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Health might appoint. The Milk and Dairies (Amendment) Act, 1922, (i.) postpones
until 1st September, 1925, the operation of the Milk and Dairies (Consolidation)
Act, 1915, except in so far as it repeals the Milk and Dairies Act, 1914, and the
Milk and Dairies Acts Postponement Act, 1915, (ii.) empowers local authorities
(in London, the City Corporation and the metropolitan borough councils) to refuse
to register or to remove from the register the name of any retailers of milk when such
a course appears necessary in the interests of the public health, (iii.) prohibits the
sale or offer for sale of any milk as "certified," "Grade A," "Pasteurised" or under
any other designation except under and in accordance with a licence granted by the
Minister of Health or with his authority under the provisions of an Order made by
him under the Act, (iv.) prohibits the addition to milk for sale of colouring matter
or water or any dried or condensed milk or any fluid reconstituted therefrom, or any
skimmed milk or separated milk, (v.) makes it an offence for anyone knowingly to
sell the milk from a cow suffering from tuberculosis of the udder, (vi.) authorises the
Minister of Health to make Orders for the prevention of danger arising to public
health from the importation of milk for sale for human consumption. In addition,
the Act contains several other provisions in regard to the administration and
enforcement thereof.
In connection with the arrangements for the better control of measles in London,
the Council on 12th July, 1921, decided that, if so desired by the metropolitan
borough councils, it was prepared to send to authorities of all hospitals and general
medical dispensaries, and to all private practitioners in London, a communication in
a form satisfactory to the borough councils, directing attention to the facilities
available through the public health services for the nursing of cases of measles.
The replies of the borough councils did not indicate complete accord with the
Council's suggestion, and it was decided therefore that for the present no further
action should be taken on the resolution. The London County Council (General
Powers) Act, 1922, empowers sanitary authorities on a report from their medical
officer of health (i.) to cleanse or destroy articles in any house (a) which
are in such a filthy and dangerous or unwholesome condition that health is affected
or endanged thereby, or that the cleansing, disinfection or destruction of any such
articles is requisite to prevent risk of or to check infectious disease, or (b) which are
infested with or likely to be infested with vermin; and (ii.) to give notice in writing
to the owner or occupier of a house or part thereof infested with vermin requiring
him within the period specified in such notice to cleanse such house. Sections 59 and
105 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, are extended and applied to the provision
of means for removing, cleansing and destroying articles or cleansing houses under the
Act. The Act gives to sanitary authorities the power of entry to premises which are
suspected of being infested with vermin or of containing articles which are filthy or
verminous, and imposes on these authorities the duties of enforcing this part of the Act.
Measles and
verminous
conditions.
In connection with the prevention of the spread of infectious diseases, and with
a view of securing prompt recognition of cases of smallpox at the earliest possible
moment, the Council in 1922 issued notices calling the attention of all medical
practitioners, and the authorities of all hospitals and public medical institutions in
London to the facilities provided by the Council in connection with the diagnosis of
smallpox. Sixty-five cases of smallpox occurred in London during 1922, of which
twenty proved fatal. As a precautionary measure against the spread of epidemic
diseases the Council has entered into an agreement in respect of the use of certain
premises as a contact shelter.
Epidemic,
endemic and
infectious
diseases.
The Council on 3rd February, 1920, expressed the opinion that (l.) regulations,
to be in operation when necessary, for objects similar to those of the Public Health
(Influenza) Regulations, 1918, namely, the more effectual perflation and ventilation
of, and the exclusion of children from, places of public entertainment, should be
made at the earliest practicable date, and as a precautionary measure against the
spread of epidemic, endemic or infectious diseases; and (ii.) the Council should be
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