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pared, and could only receive a small portion of the cases
occurring in Shoreditch, consequently many infected
persons remained in crowded dwellings, and the disease
spread rapidly, but as soon as the cases could be removed
and isolation enforced the disease progressively diminished,
and so rapidly that there could be little doubt that isolation,
to say the least, was one 01 the causes of the marked
decline.
In connection with that subject I may here mention that
a communication from the Limehouse District Board of
Works advocating that the Asylums should be available, not
only for the isolation of paupers, but for infected persons of
any class, was considered by the Sanitary Committee. The
committee concurred in that opinion, and in reply to a circular
from the Asylums Board, urged that the Board should
apply for requisite powers to enable them to provide
accommodation in cases of need, for the isolation of infected
persons, irrespective of class. The Sanitary Committee
stated that the Asylums Board, with its large experience
and organization, was best fitted to provide any additional
accommodation that might be required, and the committee
further supported the Stepney proposal because they knew
your Vestry would have great difficulty, and must probably
be unable to provide a hospital for non-paupers should an
epidemic occur severely in this parish.
DISINFECTION.—302 infected houses were disinfected; sulphur
fumigation, subsequent cleansing with carbolic acid and
water, and exposure to the open air (windows kept open)
being the means used.
The present disinfecting oven was brought into use in
January, 1877, and has worked satisfactorily. During the
year 185 beds, 105 mattrasses, 365 bolsters and pillows,
and 690 other articles, making a total of 1345, were
disinfected.