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10
July, the powers of the Privy Council for the mitigation of
epidemic diseases by the Diseases' Prevention Act of 1865,
were put into operation.
"At Bromley-by-Bow fatal cases occurred in the first and
second weeks of July, and it rapidly spread through Poplar,
Bow, and Whitechapel, and 3,613 persons died in the east of
London in 6ix weeks. This great destniction of life occurred
in every district supplied by the Old Ford Reservoirs ot one
of the eight London companies." *
"Circumstantial evidence irresistibly bears out the fact that
polluted water was distributed over all the area ot extraordinary
mortality during a certain number of days, with the
same result as in previous epidemics."†
Cholera occurred in other parts of tho Metropolitan area,
but not to any great extent.
The freedom of the south of London from cholera during
the epidemic, as compared with other districts, is attributed
by Dr. Farr to improved water supply.
In Southwark, cholera raged in 1849 and 1804, when the
water supply was derived from an impure source.
Lambeth, which suffered severely in 1849, escaped comparatively
in 1854, the water supply having improved.
The prevalent opinion of medical men with reference to
the mode of the propagation of cholcra was supported by Mr.
Simon in an official memorandum issued in July, 1866. In
this document he assured the public that cholera was not contagious
in the same sense as small-pox and typhus fever, and
that there is little risk of the disease being communicated to
attendants or sick nurses, if proper and necessary precautions
are taken. the supported with the weight of his authority
the following doctrines:—
"That all matters which the patient discharges from the
stomach and bowels are infectious, but that these discharges
are not so dangerous when first discharged, but that when
undergoing decomposition they are very poisonous.
* Extracts Jrom reports on public health, Mr. Radcliffe, Dr. Faggc, &c.
+ Dr. Fair.