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49
European States. In view of the circumstances of the case,
and of the fact that "rags are imported and large numbers
of emigrants are brought to this country by ships from the
Baltic or North Sea ports," the Local Government Board on
11th August, issued a further order prescribing regulations
forbidding the landing in any port or place in England or
Wales of rags, bedding, or disused or filthy clothing, whether
belonging to emigrants or otherwise, from any foreign port of
Europe, north of Dunkirk, other than ports of Norway,
Sweden and Denmark. Such articles, if landed and not exported,
were to be déstroyed with proper precautions, and
the Order defined the duties of Sanitary Authorities and their
Officials in regard to the matters dealt with.
Cholera, which at the time was thought to be still far
distant from the Western parts of the Continent, made its
appearance with startling suddenness not long afterwards at
Hamburg, where its ravages were formidable, some 18,000
cases and 7,600 deaths having been reported in the course of
the seven weeks over which the epidemic extended. Cases
occurred in other ports having more or less free communication
with this country, and a few cases were brought to our
shores. Happily, there was no extension of the disease, the
Local Government Board and the several Port Sanitary
Authorities having made all necessary preparations with a
view to the isolation and treatment of imported cases. The
Board, moreover, issued a variety of circular letters, Memoranda
and Orders, for the guidance and instruction of Sanitary
Authorities and their Officers, all of which were regularly reproduced
for general information in the leading newspapers. The
first "Circular to Sanitary Authorities in the Metropolis,"
dated 25th August, intimated that the Board were considering
"the question of the measures of a precautionary character
which should be adopted in view of the possible introduction
of the disease into London," but did not, at that time, "propose
to issue Regulations which would impose on
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