The Express.
London, England, 1849-04-14 00:00:00

TOOTING PAUPER ASYLUM

CASE.
TRIAL OF MR. DROUET FOR

MANSLAUGHTER.
Dom Mr. Baron Platt and Mr. Justice Williams.
8100 ND DAT.
Their lordship took their mats at a fliw minute of ten
o'eloidi, and the enee en immediately ;proceeded with. The
prisoner bad bees oat ea ball daring the night.
The Set witness called wee
Kedah Dicrimad, who depromt—l em deputy-matron of
the
.1!olbora Union Workhouse. For e few months I at-

tended to the children there. On the 6th January bist,
went to the Fres Hospital to receive the children who were
4mifrom Tooting. 167 cuss that night; amongst theta
11ressTunes Andrews. I put most of them to bed, but not
Andrew*. On the following morning (Saturday) I went,
between 9 and 10 o'clook, and then saw the deceased (J.
Andrews). He was in bed. The medicine which Mr.
Whitfield bad prescribed was given him. I attended to
him while he was alive. He was then dying. He had been
very sick ; he died about an hour an a half after I
get there, about half-put eleven. The same day I examined
an children who bad some to the hospital.
Mr. Chambers—ln what state were they ?
Sir F. Tbeeiger—l object to that. The question is, in
what mate was James Andrews, not the rest of the children.
Brides, this witness had not seen them before they went to
Tesdallitneeinathan• mathnied—l had an opportunity of seeing
ilia babes they went to Tooting.
Er F. Maker—This is not evidence, on this principle—
Waite het Is the deceased, bat to other parties ; and. of
KOMI, oldie other obildren,depentilsg either on
the they bed received or on other cannot, can be
tse treidenos of the treatment James Andrews had received.
They have entirely failed to show that James Andrews was
treated precisely in the same way as the other children.
Baron Platt —I cannot say that we are entirely without
evidence on that head.
Sir F. Thedger—But it h confined to the first few days
of his being there ; and, without allowing very greet latitude
indeed, the question now asked cannot have any fin bearing
an the point at issue.
Baron Platt—Bat surely it is evidence to show whether
the children who, along with deceased, went to Tooting in
good health, returned ill. She shindy states that she saw
the children before they went.
Mr. Ballantine submitted that the evidence could not pos-
sibly be received. In these cases, a separate indictment was
required for each individual ; and if the evidence now ten-
dered were allowed to be given, it would be to give the evi-
dence in one ease which belonged to another. It could not
be received, unless a perfect identity or analogy was mra-
bli.hed between the cases.

Baron Platt—Put the question.
Sir F. Thesiger requested that a note might be made of
the objection.
Witnees—l examined the children and found most of
them bad eruptions on their bodies. Andrew' had nose.
Sir F. Theme, again objected, on the ground that the
identity of treatment was here not shows.
Mr. Chambers submitted that the evidence went to sup-
port the allegations in the indictment.
Mr. Justice William—The indictment would confine you
to the mode of treatment which caused the amass of which
the person died.
Mr. Chambers—lt would be impossible to arrive at any-
thing like a satisfactory—or, he would add—a fair conclusion
with regard to Mr. Drourit's guilt or innocence upon this in-
dictment, without ping into numerous cases respecting the
children entrusted to his care, because it could only be by
the effect produced in numerous instances from the over-
crowding of the rooms, or the insufficiency or badness of the
food, that they could arrive at anythiar like a rational
opinion on the case. If the children were badly fed, badly
lodged, and badly clothed, they would indica.' symptoms of
ill-treatment after a certain time. But these symptoms
would show themselves in different ways. Insufficiency of
food would reduce the body; a pestilential atmosphere
would produce other appearances; insufficiency of clothing
would produce still different appearacees. Now, a medical
man could not form a satisfactory judgment upon one case,
bat if a number of cases were presented to him, he would be
able to give his opinion that the persons presenting certain
appearances were badly fed, badly lodged, end badly clothed.
It was impossible to take one case only—that of James An-
drews, for instance—and ask an opinion upon his case from
the appearances which he exhibits&
Mr. Baran Platt—Your argument is that some improper
treatment may produce various consequences in different In-
dividuals. And you say that when a number of individuals
returned from this establishment, having different appear-
ances of disease, all of which are attributed by medical men
to *anal,' previous causes—as the want of proper lood and
accommodation—it is evidence to show that the same treat-
ment would produce those appearances in this particular
ease.
Mr. Chambers thought it important also, as showing
criminal negligence on the part of Mr. Droeet, because the
question of criminal neglect was involved in the question of
numbers in this cue. If in the case of a person who du
charged a gun at another, and who defended himse'l by
saying it was not loaded, a third person were to come up and
say " the gun was loaded—here is the ball—it struck me,"
surely such evidence would be admirable. That cue was
similar to the 'print one.
Sr F. Thesiger thought that his learned friend (Mr.
Chambers) had only confirmed the argument of has learned
friend (Mr. Ballantine), for he had shown, in the moth
striking way that could be imagined, how dangerous a
laitudo would be allowed in prosecution, if evidence of this
kind were admitted against a prisoner. The consequence
Voit:so be drawn in the indictment from the acts ce
attributable to the prisoner was that by reason of
seas supposed ill-treatment, a mortal disease was caused,
by which a person inflict James Andrews died. Now his
learned friend propcsed to .Sow that with respect to a
Pabst of other children in the same establishment they
had melain appearances like Andrews, which indicated that
there had been improper treatment exhibited towards them—
not that any one of those persons had that mortal disease of
which Andrews died. Now, though he always understood
in cases of this description that though it might possibly be
evidence to show that similar treatment was exhibited to-
wards other persona than the object of inquiry, and thence
to infer that it was in ocnstquenee of such treatment the
death happened, yet it was absolutely menthol, before evi-
denceof that kind could be given in cases of this description,
to show a complete identity of all the circumstances ; be-
cause, it there were a failure in that particular, the evidence
had no application to the particular case. It was true that
in certain cases the law snowed evidence to be given of other
acts, but these were cases where the intention of the party
was in question—where, for the purpose of showing that
the party had a guilty knowledge of the act he
was doing, it was shown that he had committed some
other act which indicati d that guilty mind. But when the
question is not one of intention, but of a criminal act, then
evidence of acts with regard to other individuals was inad-
miesible.
Mr. Baron Platt—This is like a case of giving evidence
with respect to intention.
Mr. Justice WillisnisSuppose the ease of a mortil
disease superinduced by giving certain food, and upon exa-
mining all the children brought from the establishment,
they had shown appearances symennatie of haying lived on
the same food.
Sir F. Thesiga—Suppow the case of a entainons disease.
All had eruptions of different kinds which might indicate a
lowness of diet in general. Bat that was totally different
from the mortal diseue of which the party here died. The
question here was to the particular constitution of the indi-
vidual.
Mr. Baron Platt—But both might be occasioned by the
same treatment.
Sr P. nester—Supper the cues of en unhealthy person
affected to death by improper treatment Because he came
by his death from such treatment, would it be just to infer
that a healthy person was effected in a different way by rea-
son of the same treatment ?
Mr. Baron Platt—Suppose the case of a newels in a hos-
pital operating with • poisoned knife on three tedividuals,
without wiping off the blood. The Suit dim ; the second is
similarly affected, but does not die; the third is also affected,
but does not die. Would not the state of the second and
third persons be evidence ae to the mime of death of the
first ?
Sir F. Thesiger—Your lordship puts a ease of clear identity
of circumstance.
Mr. Baron Platt—That is for the jury. But do not under
stand that the jury must set upon
Sir F. Theeiger could not help feeling that if the evidence
was allowed, it was allowing a greater latitude than was
usual in each eases.
The Court intimated to Mr. Chambers that he would be
expected to confine the evidence to such coma as would lead
the medical men to infer the casino( disease.
The examination was then proceeded with.
The children had eruptions; they had sore feet, and
wounds in different parts of the body ; they were very thin
and pale ; there was a great difference in their appearance at
the time they went into the establishment at Tooting and at
the time they came out ; the children looked much stoats
and healthier when they west in; they were examined by
Mr. Grainger ; had seen the food and attention given to
them in the hospital • moat of them were very well now ;
does not know whetheiMr.Carroll saw the body of Andrews
after death.

------ by Sir F. Thesieer—Was in the habit of
seeing the children as mum every day. As Euro intendant
of the nurses, only saw them casually going into the wards.
lied three of her own children at Mr. Dream's, two boys
a eel, who came away at the same time as the other children.
They were there about 14 months. The childres were is
the habit of re
bit sometimes. Witness stopped at
Mr. Drouet's one t, and frequently visited there.
By Mr. Baron P tt—Went there a doses times daring
the 14 months.
Cror-ezamined by Sir F. Thesiger—Believed that Mr.
Drouet paid attention to ha children, 'alms quite saddled
on that point.

Croas-examined by Mr. M. Chambers—lt wr.s her duty to
visit the wends when she was superinteneent.
By Mr. Baron Platt—Her children formed a portion of
the 157. Her boys came home in Jrnuary, but not the girls,
tke latter being very ill with cholera. The boys looked very
poorly. AU three finally recovered. Ihe eldest child was
12 years old, another 8, and the third six end shelf. When
in ire establishment, witness vrf nt into the room where the
children fed Her own little girl was not treated with any
partiality. Had seen her at her seals four times. If she
had thought the food insufficient or improper, she would
have spoken about it. It appeared to her quite sufficient
It was supper that she bad seen the girls eat chiefly, which
oral consisted of bread and treacle and milk and water.

Had never seen thee eat their dinner. Had never seen
the boys sup. Had once been in the boys' sleeping spart-
mints, in the new building : it wu the big boys who slept
in it.

Mary Harrison, called and examined by Mr. Clarkson—
was me of the nurses of the Free Hospital, Gray's Inn-lane
On the evening of the 6th January, heard the children were
coming from Tooting that night. Saw the deceased boy,
James Andrews. He being very tired, witness set
him by the fire and gave him some supper. Gave
him milk and breed. He said " What a big piece
of bread :this is." He could only eat a pert of it
Undreamed him and pat him to bed ; he seemed to wish to
go to bed, being very tired.
By Mr Baron Platt.—The boy appeared fatigued.
By Mr. Clarkson—The doctor did not me him that night.
By Mr. BUM Platt—He did not complain of any pain
whatever. _

By Mir. Clarkson—He was very thin indeed—nothing but
• mere barns of bone. Ater witness had put him to bed he
seemed composed, and soon went to sleep. About half-pest
6 o'clock in the moralist/ he was taken with vomiting. Ilia I
purging wee more like dirty water than anything else.
By Mr. Baron Platt—lt was of a kind of slate colour ; not
yellow, bat blackish.
Cross-examined by Mr. Clarkson—Witness gave him some
milk and sent for the doctor, Mr. Whitfield, who cams a
little after 7. Could not say how long afterwards tke child
lived, having given up the chirp to Mrs. Dimond. Believed
Mr. Whitfield remained with the child for three hours.
Then were four other nurses in the hospital that night.
Cross-examined by Sir F. Thesiger—Four nurses went
from the Holborn Union to the Free Hospital. Never saw
June Andrews till she saw him at the Free Hoep.tal. The
nurse who used to attend him at the Holborn Union was
unknown to witness, and bad left the house. James An-
drews did not complain of sickness when he came to the
Free
been ilLHospital, nor did any of the other boys say he had
By Mr. Boron Platt—What sort of • night was this ?
It snowed.
Mr. M. Chambers—Mr. Whitfield, my lord, will tell us all
about the night.
Mr. Baron Platt—Were any of the otker children purged ?
Witness—Nine others were deli.
Mr. Baron Platt—Did James Andrews draw up his legs ?
Witness—Yee, my lord.
William Benson Whitfield called and examined hy Mr.
Chambers—Was the ;medical officer of the Holborn Union.
Visited Mr. Drouet's establishment on the 4th of January,
, in order to report as to the state of the chid-
, dren. Went over the sick ward and some other
other parts of the establishment. There were • num-
ber of rooms appropriated to the cholera cases. After
going over the establishment, witness entered in Mr.Drouet's
suiting books some suggestions as to the treatment of the
r children. _ _ _

