View report page

177
[1911
received. They have come from many institutions situated in and out of
London; indeed, from some which are as far away as the Isle of Wight and
Bournemouth. In addition to these, 42 notifications were received relating to
patients belonging to other districts, which were forwarded as required by the
regulations, to the Medical Officers of Health of the districts in which their
homes were situate.
Article 7 of these regulations provides that nothing in them shall have
effect so as to apply or authorise or require a Medical Officer of Health, or a
Council, or any other person in authority either directly or indirectly to put in force
with respect to any patient in respect of whom a notification has been transmitted
to a Medical Officer of Health any enactment which renders the patient or the
person in charge of him or any other persons liable to a penalty, or subjects the
patient to any restriction, prohibition, or disability affecting himself or his
employment, occupation or means of livelihood on the ground of his suffering
from pulmonary tuberculosis. Sub-section 2 of this article permits a Council:—
1. To take the necessary measures to secure the disinfection of infected
articles, and the cleansing or disinfection of premises which have been
used by the patient.
2. To take the necessary measures for the safe disposal or destruction
of the infectious discharges of the patient.
3. To supply all such reasonable assistance, facilities and articles as will
tend to diminish the risk of infection arising from the conditions
affecting the use or occupation of any room, when used or occupied
by the patient as a sleeping apartment.
4. To furnish for the use of the patient, on loan, or otherwise, any
appliance, apparatus, or utensil which may be of assistance in preventing
the spread of infection, and
5. To appoint such officers to do such acts and make such arrangements
as may be requisite for giving advice and for carrying out the provisions
of these regulations, and of the Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations,
1908.
From this resume we see that these regulations give practically unlimited
power and authority to sanitary authorities to do everything that may be required
to prevent this disease. They have, therefore, power to appoint nurses;
to provide shelters; to open dispensaries; to provide sputum cups; to print,
N