Part 10

As the dread malady with which this neighbourhood is unhappily afflicted does not appear to have yet run its course (neither Ridgeway nor Colebrook having been much affected), and as it is utterly impossible that one medical man, however active and zealous, can attend on half the cases; nor is it possible that you should be able to continue your exertions as you have done, unless the patients are more concentrated: under these considerations, I beg to suggest the propriety of calling a meeting to-morrow, to consider the expediency of appointing some place to receive the poor people that may be attacked, and also to depute some one to act as assistant overseer; as the overseer resides so far off, a deputy is absolutely necessary.

I remain, my dear Sir,

Yours, &c. B. CROCKER.

{52} Carbonate of soda, one drachm; muriate of soda (or common salt, now chloride of sodium), one drachm; oxymuriate of potash (now chlorate of potash), six grains; mixed in a quart of water, heated exactly 110 degrees by a thermometer. In cases where this remedy was resorted to, from four to seven quarts were injected.

{54} Some parishioners met in the Vestry-room, after the morning service, and it was resolved, that, as the present Board of Health, being only self-appointed, has not the power of making an order upon the parish for any assistance, under the present distressing emergency, the chairman be requested to write to the secretary of the Central Board, expressing the earnest wish of the members of the Plympton St. Mary Board to be legally constituted.

{56} I wrote to the secretary of the Central Board of Health, Whitehall, informing him that a Board of Health had been appointed in the parish, and requesting, on the part of the Board, that the Board might immediately receive the sanction of the Privy Council, in order to their being enabled to exercise the requisite authority for endeavouring to prevent the spreading of the cholera; at the same time, requesting to be furnished with copies of the “Orders in Council.”

{65} Providentially that person sustained no injury or inconvenience from such a beautiful trait of a feeling heart; and it was not passed over unrequited.

{70a} A letter from the secretary of the Central Board was received, enclosing an order of the Lords of the Privy Council, appointing a Board of Health at Plympton St. Mary. Notice was given for a meeting of the parishioners, on the 22nd.

{70b} Board of Health, Plympton St. Mary, legally constituted August 18th, 1832:—George Strode, Esq., Newnham Park; Richard Rosdew, Esq., Beechwood; Capt. Woollcombe, R.N., Hemerdon; Henry Hele Treby, Esq., Goodamoor; George William Soltau, Esq., Efford; Augustus Granville Stapleton, Esq., St. Mary’s Hill, Ridgeway; Rev. Edward Beauchamp St. John, Underwood; Robert Langworthy, Esq.; Benjamin Crocker, Esq., Rose Cottage, Ridgeway; Mr. Delville, Underwood; Mr. Pearse, Mr. Cork, Mr. Day, Mr. Worth, Mr. Pollard, Mr. Hilson, Mr. Yolland, Mr. Willing, Mr. Olver, Mr. Brewer; William I. Coppard, Chairman.

{72} Mr. Richard Langworthy was at the time a student in medicine, and came to assist his relation soon after the cholera began to spread at Underwood.

{83} According to notice, duly given, a meeting of the parishioners was held on this day, in the Vestry-room, at the Church; present, Mr. Richard Worth, Mr. Wm. Delville. “Resolved, That this meeting be adjourned from the Vestry-room in the Church, to the Plymouth Inn, Ridgeway; some of the Parishioners having objected to meet in the Vestry-room in the Church, or in the room at the Workhouse, where vestry meetings have hitherto been held, on account of apprehension of danger of infection from the cholera.” The meeting was adjourned accordingly.

WILLIAM I. COPPARD, Chairman.

“An adjourned meeting of the parishioners was held on this day, at the Plymouth Inn, Ridgeway; present, George Strode, Esq., William Langmead, Esq., George William Soltau, Esq., B. Crocker, Esq., Mr. J. Yolland, Mr. William Delville, Mr. Worth, Mr. Willing, Mr. Joseph Pearse, Mr. Brewer. Resolved, That a Board of Health having been regularly appointed in the parish, under the authority of the Lords of H.M. most honourable Privy Council, in compliance with the proposition of the Board, the sum of twenty pounds be paid to the order of the chairman of the said Board, for the purpose of meeting the present expenses of the Board.”

WILLIAM I. COPPARD, Chairman.

{85a} The clergyman of Plympton St. Maurice, having sickness in his family, requested me to visit some of his parishioners whenever I had an opportunity.

{85b} Mr. Deeble Boger was present in several of the worst cases of cholera, in the town of Plympton; and his benevolent and active exertions contributed materially to mitigate the sufferings of the afflicted people.

{96} Susan Taylor subsequently married an honest and industrious labourer. They have five young children, and are living at Underwood at the present time.

{103} Represented on the left hand of the foreground, in the woodcut.