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36
"During the past 50 years there has occurred in
"England and Wales a large diminution in the mortality
"from most diseases of the infectious class, and in the
"same period typhus fever has declined almost to
"extinction. This latter disease is that which, as
"regards the conditions*under which it becomes pre"valent,
most closely resembles plague. Wherefore it
"may be confidently anticipated that the measures of
"sanitary improvement, of isolation and of disinfection,
"which have been found effectual against indigenous
"disease such as typhus will, if promptly and thoroughly
"brought to bear, be equally effectual against plague.
"First among measures requisite for control of plague
"is prompt information to the local authority of all
"cases of the disease occurring in their district. The
"Board, therefore, have issued an order requiring, under
"penalty, immediate notification to the Medical Officer
"of Health of the district, and by him to the Board, of
"every recognised case of plague. Meanwhile, and in
"order to help towards recognition of this disease in its
"obscurer manifestations, a statement of the clinical
"features exhibited by this malady will be found in
"Part (2) of this Memorandum. Further, and with a
"view to assisting in the identification of plague newly
"developing in one and another district, the Board has
"arranged for bacteriological testing, without cost to
"the local authority, of material submitted to their
"Medical Officer by the Medical Officer of Health from
"the earliest suspected case or cases.*
"In the event of plague being detected in any district,
"the measures to be taken to prevent its spread are,
"*Directions for collecting and forwarding suspected
"materials are issued by the Local Government Board to
"Medical Officers of Health.