London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Paddington 1865

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington]

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20
water, alvine disorders prevailed almost universally;
but on the 26th of June, although the
weather was much warmer, no case of diarrhoea
existed in 85 boats then lying in the Basin,
occupied by 187 persons, including 42 children.
As however it was evident to the Vestry that
although the offensiveness of the water had been
somewhat diminished, the evils so long complained
of were likely to recur, and moreover that the
Directors had complied with only one of their
requirements, and that in a partial manner, it was
resolved to instruct the Vestry Solicitor to take the
opinion of Counsel as to the best mode of
proceeding; and a Sub-Committee was appointed
to co-operate with him in the matter. Acting on
the advice given by Counsel, the Sub-Committee
recommended that at the first moment that the
Canal Basin should become unusually impure, the
Vestry should at once proceed to indict the
Company for the nuisance permitted by them
therein. While these measures were in progress,
several Memorials were received, relating either to
the noxious state of the Basin itself, or to the
nuisances connected with it. One of these was
signed by the most influential traders on the
Basin; another by the Governors of St. Mary's
Hospital. In the latter, which was addressed to
the Lords of Her Majesty's Privy Council, and by
them referred to the Vestry, it was alleged that the