§ MR. WALDEGRAVE-LESLIEsaid, he wished to ask the Vice President of the Council, Whether the Government contemplate bringing forward any Measure to render more compulsory the isolation of persons infected with smallpox, scarlet fever, &c.?
§ LORD ROBERT MONTAGUreplied, that the Government, as at present advised, did not contemplate bringing forward any measure to render more compulsory the isolation of persons infected with smallpox, scarlet fever, &c. Article 38 of the Sanitary Act, 1866, provided against certain dangers to the public from persons with contagious diseases, and imposed a penalty on any person exposing himself when so affected. The policy of that Act was to place the power in the hands of the local authority. The hon. Member appeared to desire to take the power out of the hands of the local authority and to give it to the central authority. A central government, however, could not work such a provision, for it meant, if it meant anything, that the Government should place every infected person in strict durance for at least two months, until all danger of infection had passed away. The Vaccination Act of last year was resisted because 1287 it was compulsory; but that was nothing to such a proposal as this.