The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-14 00:00:00

evidently arose from their dislike to sanitary improve-
ments, for it would no doubt remove fever, &c. and that
medical
practitioners would be at a discoUnt-Lin short,
there would be but little for them to do. The remark
was as unfortunate as it was illiberal.
The tubular system of di &nage, as carried out in
Croydon, has proved a most marked failure from the
very commencement to the present time. In order to
lay the pipes at the backs of houses, the workmen,
there not being an overlooker to direct them, when they
came in contact with old drains and cesspools, scattered
the contents about, thereby ug saturat*l the earth with
their contents. When the rain came, accompanied
with a high state of temperature, poisonous
the network
gases were
exhaled from the earth. This with t
small pipes taking very tortuous courses, as of
occasioning
stoppages in all directions, both in the premisesec
private dwellings, as well as in the public streas- of
the
getting rid of those obstructions, for whi6b the pipes
were removed and the contents pumped up into the
main streets, and_tlie -sewage allowed to find its way
along the gutters, throwing off poison as it went, the
surface water drainage allowed to remain undisturbed,
and the open gratings pouring forth smells of the vilest
character. Not only were the abominations permitted
to remain, but their course cut off, and their contents
allowed to percolate the earth ; and the receptacle for
the sewage is close to the town, and the ditches in its
neighbourhood, filled with the sewage, pouring forth
more stinks and more poison ; and the contents of
that receptacle, sold as manure, is carried through
the town in the night, and allowed to be put into
' a• hole which is open ; so that there were not only
one or two causes, but many. These may be thus sum-
med up :—The distributing of the old drains and cesspools,
the escape of sewage in private dwellings, and the pump-
ing of it up into the public streets, arising from the
stoppages frequently occurring in the numerous small
pipes, which nth a very tortuous course ; the surface-
water drainage ; the reservoirs for the sewage on the
west, and the accumulation of the contents carried
through the town to the east, and then allowed to lay
exposed and strewed over the fields in all directions, so
that we are hemmed in on all sides, as well as in the
town, with poisonous gases ; and the streets in the town
dirty and filthy, and not a scavenger to be seen. I think
I have stated quite enough to account for the fearful
fever of Croydon. As to prevention, nothing short of
main-street sewers, and the drains of every large house
going directly into them, and where there are a cluster
of small houses,. let them be united and go directly into
the main sewer, will be effective.
Croydon has always been a very healthy town ; in fact,
there is everything to make it so, in regard to situation,
soil, &c. Both my private and public practice will bear
me out in this, for upon referring to my book containing
the certificates of death, I find only eight deaths from
fever in the last five years, and most of those traceable
to some immediate local cause. I have written to many
places to ascertain the extent of fever in other parts of
the country. It is reported in Croydon that, fever pre-
vails all over, not only this country, but the Continent ;
and, as far as I can learn, that has not been. the case.
I have, in addition, seen medical gentlemen from Man-
chester, Northampton, Oswestry, Shrewsbury, Guild-
ford, Dulwich, Dorking, &c., who all declare there is
not now, nor has there been, any fever in their respec-
tive localities.
Statements have been made by the Board of Health,
and . others of a vague and unsat'sfactory character, as
to the rate of mortality, &c. As far as I am able to
state, about 1,600 cases of fever have occurred since the
lst of Septemberto the present time (the 12th of Feb.).
For the same period about 286 deaths were registered,
70 of which were from fever. Although thlit may ap-
pear a small rate of mortality, the number of cases is
truly alarming ; many of them will be many. months
before they recover sufficiently to enable them to follow
their avocations. The number of deaths is great out of
such a population as that of Croydon, and many of the
deaths have occurred. amongst the respectable trades-
men in the High-street. The fever altogether has don e
so much mischief to the town' and neighbourhotid that it
will take years to remove.
The fever was of the gastro-enteric form, which soon
ran into a low typhoid remittent character, °eel-
sionally maculated, accompanied with congestion of
some vital organs, as the brain, lungs, liver, bowel, &c..
requiring prompt and active treatment. Diarrhoea was
•ftequent, as well as vomitting in many cases, and
occa-
si~ pally hemorrhage from the bowels to an alarming
oxten t. diarrhoea being one of the first symptoms. Cre-
taceous yaedicine, with aromatics and opium, and ene-
mata with k:tarch and opium, were of service ; and when
haemorrhage fisim the bowels occurred, enemata with
gallic acid and opium proved successful, in conjunction
with' the administration of gallic acid by the mouth.
These, with liberal doses of quinine, ammonia, serpen-
tary, and opium, and occasional small doses of mercury-
with-chalk, with Dover's powder, counter-irritation by
mustard poultices and blisters, formed the chief means
of treatment. By carefully watching and almost antici-
pating symptoms, the cases I found in my practice to be
thus successfully treated. It was stated by some to be
a new form of fever ; I did not discover anything more
than might be reasonably expected when so Much poi-
son was generated and inhaled, and what I had occasion-
t.ally witnessed, as well as most other practitioners, in
toe; course of my practice.
