The Sun.
London, England, 1831-11-14 00:00:00

THE CHOLFAA NIORBUS.

(Flom the Sunderland 'fernld of Saturday.)

Al considerable excitement and alarm seems to pervade
all parts of the kingdom respecting tie " destructive ma-
lady" said to have been introduced into this town through
the inadvertence of the quarantine officers ordering ships
on their arrival from Holland, to proceed up a river con-
stmtly crowded with vessels, to the Deptford station,
situated about a mile and a half above Sunderland bridge ;
and from the free in-ercoutse of the semen with the in-
h ,bitants of the neighbourhood, it has generated to a
frightful extent, we are induced to detail the proceedings
that have occurred here since our list publication.
That five persons expired, as stated in our last, is true ;
but there are doubts as to the caese of their deaths—Asiatic
cholera—and had it not been for the too zealous communi-
cations of some alarmists to the London Courier news-
paper, in this and a neighbouring town, it is more than
probable that the inhabitancy of Sunderland would have
neen represented am in the enjoyment of more than ordi-
nary health. There has been no accession to the usual
number of patients at the Infirmary, and the medical men
have not to enumerate an unusual addition of patients in
their books. In fact the general appearance and gaiety of the
inhabitants 01 these towns were never more apparent. No
one hides or shuts himself up, as if inhaling an atmosphere
charged with deadly contagion ; men ass mble in groups,
and are as busy in their several avocations as at any former
period ; the theatre continues open ; and there was a
numerous public meeting on Wednesday, on the projected
wet docks on the north side of the entrance of the
river Wear. Sure'y such proceedings do not indicate
that want of confidence, and dread of danger in the inha-
bitants of these towns, that many of our contemporaries
inculcate ; and although the partial quarantine that has
been ordered to be enforced in the Thames, as also in some
of the out-ports, on the shipping that arrive from this de-
voted place, may he the means of closing momentary dis-
tress, we still possess the pleasing hope that a few days
will be sufficient to dispel the charm, and that the coal-
trade of the Wear will long retain its wonted energy—in-
deed it is carried on with such briskness at the present
time, that a great number of vessels have to proceed to
Seaharn, to obtain an early return.
Owing, as we have already stated, to the unnecessary
al rm created, Government with a zeal that deserves our
highest commen lation, instantly despatched Lieut.-(
Creagh, an experi •raced officer, and Dr. Dann, (a medical
gentleman of high and deserved repute) to the spot, to as-
certain the facts in all their bearings, allowing them full
power to act as circumstances might require ; as also to
prevent the spread of the fatal malady.
Lieut.-Col. Creagh arrived at this place on Sunday last,
and afrer making himself thoroughly acquainted with all
the facts relative to the " eh structive malady" addressed a
later to the Clerk of the CAincil, of which the following
is an extract :

I beg to transmit a copy of the report of the Medical Board
which assembles in town each day at nine o'clock. I have seen
the barracks, and should the houses now preparing ;be insuffi-
cient to accommodate the sick' I recommend its being converted
into an hospital. The troops arc healthy, and, indeed, so is the
town, with the exception of the few cholera cases. I trust my
report to-morrow will be more favourable, and I beg you will as-
sure his Lordship that no exertions shall be wanting in carrying
the object of his wishes into effect. Buildings have been pro-
vided as hospitals for the sick, and orders have been issued by
Government to the Barrack.master, to issue all necessary sup-
plies of bedding and other barrack stores."

On the 3d instant a notice was posted, by order of the
Magistrates, recommending cie tnliness, in older to pre.
serve the health of the town ; and they advise every poor
family to whitewash their rooms ; and to enable them to
do) so, a quantity of quick lime has been laid at several
depots, so that all poor f►milies may be supplied gratis.
On the 7th instant a second notice appeared, bearing the
signa.ures of two magistrates, of which the following is
an extract :

" That on the best consideration, and aided by the opinion of
Dr. Daun, we think it right to impress on the inhabitants in ge-
neral, and more particularly upon those residing in narrow
streets and lanes, the necessity of continuing to attend to the ob-
servance of the greatest cleanliness. We also strongly recom.
mend, that every case of sickness be reported, without delay, to
the medical gentlemen of each district, so that immediate relief
may be applied, which, in Dr. Daun'a opinion, is of the utmost
consequence for their recovery."
During early part of the week, the visitors ap-
pointed by the Board of Health were zealously employed
in every dierict of these towns, in ascertaining by per-
sonal application from door to door, ti e state of health of
the inhabitants ; and we have great pleasure in referring
to the result of their labours.

