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08
PUBLIC HEALTH LEGISLATION IN 1889.
The year 1889 will be memorable in the sanitary annals
of the Metropolis for the passing of two Acts of the highest
importance—the one providing for compulsory notification of
infectious disease; the other (Poor Law Act, 1889) for practically
free admission to the hospitals, and for the constitution
of a Metropolitan Ambulance Service. Both these Acts are
deserving of more than a passing notice.
Infectious Disease (Notification) Act, 1889. In my
Annual Report for 1887 (pp. 88-102), I narrated the steps taken
since 1881 by the Sanitary Authorities, and notably by your
Vestry, with a view to legislation for the compulsory notification
of infectious disease. I pass on, therefore, to state that the
measure above named, which was introduced by the President of
the Local Government Board, became law in August, and came
into operation on the 30th October last. It provides for notification
by the medical practitioner called in to attend the case, and
also by the head of the family or other responsible person in
the house where the infectious sick person is—the so-called dual
system. In practice, where this system is operative, it is usual
for the medical practitioner only to notify, and this is all that is
necessary. But the system has this special recommendation,
that, as by law it is equally the duty of the head of the family or
other person responsible for the care of the patient to report the
illness, the notification by the medical practitioner cannot well
be objected to by the friends of the patient. A penalty not exceeding
forty shillings is incurred by default of every person who
fails to give the required certificate or the notice. A fee of halfa-crown
is payable by the local authority (i.e., the Vestry) for
each certificate duly sent to the Medical Officer by the medical
practitioner, if the case occurs in his private practice; but one
shilling only if the case occurs in his practice as a medical officer
of any public body or institution. The Asylums Board, as
hospital providing authority, had long desired a system of