ESCAPE OF DRUNKARDS. 431 



occasionally perceived what I fancied was the odour of the 

 charnel-house. 



In my neighbourhood opinions were much divided as to 

 whether the cholera be infectious or not. I myself am a 

 decided contagionist, my conclusions being drawn from the 

 following, as well as other similar facts, which on this 

 occasion and at an after-period, came more or less under my 

 own personal observation. 



Wenerns-Nas, or the Peninsula of the Wenern, situated at 

 some few miles from Ronnum, contains several hundreds of 

 inhabitants, and is connected with the mainland by a narrow 

 isthmus. Here, at the breaking out of the cholera, a strict 

 Cordon was established by the residents ; and though very 

 many individuals died immediately beyond the line, and in 

 the adjacent parts, only two perished on the peninsula 

 itself ! Both of these cases occurred a very little within the 

 line, and in each instance previous contact with the sick or 

 dead beyond it, was distinctly traceable. 



There were several determined drunkards near me, who 

 caused every one much annoyance. As when the cholera 

 broke out, however, it was an understood thing, that intem- 

 perance was nearly certain death, we naturally expected that 

 those who chanced to survive, would no longer be troubled 

 with these our toping neighbours. But this was a grievous 

 mistake ; for, though very many sober people were swept 

 away, nearly every sot escaped. 



How this could have happened, I am at a loss to conceive, 

 unless it be, that men whose cares are " morning, noon, and 

 night drowned in the bowl,* 7 have no time for apprehension ; 

 for fear, it is said and I fully believe it kills nearly as 

 many as the cholera itself. 



