426 



METEOROLOGICAL REPOET, 18G9, 



of the three previous years were — 1866, 36*70 ; 1867, 29*20 ; 

 1868, 27*03. 



The estimated population of the largest towns in Northumber- 

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

 quarter of 1869, was as follows : — 





Estimated 

 Population. 



Deaths. 



Average Rate 

 to 1000 living 

 for last tliree 

 months, 1869. 



Newcastle (Borough boundaries) ... 



130,503 



857 



26*36 



Sunderland (Municipal boundaries) 



111,520 



618 



21*99 



South Shields ditto 



65,363 



459 



27*86 



Gateshead ditto 



42,928 



334 



30*87 



Tynemouth ditto 



40,003 



237 



23*51 



The subject of the registration of disease is one of daily grow- 

 ing interest and importance, and the following remarks, by Dr. 

 Philipson of Newcastle, in whose very valuable monthly reports 

 " on the health and meteorology of Newcastle" a fund of most 

 trustworthy information is gradually being stored up for future 

 use, will be read with the interest which their great importance 

 deserves : — 



" The study of epidemic diseases calls for our best energies, 



but it is yet quite in its infancy In a measure the scanty 



results may have been caused by some of the inquirers having 

 only prosecuted their researches during the time when an epi- 

 demic was prevalent, and not also when absent. It is absolutely 

 necessary that the inquiry should be continued after the epide- 

 mic has passed away. When an epidemic disease unhappily 

 visits a neighbourhood, all the community become excited ; all 

 thoiTghts are roused ; some facts may possibly be observed, and 

 the cause of the visitation conjectured ; but when the mortality 

 again declines, and the health of the locality returns to its for- 

 mer condition, those thoughts which had been occupied with 

 such fearful forebodings become engaged with other subjects, 

 and all the distressing circumstances are soon forgot, or cer- 

 tainly remembered as of the past." 



