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55
opinion might exist between members of the Guardians and mem.
bers of a Sanitary Authority. In this way the health of a district
may be prejudiced. The Borough Council of Lambeth, on the
advice of the Medical Officer, approved (on December 12th, 1901)
the principle of all preventive measures in connection with Small.
pox being in the hands of one responsible Authority, and that
Authority being the Sanitary Authority, which deals with all other
infectious diseases and their prevention. It was decided, however,
that no action should be taken during the epidemic of Smallpox,
but that after such epidemic was over the Local Government Board
(or other Department) might be approached with a view to
such transference of powers being effected. It has been sug.
gested that a transference from the Guardians to a Borough Coun.
cil (practically the same electorate) will not benefit matters much,
and that a Central Authority (uninfluenced, to a similar extent,
by the popular vote) might be able to do this important work more
satisfactorily. This is merely a suggestion, and the unanimous
vote given at a Conference of Metropolitan Borough Councils held
on February 7th, 1902, was in favour of the newly.formed Borough
Councils rising to the occasion and doing the best for the public
good, on the advice of their responsible Medical Advisers, and
uninfluenced by popular feeling. The Borough Councils deserve
to be allowed to try the experiment.
As far as the Lambeth Borough is concerned, the Guardians
have worked in harmony with the Borough Council; but the fact
remains that all preventive measures might, with advantage, from
an efficient administrative point of view, rest with one responsible
Authority, and that Authority the Borough Council, as the Sani.
tary Authority, with whom rest all preventive measures with the
sole exception of vaccination.
Conscientious Objectors.
As far as Lambeth Borough is concerned, the conscientious
objectors are practically non.existent, an annual average of 100
certificates having been granted since the introduction of the new
Vaccination Act. Vaccination is, therefore, practically as much
compulsory as ever. Consequently, the Lambeth Borough Council
on March 6th, 1902, decided to take no action in connection with
the suggestion of the Beckenham District Council (supported by
the Wandsworth Borough Council) that " The Local Government
Board be asked to take steps to repeal Section 2 of the Vaccina.
tion Act, 1898." This Act, which was brought in as a 5 years.
experiment, will die a natural death next year (1903), unless re.
enacted.
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