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39
Now and then the registration of a death has been unduly
delayed—sometimes probably with the object of temporary
concealment of the cause of death. It would be well if
registration within a limited period, say twenty-four hours,
were made compulsory.
2. The Relieving Officers, by direction of the Board of Guardians,
report all cases of infectious disease that come within their
cognizance, and generally these are cases that have been,
or are about to be, removed to the hospitals of the Metropolitan
Asylum District, admission to which (practically
denied to no person) can only be obtained on the order of a
relieving officer, or the master of a workhouse.
3. Similar information is given by the Resident Medical Officer
of the Kensington Dispensary, by request of the Committee
of Management. We seldom hear of sickness
through any similar institution ; and it is a matter of regret
that many cases that ought to be removed to the hospitals
are treated at home by medical men attached to so-called
"provident dispensaries."
4. Medical men favour me occasionally with information of cases,
especially when they desire assistance in order to get the
patients (e.g., domestic servants) removed to hospitals; or
when they want the assistance of the disinfecting staff.
5. In my annual report for 1877,I referred to what I thought to
be an important step that had then lately been effected
through the action of the London School Board, which, at
my request, had instructed the Superintendents of Divisions
throughout the Metropolis to desire the "Visitors" to
report to the several Medical Officers of Health all cases of
infectious disease that should come to their knowledge in
the discharge of their official duties which take them frequently
into the homes of the poorer classes. To facilitate
the transmission of this information by the Visitors, your
Vestry authorized me to prepare a form for their use. This
was done; but I must say, that hitherto, the resolution of the
Board has not been attended with the hoped for results.
The Board, moreover, at one time, showed a disposition to