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69
diseases, at once, without the necessity of applying for a local
Act; either by means of a general Act, which they could bring
into force themselves, or else by giving them power to make byelaws
for that purpose. The President expressed his willingness to
support a proposition to refer the Bill to a Select Committee: the
Bill, however, was opposed on the second reading, and the House,
having been counted-out the measure was dropped for the Session,
and has not been re-introduced.
Beyond the fact that Parliament has signified its continued
approval of the principle of notification, by passing the “Model
Clause” in certain Local Acts, nothing has to be added to the
above statement; and although compulsory notification is urgently
required, it is evident that we shall have to wait for a more settled
state of political affairs before the present, or any future, Government
will be prepared to deal with the subject in a general Act.
Meanwhile it is well to remember that the Sanitary Authorities in
London have expressed themselves unequivocally in favour of the
principle of notification, their action having been taken under the lead
of your Vestry.* The Metropolitan Asylums Board,it maybe added,
are entirely in agreement with the Sanitary Authorities as to the
necessity for notification, and their great influence will, doubtless,
be exercised at the proper time in support of the desired legislation.
It is noteworthy that, in Regulations framed for the registration
of houses let in lodgings, or occupied by members of more than
one family, “Notification of infectious diseases” is required to be
given to the Medical Officer of Health by the “keeper” and by
any lodger in a “registered house”—under section 47 of the
Sanitary Law Amendment Act, 1874, which provides for “Notices
to be given and precautions to be taken, in case of any dangerously
infectious or contagious disease, under the powers of this Act, or
of the principal Act (i.e., Sanitary Act, 1866), or of the Acts
mentioned therein.”
Your Vestry, having made Regulations under the above Acts,
and deeming it unreasonable that there should be one law for the
* Vide Annual Eeport for 1882, page 69 et seq.