View report page

50
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 disease 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 vagrants found wandering in 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 small-pox 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;
(b) It should be an offence to withhold information or make
false statements to the sanitary authority in carrying out its powers
with respect to the disease.
(4) That in order to deal effectually with the transmission of
notifiable infectious disease by tramps, power should be given to
county councils to enforce the existing laws in all cases where
sanitary authorities in the county refuse or neglect to do so.
•
(5) That the Local Government Board should obtain power to
secure weekly reurns of all cases of infectious disease from all
central authorities throughout the country, and circulate the same.