The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-11 00:00:00

METROPOLIS.

The returns from the divisions D, K, M, P, and S of
the Metropolitan Police for the 9th inst. give 18 cases of
cholera and 10 deaths. In one house in Devonshire-
place, Marylebone, three cases occurred, of which two
have proved fatal, and the remaining patient is dan-
gerously ill. With reference to a death that took place
at No. 9, Albion-place, Bermondsey, on the ith inst.,
the police state that the yard of this house is small and
close ; the inhabitants complain of offensive smells from
a long open ditch running on the south-east side of this
place. In front of No. 2, Manor-place, Deptford-road,
where a death occurred, there is a drain, the smell from
which is very offensive, and at the back of the house
three very dirty privies, occasioning much annoyance to
the inhabitants.

On the 9th inst. Dr. Milroy had an interview with the
guardians of the poor of St. George's, Hanover-square,
and St. James's, Westminster, to confer with them upon
the directions and regulations of the General Board of
Health now in force throughout the kingdom, under the
existing Order in Council.
In the former parish the services of an inspector of
nuisances have been employed ever since 1849, and upon
his complaint various outward sanitary evils around the
dwellings of the poor have been more or less effectually
removed. One of the most fruitful sources of disease,
especially during an epidemic season like the present, is
that arising from the overcrowding of rooms, very gene-
rally ill-ventilated at the same time. It requires, of
course, to have the certified opinion of a medical man
before parochial authorities could properly exercise the
powers which they now possess over this important
matter. The guardians of St. James's have already,
upon the certificate of their medical officer, put in force,
with advantage, the requirements of the 4th supple-
mental direction of the General Board of Health, which
has reference to the point in question, an order having
been granted by the sitting magistrate to carry them
into effect. The order in question is as follows :
" That where any medical officer engaged in carrying
our regulations into execution shall certify in writing
that any dwelling-house or room is so overcrowded as to
threaten danger to the health of the inmates on the oc-
currence of cholera, or any epidemic disease, and shall
specify in such certificate the number of inmates which
shall not be exceeded in such house or room the owner
or occupier having the control of such house or room
shall forthwith reduce the number of inmates as speci-
fied in such certificate, notwithstanding any measures
that may have been taken to ventilate, purify, or
cleanse the house or room."

Great complaints were made at the meeting of the
guardians of St. George's respecting the present state of
the great Ranelagh sewer. The board has recently me-
morialised the Home-office upon the subject.
During last week, independently of five fatal cases of
cholera in St. James's, there was a considerable increase
both in the frequency and severity of bowel complaints
in some districts of the parish.

The parochial authorities have therefore most judi.
ciously appointed extra medical assistants to afford re.
lief in all cases of threatened sickness.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

• BIDEFORD EXTENSION.
Considerable delay in the progress of the works on
this line (the first sod of which was turned in August
last) has arisen from the tardiness and formalities of
legal occupation of the land required for the undertak-
ing, and an uncertainty whether or not the works
should commence, as originally intended, at the town
of Bideford. It has, however, been determined that the
works shall be commenced forthwith, at the parish of
Fremington, when the land has been taken and paid for,
and the contractor will thus have the advantage of pass-
ing his plant and materials on the rail as the work pro-
gresses.