The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-09 00:00:00

EVENING, DEC-EMBER 9, 1847.

PROGRESS OF THE NE W EPI-
DEMIC IN EDINBURGH,
We are surly that we cannot, as yet, report an.:
abatement in the progress of this epidemic, which is
raging so extensively amongst all classes in Edin-
burgh. It is still extending and increasing in viru-
lence, and in numerous instances has assumed dan-
gerous symptoms, not 4.little puzzling to the medical
faculty.

It is not only a species of influenza, but it has
been attended with severe fever, and ultimately, if
not checked, affecting the respiratory organs, in tos
many cases with fatal results'. Whatever mystery,
however, may be attendant upon the internal work-
ings of the pomplaint, it'is too olpions that the pre-
! sent damp, changeable weather is. intimately connec-
' ted with it; for ever since:November set in with its
chill, fogy atmosphere, thectepedemic has increased
in a uniform ratio. It would appear, therefore, that
the only hope which is left is, that when the weather
changes to a clear biting frost, and more especially
when the natives have thoroughly ensconced them-
selves in their winter garments, we then may mso4l-
- expect a subsidence in the disease,
Although no age is exempt from its prostrating
attacks, yet it is evident that it extends chiefly
amongst the youth of ail classee, indeed, so uncom-
mon and so singular is its present aspect and power,
that there is not an educational institution in the city
open at the present time,
The High School, Edin-
burgh Academy,Hill-street institution, Ladies'
Institution, and a great many others, we regret to
state, are all closed at least for one week, until it is
seen how this distressing state of matters will even-
tually result.
Dr. Stark, the. indefatigable medical statist, has
been collecting a number of facts bearing upon the
cases of children attending the various public and
private schools throughout the city. He informs
us that of 4,925 children 'on the roll Of the
schools, 2,213, or forty-four per cent., were absent
in consequence of this complaint on the 29th of
November. The children of the different classes
of society appear to have suffered in different pro-
portions. Thus, of 2,962 children of the labouring
and artisan classes, only 1,054, or thirty-five per cent.,
required to absent themselves from school on the 29th
of November, the remainder appearing quite healthy ;
while of 1,591 children of the middle and upper
classes, 988, or 62 per cent., were confined to the
house, while many of those attending school were
labouring under the epidemic. From the returns
procured, it appears that the epidemic was most
severe and general in high or exposed situations.
Thus, while the_ boys in George Herioes Hospital
(on-a high and exposed site) have suffered so severely
that a full half (96 boys) were in bed on Monday,.
those of George Watson's Hospital (on a low shel-
tered site) have been so slightly affected that not
above five required to be sent to the,sick-room, and
even these cases were very slight. This connexion
with the weather was very marked in some schools,
but in none more so than in the Merchant Maiden
Hospital. On Saturday, the 27th, before the thick
frosty fog came on, only one girl was slightly affected,
but by next day no fewer than fifty were confined
to bed.

Whilst thus noticing the spread of a new epidemic,
let it not be supposed that the fever has.in any way
abated. On the contrary, if anything, it appears to
be on the increase ; and although in a great measure
the progress of typhus depends upon the habits of the
people, and the sanitary condition of the various
localities, still it would appear that the causes which
maintain the epidemic aid the, extension of febrile
infection. On this head we are glad to perceive that
the magistrates are duly alive to the prevailing causes
of the fever. They have accordingly issued a procla-
mation, calling upon the inhabitants to aid and assist
them to improve the sanitary condition of the city.
We are afraid, however, that mere proclamations,
however important they may assume to be, will not
altogether secure the end to be desired. The inspec-
tor of cleansing must even yet be more active. In
these febrile times, why, we would like to be in-
formed, are there multitudes of congregated heaps of
filth and rubbish allowed at the doors of stables and
cow byres throughout the city ? These and similar
other nuisances must be removed, otherwise farewell
to freedom from infection.
Again, there have been 40 or 50 deaths this week
in the Royal Infirmary, independent of the excessive
mortality throughout the town.—North British Mail.

MORTALITY in the METROPOLIS.

NUMBER or DEATHS FROM ALL CLOSES REGISTERED IN
THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, DEC. 4, 1&47.
Epidemic, Endemic, and Contagious Diseases ... 638
Diseases of Uncertain Seat 144
Diseases of the Brain, Nerves, and Senses... ... 231
Diseases of the Lungs, and other Organs of
Respiration ... 994
Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels 77
Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs
of Digestion...
Diseases of the Kidneys, &C. _
Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &Q.
Diseases of the Joints, Bonei, and Muscles
Diseases of the Skin, &c.