The town is divided into twelve district., and four
visitors are appointed to each, whose duty was to visit
every lane in the parish, each morning ; but from the
generally healthy' state in which all parts were found,
without exception, after completing their second inspec-
tion, it was detet mined that it should he repeated twice in
each week, instead of daily. This is merely a precau-
tionary meaqtre on the part of the parochial authorities.
'We have been informed, on an authority for which we
can vouch with the greatest confidence, that that pact of
the town where the " destructive malady" is moat preva-
lent, is inhabited by persons steeped in poverty, through
di-sipation and idleness; and that in thirty dwellings
which were visited in a confined space, only two blankets
were found for the whole of its inhabitants! Dissipation,
the concomitant of starvation. is therefore the best auxi-
liary to the " destructive malady," that has caused such
universal alarm in all parts of the kingdom.
The gates of the barracks were closed on Monday, in
order to prohibit the garrison !row having any communi-
cation with the inhabitants.

On We(lne:ilay, the e-engines were employed in wash-
ing the narrow streets and lanes, with which the town
abounds, of their accumulated impurities.

'lle visitors of the Board of Efealth have made a second
inspection of their vat ious districts, and we hate unfeigned
pleasure in adding, with general satisfaction, as they found
that the poor had made strenuous efforts in cleansing and
washing tleir humble dwellings, to avert the "destruc-
tive malady."

A committee hat; been appointed to procure subscrip-
tions to provide food and necessaries for the poor inhabi-
taws of this town, during this period of " tribulation and
trouble ;" and there was a meeting at the commission-
room, in the Exchange, yesterday evening, for the pur-
pose of carrying the benevolent measures into effect.
In our last, it was stated that five persons had fallen
victims to the disease. On Sunday, the paroclual officers
furnished two, and on Aloud ,y, five coffins. On Tuesday,
nine cases were reported to the board, and seven deaths.
On Wednesday, there were seven cases, and four deaths.
Dr. Daun informed us yesterday evening, that for the
last twenty-four hours, there had not been a bad case re-
ported; and, in his opinion, the town was otherwise in
a healthy state.

We have to thank a zealous friend for the following ex-
tracts from the parish register, which will at once show
tile absurdity as well as the imbecility of the " alarmists."
18'29.—Oct. 8 to Nov. 8.
Monkwearmouth
Bi6lmpwcarmouth '29
Sunderland
Total B3
1830 —Oct. 8 to Nov. 8.
Monkwearmouth
Bishopwearmouth 33
Sunderland
Total 98
11331.—0 ct. 8 to Nov. 8.
Monkwearmouth
Bishopwearmouth .25
Sunderland
Total — 98
Interments in the parish of Sunderland

Out of the 53 interments in Sunderland:parish, 6 of the persons
were front 5(l to 60
6 6O to 70
9 7O to 80

`..n Infants.

There was a very large, respectable, and numerous
meeting of the inhabitants of this town, holden at the
Commission-roam, in the Exchange, yesterday, George
Robins, Esq. senior Magistrate in the chair, ; the High
Sheriff of the county being present, when peat dissatis-
faction and disgust were expressed at the erroneous repre-
sentition made to Government relative to the alleged im-
portation of Indian cholera, and a resolution was passed
with only four dissentients, that the names of the medical
gentlemen who agreed or acceded with the original report
transmitted to the Board of Health in London, should be
given to the public, and that the names of the medical
gentlemen who dissented from that report, should be also
given to the public. This, we understand, has not yet
been complied with.
The inhabitants of this town are anxious to know the
opinion of the medical gentlemen on the annexed ques-
tions:—
let. Whether the cholera stated tobe prevalent here has arisen
spontaneously, or has been imported by foreign contagion ?
Whether the diseases called Continental Cholera, Indian
Cholera, Spasmodic Cholera, and Common Cholera, are not all
one and the same disease, varying in intensity and malignity?
This disorder appears to have been well known and dis-
tinguished, from very early periods down to the present
times. Hippocrates and Celsus were well accuainted with
it. In later times, it has been most accurately described
by various authors, without any distinction as to Conti-
nental, Indian, Spasmodic, &c. Tissot, in his Avis an
Peupel, (v. 2d ed. translated by .1. Kilpatrick, M.D.
published in 1766) page 324, thus describes it.
" OF THE CHOLERA MORBUS.
" This disease is a sudden,
It
by vomiti
ng and by stool. abundant
'atit with
d much flatulence
uatioonr,
wind, with swelling and slight pains in the belly, accompanied
with great dejection, and followed with large evacuations, either
by stool or by vomit at first; but whenever either of them is be..
gun, the other quickly follows. The matter evacuated is either
yellowish, green, brown, +vilifier, or black. The pains in the
belly are violent. The pulse is almost constantly feryrsslr, is
sometimes strong at first, but soon sinks into weakness, in mists-