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75
To the Chief Commissioner of Police your Clerk wrote, at
the same time, as follows:—
“I understand that the Medical Officer of Health communicated
to you, on the 30th October last, a copy of a letter he had addressed
to the Postmaster General, with reference to infectious diseases.
That Officer informs me that he did not receive any reply to his
communication, but that he is in possession of the ‘Police Order.
sent to Divisional Surgeons subsequent to his letter In the interests
of public health, and as representing the Sanitary Authority, I beg
to endorse the Medical Officer.s application for your co.operation in
efforts to isolate cases of infectious illness occurring in the families of
police.officers."
A correspondence ensued, and action was taken by the
issue of memoranda for the guidance of Divisional Surgeons
of Police, to which I shall now refer.
It appears that the subject had been dealt with to a certain
extent by the issue of the subjoined memorandum in the early
part of 1882:—
“Sick: Infectious Diseases, March 7, 1882.—On the occurrence
of infectious disease in the residence of a police.officer, the Divisional
Surgeon is to visit the premises to verify the fact, and to see that
the parish authorities receive due notice, so that the rooms and their
contents be properly disinfected. A report from the Divisional Surgeon
is also to be submited — Whether, in his opinion, the case ought
to be removed to the Fever Hospital ?
“The diseases to be recorded as infectious are small.pox, typhus,
scarlet.fever, and diphtheria. In cases where the Divisional Surgeon
thinks it necessary that a police.officer, in whose residence infectious
disease has broken out, should be absent from duty, leave will be
allowed by the Commissioners on the Divisional Surgeon.s certificate
from week to week."
As the result, apparently, of the communication I made to the
Chief Commissioner in October, the following (second) memorandum
was issued in November:—
“Sick: Infectious diseases.—Referring to Police Orders, 7th
March last, under this head.—On the occurrence of infectious disease
being reported in the residence of a police.officer, the Divisional Surgeon
is to see that the Medical Officer of Health receives due notioe,
as well as all other Parish Authorities."