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92
In the late summer and autumn months of 1892 and 1893 the
disease reached our shores. In 1892 it failed to extend to any
persons beyond those arriving in our midst from abroad, but last year
it led to a number of localised outbreaks, which, happily, were of
trivial extent compared with previous cholera visitations to this
country.
In those localities where cholera made some headway it was found
that there had been antecedent diarrhoea, generally quite excessive
in amount, often choleraic in type; the existence of this unusual
diarrhoea being only discovered when diarrhoea was under Section 7
of the Infectious Diseases (Notification) Act, 1889, added to the
diseases notifiable under that statute. But notification of diarrhoea
was rarely, if ever, adopted until after the advent of cholera, when
the information to be derived from it could not be utilised to prevent
that disease from gaining a footing whilst in its least recognisable
form.
Under these circumstances the Local Government Board have
thought it advisable to remind Sanitary Authorities that the utmost
vigilance should be exercised within their respective districts to
control any diarrhoea which may be suspicious either in character
or in amount during the present and forthcoming season, and, with a
view of facilitating action in this direction, the Board would give
favourable consideration to any applications that may be .addressed
to them for their approval to add diarrhoea to the list of notifiable
diseases until the termination of the current quarter. In making
any such application each Sanitary Authority will doubtless consider
how far it may be desirable, in the first instance at least, to limit
notification of diarrhoea to attacks occurring over one year of age.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
(Signed) HUGH OWEN,
Secretary
The Clerk to the Sanitary Authority.
This letter was considered at a meeting of the Board,
held on Tuesday, the 24th July, when it was ordered that,
pursuant to Section 56 of the Public Health (London) Act,
1891, with reference to the notification of infectious diseases,
shall, as from the 10th August until the 29th day of
September next, both days inclusive, apply in the district