403 THE CHOLERA. SINCE our last report the cholera has made no progress as an epidemic. In Newcastle it has all but disappeared; but in various places in the north, and in several districts of the metropolis, cases have been reported. Diarrhoea has prevailed in various parts to a considerable extent, but its arrest in the early stage has no doubt in many cases prevented its degenera- tion into cholera. The General Board of Health and the Local Boards have been very active during the past week in all the ’, places in which there was a threatened outbreak, and there is good evidence to show that the medical and sanitary precau- tions taken have been attended with the most satisfactory results. In every instance in which either cholera or diarrhoea has prevailed the same causes have been at work; indeed it is remarkable to observe how uniform the reports are in this respect. It would be tedious to give in detail the particulars relating to all the places in which these diseases have prevailed, as they would only be a repetition, of the old tale about bad drainage, bad water, removable nuisances, &c. Last week we stated that the disease was evidently much under the control of sanitary measures : the account from Tynemouth, which we insert below at some length, is remark- ably corroborative of this opinion. Tynemouth is not, however, a solitary instance of the beneficial effects of sanitary measures; there are other towns and localities in which the same good results have been witnessed. It is to be hoped that the example set by the authorities at Tynemouth may be followed by those of other towns, not only on the score of humanity, but even on the low ground of expense. The prevention of a disease like the cholera cannot be attended with the outlay which must result from its raging as an epidemic amongst the poorer portion of the population. It will be noticed, also, that the immunity experienced by Hamburgh, during the present visitation, is attributed to the sanitary measures which have been carried out in that city. The influence of locality on the spread of the disease is strikingly illustrated in the case under the head of Stockton. The house-to-house visitation is still continued. OCTOBER 13. MIDDLESBOROUGH.—The threatened outbreak of cholera in this town has been so alarming, that three medical visitors have been stationed there to carry on daily an active house-to- house visitation. TELLING.—An outbreak of cholera is reported to have taken place in this township, and an immediate inquiry on the spot has been made to ascertain the real facts of the case. NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE.—Deaths, Oct. 11, cholera, 2; diar- rhcea, 1. The total number of deaths from cholera and diarrhoea in Newcastle during the present outbreak has been 1477. In the same period—viz., the first forty-one days-during the preva- lence of epidemic cholera there in 1831-2, the number of deaths was 280. GATESHEAD.—Deaths, Oct. 11, cholera, 2. The total number of deaths from cholera and diarrhoea in Gateshead to the present date has been 498. During the like period—viz., the first thirty-five days-in 1831-2, the deaths amounted to 144. ULVERSTONE.—Death, Oct. 11, diarrhoea, 1. The return from C’oldingham given yesterday made it appear as if there had been 3 deaths from cholera. The fact is, that there were 3 cases, only one of which had proved fatal at the time the despatch left. OCTOBER 14. STOCKTON.—The great and continued mortality, in Garden- place has struck the survivors in this locality and in the neighbouring streets and courts with panic. Many of the in- habitants have fled precipitately, some to places in neighbour- ing villages, where they had friends and relatives. Of their fate no account appears as yet to have been obtained; but forty-one men, women, and children, have taken refuge in the schools attached to the union workhouse, and up to this time not one of them has suffered in the least. One family obsti- nately refused to remove-the child had just died. Earnest was given that another child would in all probability be seized unless instantly removed. No persuasion was of any avail; the same night this child was attacked, and died the following day. Again the survivors were urged to remove; still they re- fused. The next day the mother was seized, and died on the day following At length the forlorn widower consented to abandon the disease-haunted tenement, but not until another poor boy had been stricken down with so severe an attack of premonitory diarrhoea, that it was necessary to take him to the infirmary. The measures carried into operation appear to have had a decided effect in checking the progress of the epidemic, though it is breaking out in South Stockton and some other parts of the town; but by the thinning of the population, their removal to the House of Refuge, and the constant visitation of the affected localities by five medical visitors, any great deve- lopment of the disease appears for the present, at least, to be prevented. TYNEMOUTH.