The Sun.
London, England, 1831-11-15 00:00:00

CHOLERA AT SUNDERLAND.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUAr.

SI n,—There is still a great difference of opi-
nion whether the Asiatic cholera prevails at Sun-
derland or not. From this you will readily infer
that at least if it does exist, it is in a mild and
limited fbrm. When the medical gentlemen are
so much at variance, as they confessedly are in
this case, it is difficult for any one not of the
profession to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion.
Dr. Daun, who was, I am informed, in India
for twenty years, and had ample experience of
the cholera there, has distinctly declared that the
symptoms of cases he has seen at Sunderland
were decidely those of Asiatic cholera. Mr.
Kell, another medical man who has also been in
India, has given his opinion to the same effect,
no less decidedly. There is no doubt that Dr.
Clarmy and Dr. Brown, the principal physicians,
as well as some surgeons of Sunderland, on the
Ist November, declared that in their judgment
the continental cholera had got amongst them.
For some cause, either an actual change in their
sentiments from further experience, or from a
dread of giving offence to the merchants and
tradesmen of the town, several of the Sunder•
land medical gentlemen, who spoke positively
ten days ago as to their belief that the conti-
nental cholera had reached this coast, now almost
as positively declare that they think it has not !
They have done this rather by insinuation than
openly. For instance, their signatures are at-
tached to a published resolution, passed at a
numerous meeting of medical gentlemen, to this
effect :—" That a disease possessing every
symptom of epidemic cholera is now existing in
the town ; that it has never appeared on board of
ship ; that there is not the slightest ground for
imagining that it has been imported, nor that it
has extended itself by contagion, though the suf-
ferers have been attended by numbers of friends
and neighbours ; that it appears to have arisen
from atmospherical distemperature, acting in
most cases on persons weakened by want of
wholesome food and clothing, bad air, intem-
perance, or previous disease." They add, they

trust this statement will remove " the false
reports." Now, though this is obviously in-
tended to show that the continental cholera has

not reached Sunderland, are the equivocal ex-
pressions " epidemic thole: a," and " atmos-
pherical distemperature," not perfectly consistent
with the idea of the foreign cholera having
gained a footing at Sunderland ? I think they
are. Several of the Sunderland medical men
have individually expressed their opinions on
this subject, but their consistency cannot be ap-
preciated, as with one or two exceptions it is
not known which of them signed the report sent
off to Government, and declared themselves at
the meeting I have already adverted to on the
Ist of November. Mr. Dixon, Mr. Smithson,
Dr. Brown, Mr. Croudace, Mr. Watson, Mr.
White, Mr. Green, Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Gregory,
Mr. Ward, Mr. Mordey, Mr. Cook, Mr. Cand-
lish, and Mr. Grecian, declared on Friday last,
the 11th November, that they considered the
cholera aggravated English, spontaneous, or in-
digenous, and not contagious. Mr. Torbock
declared that in his opinion a malignant cholera
had made its appearance in Sunderland which
had never been known there before, but that it
was not contagious. Mr. Penman said that in
his judgment " the cholera which is now in
the town has the same symptoms as that which
has appeared in foreign countries, and is infec-
tious." I shall not trouble you with remarks on
the subject of contagion generally, but if the
cholera at Sunderland be not contagious, allow
me to ask how it happened that the nurse at
the Infirmary, from merely assisting to carry the
dead body of Sprout, was herself attacked in six
hours afterwards with cholera, and died in
thirteen more ! It is admitted she was afraid of
the infection, but if the nurse had been told that
Sprout had died of consumption, would she
have died of cholera ? One undoubted fact
like the case of this nurse is worth a thousand
doubtful or hypothetical cases. Is it not pos-
sible that there may be some truth and some
falsehood or error among the medical men on
both sides at Sunderland ? For instance, is it
not conceivable that the Asiatic cholera may
have reached Sunderland, and yet be so modified
by the climate, food, and habits of the people, &c.
as to appear a somewhat different disease, a
mongrel between Asia and England, less des-
tructive than the one and more destructive than
the other ? I repeat, if there is still doubt as
to the foreign cholera being here, why not send
down another Medical Commissioner or two to
decide the matter ? Dr. Daun has sent us to.
day his daily report of diarrheaa and cholera at
Sunderland, up to yesterday, Saturday, Nov. 12,
at 10 A.M. From it I collect that there are eleven
new cases of diarrhea, two of common, and two
of malignant cholera ; that there have five re-
covered from diarrhea, and that none have died

of cholera, common or malignant. There are
now under treatment twenty cases of diarrhoea,
eight of common, and three of malignant

cholera.

A MEMBER OF THE NEWCASTLE
BOARD OF HEALTH.
Newcaatle-upon-Tyne, Sunday, Nov. 13, 1831.

The Durham county address to the KING
and Earl GREY has already received upwards of 11,000
signatures.-IVestern Times.

The most profound silence is observed by the
members of the Government with respect to their expec-
tations and anticipations as to the fate of the Reforin Bill.
It is known that the Tory intriguers are actively at work,
and that female politicians have obtruded their advice in
a quarter where delicacy and decorum ought to impose
silence. It would be well if those parties and their ad-
visers were informed that their visits were unwelcome,
until they knew how to conduct themselves with pro-
priety ; ladies know much more about the arrangement of
their toilets than state affairs. It is said that six Peers
who voted with the majority, on the motion for the second
reading of the Bill, being convinced of their error, will
support it when it next is brought forward ; and that the
votes of four others who opposed the Bill, are doubtful in
its future stages, as they decline declaring themselves,
either one way or the other. What will the Bishops do ?
is the next question. If they are anxious for their own
welfare, and that of the Church, and the tranquillity of
the country, the question is easily answered. It is ex-
pected that the Gazette of this evening, or that of Friday
next, will contain a proclamation announcing the time
when Parliament will treet fur the dispatch of business.
1-liforniny Adcertissr