The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-26 00:00:00

THE CHOLERA.

A retrospect of things done in connexion with the
epidemic that is now gradually passing away should
suggest useful inferences as to the conduct of the
future, and so secure to all classes the benefits of
prevention on a very extended scale. The vast
amount of good that has been derived during the
last three months from a system of house-to-
house visitation in most districts of the metropolis is
too palpable to need comment or argument in its fa-
vour. None can tell to what extent the epidemic has
been checked by this means, but it is an incontes-
tible fact that, if we have cured little, we have pre-
vented much cholera. There are, however, few, if
any, districts that show so many outward signs of
good effected from strict inspection as that com-
prised in our owngreat water-way. During the past
two months, the Thames, from London-liridge to
Woolwich (including the Regent's and City canals)
has been taken in hand by the Seamen's Hospital-
Society, and a ship-to-ship visitation has been and
is still going on between these points. Above 400
vessels are so visited daily, and medicines are given
in all cases of diarrhoea. It is difficult to calculate
precisely the number of individuals brought under
medical supervision, but the above numberof vessels
represents at least 1,800 persons of both sexes and
all ages. In the epidemics of 1849 and 1854 respec-
tively 250 cases of cholera were received by the
Dreadnought authorities. During the present epi-
demic but 73 cases have been entered on the books

of the Belleisle hospital ship, and three only have
come from those parts of the river visited by the
staff of the Seamen's Hospital Society. Other de-
tails might be given with reference to this salutary
work, but a sufficiency is here to indicate a large and
definite amount of preventive aid afforded. In thus,
however, Ehowing what has been recently effected,
we wish to show at the same time how emphatically
this success indicates a dire want, and exhibits a
glaring sanitary defect, in the governance of our
own port of London. The disposition of arrange-
ments by the Board of Health enjoins that the me-
dical officer in each district is to be deemed respon-
sible for the supervision of that portion of the river
flowing through such district, and to inspect all
floating habitations moored thereon. But such an
arrangement is utterly impossible of performance
when an epidemic is raging, and at ordinary times
it is no ill compliment to district medical offi-
cers to say that such a duty is entirely
foreign to their general scheme of work.
The Thames is ruled by a Conservancy Board, and
no interference with the administrative management
of that great highway for commerce is permitted to
the authorities of the parishes through which it flows.
This body have harbour-masters with their subor-
dinates, a body of police, and an inspector of nuis-
ances. The exertions of the last named individual
are confined to the duty of preventing the Thames
from being used as a convenient dustbin by its
floating denizens, and his work has no reference
whatever (except, perhaps, in a negative sense) to
the sanitary condition of the shipping. The Con-
servators are, as a body, rightly endowed by the
Legislature with great powers, having charge of
most important commercial interests. In due sup-
port of those interests it is right they should possess
and use the power to appoint a medical staff of
their own. The parishes around the river would so
be relieved of a charge in which they can have no
possible interest, the Thames Conservancy would
have the advice of a responsible sanitary officer, and
we are justified in affirming, with the above results
before us, that such an arrangement would largely
influence for good the port and its vast floating po-
pulation. Few landsmen can form any kind of idea
as to the unhealthy state in which that population
normally exists. Let them look well and they Will
learn much. The Conservators of the Thames
should be, as far as in them lies, also conservators
of the health of its people, and can now, with good
case, apply for powers to have their own district
under their own medical governance. Among our
many sanitary sins of omission few at present are
more patent than the non-existence of a medical
officer of health for the port of London.
The following is the official return of deaths in
London from cholera and diarrhoea registered on
Sunday and Monday, Sept. 23 and 24:
Cholera. Diarrhoea.
2 1
7* 3
8* 3•••

West districts
North districts ... ...
Central districts ~.
East districts
South districts

▪ 15
• 11

Total

... 43

* Three deaths from cholera, occurred in University Col-
lege Hospital, situated in the sub-district of Tottenham-
court-road; and three in the Shelton Hospital, situated in
the sub-district of North St. Giles.