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under the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, power of entry is only given
in cases where there is reasonable cause to believe that there is some
contravention of the Act, or of a Bye-law under the Act.
Part V., Section 27 (1 to 9)—deals with tuberculosis of the udder in
cows, and provides that in cases where a Veterinary Surgeon, appointed
by the Council under the Dairies, Cowsheds and Milkshops Order, 1899,
has reason to suspect that any cow in any dairy farm or cowshed situated
within the County (exclusive of the City of London) is suffering from
tuberculosis of the udder, he may cause such cow to be removed, and the
Council shall cause it to be slaughtered.
This section also provides for the compensation of the owner of such
animal, and for fines or imprisonment when persons employed in the
execution of this section are obstructed.
There are some material differences between the Bill as drafted and the Act
now under consideration. In the Bill a clause was inserted that would have
made it an offence to sort or sift house refuse by hand. I am strongly in
favour of such a restriction, and regret that it does not appear in the Act.
There was also a clause prescribing sanitary requirements to be carried out
in premises where any article intended for human food is sold or prepared for
sale. This, too, was dropped in the Act, but in my opinion, this clause, as
drafted, did not go far enough for the protection of the public, as, unless
registration were enforced, the control would be inadequate.
Clauses were sought in the Bill for the London County Council to make
Bye-laws with respect to the paving of stables and stable-yards for administra
tion by local Sanitary Authorities in the County. These, however, as
previously mentioned, were dropped in the Act.
Section 22 in the Bill exempted Railway Companies from the operation of
Bye-laws requiring the removal or alteration of sanitary conveniences sc
placed or constructed as to be a nuisance or offensive to public decency. It
will be noted that this dispensation is not granted in the Act, and in my
notes on the Bill in November, 1903, I reported that I could see no reason for
such exemption, which would have been most objectionable.
The title of this Act is somewhat misleading, but Section 25 makes it clear
that the above powers are conferred upon, and are to be exercised by, the
Corporation and Metropolitan Borough Councils in the County of London,
and that the London County Council—with the exception of the powers given
under Section 27 (1 to 9) which do not extend to the City—is not concerned
with their administration.