Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Rotherhithe]
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cause of the infection has been removed." Section 5, dealing with the cleansing and
disinfection of premises, is enlarged and embodied in Section 60 of the Public Health
(London) Act. Section 6, dealing with the disinfection of bedding and other articles
likely to retain infection, is likewise covered by the 59th Section of the later Act.
The fact is, the all-comprehensive London Act has completely overshadowed its useful
preliminary.
Third.- "An Act to consolidate and amend the Acts relating to Artizans' and
Labourers' Dwellings and the Housing of the Working Classes, 18th August, 1890."
There were two Acts which this one was intended to amend—Cross's, and Torrens's.
The first of these was applicable to blocks of houses covering large areas; the other
to single houses, or blocks smaller than those coming under the power of Cross's.
Both of the Acts were so inoperative that they became almost a nullity. The expensive
machinery set to work in order to obtain what might be unsanitary, but what afterwards
might prove to be worthless property, made Vestries and Boards who had public
money to spend, and who had also to account for the spending of it, look sharply
about them before entering into treaty for such classes of property. What was
consequently an almost positive demand, was made for a Royal Commission—the result
of this Boyal Commission was the Act we now consider. The Act extends to the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It is made up of seven parts: and to
make the understanding of it as plain as possible it may be stated that part i.
relates to "Unhealthy Areas;" part ii. to "Unhealthy Dwelling-houses;" part iii. to
"Working Class Lodging-houses;" part iv. is "Supplemental" containing twenty-two
sections relating to a variety of topics; part v. is the application of the Act to
Scotland; part vi., its application to Ireland; and part vii. deals with the various Acts
(thirteen entire, and portions of two) repealed and temporary provisions relating to
compensation, to the power of the local authority to enter and value premises, and to
the compensation of tenants for expense of removal. The first schedule, having reference to
England and Wales only, states that for the purposes of parts i. and iii. the local
authority is "the County Council of London." For the purposes of part ii. the local
authority is the Vestry or Board of Works elected under the Metropolis Management
Act, 1855. It would appear from this that the local authority is restricted to carrying