The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-14 00:00:00

THE CHOLERA IN SOUTHWARK

Yesterday Mr. William Payne held a lenghtened in-
vestigation, at the request of the board of guardians of
the parish of St. George the Martyr, Southwark, at the
workhouse, Mint-street, on the body of John Hickie,
aged 55, who died of Asiatic cholera.
The greatest interest was attached to the proceedings
in consequence of this being the first case of Asiatic cho-
lera that has appeared in this district this year, precisely
in the same locality where the disease made such fright-
ful ravages on its appearance in 1849. The place where
the man died is surrounded by knackers'-yards, bone-
boilers, and catgut-makers, and the common opinion that
prevailed was that the deceased had come to his
death from the stench emitted from these unwholesome
factories.
The Coroner, upon the jury being sworn, said that as
this was a case of cholera, he had ordered the officer
to put the body in such a state that, if any of the jury
were at all nervous, it could be viewed without danger.
On the return of the jury to the board-room, the fol-
lowing evidence was taken :
Anne Hickie, of No. 4, Mason's-buildings, Friar-
street, said the deceased was her husband, and his name
was John Hickie. He was about fifty-five years of age,
and was a hammerman by trade. They had only lived
at Mason's-buildings a month last Saturday. He was
taken ill about one o'clock last Saturday. He bad
been at work at Sir John Rennie's, in. Holland-street.
He was very well when he went out to his work, at
about twenty minutes before six in the morning. He
came home at about one o'clock, when he complained
of violent pains in his bowels. Dr. Evans, of Black-
friar's-road, was sent for, who ordered him medicine,
and also some stuff to rub him. With this stuff she
rubbed him over his body. He complained of cramps
from his feet to his stomach. His bowels were much
affected. Mr. Evans attended to him antil assistance
from the workhouse was obtained in the afternoon. He
had no warm bath, but she applied fom3ntations to his
stomach. He died on Saturday afternoon. The pains
and cramps had left him before his death, except now
and then when he moved. The house they lived in
was under a bone factory, which covered five houses.
There were very bad smells in the hens:3, but she could
not tell from whence they came.
To a Juror—My husband went out as well and heartyas I ever saw him in my life. He took nothing to dis-
agree with him. He had coffee and bread and butter
for his breakfast.
Mr. Win. Endean, relieving officer of St. George's
parish, said be had visited the house where the man
died, which was in a dirty state, and there was a very
bad smell from the yard, in which there are 10 houses.
There were two closets also in a dirty state, with a
surface drain running down the centre of the buildings
to carry off the water, but offensive matter often passed
down it. When he was there he felt a very bad
smell, which he had no doubt came from the knackers'
yards and bone-boilers in the immediate neighbourhood.
In one yard there were from 200 to 300 tons of bones
at the present time Winkley's yard is the nearest to
where the man died. Winkley is a horse-slaughterer.
There are several bone-boilers close together, besides
catgut-string makers. The stench is most offensive from
them. Mr. John Rush is the proprietor of the premises
that go over the houses. He is a bone-button maker.
He had been there that day, but did not discover any-
thing offensive, and he did not think the smell came
from his premises. He believed it came from the houses
in Green-street. He noticed the dampness on the ceil-
ing of the house. It arose from the taking the bones
out of the water in the copper, and placing them on the
floor, and the water then leaked through the ceilings.
To a Juror--Winkley's yard was the cleanest of the
lot. Trotman had got hundreds of cart-loads of bones
in his yard, both boiled and unboiled. The closets were
merely cesspools, and did not communicate with the
sewers. When the closets were full they overflowed
into the surface drain in the centre of the buildings.
Mr. J. W. Wakem, surgeon to St. George's, South-
wark, and also to the Queen's Prison, said—He found
deceased suffering from Asiatic cholera, with all the
peculiar characteristics of that disease, such as purging
and severe cramps. The purging subsided between
eight and nine in the evening, after whicts he sank into
a state of collapse. He continued in that state until the
following day at five o'clock in the evening, when he
died. No reaction whatever took place. It was his
opinion that nothing was wanting, and everything was
done for him that was possible. There had been another
case of the same description in the same house that
morning. A child of the deceased had been attacked
with cholera to which he had administered. Another
child had also been attacked at a house two or three
doors from the house of the deceased.
The Coroner—What have you to say on the state of
the premises ?
Mr. Wakem said he had visited the house that day,
and had put his observations into the shape of a short
report, which he begged permission to read. He then
read as follows :—" Mason's-buildings consist of ten
small houses, two rooms in each, occupied by families
consisting of four or five persons in each house. There
is no back entrance or yard to either, and but two
