Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St James's, Westminster]
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reference was made were the absence of all precaution against
disturbance on the part of the police, and their delay in
adopting active measures to quell the disorders; the feeling of
insecurity for the future that this circumstance had produced,
and the doubt that existed whether the law as it stood afforded
adequate measures for compensating the innocent sufferers
It was estimated that this loss, including property which was
stolen by the rioters, amounted to about £12,000
The Home Secretary (the Right Hon Hugh E C Childers)
expressed his sympathy with the sufferers, and stated that he
conceived it to be the first duty of the Government to protect
life and property As soon as public order had been restored
he had commenced an enquiry into the conduct of the police
on the occasion, and he assured both deputations that the
Government would take every means in their power to secure
order in the future As regards compensation, he would
bring that subject before his colleagues
A Bill was subsequently introduced into Parliament
providing for payment of compensation out of the Police
Hate
REMOVAL OF REPUTED LUNATICS TO ASYLUMS
The attention of the Vestry having been directed to certain
proceedings in the Courts of Law which seemed to point to a
necessity for more stringent regulations in the removal of
reputed lunatics to Asylums, and their subsequent detention
therein, the following resolution was passed:—
That a communication be addressed to the Prime Minister, asking
for an enquiry into the state of the law relating to the removal
of reputed lunatics to asylums, and into the administration
thereof, with a view to such reform in the law and procedure as
may appear necessary for protecting the liberty of the subject,
and preventing an unnecessary burden being cast upon the ratepayers
for the maintenance of persons improperly removed to
lunatic asylums