§ Sir Richard Vyvyanwished to put a question to the Vice-President of the Board of Trade, on the subject of the Cholera Morbus. It was known that this fatal disorder had appeared at Hamburgh, within thirty-six hours' voyage by steam to this country, and he was desirous of learning whether Government 899 had received any official information of that circumstance? and whether, as the disease had now only to cross the German Ocean, any additional measures of quarantine had been taken against it? It seemed an unfortunate mistake, that the violence of the Cholera Morbus was attenuated by crossing the sea; and it was known, that when it was conveyed from Calcutta to Mauritius and the Isle of France, it was felt in those islands with the greatest severity. There was every reason to fear that it would make its appearance in this country; and if so, he hoped steps would be taken to isolate places infected, so as to prevent the spreading of the disorder. He had adverted to the subject prior to the prorogation, in hopes that the attention of the people would be directed to it. They would themselves be the best guardians and conservators of the public health; and ought, immediately a place was attacked, to insist that a circle should be drawn round it.
§ Mr. Poulett Thomsonsaid, in reply to the question asked by the hon. Baronet, that in the course of last week, the Government had received information, though not of an official character, that the Cholera Morbus had reached Hamburgh. Immediately on the receipt of this intelligence, the Government issued orders inforcing a more strict quarantine with respect to all vessels coming from Hamburgh, and had directed further precautionary measures to be taken with regard to vessels coming from any part of the coast lying between the north of Denmark and Rotterdam. All vessels arriving either from Hamburgh, or from any port within the district he had just described, would be subjected to new regulations. In addition to this, the Government had thought it adviseable to call public attention to the subject, and had recommended the different authorities in the country, both lay and ecclesiastical, to use all the means in their power to keep the disease out of their respective districts, or, should it appear, to prevent its spreading. He perfectly agreed in the observations which had fallen from the hon. Baronet with respect to the nature of the disease. From all the accounts which he had received, it appeared to him quite ridiculous to suppose that the nature of the Cholera Morbus was much affected by a sea passage. We had hitherto been able to keep this dreadful disease entirely out of the 900 country by the employment of precautionary measures, and he trusted that we should be able to do so for the future; though the disease undoubtedly became more formidable as it approached those shores with which this country was in the habit, of frequent communication. Should, in any instance the disease be introduced, it would depend, in a great measure, on the exertions of the people themselves on its first appearance to check its progress. The recommendations, which he had already stated the Government had issued to the different authorities in the country, contained a statement of those precautionary measures which Government thought it desirable should be taken, and he had no doubt that if they were carried strictly into effect, they would, if the disease should unfortunately appear in this country, check its progress, if not entirely confine it to the place of its first appearance.
Mr. Warburtonsaid, that there were no precautionary measures, not even the establishment of a coast guard, to which he should object, for the purpose of keeping this dreadful disease out of the country. Its effect was more calamitous than that of war itself, and they were bound to do all which human wisdom prescribed to preserve the country from its ravages. He suggested that a cordon should be drawn round those districts where the disease should break out.
Mr. Humeasked whether there was any medical person at Hamburgh, appointed by Government to watch the disease, and make a report on its peculiar nature?
§ Mr. Poulett Thomsonsaid, that when the Cholera Morbus broke out in Russia, Government despatched two medical men to Petersburgh, for the purpose of inquiring into the nature of that disease. Those gentlemen had left Petersburgh, and had arrived at Hamburgh, and would forward any information they were able to obtain connected with the disease, to the Government at home. He thought it a most fortunate circumstance that those gentlemen were able, by their accidental presence at Hamburgh, to report to Government the progress of the disease in that place. He had as yet received no information of their having reached Hamburgh, but in all probability they had arrived there by this time.
§ Mr. Trevorsaid, he had received communications from Northumberland, expressing 901 considerable alarm on the subject of the Cholera Morbus.
§ Sir Richard Vyvyansuggested to the right hon. Gentleman opposite whether, as all persons coming from Hamburgh must perform quarantine, it would not be adviseable to put an entire stop to the steam navigation.
§ Mr. Poulett Thomsonthought that that object could be effected of itself, without any official regulations on the subject.
§ Sir Richard Vyvyanobserved, that a vessel after remaining twenty-one days in quarantine, had worked its way up to London and discharged a cargo of rags. He thought that if there had been any infection in the rags, it could not have been got rid of in the course of twenty-one days.
§ Mr. Poulett Thomsonsaid, that the importation of rags coining from infected places, was now prohibited.
§ Mr. Huntadvised the Government to take the duty off soap. The poor classes would then be able to keep themselves clean; and cleanliness would be found the best preventive of Cholera Morbus.