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8
Compulsory Notification of Infectious Diseases.
The question of the compulsory notification of infectious diseases
has for some time past engaged the attention of the public interested
in the prevention of the spreading of such diseases, and the importance
of it was clearly manifested by the large deputation, consisting
of members of the several Vestries and District Boards of the Metropolis,
the members of the British Medical Association, members of
the Association of the Medical Officers of Health, and members of
the Social Science Association, to the President of the Local
Government Board.
That such information to the Sanitary authorities is absolutely
required for the better protection of the public health is universally
admitted by all who have paid attention to the subject. If facts were
required to be adduced to show the necessity for such information
being given, they could be abundantly furnished by Medical Officers
of Health. In the Whitechapel District in the year 1877, smallpox
broke out in a severe form in Spring Gardens, and it was not
until a death occurred in that place that the Medical Officer of Health
became informed of the existence of the disease. On inquiry it was
ascertained that several days had elapsed since the disease had first
manifested itself, and at the time of the visit of the Sanitary Officer,
it was found that several persons had received the infection. I have
no hesitation in saying that had I had information of the first case
when it became known, and had it been promptly removed to a
Small-pox Hospital, the extension of the disease would have been
prevented. If this disease should occur in an establishment where
a large number of persons live on the premises, and where an extensive
business is carried on, I can readily understand the reluctance
which would be felt by the proprietor to give information. At the
same time, the information given to the sanitary authority would
merely be a temporary inconvenience, since steps would be immediately
taken to isolate the patient, and, thus, there would be
little or no danger to the other persons living on the premises; but
otherwise, the danger of such disease spreading would be very great,
and the proprietor of the establishment would suffer much more
inconvenience in his business by the extension of the disease in his
establishment. If benefit has resulted in those towns where the law
of compulsory intimation of infectious disease obtains, I see at present
no good reason why the same law should not be extended to the