—Tynemouth was the second town in the United Kingdom in which cholera appeared in 1832, the first case occurring in an Irish lodging-house, which is still the worst in the town. On the re-appearance of the epidemic in 1848, Tynemouth was one of the first towns attacked; the first cases again occurring in a notorious lodging-house, built against the side of a hill, down which is continually trickling both the surface drainage and the refuse and slop water from the houses. above. These cases were the prelude to one of the most severe visitations experienced in Great Britain at that time. Then, as in 1832, the ravages of the epidemic were almost entirely confined to a few localities, abounding with obvious causes for its selection. In one small district, containing a population of less than two thousand, the deaths within six weeks were at the rate of nearly 5 in the 100; some spots were decimated, and particular houses depopulated. The expense brought on the Tynemouth Union, by this invasion, for the removal of nuisances, and extra-medical aid, was $1500; while the con- tingent expense arising from the maintenance of cholera widows and orphans amounted to upwards of £13,000. On the present occasion, the local authorities are represented as having pursued a course in striking contrast to that chosen by the authorities at Newcastle. It is stated that the corporation of Newcastle have refused to avail themselves of the powers conferred by the Public Health Act,-against the repeated warnings by the Sanitary Association of the town,-that they have refused to put in force the Common Lodging-houses’ Act, and that they have wholly neglected to cleanse and regulate the town; while the corporation of Tynemouth have adopted the Public Health Act, have used its power for cleansing and regulating the town, and have put in force the Common Lodging-houses’ Act. Ac- cording to the statement of Dr. H. Greenhow, chairman of the Sanitary Committee, " Immediately on the occasion of the earliest cases of cholera in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the Health Committee renewed their application to the Town Conncil for power to expend an additional sum in precautionary measures, and, having obtained the sanction of the Council, very active e measures were promptly adopted for the removal of nuisances, &c., the town being divided into districts, each district being allotted to the superintendence of sub-committees, with full power to order whatever cleansing they should consider neces- sary ; the common lodging-houses were all thoroughly cleansed and lime-washed, some of the worst being closed, and a system of periodical visitation of them twice a day by the police was instituted. The dark and damp courts and passages were also cleansed out and lime-washed, and within a few days about 1500 tons of night soil, refuse, and ashes, were carted out of the town-many of the habitations of the Irish and other poor in which cholera had occurred in 1832 and in 1848 were visited by members of the Council; and, as far as possible, other occu- pants were prevailed on to cleanse and lime-wash them, depots of quick-lime having been provided by the Council in suitable situations. "A special meeting of the Board of Guardians was attended by the chairman of the Local Board of Health, and it was arranged that the two Boards should work in harmony; this they have done throughout. Up to this time two fatal cases have occurred within the district under the jurisdiction of the Local Board of Tynemouth, and both were undoubtedly imported from Newcastle. The epidemic has also prevailed on all sides and immediately around the district. Howden, a village within fifty yards of the borough boundary, has been severely visited, as have likewise several other places within the Tynemouth Union, the whole of these deaths appearing in the Registrar-General’s return under the head Tynemouth,’ thus giving a most fallacious estimate of the sanitary condition of the borough; the fact being, that during the last quarter the mortality within the borough over which the Local Board of Health exercised control, has been much better than usual and below an average."
Transcript
403
THE CHOLERA.
SINCE our last report the cholera has made no progress as an
epidemic. In Newcastle it has all but disappeared; but invarious places in the north, and in several districts of themetropolis, cases have been reported. Diarrhoea has prevailedin various parts to a considerable extent, but its arrest in theearly stage has no doubt in many cases prevented its degenera-tion into cholera. The General Board of Health and the LocalBoards have been very active during the past week in all the ’,places in which there was a threatened outbreak, and there isgood evidence to show that the medical and sanitary precau-tions taken have been attended with the most satisfactoryresults. In every instance in which either cholera or diarrhoeahas prevailed the same causes have been at work; indeed it isremarkable to observe how uniform the reports are in thisrespect. It would be tedious to give in detail the particularsrelating to all the places in which these diseases have prevailed,as they would only be a repetition, of the old tale about baddrainage, bad water, removable nuisances, &c.Last week we stated that the disease was evidently much
under the control of sanitary measures : the account from
Tynemouth, which we insert below at some length, is remark-ably corroborative of this opinion. Tynemouth is not, however,a solitary instance of the beneficial effects of sanitary measures;there are other towns and localities in which the same goodresults have been witnessed. It is to be hoped that theexample set by the authorities at Tynemouth may be followedby those of other towns, not only on the score of humanity,but even on the low ground of expense. The prevention of adisease like the cholera cannot be attended with the outlaywhich must result from its raging as an epidemic amongst thepoorer portion of the population. It will be noticed, also, thatthe immunity experienced by Hamburgh, during the presentvisitation, is attributed to the sanitary measures which havebeen carried out in that city. The influence of locality on thespread of the disease is strikingly illustrated in the case underthe head of Stockton. The house-to-house visitation is stillcontinued.
OCTOBER 13.
MIDDLESBOROUGH.—The threatened outbreak of cholera inthis town has been so alarming, that three medical visitorshave been stationed there to carry on daily an active house-to-house visitation.
