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is authorised to grant licences to producers to sell Grade A milk, and if the producer
of such milk delivers the same to the consumer direct, to issue also a distributor's
licence. The order provided that if the Minister of Health was satisfied that a
county council was unwilling or did not propose to grant the licences, the Minister
might authorise the district council (in London, the metropolitan borough councils)
to do so. In view of existing legislation, the Council considered that there would
be, in effect, dual jurisdiction in London in matters concerning the supply and
distribution of milk, and in these circumstances and in view of the very small demand
for producers' licences fo sell Grade A milk, the Council on 31st July, 1923, decided
not to exercise the power conferred by the order.
Epidemic,
endemic and
infectious
diseases.
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. Eleven cases of smallpox occurred in London during 1923, of which
one proved fatal.
No decision has been come to by the Minister of Health upon the Council's
representations (see Annual Report for 1922, vol. III., pp. 107-8) to the effect that it
should be empowered in times of epidemic to close for short intervals places of public
entertainment in which the ventilation is determined by the Council to be unsatisfactory,
or to take such action as may appear to be expedient in order to prevent the
spread of infectious disease among persons frequenting such premises..
By-laws as to
drains, etc.
The drainage by-laws made by the Council in 1900 under section 202 of the
Metropolis Management Act, 1855, restricted the materials of soil and ventilating
pipes within buildings to drawn lead only. From time to time representations have
been made with a view to the relaxation of this requirement, and after careful
consideration the Council on 23rd October, 1923, made amending by-laws allowing
such pipes to be constructed of heavy cast-iron as well as of drawn lead. The
amending by-laws have been submitted to the Minister of Health for approval.
Appeal
Committee.
The Appeal Committee are the statutory appeal committee under the Metropolis
Management Act, 1855, section 212. The Committee also hear and decide all appeals
made to the Council under any other Act of Parliament (except appeals undersection
20 (5) of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, against decisions of the
Public Health Committee). No appeals were heard during the year 1923.
Health
administration
in
London.
Details are given in the Annual Report for 1921 (vol. III., p. 67) of the Council's
action with regard to the organisation of health administration in London. In
accordance with the decision of the Council on 29th November, 1921, and 16th
January, 1922, evidence relating to public health services was given before the
Royal Commission on London Government on the lines of the report submitted to
the Council on 19th December, 1919, by the Special Committee on Health Administration
in London* (see Annual Report, 1921, vol. 1., pp. 34-36 ; and 1922, vol. 1.,
pp. 46-52). The report of the Royal Commission was issued in March, 1923 (see
vol. I., pp. 46-7).
Diseases of
animals.
The Diseases of Animals Acts, 1894 to 1911, the object of which is the suppression
of contagious diseases in animals, naturally do not affect London so much as the
country. In London, apart from swine fever, attention is now principally directed
to glanders, anthrax, rabies, parasitic mange and foot and mouth disease, diseases
which are communicable to man. The Acts are supplemented by Orders issued
by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. During 1923 the incidence of the
principal animal diseases so far as London is concerned was as follows :—Glanders,
including farcy, nil; swine fever, two outbreaks, one affecting 44 animals ; anthrax,
nil; parasitic mange, 128 outbreaks involving 226 animals, and foot and mouth
disease, one outbreak affecting 20 animals.
* Report of the Special Committee on Health Administration in London. No. 2000. Price 3d.