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182
The new Act for the Notification of Infectious Diseases
came into action in every London district on the 30th
October, 1889. The Act has worked perfectly, and is a great
advance in Sanitary Legislation.
Under this Act all cases of Infectious Disease, other than
those in a hospital for the reception of Infectious Disease, must
be notified forthwith to the Medical Officer of Health.
"Infectious Disease" is defined as including Small.pox,
Cholera, Diphtheria, Membranous Croup, Erysipelas, the
disease known as Scarlatina or Scarlet Fever, and the Fevers
known by any of the following names:—Typhus, Typhoid,
Enteric, Relapsing, Continued, or Puerperal. It also includes,
as respects any particular district, any other Infectious
Disease to which this Act has been applied by a special
resolution of the Sanitary Authority—such special resolution
having been approved of by the Local Government Board.
The provisions of this Act over.ride those which may be
in force for a like purpose under any local Act.
The duty of notification is cast by the Act on the head of
the family or other lay representative of the sick person. It
is also cast upon the Medical Practitioner in attendance
upon the patient. The duty of notifying is not upon one or
the other, but upon each, and therefore the Medical
Attendant is bound to send his certificate to the Medical
Officer of Health in all cases that may come under his
care.
Upon the Medical Officer of Health is cast the duty of
forwarding to the Managers of the Metropolitan Asylums
District copies of all such certificates within twelve hours
of their receipt.