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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of a large class of nuisances. Section 18 will probably have
the effect of bringing about indirectly, such a new order of things,
desiderated in the interests of public health.
Dust Removal is to be deemed a business carried on by the
Sanitary Authority, and the clause relating to it (13) is placed in
the section of the Bill dealing with offensive trades. It should,
as just stated, be the duty of the Sanitary Authority to remove
all offensive trade refuse, just as they are required to remove
house refuse, but at the cost of the producers : thus only can
nuisance be effectually prevented.
Notification of Infectious Disease.—Power is given— section
30 (2)—for needed improvements in the form of the medical certificate,
all of which I had introduced into the form in use in this
Parish. The certificate should also state, as ours provides, whether the
patient has been, or should be removed to hospital. With regard
to the payment of the fee to the certifying medical practitioner,
it should be made conditional upon the certificate being forwarded
"forthwith." It would be a most uncongenial duty to have to
prosecute for neglect. I hear of cases of illness, now and then,b efore
they are notified, and have to write to the practitioner for his certificate,
for which the fee is paid; whereas if the law was duly
carried out, penalty would be sued. Hospital authorities, other than
the Managers of the Asylums Board, will be required—section 30
(1)—to notify the admission of cases of infectious disease, thus
abolishing an exemption which has had ill effects. Provision is made
for the weekly return of infectious cases reported to the Asylums
Board, now sent by the Board to the County Council, to be
sent to the several Sanitary Authorities, to the London School
Board, and to the Managers of every Public Elementary School
in London. The words italicised are objectionable. Such
publicity would have a detrimental effect upon the working of the
Act. It is needless, moreover. All that is necessary is that the
Medical Officer of Health should send to the Superintendent of
Visitors, information of infected houses whence children attend
any public elementary school. The Superintendent should be