Mr. M. Chambers—ls this what you said ? (The learned
counsel then read a statement that the writer had examined
Mr. Droaet's establishment, and had seen the children be-
longing to the Holborn Union and the parish of Newington;
and that he found that the cold cholera prevailed very ex-
tensively; that he suggested the general use of flannel as an
under garment ; also that there should be four blankets
to each bed, three for covering and one for lying upon; that
instead of suet padding the children should have rice-pud-
ding; that pea soup should be substituted for Scotch bar:ey
broth, and that the children should have meat four days in
the week.)
.The witness answered in the affirmative.
Mr. M. Chambers—Did you, in going through the wards,
notice the way in which the children were placed ?
Sir F. Thesiger objected to the question. This visit was
paid by Mr. Whitfield after the cholera broke out.
James Andrews was not one of the children who were at-
tacked with cholera in the establishment ; it was not till
after he bad left that the cholera showed itself. lie sub-
mitted that the mode in which Mr. Dronet treated the
children after the cholera broke out, unless it could be show n
that James Andrews was exposed to such treatment, had
I nothing to do with the issue. The objection was exactly
similar to that which he had taken on the previous day. I
Went afterwards into the attics where the children slept. I
That was on the 4th of January. Confined his visits to the
I wards in which the children slept. In consequence of what
he saw then, witness on the following day (the 6th of
January) reported to the board of guardians his observs-
tions, and recommended the instant removal of the children.
On the morning of the 6th of January went down to
Tooting, and examined the children of the Holborn
Union, previous to the arrival of the vans. An.
Brews was one of the children so examined by
him. This examination took place in the hall of Mr.
Droutt's establishment. There were 166 of the children in a
state fit to be removed. Many of this, were under the
Influence of cholera. Believed them to be so when he ree-m-
-mended their removal. Said so at the time, and stated it to
the board of guardians. Notwithstanding:this, considered
the children in a fit state to be removed. Was not present
when the vans arrived. They were covered in from the
weather, but not like omaibuses. Went to the Free Hospital
at 7or B o'clock on the morning of the 6th January. Saw
James Andrews. Found him in a state of collapse. Con-
sidered his a fatal case trim the first. A week afterwards
went down to Tooting and examined Droaet's premises.
Prisoner was there, but was not informed by him of his
object. Little was said at the time. Some of the Holborn
Union children were still at Tootiog.
Mr. Chambers—How many children could the sleeping
wards accommodate.
Sir F. Thesiger objected to the question. The charge
against Mr. Drouet, was the having occasioned James
Andrews' death, by putting him in a damp, d
room to sleep, and the evidence must be confined to the proof
respecting Andrews' sleeping-place, and not travel over the
whole of Mr. Droaet's establislinteat.
Mr. Chambers replied that he must be allowed to prove
that the whole of Mr. Drouet's place was over.crowded,
and that, from bad ventilation, dampness, and pestilential
vapours, the children's health generally was affected.
Baron Platt—l don't understand how this pestilential
vapour, as you cell it, Mr. Chambers, can produce cholera.
What miasma has ever been known to produce cholera?
One room being over-crowded will not prove that ell the
rooms were over-crowded.
Mr. Chambers—l am about to show, my lord, that the
overcrowding of the rooms was general thraukhout the
premises, and that the children's health suffered in con-

