[CHECK DATES - NB this article is reproduced in the Times, but originated im the Observer.]
THE CHOLERA AT TOOTING
TOOTING, SATURDAY 6 p.m.
We regret to state that the sudden and extraordinary outbreak of cholera at the Juvenile Poor Establishment at Tooting, up to this evening, continues, though not in so severe a form, to attack its inmates.
The following statement furnished to our reporter by Mr. W.J. Kite , the resident medical officers of the asylum, wiI put our readere in possesion of the facts they at present and with regard to the progress of the disease up to tonight at 6 o'clock. Mr. Kites's report is as follows:
Juvenile Poor Establishment, Tooting, Jan. 6.
40 fresh cases of cholera have occurred since 4 o'clock yesterday. Many of them do not present the very severe symptoms that exhibited themselves in the first case. Nevertheless, the number of fatal cases has amounted to 12 within the same time. Greta numbers of the healthy children have been removed from the premises, making the number now remaining in the establishment considerably less; consequently the number of new caess of cholera here may of course be expected to lessen.
Mr Grainger, from the Board of Health, is instituting inquiries into the probable cause of the epidemic, and, by his suggestion, the medical staff has been increased by the addition of four qualified members of the profession, so that the duties of attending to the sick are much lightened.,
Number of caess of cholera since the commencement . . . 229
Fatal . . . 52
Now under medical treatment . . . 160
Recovered . . . 16
W.J. KITE, Surgeon.",
It appears, that in consequence of the observations made by Mr. Grainger, the medical inspector from the Board of Halth, who visited Tooting for the purpose of instituting inquires on Friday, and the report of that gentleman, a special meeting of the General Board of Health was held on rinday evening, at Gw dyr-house, when it was resolved that not only should Mr. Grainger again attend Tooting this day (Saturday), for the purpose of a further and more minute investigation, but that, as several stagnant ditches had been reported as being exceedingly dangerous in the Vicinity of Tooting, a body of navigators, under a superintendent, should be placed at the disposal of the inspector.
In accordance with this order of the Board of Health, Mr. Grainger arrived at the asylum at an early hour this morning. and tha inhabitants of the usually quiet village of Tooting were soon after somewhat astonished by the arrival of a gang of about 50 "navvies," in their jack boots, and armed with their pickaxes and scoops, ready to commence operations wherever they might be directed.
This circumstance, connected with the continual arrival of omnibuses from various part of the metropolis, by the direction of the boards of guardians of the respective parishes, for the removal of the children, which throughout theda amounted to several hundreds, caused the village to be thrown into a state of intense alarm and excitement.
It must be mentioned that the parishes who have farmed out their children at Mr. Drouet's establishment are the following, viz.: Kensington, Newington, St. Andrew's, I Holborn, Wandsworth Union, St. Pancras, Chelsea, Clerkenwell, Islington, Strand Union, Fulham Union, Richmond Union, St. George's-in-the-East, Kingston Union, and Streatham.
The whole of these amounted to about 1,400 children of both sexes, and in consequence of this outbreak of cholera it is estimated that at least one-half have already been removed from the asylum.
It appears that the guardians of the Holborn Union had their children, 200 in number, removed on Friday night to the Royal Free Hospital in Gray's-inn-lane, where accommodation had been provided for them by the authorities of that institution.
On the arrival of the St. Pancras committee in London, an Friday evening, a special meeting of the Board of Directors was convened, at which it was resolved to take the opinion of Dr. Darlig as to the fitness of the wards of the workhouse formerly appropriated to the children at once to receive them. A deputation was forthwith appointed to wait upon the Board of Health (then sitting at Owydyrhouse), and, by the advice of the board, Mr. Grainger, and Mr. Edwin Chadwick, they resolved upon the removal of all the healthy children without delay, amounting to between 200 and 300, Dr. Darling having reported favourably. The board also resolved on sending Mr. W. H. Popham, of Judd-street, and Mr. Gordon Bailey, of Pentonville, down to Tooting to attend to those attacked by the disease, and those gentlemen arrived at the asylum at 12 o'clock on Friday night.
