Report on the mortality of cholera in England, 1848-49.

  • William Farr
Date:
1852
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report on the mortality of cholera in England, 1848-49. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    In same sub-district, on Oct. 17, M. 26 years, a convict, Asiatic cholera (6 hours' duration). ^lname sub-district, on Oct. 18, M. 25 years, a convict, Asiatic cholera (4 days' duration). Inquest. . , i , j • v Ill same sub-district, on Oct. rg, M. 23 years, a convict, Asiatic cholera (4 days duration). Inquest. Mr. Rixoii, the Registrar of the sub-district, Wuolwich Arsenal, makes the following statement:— The seven deaths from Asiatic cholera, registered by me last week, occurred in the Unite'' iiospital ship, among convicts from the Jiistitia'' liulk, lying off the Royal Arsenal wharf. The surgeon ittributes the disease to the uiihealtiiy state of the atmosphere and to tlie localit)', a common sewer being ill the immediate vicinity. The captain of the ship ascribes it to the rotten condition of the hulk, and to 'leat generated during tlie night by so many men being closely ])acked together, a ward liaving from ten to iweiity-four men eleeping in it, according to its size. The last two cases were of athletic young men, and lasted four days. The former patient was pulseless from the liist, and comatose during four hours previous to death—the latter was sensible to the last. They were carefully attended to, visited every liour niglit and day; and were treated witn mercury, mustard poultices, stimulants, and all the usual remedies. The whole of the convicts were removed yesterday (the 20th instant) from tlie Justitia, and put on board tiie Hebe and Sulpliur receiving vessels, ojiposite the Royal Dockyard, which arrangement, I find, lias created some alarm in the yard. This morning (Saturday) a rigger was taken liome from the Dock- yard very ill,-and afterwards a shipwriglit, and both cases are pronounced by the surgeons as decided cholera. Otherwise, the town remains free. Scarlatina is still very prevalent. In Chelsea, North East (sub-district), M. 15 years, epidemic cholera (3 days' duration). In same sub-district, a boy, 6 years, epidemic cholera (9 hours' duration). Mr. Smith, the Registrar of the nortli-east sub-district of Chelsea, states that the two boys l)elonged to the same family. The elder was employed on board a lighter at Isleworlh, and had eaten heartily of mussels on the day before the attack. Finding himself ill, he returned home under heavy rain, uhich wetted hirn to tiie skin. His parents, wiio are in poor circumstances, procured medical aid, hut were not able to provide tlie comforts necessary for his case; and to the want of these, the surgeon thinks, is principally owing the fatal termination. Tiie younger was constantly in the room during his brother's illness, but was not seized till after his death. His illness is attributed by the medical attendant not merely to contagion, but to miasma generated in a badly ventilated and comfortless apartment, and increased by the presence of a sick person. In Islington East (sub-district), son of a paper-stainer, 3 years, cholera epidemica (18 hours' duration). Mr. Bulterfield, the Registrar of the East sub-district of Islington, states that the boy who resided at 15, Lower Queen-stieet, New North Road, was taken ill at iialf-past 6, a.m., with rigors, bilious vomiting, and purging with rice-coloured evacuations, and all the symptoms of true cholera. Medical advice was not obtained till half-past twelve, when it did not avail. Tiie patient died at half-past one, a.m., on Saturday, after an illness of 18 liours. Miasma issuing from an open, oU'ensive drain in the backyard, seemed to be the primary cause. Dr. Bossy, wiio attended the above, has another decided case in an .idultj which has not been fatal. In Christchurch (suli-district), Marylebone, seaman, 22 years, malignant cholera (2 days' duration), secondary fever (3 days). Mr. ObrS, the Registrar, states that the deceased was a seainan who had arrived from Sunder- land, in the brig Maisden, on tlie loth: had febrile symptoms, with diairiioea, till the 13th, when he removed to Lissoii Grove. 1'hese symptoms continued till the I5tli, when the choleraic poison showed Itself, and he died on the 17th. Dr. Miller adds, that the patient was brought home on Friday evening 111 a state of collapse, and died of ' Asiatic cholera,' in the stage of secondary fever. In Whitechapel North (sub-district), seaman, 43 years, Asiatic cholera (3 days' duration). Mr. Chapman, the Registrar, states that this sailor was brought from a lodging-house, 118, Rose- mary-lane, to the W hitechajiel Workhouse, on the i6th October, and died on the i8th. It appears he had not been many days from on board ship. In Ratcliff (sub-district), Stejiney, on board a collier in the River Thames, M. 19 years, diarrhoea ' 4 days' duration), Asiatic cholera (9 hours). Mr. Wells, the Registrar of Ratclill, mentions that besides the above case, he had three others one English, two Asiatic), on which inquests had been held; but they were not yet registered, as he had not obtained the coroner's signature. The ibnr cases occurred on board colliers in the Thames. In St. Paul's, Deptlbrd (sub-district), Greenwich, M. 66 years, cholera Asiatica (17 hours' duration). Mr. Marchant, the Registrar of St. Paul's, Deptford, stales that this person resided in a very healthy, airy situation, and was of steady habits; by trade a carpenter, but only working at his trade occa- sionally, having other resouices. He ate a hearty dinner of boiled mutton, spinach, and potatoes, on the day previous to that on which he died. In Islington East (sub-district), a labourer, 15 years, « diarrhoea (5 days' duration), spasmodic cholera. In same 8nl)-district, a boy, 6 years, son of a pauper stonebreaker, natural, with symptoms of spasmo- dic cholera (11 hours' duration), ill fed and poorly clothed. Inquest. Mr. Butterfield, the Registrar, states that tiiese two were brothers, and died in Ward's Place, a close confined, badly ventilated place, off the Lower Road.
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