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31
At the same time, handbills and placards were posted
throughout the district, stating who the Medical Visitors were,
the localities of the Dispensaries, with precautionary advice.
The urinals were flushed daily; the gullies covered with
disinfectants; the common privies in the courts where the
disease prevailed were also disinfected.
On application, the New River Company kindly supplied
the most populous courts with water on Sundays. The public
pumps were locked.
Of disinfectants, 42 cwt. 3 qrs. of Chloride of Lime; 40
gallons of Carbolic Acid; and half a ton of Mc Dougall's Powder
were consumed in the Parish.
Arrangements were made with the authorities of the
Royal Free Hospital to receive, at a fixed sum, cases of Cholera
which might be sent to them from the worst courts or
dwellings; and several were sent. Some were also sent to
St. Bartholomew's Hospital. A special conveyance was engaged
to be kept for the transport of patients to these hospitals. An
undertaker was appointed to remove and bury immediately the
corpses of those whose means were insufficient for the purpose.
When a patient had died, in addition to the cleansing and
disinfecting of the apartments, the clothes, bedding, &c., were
examined, and those which were soiled, or had been near the
body, were destroyed; the Sanitary Committee replacing them,
either by money or material.
In several cases the beds were burnt in the public streets,
saltpetre being sprinkled upon them to aid combustion, and to
destroy contagious matter. Later in the course of the epidemic,
the beds, &c., to be burnt were conveyed in a truck to the
furnace of a large iron foundry, and burnt after the workmen
had left the premises.
At the meetings of the Sanitary Committee the state of
prevalence of the Cholera in the district was considered; the
Medical Visitors attending and reporting cases and nuisances;
and the Medical Officer and the Inspectors reported upon the
progress of the removal of nuisances, &c. At these meetings
also, the Sanitary Committee decided upon the replacement of
the beds, &c., destroyed; unless in cases of emergency, when
this was done by the Vestry Clerk.