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It is suggested that the local authority should obtain from the local Registrar, on
payment of prescribed fees, returns of the particulars registered concerning deaths from
tuberculosis, in order that the Medical Officer of Health may obtain early information
regarding those deaths. An arrangement by which weekly returns of the copies of
Certificates of Births and Deaths registered are sent to the Medical Officer of Health has
been in force in Westminster for many years.
The Regulations themselves deal with methods of keeping the notification register,
the elimination of arrested cases and removals from the district, and of appropriate
returns to be made to the County Medical Officer.
2. The Public Health (Prevention of Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1925.
The object of these Regulations, which came into force on 1st August, 1925, is to
prevent the contamination and infection of milk from human sources. Until the issue
of these Regulations there has been no effective means of dealing with persons who suffer
from infectious forms of tuberculosis, and are engaged in the handling of milk. If methods
of persuasion failed to deter an individual, so affected, from continuing his occupation and
remaining a potential source of infection, he had every legal right to keep to his occupation
because he was protected by the Tuberculosis Regulations of 1912. Under Article 16 of
the 1912 Regulations no individual need be prejudiced in regard to his occupation by
reason of his being notified to the Medical Officer of Health as suffering from tuberculosis.
The notification remained a private and confidential document so far as the individual
was concerned. It is not anticipated that the confidential nature of notification need be
disturbed, but the fact that the sanitary authority is now armed with legal powers
should, in itself, be sufficient to effect the end in view when methods of persuasion seem
likely to fail.
The Regulations consist of seven articles and a schedule. In the definition, " dairy "
does not include a shop or other place in which milk is sold for consumption on the premises
only. The local authority shall enforce these regulations and make any necessary
inquiries. . •
No person who is aware that he is suffering from tuberculosis of the respiratory tract
shall enter upon any employment in a dairy which would involve the milking of cows.
the treatment of milk, or the handling of vessels used for containing milk.
A local authority, if satisfied on a report by their Medical Officer of Health that a
person residing in their district engaged on dairy work is suffering from tuberculosis,
and is in an infectious state, may by notice in writing, signed by the Clerk or Medical
Officer of Health, require such person to discontinue his occupation as from a specified
date, not less than seven days after service of the notice. Such person shall comply
with the notice. The form of notice is given in the schedule.
If the person feels aggrieved by the notice he may appeal within fourteen days to a
court of summary jurisdiction, and shall inform the clerk of his intention to appeal,
and the grounds thereof. The court may make an order in the matter and may award
costs, and the order shall be binding.
The court may direct appellant to be examined by a medical practitioner nominated
by the court, and only with his consent.
Compensation for damage sustained by the operation of these Regulations may be
applied for by the person concerned, not being himself in default, and he is entitled to
full compensation from the local authority.
It may be taken for granted that only in cases where tubercle bacilli are present in the
sputum would the Medical Officer of Health be prepared to report the ease to his local
authority for action to restrain an individual from following his occupation.
(6375)q d 2