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receipt of such communication from the Board, detailed instructions
had been given, and all the machinery duly prepared, by the
Lambeth Borough Council, for dealing with Smallpox cases as
they arose in the Borough.
Conference op Metropolitan Cities and Boroughs.
At the beginning of 1902, an important Conference of Metropolitan
Sanitary Authorities was convened, on the initiative of
the Metropolitan Borough of Holborn, and held on February 7th,
1902, in the Board Room of the Asylums Board Offices, Victoria
Embankment —kindly lent for such a purpose. This Conference
was considered necessary on account of the continued prevalence
of Smallpox in the Metropolis, and with a view to suggesting
further preventive measures (if any). Councillors H. J. Turner
and Thwaite attended with the Medical Officer of Health as the
appointed delegates of the Lambeth Borough Council —all the
other Metropolitan Borough Councils (except Lewisham and
Shoreditch), together with the London County Council, being represented.
The Chair was taken by the Chairman of the Public
Health Committee of the Metropolitan Borough of Holborn, and
the Town Clerk of Holborn was appointed the Clerk of the
Conference. The result of the Conference may be given in the
following resolutions which were passed, such resolutions putting
in concrete form the opinions arrived at by the majority of Metropolitan
Sanitary Authorities as the result of experience gained in
the epidemic, in so far as it had, at that date progressed : —
1. " That, in the opinion of the Conference, the powers and
duties at present vested in Guardians of the Poor with regard to
vaccination and re-vaccination, should be transferred to, and
enforced by, Borough Councils."-Ncm. Con.]
2. " That, in the opinion of the Conference, an amendment of
the law is necessary, to ensure compulsory vaccination and revaccination
of all persons in a dwelling house wherein Smallpox
has broken out." —[For, 46; Against, 3,
3. " That, in the opinion of the Conference, it should be declared
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, with regard to (a) their names, (b) employment or occupation,
(c) schools attended by their children, or (d) as to any persons not
living in such house, but employed therein."—[Unanimous.]
4. " That, in the opinion of the Conference, all disinfections
should be carried out by the Sanitary Authority."— [Unanimous.]
5. " That, in the opinion of the Conference, the provisions of
the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, with regard to the pre-