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would have been found in better case than in any previous
epidemic, had cholera unhappily reached our shores.
The design in these proposed arrangements was to constitute
the Managers a first line of defence, only, for instant
action on the appearance of the disease; for it was distinctly
intimated that they would not undertake the exclusive
provision of hospitals, and the Local Government Board
clearly laid it down that the course the Managers were
prepared to adopt, would in no way absolve the sanitary
authorities from the duty imposed on them by the Diseases
Prevention Act, 1855, should it become necessary by "Order"
to put in force the provisions of that Act. In other words
the Vestries and District Boards would have had to provide
hospitals for the sick in their several districts, as well as
places of refuge for the as yet unattacked inmates of infected
houses, when the sick could not be removed to hospital,
whether from the gravity of the illness, or owing to the
want of accommodation within one mile, which is held
to be the furthest distance to which a cholera patient
can be properly removed. The regulations issued by the
Board in 1866, it may be remembered, imposed on the
Vestries, as "local authorities," the duty of making arrangements
for the prevention and treatment of the disease,
including the medical visitation of poorer houses for the
purpose of detecting cholera and diarrhœa, the supply of
medical attendance and nursing, and of medicines and
disinfectants. The expenses incurred by the Managers form
a charge upon the Metropolitan Common Poor Fund.
[Addendum, July, 1884. Asiatic Cholera broke out at
Toulon, France, in June, and shortly afterwards appeared at
Marseilles. In view of the probability of the disease being
conveyed to this country, the Local Government Board,
(under date, July 8th), forwarded for the information of
your Vestry, as sanitary authority, copies of a Memorandum
prepared by their Medical Officer, on the "precautions to
be taken against the infection of Cholera." The