Some disorder, which, for the want of a more definite
appellation,. has been called an Influenza, is extremely prevalent in London at pre- sent. The Medical Gazette thus describes the symptoms, we believe. correctly enough.
" It usually commences suddenly with head-ache, and feelings of general dis- comfort; attended or soon followed by cough hoarseness, or loss of , voice—op- pression, and sometimes severe pain the ellesi--tenderness about the ribs, and. the sense of haying been bruised about the limbs and muscles. For twenty-four or forty-eight hours, the constitutional disturbance is sometimes very great, with considerable anxiety, and turbulence of the circulation ; but after this time, the urgency of the symptoms abates ; leaving, however, in some cases, extreme, languor which only slowly Fulisides."
Among. the more distiuguished sufferers from this malady, Lord Al- thorp, Sir James Graham, Mr. Hume, Mr. O'Connell, and Mr. Cob.- bett, llaVe been enumerated. Front ninety to a hundred persons con- nected with the Bank of England have been reported absent from the same cause. At time Government Offices, at the Docks, and Custom- house, half the hands have been laid up ; a considerable number of Policemen—no fewer than thirty from the E division alone were put hors de combat—and we believe that few families in London or the neighbourhood have entirely escaped its attacks. Even the course of justice at the Old Bailey was suspended on Wednesday, the Recorder and Sergeant Arabia being sick ; and the Common Sergeant, instead. of the Recorder was obliged to present the list of condemned male-. factors to the King. Time singers, actors, and dancers, at the different Theatres have suffered severely ; and on Tuesday night, the Italian. Opera, Covent Garden, Drury Lane, and Miss Kelly's Strand Theatre were all closed, for the want of the performers, who were sick in bed. At the King's Theatre on Saturday lust, the public were informed,. on entering, that De Merie, Sontag, Taglioni, the two Elslers, and several others, were too ill to perform. The performances were changed to suit this state of timings behind the curtain ; and in the. course of the evening Laporte was summoned to give some account of his missing troops. His speech on the occasion was very much to the.
purpose ; and was itself a treat to those who heard it delivered-
" Ladies and Gentlemen—I am very sorry to have in any way incurred your dis- pleasure ; and did I know how to obviate it, nothing could make ore happier. I have come forward at your call, and am now ready to answer whatever questions you may think proper to put to me. [" Where is Mademoiselle Taglioni ? I am much pained. to say, that slit: is at tide moment RI in bed, and therefore cannot (lance : I wish it was in my power to cure her. [" Where is Madame its Meric ?" I assure you that she is so ill, that it is utterly impossible for her. with all her willingness, to appear before you.. ['• Where is Rubini?"] Signor Rubini is quite ready to sing when the opera of Fidelio is concluded; but the opera of 11 Pirate could not be represented without a prima donna ; and, as I have aim eady stated, Madame its Merle is extremely ill. What I have been able to do I have done, and I into always the greatest loser in a case of this sort. Seven disappointments have occurred this evening, in .consequence of the prevalent disorder ; and I may add, that this morning, at Covent Garden, no less than twenty- four apologies were received from different performers. I undertake that every shilling" I luive received at the doors shall be returned ; and I now wait your pleasure to ascer- tain in what way you wish us to proceed."
The Haymarket Theatre is closed, and will not reopen till Wednes- day, partly on account of the influenza, and partly because of the beg- garly state of the benches.
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