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26
My object in writing the above Report was to insist on
the importance of preventing the admission of patients
suffering from Diphtheria or Enteric Fever into the General
Wards of Hospitals along with patients not suffering from
infectious diseases. Provision should be made in every
General Hospital for the treatment in a separate Ward of
urgent cases of Diphtheria
I have received and answered a number of communications
from the Medical Officer of Health of the London
County Council, and from other Medical Officers of Health,
on various sanitary matters connected with the Parish.
Legislation during the Year.
The following Acts connected with sanitary administration
were passed during the year 1897:—
1. "An Act to permit Local Authorities to provide
Cleansing and Disinfection for Persons infested with
Vermin." Otherwise "The Cleansing of Persons
Act, 1897."
This provides that the Local Authority may permit any
person who shall apply to it, on the ground that he is
infested with vermin, to have the use, free of charge, of the
apparatus which the authority may possess for cleansing
the person and his clothing from vermin, and it provides
that the use of such apparatus shall not be considered to
be parochial relief.
It also gives Local Authorities the power to expend any
reasonable sum on buildings, appliances, and attendants
that may be required for the carrying out of the Act, and
to defray those expenses out of any rate or fund applicable
by the authority for general sanitary purposes, or for the
relief of the poor.