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Returns of cases of sickness which were obtained by the Medical Officers
of Health, and forwarded by them every week without expense to the public.
These returns were continued by that gentleman, with the assistance of one
or more members of the Association of Health Officers, for two years, and
were printed and circulated at the expense of the Government; but owing to
some economical objections which were raised, the returns were discontinued.
If all the Medical Officers of Health were to obtain weekly (and which
could be easily done, without incurring expense), a return of the sickness
prevailing among the pauper population of each district, and lay the same
before each meeting of the Vestry or District Board, a tolerably good
knowledge of the health of the Metropolis might be obtained; and as
the returns of sickness are published in the local newspapers, the public
would be informed of the state of health among the poor of each locality. I
may here observe that, for any practical purposes, a general return of sickness
in the United Kingdom must be made weekly, and this should be published
simultaneously with the returns of the Registrar General.
I have no doubt, from the desire which has been shewn by the Metropolitan
Health Officers to promote the public health, that a return of the
pauper cases of sickness could be readily obtained by the Local Government
Board every week, if the Medical Officer of that Board were to request each
Medical Officer of Health to send such a return to him in a prescribed form.
I may here state that I have, ever since the formation of the Board,
regularly, week by week, obtained from the books of the Medical Officers of
the Union an account of all the new cases of illness occurring among the
pauper population. This weekly return enables me to take prompt action in
every instance where epidemic diseases occur. The Sanitary Commission, at
page 177 of their report, make the following important recommendations:—
'That, in addition to the duties prescribed by the existing registration Acts,
it should be made the duty of the Registrar General, and of the District
Registrars, to register disease and sickness, or specified cases of disease and
sickness."
"That, in every case of death, the medical attendant, or, where none, the
District Medical Officer of Health, should certify to the District Registrar the
cause of death; and should also, in cases of suspicion, but not otherwise, givo
notice to the coroner."
The Acts of Parliament relating to Sanitary matters which have been passed
during the last Session are—An Act to amend the Public Health; an Act for
the better protection of Infant Life; an Act to amend the Law for the prevention
of Adulteration of Food and Drink and of Drugs; an Act to regulate
the use of Steam Whistles in certain Manufactories, and an Act for regulating
the Sale of Intoxicating Liquors. This last Act contains several stringent
sections relating to the adulteration of intoxicating liquors.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
15, Great Alie Street. JOHN LIDDLE.