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Extracts from acts of parliament and administrative orders concerning the appointment of medical officers of health
1908.
PUBLIC HEALTH.
Mr. Stansfeld " should have prefected at this moment not to have legislated on this subject, b u t was willing to accept the amendment . • . so modified as to make the first appointments under the Act tenable for five years only, leaving the question of their permanency open for fltture decision." Mr. Corrance would prefer the Bill as it stood. Colonel Barttelot would gladly accept t}le modification of t h e r i g h t hon. gentlen}an, if it were
aiidei's~ood
bii~b biio i]imb ~lJiJ~iiiblii~iiCo
under the Bill were not to be p e r i n a n e n t . Amendment proposed, to insert the words in Clause l 0 " the appointment of the medical officers of health first made after the passing of this Act shall be for a period not exceeding five years." After further remarks b y Mr. Peel, Mr. Hibbert, and Sir Massey Lopes pointing out that the amendment should apply to the appointments of inspectors of nuisances as well as to medical officers of health, the words " and inspectors of nuisances " were inserted after "medical officers of health." Amendment as amended agreed to. Clause as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill• Bill read third time, August 7tl/. EXTRACTS FROM ACTS OF PARLIAMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE ORDERS CONCERNING THE APPOINTMENT OF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH. ~T~IE TOWNS' Im'I~OVEMENT CLiUSJ~S ACT, 1847. (10 and 11 Viet. ic. 34.) Section 12.--The Commissioners may, if they think fit, appoint, subject to the prescribed approval, or, where no approval is prescribed, subject to the approval of one of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, a person of competent skill and experience, who shall be styled " T h e Officer of Health," whose duty it shall be to ascertain the existence of diseases within the limits of the special Act, especially epidemics and contagious diseases, and to prevent any nuisance or other local causes likely to cause and continue such diseases, or otherwise injure the health of the inhabitants, and to point out the best means for ehecking or preventing the spread of such diseases within the limits aforesaid; and also tlie best means for the ventilation of ic]mriches, chapels, schools, registered lodging-houses, and other public buildings, within the limits aforesaid ; and from time to time as required by the Commissioners, to report to them on the matters aforesaid, and to perform any other duties of a like nature which may be required of him. And the Commissioners, with the s a m e approval, which is necessary for the
161
appointment of the officer of healtl b shall fix the salary to be paid ~o such officer, and shall pay such salary out of the rates to be levied under this oi' the Special Act ; and the Commissioners, with the like approval, may discontinue such otticer, or remove any sttch officer of health. "POWERS OF TIlE ]~OCAL (~O¥1,'ltN3IENT B()),IID WITII t~ESPECT TO TItE ~PPOINTMENT, TEN[;ItE OF ()FFI(~E. ~'(~.. ()V PoOI{ lj4w ~[I,:I)I('AI. OFFICERS.
(4th and 5th William IV., Cap. 76, See. 46..)
(flu force.) And be it further enacted f l a t it shall b~~ lawful for the said Commissioners (now the Local Government Board), as and when they shall see fit b y Order under their hands and seal to direct the overseers or guardians of any parish or union, or of so many parishes or rations as the said Conmfissioners may in sucl) order specify and declare to be united for the purpose only of appointing and paying officers to appoint such paid officers witL sm:h qualifications as the said Commissioners shall think necessary for superintending or assisting in the administration of the relief and employment of the poor . . and the said ()oremissioners may and tiaey are hereby empowered to define and specify and direct the execution of the respective duties of such officers and the plaices or limits within which the same shall be perfomned and direct the mode of appointment and determine the continuance in office or dismissal of such officers and when the said Commissioners may see occasion to regulate the amount of salaries payable to such officers respectively and the time and mode of payment thereof MEDICAL APPOINT.~IENTS ORI)ER.
(Dated 25th May, 1857.)
(In force.) Artide / . - - E v e r y medical officer of a workhouse, duly qualified at the time of his appointment, according to the regulations of the Poor Law Board then in force, shall hold his office until he die, or resign, or be proved to be insane, b y evidence which the Poor Law Board shall deem suliicient, or become legally disqualified to hold such office, or be removed b y the Poor Law Board. Artide 2 . - - E v e r y district medical officer, duly qualified as aforesaid at' the time of lfis appointment, and then being, or within two months aRer his appointment, becoming resident within the district for which he shall be appointed to act, shall hold his office until ]~e shall die, or resign, or be proved to be insane, in the stone manner as in the previous article;
PUBLIC HEALTH.