TELLING.—An outbreak of cholera is reported to have takenplace in this township, and an immediate inquiry on the spothas been made to ascertain the real facts of the case.NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE.—Deaths, Oct. 11, cholera, 2; diar-
rhcea, 1.The total number of deaths from cholera and diarrhoea in
Newcastle during the present outbreak has been 1477. In thesame period—viz., the first forty-one days-during the preva-lence of epidemic cholera there in 1831-2, the number of deathswas 280.
GATESHEAD.—Deaths, Oct. 11, cholera, 2.The total number of deaths from cholera and diarrhoea in
Gateshead to the present date has been 498. During the likeperiod—viz., the first thirty-five days-in 1831-2, the deathsamounted to 144.
ULVERSTONE.—Death, Oct. 11, diarrhoea, 1.The return from C’oldingham given yesterday made it appear
as if there had been 3 deaths from cholera. The fact is, thatthere were 3 cases, only one of which had proved fatal at the time the despatch left.
OCTOBER 14.
STOCKTON.—The great and continued mortality, in Garden-place has struck the survivors in this locality and in theneighbouring streets and courts with panic. Many of the in-habitants have fled precipitately, some to places in neighbour-ing villages, where they had friends and relatives. Of theirfate no account appears as yet to have been obtained; butforty-one men, women, and children, have taken refuge in theschools attached to the union workhouse, and up to this timenot one of them has suffered in the least. One family obsti-nately refused to remove-the child had just died. Earnestwas given that another child would in all probability be seized
unless instantly removed. No persuasion was of any avail;the same night this child was attacked, and died the followingday. Again the survivors were urged to remove; still they re-fused. The next day the mother was seized, and died on theday following At length the forlorn widower consented toabandon the disease-haunted tenement, but not until anotherpoor boy had been stricken down with so severe an attack ofpremonitory diarrhoea, that it was necessary to take him to theinfirmary. The measures carried into operation appear to havehad a decided effect in checking the progress of the epidemic,though it is breaking out in South Stockton and some otherparts of the town; but by the thinning of the population, theirremoval to the House of Refuge, and the constant visitation ofthe affected localities by five medical visitors, any great deve-lopment of the disease appears for the present, at least, to beprevented.
TYNEMOUTH.—Tynemouth was the second town in theUnited Kingdom in which cholera appeared in 1832, the firstcase occurring in an Irish lodging-house, which is still theworst in the town. On the re-appearance of the epidemic in1848, Tynemouth was one of the first towns attacked; the firstcases again occurring in a notorious lodging-house, built againstthe side of a hill, down which is continually trickling both thesurface drainage and the refuse and slop water from the houses.above. These cases were the prelude to one of the most severevisitations experienced in Great Britain at that time. Then,as in 1832, the ravages of the epidemic were almost entirelyconfined to a few localities, abounding with obvious causes forits selection. In one small district, containing a populationof less than two thousand, the deaths within six weeks wereat the rate of nearly 5 in the 100; some spots were decimated,and particular houses depopulated. The expense brought onthe Tynemouth Union, by this invasion, for the removal ofnuisances, and extra-medical aid, was $1500; while the con-tingent expense arising from the maintenance of cholera widowsand orphans amounted to upwards of £13,000. On the presentoccasion, the local authorities are represented as having pursueda course in striking contrast to that chosen by the authoritiesat Newcastle. It is stated that the corporation of Newcastlehave refused to avail themselves of the powers conferred bythe Public Health Act,-against the repeated warnings by theSanitary Association of the town,-that they have refused toput in force the Common Lodging-houses’ Act, and that theyhave wholly neglected to cleanse and regulate the town; whilethe corporation of Tynemouth have adopted the Public HealthAct, have used its power for cleansing and regulating the town,and have put in force the Common Lodging-houses’ Act. Ac-
cording to the statement of Dr. H. Greenhow, chairman of theSanitary Committee, " Immediately on the occasion of theearliest cases of cholera in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the HealthCommittee renewed their application to the Town Conncil forpower to expend an additional sum in precautionary measures,and, having obtained the sanction of the Council, very active emeasures were promptly adopted for the removal of nuisances,&c., the town being divided into districts, each district being
allotted to the superintendence of sub-committees, with fullpower to order whatever cleansing they should consider neces-sary ; the common lodging-houses were all thoroughly cleansedand lime-washed, some of the worst being closed, and a systemof periodical visitation of them twice a day by the police wasinstituted. The dark and damp courts and passages were alsocleansed out and lime-washed, and within a few days about1500 tons of night soil, refuse, and ashes, were carted out ofthe town-many of the habitations of the Irish and other poorin which cholera had occurred in 1832 and in 1848 were visitedby members of the Council; and, as far as possible, other occu-pants were prevailed on to cleanse and lime-wash them, depotsof quick-lime having been provided by the Council in suitablesituations. "A special meeting of the Board of Guardians wasattended by the chairman of the Local Board of Health, andit was arranged that the two Boards should work in harmony;this they have done throughout. Up to this time two fatalcases have occurred within the district under the jurisdictionof the Local Board of Tynemouth, and both were undoubtedlyimported from Newcastle. The epidemic has also prevailedon all sides and immediately around the district. Howden,a village within fifty yards of the borough boundary, has beenseverely visited, as have likewise several other places withinthe Tynemouth Union, the whole of these deaths appearing inthe Registrar-General’s return under the head Tynemouth,’thus giving a most fallacious estimate of the sanitary conditionof the borough; the fact being, that during the last quarter themortality within the borough over which the Local Board ofHealth exercised control, has been much better than usual andbelow an average."
