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Dr. J. S. Cameron
62
Included in these legislative changes there should be a carefully devised and liberal s y s t e m of grants in aid b y means of which all authorities m a y be s t i m u l a t e d to u n d e r t a k e t h e w o r k , and encouraged to do it efficiently, and b y the withholding of which a n y slackness m a y be punished. Legislation on the above lines would enable the public to look forward with confidence to those vast i m p r o v e m e n t s in the national health m a c h i n e r y which are not only necessary to enable it to m e e t the serious_ difficulties resulting from the war, b u t are essential if it is to s t a n d t h e still more severe strain resulting u p o n demobilisation.
PUBLIC
MARCH,
PUBLIC HEALTH.
HEALTH
IN COUNTY AREAS.
AT
the Annual Meeting of the County Councils Association, held in February, some interesting suggestions were made by Mr. G. Montague Harris, the Secretary of the Association, concerning the future organisation of Public Health work in the counties. Additional interest i s given to the opinions expressed by Mr. Harris by the fact that he was a member of the Special Committee which recently reported to the Ministry of Reconstruction on the Poor Law. The suggestions made by Mr. Harris may be smnmarised as follows :....... I. That the policy should be continued of making the County Council, as a general rule, the authority for the administrative county in respect of public health services which involve the maintenance of institutions or which for other reasons are more conveniently administered over large areas.
2. That county councillors shouM be ex o~cio members of the Councils of Boroughs or Urban Districts which they represent on the County Council. 3. That the Councils of Boroughs, and of Urban Districts with a population of more than one person to the acre, should retain all the public health powers and duties which t h e y now exercise, other than institutionaI (except in special cases), subject to their keeping the Cotmty Medical Officer of Health fully informed with regard to their administration, and to a power in the County Council to take immediate action in case of default. 4. That in the remainder of the administrative county the County Council should be the public health authority for all purposes, but should work in the urban districts with a population of less than one person to the acre through the District Council, mid elsewhere through District Committees, composed of county councillors and representatives of the Parish Councils or Meetings. The County Council should have power of delegation.
5- T h a t the Parish Councils should be empowered to e x e r c i s e further public health powers at the discretion and subject to the supervision and control of the County Council. 6. That the cotmty medical staff should include district medical officers who should act under the County Medical Officer of Health for the district or districts to which they are assigned in respect of all public health work, including that at present administered by t h e . Rural District Councils, and any that may be transferred from the Boards of.Guardians ; that Urban District Cotmcils which are not in a position themselves to employ a wholetime medical officer of health, should make arrangements with the Cmmty Council for sharing the services of one of their district medical officers " and that all medical Officers of health should be whole time, fully qualified, officials in the employ of one or more local authorities, with security of tenure. 7. That the cost of the public health services administered directly by the County Council should be met by a county rate (general or special as the case may be) on the whole area served, the areas of any minor authorities administering their own services being rated therefor, and all public health rates being relieved by substantial Treasury grants in aid. OBITUARY. D~. J S. CAMERON. The death of Dr. J. S. Cameron, Medical Officer of Health for Leeds from 1889 to 1914, occurred on January 3oth, after a long illness. His public health career commenced in 1877 , when he became Medical Officer of Health for Huddersfield, a position which he held for 12 years. During his 26 years' tenure of office at Leeds he was able to bring about great sanitary improvements in the town, and succeeded in transforming Leeds from one of the most backward of towns in the sanitary sense to one of the most advanced. Dr. Cameron was also Professor of Public Health ill the University of Leeds, and had been a President of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Throughout his career he occupied a conspicuous position in the Public Health Service, and it is a matter to be regretted that his great services on behalf of the public in Leeds did not meet with the recognition that they deserved. H E N R Y SAXON SNELL PRIZE. The P.oyal Sanitary Institute a n n o u n c e that the prize in I918 will consist of fifty guineas and the medal of the Institute, and is offered for an E s s a y on "Suggestion for Improvements in Apparatus and Appliances for Dealingwith House Refuse."
