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27
THE SPREAD OP INFECTIOUS DISEASE BY TRAMPS.
There is abundant evidence forthcoming from all parts of
Great Britain that tramps play an important part in disseminating
disease, and there is a strong feeling among health officers as to
the necessity for some measures to check this source of danger.
Many outbreaks of small-pox have been traced to this nomadic
class, which for any practical purpose is under no sort of sanitary
supervision.
In July of last year you were asked in common with a large
number of other sanitary authorities to appoint delegates to attend
a Conference, held under the auspices of the London County
Council, to consider the ways and means of coping against the
danger. Mr. Trick and Dr. Jackman (the Acting Medical Officer
of Health) were asked to attend, and Dr. Jackman subsequently
reported to you the result of the Conference. As a result of his
Report a letter was written to the Member of Parliament for the
district, asking him to lend his support towards promoting legislation
on the lines of the recommendations of the Conference, when the
opportunity arrived. These recommendations were as follows:—
I.—That common shelters which are not subject to the law
relating to common lodging houses should be made
subject to such law.
II.—That there should be power to local authorities to require
medical examination of all persons entering common
lodging houses and casual wards.
III.—That each inmate of a casual ward or common lodging
house should on admission have a bath of fresh water.
IV.—That the local authority should have power to order the
keeper of a common lodging house, in which there has
been infectious disease, to refuse fresh admissions for
such time as may be required by the authority.