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63
Conference on the Spread of Infectious
Disease by Vagrants.
(Special Report presented to the Council on December 8th, 1904.)
We attended the Conference at Spring Gardens on November
10th, 1904. The Conference was very largely attended by
Medical Officers of Health and other delegates, representing
County Councils and County and Metropolitan Borough Councils,
etc., and the following resolutions were finally adopted:—
General Measures for the Prevention of the spread of Infectious
Disease by Vagrants.
1. (a) That this Conference of Urban and Sanitary Authorities
of England and Wales recognises the increasing 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 diseases 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 ill 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 Smallpox on entering casual wards or common
lodging houses, who, in the opinion of the Sanitary
Authority, have been exposed to the infection of Smallpox,
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.