View report page

20
The vestry formed a permanent Committee.
Two additional Inspectors of Nuisances were appointed.
The Parish was divided into districts to which a Medical Visitor was appointed; this
officer for the time, was empowered to attend gratuitously every case he was called to in his
district; to order suitable nourishment and comforts, to examine the sanitary state of the
place, and if necessary, to report thereon to the Medical Officer of Health; in fact to act in
conformity with the regulations of the Privy Council.
A proper supply of disinfectants was deposited under the care of the Chief Inspector of
Nuisances, which were liberally supplied to those who required them.
The Yestry also determined that any person could be gratuitously supplied with a bottle
of medicine, according to the Prescription of the Medical Officer of Health, from a druggist
in the locality in which he resided, who was authorized to dispense it.
It is difficult to say to what an extent these measures limited the disease, but happily
Cholera passed over this Parish with great mildness; the first death registered was on July 14,
1866, and the last, October 14; during the interval, 21 deaths took place.

The above-named cases occurred chiefly among the very poor; only two adult persons
were above the rank of labourers, and the parents of the children were poor and lived in places
where epidemic diseases are nourished and propagated.
Locality.— One (the first case), took place in Maria-terrace, Potherhithe New-road; four
in Commercial-street, four in St. Mary's-buildings, three in Frederick-place, one in Unionroad,
one in Hanover-street, one in Prospect-place, one in York-cottages, one in Lower Queenstreet,
one in Swan-lane, one in John's-place, one in Russell-street, and one in the Workhouse;
thus it will appear that Cholera did not exist in any particular locality, but was diffused over
the Parish.
I he deaths arising from Diarrhoea were eighteen, sixteen being under two years of age.
Lighteen deaths were occasioned by Small-pox, sixteen being below ten years of age;
some of these cases had not been vaccinated, but it was not possible to ascertain how many.
The performance of sanitary work has exceeded that of the former year, 158 notices have
been served for the removal of nuisances; these consisted of defective drainage, offensive
accumulations of manure, foul collections of fluid matter, pigs, &c. In some cases houses have
been so dilapidated and filthy, as to require interference; in almost all cases inspected by
Mr. Sanders and myself, we have not been considered intruders, and the necessary work has
been done without having recourse to stronger measures than serving a notice; in one instance,