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ments was to constitute the Board a first line of defence for
instant action on the appearance of Cholera; for it had been intimated
that the Managers would not undertake the exclusive
provision of hospitals, and the Local Government Board had
clearly laid it down that the course the Managers were prepared
with their sanction to adopt in 1883, would in no way absolve the
Sanitary Authorities from the duty imposed on them by the
Diseases Prevention Act, 1855, should it become necessary for
the Board by "Order" to put in force the provisions of that Act.
In other words, should Cholera appear, the Vestries and District
Boards would have to provide hospitals for the sick in their
several districts, as well as places of refuge for the healthy inmates
of infected houses—when the sick in them could not be
removed to hospital, whether from the severity of their 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 transported. The regulations issued by the Board in
1866, 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 diarrhoea and the supply of
medical attendance and nursing and of medicine and disinfectants.
The Medical Officer to the Local Government Board (Dr.
George Buchanan, F.R.S.) explained that his object in desiring
to have the advice of the Medical Officers of Health was to avoid
fuss and panic. He stated the views and practice of the department.
No confidence was reposed in quarantine, but much in the
practice of medical inspection through the officers of the several
Port Sanitary Authorities. The duties of those authorities were
defined by the Board's Order of 1883. A vessel coming from an
infected country was required to anchor where ordered until
inspected. If found healthy the passengers were allowed to go
free. If any on board were sick they were detained, the healthy
being allowed to depart, their several destinations being recorded,
and the vessel was disinfected. The Board had been looking to
the defences of the principal Ports, by inspections made in 1883-4.