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55
proprietors were glad to receive instructions with
regard to any improvement for the benefit of their
workpeople.
In 1866, as had been anticipated, the Cholera
came. First, an unusual amount of Diarrhoea,
then true cases of Cholera. The epidemic spent
its strength in the East of London; but in Saint
James's, Westminster, we had eight deaths. No
time was lost in taking steps to meet the disease,
should it appear, and four medical men were appointed
to take charge of any persons suffering from
Diarrhoea and Cholera. Upwards of 1,300 cases,
chiefly Diarrhoea, were attended by these gentlemen.
In this year was passed the Sanitary Act, under
which much greater powers were given to the local
authorities to deal with nuisances injurious to
health.
In this Act power was given to the Vestries of
London to register and supervise common Lodging
Houses, and regulations were drawn up by your
Officers, and having been approved by the Home
Secretary, have been, to a greater or less extent,
acted on ever since. It was during 1867 that the
Sanitary Inspector measured the cubic space contained
in the dwelling rooms of the Berwick Street
District, and it was found that the district was so
largely over-populated, that at least 7,000 persons
must have been removed in order to give the cubic
space required by the Lodging-house regulations.
In 1867 an Act was passed entitled the "Workshop