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THE STRAND DISTRICT, LONDON. 141
"Houses became infected, and appeared likely to con"tinue
to act as centres for the further spread of the
"disease, in the absence of concerted action to counteract
their influence. It had already been suggested
"to the various parochial authorities that an effective
"means to that end would be a systematic medical
"inspection of such places, but there appeared to be
"almost insuperable difficulties in the way of its
"uniform adoption, difficulties mainly due to the
"number of separate authorities exercising control
"over the various kinds of lodging places.*
"We thought, however, that important assistance
"might be rendered to the various authorities if they
"could be kept informed as to the places from which
"patients had been admitted, and their movements
"prior to admission, so far as they could be ascertained,
"and, in accordance with our instructions, Dr. Brooke,
"the Medical Officer of the River Ambulance Service,
"has obtained much valuable information, and has
"forwarded it to the Clerk to the Board, who has
"circulated it weekly, in a digested form, amongst the
"Medical Officers of Health, the Medical Officers of
"Poor Law Infirmaries and Workhouses, the Police
"Superintendents, and other interested persons."
Scarlet Fever.—No less than 143 cases of this
disease were notified during the year in the Strand, and
44 per cent. of these occurred in the third quarter of
*It may be here noted that the Home Secretary has decided to transfer, by
Provisional Order under sec. 10 of the "Local Government Act, 1888," the
powers of the Commissioner of Police with regard to common lodging-houses to
the County Council. This will not apparently affect Salvation Army Shelters,
which may possibly, however, be dealt with if registered under the bye-laws
relating to houses let in lodgings or occupied by persons of more than one family.