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37
Extract from Medical Officer's Fortnightly Report, read
April 21st, 1858.
On the 25th of February last, I received from one of the
Physicians to the London Fever Hospital a letter, informing me
that between June and September of last year, no fewer than
six policemen labouring under Typhoid Fever had been received
into that institution from the Peckham Police Station; and, at
the same time, enquiring if it were possible to discover what
could be the cause of the remarkable unhealthiness of the men
liviug in that place. In consequence of this communication, I
paid several visits to the station, and ascertained not only that
fever had been prevalent, but that severe diarrhoea was a common
complaint among those coming to reside there for the first time,
and that cholera had appeared there during both of the late
visitations. I ascertained also, that decidedly offensive smells
were frequently perceived in a room on the ground floor, in which
the policemen usually sit when off duty, and take their meals ; and
that these smells had been in existence, off and on, for years.
I found at the same time that there was a properly constructed
water closet within the house, contiguous to the room
alluded to. I was told that the drainage of the premises was
perfect, that every water closet communicated with the sewer,
that every drain was trapped; moreover, that all these matters
had been thoroughly investigated, and all necessary improvements
D