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promote the same objects and to supply a machinery tor the demolition of
notoriously unhealthy dwellings has been introduced into the House of Commons
by Mr. Torrens, the Member for the Borough in which St. Giles's is
situated. The principle of these Bills has been welcomed by all who have
sanitary progress at heart.
In the latter half of 1865, cholera prevailed epidemically in several cities
of the Continent, and notably Paris, (which is more than any other foreign city
in communication with England), suffered seriously from the disease. In our
own country a few cases happened at Southampton, aud others nearer to
London at Epping. These occurrences, together with the high mortality of
the Metropolis from diarrhoea in the autumn, produced in the mind of those
who had watched the progress of former epidemics, considerable anxiety for
the autumn of 1866. It was felt, however, that before the time when it was
likely that cholera would prevail in London, there was a period in which
measures might be adopted for removing conditions that had demonstrably
assisted in the extension of cholera on former occasions. It is in presence of
impure air and foul water that cholera, following the direction of human intercourse,
assumes the proportion of an epidemic. To advise that all such
conditions should be remedied wherever existing in the Metropolis, and to
point out the best means of remedying them in their several districts, appeared
to the Officers of Health to be their plain duty. In St. Giles's district at the
first meeting of the Sanitary Committee in 1866 the need of extraordinary
vigilance and of special means of sewerage, disinfection, cleanliness, water
supply improvement aud inspection was brought under consideration.
In consequence of these representations the Board obtained from their
Surveyor a report as to the state of the sewers and have already at the date of
this report nearly completed the construction of two important new sewers in
Dudley Street and New Compton Street in lieu of old imperfect sewers. This
will put in a better state of defence one of our poorest districts which (it has
been shown in this report) had last year the highest mortality from diarrhoea.
The construction of another large sewer in Southampton Row was resolved on,
but has been postponed for a time at the wish of the residents there. Russell
and Coram Places have been supplied with pipe sewers. Means of disinfecting
the sewage of the district throughout the summer months have been adopted.
A few charcoal ventilators have been fixed experimentally to certain sewers.
The arrangements for scavenging and dust removal have been frequently considered
with a view to obtaining special effectiveness through the coming hot
weather. And a second Sanitary inspector has been engaged to assist in the
work of house inspection and to procure the removal of nuisances. The public
pumps of the district whose water is very impure and in seasons of epidemic
cholera especially dangerous have been locked up and employed only for street
watering. And an application of the Board for a supply of water on Sundays
throughout certain poor districts of St. Giles' has been assented to by the
New River Company.
In the event of cholera attacking the Metropolis, it may be hoped that
these precautionary measures, with others that will be taken by the Board,
may cause the epidemic to fall lightly on our district. If happily we should
not have cholera, the precautions against it that have been taken will bear
their fruits in an improvement in the conveniences and general health of the
parishioners.
GEORGE BUCHANAN, M.D.
June, 1866.