404
It is certainly an interesting and remarkable fact, that atown which has hitherto always been one of the earliest tosuffer from epidemic cholera, and when the visitation was in1848 so extremely severe, should have enjoyed during thepresent season so perfect an immunity, whilst the pestilencehas been rife all around it; an immunity which may in a greatdegree be fairly attributed to the active measures adopted for,as far as practicable, removing all those impurities which, asuniversal experience indicates, impart its malignant characterto the choleraic poison.
Dr. James Wynne, in a a report presented to the Chairmanof the Medical Department of the National Institute of America,states, " When cholera reached America in 1849 and 1850, theauthorities of the city of Baltimore, assisted by the citizens,exerted themselves with the utmost zeal to ward off the aiatici-pated attack, by removing everything which was supposedlikely to foster the disease; cholera raged in towns to thenorth, and then to the south and south-west, but the city ofBaltimore remained free from attack."
NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE.—Deaths, Oct. 12, cholera, 4. Oct. 13,cholera, 6; diarrhoea, 1.The total number of deaths from cholera and diarrhœa in
Newcastle during the present outbreak has been 1488. In thesame period (viz., the first forty-three days), during the preva-lence of epidemic cholera there in 1841-2, the number of deathswas 284. ’
cholera, 1.One of the most recent victims was Mr. Drysdale, a surgeon
of the place, who had been most zealous in his professionallabours. He only lived fourteen hours after his seizure.
BEDLINGTON.—Death, Oct. 13, cholera, 1.
OCTOBER 15.J
STOCKHOLM.—The following is a summary of the cases ofcholera, &c., which have occurred at Stockholm up to Oct. 4, (
(the 52nd day of the epidemic in that city):-Premonitory Symptoms.—Under treatment from the pre-
ceding day, 639; taken ill during that period, 71; recovered, 88; passed into real cholera, 2; still under treatment (both,classes), 809.From the Commencement of the Epidemic.-Taken ill, 5500;
recovered, 4440; passed into real cholera, 440.Cholera. —Remaining from the preceding day, 205; taken ill
during that period, 22; passed from diarrhoea, 2; recovered, 23;dead, 17.From the Commencement of the Epidemic.-Taken ill, 4263;
recovered, 1522; dead, 2552.OCTOBER 14.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE. — Deaths, Oct. 14, cholera, 4;diarrhoea, 1. The total number of deaths from cholera anddiarrhoea in Newcastle during the present outbreak has been1493. In the same period-viz., the first 44 days, during theprevalence of epidemic cholera there in 1831-2, the number ofdeaths was 285. The total number of new cases of diarrhoeadiscovered by the various visitors in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, onthe 13th instant, since the preceding day, was 85, and one caseapproaching cholera. The number of deaths the same day was- -cholera, 6; diarrhoea, 1. The total number of new casesdiscovered by visitors during the house-to-house system ofvisitation, from the commencement of the present epidemic, inNewcastle, has been—diarrhœa, 4169; approaching cholera,249; and cholera, 63; making the grand total discovered underthis system, 4484.DUNSE, N.B.-Death, Oct. 13, cholera, 1.MORPETH (BEDLINGTON DISTRICT). - Deaths, Oct. 14,
cholera, 2.WARKWORTH.—Five fatal cases of cholera have occurred
here; there have been seven or eight attacks, and great num-bers of persons are labouring under premonitory diarrhoea.Additional medical assistance has been obtained from New-castle.WALKER AND FELLING SHORE.—Dr. Gavin, and Mr. Hurst,
Poor-law inspector of the district, met the board of guardianson the evening of the 12th, on inspection of the localities inwhich the deaths have occurred. The houses were found to bebuilt into the sides of ballast-hills, many of them constitutingcellar dwellings, in the complete acceptation of the term. The
amount of refuse in a state of putrefactive decay; the dampwalls of the houses, the wet surface of the streets, and thedeficient water supply, are represented as rendering the localityof Felling Shore a most fitting nidus for the reception and de-velopment of cholera. The property termed "the Barracks"may be selected as an example of no small portion of the houseproperty of this place.THE METROPOLIS.—A death from cholera occurred on the
12th, in Charlotte-street, Whitechapel. The patient, seven
years of age, was collapsed when first seen by the medicalattendant, and survived only five hours. Another case occurredon the morning of the 14th, in another part of the parish.Within the last two or three weeks there has been an increaseof bowel complaints in one of the medical districts of White-chapel, and also in parts of St. George-in-the-East.
