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to the
VESTRY OF ST. MARY, ISLINGTON.
Gentlemen,
Your Sanitary Committee report that, having now received
from the Medical Officer of Health his Report upon the severe
epidemic of Small Pox, which for more than twelve months has
been amongst us, they deem it desirable to submit the same to the
Vestry, together with the following report of their proceedings and
directions in relation to this event, more especially as some of
these measures have caused them to incur, on behalf of the Vestry,
considerable and unusual expenditure.
The epidemic having become apparent during the vacation ot
the Vestry in September, 1876, a meeting of your Committee was
immediately called by their Chairman, at which they took counsel
with the Medical Officer of Health and your Vestry Clerk, as to
the best means which could be adopted for arresting the progress
of the epidemic, which had suddenly broken out with such great
severity in the Bemerton District of the Thornhill Ward.
Your Committee directed that every case should be visited
and that the speedy removal of patients to the Hospital should be
urged upon every possible occasion. In the event of any technical
difficulty arising, your Sanitary Officers were instructed to provide
immediately for the removal of the patient, at the expense and
risk of the Vestry, and in several instances such removals were
effected; the general instruction of the Committee being also fully
carried out.
In addition, every house in the District was visited with a
view to preventing accumulations of Dust, and of ascertaining the
existence of other nuisances.
A circular letter was addressed to all the Medical Practitioners
in the Parish, inviting their co-operation, and requesting them to
furnish early information to the Medical Officer of Health of all