View report page

44
Although Local Authorities should be on their guard against
Plague, it is not intended to suggest that there exists any cause for
alarm. There can be no doubt that, in this country, hygienic conditions
and methods of dealing with infectious diseases are far in
advance of those of former centuries wherein Plague was repeatedly
epidemic in our populations; they are in advance too, as we believe,
of those in localities abroad where Plague has shown itself formidable
in recent years. And in so far as, in our districts, these conditions
and methods are now satisfactory and sufficient, there is the less
likelihood of spread of infection from Plague cases casually imported.
During the past 50 years there has occurred in England and Wales
a large diminution in the mortality from most diseases of the
infectious class, and in the same period Typhus Fever has declined
almost to extinction. This latter disease is that which, as regards the
conditions under which it becomes prevalent, most closely resembles
Plague. Wherefore it may be confidently anticipated that the
measures of sanitary improvement, of isolation and of disinfection,
which have been found effectual against indigenous disease such as
Typhus will, if promptly and thoroughly brought to bear, be equally
effectual against Plague.
First among measures requisite for control of Plague is prompt
information to the Local Authority of all cases of the disease occurring
in their district. The Board, therefore, have issued an Order requiring,
under penalty, immediate notification to the Medical Officer of Health
of the district, and by him to the Board, of every recognized case of
Plague. Meanwhile, and in order to help toward recognition of this
disease in its obscurer manifestations, a statement of the clinical
features exhibited by this malady will be found in Part (2) of this
Memorandum. Further, and with a view to assisting in the identification
of Plague newly developing in one and another district, the
Board have arranged for bacteriological testing, without cost to the
Local Authority, of material submitted to their Medical Officer by the
Medical Officer of Health from the earliest suspected case or cases.*
* Directions for collecting and forwarding suspected material are issued by the
Local Government Board to Medical Officers of Health.