London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Kensington 1892

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington]

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50
the Sanitary Authorities the duty of making arrangements
the character of which was indicated for the prevention and
treatment of Cholera." Reference was made to the duties
which would devolve on the Metropolitan Asylums Board and
the Sanitary Authorities respectively, under the regulations,
and a copy of a letter addressed by the Board to the Managers
was enclosed for the information of your Vestry. The Board
also issued, under date 26th August, two important papers,
signed by their Medical Officer, entitled respectively, "General
Memorandum on the Proceedings which are advisable in
Places attacked or threatened by Epidemic Disease," and
"Precautions against the Infection of Cholera." It is almost
needless to say that these documents embodied valuable information
and advice. Arrangements, moreover, were made
under an Order of the Board to secure the despatch of information
to local Medical Officers of Health by the Port Sanitary
Authority, in respect of passengers arriving from infected
places, so that they might be kept under observation, in view
of the possible development of Cholera after arrival at their
destination in this country. Provision was made for the detention
of suspected persons; for the isolation in hospital at
the port of entry of sick persons, and for the disinfection of
ships. Quarantine of persons, other than the sick or the suspected,
is not attempted, experience having shown its inutility;
and the more humane treatment of immigrants adopted in
this country, having been proved to afford all necessary protection
in respect of Cholera, which is not an infectious disease in
the same sense as small-pox and scarlet fever are infectious. The
Local Government Board, moreover, placed themselves in
communication with the Royal College of Physicians on the
subject of Cholera, the specific request made being that the
President should communicate to the Board "prescriptions as
to the remedies which the College might think most suited to
the requirements in view." The President summoned a
meeting of the Council, and was authorised to forward to the
Board a valuable report which he had prepared, containing