The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-03 00:00:00

THE CHOLERA.

(Front the General Board of Health, Whitehall.)
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE.
Deaths on the 30th of September :
'Cholera ..
Diarrhoea.
The total number of deaths from cholera and diarrhoea
in Newcastle during the present outbreak has been
1,366. In the same period '(viz., the first 30 days)
during the prevalence of epidemic cholera there in
1831-2 the number of deaths was 217.
Gateshead, no return.

.... 20

ANNANDALE, BATHOATE, N.B.
Deaths on the 28th of September :

Cholera .

LEITH.
Deaths on the 29th of September:—
Cholera,.

HENDON.
Deaths on the 27th of September :
Diarrlicea
rrefageM
'The reports received on Satur ay-By elect W
by the General Board of Health from their medical super-
intending inspectors at Newcastle state that "the dis-
ease is passing away" in that district.
received
ceroe.
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several local authorities, and from thede resident medical
practitioners.
It appears that a very efficient preventive system had
been early organised, especially that means had been
taken to carry into effect the house-to-house visitation
before the disease had become epidemic.
The first case of cholera showed itself on the 3d of Sep-
tember, and was said to have come from Newcastle.
There have been from the Ist of September to the pre-
sent day about 1,200 oases of diarrhcea, and cholera under
treatment. At the present time there are about 150
still under treatment.
The following statement shows the entire number of
deaths from cholera and diarrhoea (1) since the commence-
ment to this day :

September 4
„ 10
~ 14
„ 15
„ 16
„ 17
„ 18
„ 20

PP -
„ Total 93

The highest praise is due to the resident medical men
for the prompt and judicious manner in which they have
carried the preventive measures into effect ; though they
have had in constant work two house-to-house visitors,
yet they represent that if the disease were from any cause
to re-appear among them, they would be obliged to pro-
cure from London, or elsewhere, more assistance in the
shape of house-to-house visitors. They were unanimously
of opinion that no other step than that is efficient in nip-
ping the disease in the bud. Directly that step was taken
in Hexham, though to so small an extent, a most marked
difference in the number of severe cases was seen. They
have divided the town into four districts, and when re-
quired will only have to send for some medical visitors,
and will be able to put them at their work the instant
they arrive.

Two extra inspectors have been appointed, with a view
to the more efficient removal of nuisances.
As examples of the class of persons among whom the
disease has proved fatal, and of the condition of the
places in which it has principally prevailed, it may suf-
fice to cite the following narratives :

J. F. of very irregular habits, lel ig frequently in-
toxicated. He lived in a house in Broad-gates, with his
wife, aged 59, and family ; himself, his wife, and two
daughter, aged 26 and 31 ; all died of cholera on the
21st, 23d, and 24th September. The house itself was a
good one, over a shop, but it was exposed to the effluvia
emanating from numerous pigsties, privies, and slaugh-
ter-houses.

A. 8., a labourer, worked close by a filthy open ditch
called Skinner Burn. There was a large midden close
to where he worked, full of dung, ashes, and excrement.
As soon as the epidemic broke out in Hexham, he said
he was sure that that would give him the cholera. In a
few days he was actually seized with the disease, and
died with the exclamation in his mouth, which he had
frequently repeated during his illness, that that midden
was the cause of his death. The truth of this statement
was attested by numerous persons of authority in the
town.

Another death, caused by the same burn (the local
term for a sewer-like ditch), which exercised so disas-
trous an influence in the preceding case, produced great
consternation in the town. It was that of a person in a
highly respectable position, who was well known, and
held in much esteem by his fellow-tradesmen. He
lived in Skinner's Burn. The ditch was under his
house, and only separated by the flooring from his
parlour.