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.