On the arrival of the Inspector of the Board of Health at Tooting he, in the first place, proceeded Ao-agn examine ffieko'ies of those who had died since the previous day, aud Mr. Grainger expressed his opinion that [??] characteristics of the disease were infinitely worse than anything he had seen in Glasgow, where he had recently been on the part of the Government. This being completed, the inspector proceeded to take the dimensions of the establishment, and all the grounds belonging thereto.
It appears that Mr. Drouet occupies altogether, including fields, which are appropriated during the proper season to agricultural purposes, 52 acres of ground, about one-eighth of which is appropriated to the buildings and grounds of the asylum.
The elder girls' dormitories are situate in two old family mansions facing the main road in the village of Lower Tooting, a portion of which is occupied by Mr. Drouet himself and his principal officers. That portion of the establishment appropriated to the boys consists of a number of detached out-buildings, extending on the right or north-eastern side, about halfway down, and on the left, or western side, the entire length of the playground. Beyond these, on the same side, is a range of cottages, used as dormitories for the elder boys, which, from their extraordinary position, over a stagnant ditch passing along the end of the grounds, and which will be thereafter more minutely referred to, are considered as most unhealthy.
The detached buildings in the yard consist of seven distinct compartments, each compartment on the ground floor being 60 feet long, 10 feet high, and 2t feet in width ; and over these are dormitories of the same dimensions for the smaller children. The cottage rooms referred to above, in which the larger boys sleep, are a range of buildings '50 feet in length. The boys' school-room is 94 feet by 24 feet, and the girls' school-room of similar dimensions, the average number attending each school being from 5600 to 600 daily.
Having completed this part of his examination, Mr. Grainger proceeded to inspect the various ditches and drains in the vicinity of the establishment, and was accompanied by the Messrs. Chapman. late 'surgeons to the asylum; the RBs. Dr. Lord, Mr. Livesey, and a deputation from the gentry and inhabitants of Lower Tooting; by the authorities of Streatham parish, which closely adjoins Mr. Baker and Mr. Hetherington, directors of the poor, and Mr. H. C. Robinson, medical officer of St. Pancras, and a number of other medical and scientific gentlemen.
On arriving at the end of Mr. Drouet's grounds, in Garrett-lane, the attention of the inspector was particularly directed to the position of the cottage sleeping apartments, built over the ditch which formerly ran from Tooting to Wandsworth, but which now has been turned, passing in a north-easterly direction towards the Surrey County Lunatic Asylum. After passing along the end of the asylum grounds for a short distance this ditch becomes considerably wider, and again returns towards Tooting, abutting on the eastern side of the asylum, and, according to the statement of the sarre of thof the Board of Health, who accompanied Mr. Grainger, but 349 feet from the centre of the main building of the institution.
In answer to a question put by the inspector, M.R. Drouet stated that this ditch had been cleaned about six weeks back by a number of the larger boys and some men, and the matter it contained had been deposited on the bank, in order to be used as manure for the adjoining land.
At the request of the Rev. Dr. Lord, the attention of the inspector was next directed to another stagnant and filthy ditch of extraordinary dimensions in the adjoining field, be longing to Mr. Rawlings. This ditch, which is situate in a north-easterly direction between Mr. Drouet's establishment, it appears, is connected with a stupendous tank, into which all the refuse of the Surrey Lunatic Asylum, situate at a distance of about a quarter of a mile, deposits itself. The ditch is about 3 feet deep, and from 11 to 20 feet wide, and on the approach of the party the stagnant filth it contained was within about an inch and a half or two inches from the surface, and emitted a most offensive odour. Passing to the northern side of this field it was found that the ditch was dammed up for the express purpose of collecting filth, in order to manure Mr. Rawlings's land.
At this point of the proceedings Mr. Grainger observed that the strict injunctions of the Board of Health were, that the contents of these ditches should be forthwith removed. and for that purpose a large body of men had been sent down from London- but, on viOwin" tho place, and maturely considering tho matter, he hat come to a conclusion that under existing circumstances, especially whilst there were any children remaining in Mr. Drouet's establishment, it would be dangerous to remove filth, and dangerous to let it remain. From what he had seen he had no doubt there was a very good fall for the water, and that therefore the safest course to adopt would be to effect the removal of the contents of the ditches by flushing, and, in his opinion, that ought to be done directly.
