The Press.
London, England, 1854-09-09 00:00:00

UNITED STATES.

Serious complaints of drought come from various
parts of the country. In the south and west the
crops are suff.sring very severely, The closing cotton
crop is about 2,050,000 bales, being nearly 300,000
less than the year before. That of the coming year
up to this time promises to be the largest ever pro-
duced, unless it meet with early frost or floods, or some
of the many accidents to which that crop is always
liable.

A dreadful catastrophe arising from the incautious
use of camphine occurred at Cincinnati on the 16th
ult. Three children were burned so that they died,
and the man who filled the lamp was not expected
to tecover.

Two large granite buildings in Broad-street, Bos.
ton, fell on the 22nd with a tremendous crash.
Three persons are known to have been killed, and
rumours prevailed that several others were buried
beneath the ruins. Immediately after the falling of
the wulls a fire burstout, kindled from a steam-engine
in the basement, which was happily confined to the
ruins. Loss estimated at 120,000 dols.

California mails of the Ist ult. have reached New
York. A great fire had occurred at Marysville: five
squares of buildings were destroyed, and the loss
reached 250,000 dols. The wheat crop had been all
harvested. The yield was very large, and great quan-
tities were being exported.

The St. Louis Republican, of the 16th ult., says:—

" There has not been a night within the last week when
the doggy has not drunk the blood of its victim. The
police-office for several nights put has been the receptacle
of bleeding men who have had tbe knife put to them. The
dens of iniquity in the city—bad enough under ordinary
circumstances—have recently been stirred up by the worst
passions, and the streets every night are infested with
bands of reckless men in pursuit of difficulties, armed to
the teeth end eager for en aftm."

847

THE CAPE.
Cape-town papers to the 26th July have arrived by
the Argo steamer, which brings also mails from India
and the Mauritius. _

The Cape of Good Hope Parliament commenced its
sittings on the 30th June. The colony is enjoying
profound repose within and without its borders. The
only novelty is the copper•field in Namaqualand,
which promises to equal the famous mines of South
Australia. Several companies have been already
formed to work them, and Mr. de Pas, of the firm of
A. and D. do Pas, has come home for the purpose of
obtaining the machinery required. The whole
district appears to be one mass of copper.
On the 15th July a violent north. west gale occurred
in Table Bay, and several ships were wrecked. The
barque Canopy:, with a cargo, went ashore near the
castle. Later in the day the Wild Seanww came in
collision with the Seagull, bound for Australia,
which was ready for sea, having, all her passengers on
board: both vessels soon after went ashore. Several
other vessels in the bay passed. The gale is stated
to have been one of the most severe that has occurred
for many years in Table Bay.

