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Merlin A few days ago a carpenter named Thomas Dobbs in the employ of William Kier of Whitecroft, had a corn on his great toe which sorely annoyed him and which prevented his shoe, whenever he had a new one, from fitting genteely and comfortably. He very deliberately applied to one of his fellow workmen to chop off his toe with his chissel (sic). The man being of tender heart objected. Not so however with another who very readily acquiesced in the request, observing at the same time that he would either take off his toe or his head if he wished it. It appears that the toe was the only member which had given offence and that he was resolved to spite. The amputation being agreed upon, the parties commenced operations by placing a half inch chissel on the poor unfortunate member which the patient himself held, whilst "Doctor Morris" with a blow of the mallet performed the operation, though not without a second application of the chissel, the same being two small to take the toe clean off at once. The patient says the paring of the rough edges was the most painful part of the operation. We understand he is likely to do well. Merlin A man died at Newport on Saturday of apoplexy. Mr. Tatham a surgeon, called on the man's wife to request permission to open his body. She, after some hesitation replied, "Well what are you going to stand?" Mr Tatham asked what she meant by "stand." "Oh," said the lady, "you know very well; if you give six pounds you may open him, but not without." The surgeon considered six pounds rather too much for a peep, left the corpse unopened. Merlin The most distressing and fatal case of this kind has occurred in the past week. A fine young man upwards of twenty years, the son of Mr. William Jenkins blacksmith. On Tuesday last he complained of illness which he stated to arise from cold. He grew worse and a surgeon was called in, when strong symptoms of hydrophobia manifested themselves. On Wednesday the case was very distressing; water was applied to his mouth, which he rejected with signs of great agony. The surgeon who attended the young man called in a brother practitioner to witness the painful case, and they together tried various experiments to satisfy themselves and the public of its nature. A basin of water was offered the patient, he attempted to reach it, and then in the greatest agony repeatedly sprung from his bed. He continued thus to suffer until eight o'clock on Wednesday evening, when death closed the heartrending scene.
Sir, It is a general observation when visitors who ascend to old St. Woolos for the fine expansive views commanded by that elevation, that the state of the churchyard is not only discreditable to Newport but indeed almost revolting to humanity. There, the little circumscribed spot set apart for burials, is so densely populated with the dead that there is scarcely enough of earth unoccupied to cover the foul and melancholy spectacle of the graves; coffins are crushed together; some displaced almost before the green grass has grown over them, whilst sculls (sic) and other sad reliques (sic) of the departed are not unfrequently strewn upon the surface. I might proceed with the picture - I might mention scenes of nocturnal depravity and desecration of the consecrated ground, but to go on with the grouping would be a loathsome work, and might possibly excite feelings which had better lie dormant. In making these observations, I have not even the shadow of an intention to attach blame (for I believe none is attributable) to any person in any station connected with discharging the last duties to the departed in the churchyard of St. Woolos. My object is merely to call public attention, with a view to remedy a great and increasing evil in Newport, resulting from the narrow confines of our public burying place - an evil not chargeable to individual neglect, but to public apathy, or at least a want of public exertion. Yours etc. with
sincere esteem.
This Institution
situate in Llanarth Street will be ready to receive patients on Wednesday,
the 3rd April. Merlin A few days since no less than twenty five earwigs came from the head of a young female residing at Henllys near Newport. As she had complained of severe pains in the head, she was attended by Mr. James Hawkins, surgeon of Newport. It is supposed that the insects must have been generated in the head. Merlin On Monday last two children one nine and the other two years old were bitten by a dog, supposed to be rabid, they were "dipped" under the Newport Bridge as an infallible remedy against hydrophobia! Merlin The causes of its premature decline, with plain directions for its perfect restoration, addressed to those suffering from the destructive effects of Excessive Indulgence, Solitary Habits, or Infection, followed by observations on Marriage, and the treatment of Syphilis, Gonorrhoea, Gleet, etc., illustrated with cases etc., by J.L. Curtis & Company, Consulting Surgeons, London. Published in a sealed envelope price three shillings. Merlin We are given to understand that a much needed facility in the town of Newport is about to be put in hand, namely, the establishment of a water-works. For far too long we have derived our water from the public pumps at Baneswell, Mill Street, Corn Street, Stow Hill, and the Salutation. Of late years Baneswell has been suspected of receiving its water supply through drainage from the overcrowded cemetery around St. Woolos Church. Merlin Mr. Townsend said
"Mr. Mayor, I wish to call the attention of the Board and the Surveyor
to a nuisance. I happened to go down by Cross Street the other day and
my nose was offended by the most dreadful stench, the like of which
I have never experienced. On enquiry, I found that a person there, was
in the habit of gathering or buying bones and bringing them to the premises
in Cross Street, when after cleansing them with lime etc. they lay exposed
to the air until they were properly dried, I presume from that the smell
arises. But I can assure you, it is a dangerous nuisance. I never smelt
such a stench in my life." Merlin Sir, The Metropolis Bill, thanks to Lord Palmerston, having become the law of the land, allows me to direct your serious attention to its efficiency, in order to assist the community of this large and increasing town to have its benefits immediately adopted by the proper authorities. I would refresh your memory of the Report of the Public Health Inspector in 1849 on the condition of the burial grounds of this town, which showed there was an imperative necessity for several of the burial grounds being closed. If the necessity existed then, what must it be now? The Report showed that in the old burial ground of St. Woolos alone, the average number of interments annually exceed 300! Multiply that number by the four years since the Report was published gives an addition to this "overcrowded burial ground" of 1200!! This crying evil must be remedied without delay. Apprehension of the visitation of that dreadful scourge the cholera is again before us; this ought to arouse the inhabitants to do all in their power to improve the sanitary condition of the town. Yours faithfully, Philanthropist Merlin Tom Edwards, alias "Bounce, the Rat-Catcher" destroyed 200 rats at the warehouse of Mr. Rudge, flour and corn factor, near Screw Wharf yesterday morning in less than an hour.
