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" 6. That in order to facilitate the stamping-out of infectious diseases,
rovision should be made for the disclosure to the Sanitary Authority
of all cases of such diseases in such manner as to the wisdom of
Parliament may appear most expedient" (3).
The influence of the above communication on the Conference
qua provision of hospitals was decisive, the following resolution
having been unanimously adopted, viz.:—
"That in the opinion of this Conference many almost insurmountable
obstacles present themselves to the carrying out by the Vestries and
District Boards of the Metropolis of the powers conferred upon them
by the 37th Section of the Sanitary Act, 1866; and it is further of
opinion that it is desirable that provision should be made by Act of
Parliament for one Authority acting for the whole Metropolis, to
provide hospital accommodation for non-pauper persons suffering
from infectious diseases, and that such Authority should be as far as
possible representative."
The above resolution, the Propositions, the report on " Hospital
Accommodation" (1876), and additional information, viz.,
" Abstract of Evidence, "were by me submitted to the Royal
Commission, together with the following resolutions, drawn up
for, and unanimously adopted by, the Kensington Conference
of Metropolitan Sanitary Authorities (1881), called to consider
the questions of Notification of infectious disease, Compulsory
removal to hospital, Gratuitous hospital treatment, &c., viz. :
" 1. That in the interests of public health, and to enable Nuisance Authorrities
to discharge the duty of checking and preventing the spread of
infectious diseases, such as small-pox, scarlet fever, &c., provision
should be made by legislative enactment to secure the compulsory
disclosure to the said Authorities of all cases of such diseases immediately
after their occurrence (3).
" 2. That the provisions of the 26th Section of the Sanitary Act, 1866,
(Section 124, Public Health Act, 1875), are insufficient for the protection
of the public health, and should be so amended as to empower
any justice to direct the removal to a hospital within the district of
the Nuisance Authority, of any person suffering from any dangerous
infectious disorder and being without proper lodging or accommodation
which would enable him to be properly isolated, so as to
prevent the spread of disease to other inmates of the same house, and
to be properly treated (5).