Cholera was diminishing fast at the Mauritius,
although the epidemic was still very fatal in some of the
rural districts, particularly at Riviere du Ramparts
and at Flacqu. Among the victims are the Rev. Mr.
Banks, Mr. Kesley (receiver of registration dues), Mr.
Chapman, Mr. Blanchard (the French Consul), Mr.
Woolley, and several of the medical profession.
About one fifteenth of the population have been
swept off by this fatal scourge, nearly five thousand
from Port Louis, and the remainder from the rural
districts. The negro population suffered most, as
distinguished from the Indians and Europeans. The
military suffered least : indeed, the health of the
troops is said to be excellent. On poor families,
crowded and filthy, the epidemic fell like a deluge,
sweeping all before it.
THREE ENGLISHMEN have got into a scrape at
Memel, in company with a Russian, a Greek, and two
German chantcruses. The names of the gentlemen,
as given in the apocryphal orthography of the German
journals, are—M'Donald, Stoddt, Elaphim, Mallero,
and Cierratti (the latter is the Greek). Our three
countrymen, described as having recently arrived
from London with good recommendations to friends
in Memel, took a pleasant walk in company with the
above-mentioned party in the neighbourhood of
Langallen, on the Russian frontier. In the innocence
of their hearts and the height of animal spirits, they
allowed themselves to be tempted to cross the frontier
and approach the Regatka, or tollhouse, there : here
they amused themselves with a little conversation
with the Cossack official, as two of the party at least
can speak Russian. In the meantime a gentleman
from the Tomoschna or Custom-house near, who had
been a spectator, beckoned to the Cossack to let the
party pass through the barrier and pursue their way
to a beautiful seat in that neighbourhood, called
Garsden. On reaching the Custom-house, however,
they were required to show their passports, and,
failing these documents, were made prisoners, and
their papers and pocket property taken from them.
This took place on a Sunday afternoon. The
messenger despatched to Memel to fetch the pass-
ports and invoke assistance from the consuls not
having returned with a sufficient amount of success,
the prisoners were "passed on" to Telachen (eleven
leagues from Memel), for the purpose of being for-
warded to Wilna, and then being handed over to
justice. The passports, &c., of the party arrived at
Garsden too late to prevent their departure, and were
sent after them. Of course, however the rest may
get off, the Englishmen must reckon on being
detained as prisoners of war, and perhaps be paraded
as trophies in St. Petersburg.
TROPHIES or Wert have been bmught home from Bo-
marsund, consisting of helmets (the famous Russian
helmet), which are handsomely formed and made.
They are particularly light, being made of a patent
leather. The head is well protected, the officers
having solid silver shields over the front and top. A
great number of rifles also, with the cartridges for
them. Amongst other curiosities is a Russian knout
or whip of a terrific character, with which a powerful
arm might cut the flesh from off a man's body, the whip
part being thickly chequered with plaits, worked
ingeniously therein to the handle, which is of heavy
wood. The total number of guns captured in the fort is
202, provisions for 3,000 men for two years, an in-
calculable quantity of stores of all kinds, and about
15,0001. in Russian notes, now not worth much.
Eleven magazines have been discovered, containing
nearly 2(X) tons of powder, which itt devoted to blow
up the forts. The powder is reputed to be coarse
and bad. The guns and muskets are excellent. This
place, in a very short time, would have been as strong
as Cronstadt. It was the Emperor's intention to
build eleven more round forts, and another like Bo-
marsund, except that it has a straight front. The
foundations of some are begun, and the large fort,
which would have been a most beautiful building, is
fifteen or twenty feet high. This was to have been
his stepping-stone to Sweden.

848

THE CHOLERA.
THE return of the Registrar-General shows that in
the week that ended on Saturday last 2,515 persons
died in London. This number exceeds the average
by 1,267, but is 281 less than the number of deaths
in the week that ended September 1, 1849, when
cholera was epidemic, and 2,796 persons died.
The air was stagnant in the early part of the week;
no rain fell ; the sun shone brightly;_ and the tem-
perature of the atmosphere and the Thames ranged
from 60 to 70 deg.
1,287 deaths are referred to cholera, 243 to diarr-
hoea. The deaths from cholera during the last nine
weeks have been 1,5, 26, 133, 399, 044,
li 729, 847,
1,287. The present cholera epidemic, ke that of
1848-9, has appeared in two eruptiOns. The first
broke out earlier (Au4ust 21, 1853)' ,the latter erup-
tion later in the year (July 8) 'Aran the corre-
sponding eruptions in either the epidemic of 1832-3,
of of 1848-9. Up to the date of September 1, 1849,
the epidemic in London during fifteen weeks de-
stroyed 8,117 lives ; in the present epidemic 4,070
lives have been lost in the eight weeks ending Sep-
tember 2.
Although little more than a fourth part (616,635)
of the population (2,362,28(5) of this vast city is on
the south side of the Thames, 2,317 of the 4,070
deaths from cholera have happened in the southern
districts. And there the mortality is still heavy
101 persons died of cholera last week in Ber-
mondsey. On the north side of the Thames there
has been a remarkable outbreak in the St. James's
district.
The local authorities should immediately make ar-
rangements for carrying out the instructions of the
Board of Health. No time should be lost. Inspec-
tion and the house-to-visitation should be at once
instituted. The maxim with every person now
should be:—Follow your usual pursuits; live tem-
perately, but well ; fear nothing ; but the instant you
perceive any disorder, however slight, in yourself or
any members of your family, apply for medical ad
vice.
On the water companies that supply the popula-
tion with the dirty water of the rivers a serious res-
ponsibility rests. The water of every company is as
impure as it was in 1849, except in one instance. The
Lambeth company now procures its water from
Thames Ditton ; and in the districts which it par-
tially supplies the mortality from cholera is largely
reduced.
Statement of Deaths from Cholera in London,
showing the elevation in feet above Trinity high-
water mark, the population in 1851, and the number
of deaths from cholera registered in each sub-dis
trict :—The 1,237 reported were distributed accord-
ing to districts thus :—West districts, elevation above
Trinity high water mark, 28 feet; population in 1851,
376,427 ; deaths, 300. North districts, elevation, 135
feet; population, 490,390; deaths, 90. Central dis-
tricts, elevation, 49 feet; population, 393,256; deaths,
69. East districts, elevation, 26 feet; population,
485,522 ; deaths, 149. South districts, elevation, 6
feet; population, 616,635; deaths, 070.

THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
Six inspectors have been charged to report to the Board of
Health on the arrangements made by the metropolitan
boards of guardians. They are directed to extend their
inquiries to the following subjects :-
1. THE EXTENT OF MEDICAL RELIEF NOW EXISTING.
a. Number of medical officers.—b. Number of day and
night dispensaries.—c. Number of house-to-house visitors.
—d. Measures for arresting diarrhoea in workhouses.—e.
Copies of notices issued by guardianc—f. Hospital accom-
modation, and houses of refuge.
2. EXTENT OF THE DISEASE.
a. Number of cholera cases.—b. Number of diarrhea
cases.—e. Deaths from either under union medical officers.
This information to be obtained for a few days back, and
tabulated in one of the rem] los under the head of-1. District
medical officers' cases.-2. Dispensary cases.-3. Medical
visitors' cases.
3. LOCALITIES AFFECTED.
a. A list of those where cholera and diarrhoea chiefly pre-
vails, and has hitherto or recently prevailed.—b. Visit some
of the worst loyalties, inspect them and the houses, con-
verse with the people, ascertain to what extent dian•heea
prevails, and what cleansing measures, lime-whiting, dec.,
may be required, and whether there be any inspector of
nuisances to carry out these measures.—c. Examine the
water supply, and ascertain whether it is taken from the
river above or below Chelsea Reach.—d. Inquire as to
nuisances or noxious trades, and inspect them.
4. AND AFTER INQIIIRT, TO REPORT TO THE GENERAL
BOARD OF HEALTH.
a. On the particulars mentioned above.—b. On the
number of additional dispensaries required.—e- On the ad-
ditional medical officers required.—d On the additional
medical visitors required, stating their number.—e. Addi-
tional inspectors of nuisances, or cleansing staff, required.
J. Additional hospital accommodation, or houses of refuge,
required.
• A circular has been addressed by the board to the
London press, setting forth the steps that had been taken
since the new machinery was put in operation :—On entering
upon the duties of his office. the president of the board at once
addressed a letter to the metropolitan boar& of guardians,

THE PRESS.

with respect to the arrangements for preventing, when pos-
sible, or mitigating the visitation of epidemic cholera
offering the co-operation of the board in carrying out the
directions issued by the late board. Answers more or less,
satisfactory have been sent by most of the boards of guar-
dians, some accepting the board's offer, advice, and assist-
ance ; others declining it, and stating the arrangements they
have made for the execution of their duties under the
directions refetred to; others stating generally that they
have made the necessary arrangements without describing
what these are,—while from some no answer has yet. been
received. The board has now to discharge the not less im-
portant duty of ascertaining how far arrangements have
been made by the guardians iu execution of the board's
directions for preventing the spread of the disease, or for
placing medical aid and information within the reach of all.
to ascertain this six additional medical inspectors have
been appointed,who will at once enter upon their functions ;
and where boards of guardians are found to have neglected
their duty the General Board of Health will do its utmost
to enforce that duty, in so far as it is empowered by law. A
scientific investigation has also been directed by the board
into the condttions attendant on the epidemic in the
metropolis, to embrace both microscopical, meteorological,
chemical, and medical branches of inquiry, and the arrange-
ments for the several classes of observations have been
already made, or are in progress.
The following simple suggestions as to precautions to
observed by all at this time have been circalated:—