Al.'•er having said so much about the cause, the effect,
and resiZ.!t of this severe form of fever, which I am happy
to say is nou-• decreasing, in justice to the gentlemen of
the Board of 13:431th, I wish to say that I respect every
member of that board, which I am sure was most
anxious to carry a sanitary plan that woad have been
satisfactory to the inhabitants. But the 'Ar•Ard was to
blame in adoptirg an almost theoretical sy-stem of
drainage, and one so ill adapted to the town of Croydon.
I do hope that the Board of Health at Croydon will
possess sufficient moral courage to institute a.perfectlyr
impartial, seveLing incu ry, and if possible to take im-
mediate steps to re:novo the cause of fever. If not, it
will then be the duty .of the inhabitants and rate-payers
to come forward for tbai Furpose.
Since the above was forwarded to us on February 12,
prevented us from in-
serting, Mr. Bottomley and which pressure of matter ,bas
h s dpin addressed us (Jai so
4). He says :—" The publicaiiol3 of my paper, on
the sanitary state of Croydon, world be of Much value
even now, seeing that the Governmer:' is making a great
stir in the matter. It would therefore !)e of great ser-
vicemight not
to point out its evils, that other t0w:1175
fall into the same error. We have had to tikepresent
time outbreaks of fever, though to a very limited. extent ;
but I am very apprehensive, from the defective system
of drainage, we may have it to an alarming extent in the
autumn, when, what with frequent showers and a hoe
sun, the poisoned condition of the neighbourhood will
give rise to another outbreak, unless very active meas-
ures be now taken to avert the direful calamity.
Lancet.

PRICES IN 1852 AND IN 1853.—1 n butter, cheese.
bacon, and meat, there has been a very great rise in the
past 12, months. Dorset butter has risen from 80s. per
cwt. to 100 s. and Cork butter from 565. to 925. ; bacon
from 525. to '6O. The rise in meat is 34 per cent. on
inferior beasts ;27 per cent. on the priln€ quality. As
the highest per tentage rise is on the lowest iJiced, it is
reasonably inferred that the greater part of the h: creased
demand for butter and meat arises from the increased
consumption of the multitude, and this again from the
improved condition of the working classes. This view
as to the real cause of the rise in prices, is confirmed by
the fact, that it has taken place chiefly, if not exclusively,
in agriaultural produce. On wheat, the average rise is
9 per cent. ; on the best quality, nearly 22 per cent. ;
hides, tallow, and timber have also risen considerably,
In fact, every article that the agriculturist produces, or
that the land bears, is increased in price in a ratio vary.
ing from 9to 64 per cent. On the other hand, sugar,
cocoa, tobacco, wine, and clothing are somewhat cheaper
than they were last year ; while coffee, cotton, flax, mei
Ewrelicei°vicresdEsauOtFhPorrtyLiftrlNTher
silk are only from 1 to 5 per cent. dearer ; and there is
no general rise in manufactures.
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iiiat.
iviPr.IcETU. PICTURES rwortarTdHEhaNs
u's—at present one of the leadinge‘Exe
Housesof tohteParliament,R oy Royal
I Academy as a companion
Exhibition,
andt now, we
Mcounatcjieoense tnyo
f' as s Finee
c o
MontrosendA illustration
newat-
tractions
are glad to learn, about to be engraved
mensurate with its merits. The sin a size co n-
is to tell on canvass is known cry which Mr. Ward
Sleep of Argyll." It has been among artists as "The
rests on the authority of W ndpainted before. The story
and commented upon most °mw, and has been copied
fragment of English beautifully by Fox, in his noble
Argyll who history, Mr. Ward's hero is the
was executed early
when briefly told,
in the reign of James
the Second ; and the
tl incident which lie has to paint is
the touching circumstance of his being
found in his cell only a few hours before his
sleeping in all the innocent repose of childhood. He
was found then tranquil by the lord of the council, and one
who was said to have been (though his name is unknown)
an active mid not over scrupulous enemy against him.
The scene made a strong impression on the person by
whom it was witnessed, and the incident is one full, as
Brown the gardener would have said, of many " capa.
bilities."— A thenteura.
THE DOCK LABOURERS' STRIKE AT LIVERPOOL.—
LIVERPOOL, Monday.—The dock labourers' strike still
continues, but it is hoped that a few clays will see its
termination. The men had a meeting to-day, when it
appeared that several of them had given way to the ma.,..
tern, and to-morrow night another meeting will be held,
when in all probability theimen will give way, as the
masters seem determined to resist their demands.