OCTOBER 17.HAMBURG.—The present visitation of cholera at Hamburg
appears to have been comparatively slight. There is groundfor hope that the epidemic there is at an end, as only 15 freshcases have occurred since the 26th of September, and no newcase was notified to the authorities on the 6th of October, noron the three preceding days. Up to the 2nd of October, thetotal number of persons attacked is stated to have been 537, ofwhom 279 died, and 201 recovered, 51 remaining at that dateunder treatment. The unmitigated force of the disease, how-
ever, in the developed cases, is shown by the high mortality,upwards of one-half of those who passed into cholera havingperished. In all human probability, the community of Ham-burg are indebted for their comparative immunity on thisoccasion to the improved sanitary condition of their city, thebenefits of which they have been receiving during the whole ofthe interval between the present and the last visitation in1848, the greater part of the improved works for sewage andwater supply having been completed some time before theformer outbreak of the pestilence.NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE. -Deaths, Oct. 15, cholera, 2;
diarrhoea., 2.-Oct. 16, cholera, 2; diarrhœa, 2.The total number of deaths from cholera and diarrhoea in
Newcastle during the present outbreak has been 1501. Inthe same period (viz., the first 46 days) during the prevalenceof epidemic cholera in 1831-2, the number of deaths was 289.
A verage daily number of cases during four periods, frorz 20thto 25th September, both inclusive (five days) ; from 26th to30tJz September. both inclusive (five days); from 1st to 5tlzOctober, both inclusive (five days) ; from 6th to 10th October,both inclusive (five days) :-
Board of Health, had an interview this day (Monday) with thedirectors of the poor of the parishes of St. Giles and St.George, Bloomsbury, with a view to the preparation of plansfor securing the preservation of the public health in those dis-tricts.
Mr. Yardley, of the Metropolitan Police-office, has to-dayreported to the General Board of Health seven,cases of cholera,in the parishes of St. George-in-the-East, Shadwell, Ber-
mondsey, Kennington, and Greenwich, and on board the shipIvey, in the river Thames.
OCTOBER 18.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE.—Oct. 17, cholera, deaths, 2; diar-rhcea, deaths 2.The total number of deaths from cholera and diarrhcea in
Newcastle during the present outbreak has been 1505. In thesame period, viz., the first 47 days, during the prevaience ofepidemic cholera in 1831-2, the number of deaths was 290.
3; Deaths, Oct. 16, cholera, 5; diarrhoea, 2. Deaths, Oct.17, cholera 3 ; diarrhoea, 1.THE METROPOLIS.—Forewarning of the necessity of measures
of prevention is the best means of obviating panic.On referring to the former visitations of cholera, as far as ré.
gards the metropolis, it appears that in 1832 the attacks were14,144, and the deaths 6729, the population of London thenbeing 1,681,641. In 1848-9 the attacks were about 30,000 andthe deaths 14,601, the population at that time being 2,206,076 ;so that in the epidemic of 1832 one person died in every 250 ofthe inhabitants, or ’4 per cent., whereas in 1848-9 one persondied in every 151 of the inhabitants, or ’66 per cent. ; themortality, therefore, in 1832 33 was about two-fifths less thanin 1849-that is, about 5800 more persons perished of this epi-demic in London in 1849 than in 1832.The epidemic of 1832 commenced in London on February
16th, and ended September 7th, 1833, including a period ofabout 17 calendar months. But it appears that during thisperiod there was a cessation of deaths for eight months; sothat there were in fact two epidemics, the first commencing inFebruary and lasting to November, and the second commencingin August and lasting to September, 1833. The epidemic cameto its height in the week ending July 27th, when the deathswere 445, the greatest weekly mortality recorded during thatvisitation.In the epidemic of 1848 the attack commenced in September,
and the last death recorded in the return of the Registrar-General was in December, 1849 ; so that the whole progress ofthis epidemic occupied a period of 15 calendar months.During the first six months-namely, from the end of Septem-
ber, 1848, to the end of March, 1849, the disease advancedprogressively, but irregularly, numbering in the whole of thisperiod 988 deaths. During the following months of April andMay there was a lull in the disease, the deaths sinking to onein some weeks, and never in any week exceeding five ; butthere was never, as in 1832, a complete cessation of the disease,for there was never a single week without at least one death.
