The railways having poured this enormous amount of food into the metropolis, as the main arteries feed the human body, it is distributed by the various dealers into every quarter of the town, first into the wholesale markets, or great centres, then into the sub-centres, or retail tradesmen's shops, and lastly into the moving centres, or barrows of the hawkers, by which means nourishment is poured into every corner of the town, and the community at large is supplied as effectually as are the countless tissues of the human body by the infinitely divided network of capillary vessels. According to the census of 1851, these food-distributors are classified in the following manner:-- _Males._ Grocers 6,475 Cowkeepers and milksellers 3,372 Cheesemongers 2,156 Butchers 7,428 Poulterers 551 Fishmongers 2,238 Other dealers in animal food 1,376 Greengrocers 3,325 Bakers 9,841 Confectioners 1,806 Other dealers in vegetable food 1,303 Brewers 2,499 Licensed victuallers and beer-shop-keepers, &c. 6,843 Wine and spirit merchants 1,915 Other dealers in drinks 3,805 Saltmakers 37 Water-providers 428 Innkeepers 433 ------ 56,601 _Females._ Grocers 676 Innkeepers 93 Innkeepers' wives 217 Cowkeepers 1,158 Butchers 205 Butchers' wives 3,086 Fishmongers 151 Others dealing in animal food 283 Greengrocers 941 Bakers 480 Confectioners 542 Other dealers in vegetable food 939 Licensed victuallers and beer-shop-keepers 970 Wives of ditto 4,440 Wine and spirit merchants 15 Other dealers in drinks 457 ------ 14,653