292 INFECTIVE DISEASES. 



destruction or disinfection of infected bedding, clothing, and other 

 articles, and to appoint Medical Officers of Health. 



As to the value of notification and isolation in cities such as 

 London we have the evidence of the Metropolitan Asylums Board. 

 In their Report for 1889 we read in reference to the diminution of 

 small-pox : " These very satisfactory results confirm the view taken 

 by the Committee two years ago to the effect that the rapid and 

 systematic removal from crowded districts of infected persons, each 

 of whom might have become a centre of contagion, is an important 

 factor in stamping out small-pox from the metropolitan population. 

 The notification of cases will also greatly facilitate the action of the 

 managers in this direction." 



More recently there has been a most striking confirmation of 

 these statements. An outbreak of small-pox occurred in Maryle- 

 bone, and by the energy of the officials of the Board this outbreak 

 was suppressed in a few days by means of notification and 

 immediate isolation. 



The Isolation Hospitals Act of 1893 gives power to County 

 Councils to provide, or cause to be provided, an isolation hospital 

 in any district within their county. An application to a County 

 Council for the establishment of an isolation hospital may be made 

 by any one or more of the authorities defined as local authorities 

 having jurisdiction in the county or any part of the county. 

 Further, the County Council may direct an inquiry to be made by 

 two medical officers of health in the county as to the necessity of an 

 isolation hospital being established for the use of the inhabitants 

 of any particular district in the county, and in the event of such 

 medical officers reporting that such a hospital ought to be 

 established for the use of the inhabitants of a district, may take the 

 same proceedings in all respects for the establishment of such 

 hospital, as if a petition had been presented by a local authority for 

 the establishment of an isolation hospital for the district named in 

 the report of such medical officers of health. 



Lastly, the Local Government Act of 1894 provides for the 

 formation of District Councils ; and the powers, duties, and 

 liabilities are principally those which were conferred by the Public- 

 Health Act of 1875. 



In the opinion of the author the Government of this country should 

 enter into friendly negotiations with the Governments of other countries, 

 so that there might be concerted action to prevent an avoidable 

 disease like small-pox. Much good might result from the formation of 

 a permanent International Board of Health. If civilisation is not yet 



