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88
Cholera Contacts,
Some apprehension was felt that owing to the general
diffusion of cholera in certain parts abroad, the disease might
be introduced into this country. Accordingly, the Medical
Officers of the different English ports have ascertained the
addresses of each passenger arriving from an infected port,
and these addresses have been duly forwarded to the
Medical Officers of Health for the several districts. A
considerable number of Russians, Poles, and others with
German names, have given addresses in East Marylebone.
Of 14 such addresses no less than 7 could not be verified,
although every effort was made by the sanitary staff to do so.
One cannot help coming to the conclusion that in most of
these cases a fictitious address was designedly given. The
system would be excellent if in practice it could he carried
out, but as it is, the most undesirable aliens and those most
likely to import cholera, are the very persons who, on
landing, disappear from all official control. This year the
climatic conditions have, fortunately, been unfavourable for
the propagation of cholera ; had it been otherwise, localised
outbreaks would probably have occurred of greater or less
extent according to environment. The reason for taking the
address and verification of the same is that the contact may
be visited, and the state of health observed; it is obvious that
when no visit can be paid owing to a false address the whole
object of the elaborate system fails of attainment. This
being a matter of national concern, some better system of
control will have to be devised.
Prosecutions under the Public Health Act
The owner of the Clifton Hotel, Clifton Hill, was summoned
for neglecting to replace defective drains by new
drains. The summons was adjourned by consent for one
month, and the work at the present time is practically
complete.
The owner of No. 22, Little North Street was summoned
for a similar offence, and an order obtained to do the work
within 28 days, with one guinea costs.