An inquest was held at the Handpost Inn, Stow Hill, on Thursday, on the body of Hannah Jenkins, a married woman. Ann Rees deposed that she was a neighbour of the deceased. On the night of the 27th ult., hearing she was ill, she went to her and found her in bed. She sent deceased's son for a surgeon, Mr. Hawkins, but the boy came back and said Mr. Hawkins could not come. The witness then sent for Mr. Woollett but that gentleman said he would not come unless he got a "note". Witness then went to Mr. Woollett herself but he confirmed he would not come without a note. Witness said no note was required as the sick person could well afford to pay. When witness returned she found the woman was dead of a haemorrhage. The following verdict was returned - "That the deceased died from internal haemorrhage, but the jury blamed Mr. Hawkins for not attending when called upon." Merlin A hint for the Newport Dispensary. The penny weekly subscription to the Royal Infirmary of the workpeople in the employ of Messrs. Derham Bros., Bristol, amounted in the past year to £50 12s. 10d. Their similar subscriptions during the same period to the Bristol General Hospital were £25 17s. 8d.
We observe that the usual notice has been issued against dogs being allowed at large unmuzzled. Is this not a farce? We would ask if any proceedings have been taken for years past against owners of dogs, who have treated the notice with contempt. If not, why not? It is a scandal to the town that hundreds of snarling, thieving curs should be allowed to traverse the public streets, to the manifest danger to the lives of the inhabitants. Star
of Gwent On Wednesday evening last the attention of a crowd of children was attracted to the peculiar movements of a little pet dog in St. Mary Street. The dog was foaming at the mouth and was very much convulsed. Believing the dog to be mad, the children were advised to get from it, but when they moved off the dog ran at one of the lads and attempted to fasten upon him. The lad managed to keep the animal at bay, until a young man came forward with a large stone, with which he terminated the dog's existence by smashing in its head.
Star
of Gwent A farmer and his wife from the Henllys area, became deranged, awing to the close study they have been paying recently to theology. Their brother and sister also lost their reason, owing to the same cause, and now the servant girl has become insane. One of the brothers declared that he is Christ, and the other that he is Anti-Christ. Some days ago the two brothers and the servant girl left the farmhouse, with the object of inducing persons in the neighbourhood, to accompany them, as they asserted, to Heaven. They were followed by the police and a desperate struggle ensued when the officers came in contact with the two men and the girl. On the way to the station, the one who thought he was Christ, picked up his brother and carried him singing "Safe in the arms of Jesus." Both of them have since been admitted into Abergavenny Asylum. The wife is recovering her reason, but the sister and servant girl are still deranged. The former insists that she is Miriam. and that her brothers are Moses and Aaron. Star
of Gwent Sir, I see that in all our principal towns, a medical man has been delegated to go to Berlin, to gain all the information he can respecting Doctor Koch's cure for consumption. Not having seen any movement in Newport relative to the above, I should be pleased to subscribe two guineas towards this object. I know there are many longing hearts in Newport suffering from this deadly malady, anxiously looking for someone to go and bring the healing balm to their wasting bodies. I am Sir - Yours Respectfully, T.M. Wittle
Star
of Gwent The influenza epidemic continues unabated throughout the kingdom and numerous deaths are reported. Years have elapsed since the illness was so prevalent at Newport as it is at the present time. It has pervaded the great majority of homes, and it is feared that the death rate for the quarter will be much above the average. The Mayor has been confined to his room, whilst many leading inhabitants suffering from colds, and fearing an attack of influenza, are deeming it prudent to remain within doors. South
Wales Argus There was considerable excitement in the neighbourhood of Ruperra Street and Dock Street this morning. A sailor on board the Lomas, now lying in the Alexandra Dock came ashore bringing a dog, said to be an Irish terrier, with him. When near the Board of Trade offices the animal showed signs of bad temper and began snarling and growling. The owner became frightened, his alarm being intensified when the dog made an attempt to jump through the window of Messrs J. Moses & Co's establishment. It was however secured and deposited at the Seamen's Union. After a time the animal again began to growl and started to foam at the mouth and those persons in the office, thinking discretion the better part of valour, mounted the desk. Shortly after a pistol was fetched and the dog dispatched. South
Wales Argus A Newport doctor wishes to draw attention to the danger to health arising from the habit, of tram conductors, paper boys and others, of putting money in their mouths. It goes without saying that coins, as they pass through the innumerable hands and pockets, or lie in dirty tills, or rest in crocks on the mantelpiece, must gather dirt and microbes; and to place coins in the mouth while giving change, is not only dirty, but dangerous to health, as all dirty practices are. Most of us are compelled to carry these filthy counters which represent wealth, but let us encourage the substitution of sixpences for sweets. Upon the sixpence maybe the filth of a score of hands, and infection or contagion enough to give a disease to a family. |
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