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109
PROGRESS IN SANITARY LEGISLATION.
In my Annual Report for 1888, I referred to a Synopsis
of various matters, relating to the extension of the duties and
powers of the Managers of the Metropolitan Asylums Board
with respect to infectious disease, which were still under the
consideration of the Local Goverment Board. This synopsis
had been prepared by direction of the General Purposes Committee
at the latter end of 1888, and a copy of it was forwarded
to the President of the Local Government Board, "for his information
and consideration in connection with any Bill
affecting the duties and responsibilities of the Managers,
which it may be his intention to submit to Parliament."The
document was of interest, as showing, inter alia, the willingness
of the Managers to undertake the duties of a Central
Hospital Authority in regard to measures for checking and
preventing the spread of infectious disease. The subjects
referred to in the Synopsis were—
(1) Admission to Hospital of all classes of Infectious
Patients.
(2) General Conveyance of Infectious Persons to Hospital.
(3) Admission of cases of Diphtheria to the Hospitals.
(4) Compulsory Notification of Infectious Diseases.
(5) Compulsory Removal of the Infectious Sick to Hospital,
when without proper lodging or accommodation.
(6) Compulsory Purchase of Land.
(7) Contracts with Sanitary Authorities for the Reception
and Maintenance in Hospitals of Non-paupers.
The objects sought to be attained in respect of (1), (2), (3),
(4) and (6) were attained by the passing of the Infectious Disease
(.Notification) Act, 188g, and the Poor Law Act, 1889—Acts
repealed by the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, in which
their provisions are re-enacted. At page 107 I have referred to
the question of (5) Compulsory Removal of the Sick, which still