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58
(507) "Our attention has been drawn to the circumstance that outbreaks
of Small-pox have not unfrequently had their origin in the introduction of the
disease to common lodging-houses by tramps wandering from place to place.
In view of this we make the following recommendations
1. That common shelters which are not now subject to the law
relating to common lodging-houses should be made subject to such law.
2. That there should be power to the Local Authority to require
medical examination of all persons entering common lodging-houses
and casual wards to see if they are suffering from Small-pox, and to
offer a reward for prompt information of the presence of the disease.
3. That the Local Authority should have power to order the keeper
of a common lodging-house in which there has been Small-pox to refuse
fresh admissions for such time as may be required by the Authority.
4. That the Local Authority should be empowered to require the
temporary closing of any common lodging-house in which Small-pox
has occurred.
5. That the Local Authority should have power to offer free
lodgings to any inmate of a common lodging-house or casual ward who
may reasonably be suspected of being liable to convey Small-pox.
6. That the Sanitary Authority should give notice to all adjoining
Sanitary Authorities of the occurrence of Small-pox in common lodginghouses
of casual wards.
7. That where the disease occurs the Public Vaccinator or the
Medical Officer of Health should attend and vaccinate the inmates of
such lodging-houses or wards, except such as should be unwilling to
submit themselves to the operation."
Under head (5) the Commissioners report:—
(503) "From the views which we have expressed on the subject of
vaccination, and on the absence of proof that any practical alternative
exists which could be relied on to accomplish the same results if vaccination
fell into disuse, it follows that we are of opinion that the State ought to
continue to promote the vaccination of the people. Nor are we prepared
to recommend that the State should cease to require vaccination and trust
entirely to a voluntary adoption of the practice."
"Again," .... (511)—"In our Fifth Report we recommend that
repeated penalties should no longer be enforced." ....
(521) "We are now in a position to state the reasons which led us to
recommend that repeated penalties should no longer be enforced; indeed,
they will be apparent from what we have already said."