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80
CEREBRO-SPINAL FEVER.
Local Government Board,
Whitehall, S.W.
20th February, 1907.
Sir,
I am directed by the Local Government Board to state that
cerebro-spinal Fever has recently been somewhat prevalent in parts
of Ireland and Scotland, and that a few cases have occurred in this
country.
The Board do not think that at present there is any ground for
apprehension on this subject, but at the same time it appears to
them that Sanitary Authorities should be on the alert to detect the
presence of the disease in their districts, or to satisfy themselves as
to its absence. The Board therefore direct me to enclose copies of
a Memorandum prepared by their Medical Officer in 1905 and
recently reprinted, which deals generally with the characteristic
symptoms of the disease, and especially with its minor and anomalous
manifestations. I am to request that one of the copies, together
with a copy of this Circular, may be given to the Medical Officer of
Health for his information.
In the event of the discovery in any district of groups of cases
of illness which might possibly be of the nature of cerebro-spinal
fever, it would of course be important that the facts should be made
the subject of a special report to the Sanitary Authority by the
Medical Officer of Health for the district. A copy of such report
should at the same time be forwarded to the Board. Should such a
report be received, the Board would be prepared to render the
Sanitary Authority such advice or assistance as, in the circumstances,
might appear to be necessary.
As the Sanitary Authority are aware, they can make an Order
to the effect that cases of cerebro-spinal fever shall be compulsorily
notifiable in their district. In the case of an emergency, such an
Order can be made at any meeting held after three clear days'
notice; it is to be advertised forthwith, and comes into force at the