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7
mation, and I think your Board will admit that they are not by
any means equal to the importance of the subject. Towards the
end of 1881 a Royal Commission was appointed to enquire respecting
Smallpox and Fever Hospitals in the Metropolis. The
Commissioners held thirty-seven meetings, and examined fortyeight
witnesses, comprising physicians of the highest eminence, the
secretary, and several medical inspectors of the Local Government
Board, and others connected with sanitary and poor law administration.
The enquiry was most exhaustive, and touched upon
among other matters this question of the Compulsory Notification
of infectious diseases, and I do not think I can do better than quote
from the practical recommendations of the Commission on this
and kindred subjects. At page XXXI. of the Report are these
words:— "We are of opinion that the provision of Hospital accommodation
for persons suffering from infectious disease in the
Metropolitan Districts should be entirely disconnected from the
administration of the poor law and treated as part of the Sanitary
arrangements of the Metropolis. We think that the conduct of
the Hospitals cannot be better placed than under the management
of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, with such changes in their
mode of election as shall give the Sanitary Authorities of London,
that is to say, the Vestries, District Boards, and Commissioners of
Sewers at least an equal influence with the Guardians of the poor
in the choice of the elective members of the Board. We think
that every person suffering from an infectious disease or those in charge
of him, or if these neglect their duty, the occupier of the house in
which the sick person is residing, or if he is a pauper, his Medical
attenclent should be required by law to notify the nature of the
disease to the Medical Officer of Health so soon as they or any of
them are aware of it; and that in the case of non-paupers the Medical
attendant should, if it is inexpedient to impose any further