162
or become legally disqualified to hold such office, or be removed by the said Board, or cease to reside within sueh district. Article 5 . - - W h e r e a change in the extent of the district of a medical officer shall be deemed necessary for the more convenient supply of medical relief to the poor, or otherwise for the general benefit of the Union or Incorporation, and he shall decline to aequiese therein, the Guardians may, with the consent of the Poor Law Board, but not otherwise, and after six months' notice in writing, signed by their clerk, given to such medical officer, determine his office. :~LocaI. GOVERXME~r BO,U~D ORDER. (Dated l l t h November, 1872.)
Section / - / / . - - T e n u r e of Office. Medical Officer of Health. (Repealed.) Article Z - - E v e r y officer appointed under this order shall continue to hold office for such period as the sanitary authority or authorities appointing him may, with the approval of the Local Government Board, determine, or, until he die, or resign, or be removed, by such authori V or authorities with the assent of the Local Government Board, or by the Local Ooverma'mnt Board. Provided that the appointments first made under this order shM1 not be for a period exceeding five years. Article 2.---Where any such officer shM1 be appointed for one or more sanitary districts, and any change in the extent of those district or districts, or in the duties, salary, or remuneration, shall be deemed necessary, and he shall decline to acquiesce therein, the sanitary authority or authorities by whom he was so appointed may, with the consent of the Local Government Board, b u t not otherwise, and after six months' notice in writing, signed by their clerk or clerks, given to such officer, determine his office. 4LocAL (~OVERNMENT BOARD ORDER.
(Dated 23rd March, 1891.)
(In force.) Article 1 0 . - - E v e r y (medical) officer (of health) shall continue to hold office for such period as the sanitary authority may, subject to our approval, determine at the time of his appointment, or until he die, or resign, or be removed b y such authority with our assent, or be removed by us, or be proved to be insane b y evidence which we shall deem to be sufficient.
JUNE,
Article I2.---Where any change in the duties or salary of any officer may be deemed necessary, and he shall decline to acquiesce therein, the sanitary authority may, with our consent, b u t not otherwise, and after six months' notice in writing, signed b y their clerk, given to such officer, determine his office. GENERAL ORDER OF TtIE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD--AMENDMENT OF CONSOLIDATED AND OTHER ORDERS.
(Dated 12th February, 1879.)
(In force.) Article 1 ( 1 ) . - Every masterl nlatron, schoolmaster, and schoolmistress of a workhouse, and every relieving officer appointed after the twenty-eighth day of February, 1879, shall continue to hold office until he or she die, or resign, or be dismissed b y the guardians, subject to the consent of the Local Government Board, or be proved to be insane b y evidence which that Board shall deem to be sufficient. Provided that the guardians may, with the like consent, determine the appointment of any such officer at any time before, or at the expiration of the first year of his or her service, b y giving to the officer three months' previous notice in writing, signed b y their clerk, of such their intention. [NFAI~TILE MORTALITY IX PAISLEY.--Although
Paisley compares favourably with other towns in the matter of infant mortality, the number of deaths might be considerably reduced. It is safe to say that fully one-third of the deaths of children under one year of age Could be prevented. These deaths are due to want of knowledge on the part of the mother, of the elementary principles of infant and domestic hygiene, resulting chiefly in improper feeding and unsuitable clothing. Last year the deaths from disease of digestion and lung troubles formed over 35 per cent. of the total deaths under one year. The remedy is to educate the mothers, and this can best be done by competent and sympathetic lady visitors who will visit, at intervals, houses where a birth has occurred, and give advice and instruction in the feeding and care of infants. We must also educate those that are to be the parents of the future. All girls, before they leave school, should be well trained in domestic economy and hygiene. It is easier to inculcate into young children habits of cleanliness and the elementary laws of health, than to eradicate from people's minds wrong ideas and old superstitions. "Poverty and ill-health of the parents may have much to do with the loss of many infant lives, but the abuse of alcohol, with its resultant carelessness and neglect of fam,}ly duties, is responsible for the loss of many more. - From the Annual Report for 1907, to the Burgh el Paisley, by the Medical O2ficer of Health, Dr. Ale~e. Rob&
PUBLIC HEALTH.