Included in these legislative changes there should be a carefully devised and liberal s y s t e m of grants in aid b y means of which all authorities m a y be s t i m u l a t e d to u n d e r t a k e t h e w o r k , and encouraged to do it efficiently, and b y the withholding of which a n y slackness m a y be punished. Legislation on the above lines would enable the public to look forward with confidence to those vast i m p r o v e m e n t s in the national health m a c h i n e r y which are not only necessary to enable it to m e e t the serious_ difficulties resulting from the war, b u t are essential if it is to s t a n d t h e still more severe strain resulting u p o n demobilisation.
PUBLIC
MARCH,
PUBLIC HEALTH.
HEALTH
IN COUNTY AREAS.
AT
the Annual Meeting of the County Councils Association, held in February, some interesting suggestions were made by Mr. G. Montague Harris, the Secretary of the Association, concerning the future organisation of Public Health work in the counties. Additional interest i s given to the opinions expressed by Mr. Harris by the fact that he was a member of the Special Committee which recently reported to the Ministry of Reconstruction on the Poor Law. The suggestions made by Mr. Harris may be smnmarised as follows :....... I. That the policy should be continued of making the County Council, as a general rule, the authority for the administrative county in respect of public health services which involve the maintenance of institutions or which for other reasons are more conveniently administered over large areas.
2. That county councillors shouM be ex o~cio members of the Councils of Boroughs or Urban Districts which they represent on the County Council. 3. That the Councils of Boroughs, and of Urban Districts with a population of more than one person to the acre, should retain all the public health powers and duties which t h e y now exercise, other than institutionaI (except in special cases), subject to their keeping the Cotmty Medical Officer of Health fully informed with regard to their administration, and to a power in the County Council to take immediate action in case of default. 4. That in the remainder of the administrative county the County Council should be the public health authority for all purposes, but should work in the urban districts with a population of less than one person to the acre through the District Council, mid elsewhere through District Committees, composed of county councillors and representatives of the Parish Councils or Meetings. The County Council should have power of delegation.
5- T h a t the Parish Councils should be empowered to e x e r c i s e further public health powers at the discretion and subject to the supervision and control of the County Council. 6. That the cotmty medical staff should include district medical officers who should act under the County Medical Officer of Health for the district or districts to which they are assigned in respect of all public health work, including that at present administered by t h e . Rural District Councils, and any that may be transferred from the Boards of.Guardians ; that Urban District Cotmcils which are not in a position themselves to employ a wholetime medical officer of health, should make arrangements with the Cmmty Council for sharing the services of one of their district medical officers " and that all medical Officers of health should be whole time, fully qualified, officials in the employ of one or more local authorities, with security of tenure. 7. That the cost of the public health services administered directly by the County Council should be met by a county rate (general or special as the case may be) on the whole area served, the areas of any minor authorities administering their own services being rated therefor, and all public health rates being relieved by substantial Treasury grants in aid. OBITUARY. D~. J S. CAMERON. The death of Dr. J. S. Cameron, Medical Officer of Health for Leeds from 1889 to 1914, occurred on January 3oth, after a long illness. His public health career commenced in 1877 , when he became Medical Officer of Health for Huddersfield, a position which he held for 12 years. During his 26 years' tenure of office at Leeds he was able to bring about great sanitary improvements in the town, and succeeded in transforming Leeds from one of the most backward of towns in the sanitary sense to one of the most advanced. Dr. Cameron was also Professor of Public Health ill the University of Leeds, and had been a President of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Throughout his career he occupied a conspicuous position in the Public Health Service, and it is a matter to be regretted that his great services on behalf of the public in Leeds did not meet with the recognition that they deserved. H E N R Y SAXON SNELL PRIZE. The P.oyal Sanitary Institute a n n o u n c e that the prize in I918 will consist of fifty guineas and the medal of the Institute, and is offered for an E s s a y on "Suggestion for Improvements in Apparatus and Appliances for Dealingwith House Refuse."