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Much difficulty has arisen in making enquiries concerning
Smallpox cases and "contacts" on account of the inaccuracy of
some of the statements made, not to mention reticence, or even
concealment of facts. The danger that may arise from persons
withholding necessary information must be apparent to all, and to
obviate such a danger it has been unanimously decided, at a Con-
ference of Metropolitan Sanitary Authorities held February 7th,
1902, that, in the opinion of such Conference, it shall be an
offence under the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, to refuse
or withhold information or give false information with respect to
persons living in a house in which Smallpox has broken out.
Such information has reference to names, employments, schools
attended by children, out-workers, etc. The Local Government
Board is to be approached with a view to promoting legislation
in this direction. Islington Borough Council brought the matter
forward in a letter dated December 3rd, 1901, addressed to the
Lambeth and other Metropolitan Borough Councils. As far as
Lambeth Borough is concerned, comparatively little difficulty has
been encountered in this respect during the recent epidemic,
though it is clear that, where there is difficulty, some such powers
as those suggested should be forthcoming, and the Lambeth
Borough Council on January 23rd, 1902, decided to support the
Islington Council in regard thereto.
The vagrant classes moving from Workhouse to Workhouse
(and from town to town) are a cause of Smallpox spreading—9
separate introductions of the disease by tramps having taken place
in Lambeth during the epidemic. It follows, as a corollary, that
the importance of quarantining "contacts" in connection with
Smallpox cannot be over-estimated, more especially when such
"contacts" are amongst the vagrant class. It has been suggested
that the law should be altered, or fresh 'egislation introduced, so
that (1) such "contacts" should be compulsorily (a) quarantined
indoors and kept under observation at their own homes, or in a
Sanitary Authority's own Refuges, for at least a fortnight, (b) re-
vaccinated and their clothing and persons disinfected and
cleansed, and (c) registered; and (2) that Sanitary Authorities
should be empowered to expend moneys out of the rates for such
purposes. It is doubtful if the general feeling in the country will
countenance such compulsion.
The quarantining and inspection of "contacts" can, with best
results, as far as the recent Lambeth experience goes, be carried
out at their homes, supplemented, if necessary, with a small
monetary allowance when the "contacts" are prevented from
going to work by their employers, or for other reasons, and where
their wages are consequently stopped (in whole or in part). Such
monetary allowances need only be sufficient to cover rent and