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147
the supply of water so far met the requirements as to remove
serious cause for complaint.
Nuisances.
Allusion has already been made to the powers
vested by Parliament in the hands of specially
constituted Commissioners for the suppression of common
nuisances caused by obstruction of the highways. Such
offences against the commonwealth as affect the public
health will only, therefore, be noticed here. A cursory
glanceat some of thestatutes will at onceshowthe importance
attached by Parliament to these matters. An Act passed
in 1603 (1 James I cap. 31) aimed at preventing the spread
of infectious disease. It provided that "if any affected
with the plague or dwelling in any infected house be commanded
by the Mayor or Constable or other head officer of
his town or vill to keep his house and shall venture to
disobey such command he shall be enforced by the watch,
men appointed on all such melancholy occasions to obey
such necessary command; and if any hurt ensue by such
enforcement the watchmen are indemnified." And if any
person so commanded went abroad or conversed in company,
having no plague sore upon him, he was liable to be
punished as a vagabond by whipping and to be bound to
his good behaviour; if he had any infectious disease uncured
upon him at the time of such going abroad, he was
to be punishable as a felon. The law in this direction was
amended and extended in 1753, 1755, and 1788.
Twenty years before the great plague the Vestry of
Westminster had recognised the importance of the isolation
of persons suffering from infectious diseases:—
At a Vestrie holden the 24th day of July 1642 It was ordered that
the Churchwardens shall forthwith proceed to build tenne
roomes in Tuthill feilds for Pesthouses neere the Shedde now
there with Garrettes over the same according to a plott (plan)
in that behalfe made of Tenne houses in Rainge.
Notwithstanding the powers with which the constables
were armed in respect to nuisances, the Vestry were frequently
called upon, for the protection of the public, to
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