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16
THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE PREVENTION
ACT, 1890.
The above Act is one of the most important Acts that has
ever been passed, and if properly carried out in this district I
feel sure will be very beneficial to the inhabitants in checking
the spread of infectious diseases, I presented the following
report to the Sanitary Committee on December 10th, 1890.
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE SANITARY COMMITTEE.
Gentlemen,
At your last meeting I intimated that I would bring up a
report on the provisions of "the Diseases Prevention Act, 1890."
I might point out to you that this Act is really an adjunct to
the "Notification Act, 1889" and ought to be worked with it.
The Act confers on us, as a Sanitary Authority, additional
powers and means in order to prevent the spread of infectious
disease, and, if it be carried out in its entirety, I feel sure it will
succeed in its evident object. I only intend in this short resume
to deal with a few of the principal sections, in order to show
what additional work will be thrust on the Sanitary Department.
Section 4 states: "Where sufficient evidence is shown that
any infectious cases are attributable to the milk supply from any
dairy within or without the district, the M.O.H. is empowered,
after obtaining an order from a magistrate, to inspect such
dairy," and, if accompanied by a veterinary surgeon, inspect
the animals. If it be the opinion of the M.O.H. that the
infectious disease is carried by the milk supply, a report is to be
made to the Local Authority, accompanied with the report of
the veterinary surgeon, and the Local Authorities may give
notice to the diaryman to appear before them to show cause
why an order should not be made to stop the supply of such
milk, and, if he fail to do so, an order may be made compelling
him to stop such supply. This order however may be withdrawn
on the Local Authority being satisfied that the milk
supply has been changed.
This section of the Act is, to my mind, a most complicated
one, and if ever the necessity arise for setting this part of the
Act in motion, I fear, before any definite action could be taken,
the delay would be so great that the consequences might be
very disastrous.
Section 5 states:—
(1) Where the Medical Officer of health of any Local Authority, or any
other registered Medical Practitioner certifies that the cleansing and disinfecting
of any house or part thereof, and of any articles therein likely to retain infection,
would tend to prevent or check infectious disease, the Clerk to the Local
Authority shall give notice in writing to the owner or occupier of such house or
part thereof that the same and any such articles therein will be cleansed and
disinfected by the Local Authority at the cost of such owner or occupier, unless