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.

  • John Sutherland
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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    , While cholera was carrying off the inmates of the Workhouse, the town of Taunton was visited by diarrhoea ; but the Local board of Health in conjunction with the Board of Guardians, made such excellent regula¬ tions for the visitation of houses that not a single case of cholera took place in it. The county gaol, which is situated at the other extremity of the town, also escaped ; and it may be interesting to point out those contrasts which presented themselves to me on going over it. I found the sleeping cells having the following dimensions:— Feet. Height . 9 Length. 13 Breadth. 7 Superficial area. 91 Cubic contents for one orisoner. 819 cells in other parts of the building ;— Feet. Inches. Length. 10 6 Breadth. 8 6 Height. 8 6 Superficial area . 89 3 Cubic contents. 935 0 There is a corridor, having a common ventilation, with 71 cells. It is 30 feet high, 100 feet long, and 12 feet broad. A most perfect system of ventilation passes through every cell, and a temperature that hardly varies 3 degrees in the 24 hours is preserved. Each prisoner has the means of personal cleanliness. He has his water-closet, wash-hand basin and unlimited water supply. He has abundance of good diet, and clean¬ liness is strictly enforced. The following table of the sanitary state of the gaol, put in evidence by the Governor, Mr. Gane, will shew the result:— Years. Inmates. Infirmary cases. Deaths. 1842. . 840 ... .. 60 . .... 3 1843. . 1026 ... .. 60 . .... 2 1844 . . 1122 ... . . 35 . .... 1 1845. . 959 ... . 46 . ... 1 1846. . 821 ... .. 25 . .... 1 1847. . 973 ... . 18 . , 83 years **’* j of age. 1848. .... 1199 .. . 33. .... 2 It is a very striking fact, that while out of 276 unfortunate inmates of the Workhouse, no fewer than GO have been cut off within a week from cholera, there has not been a solitary case either of cholera or diarrhoea in the gaol. On reviewing all the facts of the case, this outbreak of cholera at Taunton must be considered as principally evidencing the truth of those principles contended for by the General Board of Health, by showing the fatal results arising from the neglect of the most obvious natural laws. (Signed) JOHN SUTHERLAND. London, 20th Nov., 1849.
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