PRECAUTIONS A(MINST CHOLERA.
Apply to a medical man immediately in case of looseness
of the bowels, as it may bring on cholera.
Do not take any salts or other strong medicine without
proper advice.
Beware of drink, for excess in beer, wine, or spirits is
likely to he followed by cholera.
Avoid eating meat that is tainted or unwholesome, de-
cayed or unripe fruit, and stale fish or vegetables.
Avoid fasting too long. Be moderate at meals.
Avoid great fatigue, or getting heated and then chilled.
Avoid getting wet, or remaining in wet clothes.
Keep yourself clean, and your body and feet as dry and
as warm as your means and occupation will permit.
Keep your rooms well cleaned and limewashed ; open
the windows as often as possible ; remove all dirt and im-
purities immediately.
Use chloride of lime or of zinc to remove any offensive
smells.
If there are any dust or dirt heaps, foal drains, bad
smells, or other nuisances in the house or neighbourhood,
make complaint without delay to the local authorities,
having legal power to remove them, or, if there be no such
authorities, or you do not know who they are, complain to
the board of guardians.
THE MEDICAL Count:lL appointed by the Piesideat
of the General Board of Health comprise the folloiv-
ing members :—John Ayrton Paris, M.D., F.R.S.,
President of the Royal College of Physicians ; Sir
James Collins Brodie, Bart., F.R.S. ; Sir James Clark,
Bart., M.D., F.R.S., Physician in Ordinary to the
Queen and to his Royal Highness Prince Albert ;
James Alderson, M.D., F.R.S., Fellow and Treasurer
of the Royal College of Physicians ; Benjamin Guy
Babington, M.D., F.R.S., late Physician to Guy's
Hospital ; Alexander Tweedie, M.D., F.R.S.,
Examiner in Medicine in the University of London ;
William Baly, M.D., F.R.S., Assistant Physician to
St. Bartholomew's Hospital, Physician to the Millbank
Penitentiary ; William Lawrence, F.R.S., Vice-Presi-
dent of the Royal College of Surgeons, Surgeon Ex-
traordinary to the Queen ; John Simon, F.R.S.,
Officer of Health in the City of London ; Richard
Owen, F.R.S., Professor of Zoology in the Royal Col-
lege of Surgeons; Nathaniel B. Ward, Master of the
Society of Apothecaries ; John Bacot, Inspector of
Anatomy ; and William Farr, M.D., of the Registrar-
General's Office.

The lower part of Deptford, near the dockyard,
has lately been the scene of a terrible visitation of
cholera. Between midnight of Thursday week and
the Monday following nearly forty human beings
perished in one street alone, and it was stated that
nearly twenty more hopeless cases were lying in the
same street and the adjacent ccurts. The imme-
djate locality of this terrible outbreak is New-street,
Wellington-street, Deptford, a long street of old
houses. many of them uninhabitable or in ruins,
while, with few exceptions, all those which are te-
nanted are in a very dilapidated state. In many
places one common cesspool supplies the wants of
several houses, and the stagnant gutters upon each
side of the street do the duty of sewers. Added to
this, Wellington street, out of which New-street
branches, being in the same state, nearly all its re-
fuse water runs through New-street before it finds its
way into the Thames. In places where houses have
been pulled down, the waste ground has been used
as a depot for all sorts of filth. The inhabitants are
principally decent labouring people. Up to Thurs-
day week there had been a few cases of sickness
creating no alarm. Upon that evening a man work
ing at the Crystal Palace was brought to his house
in New-street, ill of the cholera. His landlady, who
let him in, was so alarmed at his appearance that
she was instantly taken ill, and before daybreak both
had died. Before twelve o'clock the next day (whe-
ther through sudden panic or otherwise) others were
dead and dying, and the mortality kept spreading
since then. The bodies of the deceased parties were
not removed or even coffined until Monday night,

