8
Appearance in our Town
From the spread of the pestilenee, over the whole eountry, there was eonsiderable excitement and fear, in the Spring and Summer months, of it reaehing our town. A board of health was formed, near L.500 was spent among the poor in food, fuel, and clothes; a soup kitchen was opened and continued for thirteen weeks; but it was generally thought, from the openness of our town, and the eomparative eomfort of our inhabitants, if it did come it would not be severe. How vain are the thoughts of man! We were long spared, but it came at last, and raged with a virulence unexampled almost in any town in Britain, the shortness of the time considered.
The first ease of Cholera, in Dumfries, was a fcmalc of the name of Paterson, in English Street, on September 15. She died next day. Some persons in the neighbourhood were also seized. It rapidly increased; but, instead of lingering in the loeality where it showed itself, simultaneously appeared in various parts of Dumfries and Maxwelltown. People are slow to believe what they do not wish to be true; even at this advaneed stage of the disease, many denied that it was amongst us. Many now were in awful consternation, which prcdisposed them for the disease. Mueh was said, "but they spoke not aright." If mention was made of any place being spared, it was, "the provost is very active."—It was observed that during the wholc last week of September, the sky assumed an unusual appearance.—The newspapers of October 2, give the following report:—
Dumfries Board of Health official report to the Central Board.
From the commencement on the l5th to the 24th of September, Cases 17; Deaths 9; Recoveries 0.
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