... 113
14
... 19
... 17

•
Old Age, or Natural Decay
Deaths by Violence, Privation, or Intemperance ... 28
Causes not specified ... 8

... 165

DEATHS FROM ♦LL CAUSES

Population
Enumerated,
1841.
West Districts... 301,326
North Districts.. 376,396
Central Districts 374,759
East Districts ... 393,247
South Districts .. 502,483

2,454

Average weekly Deaths
Deaths, 1842-6. in the

Five Autumns. Week.
• • 146 ... 300
••• 184 ... 422
••• 196 ... 530
.. 232 ... 602
... tsg 600

Totals... ..... 1,948,211 , 1 046 ... 2,464
...
Malea ... ...
.. . ~. 1,141
Females ... ***. .
1,313
••• •
••• ... •

BIRTHS IN THE WEEK.
Males
Females ... ••• ••• •••

Total .

... 1,323

lEFLIJENZA IN THE IdTit CENTURY.—Of this
now universally prevailing malady we have the follow-
ing account in a letter from Randolph, the English Am-
bassador
at the Court of Mary Queen of Scots, to Cecil
(afterwards Lord Burghley), dated Edinburgh, Nov.
30, 1562 :—" May it please your honour, immediately
upon the Queen's arrival here she fell acquainted with a
new disease, that is common in this town, called the
New Acquaintance,' Which passed also through her
whole Court, neither sparing. lord, lady, nor damsel, not
so much as either French or English. It is a pain in
their heads that have it, and a soreness in their sto-
machs, with a great cough remaineth with some
longer, with others shorter time,. as it findeth apt bodie,
for the nature of the disease. The
Queen kept her bed
six days. There was no appearance of danger, nor
many that die of the disease, except some old folks. My
Lord of Murray is now presently ill it, and I am ashamed
to say that I am free from it, seeing it seeketh acquain-
tance at all men's hands." The letter is printed at pp.
105-107 of the Selections. from Unpublished Manuscripts
illustrating the Reign of lliary Queen of Scotland, pre-
sented to the Maitland Club, in the year 1837, by the
Mercury.
late Mr. Kirkman Fiulay of Castle Toward.—Caledonian

ACCIDENT AT TUB STRAXD THEATRE.—Last
evening, during the pewrhfoierm, ane.e of Valentine and Orson,
tn was observed sitting
AprgivenantteTeight have been attended
an accident occurred,
the seat, when he lost his bale
with serious results.
his head striking the orchestrance and fell into the pit,
box, resting his foot on
ere'inn an insensible state.
on the front part of a
partition with great
force. lie was immediately taken on the stage by
ed the performance,
Messrs. Broadfoot and 11. Coop
wMirt.hFtohxe
pCeorompiesrsiiomnmoefklitahteelyaudstioepnpc
wag:mr eventually conveyed
, and procured the
• Cooper on the
best medical aid he could. lle
home in a cab. The conduct of
.tb.inetGreen.llragon,
secure
oLcoasideration
occasion was highly commendable.
a meeting of tradesmen was held at ast evening,
ABOLITION OF CHRISTMAS-
Fleet-street, for the purpose of taking
the propriety of adopting measures
noxEsto
lition of giving Christmas-boxes. Several ecure the abn
addressed the meeting, and. complained o tradesmen
they were liable to at Christmas of allowingthe bur.thea
aed of the ill-will which frequently arose gratuities,
parties receiving them. Very general se anion the
made against the Post-office authorities, whocomplaint was
the solicitation of Christmas-boxes on
thcountenanced
general and district postmen: A resolution •e part of the
with the objects of the meeting was adopted, in conformity
and a com-
mittee appointed. . --.
FIRS AT ENFIELD.---Yesterday morning,
before two o'clock. the village of Enfield mg, shortly
into a state of considerable confusion, by was thrown
outbreak of a most disastrous fire theuponthe sudden
known as Mulberry Lodge., situate. in the T premises
Enfield-highway. The building, which conr'keY-road,
a dozen rooms, was in the tenure of Mr. George about
about
At the time of the outbreak Mr. Ryan was corg.? Ryan.
but his wife and family were in their asleep,bedsuP i town,
there is no doubt, had it not been for the e and
covery, which was made by one of the neighboinlely dis-
person in the house would have been burned utrsievery
As it was, they had the greatest difficulty in effecting
death..
safe retreat. The loss is very considerable, the lea" a
lidding
being burnt to the ground. Mr. Ryan stated
that
's not insured for one-half his loss. The
only he
Ng'
in-
surance: on the property !Jere 7001.
on the building,
3501. on the furniture, which will fall on the and
n and
1 Atlas Fire-offices.
SUDDEN DEATH IN A RAILWAY
CARRIAGE.--
Yesterday morning, on the arrival. of the Rochdaleto'clock train at the Miles platting station, the clerk who
went to collect the tickets found a man in one of the
third-class carriages apparently in a dying state. Whene
spoken to, the unfortunate man was found to be quite
insensible, and on the arrival of the train at the lunt
Bank station, it was discovered that the vital spark had
fled. Since then the body has been identified as that of
a carter from Rochdale, and has been removed to the
Railway Inn beer-house, at Miles Platting, to await the
1 coroner's inquest, which will bo held this day before Mr.
i Rutter.—Manchester Cornier of yesterday.

FLANDERS MAIL.

