Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1909
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(d) A notification by a Relieving- Officer within forty-eight
hours after he has obtained information respecting a
change of residence of a poor person residing in his
relief district, whose case has been notified bv the District
Medical Officer, such notification to be sent to the
Medical Officer of Health for the area in which the
changed residence of the poor person is situate.
The object of this compulsory notification of Poor Law
patients is to enable the Medical Officer of Health, on behalf
of the Sanitary Authority, to take preventive measures against
the spread of the disease, but it is expressly laid down that
nothing in the regulations shall authorise the Medical Officer of
Health, or the Council, to put into force, with respect to any
poor person in relation to whom a notification has been given
under the regulations, any enactment which renders the poor
person, or a person in charge of the poor person, or any other
person liable to a penalty, or subject the poor person to any
restriction, prohibition or disability affecting himself or his
employment, occupation, means of livelihood or residence, on
the ground of his suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis.
Subject to this proviso the Board points out that it is
desirable that Sanitary Authorities acting on the advice of
their Medical Officers, should utilise their powers for the purpose
of preventing the spread of infection from tuberculosis by:
1. The destruction or disinfection of infected articles,
and the cleansing and disinfecting of premises;
2. The safe disposal, or destruction, of infectious material
produced and discharged as the result of pulmonary tuberculosis,
and the taking of all other necessary measures
the prevention of infection from any such material;
8. The obviating, removing, or diminishing the risk
of infection arising from the conditions affecting the use
or occupation of any room when used or occupied by the
poor person as a sleeping apartment;