BY THE REV. R. F. WHEELER, M.A. 



393 



Elsdon on the 1st, 9tli, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 21st, 22nd, 

 23rd, and 26th ; at Stamfordham on the 1st, 2nd, and 10th ; 

 at Horsley near Wylam on the 1st, 2nd, 8th, 10th, 17th, 26th, 

 27th, 28th, 29th, and 31st; at Sunderland on the 9th, 10th, 

 11th, and 12th; at Seaham on the 2nd, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 

 14th, 26th, and 27th; at Darlington on the 10th, 11th, 13th, 

 27th, and 28th ; at Greta Bridge on the 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 

 14th, 16th, 16th, and 27th; at Middlesbro' on the 2nd, 10th, 

 and 11th. 



Hail fell at Byrness on the 20th ; at Horsley near Wylam on 

 the 4th, 11th, 26th, and 29th ; at Seaham on the 2nd, 18th, and 

 27th ; at Middlesbro' on the 2nd, 10th, and 27th ; at Greta 

 Bridge on the 28th and 29th. 



The Registrar General reports that the winter of 1869, al- 

 though the mean temperature was in excess of the average, 

 was not favourable to the public health, for in addition to an 

 epidemic of scarlet fever, trying and exceptional climatic condi- 

 tions prevailed. " The winter just gone affords another example 

 of the effect of the vicissitude of temperature on the health of 

 the people, and warns those who are very susceptible to such 

 variations to endeavour, in their manner of life, to counteract in 

 some measure the severity of the climatic changes experienced 

 in an English winter. The period of life when the greatest sus- 

 ceptibility to a fatal attack of bronchitis exists is after sixty-five ; 

 but at forty-five and under fifty-five the increase is remarkable, 

 as also the high rate of mortality in infancy. ' ' 



The estimated population of the largest towns in Northumber- 

 land and Durham, and the respective death-rates for the first 

 quarter of 1869 was as follows : — 





Estimated 

 Population. 



Deaths. 



Annual Rate 

 to 1000 living 

 for first three 

 months, 1869. 



Newcastle (Borough boundaries) 



Sunderland (Municipal boundaries)... 

 South Shields ditto 

 Gateshead ditto 

 Tyuemouth ditto 



130,503 



111,520 



65,363 



42,928 



40,003 



989 

 698 

 467 

 325 

 227 



30-42 

 25-38 

 28-98 

 30-70 

 23-01 