The Rev. Dr. Lord said the whole of the water used in Tooting was produced by Artesian wells, and he was sure, so deeply did the inhabitants feel upon this subject, that they would place the whole of the water power of the village at the disposal of the Board of Health for that purpose. Indeed, himself and Mr. Livesey attended as a deputation from the principal inhabitants en the subject.
He begged to add a hope, on the part of the inhabitants, that steps would be taken for the entire removal of an asylum from the centre of a crowded village, which was the receptacle of from 1,400 to l,500 children, from 2 to 16 years of age. The inhabitants of Tooting were not at all surprised at this awful visitation; they were only surprised that it had not taken place before. At the time he made this statement he begged to add, on the part of the inhabitants of Tooting, that they had the highest opinion of Mr. Drouet, and considered his conduct to the children under his care kind in the extreme. They had no desire to do him the slightest injury, and he was instructed to say that the inhabitants of Tooting, as a body, would cheerfully contribute their share towards establishing a new asylum for Mr. Drouet in a proper locality.
On the return of the Inspector of the Board of Health to the institution, after making his inspection of the ditches, Mr. Grainger proceeded to examine Mr. Kite, the resident surgeon, and all the medical gentlemen who were in attendance, m reference to their observations as to the rise and progress of the disease, and their opinion of the probable causes of the outbreak. The inquiry was conducted in private, but we are enabled to lay before our readers the summary of what trans ired*-,.
Mr. T.K. Kite said, he was the medical officer of Mr. Drouet's establishment. The symptoms which first made their appearance were those of sudden sickness and diarrhoea. There was an absence of the usual premonitory symptoms attendant upon cholera. The cases were now less numerous and less severe than at the outset. As the cases occurred all the various remedies were put into use, such as chloroform, carbonic acid, ether, calomel and opium camphor ammonia wine, brandy, and various other stimulants. B.ter;aGl applications of cayenne pepper, mustard, turpentine, and other species of artificial heat. There were some cases in which the parties attacked were so far recovered, that they were enabled to sit up in their beds, and others wvere in a fair way of recovery. The application of stimulants and Oiflcal heat had boen found moit eatriQ, AS, Kite
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still ,adee tto his opinion, a WhiCh he statest disoncui le,Asl w ml mm W ha vistdad in eetMr. W.H. Popham, surgeon, of Judd-street tr e t lrun;6,*i>;,% stted that he wa oneof the district medical officer,o. the pa of St. ?AeeS, and th br d1 -of as di ffctors of the pooi f SBt Pacs he co"e down h* the asylum, In eOlpey Wit Mr. Gordon Bailey, another sxxrgeon to assst in the cm requiring medical treatment,On SnQjrag the affect ads hi found 160 cbildren 1e bosring unnr, cholera, and in som e uni inetns tb,ex r . lying four or 1 mein abed, forwant of room. Hi& rst step w to aw to tb thinning of the patients as far as posible but eight died dtirnx the nixht, and three others during tbat morning. He foub.., caglomel and Opium the most efeftusl remedy. He anticipated that the mortslitm would be much greater, although it wa,, ts rearded its severity, certainly on the decline.
As to the actual origin of the disease in the asylum he could form no idea. It v l, in hib epinwon, something in the air, from some hidden atmospheric poison. The character of the food might have somethimg to do with it. He was bound to say that Mr. Drouet, since he had been there, had paid attention to every suggestion, and had spared no expense to carry it out. Thought ther\had been. a inide. gate amount of medical treatment at the outset,' and ;hat t.e children generally were too much exposed to the cold.
The number of the St. Pancras cases amounted to 3S. - Certainly considered the aspect of the disease was more rod&ied in character. Had, by direction of Mr. Graingr, inpet'd the various buildings. Had found the ventilation in the girls' department good and airy, and the boys' moderately so. Considered there was a general deficiency of warmth ire al the wards. Pound that the only chanie of having a child was the administration of the proper antidote i at the monibt of the attack. If the state of collapse had arrived the i&e was hopeless.-,
Mr. Bailey corroborated the main points of Mr.'Frp1Wms statement.
