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6
The case of death from causes not specified or illdefined
was that of a newly-born infant, found on the area
steps in Westmoreland-street.
measures against the cholera.
A Special Meeting of the Sanitary Committee was held
on May 5th, to consider the subject of preparation against
the cholera, at which we stated our belief that there was no
occasion for panic or excessive expenditure; that we knew of
no undrained houses or cesspools; and that, if such things
did exist here and there, it must be in houses of the better
class, not of the poor which are regularly inspected. What
there is to combat is the state of dirt and neglect, and of
wear and tear or wilful destruction of water apparatus, which
is sure to be found in all poor houses within three months
after they are put to rights, and which would be found three
months hence if they were all cleansed now. Besides, desirable
as it might be to have all houses cleansed now, there
is no law to enforce it. So soon as cholera comes, it will be
time to adopt extraordinary measures.
There are very few houses which we can swear to be so
dirty as to be "nuisances." As these crop up periodically
they are cleansed; but any wholesale cleansing must be
voluntary, and had better not be done till really wanted,
or it will have to be done again.
At the same time we handed in a printed "memorandum,"
containing an abstract of the arrangements to
be adopted, both sanitary and medical, in the case of an
epidemic.
sickness during the quarter.
In the Hanover and May-fair Sub-Districts, the number
of persons entered on the books of the Parochial Surgeons
as out-patients was 335 ; at the Dispensary, Mount-street,