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THIRTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
of the
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH,
being that for the year,
1890.
To the Board of Works for the Hackney District
Gentlemen,—
In my Report for 1889 I brought to your notice some
of the provisions of the Infectious Diseases (Notification) Act,
passed in that year, and I now have to mention especially three
new Acts passed in 1890, abstracts of two of which will be
found in the Appendix, viz., of the Infectious Diseases (Prevention)
Act, which is supplemental to the Notification Act;
and the Housing of the Working Classes Act, which repeals
Torren's Act and substitutes an amended and simpler and
cheaper procedure for it. It also extends the power of
closing houses under the Nuisances Removal Acts, and provides
payment to persons ordered to leave the premises if the
Magistrates hearing the case should deem it advisable to make
such an order. I have closed so many premises under the
Nuisances Removal Acts, and obtained the removal of the
inmates without compensation, that I do not see much, if
any, advantage in the proceedings under the new Act for closing
houses unfit for habitation. Another Act, viz., the Customs and
Inland Revenue Act, 1890, quite unique as regards the 26th
Clause, requires, on notice from the owner, the Medical Officer
of Health to visit premises in which there are separate dwellings,
the rental of which does not exceed 7s. 6d. per week, to
enable him to obtain a remission of his taxes. The notice to
inspect is not directed to the Local Authority, but to the Medical
Officer of Health, and the certificate, if one be given, is not
handed to them but to the person who is benefitted by the