View report page

79
moment to record. The report commences with a congratulatory
reference to the fact that the transport of patients was
effected without injury to any person. The Committee state
that the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, somewhat limits
the scope of the Managers' powers for the conveyance of
persons suffering from dangerous infectious diseases, it being
necessary, in order to extend the list of such diseases beyond
those expressly named in the Act, that the London County
Council should make a formal Order to that effect,* a course
involving certain formalities which entail delay; and "delay
at the commencement of an epidemic," they observe, "is apt
to cause greater mischief than can be repaired by any subsequent
efforts." The Committee regret that the Legislature
"were not prepared to take a bolder step" (such as 1 had
repeatedly recommended) " in order to preserve from the taint
of infection the public carriages of the Metropolis—which
being upholstered are incapable of efficient disinfection—
by substituting for their use for persons suffering from all or
any infectious diseases,t the Ambulances of the Managers . . .
which prior to the passing of the Act could be used at the
discretion of the Managers. The limitation referred to
practically results in the use of public cabs for the purpose."
The Committee refer with justifiable satisfaction to the
" admiration of the perfect organisation, method, and order
observable in all the details of the Ambulance Service,"
The Local Government Hoard, it may lie staled, sanctioned, in January, 1892,
the use of the Managers' Ambulances for the conveyance of persons suffering from
Influenza to places other than the hospitals provided by the Managers, pending the
consideration of the application made by the Managers to the County Council for
an Order under the provisions of the Public Health Act.
† 1 have already observed that the 70th section of the Public Health (London)
Act, expressly prohibits the use of public vehicles for the conveyance of a
person suffering from a ''dangerous infectious" (or notifiable) disease. Presumably
no offence would be committed by the use of a cab for the conveyance of a person
suffering, e.g., from measles or whooping-cough. No doubt the Board could
obtain a formal order from the County Council to enable them to use their
Ambulances for the conveyance of persons suffering from these diseases,