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57
The Vestry immediately referred the subject to
the Sanitary Committee for consideration and
report, with instructions to issue to every family in
the parish a handbill of precautions in view of the
possible outbreak of Cholera in the district. A few
days afterwards the Vestry received a letter from
the Post Office Authorities, enquiring if they would
undertake the disinfection and, if necessary, the
destruction of parcels received from abroad by
Parcels Post, and suspected of containing infected
matter. The Vestry at once undertook to do the
work to the extent of their ability at a charge of
6s. for each time the apparatus is used. Other
precautions taken by them were the flushing of all
courts at least once weekly; an arrangement with
the New River Company for the supply of pure
water from standposts, should it be deemed desirable
in particular cases; and the appointment of five
medical men, residing in different parts of the main
parish, and of one in the detached portion, to
undertake the special care of Cholera patients.
They also met representatives of the Holborn
District Board of Works with the view to taking
concurrent action in regard to the parts of the
respective parishes inhabited by the Italian colony,
and this area was agreed to be within the following
boundaries:—Mount Pleasant, Farringdon Road,
Clerkenwell Road, and Laystall Street. The Joint
Committee agreed that it was desirable that a
house to house inspection of this area should be
again made by the Sanitary Inspectors, who should
be instructed to insist upon an air space of 300 feet
per person for rooms used for sleeping only, and of
350 feet for rooms used for both living and sleeping.
The Inspectors were further instructed to report
to each other as far as possible cases of removal
of infected persons from one parish to another.