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151
PROGRESS IN SANITARY LEGISLATION.
In my Annual Report for 1888, I referred to a SYNOPSIS
of various matters, relating to the extension of the duties and
powers of the Managers of the Metropolitan Asylums Board,
with respect to infectious disease, which were then under the
consideration of the Local Government Board. This Synopsis
had been prepared by direction of the General Purposes Committee,
at the latter end of 1888, and a copy of it was forwarded
to the President of the Local Government Board, " for
his information and consideration, in connection with any
Bill affecting the duties and responsibilities of the Managers,
which it may be his intention to submit to Parliament."
The subjects referred to in the Synopsis were—
(1) Admission to Hospital of all classes of Infectious
Patients.
(2) General Conveyance of Infectious Persons to Hospital.
(3) Admission of cases of Diphthetia to the Hospitals.
(4) Compulsory Notification of Infectious Diseases.
(5) Compulsory Removal of the Infectious Sick to Hospital,
when without proper lodging or accommodation.
(6) Compulsory Purchase of Land.
(7) Contracts ivith Sanitary Authorities for the
tion and Maintenance in Hospitals of Non-paupers.
The objects sought to be attained in respect of (1), (2),
(3), (4), and (6) were secured, in 1889, by the Infectious
Disease (.Notification) Act, and clauses in the Poor Law Act,
which were repealed by the Public Health (London) Act, 1891,
in which the provisions are re-enacted. At page 149 I have
referred to the question of (5) Compulsory Removal of the
Sick, which still awaits settlement. With reference to (7) I
have stated, in former Reports, the grounds of my objection
to the contract system, which happily is no longer in question,
free admission to the hospitals having now been secured by
the Public Health (LondonJ Act, 1891.