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amount of habitual vagrancy as the cause of wide-spread and
disastrous consequences to the public health, and is of opinion
that much more effective measures than are at present adopted,
should be taken for preventing the spread of infectious disease
by vagrants, and for effectually dealing with this great and
growing danger.
(b) That the evil can only be met by conferring further
powers upon the Local Authorities, viz., the Sanitary Authority, the
Board of Guardians, and the Magistracy.
(2.) That means should be provided for the detention and
isolation of any vagrant found wandering in a public place, if
reasonably suspected of being liable to convey infectious disease.
(3.) That this Conference is of opinion that it is desirable
that—
(a) Parliamentary powers should be sought for the compulsory
vaccination and re-vaccination of all vagrants unable to
produce proof of being sufficiently protected against small-pox on
entering casual wards or common lodging-houses, who, in the
opinion of the Sanitary Authority, have been exposed to the
infection of small-pox, and also that Sanitary Authorities should
have power to grant such compensation as they think necessary
to persons vaccinated or re-vaccinated at their request who may
be prevented on that account from work.
(b) It should be an offence to withhold information or make
false statements to the Sanitary Authority in carrying out its
powers with respect to the disease.
(4.) That in order to deal effectually with the transmission
of notifiable infectious disease by tramps, power should be given