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consented to submit to isolation, arrangements were made for this purpose, and watchmen appointed to
ensure that the conditions were observed. No extension of the disease occurred. The tug was disinfected
at Gravesend.
Two other cases of cholera were admitted from Islington into St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where
one patient died. They had arrived at Harwich on the 29th August in the " s.s. Peregrine " from
Hamburg, and had travelled to London by rail.
The excellent arrangements made by the Port Sanitary Authorities and the efficiency of its
administration under Dr. Collingridge, the medical officer of health of the port, excluded from Loudon
cases of cholera and persons who had been exposed to cholera infection.
Dr. Collingridge's report gives account of 22 vessels which had arrived in the Thames between
the 25th August and the 19th October on all of which cases of cholera (one doubtful case) had occurred
during the voyage. Of these vessels 14 came from Hamburg, 4 from Antwerp and 1 each from
Terneuzen, Narva, Tripoli and Odessa.
The action taken by the various authorities with a view to dealing with a possible outbreak of
cholera, so far as it can be gathered from the annual reports of the medical officers of health, was as
follows —
Kensington.—Five thousand copies of a leaflet entitled "Precautions against Cholera," were
distributed in the parish. Six assistant sanitary inspectors were appointed for a period of four weeks,
with a view to making house to house visitation in the poorer districts, and they made during their period
of office 1,500 inspections and served 1,868 " written intimations " of nuisances.
St. George, Hanover-square.—The parish was divided into sub-districts, and arrangements were
made with medical men for attendance on cases in each sub-district, and with chemists for the supply of
medicines.
Westminster.—The report states that active measures were taken.
Marylebone.—Four additional inspectors were temporarily appointed, arrangements were made
with medical men to undertake the treatment of patients should need arise, and with chemists to supply
medicines. The endeavour to provide suitable places for " refuges," proved unsuccessful.
Hampstead.—Two additional inspectors were appointed for 12 mouths, a circular was printed
and distributed. The medical officer of health reported as to the division of the parish into districts,
and as to the provision of hospital accommodation and of places of refuge.
St. Pancras.—Circulars dealing with cholera precautions and setting forth the addresses of district
medical attendants and chemists and of ambulance stations and hospitals for the various districts were
prepared and freely circulated.
Islington.—The Public Health Committee had under consideration the question of preparations
to meet, a possible outbreak of cholera.
Hackney.—Two extra sanitary inspectors were temporarily employed. A circular giving rules
for the prevention of choleraic or summer diarrhœa was drawn up and distributed. A house suitable
for use as a refuge was found and a scheme of medical house to house visitation and treatment
was suggested.
St.. Giles.— Arrangements were made for utilising a common lodging-house as a hospital; a refuge
was provided. Arrangements for medic il visitation, nurses for the sick, the supply of medicines and
the removal of the dead were made. A " general sanitary notice " was issued.
St. Martin-in-the-Fields.—A special vigilance committee was appointed and inquiry was made
as to the hospital accommodation available.
Strand.—Arrangements for the burial of the dead were made and the question of providing
" houses of refuge " was discussed.
Holborn.—The medical officer of health recommended the appointment of a medical visitor to
watch new arrivals in the Italian quarter coming from infected ports. He moreover obtained a promise
of nursing assistance.
Clerkenwell.—Arrangements for medical visitation were made, and in association with the
Holborn Board a special inspection was made of the Italian quarter.
St. Luke.— It was resolved to appoint three medical visitors and to provide refuges, and a notice
was drawn up and circulated.
Whitechapel.—A division into sub-districts was made; and preparations were made to use some
cottages either as hospitals or as refuges.
St. George-in-the-East.—A handbill was distributed, arrangements for medical visitation were
considered, and negotiations for the provision of a shelter and a temporary hospital were entered into.
Limehouse.—A summary of the precautions deemed desirable by the medical officer of health
was prepared and circulated in the district.
Mile-end Old-town. — The medical officer of health reported on the subject to the sanitary committee
and was authorised to take such steps as might be deemed advisable.
Poplar, South.—Reference is made to the rules laid down in 1884 for the guidance of sanitary
inspectors and nurses, and to the nursing arrangements made in 1882, which would be applicable in case
of emergency.
Poplar, North.—The inspectors were instructed to visit certain premises, and the frequent disinfection
of gutters, &c., was recommended.
St. Saviour.—The London County Council were asked to grant the use of a disused fire station
as a hospital, 10,000 handbills were printed and circulated, and the medical officer of health was
authorised to make certain arrangements in case of need.
St. George-the-Martyr.—The medical officer of health urged upon the vestry the desirability of
frequent and periodical inspection of cisterns.
St. Olave.—An inspection with a view to ascertaining the mode of water distribution was made,
and as result 252 recommendations were addressed calling attention to defects ascertained.
Bermondsey.—From the annual report of the vestry it appears that a meeting of medical