sequence.
Mr. Whitfield's examination resumed—Whims went
through all the rooms.
Sir F. Thesiger again objected to the general condition of
the premises being made matter of evidence. After a long
argume at between the counsel,
Mr. Baron Platt mid—Mr. Chambers, I have already
decided that you must canfine yourself to evidence showing
the state of the rooms in which .Andreere slept, ate, or dwelt,
and we cannot hear the point argued ever again.
Examinrion continued—l did not ascertain how many
children could be accomodated in the halls. I do not re-
collect how many attics the building had. I do not recol-
lect going into any particular attics. I :amine d the chil-
dren before they were removed in the vans, and subse-
quently on their arrival.
Mr. M. Chambers—Before they were removed in the vane,
in what state of health were they ?
Witness—They were not in a good state cf health. Molt
of the younger children were very thin, and their abdomens
tumid.
Mr. Baron Platt—Tumid abdomen means swelled belly.
Witness—l examined them after their arrival in town.
Mr. M. Chambers—Describe the state in which you found
them as to their general health and appearance.
Witeete—Covered with the itch, a great many of them.
Mr. M. Chambers—Was there anytkine from which you
could form a judgment as to the way in which they had been
treated as to food and lodging ?
Witnees—l believed, fr tm their bellies being swelled, and
their extremities being thin, they had not received quite suf-
ficient food. When the constitution is impaired, the energy
for resisting disease is less.
Mr. M. Chambers—Were their constitutions so impaired
as to be less capable of resisting the cholera ?
Witness—Many of them. I saw James Andrews. I can-
sot say in what state he was as to the power of resisting dis-
cus. The cholera produces effects in a short time. I had
not token particular notice of him before. The wasting is
very sudden in cholera.
Mr. M. Chambers—He has been eleseribed as a big of
Witnees—That is an exaggerated statement ; he was not
eo.
Re-examined by Sir F. nagger—Yon have attended the
children of the Holborn Union for some time ? I have at
tended them for nearly three years. There are two other
surgeons of the union. One eurgeon attends the children,
another the women, and the other the men.
The children in the workhouse are not the specimens of
children you find elsewhere ?—Not at all.
An not children very apt to come into the workhouse
with the itch ?—Yes.
Mr. Baron Platt—ls the workhouse ever free from itch ?
Witness—There are away, a few cases.
Examination resumed by Sir F. Thesiger—Do you re-
member the boy James Andrews. Ido not recollect him
before I went to Tooting. I knew his brother. Ido not re-
member hie brother going to Touting. I had never been at
Tooting at all before the 4th January.
Sir F. Thesiger—Yon say that the emaciated appearance
of the subject is very rapid in the case of cholera ?
Witness—lt is se.
I lAre you able to say how mon, when there are the seeds of
cholera in the system, the emaciation would begin ? The
emaciation would not commence before the discharges.
This was e cv• of Asiatic cholera, and James Andrews
died of Asiatic cholera ? He did.
What is your opinion of a case of cholera? I believe it
to be a condition of the atmosphere, arising from atmospheric
influence.
Do yon consider it infectious or contagious I—Decidedly in-
fections.
So that when*, poisonous state of the atmosphere has
communicated disease to one subject, another may take it
from him from intention ?
When many persons affected with the same disease are in
one apartment, persons going to the same apartment are in
damer of taking it.
Yon consider the origin of cholera to be a pesticide! testa
of the atmosphere. If there were open ditches in the neigh-
bourhood of a place, would it generate cholera?
Witness—lt would not generate cholera.
Mr. Baron Platt—ln your opinion cholera is net generate]

