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50
VOLUNTARY NOTIFICATION OF INFECTIOUS
DISEASES.
Prevention of the spread of infectious diseases being a
chief duty appertaining to my office, constant efforts have
been made to obtain, by "voluntary notification," information
of the occurrence of such diseases, and it will not be out
of place here to mention the sources from which such information
is now obtained.
1. By virtue of ail arrangement entered into between your Vestry and the
sub-district registrars, I receive notice of every death from the graver
infectious diseases, (small-pox, scarlet fever, diphtheria, typhus, enteric
and simple continued fevers), within a few hours after registration.
When a death from an infectious disease has occurred, there is always a
probability of finding cases of illness in the same house or in the
locality, and such discovery not unfrequently results from the Sanitary
Inspector's visit. Occasionally the registration of a death is unduly
delayed—sometimes, apparently, with the object of temporary concealment
of the cause of death: it would be well, therefore, 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 the graver infectious diseases that come within their cognizance,
and generally these are cases that have been, or are about to be,
removed to the hospitals of the Asylums Board, admission to which,
(although practically denied to no person), can only be obtained at
present 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.
4. Medical men favour me occasionally with information of cases, especially
when they desire assistance in order to get patients, (e,g., domestic
servants), removed to hospitals; or when they want the assistance of
the disinfecting staff.
5. The Chief Commissioner of Police has instructed Divisional Surgeons
that on the occurrence of infectious disease being reported in the
residence of a police officer, the Medical Officer of Health is to receive
due notice of the fact, and a few such cases have been notified.
6. The Postal Authorities have taken a similar step, having intimated to the
numerous medical officers of the department throughout the country,
that if in their several districts it be not already the rule to give notice
of infectious diseases to the Sanitary Authority, it would be well that
such a rule should be introduced in the case of Post Office Servants.
* This rule has been relaxed in operation, since the above portion of the report
was in type, Vide page 57.