“On the 3d day of July, the epidemic assumed its malignant and characteristic form. From that time until now, it has maintained its residence among us. For the first week it gradually extended, and during the second it has been rather stationary, the number attacked varying a little from day to day and but little. “It is now a fortnight since the first deaths took place. The number of cases reported within that period is two hundred and forty-five, and the deaths seventy-two--or a little over one-quarter of the whole. It must however be recollected, that during the same time hundreds had been attacked with _Cholerine_, or the slightest influences of the epidemic. None of these have been reported, _because by timely aid, the disease, in its more formidable shape, was prevented_. We can, we believe, say with truth, that few have entirely escaped the influence of the disease. “From a consideration of all the circumstances connected with the visitation of Providence, we think our citizens have great cause for thankfulness, that we thus far suffered so little. Compared to our neighbours of Canada, we have suffered less than we had cause to anticipate. The disease has been among us for a fortnight; has passed all over the city, and in one form or other has affected more or less persons of all classes, and yet the deaths have not much exceeded five in a day, whilst at Quebec and Montreal, in a population not much exceeding ours, the deaths some days exceeded one hundred, when the disease had not been so long among them as it has been with us. From the history of the disease in other countries, and the circumstances connected with its progress in this city, we would fain indulge the hope, that it has already spent its venom, and that we shall ere long be free from it entirely. For the last two days, notwithstanding the number of cases reported and the high state of mortality, we are inclined to believe that we see, in the character of the prevailing disease, indications of returning health. “We have as yet, had no cause to change our opinion respecting the nature of the prevailing disease--we consider it essentially epidemic. It continues to attack people in different parts of the city, and had not been traced from one person to another, as might have been done were its progress dependent on contagion. It is true, in some houses, several persons have been attacked and died; but this only shows that similar causes produce similar effects in individuals placed in like circumstances--all were equally exposed to the local and general causes which engender this disease. The disease _may_, under certain circumstances, be contagious, but no very striking instances of the kind has yet come to our knowledge in this city.