View report page

52
Another year has passed, and we are still without any legal
enactment dealing with the use of preservatives and colouring agents
in food. The recommendations of the Departmental Committee which
issued its Report in 1901 were so moderate and generally approved of,
that it was hoped that legislation on the subject would very soon
follow. The importance of this is very considerable, and it is difficult
to see what reason there can be for this country not falling into line
with most other countries including our own Colonies, by framing such
legislation.
The hopes entertained by the medical profession that during last
year the Government would introduce a new Vaccination Bill have not
been realised. Meanwhile it is satisfactory to record the circumstance
that some other countries are profiting by the experience of Germany.
Even the Sultan of Turkey has given his assent to a law, which came
into force in April of last year, requiring compulsory vaccination and
re-vaccination.
The London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1904,
became law on the 15th August. The provisions of special interest
are as follows :—
Section 19 enables the Sanitary Authority, at their own expense,
to cleanse, purify or destroy any articles in any house, or part thereof,
if in such a filthy or unwholesome condition as to affect or endanger
health ; or if such purification is requisite to prevent risk of, or to
check the spread of, infectious disease. The Sanitary Authority will
have to compensate the owner if unnecessary damage is done, and to
reasonably compensate him for any articles destroyed.
Section 20 enables the Sanitary Authority to require the cleansing
of houses infested with vermin upon notice in writing to the owner or
occupier of a house (or part thereof), requiring him within a specified
period to cleanse such house or any portion thereof ; and, if so required,
to remove the wall-paper, and to take such other steps for the purpose
of destroying and removing vermin as the case may require. The
person on whom the notice is served becomes liable, on summary conviction,
to a fine not exceeding ten shillings for every day during which