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108
REGENT'S CANAL.
That portion of the Canal flowing through Islington was specially
inspected, owing to a communication received by the Vestry, in common
with all other Metropolitan Authorities, interested in its sanitary
condition.
Beyond its usual semi-stagnant condition, and the collection of a
deposit of mud at Chatterton's lay-by, together with the discharge of
rainwater pipes from a barber's shop, no nuisances were discovered.
The question of the purity of this waterway is eminently one to be
dealt with by the County Council, and not by local authorities, beyond
the duty of seeing that it is not polluted in their districts by the influx
of obnoxious matters.
The condition of the Canal formed the subject of a conference
between the local authorities and the London County Council, at which
the Vestry was represented by the Chairman of the Public Health
Committee and myself.
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST CHOLERA.
From the early part of the year the Public Health Committee and
the officials of the Public Health Department were fully alive to the
great responsibility that rested on their shoulders.
On February 6th, in a brief report to the Committee, I pointed
out that (1) it would be absolutely necessary, in view of the possibility
of Cholera reaching London during the spring, that arrangements should
be made to appoint medical men, to whom the public might look for
treatment, should the disease make its appearance; and that (2) districts
should be assigned to them, (3) the amount of their fees should be fixed,
and (4) that chemists who would dispense their medicines should be
provided, and I therefore asked that a Sub-Committee should be
appointed to assist me.
The Public Health Committee, being unanimously of the same
opinion, and also feeling strongly that the most populous district in
London should not hold any but one of the best positions in its