by marshy miasma. Do you consider that cholera is gene-
rated by insufficient food ?
\Vanua—lt is not so generated.
Mr. Buou Platt—What 1 node retard yen to say is, that
if cholera is prevailing, persons in a weak state are Ism
likAy to resist it if aff.eted ?
Witnese—lt is from want of constitutional energy.
Crass examinstion by Sir F. Thesiger resumed—l believe
cholera is capricious in its attacks ?
Witness—Very much so.
Sir F. Thesiger—l believe it will sometimes attack one
side of a ship and not the ether ?
Witness—l have heard of such instances.
Sir F. Thesiger—One side of a street and not the other ?
Witeese—Yes.
Sir F. Thesiger—Do you knew that sometimes it ravages
apparently well-ventilated places, and spans those that are
crowded and ill-ventilated ?
Witness—There are such instance,.
Sir F. Thesiger—Sometimes a regiment en its march will
be attacked by cholera, and when they have broken up and
the regiment has been removed a few miles the cholera has
disappeared ?
Witness—Just so.
Do yon know that in the :immediate neighbourhood of
Tooting, in the adjoining pariah of Wandsworth, cholera
broke out also ?
Witness—Yea.
Mr. Baron Platt—When ?
Wetness—At the same time. It commenced before the
Tooting cholera, but was prevailing at the same lime.
Bo Sir F. Thesiger—Do you know the Hackney refuge at
Mr.Varburton's asylum ?
Witness—l do not.
Sir F. Thesiger—Yon say that on the 4th you recom-
mended a peculiar course of treatment ; did you ascertain
whether that had been attended to ?
Witness-1 did not ascertain ; the children were removed
the next day.
Sir F. Thesiger—ln your judgment would the spreading
of cholera be produced by excessive cold?
Witness—l think that cold is a great predisposiug cause.
Mr. Baron Platt—l believe it is well known that repeated
atmospheric changes will predispose to cholera
Witness—That is not quite settled.
Re-examined by Mr. M. Chambers—You have stated that
insufficient food will not generate cholera ?
Witness—But it might predispose to it.
Mr. Chambers—lf the children were to be warmly clothed
one day, end the next day were to be insufficiently clothed,
All not that be a predisposing cause—the transition from
, warm to cold clothing ?
Witness—Yes, supposing the disease prevailed at the time.
Mr Chambers-1f children were kept in a warm room and
turned out into a cold play.ground, would not that be a pre-
dist;=_anse ?
Tab
Mr. Berm Platt—You say that when you inspected this
number of boys, some of them at the time were under the
influence of cholera?
Witness—l did so.
Mr. Baron Platt—Can you point out any individual on
whom that influence was being exercised ?
Witness—l cannot mention the names, or whether this
child was one.
Mr. Baron Platt—Did yen think it fit to look after the
children that night ?
Witness—l was expressly excluded, on the ground that
the medical man from the hospital should attend them.
Mr. Baron Platt—Your office wu superseded. Yon made
some report to guide the officer.
Witness—l was certain that when the children were
removed into the hospital, they would be attended to at
once.
Mr. Baron Platt—Might not the removal of the children
at night be an equally predisposing cause of cholera ?
Witness—Yes.
By Mr. M. Chambers—ln your judgment was it news-
eary to bring up than that night through the snow ?
Witnem—lt was indispensable fur the preservation of
their lives.
Dr. Gibson examined the children going to Tooting as
the 28th of October. Did not recollect whether Andrews
was one of them. If Andrews had been among them must
have examined him. If a boy was thin only, but not abso-
lutely ill, would have passed him.
Mr. Baron Platt—Were there many thin boys among
them ?—Then were boys of all conditiocs.
Dr. Garrod was the next witness examined—Made a post-
mortem examination of the boy Andrews is the bone-house
of the hospital 140 hours after death. The body was
exhumed for the
purpose,
Mr. Baron Platt—
nmust prove the body.
Mr. Pearson, a vesicles gsuudian of the Holborn Union
was called for the purpose. Had seen a body but could not
sly whether it was that of Andrews.
Cross-examined by Sir F. Thesiger—ls acquainted with
Mr. Drouet. Has observed his establishment often, and the
mode of conducting it. Thought it was a perfectly well
conducted one.
Mr. Chambers objected to this line of cross examination as
opening up new ground. After some legal discussion,
Sir F. Thesiger-1 will put the question in this form.
What has Mr. Dronet's character been for Mathieu and
humanity ?—Exceedingly good.
Mr. Chambers—Have you made inquiry since these events
have taken place ?—No. My opinion is the result of in-
quirks made during my visits of inspection.
In answer to Mr. Baron Platt, I have beard a good
character of Mr. Drouet from persons in Tooting and else-

