30 T. P. ANDERSON STUART. 



until it has reached the now notorious proportions I have men- 

 tioned. Owing to the absence of any provision for notification, 

 the authorities here in Sydney knew nothing of its ravages until 

 it already had a strong hold on the district. 



It is to be hoped that one of the first measures introduced by 

 the Government in the next Parliament will be one for the com- 

 pulsory notification and the prevention of infectious diseases — 

 such as the Act now in force in the United Kingdom. At present 

 except with regard to small pox and leprosy, there is nothing of 

 the sort in New South Wales. Should cholera, for instance, be 

 brought here, the authorities have not power sufficient to deal 

 with it promptly and efficiently. Unless the first cases of infec- 

 tious disease are made known, the Sanitary authorities cannot 

 take steps to prevent the spread of the malady. 



This is not the place to bring forward all the arguments in 

 favour of the legislation asked for, since I do not suppose there 

 is a man in the room who does not assent, but it is fitting enough 

 that I should here draw attention to the subject. It is distinctly 

 a poor man's question — the rich can and do, in a measure, protect 

 themselves, and the results of infectious sickness in their families 

 are not so terrible. What we have to contend with is not any 

 real opposition, so much as apathy and ignorance. 



As shown by the voluntary vaccination returns, a single case 

 of small pox in the harbour dispels apathy, and causes a rush of 

 people who desire the protection afforded by vaccination, and 

 apathy and ignorance combined sat opposite to me in a public 

 vehicle the other day. An old lady and her grandchild were 

 there ; presently the child coughed and whooped. I looked at 

 the old lady and suggested " whoop V She nodded quite uncon- 

 cernedly as if it were quite a matter of course. And whooping 

 cough is a very infectious disease. 



But I could go on in this strain indefinitely. The whole 

 subject must be taken in hand and dealt with thoroughly. As an 

 encouragement we need only read the Hon. Dr. MacLaurin's most 



