THE JEWS ESCAPING THE CHOLERA.

North Otago Times, Volume VII, Issue 158, 27 November 1866, Page 3

THE JEWS ESCAPING THE CHOLERA.

It is a subject of remark that the Jewish inhabitants of the East-End of London have escaped almost unscathed during the outbreuk. In Petticoat Lane and its immediate neighborhood only three or four cases of cholera have taken place, and the cases of diarrheea have hardly exceeded those of an ordinary summer. A similar exception -was observed in 1819, when the Hebrew community only lost 1 in 2000 as compared with 6 in 1000 of the general population of Whitechapel, and 29 in 1000 of the Christians of Rotherithe. Then, as now, the immunity was ascribed to certain observances and habits inculcated by the Jewish faith. For example, the houses of all Jews undergo a thorough cleansing once a year, and every room is lime whited at least as often ; more than one family never occupy the same room (two or three or more families sometimes occupy a single room amongst the lower orders of the surrounding population) ; considerable care is taken with respect to the quality of the food used, tainted provisions being proscribed, and all flesh meat being inspected by a religious officer before being consumed ; and, finally, the poorer members of the community are liberally cared for through tho benevolence of the rich, applications for workhouse relief not being allowed.