“2. The state of the houses of the poor, as regards whitewashing, ventilation, and bedding.
“3. The providing common necessaries, and requisite medicines.
“4. The engaging (provisionally, so as to be able to enter it at a moment’s warning) a proper house, to be used as a hospital; or, otherwise, to arrange with adjoining parishes for a joint occupation of any such convenient building; so that the distance for the removal of the sick should be as small as possible.
“5. That two members of the board (to be arranged among themselves) do daily take the duty of superintending the due execution of the above regulations.
“6. That a subscription be forthwith entered into for the above purposes.
“7. That the Rev. W. I. Coppard be requested to act as treasurer and secretary.”
A subscription was immediately raised; and the measure, as far as it was practicable, was carried into effect under the superintendence of those gentlemen who were members of the committee, at the villages which were contiguous to their respective residences.
During the month of November, the poor who whitewashed their dwellings, in compliance with the recommendation of the committee, were paid for the time they had lost. Lime was conveyed to their houses, and delivered to them free of expense. If unable to use the whitewash themselves, masons were employed for them.
All heaps of manure, &c., which had been accumulated near dwelling-houses, were removed; drains were cleansed, and some enlarged. In several instances, blankets were supplied to those whose bedding was in a bad state, or too scanty.
Thus far, sanatory measures were adopted more than eight months before any symptoms of the disease appeared in the parish.