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56
CHOLERA.
Cholera having re-appeared in various parts of the
continent (as well as at Mecca) the Local Government Board
issued a circular to Sanitary Authorities in the Metropolis,
dated 22nd June, calling attention to their circular letter of
the 25th August, 1892, in which, " in view of the severe outbreak
of cholera" which was then occurring in Hamburgh,
they reminded Sanitary Authorities of "the responsibilities
and duties devolving upon them, in connexion with the
organisation of measures of precaution against the possible
introduction of the disease into London." With this
circular there was sent a "Memorandum" by the Board's
Medical Officer, mainly historical, in which it was pointed
out that, " whereas a considerable portion of the summer
of 1892 was taken up with the diffusion of cholera across
the Continent of Europe, the disease only reaching ports
in the North Sea and British Channel in the month of
August, recrudescence of the disease (in 1893) along the coastline
of Western Europe, may well occur at a date which
would involve danger to this country during a longer term of
our summer and autumn season than was the case in 1892."
The memorandum further set out the places where cholera
was then prevalent—mainly in France, the ports of which,
on the west coast, were at the time regarded and treated
as infected places, all vessels coming from them being
carefully overhauled by the Port Sanitary Authority at
Gravesend. The Medical Officer, in conclusion, stated that
it was " important that the Sanitary Authorities of England
and Wales should be prepared, in advance, to prevent
extension of any cholera that may be imported into their
districts," a duty which " devolves especially on the Authorities
of those districts into which cases of imported cholera
are most likely to make their way." The Local Government
Board subsequently, in August, called " attention
to the powers vested in them to issue Epidemic
Regulations imposing upon Sanitary Authorities the duty