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18
Action taken during year for Preventing the Spread of Infectious
Diseases and for the Abatement of Nuisances.
CHOLERA.
During the summer of 1892 cholera spread rapidly over
Europe, and attained a special virulence in certain ports on the
western coast of the Continent. The disease being so near
England, and the port of London being in daily communication
with these ports, the Local Government Board—seeing the
possibility of cholera being introduced by these means into
London—sent a circular letter to the various sanitary authorities
of the Metropolis, including Hackney, calling their attention to
the danger of cholera being imported into London, and urging
them to make preparations for the provision of hospital accommodation
for cholera patients, to provide refuges for any persons who
might be exposed to infection, for the lodgment of the families of
infected persons while the houses were being disinfected and
cleansed, and to provide free medical attendance and treatment
during an epidemic.
Knowing that the best preventive for the spread of such a
disease as cholera is to secure all water supplies against being
fouled in any way, and to have all dwellings put in a sound
sanitary condition, I recommended the temporary employment of
two extra Sanitary Inspectors. These Inspectors were employed
upon house-to-house inspection; one at Hackney Wick, and the
other in certain parts of Stoke Newington. In consequence of
what was revealed by the inspections of the latter officer,
I made a report to the Board, which was approved of and acted
upon. ( Vide pp. 20).
1.—Hospital Accommodation.—Inquiries were made in the District
as to the hospital accommodation available for cases of
cholera should the necessity arise. This led to the result
that about 100 beds in the different, institutions would be
provided for Hackney patients, should such be required.