Mr. Stansfeld " should have prefected at this moment not to have legislated on this subject, b u t was willing to accept the amendment . • . so modified as to make the first appointments under the Act tenable for five years only, leaving the question of their permanency open for fltture decision." Mr. Corrance would prefer the Bill as it stood. Colonel Barttelot would gladly accept t}le modification of t h e r i g h t hon. gentlen}an, if it were
aiidei's~ood
bii~b biio i]imb ~lJiJ~iiiblii~iiCo
under the Bill were not to be p e r i n a n e n t . Amendment proposed, to insert the words in Clause l 0 " the appointment of the medical officers of health first made after the passing of this Act shall be for a period not exceeding five years." After further remarks b y Mr. Peel, Mr. Hibbert, and Sir Massey Lopes pointing out that the amendment should apply to the appointments of inspectors of nuisances as well as to medical officers of health, the words " and inspectors of nuisances " were inserted after "medical officers of health." Amendment as amended agreed to. Clause as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill• Bill read third time, August 7tl/. EXTRACTS FROM ACTS OF PARLIAMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE ORDERS CONCERNING THE APPOINTMENT OF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH. ~T~IE TOWNS' Im'I~OVEMENT CLiUSJ~S ACT, 1847. (10 and 11 Viet. ic. 34.) Section 12.--The Commissioners may, if they think fit, appoint, subject to the prescribed approval, or, where no approval is prescribed, subject to the approval of one of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, a person of competent skill and experience, who shall be styled " T h e Officer of Health," whose duty it shall be to ascertain the existence of diseases within the limits of the special Act, especially epidemics and contagious diseases, and to prevent any nuisance or other local causes likely to cause and continue such diseases, or otherwise injure the health of the inhabitants, and to point out the best means for ehecking or preventing the spread of such diseases within the limits aforesaid; and also tlie best means for the ventilation of ic]mriches, chapels, schools, registered lodging-houses, and other public buildings, within the limits aforesaid ; and from time to time as required by the Commissioners, to report to them on the matters aforesaid, and to perform any other duties of a like nature which may be required of him. And the Commissioners, with the s a m e approval, which is necessary for the
161
appointment of the officer of healtl b shall fix the salary to be paid ~o such officer, and shall pay such salary out of the rates to be levied under this oi' the Special Act ; and the Commissioners, with the like approval, may discontinue such otticer, or remove any sttch officer of health. "POWERS OF TIlE ]~OCAL (~O¥1,'ltN3IENT B()),IID WITII t~ESPECT TO TItE ~PPOINTMENT, TEN[;ItE OF ()FFI(~E. ~'(~.. ()V PoOI{ lj4w ~[I,:I)I('AI. OFFICERS.
(4th and 5th William IV., Cap. 76, See. 46..)
(flu force.) And be it further enacted f l a t it shall b~~ lawful for the said Commissioners (now the Local Government Board), as and when they shall see fit b y Order under their hands and seal to direct the overseers or guardians of any parish or union, or of so many parishes or rations as the said Conmfissioners may in sucl) order specify and declare to be united for the purpose only of appointing and paying officers to appoint such paid officers witL sm:h qualifications as the said Commissioners shall think necessary for superintending or assisting in the administration of the relief and employment of the poor . . and the said ()oremissioners may and tiaey are hereby empowered to define and specify and direct the execution of the respective duties of such officers and the plaices or limits within which the same shall be perfomned and direct the mode of appointment and determine the continuance in office or dismissal of such officers and when the said Commissioners may see occasion to regulate the amount of salaries payable to such officers respectively and the time and mode of payment thereof MEDICAL APPOINT.~IENTS ORI)ER.
(Dated 25th May, 1857.)
(In force.) Artide / . - - E v e r y medical officer of a workhouse, duly qualified at the time of his appointment, according to the regulations of the Poor Law Board then in force, shall hold his office until he die, or resign, or be proved to be insane, b y evidence which the Poor Law Board shall deem suliicient, or become legally disqualified to hold such office, or be removed b y the Poor Law Board. Artide 2 . - - E v e r y district medical officer, duly qualified as aforesaid at' the time of lfis appointment, and then being, or within two months aRer his appointment, becoming resident within the district for which he shall be appointed to act, shall hold his office until ]~e shall die, or resign, or be proved to be insane, in the stone manner as in the previous article;
PUBLIC HEALTH.
