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590
Section 62 of Part VII of the recent Public Health Act of 1925,
gives power to remove to, and detain in Hospital, persons suffering
from Pulmonary Tuberculosis. The intention of the section is to
enable Authorities to deal with cases in which there is a special
risk of infection.
Part IV of the 1925 Public Health Act gives extended powers
for dealing with verminous persons, articles and houses. This
part of the Act is adoptive and it is possible that the requirement
that the cleansing of verminous articles is to be done at the expense
of the Local Authority in every case may deter some Authorities
from adopting the section. Although in practice this would generally
be done without charge, the use of the word "may" would have
been better.
PUBLIC HEALTH (PREVENTION OF TUBERCULOSIS)
REGULATIONS, 1925.
The regulations provide that if a local authority, on the report
in writing of the Medical Officer of Health, is satisfied that a person
residing in its district who is engaged in any employment in connection
with a dairy which would involve the milking of cows, the
treatment of milk, or the handling of vessels used for containing
milk, is suffering from Tuberculosis of the respiratory tract and is
in an infectious state, it may by notice in writing signed by the
Clerk or the Medical Officer of Health, require such person to discontinue
his employment or occupation on or before the date
specified in the notice, such date being not less than 7 days after
the service of such notice, and the said person shall thereupon
comply with the said notice. Powers are given to a person who
deems himself aggrieved by the requirements of a local authority
under the regulations to appeal to a Court of Summary Jurisdiction,
which may make such order in the matter as may seem equitable
to them and may award costs.
It was not necessary to take any action under these regulations
in 1925.