweek, and included 5 in Glasgow. The 10 deaths attributedto diarrhoea, were below the average for the season. Fourof the 7 fatal cases of measles were returned in Glasgowand 2 in Edinburgh. The deaths referred to acute diseasesof the lungs in the eight towns, which had been 153 and 164in the two previous weeks, were 165 last week, and exceeded by34 the number from these diseases in the corresponding weekof last year. The causes of 107, or more than 17 per cent.,of the deaths registered last week in the eight towns werenot certified.

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HEALTH OF DUBLIN.

The rate of mortality in Dublin, which had been equalto 34’0 and 37’9 per 1000 in the two preceding weeks, furtherrose to 39’1 in the week ending the 17th inst. During thefirst seven weeks of the current quarter, the death-rate inthe city averaged no less than 33’2 per 1000, against 21’0 inLondon and 22 0 in Edinburgh. The 262 deaths in Dublinlast week showed a further increase of 8 upon the highnumbers in recent weeks ; they included 17 which were re-ferred to whooping-cough, 11 to "fever," 3 to diarrhoea,and not one either to small-pox, measles, scarlet fever, ordiphtheria. Thus 31 deaths were recorded from these prin-cipal zymotic diseases, against 32 and 31 in the two previousweeks ; they were equal to an annual rate of 4’6 per 1000,which was more than double the rate that prevailed from thesame diseases either in London or in Edinburgh. The fatalcases of whooping-cough, which had been 16 and 11 in the twoprevious weeks, rose to 171ast week. The 11 deaths referred to"fever," although showing a decline of 3 from the number inthe previous week, were equal to a rate far exceeding thatwhich prevailed from the same cause either in London orin Edinburgh. The deaths attributed to diarrhoea werefewer than in recent weeks. The causes of 49, or nearly19 per cent., of the deaths during the week were notcertified.

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THE SERVICES.

ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. -Brigade Surgeon CharlesMoore Jessop, from half-pay, to be Brigade Surgeon, viceJ. S. Comyn, M.B., granted retired pay.BENGAL MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENT. — Surgeon Charles

Henry Beatson has been restored from the half-pay list tothe effective list.ADMIRALTY. - The following appointments have been

made :-Staff Surgeon Henry Scott Lauder, to the Valiant,vice Henry F. Norbury, C.B.; J. D. Gaff, M.D., to beSurgeon and Agent at Ardrossan; Mr. Donald R. M. Murray,to be Surgeon and Agent at Leith, vice Mr. Alexander R.Coldstream.

HUNTERIAN SOCIETY. -At the annual generalmeeting of this Society, held on the 14th inst., the followingwere elected officers for the ensuing year: - President:W. Rivington, M.S. Vice-Presidents : Dr. A. L. Galabin,Mr. Waren Tay, Mr. M. Brownfield, and Mr. R. ClementLucas. Treasurer : Dr. H. 1. Fotherby. Librarian : Mr. P.L. Burchell. Orator: Dr. George Roper. Secretaries:Messrs. G. E. Herman and Charters J. Symonds. Council :Drs. J. Hughlings Jackson, W. Talbot King, StephenMackenzie, H. Port, F. C. Turner; Messrs. J. McCarthy, F.M. Corner, E. Dukes, T. R. Fendick, E. G. Gilbert G. J.B. Stevens, and W. C. Toulmin.