162
or become legally disqualified to hold such office, or be removed by the said Board, or cease to reside within sueh district. Article 5 . - - W h e r e a change in the extent of the district of a medical officer shall be deemed necessary for the more convenient supply of medical relief to the poor, or otherwise for the general benefit of the Union or Incorporation, and he shall decline to aequiese therein, the Guardians may, with the consent of the Poor Law Board, but not otherwise, and after six months' notice in writing, signed by their clerk, given to such medical officer, determine his office. :~LocaI. GOVERXME~r BO,U~D ORDER. (Dated l l t h November, 1872.)
Section / - / / . - - T e n u r e of Office. Medical Officer of Health. (Repealed.) Article Z - - E v e r y officer appointed under this order shall continue to hold office for such period as the sanitary authority or authorities appointing him may, with the approval of the Local Government Board, determine, or, until he die, or resign, or be removed, by such authori V or authorities with the assent of the Local Government Board, or by the Local Ooverma'mnt Board. Provided that the appointments first made under this order shM1 not be for a period exceeding five years. Article 2.---Where any such officer shM1 be appointed for one or more sanitary districts, and any change in the extent of those district or districts, or in the duties, salary, or remuneration, shall be deemed necessary, and he shall decline to acquiesce therein, the sanitary authority or authorities by whom he was so appointed may, with the consent of the Local Government Board, b u t not otherwise, and after six months' notice in writing, signed by their clerk or clerks, given to such officer, determine his office. 4LocAL (~OVERNMENT BOARD ORDER.
(Dated 23rd March, 1891.)
(In force.) Article 1 0 . - - E v e r y (medical) officer (of health) shall continue to hold office for such period as the sanitary authority may, subject to our approval, determine at the time of his appointment, or until he die, or resign, or be removed b y such authority with our assent, or be removed by us, or be proved to be insane b y evidence which we shall deem to be sufficient.
JUNE,
Article I2.---Where any change in the duties or salary of any officer may be deemed necessary, and he shall decline to acquiesce therein, the sanitary authority may, with our consent, b u t not otherwise, and after six months' notice in writing, signed b y their clerk, given to such officer, determine his office. GENERAL ORDER OF TtIE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD--AMENDMENT OF CONSOLIDATED AND OTHER ORDERS.
(Dated 12th February, 1879.)
(In force.) Article 1 ( 1 ) . - Every masterl nlatron, schoolmaster, and schoolmistress of a workhouse, and every relieving officer appointed after the twenty-eighth day of February, 1879, shall continue to hold office until he or she die, or resign, or be dismissed b y the guardians, subject to the consent of the Local Government Board, or be proved to be insane b y evidence which that Board shall deem to be sufficient. Provided that the guardians may, with the like consent, determine the appointment of any such officer at any time before, or at the expiration of the first year of his or her service, b y giving to the officer three months' previous notice in writing, signed b y their clerk, of such their intention. [NFAI~TILE MORTALITY IX PAISLEY.--Although
Paisley compares favourably with other towns in the matter of infant mortality, the number of deaths might be considerably reduced. It is safe to say that fully one-third of the deaths of children under one year of age Could be prevented. These deaths are due to want of knowledge on the part of the mother, of the elementary principles of infant and domestic hygiene, resulting chiefly in improper feeding and unsuitable clothing. Last year the deaths from disease of digestion and lung troubles formed over 35 per cent. of the total deaths under one year. The remedy is to educate the mothers, and this can best be done by competent and sympathetic lady visitors who will visit, at intervals, houses where a birth has occurred, and give advice and instruction in the feeding and care of infants. We must also educate those that are to be the parents of the future. All girls, before they leave school, should be well trained in domestic economy and hygiene. It is easier to inculcate into young children habits of cleanliness and the elementary laws of health, than to eradicate from people's minds wrong ideas and old superstitions. "Poverty and ill-health of the parents may have much to do with the loss of many infant lives, but the abuse of alcohol, with its resultant carelessness and neglect of fam,}ly duties, is responsible for the loss of many more. - From the Annual Report for 1907, to the Burgh el Paisley, by the Medical O2ficer of Health, Dr. Ale~e. Rob&