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5
Medical Officer's Report.
The number of notices received for the removal of dust was 849, rather
more than for 1897, when the number was 802. In 1896 the number was
1,361, and in 1895, as many as 2,114.
Since the 25th March, 1896, the Board's contract has provided for the
removal of house refuse at least once a week. Many of the notices that dust
has not been removed show that the contract is not strictly carried out, and
the Contractor's attention to the matter has frequently been requested by the
Board. The Board is endeavouring to have this work and the cleansing of
the streets, etc., more satisfactorily carried out by paying the Contractor a
larger amount, and by the appointment of an Inspector of Cleansing in
addition to the Street Inspector.
Arrangements were made with the Clerkenwell Vestry for articles to be
disinfected in their new steam apparatus after June 24th, 1898.
The Board's Shelter (conjointly used by the Clerkenwell Vestry) was used
by 17 families belonging to the District, who slept there during the disinfection
of their rooms.
"The Vaccination Act, 1898," was passed on the 12th August, from
which date the "Conscience Clause" came into operation, and the rest of
the Act on the 1st January, 1899.
By this Act the following changes are introduced:—
Vaccination is to be within six months after birth, instead of three
months.
The Public Vaccinator of the District must, if required, vaccinate at
the home of the child.
If the child is not vaccinated within four months after birth, the
Public Vaccinator must visit the home of the child and offer to vaccinate
the child with glycerinated calf lymph.
Vaccination may be postponed if it cannot safely be performed on
account of the condition of the home, or the prevalence of infectious
disease in the district.
Notice of the certificate of postponement must be forthwith given to
the Medical Officer of Health for the district.
The method of procedure under the "Conscience Clause" is too
well known to require any comment. For the first four months after
the passing of the Act the certificate might be obtained for a child of
any age, but now, only within four months of the birth of the child.
Provision is made against repeated penalties. A person imprisoned
for non-compliance with the Vaccination Act must be treated as a firstclass
misdemeanant.