THE CHOLERA.

Southland Times, Issue 585, 31 October 1866, Page 3

THE CHOLERA.

For some weeks past the cholera has been prevalent in London and several other parts of England. The total number of deaths in the whole of the metaopolis for the week ending July 28 was 2800, an excess of 1213 over the estimated number. This excess, says the report of the registrar-general, was caused entirely by cholera and diarrhoea. There were 904 deaths by cholera and 349 by diarrhoea. The progress of the disease was rapid. In the preceding five weeks the numbers had been respectively — of cholera, 6, 14, 32, 346, and 904; of dirrrhoea, 67, 102, 150, 221, and 349-. Most of the diarrhoea cases were among children under 5 years of age. Of the deaths from cholera for the week ending July 28, 179 were children under 5 years of age. Of the deaths from cholera for the week ending July 28, 179 were children under 5 years of age ; 160 boys and girls under 20 years ; 455 men and women in the prime of life ; and 110 people ; and 110 people over 60 years of age. By far the greater part of these deaths occurred in a limited district of East London, supplied with water by the East London waterworks, which draws its supply from the river Lea. In Liverpool, of the 440 deaths returned for the above week, 87 were referred to cholera (against 45 in the preceding week). Deaths from the same cause are also returned from Southampton, 24 ; Manchester and Saliford 8 ; Bristol, 2 ; Sheffield, 2 ; Leeds, 4 ; New-castle-on-Tyne, 2 ; and Hull, 3. The register-general's returns published on the morning of Wednesday, August, 8, showed that the cholera made a little, and very little, progress during the week ended on Saturday the 4th. The deaths registered in London during the week were 2661. It was the 31st week of the year ; and the average number of deaths for that week was, with a correction for increase of population, 1395. The deaths in this return exceed the estimated number by 1266. There is a slight increase in the high rate of mortality that ruled in the previous week, 1053 persons died of cholera, 354 of diarrhota, making 1407 deaths from both forms of disease. The rate of mortality during this week in London was equal to 45 per 1000 of the population, while in Liverpool the rate during the same week was 53 per 1000. The deaths registered in London during the Aveek ending August 11 were 2299. It was the 32nrl week of the year, and the average number of deaths for that week was, with a correction for increase of population, 1366. The deaths were less by 52 daily than they were in the previous week, and the whole of the decrease is accounted for by the fall of the deaths by cholera and diarx-hosa from 1407 to 1405. Of cholera 781, of diarrhoea 264 persons died in the week ; of both forms of disease 1045 ; which was less than the numbers in the previous week by 362. The weekly official return of the deaths in the metropolis up to Saturday, August 18, showed a decrease in the whole num-

I ber of deaths as compared with the previous week of 500, the respective totals being 2299 and 1799. The decrease in the deaths from cholera and diarrhoea in the week ending on the 18th, as compared with the previous week was 405, or 649 as against 1015.— 1n the borough of Liverpool, out of 518 deaths registered during the week ending on the IStli, 157 were attributable to cholera, and 636 diarrhoea, showing an increase as compared with the preceding week in deaths from cholera of 31, and a decrease in those from diarrhoea of 12. Epidemic cholera, the registrar adds, does not exist in any other of the larger towns. A "deputation of leading bankers and merchants in the city waited upon the Lord Mayor at the Mansion-house on August 1, to ask his lordship to put himself at the head of a committee for raising funds to relieve the cholera sufferers. His lordship gladly consented, and made a statement in court as to the needs of the sufferers, and the desirability of affording them speedy assistance. The committee issued an appeal to the public, who have heartily responded to it, the subscriptions received at the Mansionhouse having reached £14,500, of which about one-third has been disbursed. The Bishop of London has received a letter from Sir T. Biddulph, intimating that the sufferings of the poor in London from cholera have most painfully attracted the attention of the Queen, and that her Majesty has commanded a cheque for £500 to be forwarded to Messrs Herries for the Cholera Fund of the Metropolitan Eelief and District Visiting Association. On Sunday, August 19, the Bishop of London visited the cholera haunts of the east of London, and preached to the poor suffering people. From hospital to hospital he passed among the sick and dvino-, administering words of comfort everywhere.