In the month of May the total number of deaths did notexceed 13; but in the first week of June they suddenly roseto 9, increasing in the last week of the month to 124.From that period the epidemic went on rapidly and unin-terruptedly, increasing till it came to its height in the weekending September 8, 1849, when the deaths together fromcholera and diarrhoea amounted to 2298. From this timethe disease declined, and ultimately ceased, as has beenstated, in December, 1849. There was thus one epidemicwith two well-marked periods, the first extending from
September to March, and the second from June to December.In the first of these periods the highest weekly mortality
was 94, namely, in the week ending January 13, 1849, afford-ing during that period a hope of a comparatively slight visita-tion ; but in the second period this hope was grievouslydisappointed, for the weekly mortality then rose as high as2,293 in the week ending September 8.The following table shows a considerable parallelism be-
tween the early progress of cholera in the metropolis in 1848and now in 1853 ; that progress is, however, in almost everyweek, more rapid now than it was in 1848, and comparing thetotal number of deaths during the whole of the 11 weekswith the number of deaths in the corresponding weeks in1848, it will be seen that the recent deaths have exceeded theformer by nearly one-third.Deaths from Cholera during a Deaths from Cholera during a
period of 11 weeks in 1853. like period in 1848.Week ending :-
It will be thus further seen that the progress of the epi-demic has been much more rapid during the whole of thepresent month than during the corresponding period in 1848.
It is remarkable that, gradual and slow as the progress ofthe disease has been in the metropolis in both visitations,there have been in both sudden and violent outbreaks in par-ticular districts and localities. In 1848 it had scarcely ap-peared in the metropolis, when in the very beginning ofOctober it attacked Edinburgh with great violence, andspread in the course of a few days to the neighbouring townsof Newhaven, Portobello, Lunhead, and numerous other
places in the vicinity. In the beginning of November itattacked Glasgow, and subsequently a large number of manu-facturing towns and villages in Lanarkshire, Ayrshire, Dum-friesshire, and other counties in the south and west of Scotland.Now it has attacked, with the like suddenness, and withincreased violence, the northern English towns.The returns from the Metropolitan Commissioners of Police
give 18 cases of cholera and 8 deaths.In the Millbank Penitentiary, where cholera was so pecu-
liarly fatal in 1848-9, as compared with the mortality fromthe same cause in other metropolitan prisons, there have beensince the 24th of August last 9 cases of cholera and 3 deaths,two of which occurred on the 14th inst.
OCTOBER 19.
DANTZic.—The recent visitation of cholera in this city andneighbourhood has been of a milder character than on formeroccasions.The entire number of cases from its commencement, the 13th
of July, to the 8th of October, 1853, are represented to havebeen-
There were still under medical care, at the date of thelatest dispatches, 81 persons.
’ CuxTON, NEAR ROCHESTER. - Oct. 16 and 17, cholera,deaths, 2.MARYPORT.—The report from this place states that there
have been "about 10 deaths in 10 or 14 days."LIVERPOOL.—Since the 14th inst., there have been five new
cases of cholera, and two deaths of those attacked. Threewere Germans and two Irish. The latter and one of theformer were emigrants; another had arrived in Liverpool viáHull a fortnight before; the third was the keeper of a largeGerman lodging-house, in which several cases of cholera hadpreviously occurred. The deaths were among the Germanemigrants formerly reported.
Last week a public meeting was held in the lecture room-Nelson-street, Newcastle, "to consider the propriety of peti,tioning her Majesty’s Government to inquire into the causes ofthe late excessive mortality in that town, and the best meansof preventing in future such a fearful destruction of humanlife." The room was densely crowded. Mr. Potter, surgeon,presided, supported by Dr. Robinson, Messrs. Rayne, Newton,and Mason, medical practitioners, &c., &c. Several eloquentaddresses upon the appalling ravages and the causes of cholerawere delivered, but their sentiments are fully contained in thesubjoined memorial to the Secretary of State, proposed by Dr.Robinson, and which was unanimously adopted.The Memorial of the undersigned inhabitants of the borough
of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.Humbly sheweth,-That this town has recently been the
seat of an epidemic unprecedented in modern times for its
406
virulence and fatality. That since the epidemic cholera of 1831 -2,it has also been severely visited by various other epidemics.That on the present occasion Newcastle has, within a month,
lost nearly two thousand of its inhabitants, while other townsin the same district have escaped with comparative impunity.That the above-mentioned circumstances seem to show, that
there exist in Newcastle some special causes for these periodicalinflictions.
