Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-17
SANITARY EFFORTS.
How Cooperation OF Citizens Saved . Lon.
don Parish From Cholera.

| How Cooperation OF Citizens Saved Lon.
don Parish From Cholera.
On the occasion Of the visitation Of the city
OF London by the cholera some twenty-eight
years ago various meetings OF clergy Of the
Church OF England were convened in that city
to hear suggestions and instructions from WELL
known sanitary authorities as to the help the
clergy might give in aiding the taking of pre-
cautions to keep out the cholera. or at least to
keep its ravages within some possible bounds in
their respective parishes.
At one of these meetings a young clergyman
was present who was much impressed with
what he heard. Going back to his own parish in
South London, with population Of 5000.
mostlv poor and altogether of the mechanic
class, he called some OF his workers together
that night and formed them into a committee
OF visitation. He pointed out how mportant
it was to remember the old adage which says
ut is better to lock the stable door before the
steed Is stoien," and therefore it better to
prevent the arrival of the cholera than to abate
its progress. As municipal authorities were
sure to move slowly it would be better to take
some steps imme distely, and he proposed the
next day that a visitation should be made to
the house of everybody who could contribute q
small sum toward the expense of sanitary
committee, which should make a visitation of
the whole parish in the interest OF sanitation.
the next evening considerable sum of money
had been raised in small amounts for the pur-
pose. OF the sanitary committee. The whole
parish was divided into small districts. Every
house was visited. the people were told friends
and neighbors had come to help them without
authority of police or inspectors to endsavor to
prevent the spread of cholera in their midst,
and asked that they might he allowed to visit
closets .privies ash heaps collections OF garbage.
&c, and remove the same. whi:ewashng all
outbuildings and using carbolic acid and other
dlslnfectants. Without single exception
every one allowed the work to be done even in
the very toughest districts. Quantities of disin-
fectants were kept at the parish building. where
any one could obtain supply. DC.
Orders for cholera medicines and diarrhpa
mixtures were widely distributed. Each drug
store authorized to supply gratis such
medicines to a parish;oner even without an
order.
The cost of the whole work about $3.50.
The people we're drawn closer together in bonds
of friendliness and self help. and long before
the municipal authorities had their appliances
ready for commencement the work in this
parish done.
What were the results? The whole parish
was not mile across in any one direction.
Within Its boundaries there was not a single
case of cholera during the whole visitation.
while just across its boundaries there were
many cases, the rector of the cieansed parish
being often called upon to minister to dying
people in the uncleansed district.
The names of the rector and parish are well
known to the writer of this article, which is
written with the sole hope that manv in this land
viii go and do l!hewise not wait till the scourge
Is here, but cleanse the house and keep cut the
danger.