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32
SANITARY LEGISLATION, 1889.
Infectious Dssease (Notification) Act (52 & 53 Vict. c. 72).—By this Act the
head of the family, the nearest relative, the person in charge or the occupier of
the building is required to notify to the Medical Officer of Health whenever an
inmate of a building is found to be suffering from infectious disease, and the
medical attendant to certify the particular infectious disease from which the
patient in such building is so suffering. The infectious diseases included in
the Act are "small-pox, cholera, diphtheria, membranous croup, erysipelas, the
disease known as scarlatina or scarlet-fever, and the fevers known by any of the
following names:—Typhus, typhoid, enteric, relapsing, continued or puerperal,"
and any further infectious disease which the local authority may by resolution
include.
Public Health Act (52 & 53 Vict. c. 64).—By this Act the cholera regulations
made by the Local Government Board in July, 1883, are confirmed, and it
is enacted that the Board •' may provide for such regulations being enforced and
executed by the Officers of Customs as well as by other authorities and officers,"
and "may provide for the detention of vessels and of persons on board vessels and
for the duties to be performed by pilots, masters of vessels, and other persons on
board vessels.
Poor Law Act, 1889, (52 53 Viet. c. 56).—By this Act the Metropolitan
Asylums Board is empowered to " admit any person who is not a pauper, and is
reasonably believed to be suffering from small-pox, fever, or diphtheria, into an
asylum provided by the managers.''
"Diphtheria" is included as one of the diseases that may be admitted by the
managers.
It also practically constitutes the Board the authority for providing ambulances
for infectious diseases in the Metropolis, inasmuch as the managers "may
allow their carriages to be used for the conveyance of persons suffering from any
dangerous infectious disorder to and from hospitals and places other than asylums
provided by the asylums managers, and may make reasonable charge for their
use." (See Regulations under the head of Isolation.)
Sale of Horseflesh, &c., Regulation Act (52 & 53 Vict. c. 11).—The object of
this Act is to prevent the fraud of horseflesh, &c., being sold as food under a false
name. It provides that horseflesh shall only be sold in places conspicuously
labelled as places where horseflesh is sold. The medical officer of health and
inspector of nuisances have power of inspection of the meat.
"Horseflesh" also includes the flesh of "asses" and "mules," and whether
cooked, uncooked, or mixed with other substances.
TABLES.
Appended to the Report are the usual Tables and Lists.
I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
JOHN F. J. SYKES,
Medical Officer of Health.