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51
Detention of Infectious cases in Hospital.—The following correspondence is of
Metropolitan interest in checking the spread of infectious diseases :—
ST. PANCRAS BOROUGH COUNCIL.
Public Health Department,
Town Hall, Pancras Road, N.W.
25th September, 1900.
Sir,
Infectious Diseases.
The Yestry at their last meeting received a report from the Health
Committee, that on the 16th of August last, a person residing in Chamberlain
Street was certified as suffering from Diphtheria and was on the 18th of that
month removed to hospital. On the 22nd August another person at the
same address was also certified to be suffering from Diphtheria, and was
removed the same day to hospital. On the 28th of that month another
person (a girl) at the same address was similarly certified to be suffering
from this disease, and on the same day was removed to hospital. W ith
reference to this last case it appears that although the patient was suffering
from Diphtheria, her relatives were allowed to take her away from the
hospital on the 3rd of September—her father having presented a medical
certificate to the effect that the child could be safely treated at home. The
Medical Officer of Health of this Parish received intimation next morning by
post that the patient had been removed to Chamberlain Street, and upon
inquiry it was found that there were three families, consisting of nine adults
and eight children, living in a house containing eight rooms. No proper
precautions could be taken therefore to prevent the spread of the disease with
any prospect of success. The child has since died.
The Vestry are of opinion that the resident Medical Officer of a hospital
should not permit any peison suffering from any dangerous infectious disease
to be removed from the hospital, except to another hospital, until assured by
the Medical Officer of Health of the district to which the patient.is to be
removed, that the patient would be provided with lodging or accommodation
in which proper precautions could be taken to prevent the spread
of the disease, and if not so assured, should not permit the patient to be
removed until application has been made to a Magistrate detailing the
circumstances, and requesting a direction that the patient be detained in the
hospital until a given date, and the Magistrate has declined to make such
direction in accordance with Section 67 of the Public Health (London) Act,
1891, which is to the following effect.
(1) "A Justice on being satisfied that a person suffering from any
" dangerous infectious disease is in a hospital, and would not, on
" leaving the hospital, be provided with lodging or accommodation
" in which proper precautions could be taken to prevent the
"spreading of the di-ease by such person, may direct such person
" to be detained in the hospital at the cost of the Metropolitan
"Asylums .VJanagers during the time limited by the Justice. Any