SATURDAY,

when the parochial authorities came into the street
with a van. It is scarcely possible to describe the
scene of misery. Small knots of women and chil-
dren were seen crying in the streets, afraid to enter
their houses. All of the medical gentlemen of the
district have been unremitting in their attentions.
Excepting in this immediate locality there has been
but little sickness in Deptford, a circumstance which
proves the necessity for searching inquiry.
The districts of St. James's parish, Westminster,
and St. Ann's, Soto, bordering on Golden square,
Berwick-street, Broad-street, &c., have been visited
by a terrible outbreak of cholera. The report of the
governors of the Royal Westminster Dispensary, pre-
pared on Thursday, states :
" The first outbreak in the vicinity occurred about
fourteen days ago, and with such virulence did the epi-
demic rage that during that period no less than Irlo deaths
occurred in the immediate neighbourhood. Seventy cases
were attended by the officers of the dispensary, and of
these fifty died. The applications for relief in cases of
choleraic diarrhea at present averaged sixty per diem at
the dispensary, the pecuniary resources of which were in a
very bad condit►on. In consequence of the excessive mor-
tality a great number of those who were able to do so had
shut up their shops or houses and quitted the vicinity for
a time, and the result of this was that the annual sermon
preached on behalf of the charity at the parish church of
St. Ann. Soho, and which usually produces from 1001. to
1201., realised on Sunday last only 3/. 15s. Mr. Tilley. the
surgeon of the dispensary, was seized on Sunday evening
shortly after having attended some cases of cholera, and
expired in a few hours, notwithstanding eery effort of me-
dical skill. Preparations are now being taken against the
spread of the disease by various sanitary measures, and
particularly by watering the streets with a solution of
chloride of lime. The dispensary is at present in debt
4001., and has a balance of only 51. 17s. remaining at the
bankers."
In consequence of this outbreak, Messrs. Huggins
and Co., brewers, of Broad street, Golden-square,
have very considerately given notice that any inha-
bitants of the vicinity may have an ample supply of
hot water, night or day, for the purpose of cleansing
their bou-es.
AN officer of the Board of Health has reported
that he has found Wick the dirtiest town in all Scotland.
Drafts of the 12th Lancers, 43rd, 74th, and 84th
Regiments, embarked on board the Clive at Graves-
end on Saturday, for Madras, but had been scarcely
half an hour on board when one of the mates of the
vessel was attacked with cholera. The officer com-
manding the troops (Lieutenant Grace), having tele-
graphed the circumstance to Chatham, was ordered
to delay the sailing of the ship. On Monday morn-
ing a man of the 74th died. The troops were dis-
embarked in the course of that evening, and have
since been quartered at Tilbury Fort. No deaths
have taken place, but the men are suffering much
from diarrhoea. Since the troops left the ship, the
captain, mates, and seven of the crew have died.

From the 17th to the 22rd of August inclusive
there were 321 cases of cholera in the Paris hospi-
tals, and 181 deaths. On the 23rd of August there
had been treated 6,208 cases since November. Of
these 2,689 oied, 2,025 recovered, and 554 remained.
The Toronto Colonist states that no less than
eight persons had been admitted into the lunatic
asylum in a state of insanity, occasioned by con-
suming quantities of camphor to prevent cholera.
Some of them carried it about in their pockets, and
kept from time to time eating small quantities of it.
Others took it dissolved in brandy. In all cases
where it was taken in any quantity it produced insa-
nity. It is a fact well known that a comparatively
small quantity of camphor will set a dog mad, and
that he will soon afterwards die.

THE NEW DRESS FOR THE ROYAL ARTILLERY has
been approved by her Majesty, and will be taken
into wear by the officers just, commissioned. It con-
sists of a short blue frock-coat, with scarlet collar
and single-breasted. It has no ornaments whatever
except on the sleeve, which denote the rank of the
officer, viz., a knot of gold cord for lieutenants, the
same edged with gold braid for captains, and gold
lace edged with braid for field officers. For full
dress, a rich gold lace shoulder-belt, with an em-
broidered pouch, having the arms of the corps worked
in gold upon it, with a wreath of gold and laurel on
the sides, and the motto, " Que fas et gloria ducunt,"
underneath, and edged with gold lace. The sword.
belt of gold lace to correspond. The undress accou-
trements are of patent white leather, but the pouch
is of black patent leather, with a gun in the centre of
it in brass. The epaulettes and sash are abolished.
The helmet is of black felt. The forage-cap is to be
of the same pattern as that worn by the horse bri-
gade, while steel spurs are to be substituted in hen
of the brass ones hitherto worn. The Royal Horse
Artillery retain their present dress. Half the qnan
tity of gold lace, however, in front is to be dispensed
with.
A LETTER FROM HAMBURG of the 31st ult. states
that the great provision-merchants of that city had
been summoned to London to make arrangements
for the supply of 30,000,0001 b. of salt meat which
the English Admiralty requires for the fleet.