where.
Mr. Chambers stated that, as a difficulty had arisen re-
specting the identity of the body, they bail sent for the ne-
cessary evidence.
At this point the jury adjourned for refreshment.
W. Pithy, examined by Mr. Clarkson—l am a grave
digger. Saw the boy Andrews in the month of October.
He was then in very good health. I way in the room when
he expired. I buried him, and, by directions of the autho-
rities, I afterwards exhume d him, for the purpose of having a
post-mortem examination instituted.
Dr. Oarrad recalled and examined by Mr. Clarkson—l am
confident, from the post-mortem examination I made, that
Andrews died of malignant or Asiatic cholera. The
body was very slightly decomposed, and very much
emaciated previous to death. The teeth were not
so forward as I should have expected from a child
of that age. His head was large. That largeness was an
indVatiou of his not having arrived at maturity commen-
surate with his age. The blood throughout the whole
holy was of a dark, tar-like colour. The glands
were much enlarged, and tubercular matter was apparent,
but not to a very great extent. The intestines contained a
gruel-like matter, which presented all the appearances com-
mon in cholera evacuations. The blood in the arteries was
nearly as dark as that in the veins. These appearances
satisfied me that the child died of Asiatic cholera. The
heart, liver, end spleen were all healthy, but I consider it must
have been an unhealthy child.
Mr. Clarkson—Do you consider that its general emacia-
tion would have been produced by the action of cholera upon
the body for 42 hours ?
Witness—ln ordinary cases it would not. Shrinking
would have bees produced from that cause. It is my opinion
that there is a cholera influence somewhere, and that per-
sons of weak constitutions are more likely to be attacked by
that influence. For instatee,a child of a strong constitution
might resist it when a child of weak constitution might fall
a victim to it.
By Sir F. Thestur —I believe cholera to be in the atmo-
sphere, and that it travels tenor other countries.
Sir F. Thcsiger—.May 1 ask by what conveyance it travels?
(Laughter.)
Witness—lt travels in the atmosphere. Ido not believe
it can be ger.erated in England. I believe it to be infectious,
bat not contagious, and that it is likely to attack some
places, such as prisons and workhouses, more than
others. It is very capricious—is known to he at one side
of the street, and not the other, and even to pass over inter-
vening houses. In fact, bad air, bad food, and bad clothing,
will predispose to it. Ido not believe that these of them-
selves would generate the cholera—they require the pre-
sence of the atmospheric influence I alluded to in order to
create it.
Mr. Kite, examined by Mr. Chambers—l am a surgeon.
I went to Mr. Drouet's in that capacity the last day of
October. There were then 1,100 or 1,200 children in his
establishment. Borers the end of December nearly 200 more
were admitted. I have no memorandum of the precise
nu-nbcr. Those 200 children came from St. Pancras. I
was never consulted as to the extent of the accommodation
for the children, or on the subject of ventilation or clothing,
or as to the number in the rooms. The infirmary was a room
It was conaected with the rest of the building. There were
some patients in that infirmary when I went there. About
three er four weeks after I went there was a sick ward
opened. There were not many affected with pure itch
when I went there, but there were several with cutaneous
diseases. I found it very difficult to cure the cues of itch
which did present themselves.
Mr. Baron Platt—Did you ever hear of cholera being pro-
duced by itch ?
Witness—Never. (Laughter.)
Witness—The first case ~f cholera occurred on the 29th of
December, and between that and the 30th of January 139 of
the children died of it. When attacked they were moved at
once to the sick ward. I knew the boy James Andrews. I
th:ireeeerareeeeispf:ausdrooraLcson,
eovtlibeerenyildnanagydini.")!
was in court yesterday when the attic was dise:ihed. It wee
w eachn describedot
other.h .uynTidfht
dildc:nanorreetngootltyrosa.
have been in the attic where Andrews slept, soon after the
cholera broke out. It war alter the sth January
I was there. I cannot say how many beds there
were in that attic, uor in the others. They
were only sleeping two in a bed at that time. After the
cholera broke out the numbers increased. On the 30th
there were about a dozen cases, and a greater num-
ber the next diy. Afterwards there were perhaps
fifty fresh cases in a day. At one time about
200 were ill. After the bet of January there were new cases,
but the number decreased. Before it broke out, there were
rather too many children in the domitories for a state of
health. The number might predispose them to take
disease. I lived on the premises. The dae-roomr, in
which were the infants did not appear to be overcrowded.
[Left proceeding ]

NENE ESTUARY gMIRANKMENT; WINGLAND,--The
land enclosed by Ville work h.. 6 proved to be of Coe moat prO-
!
ductive and fertile character, and from a waste of mud and
weeds covered with water, his emerged into a fruitful and
prosperous region. The last year's crops were very large,
exceeding the anticipatilas of the most sanguine, and the
present appear to be vitally promising. The quantity of
land enclosed within this embankment amounts to 2,600
acres, valued at 200,0001, and the works were carried into
execution under the auspic'es of the commissionsrs of the
river Nene Oatfall, Mr. T. Wing being their chairman,
after whom the reclaimed land is called. The Norfolk
Estuary project is a like uadertaking, for which an act bas
already been obtained, and the works will be commenced se
soon Si some additional powers have been granted to the
company by parliament during the present serials.

FINANCIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.— A I
Mestincwes held ..ta Thursday evening, at the S4uthwark '
Anse? Tooley-street, Southwark, for the pupas of forming l
• &mkt ecciatioo to co-operate with .11 mini- '
ke biedi.. in the tuned Kingdom, I. fawner of &asocial
and parlianiewary reform. Mr. flatterley, an old and tried
gehemer, was lulled to the chair, ani bet fly stated the ob. I
Jest of thee meet ng, sad introduced Messes. Wickham and
illetsou as a deputation from the esahrel society, who de-
tailed its prineiplee. The fallowing Teacloths was easel- '
sweely adopted :—" That an ageosiadoe he now formed, to
b. denominated the last Senthwark Fiaaaelel sad Pasta
asallary Reform Ameeleties, gemprieleg the several perishes
of St. Olive, eft. Thomas, sod St. JAL la the boon& of 1 I
Nouthwark : to emesegonte with all similar bodies in the
United Ru,gdoes, fire
dm purposes peered in the resole-
Nous of the central gesiaty, sow meeting at No. 11, Prealtry,
Lendest, end of whisk Ilk .1. hem. 31. P. ie president.
That ell paeans salnuelhing per SWIM
be members of this aseselation." Other reitedatiens wen
sampled, and the maseling adkaraed.
STATIaTICS OF INTRAMURAL INTERMENT.—The
fallowing interestingfates are contaimed in a pamphlet m-
essily ppuall shed by the Seeley el for the Abolition Into-
mend Inkrment : There are 182 parochial graveyards in
London. containing 209 acres of ground. The amnia mor-
Silky of London, at the lowest computation, is 50,000 ; and
Minter that number decently 444 awes would be required.
allowing the extreme number of 136 burials to the acre. As
• necessary coesequen,w it follows that the graveyards of
London are improperly crowded. Of the 182 graveyards in
London only 48 are confined to the proper limit of 136 burials
per acre annually ; the others vary from 200 to 1000 per
awe annually, as the subjoined table will show: In the
burial ground of St. Andrews Undershaft the annual
mono per acre is 1,278; in Portugal-street it is 1,021;
is St. Dunstan's, Fleet-street, 1,082; St. Donstaa's.in-
the-East, 1,210; St. John's, Clerkenwell, 3,073 ; St.
Marrat.lllll, 1,159- St. 0111111, Tooley.street, 1,257; St.
Swlthia's 1,766. The averrges an as great in the Wiel-
d. direastars. Spa-fields contains 42,640 superficial
gran d is entail le of burying decentll,36l bodies; bat in
*period of 50 years it has ree lied 80,000, or sk:ut Ijoo
Sd. y. The vault under the plus formerly called Elton
1 measures 59 feet in ltngth and 28 in breadth. It
costal& properly 200 bodies, or, allowing the colas t•
be piled eig &op, I,MO. In sixteen years it has received
12,000 bodies. The vault end chapel, both filled to the roof,
would not oestais this number, and the statement made of
the mode of .. mak, room" is too nvoldog to eater upon.
We pleas ho• SWIM been converted Into an esessably-roose,
and polkas end gallopade. were nightly danced on the floor
under which were the festering remake of thoumads. New
-fields averages 2,323 interments yearly to the acre.
It is a egnificaat feet that plague, with many other scourges
erf kammaity, became knows in a short period after the intro-
duction of the comparatively modern mode of interments in
towns.
FREEHOLD COTTAGE OARDENS.—The Noels Review
ear : " Seven es of land on the Forest, near this town,
having recently been sold m freehold property, in lots of
about 1,290 yards each, the wiles purchasing the land have,
ethos the weather has been RIM, eseitned the same by ten-
sing it with posts and rails, and Mee made rapid progress in
the soil into a proper Maio of ealtivatioe. This land
frotstween the road from Reeled to Bison:green and the
foot toed to the latter pipes from the bowling-alley-fields.
We eadersteei the prise pins avenged ben id. to Bd. per
red, whisk, at the lemma rate, mouses te upwards et
1101. per este. No doubt assay of the proprieten will, in
the Mom of a v. ry shcet thee, build instil tasesasets on
Me:s=af Found, aldet_with the lead itself, slid make
VIM upwards of wo. a year sad thus entitle the
amen Se vete hi the iseasbeee. Mr. iiiskaaa, of
Wlles abseil soon 'iceboat maniple, and kw a
esel hews to the muse of watts, whisk win NM-
oweris mit* this hitherto term wildensas to
MOIL The inutneet is/espial, eves et half the rote we bars
ahem vista. via bad like the waste sterile semis of Not-
iblhas Fermi, dose net evince mush fear, bat, ea the eon-
every. it shows groat sealkleace ia the result ban free trade
assoures, although the greet lea/owners, preteetioaists, end
some—act all—of the agriculturists, an seasteatly engaged
in crying out,' Wolf 1 Wolf V to elms the country.'.