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in other great cities and towns on the Continent, it is absolutely necessary
for the safety of the public that, instead of spasmodic efforts being made
through fear, when a severe epidemic arrives, a repeated inspection of all
the poor localities should at all times be carried out, so that the nuisances
which are so frequently recurring may be promptly removed. Here, I
would remark, that a uniform system of inspection of all the houses in
the several districts in London, which are let out in separate tenements,
should be repeatedly and systematically adopted; for if all the Vestries
and local Boards do not act together in this important matter, hot-beds of
epidemic diseases will remain undiscovered, which will serve as centres from
whence such diseases may emanate, and extend over the entire Metropolis.
The whole population of London, therefore, is interested in the prompt
removal of nuisances. As a further precaution against the anticipated
advent of Cholera, I suggested that certain sewers which were offensive
should be cleansed under the direction of the Surveyor, and the Board gave
instructions to that effect.
From a return furnished to mo by Mr. Mundy, it appears that several
of the small sewers were flushed, that the deposit was removed from 9 of
the large sewers, of which 3 were main sewers, and that a great many of
the Courts were flushed; all of which operations, I believe, were attended
with benefit to the public health. I may add that the flushing operations
of sewers is still being continued.
It is true that the Cholera has not this year taken its usual course in
its progress from the East towards Europe. On former occasions, it
travelled Northwards through Russia, and it then took a South-westerly
course, and attacked the cities and towns on the Baltic, from whence it
came to England and commenced its ravages in the towns situated on the
North-eastern Coast, from whence it soon spread to Edinburgh and to
London, and subsequently it attacked the City of Paris; whereas, on this
occasion, it has travelled from the East along the shores of the Mediterranean,
attacked the inhabitants of Marseilles and Toulon, and then made
its appearance in Paris. We have, therefore, some reason to hope that we
may escape its ravages, for although several cases of Cholera have appeared
in Southampton, also in a village near Epping, and at Woolwich, yet it has
not visited the Metropolis in the form of an epidemic. We do not, however,
feel secure against its attacking the population of London. The
Epidemic may fall upon us without any further warning, and it behoves
us to take such preventive measures against its obtaining a footing here
as science and experience have pointed out. If we wait until the disease
commences its ravages, our preventive measures against its spreading will be
hastily adopted and imperfectly carried out, and the Government may
interfere and do for us what we ought to have done for ourselves. We
have now a staff of officers; and it is only necessary to keep up its
efficiency so that the sanitary state of the district may be continually
brought to your notice. By the aid of an additional inspector, we have