HC Deb 02 July 1878 vol 241 cc588-90
SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether it is true that, during the year ended the 25th of March last, 1,816 deaths from small pox occurred within that portion of the metropolis described as "Lesser London" by the Registrar General; whether such a total number of fatal cases may with approximate accuracy be taken to represent 18,000 attacks of small pox within the same area and during the same period; and, whether the sanitary authorities already possess, under Section 26 of the Act 29 and 30 Vic. c. 90, sufficient powers to enable them adequately to cope with the evil; and, if not, if he has considered whether compulsory registration of infectious diseases might not be tried with advantage?

MR. SCLATER-BOOTH

, in reply, said, he believed it was true that 1,816 deaths from small-pox occurred during the year ended March 25, and that number might be taken to represent 18,000 attacks of small-pox. However lamentable that number of deaths, it was nothing in proportion with the last epidemic in the Metropolis. The local authorities had power to apply to a magistrate, on a certificate of a medical officer, for an order for the compulsory removal to hospitals of persons suffering from infectious diseases who had no moans of isolation; but that was a power which, of course, only applied to the confined dwellings of the poorer classes. Before a complete control over such diseases on the part of the sanitary authority could be said to exist, several things were necessary, one of the chief of which was the compulsory registration of infectious disease. This was a subject of very great difficulty. Several of the larger towns in the North of England had obtained in their local Acts powers for compulsory registration, and he had caused inquiry to be made as to the result of their experience. That information had not yet been received, except from one town, and there, he must say, the experience was not altogether satisfactory. The tendency of public opinion was, however, in this direction, and he had no doubt that, before long, medical practitioners and private patients would submit to some notification of certain classes of disease being made in all cases to the local authority. He should be glad when he was able to make a proposal in this direction to the House. Before that could be done, however, it would be necessary, in the Metropolis, that more hospital accommoda- tion should be available for the middle classes, who wished for more isolation than they could procure at home, and desired to pay for it. It was to be regretted that the Public Health (Metropolis) Bill of last Session received so much opposition from the Vestries and District Boards—opposition in which the hon. Baronet took part. It was proposed by that Bill to enable the Vestries and District Boards to make arrangements with the Metropolitan Asylums Board which would have put an end to the present anomalous state of things.