privies, common to all, neither of which are drained.
The contents at the present time are pouring into the
adjoining houses. There is but one drain, and that is
placed in the centre of the court, for the refuse or slops
of the ten houses, the stench from which is most in-
tolerable and suffocating, and whether that is a proper
drain or cesspool I could not correctly ascertain. Ex-
tending over five houses on one side of this court, and
an equal number at the back (named Back-court), is a
large wharf or repository for bones, in which the
tenants inform me the bones are boiled, ground, &c.,
and from which putrid fluids and maggots are con-
stantly coming through the ceilings." He added that
the water in which the bones were boiled came
through the ceilings with decomposed animal matter,
and the smell was so bad in the rooms that he could
scarcely remain in them. The smell appeared to come
from the ceiling. This dampness exuded through the
ceiling and down the walls, where there were dark
patches of a foot in extent. Nothing whatever has been
done to these houses since the last visitation of the
cholera. The smell in the Queen's Prison was so bad
that the prisoners were compelled to close their windows
from the effects of these yards. The complaints were
very frequent from them, and at the present time there
was one case of cholera in that prison.
To a juror : These apartments are totally unfit for
human habitations. They were never without fever, if
not attended by cholera. A great number of families
bad been destroyed in that very place. There was no
ventilation, for they could get no free current of air, as
there were no windows at the back.
Mr. Charles Colwell, chief officer of the Queen's Prison,
said he was authorised by Captain Hudson, the govenor,
to state that he should be most happy to co-operate with
any public body to obtain the removal of this nuisance.
Prisoners, on their first entrance, thought the smell
arose from want of drainage in the prison, which was
well drained ; but they soon found out that it arose from
places in the neighbourhood, and not from the prison
itself.
The Coroner said, having now gone through the evi-
dence, he had been looking with great care at the case,
to see if there was any point that could be laid hold of
which would enable them to say that the man's death
had occurred through the criminal act of any person,
and if so, to make him responsible for such loss of life.
If not, then they must go to the general question of
what could be done for the relief of the neighbourhood.
If they could make no man responsible for the death,
they would then have to consider what powers could be
put into action to prevent this state of things for the
future. Although he was unwilling to use a light ex-
pression, it reminded him of the story of the House that
Jack Built. The local authorities on the spot, when
applied to, said they had no power, as the Board of
Health had not entrusted them with it. If they then
went to the Board of Health, they replied that they were
waiting for the order of the Privy Council ; so that those
who complained found that there was so much ma-
chinery required to be put in motion before any good
could be done, that there was no telling when it
would begin or where it would stop. The Buildings
Act provided a remedy for the removal of trades that
were nuisances from towns to some distant part where
they would not be a nuisance. That act had now been
Passed for about nine years ; and amongst other trades
it provided that no bone boiling should go on in towns
after a period of 30 years ; so that they had still 21
years to wait before they could expect any benefit from
it. Many persons, therefore, would be dead before they
could hope for anything from that. There was a second
course, where, on the complaint of two-thirds of the
parishioners, they could buy the removal of a nuisance,
the amount to be settled by a jury—a course that could
be more easily got at. Whether, however, the inhabi-
tants would like to be taxed for such removal, it would
be for themselves to determine. lie thought nothing
could be done until a stringent law was passed to remedy
this state of things. If the jury could suggest any
remedy, he believed the public would be delighted, as a
great number of cases had occurred in the North of Eng-
land, and he feared that they would soon have more of
it in the metropolis.
After a short discussion the jury returned the follow-
ing special verdict :—" That the deceased died from
Asiatic cholera, induced from the unwholesome trades
carried on in the neighbourhood ; that it is the opinion
of the jury that the board of guardians ought to be in-
vested with the authority they formerly held under the
Board of Health in such matters, and that that power
should be continuous.
A guardian said that on the previous evening a special
meeting of the board of guardians had been held, when
it was determined to use all the means in their power to
obtain a remedy for these evils.
The following resolution on the motion of Mr. George
W. Cross, was then proposed, and was unanimously
adopted :—" That the relieving officers shall get all the
information they can by house-to-house visitation, that
the board may make a strong appeal to the Board of
Health for powers to suppress these nuisances."
The inquisition was then signed, and the proceedings
terminated.