That, in addition to the terrible destruction of life thus occa-sioned, great pecuniary loss has been inflicted upon your me-morialists by the increase of poor rates, the stagnation of trade,&c., while numerous families have been impoverished ’andplunged into deep affliction by the untimely fate of their naturalguardians and supporters.
That, in the opinion of your memorialists, the late excessivemortality in Newcastle has arisen chiefly from preventiblecauses, and that those preventible causes have in a great mea-sure been generated and continued in operation by the negli-gence of the local and other authorities, charged with thepreservation of the health of the town.That for the future protection of the inhabitants of Newcastle
against the recurrence of such frightful sources of general inse-curity and domestic woe, a Public Impartial Enquiry into allthe circumstances connected with the late excessive mortalityappears absolutely necessary.Your memorialists, therefore, humbly solicit your Lordship’s
prompt attention to this painful subject, and venture to hopethat you will think it consistent with your duty, as a Ministerof the Crown, to recommend our Gracious Queen, whose sym-pathies for the afflicted have never been appealed to in vain, atonce to issue her Royal Commission for the prosecution of suchenquiry on the spot.And your memorialists will ever pray.
SEAMEN’S HOSPITAL SOCIETY.-CHOLERA ON THE RIVER.
On Tuesday a quaiterly general court of the governors ofthis charity was held at the offices, 74, King William-street,City. It was announced that the Government had been appliedto with respect to " a cholera ship," for the purpose of receivingcases of cholera occurring amongst the sailors on the river.To this judicious request the Government has acceded; and herMajesty’s ship the Devonshire has been granted for that pur-pose. It is moored near the Dreadnought, off Greenwich, andpatients are received at all hours of the day and night. Asyet there have been but 20 cases, as we are informed, on theriver, and the prevalence of the disease is decreasing ratherthan otherwise, so far as the Thames is concerned. The De-vonshire, the "Cholera ship," has accommodation for twohundred. There are ample provisions in the way of nurses,physicians, &c. It will be remembered that the same coursewas adopted by this charity when the cholera last visited ourshores. On that occasion the ship Iphigenia was granted forthat purpose, and 250 cases were treated therein. The agentsof the society are now also engaged in distributing a medicinefound useful and adapted to sailors, gratuitously, at the sailors’homes, Thames church-ship, and other places, that all mayhave recourse to it when the preliminary symptoms appear.The following notice, too, has been, and is being, profuselyscattered up and down the river:-
To Cccptccins of Ships, and Seamen generally.-The com-mittee of the Seamen’s Hospital Society,’ knowing the vitalimportance of the earliest possible medical treatment, whereby,under the blessing of Almighty God, the progress of the choleramay be arrested, earnestly exhort all captains to send everyseaman, on the first symptoms of diarrhœa appearing, on
board the Hospital ship, lying near the Dreadnought, offGreenwich, which is set apart solely for immediate attentionto such cases, and where admission is freely given at any hour.
" By order of the committee,(Signed) "S. KEMBALL COOK, Sec."
This is issued by way of cautioning captains not to detain I
their men, as is too frequently done, until they are almostbeyond the reach of medical skill. In the Dreadno2cylzt, whichis the general hospital of this society, seamen of every gradeand nation, whatever their ailment, are unhesitatingly receivedwithout the vexatious delay of recommendatory letters. Largenumbers are taken from ships entering the Thames after longvoyages, and in all cases when medicine can no longer avail,a, conveyance is provided for them to their homes, with everycomfort needful for the journey. No fewer than 2366 patientshave been received on board during the year, and 1554 havebeen supplied with medical attendance and medicines duringthe same period, making a grand total of 67,903 since thecommencements
"S. KEMBALL COOK, Sec."
Military and Naval Intelligence.EAST INDIA SERVICE.
