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68
PUBLIC HEALTH LEGISLATION, 1890.
The principal Acts passed in the Session of 1890 of interest
to those engaged in sanitary administration, were the Housing of
the Working Classes Act, to be referred to in another place, and
THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE (PREVENTION) ACT.
This measure, which came into force on the 4th December, was
modified in its course through Parliament by the omission of
clauses dealing with dairies and laundries, the proprietors of
which, by the terms of the Bill as introduced, might, in certain
circumstances, have been called upon to furnish to the Local
Authority a list of their customers, a provision practically unnecessary,
having regard to the fact that we now possess, in the
Infectious Disease (Notification) Act, 1889, a means for obtaining
all requisite information as to the existence and spread of infectious
diseases.
The Act confers upon the Local Authorities and their officers
important powers and duties as regards—
(a) The inspection of dairies, and the prohibition of the supply
of milk therefrom in cases where it appears that infectious
disease is attributable to, or likely to be caused
by, consumption of milk so supplied;
(b) The cleansing and disinfection of premises, bedding,
clothing, etc., for the purpose of preventing or checking
infectious diseases;
(c) The retention, removal, and burial of the bodies of persons
who have died from infectious disease;
(d) The detention in hospital of persons suffering from
infectious diseases, who would, on leaving the hospital,
be without proper lodging; and