Whenever the word “county” is used in any law, general in its character to the whole state, it includes the city of St. Louis, unless such construction is inconsistent with the evident intent of the law, or of some law specially applicable to such city. Whenever the county clerk is authorized or required to perform an act by a law which applies to the city of St. Louis as well as to the counties of the state, the register of the city of St. Louis is authorized or required to perform the act insofar as it is to be performed in the city.