BENGAL.—Assist.-surg. H. W. Adley, 4th N.I., to proceedto Abbottabad, in Huzara, and afford medical aid to 3rd Sikhlocal infantry; Assist.-surg. G. 0. Baillie, M.D., to rank fromMay 14; Assist.-surg. J. P. Bowling, to medical charge ofcommissariat department, vice Murphy; Assist, -surg. H. Cape,artillery, to assume medical charge of 4th N.I. during absenceof Adley; Assist.-surg. J. J. Clarke, to rank from May 14;Assist.-surg. Duthoit, M.D., to rank from April 20; Assist.-surg. T. Farquhar, artillery, to medical charge of 3rd regimentof Sikh local infantry, in Huzara, Aug. 22; Assist.-surg. J.Fayrer, M.D., to be resident surgeon at Lucknow; Surg. J.Graham, M.D., to be a superintending surgeon, Aug. 25;Assist.-surg. J. Lee, M.D., 4th troop 1st brigade of horseartillery, to do duty with H.M.’s 70th regiment, Aug. 3;Assist.-surg. J. H. Littler, M.D., placed at disposal of com-mander-in-chief ; Assist.-surg. F. N. Macnamara, M.D., torank from June 18; Assist.-surg. T. Moore, M.D., placed atdisposal of commander-in-chief, Aug. 31 ; Assist.-surg. J. S.Morriesen, 12th N.T., to afford medical aid to 3rd Punjaubpolice battalion; Assist.-surg. C. Murchison, M.D., to rankfrom April 4; Assist.-surg. W. H. Ross, to be surgeon fromAug. 25, vice Thomson, deceased; Assist.-surg. J. C. Simons,to medical charge of Gowhatty, in Assam; Assist.-surg. C.Stewart, M.D., 1st European fusiliers, to perform civil medicalduties of station of Shway Gyeen, in addition to regularmedical duties; Assist.-surg. J. E. Tuson, to rank from June17; Assist.-surg. H. Walker, to be surgeon from June 12, viceComberback, deceased.-Leave of absence: Assist.-surg. K.Burr, M.D., one month; Assist.-surg. G. M. Govan, four-months, on medical certificate; Assist.-surg. H. M. Macpher-son, to Europe, on furlough; Surg. R. Phillipson, 30th N.I.,Oct. 10 to April 10, 1854, preparatory to retiring; Dr. W. H.B. Ross, civil assistant-surgeon at Hooghley, one month.
Medical News.
ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONs.—The following gentle-men having undergone the necessary examinations for the diploma were admitted members of the College at the meetingof the Court of Examiners on the 7th inset. :
CHAMBERS, HENRY, South Australia..’ DUKA, THEODORE, Calcutta.
HESTER, JAMES, Oxford.HOLLAND, ROBERT CARR BRACKENBURY, Bristol.NOOTT, EDWARD GREGG, Gosport.SPARICE, GEORGE WsiTEFiELD, North-buildings, Fir.s’puryWALKER, JOHN SwIFT, Sheerness.YARWOOD, CHARLES, Birmingham.At the same meeting of the Court, Mr. JOHN FELIX JOHN-
SON passed his examination for Naval Surgeon. This gentle-man had previously been admitted a member of the College,his diploma bering date July 14th, 1848.The following gentlemen were admitted on the 14th inst.:—FULCHER, GEORGE AUGUSTUS, Finchley, Middlesex.HADAWAY, JAMES, St. Nicholas, Isle of Thanet.KEARNEY, JAMES, Calcutta.PowELL, FRANK, Chichester, Sussex.SMALE, GEORGE EDMUND, Plymouth.STANLEY, ST. JOHN, Shifnal, Shropshire.STURGES, CHARLES, Sidney-square, Mile-end.THOMAS, RICHARD HENRY, Ibstock, Leicestershire.
LICENTIATES IN MIDWIFERY.—AT a meeting of the Board ofExaminers in Midwifery of the Royal College of Surgeons ofEngland, on the 12th inst., the following gentlemen, havingundergone the necessary examinations, were admitted Licen-tiates:—Messrs. John Samuel Beale, Harrow-road, diploma ofmembership, dated Dec. 11, 1846; Thomas Wiglesworth, Cole-ford, June 18, 1852; Robert Knaggs, Swindon, July 19, 1852;Thomas Tomlinson, Maldon, July 11, 1853; Henry FrederickMarley, Padstowe, April 29, 1853; Thomas Peete, Cannon-street-road, July 17, 1S51; Theodore Duka, India, Oct. 7,1853; Benjamin Kerr, Cowes, Isle of Wight, Nov. 5, 1S52;George Whitefield Sparke, Finsbury, Oct. 7, 1853; and JamesHester, Oxford, Oct. 7, 1853.NEW FELLOWS.—The following members of the Royal Col-
lege of Surgeons were elected Fellows, at a meeting of the Councilon the 13th inst.—viz., Messrs. Francis Bennett, Gateshead.
