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to advise as to the best means to be adopted under the
circumstances. The question of the Hospital accommodation of the
non pauper infectious sick occupied the attention of the Committee
at nearly every meeting, and it was to its efforts that we are
indebted for the elaboration of the scheme which resulted in the
meeting of delegates from the Vestries and District Boards of the
Metropolis at Cannon Street Hotel on the 18th June, to consider
the question which has lately been so happily solved.
Among its other works, I may mention the erection of a second
disinfecting apparatus, the one already in existence having proved
hardly adequate to the strain of such a severe epidemic. An intelligent
and systematic inspection of all houses, especially those in the
infected localities, was undertaken by an extra Inspector, and
resulted in the collection of most valuable information.
Elizabeth Court, Brook Street, Ratcliff, was a place I was
always prepared to hear something bad of; the houses are built back
to back, with no through ventilation; they are very small, consisting
of only two rooms, and there was always something wrong
there. Patching up and remedying minor evils only deferred the
evil day, and I finally determined to ask your Board to take the
steps necessary for closing them until such works had been performed
as would render them fairly habitable. To my request you
acceded, and the Magistrate made the order for closing the houses.
The repairs were executed, and for a few weeks all went well, but
the place is getting into its old condition, and it will be my duty