ADDITIONAL STATUES IN THE NEW HOUSES OF PAR-
LIAMENT.—For sonic days back workmen have been
engaged in placing several statues, representing some of
the Kings and Queen of England, on pedestals, in the
recesses of the Central Hall of the new Palace of West-
minster. The statues are of stone, and have been executed
by Mr. Thomas,
of Regent's-Park, the well-known sculp-
tor, whose re-decoration of St. George's Chapel, Wind-
sor, received the approbation of her Majesty and Prince
Albert. The design and workmanship do great credit
to the artist. The Sovereigns represented are Henry
the Second ; Edward the First, and his Queen Eleanor ;
Eleanor, Queen of Henry the Third ; Isabella, Queen of
Edward the Second ; Edward the Third, and his Queen,
Phillipa ; Richard the Second ; and Henry the Fourth.
Several other statues of regal personages are nearly com-
pleted, and will shortly be placed in the recesses pre-
pared for them.

( From the Registrar-General's Report.)
1,015 deaths have been registered in London during
the week ending 10th September. The mortality is
below the corrected average of the week ; for within the
ten preceding years, when the population of London was
one-tenth part less numerous than it is now, the deaths
ranged from 840 to 1,040, and in the year 1849, when
epidemic cholera had only begun to decline, the burials
were 2,865.
The deaths by diarrhoea have been 131, less by 21 than
were referred to that disease in the previous week, but
se.)re by one-third than the corrected average number
(99) of preceding years. Only 7 deaths by cholera have
happened ; 5 in children under 15 years of age, 2 in
adults of 15 and under 60. Six of the seven persons who
died were males. The number of deaths by cholera in
corresponding weeks of the 10 previous years were 4,1,
2,8, 7,6, 1682, 4, 17, and 5, so that the deaths do not
exceed the usual number in ordinary years by certain
forms of cholera. Two of the persons were, however,
registered as having died of Asiatic cholera—one a tan-
ner's son, of the tender age of four years, the other a
labourer's young wife, who died in 12 hours. Both the
deaths occurred within four days of each other, in the
same house, 12, Turner's-retreat, Bermondsey, on the
south side of the Thames.

It is right, under all the circumstances, to reiterate
the cautions which were given in August. All persons,
whether children or adults, who suffer from diarrhcea,
should apply forthwith for medical advice. And no time
should be lost in putting our sanitary defences in a sound
state, as next summer their efficacy may again be severely
tested. _ _

The following are the particulars of the seven deaths
from cholera registered in the week :
In the sub-district of St. Leonard's, Shoreditch, at 6,
Blond's-buildings, on the 3d September, the son of a
carver and gilder, aged 10 weeks, " cholera infantum
(1 week)." _

