Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington]
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the Lord Mayor of London), when the subject was fully debated,
there being a large attendance of delegates from England and
Wales, and the meeting being held in the Council Chamber of
the Guildhall, by permission of the Lord Mayor, on behalf of
the Corporation. The Mayor of Salford moved a resolution;
"That a memorial be presented to the Local Government
Board, praying them to introduce, or to give active support to
a Bill for the compulsory notification of infectious disease, and
that the Council be requested to give effect to this resolution."
In the course of the discussion, Dr. Tindal Robertson, M.P,
(Brighton), referring to the objection by the people of Brighton
to a proposed Local Bill, said they "did not oppose a general
system of notification applied to the whole country." The mover
of the resolution referred to the immunity of Salford from
infectious diseases, due to notification. Mr. Picton, M.P.,
observed that his town, Leicester, guarded against small-pox
almost entirely by notification. Mr. Powell, M.P. (Wigan),
stated that in conjunction with Mr. Hastings, M.P., he had
drafted a Bill dealing with the subject, and it would be introduced
in the House of Commons on the first available
opportunity. With that view he thought it would strengthen
the hands of the promoters of the measure if the motion of the
Mayor of Salford were amended, so as to promise assistance to
private members who might introduce the Bill. He said that if
the Bill was introduced by himself and Mr. Hastings, it would
be with the sanction and under the co-operation of the Government,
and if the measure did not become law. it would be "a
deliberate disgrace to the Legislature." The motion was passed,
amended as suggested by Mr. Powell.
THE ACTION OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD.
The communications addressed to the Board were not
without effect, for towards the close of the year they forwarded a
circular to the Local Authorities of the Towns, &c., where the
system is in force enquiring: