§ Sir Richard Vyvyanbegged to ask the right hon. Gentleman, the Vice-President of the Board of Trade, whether any communications had been received from the Board of Health relating to the quarantine establishment? That Board was composed of persons illustrious for their knowledge and acquirements, but he feared their time was too much occupied by their own avocations, to allow them sufficient leisure to attend to the progress of that dreadful disease which was daily approaching nearer to us.
§ Mr. Poulett Thomsonstated, that the Board of Health had devoted a great deal of attention to the subject of the Cholera Morbus, and he believed that their labours would be found beneficial to the country. The Board had received instructions to draw up a statement of the precautions most proper to be employed, in order to prevent the approach of the disease, and that statement would be published in the Gazette, and circulated through every town and village along the shore opposite infected places. He hoped that gentlemen who resided along the southern and eastern coast, but particularly the latter, would endeavour, by every means in their power, to explain to the poor people, who are usually engaged in smuggling transactions, the dreadful risk to which they exposed the whole community, and themselves in particular.
Mr. Warburtonsaid, that he should have been better satisfied to have heard from the right hon. Gentleman, that Government had themselves adopted the most effectual means for preventing surreptitious intercourse with the countries where the disease was raging. He thought that some commercial men might be added to the Board of Health with great advantage.
Mr. Cutlar Fergussonthought that all intercourse ought, at whatever risk, to be suspended between this country and Hamburgh. With respect to the Board of Health, he hoped that some of the members of that board would be persons who had possessed opportunities of witnessing the progress of the disease in foreign countries. There were many individuals in this country who had witnessed the progress of the Cholera in India. Amongst this number was Dr. Russell, who had been despatched to St. Petersburg to obtain information respecting that formidable disease. He understood that Dr. Russell had returned to this country, and if that were the case, he hoped that his talents and experience would be put in requisition.
§ Mr. Poulett Thomsonbegged to assure the House that Government had already made every exertion in its power to prevent smuggling with the places where the Cholera was raging. Fresh hands had been employed along the coast where they had been found necessary. The Board of Health was composed of medical men, and other persons best qualified for the task which they would have to execute. Dr. Russell had not yet returned to this country. When he should return he would be added to the Board.
§ Mr. George Robinsonbegged to direct the attention of Ministers to the fact, that the number of deaths varied considerably in different places. He thought the Board ought to endeavour to ascertain whether this variation was attributable to difference of treatment, or to different local circumstances.
§ Mr. Leadersaid, the introduction of such a disease into Ireland, must be looked at with the greatest apprehensions, for it would prove especially dangerous to a population already in a morbid state.
Mr. Humethought that this was a matter of the highest importance. A board should be constituted in which some of the members could devote their whole time and attention to the duties of it. He would much rather have a board composed of quarter-masters, who were accustomed to organization, and would devote their whole time to the public service, than of medical men. He thought that all our spare cruisers should be employed in stopping the contraband trade. As to expense it was quite out of the question in an affair of such moment.