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put on the same footing as the operation of vaccination; for no ratepayer
of ordinary intelligence would object to a trifling increase of his
rates, practically inappreciable, to secure protection against infectious
disease, unless he valued the health and the lives of his family less
than the preservation of his property, which he insures against the contingency
of destruction by fire by voluntary payments for insurance, in
addition to a compulsory rate in support of a fire brigade.*
Ambulances.—The subject of ambulance-provision was raised in an
effective way during the year by the publication of a Report by
my colleague, the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, in which
he showed that in some districts many and serious irregularities exist in
connection with the housing and the use of the vehicles employed for
the conveyance of the infectious sick to the hospitals. The leading
recommendation, however, contained in the Report did not meet
with universal acceptance, for the Managers of the Metropolitan
Asylums Board demurred to the proposition that they should supply
the conveyances, the horses, and the drivers—first because they have
110 power to do as suggested, and secondly because the plan would lead
to a large, and as they thought, unnecessary increase of expenditure.
The remaining recommendations are substantially complied with in
our parish, the Guardians of the Poor having provided separate and
well-constructed carriages for small-pox and fever cases respectively;
and the sick being placed in the charge of a paid attendant who lives
at the workhouse, in special isolated quarters adjoining the ambulance
sheds; he, moreover, being responsible for the cleanliness and disinfection
of the vehicles.†
PREVENTION OP THE SPREAD OF INFECTIOUS
DISEASES.
Is one of the chief duties appertaining to the office I hold; and it
is one which constantly engages the attention of all the officers in my
Department. A difficulty with which we have to contend is the want
of information of the occurrence of non fatal cases of illness; and it
has been my constant endeavour to increase our sources of such
information.
In "The Poor Law Act, 1879," the Government have made an attempt to deal with the
question treated in this section (vide Addendum, page 81.
† '"The Poor Law Act, 1879," enables the Metropolitan Asylums Board to provide ambulances
(vide Addendum, page 82)*