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62
VOLUNTARY NOTIFICATION OF INFECTIOUS
DISEASES.
Whilst awaiting the advent of a system of compulsory notification
of infectious diseases, constant efforts have been made, ever since
my appointment in 1871, to obtain, by " voluntary notification,"
information of the occurrence of such diseases, and it will not be
out of place here to recapitulate the sources from which such information
is now received.
1. By virtue of an arrangement entered into between your Vestry and the
sub-district registrars, in 1871, I receive notice of every death from the
graver infectious diseases, (small-pox, scarlet fever, diphtheria, typhus,
enteric and simple continued fevers), immediately 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 made, as it is, without loss of time. (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 twentyfour
hours, were made compulsory.)
2. The Believing Officers, by direction of the Board of Guardians, report
cases of dangerous infectious disease that come to their knowledge, and
generally these are cases that have been, or are about to be, removed
to the hospitals of the Asylums Board.
3. The Asylums Board report small-pox and fever cases admitted into their
hospitals, by sending immediate notice of each case to the Local
Medical Officer of Health. They also forward, weekly, to every Medical
Officer of Health in the Metropolis a complete list of admissions to
their land and river hospitals during the previous seven days.
4. The Resident Medical Officer of the Kensington Dispensary reports
infectious eases, which he is not allowed to treat in the homes of the
poor when they cannot be properly isolated.
5. Medical men occasionally report cases, especially when they desire
assistance to get patients, (e.g., domestic servants), removed to hospital ;
or when they require the aid of the disinfecting staff.
6. 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.
7. The Postal Authorities have intimated to the medical officers of the
Department 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.