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Meteorology.—The mean temperature of the late two months has been in
each week above the average, 63° as compared with 59.3. The excess of temperature
was greatest in the fourth week, when there was a difference of 6.2° from the
average of ten years. The highest temperature noted in the shade at Greenwich
was 88°, on the 3rd of August; and the lowest was 46.9°, on the 3rd of September.
The highest temperature in September was on the 17th, when it was 80.7°
About 6½ inches of rain have fallen during the eight weeks, of which 3¾ fell
in August.
Although diarrhoea is somewhat on the decline at present, yet there are several
circumstances which cannot fail to be regarded very seriously, and to excite apprehensions
that at no distant period our country will be again invaded with that fearful
epidemic, the Cholera. The circumstances referred to are these : Cholera is at
the present time raging at several of the Baltic ports and at Hamburgh. In each
of the three previous epidemics the existence of cholera in the last named place has
been speedily followed by its appearance in the eastern seaports of this country.
During the last quarter there has been an unusually high mortality from
diarrhoea, no less than 2,343 persons having died from this disease in London, which
is a number very much greater than the number of those who died in the corresponding
quarters of 1855 and 1856. An increased prevalence of this disease has in
each case preceded the epidemic of cholera. There have been isolated cases of
genuine cholera occurring at intervals during the late summer, another circumstanco
always observed before the invasions of this pestilence. So recently as Saturday last
a woman, a vagrant, admitted a few days previously to the separation ward of the
workhouse, died in three hours from an attack closely resembling Asiatic cholera.
"Whether we are about to be again visited with cholera or not, there can bo no
question as to the wisdom of at once adopting such measures as would in case of its
appearance render it comparatively harmless. Very much has been done in this
direction since the commencement of last year; but in comparison with what remains
unaccomplished it is but as nothing. House-to-house visitation is urgently required
in very many places, to see that the houses be well drained, supplied with water,
not over-crowded, and sufficiently ventilated, and that proper provision is made for
the removal of refuse. More than one man's time is however required to inspect
slaughter-houses, cow-houses, and offensive trades, and to investigate the nuisances
complained of on private premises and public ways. Then each week there are a
large number of houses that ought to be visited, in which epidemic sickness has
existed. Almost always when a house of this kind is visited by myself, evils are
discovered, the remedying of which entails several additional visits, besides the
filling up and serving of notices. Much time too is often taken in determining who
is the responsible party.
In the cases where the preliminary notice is disregarded, it is requisite to
obtain a summons from the police magistrate at one of four police courts, according
to the district in which the nuisance exists, and the case has to be heard on some
future day, the greater part of which is thus engaged.
It is quite impossible with one inspector, to institute such inquiries as are in
my opinion imperatively called for during the ensuing winter. I have felt it to be
my duty to make to you this statement, because I am fully convinced that both
your duty, as guardians of the public health, and your policy, as holders of the public
purse, equally point towards the adoption of such a course as I have indicated.
I have the honour to remain, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
21, Upper Gower Street. THOMAS HILLIER, M.D., L.R.C.P.
* Whilst this Report is in the Press, I have received information of an outbreak of Asiatic
Cholera at West Ham, near Stratford. There have already been 15 cases of the disease since the
1st of October, of which 7 have been fatal.