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bodies named being invited to co-operate with the Sanitary
Authorities with a view to securing the objects embraced in the
resolutions.
The subject of Notification had been considered by the
Society of Medical Officers of Health, in view of the proposed
Conference, and a resolution as follows adopted:—
"That in the opinion of the Society, whenever a case of infections disease
occurs in any house or vessel, it should be a legal obligation on the person
in charge of the house or vessel, or on the person in charge of the case, to
report the fact to the Sanitary Authority without delay.
"That it should be a legal obligation on every Medical Practitioner in
attendance on any such case, to give immediate written information respecting
its nature to the occupier or other person responsible for reporting it to the
Sanitary Authority."
It may be added that, subsequently to the Conference,
a meeting of the Metropolitan Poor Law Guardians Association
(29th April, 1881), after hearing a paper by Mr. Rutherglen,
Clerk to the Kensington Guardians, on "The difficulties as to
isolation and treatment of cases of small-pox and fever
in the Metropolis," unanimously resolved: — "That the
Government be asked to include " (in a proposed Act) "provision
for the compulsory notification of Infectious Diseases."
And on May 28th of the same year, the Asylums Board
directed a communication to be made to the Local Government
Board, to the effect that, in their opinion, "Provision should be
made in any new Act for the compulsory notification of any
infectious or contagious disease, in every class of the community
to the respective Sanitary Authorities."
But to resume: The deputation waited upon the President
of the Local Government Board (Right Hon. J. G.
Dodson), 23rd April, 1881. It was introduced by Mr. G.
Hastings, M.P., and Dr. Farquharson, M.P. The resolutions
were spoken to by the late Major-General Boileau, R.E., F.R.S.,
for the Sanitary Authorities; by Dr. Alfred Carpenter, J.P.,
for the Council of the British Medical Association; by Dr.
Bristowe, F.R.S., for the Council of the Society of Medical
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