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vii
Information was easily obtainable of the number of new cases attended
by the Parochial Surgeons, but it was not so as regards cases occurring in
private families; and it was found utterly impracticable to get an exact
knowledge of such cases, as, in some instances, no medical man attended,
and in others the medical men would not make a return, although stamped
forms were supplied to them for the purpose. We, however, obtained some
returns from private medical men, some from the Clergy and Sisters
of Charity; and the number of cases brought under our notice were—in
W. W. Burrows' District, 1258; J. Lapworth's, 755; J. W. Burrows',
456; total, 2469. All these cases were visited several times by the
Sanitary staff, and disinfectants supplied where the patients were
poor. The number of supplies given was nearly 1700. In all cases
notices were served upon the owners to have the premises cleansed,
disinfected, &c. ; and as it was necessary that no delay should take place,
the Inspectors worked until very late hours, sometimes until 10 or 11 at
night.
The destruction of infected bedding was a most important matter, as
we had to guard against imposition on the one hand, and yet take care
that the disease did not extend by any neglect on our part. Nearly all
beds were seen by me, and the order for destruction given to W. W.
Burrows, under whose superintendence all beds were burned by a man
appointed for the purpose (J. Osborn). This duty was of a most repulsive
nature to those who had to carry it out, as well as to the persons living in
the neighbourhood where it was done. The first place used was the dust
yard in Tyssen Street, Brick Lane; but so great was the outcry against
it, that the Inspector had to desist. Then Mr. Mansfield kindly allowed
his yard in Digby Street to be used for the purpose; but here the
inhabitants rose up one night, and would have assailed the Inspector, if
the police had not been called in.
The number of beds destroyed was 198; palliasses, 12; mattresses, 7;
quantities of bedding, 37; and 57 lots of clothing were destroyed from
the house of the Sisters of Charity, in Thomas Street, Brick Lane. To
these ladies all honour is due, as they provided a Convalescent Home at
Ascot, and sent to it from our District numbers of persons of all ages and
sexes (paupers and others). The clothes they had on when they came to
the house in Thomas Street were destroyed, and others provided; the