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 St. Giles District]
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the salient points bearing upon the proof of the preventibility of Consumption
and Tubercular diseases generally (i.e —a summary of our present
knowledge of the causation of these diseases), together with practical suggestions
as to the details of precautionary measures to be observed by individuals,
or to be adopted by public bodies; and if such facts and recommendations
were disseminated as widely as possible.
That, in the opinion of this joint Conference of the Chemical and Municipal
and Parliamentary Sections of the British Institute of Public Health, amendment
of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act is required in the following, among
other, directions:—
(1). The modification of the Warranty Defence in such a way as to
sure the punishment of the real offender.
(2). The appointment of some adequate official scientific authority for
the fixing of milk and other standards, and the investigation of
analytical methods.
(3). The registration of itinerant vendors, and further provision for
sampling goods in transit.
(4). The requirement of clear and legible Labelling of Mixtures and
Impoverished Goods.
(5). The clear inclusion in the term "Pood" of such articles as Baking
Powders, which, under the law as at present construed, may be so
made and sold as to injure the health of the public.
That the Local Government Board, the Metropolitan Asylums Board, and
the various County Councils have their attention called to the importance to
the public of the early recognition and accurate diagnosis of Diphtheria, and
that they be asked to afford medical men facilities for obtaining such
Bacteriological assistance as may lead to the prompt recognition of the disease.
That Municipal Authorities should be empowered to establish and maintain
Crematoria.
That Testators should be empowered to direct how their bodies are to be
disposed of, and executors be compelled to observe such directions.
That it i3 desirable in the interests of Public Health that the present permissive
action provided in the Public Health Act, 1875, to construct Public
Slaughter Houses be made compulsory, and that after the building of such
houses notice be given to owners of ail private slaughter houses that at the
expiration of two or three years no further slaughtering can be permitted in
any but Public Slaughter Houses.
That it is desirable that a representation be made to Government that the
costs incurred in Port Sanitary Work in seeking to protect the country from
the invasion of Cholera should be paid in whole or in part by the State.
The following were the recommendations of the Engineering,
&c., Section:—
That the present want of uniformity in the Regulations and Bye Laws of
Local Authorities in relation to Sanitary Construction and Appliances is
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