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iv
The War Office adopted my suggestion, and the Medical Officer
of Health of each Metropolitan City and Borough consented to
co-operate in his own district. Lt.-Col. Sir Shirley Murphy, late Medical
Officer of Health to the London County Council, was appointed to
assist the Deputy Director of Medical Services for London with regard
to sanitary matters.
The duties to be performed by Medical Officers are:—
(1) To inspect, not less than once a week, all billets and
ments, and to report once a week on a form to headquarters.
The Army Council issued an Order to Home commands
directing that Medical Officers of Health shall be informed
of any proposed billeting in their districts with a view to
obtaining their expert advice and co-operation in billeting
the incoming troops under the best sanitary conditions
available. Medical Officers of Health are also to be consulted
and their visits encouraged wherever camps are formed and
maintained.
(2) To bring to the knowledge of the Commanding Officers at once,
in writing, any serious defects found.
(3) To advise Commanding Officer on all sanitary matters when a
medical officer of the Royal Army Medical Corps is not
attached to him.
(4) To inform the Deputy Director of Medical Services of all places
found to be occupied by troops.
(5) To inspect the food supplied to the troops, and to report any
supply found to be unsatisfactory.
The Local Government Board subsequently issued a letter asking
local authorities to co-operate in any way possible. The Board also
pointed out the importance of keeping the medical officer in charge of
any local troops informed of any cases of infectious disease within his
area, and it is desirable to ask this officer to give him information
similarly, of cases of these diseases among the troops. A constant outlook
is being kept for typhus fever, enteric fever and smallpox and
cerebro-spinal meningitis.
The War Office arranged for each Medical Officer of Health to have
notified to him any soldiers convalescent from enteric fever coming into
a sanitary area, so that they might be kept specially under supervision.
The Home Office wrote at the request of the War Office drawing
the attention of Local Authorities to the great importance of enforcing
strictly the provisions of the Factory Act as to homework in connection
with the manufacture of clothing for the Army. Orders for Army
clothing are being widely spread, and many comparatively small
employers hold contracts ; and in view of this fact and of the enormous