The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-01-31 00:00:00

HEALTH AND DISEASE.

According to the Registrar-General's weekly return it
appears that the deaths by symotic diseases were 254 •
the average number in corresponding weeks corrected
for increase of population is 291. Under this head are
included 43 deatha by saualliaox, 11 of which occurred
to persons who had attained 15 years of age and upwards.
From this disease 3 deaths were recorded in the sub-
district of St. Giles South, and 5 in that of Whitecross-
street. It is satisfactory to mark a continued decrease
in the mortality front scarlatina; the deaths from it,
which were 62 in the preceding week, were 48 last week.
Diphtheria was returned in 11 cases. Taking these two
diseases conjointly, it appears that the deaths referred
to scarlatina and diphtheria, which were about 100
weekly during • considerable part of last year, declined
last week to 59. The most fatal disease in the list is
now bronchitis, which carried off 192 persons, the an-
rented average being 158 • next to it is phthiais, which
numbered 147, the corrected average being 158, the same
as that for bronchitis; and in the third place stands
pneumonia, which was fatal in 173 cases, while the cor-
rected average is 90.
VACCINATION IN SCOTLAND.— At a meeting of the
Metlico-Clairugical Society of Edinburgh on the 18th
inst.. a paper was read on the subject of smallpox and
vaccination by Dr. Alexander Wood, and • lengthened
discussion ensued, in which Professor Simpson and other
leading members of the medical profession in the city
took part. All the speakers agreed in expressing una-
bated confidence in the efficacy of vaccination, if pro.
perly and universally performed, in diminishing the
frequency of epidemics of smallpox, and in immensely
abating their severity and reducing their mortality.
They all agreed, also in the opinion that vaccination
is greatly neglected in Scotland, and that the only
effectual method of protecting the country against the
evils consequent upon this neglect was to snake it com-
pulsory by Act of Parliament, though there was some
difference of opinion as to the machinery by which this
might be best carried out, and also as to the kind and
degree of compulsion expedient to be used. At the
close of the discussion a committee of the society was
appointed for the purism of co-operating with the Royal
College of Physicians and Surgeons in the matter, and
of soliciting an interview with the Scottish meniberis of
Parliament resident in Edinburgh, with the view of
having a Vaccination Ball for Scotland introduced
during the ensuing session of Parliament.
D6ATIN TIWNI AN ENCAPN OP OAR.—An inquest has
been held by Mr. laylor, coroner, at Ossett, near
Wakefield, touching the death of Elisabeth Redfearn.
The deceased and her daughter, Hannah Redfeani, lived
together at °amen, awl for some days had experienced a
strung smell of gas in the house. They were rather sur-
prised at this, as there weie no gaspapes in it. On Fri-
day night, the deceased an her daughter, prior to going
to bed, found the smell of gas much stronger. In the
middle of the night, the slaughter awoke, and finding
herself antfering from • violent headache, and the stench
of gas then being very strong, she wanted to get up to
open the back door. Her mother, however, prevented
her from doing so, and she went to sleep again. Next
morning the neighbours were alarmed at the non-appear-
ance of the Itedfranis the window blinds remaining
down, and the house closed up till an advanced hour in
the morning. One of them at length effected an entrance
through • window, and on going to the sleecing-room of
the inmates, found Mrs. Iteelfearn and her daughter
stretched 111 IWall in a state of insensibility. There was
an intolerable smell of pa in the house at the time.
After some time it was discovered that both mother and
slaughter were alive, and they were restored to consci-
ousness. The slaughter eventnally quite recovered, but
the another sank Anti died a few days afterwards. It
was subsequently discovered that the gas main, opposite
to the yard leading to Redeem's house, was broken
Kerma to the sough or drain, and through this the gas
bad penetrated into the cellar of the house. Verdict,—
Died through inhaling coal gas."
ANNICNIC IN PAPILII fiANOINGII.—Three Of the chil-
dren of Mr. H. Fullaud, living at the Quarry, Sheepoot-
wall, near Tipton, have been all but poisoned. On re-
moving to a new home the children became strangely
and unaccountably ill. They all appeared suffering
from the same complaint, nor could they well explain
how they felt. At nights they were worse than in the
daytinae, and always very restless, the muse-leis of the
face being marked by • kind of twitching. Medical
assistance was procured, but without effect, until Dr.
e.B'tlyeeciire.tande.ofunb.podiiiao:n:cetotredynteinxtualo:autisne,ltyheireytcheweiev2ilinfftomerinitheo.trdirfnsdtethimng.,
but from what source he could not ascertain. He, how-
the walls covered with a green coloured paper, tore off
• small piece, in which he diecovered an extraordina
quantity of arsenic. The room had just beentaLereZ
and • fire was kept in it: The children had, ore,
been inhaling the deleterious evaporation which neces-
sarily issued from the papaw. 111ei were removed into
another room, and are now fast ' their usual
health. The doctor states that, from made, a
regaining
small bit of the paper contained sullen= atessie to
poison any grown-up panion.—ifemeiteinv (iimrdisit.

!fr'

LONDON MARKETS.

(Br ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)

MAR-LANE, MONDAY, JAN. 30.

we had small supplies of wheat and oats at
our market to-day, and moderate of barley.
A very dull trade in all articles, which were
without alteration in price.

METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET.

MONDAY. JANUARY 90.
Our market was supplied to-day with four
thousand beast, and eighteen thousand sheep.
Trade lower.

Beef, best quality 4 10
Mutton, ditto