Dr. Sutherland's report on the outbreak of cholera, in the workhouse of the Taunton Union; and the reply of the Board of Guardians. 1849.

  • Sutherland, John, 1808-1891.
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dr. Sutherland's report on the outbreak of cholera, in the workhouse of the Taunton Union; and the reply of the Board of Guardians. 1849. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    6 pressed in evidence by Mr. Foster, the medical officer to the establish¬ ment, on the general results of this state of things is as follows :— “ On visiting the wards at night has found them close and offensive and has repeatedly complained of the windows being shut. The ventila¬ tion is bad. Considers that, even with the reduced population which ex¬ isted in the wards lately, the space was not above two-thirds of what was requisite for safety. “ The house is liable to offensive smells from the water closets, especially in the sick ward. It has been represented to the Guardians, but nothing has been done. Considers the present sick wards are not at all fit for sick, more especially for pulmonary disease, the windows opening imme¬ diately over the heads of the beds. The rooms are low, and the ceiling close against the tiles. Ventilation cannot be obtained.” In these sick wards the cholera cases were being treated, and the ac¬ count given by Mr. Foster will show their utter inadequacy for the in¬ tended purpose. Provision is being made for the future treatment of the Workhouse sick in a separate infirmary, just completed, in which most of the vicious construction of the Workhouse has been rigidly copied. After making every reasonable allowance for the terror and confusion which the frightful outbreak of the disease occasioned, the inmates of the Workhouse bore unequivocal marks of filthy habits, which must be enu¬ merated among the predisposing causes of cholera. Complaints were made to me of the impossibility of making the people keep themselves clean. This I would readily admit, but a prior question suggests itself; to wit, are there sufficient means of cleanliness provided ? I answer unhesitat¬ ingly that there are not. A few washing troughs are provided in the yards for those who choose to use them. They are like a manger in size and form, and are made of metal. A pipe supplies water, but in the two troughs I saw there were no means of preventing its running out. There were no plugs, and I was told that the people had to use tubs for washing in. Mr. Foster says :— “ There are no baths for the purposes of cleanliness. Those who enter the house are washed all over before admission. Tramps for the night are not so. The people are generally of dirty habits, and cannot be kept clean. There are no washhand basins for the inmates; there are none in the sick wards to my knowledge. ‘‘ Has often seen the sick washing themselves in the chamber pots. The paupers wash in a long trough. They are supplied with towels, but not with soap, to my knowledge.” To complain of paupers being filthy in their habits, under such man¬ agement, is simply absurd. On examining into the water supply, I found that it was obtained from a well in one of the yards. The first specimen brought to me for ex¬ amination presented a slight opalescent appearance, and under the mi¬ croscope gave unequivocal evidence of the presence of organic matter. I represented this fact to the Guardians; but it appears to have been accidental, as other specimens examined next day were quite clear. I now come to a most important part of the enquiry, namely, the subject of Diet, Mr. Foster states that on the occurrence of epidemic disease in the Work-house, the dietary on two separate occasions was altered at his