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51
In other cases, where destruction was not essential, but where
a complete purification of feather beds or similar articles was
desirable in order that they might be preserved for the use of the
poor owners, it was directed that the articles should be removed
and thoroughly cleansed and disinfected, and afterwards restored ;
228 beds, or other articles, were thus dealt with, 84 of them being
also newly covered, at a cost of £49 3s. 1d.
To this unusual outlay, therefore, of £262 145. 11d, which
has been incurred, as well as to that involved in the additional
expenditure for disinfectants, amounting to another £100, your
Committee consider it right to draw the attention of the Vestry.
With respect to the locality of the first outbreak of the
disease, your Committee desire to remind the Vestry that considerable
alarm was occasioned at the time, causing many statements
to be circulated of such a nature as to render it imperatively
necessary, in the opinion of the Committee, for them to make a
full enquiry into the truth, or otherwise, of the allegations
made.
Subsequently, a deputation of gentlemen residing in the
Thornhill District attended your Committee, and requested their
particular attention to the several subjects of complaint, which
were then being generally discussed, and were as follows :—
1. Defective drainage.
2. The bad repair and condition of the houses.
3. Overcrowding.
4. Illegal use of underground rooms.
Having heard the statements of the Medical Officer of Health,
and of the Sanitary Superintendent, upon these matters, at a
special meeting, your Committee proceeded to carry out their
intention of making a personal inspection of the locality, and on
the 25th October, 1876, while the first burst of the epidemic
was still raging, your Committee, accompanied by the Medical
Officer of Health, the Sanitary Superintendent, and the Inspector
of the district, Mr. Jordan, visited and inspected the 59 houses
situated as under, at the majority of which Small Pox had
recently occurred or then existed.
It may be remembered that Mason, the messenger of the