The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-12-06 00:00:00

HEALTH AND DISEASE.

THE ?raw HEALTH.—(From the Registrar- Gene-
ral's Weekly Return.) The deaths in London continued
to increase in the week that ended on Saturday week.
The numbers registered in the two previous weeks were
successively 1,161 and 1,Z13 ; last week the number
was 1,307. In the ten years 1849-58 the average num-
ber of deaths was 1,210; but, as the deaths contained
in the present return occurred in a population which
has increased, they should be compared with the average
raised in proportion tothe increase—nainely, with 1,331.
The companson shows that the deaths in last week
were below the calculated number, but that the differ-
ence is not of important amount. The births II last
week exceeded the deaths in the same period by 478.
The disease which predominate as the year draws to a
close continue to increase. The deaths referred to affec-
tions of the organs of respiration rose in the last three
weeks as follows :-179, 2.33, 314. Those caused by
plithisis or consumption are not included in these num-
bers ; they were 132, 157, and 165. Bronchitis was
fatal in the same periods in the following number of
cases, 102, 138, and 16$; pneumonia GO, 64, and 7s;
whooping-cough 14, i, 30. Of the 198 deaths from
bronchitis last week 21 occurred to infants; 19 occurred
at one year of age and under ten ; 10 in the period of
life 20-40 years, 46 in the period 40-60 years, 1.15 at the
age of 60-80, and 17 at 80 upwards. Small-pox was
fatal last week in :10 cases, six of which oceurr“l in the
Small-pox Hospital. 4 Although that institution is
situated in the north districts, the east, in which 10
deaths from this disease were registered, returned wore
than any group of districts. 84 death were ascribed to
scarlstina,l3 to diptheria. The former appears to prevail
much in the north parts of London; it was fatal in five
cases in Kentish-town, in five in Islington east. Six
deaths are also referred to it in Bethnal-gn-en. and four
in Mile-end Old-town. Nine infants died by suffocation,
murder or manslaughter. A child suffering from infiam-
niation of the lungs was treated with a narcotic poison
by an unqualified practitioner; a man died from des-
titution ; another from exposure to cold. Of bricklayers
2 died in the week, of bricklayers' wives 1, of brick-
layers' children 4; of carpenters 13 died in the week,
of carpenters' wives 5, of carpenters' children 18 ; of
masons one died, of masons' children 4; of painters 8
died, of painters' wives 2, of painters' children 12; of
plasterers 2 died, of plasterers' wives 1, of plasterers'
children 2. Last week the births of 901 boys and 881
girls,— in all, 1,785 children,—were registered in Lon-
don. In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1849-
58 the average number was 1,548.

SANITARY CONDITION OF THE CITY. - At the meet-
ing of the Commissioners of Sewers on Tuesday last,
Dr. Letheby, the medical officer of health, reported on
the state of 176 houses that had been inspected during
the past week, and submitted a list of 37 places for sani-
tary improvement. The mortality returns are still on
the increase. In the first week of the month the num-
ber for last week, and which is the exact average for
the corresponding weeks of the last five years. 21 of
the deaths were among infants, and 18 were among old
persons of 60 and upwards. The chief causes of death
were diseases of the respiratory organs. Bronchitis was
fatal to 15 adults, and phtheis to 13. These, with four
deaths from pneumonia, made nearly half of the total
mortality. From the :moth) class of affections there
were 15 deaths,—namely five from scarlet fever, three
from measles, three from diarrohos and dysentery, two
from whooping-cough, one from remittant fever, and
one front small-pox. Only 55 births were registered
daring the week, namely—thirty-five boys and twenty

Escape or SLAVF.B lie AMLIIICA.—A correspondent
writing from Lawrence, on the 3rd November, says :
"An interesting incident hu recently occurred near
Independence (Mo.), that has not yet found its way
into ' the papers,' in Kansas or anywhere else. There
was living with a very respectable slaveholder • family
of negroes, five in number. The head of the slave
family had ascertained that they would probably soon
be sold and taken south. He wrote to certain parties
in the territory stating his danger, his desire to be
spared the fate of a Missippi chattel, and offering $5OO
to be placed in land where 'slaves could not breathe.'
He had been more fortunate than mostalaves, orb° could
not redeem such an offer : but, in fact, he was worth
s2,ffik that he called his own. Hisobligation was there-
foregood for the amount. Money hereabouts is not easily
earned in these dap. and such an offer would be a
great temptation, especially to men of easy political
virtue. It was pondered over some weeks, and when
the vision of a sudden gain had nearly won the victory
the peal from Harpers Ferry broke upon them. The
spectre of lt insurrectionist.; who had foolishly thrown
away their lives was sufficient to stay the Missouri
march for • season. Hut another letter niore implo-
ring than those precedieg it, was received, and delay no
longer possible. A small company from Central Kan-
sas started on the precarious mission. They arrived at
the mansion of the slave-holder early in the
evening. They entered, and found • very interest-
interesting scene transpiring. A southern planter was
present, who had just arrived to purchase negroes and
after some further parleying a bargain was completed at
$3,500 for the family of five. The Kansas boys looked
• little wild about this time, and the retrospection of
Harper's Ferry WM again within their vision. They saw
that there was more to encounter than they anticipated.
They must take bold, desperate steps, or return discom-
fited. The latter was not congenial to the majority,
nor in keeping with their experience. The planter had
the gold upon his person, and proceeded to count out
the $3,500, when the party seised him, bound him feat
to his chair, and took such other steps as would secure
their own safety from exposure or pursuit. The planter
had brought with him several extra mules to transport
the negroes. These the party took for the negroes also,
and soon they were all under rapid headway out of the
State. What has since transpired with them is not so
well known, except that they are hastening onward, 'all
safe,' and ere this must be in that Abolition State called
lowa. One very singular fact in the transaction is
that the $3,500 was not disturbed in the least. That
will all go to prove that not robbery, but emancipation,
was their mission. It was a darineest that but few
could accomplish. It was more so at this particular
time when every stranger in Western Missouri is
watched with a suspicious eye, and every neighbour is
on the alert to prevent what has just been accom-
plished."

HOLLOWAY', Ourrnissr. —lndolent ulcers, pores, white swell-
ings, stlff joints, enlargement i.f the glands% and all scrofu-
lone and scorbutic eruptions are immediately relieved, and
thoroughly cured by this benign I d powerful ointment. It
ln.Perolftibly enters the spiteni, . salt enters and impregnates
the innerinmt fibres of well-cured meat. To facilitate the reedy
witrn of the unguent. the surfisoc should be pm Mindy
oM'ented with lukewarm water, which open. the pores
and more fully edam. them for transmitting tbe preparation
through the integument. where it reachen the disease and
expels it from the constitution. This Ointment shotild bs
diligently rubbed into the pert. effected.