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46
that it might be desirable to establish a chemical and bacteriological laboratory
directly under the control of the Borough Council, and therefore great circumspection
should be used in committing the Council to any scheme as to
a laboratory.
"With regard to the costs, it would practically be a transference from
the borough rates to the county rates, and the price to be paid for this transference
would be the loss of control by the Borough Council. Naturally in a
laboratory or laboratories established by the London County Council, the London
County Council material would take precedencc of that of the Borough Council,
and the London County Council would be able to restrict at any moment the
amount of examination, to limit the number of specimens and to impose such
other conditions as they might desire upon the Borough Council.
"There is no suggestion of any joint control by the Borough Council in the
communications from the London County Council, and if the St. Pancras
Borough Council join the scheme it would be desirable to provide against this
entire absence of control by clearly defined conditions. These conditions
should be—
"(1) That no restrictions be imposed by the London County Council upon
the nature of the specimens to be sent and the extent and nature of
the examinations to be required by St. Pancras.
"(2) That no limit be drawn by the London County Council to the number
of specimens from St. Pancras to be examined.
"(3) That the full results, both positive and negative, of each examination
be immediately reported to the Medical OfEcer of Health of the
Borough of St. Pancras.
"(4) That the Borough Council would be at liberty to send specimens
elsewhere for bacteriological examination, and shall not be precluded
from establishing a bacteriological laboratory, with or without a
chemical laboratory, for the special service of the borough if it should
be considered desirable."
The Public Health Committee recommended—
That the foregoing report of the Medical Officer of Health be approved
and a copy thereof forwarde d to the London County Council, with an
expression of opinion that this Council are in favour of the principle
of the establishment of a central bacteriological laboratory.
On the 19th September, 1906, the Borough Council approved and adopted
the report and recommendation.