CMLIMERCI,IL INTELLIGENCE.—BREMEN, NOV. ?S.
—Our corn trade is very sack; only so much wheat
was sold as is actually required for consumption.
Rye is rather more in request, but the buyers will
not give the prices asked, and the trade is therefore
very limited, for exportation chiefly. In barley our
imports are greater than the demand, consequently
there will probably, ere long, be a fall in the prices.
PESTII, Nov. 19.—The Leopoldi market is just
over, but it has unhappily proved indifferent, espe-
cially in silk and cotton goods ; woollen goods only,
and those principally of ordinary qualities, were on
demand. The best sorts of wool, which the holders
refused to sell at reduced prices, remained on hand ;
some few purchases were made just at the close of the
market. Spirits and tallow were dearer ; corn fell,
though very slowly. The pay day went off in per•
feet order.

STETTIN, Nov. 26.—'We still continue to have fine
weather for the season, and the navigation is still
everywhere open. So long as this continues to be
the case there is no fear of any fall in the prices of
our articles of inland products, for some parcels are
sure to be in demand for shipment. Our agricultural
labourers are busy in the fields, and it is remarkable
that in many of our largest farms they have not yet
begun to thrash the corn. The prices of all sorts
continue firm.

MACWSBURG, Nov. 28.—During the last week
the arrivals of grain here have been considerable ;
compared, however, with the same period in former
years, they are but small. Prices have remained
pretty much the same :—wheat, 64 to 66 rix dollars
per wirpel ; rye, 44 to 45 r. ; barley, 39 to 41 r. ;
and oats, 28 r. per wirpel.
Tim CHOLERA.—The latest account from Con-
stantinople, dated the lith, gives a satisfactory state-
ment regarding the cholera. The quarantine, which
immediately on the appearance of some few cases, was
instituted, in regard to all provision ships, has been
removed by a declaration of the Board of Health,
in the cases of ships and steamers which hare
no cholera patients on board, and certify to
there having been none throughout the voyage.
The number of persons who have been attacked with
cholera, since the 24th of October, does not exceed
30, and of these not more than a third have fallen
victims.

LEMBERG, Nov. 26.—The Governor of Ga-
licia, Count Stadion, has been making a tour
in those circles where the greatest distress.
prevails. The mortality in Ziwier has not
abated in any degree, and during the course
of this year to the end of October there have died,
out of 328,641 inhabitants, no less than 60,820 per-
sons. In some villages the mortality has been ex-
tremely great, in Porembka and Czanier for instance,
according to the church registers, there have died,
from the end of March to the beginning of
October, of 5,196 inhabitants, 1,011 persons ;
in the little colony of Zaglembose 150
persons died in twenty cottages on the
road between Ziwier and Wadowitz ; many cottages
stand quite empty, and the military report says that
the soldiers in marching have several times been
directed to take up their quarters in certain places,
and when they arrived there, they found the cottages
either empty, or containing corpses. Many of the medi-
cal men in the mountains have 800 sick to attend to, and
the poor people are so greatly depressed by the mortality
that they look forward to death with perfect indiffe-
rence. They wished to remove many people from the
cottages in which typhus and dysentery prevailed, and
where corpses were lying, but they refused to be
moved, saying that their friends and neighbours were
gone, and they were sure they must soon
follow them. Many scenes of the greatest
misery meet the eyes, of the medical men
who visit among the wretched people.
These reports state that in Milnwka they went into
several cottages and found the parents lying dead,
and the poor children looking like skeletons, cowering
by the side of the stoves. Unhappily, also, the
disease is among the military ; all the hospitals are
full ; the squadron of the chevaux leper regiment,
stationed at Renti, lost twenty men in
October. In order in some way to meet
the evil, and to secure help to the poor for the
coming winter and spring, the Government is
setting on foot public works, on a large scale, to give
employment to the poor who are able to work ; the
sick and helpless receive pecuniary relief; the mar-
ket prices are regulated by large arrivals
of grain; and things are so arranged that
bounds are set to speculation, and lastly the poor agri-
culturists are supplied gratuitously with seed corn ;
this is especially beneficial, for there can be no doubt
that otherwise the greater portion of the soil will this
year remain uncultivated.—Flanders Papers, Dec. 6.
AUSTRIAN FUNDS.—VIENNA, Nay. 2%
S per Cent. Metalliques.... •• 1051,4;
4 per Cent.ditto ...... ............ 93
3 per Cent. ditto ••.•• . • • .. 65
Loan, 1834 •• • • • • • • • • • • 157
Ditto, 1839 ••••• • • • .• 120%
Bank Shares . • .• • • . • • • • .1624
Esterhazy's Loan .• • • ..
RAILWAYS.
The Northern, or Ferdinand •• • • • 189
Gloggnitz ••• • a. •••••••••• • • • • • . • . • 412
Vienua—Milan .. • .... •.•••• . • • • • • 9$
Pesth • • ..
Grosetto ..... .... ••••• • • • • . 9414
Pestoja • ..... ............ •. • • • • •• • • • •
Pesth Bridge .. • • • .