At 3, Dolphin-court, Spitalfields, on the 3d September,
the son of a weaver, aged one year, " diarrhcea (5 weeks),
cholera infantum (1 week)."
In the sub-district of St. Mary, St. George-in-the-
East, at 15, James-street, on the 6th September, the
son of a master shoemaker, aged 8 years, " cholera (15
hours)."
In the sub-district of St. Mary Magdalen, Bermond-
sey, on the 3d September, at 12, Turner's-retreat, the
son of a tanner, aged 4 yrs, " Asiatic cholera ;" and in
the same house, on the 7th of September, the wife of a
labourer, aged 25 years, " Asiatic cholera (12 hours)."
Mr. R. Hellier, the registrar, adds :—" On the two cases
of Asiatic cholera that have been registered this week
in my district, the medical man that attended -reports
as follows The above is the second fatal case of
cholera I have had in the same house, which is in a very
filthy condition. There is a very offensive smell from
the cellar, which I have examined, and found to contain
ordure and vegetable matter in a state of decomposition.
I may add, that Turner's-retreat is a narrow, close, con-
fined court, containing 13 houses, and only about 15
feet in width. There is not any back yard to two of the
houses, No. 12 being one of them. The privies of the
houses belonging to Turner's-place are used for these
two houses, which is opposite, and from whence it ap-
pears that an offensive smell arises."
In the West sub-district of Greenwich, at Blackheath-
road, on the Bth September, the son of a bricklayer,
aged 4 yrs, " cholera infantum (3 days)."
In the Dreadnought Hospital Ship, on the 9th Sep-
tember' a machinist, aged 31 years, " English cholera
(3 days)."
The following cases are selected from the registrars'
returns :
At 12, Windmill-row, in the sub-district of Waterloo
(Ist part), Lambeth, the 4th September, the son of a
carpenter, aged 4 months, " diarrhcea (7 days)." Mr.
C. Mears, the registrar, adds, that " since the period
of the cholera, when attention was strongly drawn to
this locality, Windmill-row, the privies in front of the
houses have had pans put to them, but as there is no
supply of water above, the effluvia from the open doors
is highly offensive, and even since this has been done
I have seen the night soil oozing up between the stones.
The house where this death took place has four rooms,
and the informant told me they contained as follows :
—ln one room, a man, wife, and two children ; in the
next, three females ; in the third, a man, wife, and
child ; and in the fourth room, himself, his wife, and
the dead infant."

In Charlton, a female, aged 78 years, " melanosis of
left kidney (three or four years), calculi in right kidney,
hematuria." (Post mon.)
At 6, Britannia-street, in the sub-district of Hoxton
New Town, Shoreditch, a watch-finisher, aged 63 years,
" cancer of face (19 years)." One side of the face, the
eyes, and palate of the mouth were destoyed.
At 45, Holywell-street, St. Clement Danes, a book-
seller, aged 64 years, " anthrax (8 weeks)."
At 4, Smith's-place, St. George's-in-the-East, the son
of a labourer, aged 4 years, " inflammation of brain (37
hours). The medical attendant observes that this is the
" second death in the family since the 29th of August.
The first was scarlatina, and there are two more children
in the same house labouring under scarlatina. It is in
other houses in the same locality ; and he considers
Smith's-place badly drained, and the smell most offen-
sive from the gully-hole."
At 5, Snow's-rents, Westminster, the son of a labourer,
aged 1 year, " scarlatina anginosa (15 days), diarrhoea."
The registrar, Mr. W. E. Needham, adds : " this is the
fourth death from scarlatina in 12 days among children
under seven years of age belonging to two families re-
siding in this house."
Last week the births of 843 boys and 826 girls, in all
1,669 children, were registered in London. In the eight
corresponding weeks of the years 1845-52 the average
number was 1327.
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean
height of the barometer in the week was 29.967 in. The
reading of the barometer increased from 30.10 in. at the
beginning of the week, to 30.25 in. by 9h. p.m., on the
sth ; decreased to 29.63 in. by the morning of the 10th,
and increased to 29.70 in. by the end of the week. The
mean temperature of the week was 56.1 deg., which is
2 deg. below the average of the same week in 38 years.
The highest temperature of the week was 72.0 deg., and
occurred on Tuesday ; the lowest was 45.0 deg., and
occurred on the same day. The greatest difference be-
tween the dew point temperature and the air tempera-
ture
was 14.1 deg. on Tuesday ; the least, 1.0 deg. on
Saturday. The general direction of the wind was from
the north, and it blew at the rate of 60 miles a day.
The electric condition of the atmosphere has been posi-
tive on every day of the week.