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40
On the 10th July, a reply was received from the Local
Government Board, stating that a Bill had been introduced into
Parliament providing that the Vestries and District Boards in
London should be promptly informed of cases of Infectious
Disease existing in their districts.
This Bill passed into law as the Infectious Disease (Notification)
Act, 1889, 52 and 53 Vic., cap. 72, and came into
operation on the 30th October, 1889.
Under the provisions of this Act, it is compulsory for the
following diseases to be notified to the Medical Officers of the
Vestry, viz.:—small pox, cholera, diphtheria, membranous
croup, erysipelas, scarlatina, and scarlet, typhus, typhoid,
enteric, relapsing, continued, or puerperal fevers.
The notification is required to be given by the head of the
family to which the patient belongs, and, in his default, by the
nearest relatives of the patient present in the building or being
in attendance on the patient, and, in default of such relatives,
by every person in charge of, or in attendance upon the patient,
and, in default of any such person, by the occupier of the
building.
Every Medical Practitioner attending on, or called in to
visit, the patient, is also required to give notice, and every
person required by the Act to give a notice who fails to do so is
liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding forty
shillings.
The Act applies to every ship, vessel, boat, tent, van, shed,
or similar structure used for human habitation, in like manner
as nearly as may be as if it were a building.
The Vestry are required to pay to Medical Practitioners for
each certificate received, a fee of two shillings and sixpence if the
case occurs in their private practice and a fee of one shilling if
the case occurs in their practice as Medical Officer of any public
body or institution.
The fees paid to Medical Practitioners in respect of cases so
notified are refunded to the Vestry by the Metropolitan Asylums