New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-07-31
DENS OF DEATH No. V.

THE PLAGUE IN LoNDoN-DE, srTY or PoPULA'
LATION-CLoSE PACKED cITIEs--cAIRo-
JAIL FEyER-CRowDED PRISONS
scURvEY, &c. &c.
In the history of pestilence in modern times the
same condition existed. wherever it prov led to
any serious extent. Thus. the plague In 1926 and
1886 in London appeared at White Chapel where
a great number Of poor people lived and 10 1865
when there were 100000 victims, il frst broke out
in that noted place Of crowded misery, ST Giles.
The plague prevailed in Marseilles in l72o, and
destroyed 10000 OF the inh sbsnts bresking out In
that part Of the city which was crowded with the
poorest people, connected with the galeys and
slaves 90 with the sweating sickness, a. describ-
ed by Erasmus In 1915, which existed for the most
part where the most destitute inhabitants were
gathered and lived in the most filthy manner; "the
floors were commonly OF clay, strewed With PUSHES,
under which lies accumulated and ancient collec-
toDs Of beer grease, fragments of bones, etc. etc.
Many other instances might be named similar 10
these, and all who relate them mention the same
state Of the populstion-tbat il was Away densely
crowded These, however are sufficient for illus-
sratioDs Of what occurred during Q perioi when
little or no attention YES paid to the condition OF
dwellings and the ventilation Of cities.
What the actual state OF tie city OF London was
at the period just mentioned appears from she ac-
coun. of Lord Clarendon in the History Of bis
own Life" 1868 He says that tho mortality OF
the plague vas confined to those who occupied the
most crowded parts Of the city, and Thornton ia
his History Of London says; "At that time, TOO,
the streets Of London were narrow, crooked and
inconvenient the buildings chiefly Of wood, dark.
close III cobtIved, and several stories projecting
beyond each other. As they rose over the narrow
streets the circulation OF the air was almost en-
tirely obstructed. To these inconveniences may
in some measure be attributed the destruction re-
peatsdly made in the city by tho visitation Of the
plague for as toe air was confined, 90 the noiscns
vapor and pestlential storms were barbored and
nourished. Though the destruction Of London by
the great FIRE in the succeeding year occssioned
great distress yet 10 the end it proved OF the at
most utility, for by the rebuilding OF the city and
the enlargement Of the streets, the free circulation
Of air was admitted, the offensive vapors were
expelled, and the city freed from all pesflential
disorders Evelyn in a small tract entitled "Fomi
fugium," complains that the b0ildiDgs were com
posed OF such q congeston OF misbspen and ex-
travsg ant houses, that the streets were narrow
and incommodious In the very center, and busioss
places Of intercourse, that there was 30 III and
uneasy q form Of paving underoot and 80 trouble
some and malicious q disposal Of the spoos and
cutters overhead"
After the great coDasgra.ion OF London, and the
subsequent improvement In building it was esii'
mated that one person occupied the space that too
Ill.
door, who were much more numerous than At pres
emit; some Of the mobiles lived in spacious hoases,
with large gardens attached, bat the mus Of the
people were miserably poor and crowded into
wre,ched lodgings.
The materials Of which the bouses were con-
struced a. the period referred TO- will also account
for the constant acca mutation OF pessilensid air.
w estminster and London were about q mile apart
and the union wa effected after the year 1908,
through The agency Of the Scotch, who a. the time
Of the political union Of tbs two nations crowded
into London, and nestsd Asmssiges about the Court;
60 that the strand from tie mud rails and nateAed
bosses acquired that perfection Of b1ilding is now
po,se,ses5 Yoltaire says that about the year
500 "irdustry bad not yet changed those AUS OF
rood and pLasfey, Of which Paris was composed,
into surnptuous palaces London was much worse
hniltv Inproytnen iher,fore Ia the building Of
house, AVE contributed TO lsIseo the violence Of
usstilerce The materials used at the present day
are much less susceptible Of accanoistlng exhAa-
tious While the Rooms are mach more airy.
The same condition existed Ia Narcotics; "t1e
old city 10 principally compossd Of crooked, mar
row and steep streets, Ii, ed with high buses
The new city has wide straight streets with foot
walks"
All me cities OF the middle ages were much
aise in their streets and dwellings, and ali suffer
ed alike whenever visited b. the plague; and such
o. continued uDatered, ne London snd MsneigIea
continued 10 experience the rsvages Of psssilence
lie tic most aggravated form end fatality.
We hear OF nothing IN our day equal 20 the horri.
bic ravsees Of pssuescs =, the period mentiuoed
above. Apo0gh &c have instances Of VIC cot and
SUDDEN appearances ofd'.ease % an Sfal estens
here nothing az the present time anon civil