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6
reference to Table VI. in the Appendix will fully indicate
the extent to which the cleansing and other sanitary
operations were carried out in each of the Sub-districts.
Seeing how great is the liability of a return of Cholera,
the Medical Officers of Health consider they would ill perform
their duty did they not strongly urge a continuance
of efforts in the same direction.*
Upon the first appearance of Cholera, and of its usual
precursor, Diarrhœa, in this District, the Board of Works
promptly assembled to consider the best means of meeting
the emergency. The issue of an Order in Council, bearing
date 21st July, 1866, having all the force of law within the
Metropolitan area, threw a large amount of responsibility
upon local authorities and their Medical Officers of Health,
and accordingly proceedings were at once initiated in this
District, of a character calculated to meet every requirement
of that Order.
Advantage was of course taken of the existing machinery
of the Local Committees to organise, through them, an
efficient system of local medical treatment, to cause a house
to house visitation, by duly authorised Inspectors, to be
made, and a thorough cleansing of the respective Subdistricts
to be promptly undertaken.
*Since this Report was prepared for the press, a Supplement to the "London
Gazette,"(July 12th, 1867),has been published, containing various orders of the Privy
Council, relative to the Acts for the prevention of Diseases. They continue in
force for another six calendar months. "The Diseases Prevention Act, 1855," and
the relative Act, 23rd and 24th Victoria, cap. 77; they also specify regulations for
Boards and Vestries as to what shall be done when cholera is in a union, parish, or
district, and renew for six mouths an order of January 10th, 1867, relative to vessels
infected with dangerous or infectious diseases. The Authorities therefore, throughout
the Metropolis, will be fully justified in continuing their precautionary measures,
and in well sustaining those already carried into effect.