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Hitherto no further action has been taken in the matter. But the County Council, in their
General Powers Bill for the current year, are proposing. by clause 23, to acquire powers, referred to
in the margin as "Sanitary regulations for premises used for sale, etc., of food for human consumption."
The proposed legislation, good as far as it goes, would enact as regards such places, the
provisions contained in section 97 of the Factory and Workshop Act 1901; a provision with regard
to a sleeping place adjacent to a room or place where food is prepared, etc., for sale, (similar to
section 100) and a general provision that "No act or thing shall be done or permitted in any such
room or place likely to expose any such article (of food, whether solid or liquid) to infection or
contamination."
[This subject is further alluded to below in observations on the "Prospective Sanitary
Legislation."]
PUBLIC HEALTH (LONDON) ACT, 1891.
The need of amendments to this Act is recognised, and it was expected that the County Council
would introduce an amending Bill during the Session of 1900. In February, 1899, a letter had been
received by the late Vestry from the Public Health Committee of that body, desiring information
as to amendments which in their opinion should be made. The communication was referred to a
sub-committee of the Sanitary Committee, together with reports by the vestry clerk, the surveyor,
and the medical officer of health; and also a communication from the Society of Medical Officers
of Health, embodying suggestions for amendments and additions to the Act. The sub-committee
made recommendations for amending section 2, and especially by a definition of "overcrowding,"
corresponding to the provisions of the Council's second by-law for registered houses. They further
proposed that section 5 should be amended, so as to enable the sanitary authority, upon obtaining
a closing order, to evict the tenants. Other proposed amendments dealt with offensive trades;
slaughter-houses; cow-houses and dairies; with the disposal of refuse; regulations as to waterclosets;
unsound food; notification of infectious disease; cleansing and disinfection of premises after
infectious disease; isolation in hospital; exposure of infected persons, etc. Further additions to
the provisions of the Act were suggested, especially with regard to the control of infectious disease.
The report, subject to a slight variation in regard to proposed amendments to section 55 (notification
of infectious disease), was approved by the committee, and submitted to the Vestry. Some
of the amendments were adopted; others, and all but two of the proposed additions, were rejected.
The somewhat barren result of the enquiry was communicated to the County Council, but no
further action has hitherto been taken by that body.
PROSPECTIVE SANITARY LEGISLATION.
Certain proposals in the form of Clauses of a Bill, recommended by the Public Health
Committee of the County Council to be included in the Council's General Powers Bill in the
current session, and submitted by that body to the Metropolitan Borough Councils (with an
expression of the Council's hope that they would support the proposals contained in Part IV.,
dealing with sanitary provisions), were approved generally by those bodies, and also by the
Metropolitan Branch of the Incorporated Society of Medical Officers of Health.
The Public Health Committee of the County Council had reported fully on the subject, and
recommended—
"That application be made in the next Session of Parliament for powers—
1. Enabling Sanitary Authorities to require the cleansing or destruction of articles of
clothing which are in a filthy, dangerous, or unwholesome condition. (Clause 18).
2. Enabling Sanitary Authorities to require the owners of premises to strip the walls,
and cleanse any room or rooms infested with vermin, and enabling owners to recover
the cost of the work from tenants in certain cases. (Clause 19).
3. Enabling Sanitary Authorities to require the reconstruction or removal of urinals or
other conveniences opening on to streets, and constructed before the passing of the