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103
Public Health (London) Act.—The need for amendments
to the Act of 1891 has long been felt, and the County
Council propose to introduce a bill for the purpose when practicable.
In February a letter was received from the Public
Health Committee, asking for information as to any amendments,
which, in the opinion of the Vestry, should be made.
The communication was referred to a sub-committee of the
sanitary committee, together with reports by the vestry clerk,
the surveyor, and the medical officer of health; and also a
communication from the Society of Medical Officers of Health,
embodying suggestions for amendments and additions to the
Act. The sub-committee made suggestions for amendment of
section 2, especially for the definition of "overcrowding,"
corresponding to the provisions of the second bye-law for
registered houses. They also proposed that section 5
should be amended, so as to enable the sanitary authority,
upon obtaining a closing order, to clear out the tenants.
Other proposed amendments dealt with offensive trades,
slaughter-houses, cow-sheds and dairies; with the disposal
of refuse; regulations as to water-closets, unsound food,
notification of infectious disease, cleansing and disinfection of
premises after infectious disease; isolation in hospital; exposure
of infected persons, &c. A number of additions to the
Act were suggested, mainly with regard to the control of infectious
disease. The report, subject to a slight variation
in regard to proposed amendments to section 55 (notification
of infectious disease) was approved by the committee,
and submitted to your Vestry. Some of the amendments
were adopted; others, and all but two of the proposed
additions; were rejected.