The Express.
London, England, 1853-11-04 00:00:00

THE CHOLERA,

(Fran the Gamma Board of Elsalib, Stn. t.)
METROPOLIS.
From returns made be the superintendents of
police of the D, E, 0, li, L, M and P Divisions it
appears that between the 28th October and the Ist
instant there had occurred in those districts 18 cases
of cholera, eight of which terminated fatally. One
person was found dead in his room in Gee 'e-court,
and en inquest being held, a verdict was returned of
" died of spasmodic cholera." The return also con-
tains among the nine fatal cases many after very
short illness. There was also a case of death
from cholera in Little Marlborough-street on 2nd inst.
A case of cholera which occurred on Monday last at
15, Ashby-street, St. Pancras, is the second (inde-
pendently of several of diarrhoea) within four days in
the same house. Mr. Sutherin, the medical officer of
Itho district, reported this house, as well as several
others in the same street, a fortnight ago as in a
most filthy, unwholesome state. Mr. Sutherin re-
gards it as one of the black spots in his district. At
the present time there is scarcely a house on the
same side of the street as No. 15 in which cases of
small-pox, scarlotir,a, or fever are not existing. One
of the inmates of the room where the cholera ease
has occurred had small-pox about six weeks ago;
while two other cases of the same frightful malady
took place in the room above. To permit such a
place to be occupied in its present state is little short
of homicide.
The parochial authorities of Westminster have,
ever since 1849, been carrying out with great activity
the sanitary improvement of their parish. During
the present year, 579 cesspools have been emptied,
158 fuul drains cleansed, 6, houses limewashed, 103
piggeries and 33 rubbish heaps removed. The
cleansing of the streets has likewise been diligently
attended to, ands supply of water has been provided
to numerous housee, previously without any. The
parish has already experienced the pecuniary benefit
of these judicious measures in the abatement of
sickness, and the consequent diminution of pauper
relief. There is, perhaps, no part of the metropolis
in which, of recent years, so large an amount of the
worst description of low house property has been got
rid of as in Westminster. The construction of
Victoria-street has effected the demolition of
some of the vilest tenements in London ; but
while it is pleasing to know that such plague spots
are removed, the serious question suggests itself,
what has become of all the poor population who
have been thrust out of their miserable abodes?
The parochial authorities have now a favourable op-
portunity of effecting a most important social im-
iprovement, by availing themselves of the powers
which, in common with other parishes throughoot
the kingdom, they possess under Lord Shaftesbury's
Act of 1851, to erect suitable dwellings f.r the la-
bouring and poorer classes. The measure, if judi-
ciously carried out, has been shown to be remunera-
tive, and would eventually prove a source of profit
is a variety of ways to the parish.
Dr. Milroy had an interview on the 2nd
instant, with the board of guardians of Hemp-
Mewl. The board unanimously passed a resolution
appointing Mr. Lord, the parochial medical officer,
es the responsible sanitary inspector and health
officer of the parish, so that a thorough and
systematic examination may be made of every locality
where any sort of nuisance exists.
Numerous complaints of private and local nuisances
are being daily addressed to the General Board of
Health. In all such cases the first step that should
be taken is to bring the case without delay to the
knowledge of the parochial medical officer of the
district. Should there be any unnecessary default
or delay in dealing with it, a detailed statement of
particulars might then be sent to the General Board.
DUNDEE.
On the 31st ult., Dr. Gavin met the chairman and
oth te members of the local board, together with the
medical officers. The returns, which are by no'
means complete, show that from Oct. 15 to 31 there
had been 211 cases of diarrhoea, 49 cases of cholera,'
and 22 deaths. The cases are stated to have not yet
occurred so much amongst the indigent poor as
amongst the class above them. One abominable
nuisance appears to exist here to a greater extent
even than in other towns. "There is," says Dr.
Gavin. "a very great want of the common conveni-
eases. They may be said not to exist at all, but in
pines of them there are public privies—horrible, dis-
gusting, brutalising in the extreme. Any person
frequenting them in a choleraic epidemic trifles with
his life."
The places in which the disease has hitherto de-
veloped itself are net so palpably and specially insa-
lubrious as is common in other towns, although it is
I stated that Dundee abounds in so many impurities
I that it is difficult to determine which may be the
special locaiising cause. A number of resolutions
embodying the whole of Dr. Gavin's recommenda-
tion, have been unanimously adopted by the autho-
rities. The principal were as follows:

-777117aPloperly.quilitiiiriiiitors be appointed to
visit the families in the different districts, with a
view to detect diarrhea, and treat it in its earliest
, dare
" That handbills or notices shall be extensively cit.-
Galata containing directions as to applying for me-
dicines, and obtaining medical advice on the first ap-
para. wee of the disease."
That a communication be made to the Commis-
sioners of Police, directing attention to the danger
arising from dunghills being allowed to remain in the
neighbourhood of peopled localities, and also to the
necessity of the public privies being either removed
or provided with the means of beingp.operly cleaned
owe a day and kept in a safe condition."
"That a communication be also made to the in-
spector of factories with a view to having a searching
examination into the state of health of the opera-
tives and workers employed at the various mills and
manufactories in theplace."
"That a number of nurses be employed properly
qualified to wait upon patients affected with diarrhoea
mad cholera."
" That the medical attendants be requested to fix
upon a common form of prescription applicable to
all the dispensaries."
" That Dr. Gavin be requested to procure five gen-
tlemen, to be approved of by the committee, to act
as house to house visitors. The remuneration to be,
if qualified, one guinea per day, and if not qualified
15s. per day ; that their travelling expenses to and
from Dundee be paid by the board, and that they
shall receive one day's pay over and above the num-
ber they shall act as visitors."
SonAM.—On an inspection of this town which
contains a population of about 4,700 souls, Dr.
Walter Lewis states that the crying evil—the prima
cause of the virulent form of the epidemic now raging
is the quantity of stagnant water met with at every
step: The state of all the cottage privies is disgust-
lag in the extreme. The people are very poor, being
mostly farm labourers, earning on an average only
10s. a week, which, with the present high prices of
provisions, does not give them nearly the amount of
support they require to keep them in health. There
have been already 20 deaths from Cholera, and several'
more persons at present in the collapsed stage, will
have to be added to the list to-night or to-morrow
morning.
ARBROATH.—On the lit of November there were
three fatal cases, of which two had previously been
reported as being under treatment. The third was
a new case, which had occurred since the last ac-
counts. The local authorities have procured eligible
premises for the accommodation of the families of
those attacked with the disease.
TENTERDEN' KENT.—Oct. 31. Cholera-1 death.
Nov. 1. Cholera-1 death. The above were hus-
band and wife.
APPLEDORE.—Nov. 2. Cholera-3 deaths.
LUTON.—Nov. 2. Cholera-3 deaths. These make
ten deaths from cholera in the Luton district between
the 17th October and the 2nd itle.
RICKMANWORTII (WALFORD UNION).-OCt.
Cholera-1 death ; diarrhcea-1 death.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TTNE.—Oct. 30. Cholera-1
death.

THE TIVNTING SLASON AT CIIELTENIIAM.—The fox
hounds hare arrived at their Cheltenham kenctl, during
the week, and on Monday the ringiog of the bells of the
parish church announced the arrival a the nohle master of
the pack at his mideuce, German Cottage. Yesterday, the
first meet of the season, the hounds threw off at Dewdts•
well, and after a serarahling rum they ultimately lest their
fox. Lord Fitahardinge was present, and appearid, we are
pleased to say, in his usual health. There was a large at-
tendance of horcznitn, including a goodly sprinkling of red
coats.—Cht.llenhlat Examiner.