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47
had been decided that "the fitness of the lodging or accommodation
should be considered in relation to the wants of the sufferer, rather
than with any reference to the safety of the remaining inmates of
the house," and thus we were "often prevented removing cases
eminently in need of isolation." And I showed how this defect had
been remedied in the Warrington Local Act, 1878, which requires
that the sick person, if he is to be treated at home, must have
"lodging or accommodation" such as to enable him" to be properly
isolated, so as to prevent the spread of disease, or to be properly
treated:" failing which conditions the Corporation may give notice
to the head of the family requiring the sick person to be removed
forthwith to the hospital, and in case of refusal on his part, may
appeal to the justice for an "order" in conformity with the
provisions of the 26th section of the Sanitary Act, 1866, as
amended in the terms of the local Act.
I suggested as a practical way of giving effect to my views—
(1) That powers should be sought to ensure the disclosure of
the graver diseases only of the zymotic class, viz., cholera,
small pox, scarlet fever, diphtheria, typhus and typhoid
fevers.
(2) That the registered medical practitioner should be required
"forthwith," i.e., as soon as he becomes aware that his
patient is suffering from any one of the scheduled diseases,
to fill up and sign a certificate setting out the facts, and to
be given to the occupier of the house.
(3) That the duty of reporting the illness, and of transmitting
the doctor's certificate to the Nuisance Authority "without
delay," should be imposed on the occupier of the house.
(4) That an amendment of the 26th Section of the Sanitary
Act, 1866, in the terms or to the effect of the Warrington
Act, should be applied for, so as to ensure that every case
of infectious disease which cannot be "isolated" and treated
at home without danger of the spread of the disease to other
inmates in the same building, should be removed to a hospital.
The time is ripe for these concessions, for it is well known that
the Local Government Board are favourable to the principles they