Mr. H. C. Robinson,surgeon of the workhouse of St. lan. cras, expressed his regret that his recommendation, and that of other medical gentlemen, on Tuesday last, that raore medical aid should be procured, had not been carried out till the previous evening. There was also a deficiency of nurses, although at the outset of the outbreak there might have been sufficient. His opinion was, that the nature of ho food and the scaty clothing of the children were the nre. disposing causew, but that the malaria from the ditches, which had bcen Tiewed by the inspector, blown orer towards the asylum by a north-easterly wind, was the mior immediate cause of the outbreak.
Mr. Baker and other medical gentlemen also expressed themselves as agreeing in opinion with Mr. Robinson.,
Dr. Bermingham, who has had considerable practice in cases of cholera in India, said-I visited Mr. Drouet's establishment on hearing that cholera had made its appearance there. I pawed through the whole of the apotmients of the sick, and the cases of cholera which I saw presented all the symptoms of the malignant cholera such # r had been accustomed to in India. The same suddenness of attack, rapidity of progress, and termination.
In looking for a cause of the visitation in this establishment I directed my attention to the warmth of the rooms and the clothing of the children, and my impression is that sufficient provision is not made for the sudden alteration of the weather which we have had within the last week or ten days. In the play-ground the female children, for instance, were without any covering on their heads, their arms bare, and their necks and shoulders uncovered, except the slight defence of a pinafore. 4 large extent of the surface is thus exposed to the cold, and congestion of the bowels and other organs must be the result. The apartments are not sufficiently warmed.
In pursuance of the order of the Bosd$ of Health 2( bodies in six large coffins (four in each) were on Friday night interred in Tooting churchyard, and about the same number were last night deposited in the ame place Mr. Drouet has received the following from the medicul officer of t'he district:
"Lower-Tooting -Surrey, Tae. &,"Ihrbyerennomand tint the corpses of all the children now at Mr. Drouet's who hare died of cholera be tbuleti tonight, and that every child who dies of cholera be buried within X hours of its death n Tooting burial yard.,..
WALTER CHAPMAN, Medical Officer.,Wandsworth and Clapham Union for the Tooting District.
Considerable doubts are entertained of the propriety of the course adopted by most of the parishes in removing their children from the asylum to their respective workhouse4, many, no doubt, of those apparently healthy having incipient cholera about them. It was reported to-night that two of the children removed on Friday to the Wandsworth and Clapham Union had died there of cholera this morn. ing, and that another child had died in Chelsea workhouse. Another insane was exhibited in. the fact that whilst the St. Pancras children were being packed into the nibunea for departure last night confirmed cholera was discovered in one of the little girls, and she was at once conveyed to the sick ward.
It appears from a statement made to the reporter by Mr. Whithall, the registrar of the district, that he had registered five cases of cholera in Wandsworth parish, and two in the workhouse, prior to the epidemic breaking out in the asylum at Tooting. He adds that he has always found Tooting the most healthy part of his district.
The parishes which have removed their children are the Holborn Union, the Wandsworth and Clapham Union, St. Pancras, St. Mary, Newington; 8t. Mary, Islington; b ad St. James's, Clerkenwell; and it is expected that most of the other parishes will do so on Monday.
SUNDAY EVENING.
Twelve more cases of cholera have occurred at Mr. Drouet's establishment to.dayI and, though the disease does nut exhibit the malignant form assumeI at first, 14 more of the children har. died. iAs considered singular that the disease, if owing to atmospheric influence, should have been confined to this asylum, and it is understood that further inquiries are beinug made with respect to the dietary.,.
We regret to hear further reports of cholera appearing among the children removed to London. It is stated that eight cases have occurred in St. Pancras, in three of which the disease has reached the stage of "collapse," and one of the patients was an a dying condition lat night; the children are is an isolated building, some distance from the main body of the workhouse,, and an additional medical officer (Mr. Bird) has been appointed to take charge of them. It is said that the disease has also broken out among the children removed to Chelsea, Wandsworth, Newington, and Holborn; the Holborn children are at the Royal Free Hospital, and it is stated that three of them have died.
[Times: Link [Gale].]
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