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PUBLIC HEALTH (METROPOLIS) BILL.
298
THE INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CONGRESS.
great country may, we trust, be taken as already secured. consolidate, with certain amendments, the Acts relating to so One guarantee of this hopeful view being realised is to be nuisances, infectious diseases, and other allied matters in
far as the metropolis is concerned. The principal matters dealt with relate to public and private nuisances, offensive trades, inspection and condemnation of unsound foods, water. supplies, isolation of the infectious sick, disinfection, &c,. and as regards some of these matters the sanitary authorities are invested with new powers. Concerning isolation arrange. ments in the metropolis, it is probable that the plan, which was adopted in 1883 and renewed in 188t, of vesting thu matter essentially in the hands of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, and this quite irrespective of the question of pauperism, will become permanent, for it is re-enacted in the proposed Bill, and it becomes increasingly evident that the system of multiple authorities dealing with precisely the same question is not likely to ensure success. The duties of the vestries in this matter, however, are not done away with; but, as things now stand, it is to be expected that they will, apart from any great emergency, look to the Asylums Board to do the work. In the face of any great epidemic, the proposed Bill will re-enact the various powers which now vsf in the Local Government Board as to issuing orders relating itself will swallow many of them up, and give an over- to the speedy burial of the dead, house-to-house visitations, whelming exhibition of the unity of the profession, such as disinfection, &c., and the provision of medical aid for the will best at once answer and convert those who would break sick. The Bill is not intended to become law this session. It will, however, now be printed and circulated, so thatitit it up into sections and cliques, or liberate any of its members may be studied by those concerned in the health of the from those great traditions which have been the distinction metropolis, with a view to such suggestions as may tendto of the profession from the time of HIPPOCRATES downwards. make the consolidation effective. There are, indeed, powerful attractions to draw members of the profession over to Washington in 1887. The road is not INFECTIOUS HOSPITALS FOR SMALL TOWNS an untrodden one. Many of our brethren have already crossed AND VILLAGES. the water, and they bring back but one report of the greatness THE Government Board have recently issued two Local of the land, and the hospitality and kindness of its people, and to the provision of infectious hospital relating especially of our medical brethren. Besides this, we need not diagrams and accommodation, these, taken together with the re-issue remind our readers of the fact that medical art and science of the official report on the same subject, go to showtha are in a most active state across the Atlantic. The Americans interest which is now given to the importact increasing set us an excellent example year after year of disregarding means of sanitary defence which adequate isolatiob the sea and its sickness in search of knowledge, and to acquire accommodation affords to a community. The official report the last hints of Europe in art or science. They come so laid it down as a principle that the permanent accommo. centre should include provision for dation at each freely that we are apt to think they are only learners, and the immediate hospital isolation of two diseases in both sexes; and, not teachers; but no mistake could be greater. They are since this has always been carried out by providinga profoundly influencing both surgery and medicine, and our separate pavilion for each disease, the arrangement II own foremost leaders would be the first to admit their inquestion necessarily involved the erection of two ward debtedness to American physicians and surgeons in respect blocks in addition to the requisite administrative buildings of details, and of boldness, in the improvement of instru- In the case of small towns and sparsely populated district where some four to ten beds alone were needed as a perments, in the great operations of surgery, in the addition manent provision, this plan seemed altogether prohibitory, of new medicines, and of enterprise in the whole field and hence we are glad to see that the difficulty has becu of pathology and therapeutics. overcome in one of the diagrams in question, which largely indicates the best form for a hospital building in the case of small towns, villages. or public institutions. One ward building alone is provided, and it consists of four rooms, arranged in two groups. Each set of rooms consistsofi "Ne quid nimis." ward for two beds and of a nurse’s room; and whereas thl two doors of the one set open into a covered verandahat PUBLIC HEALTH (METROPOLIS) BILL. the front of the building, those of the other set open FEW circumstances tended more to increase efficient similarly at the back, and thus no commimicatin sanitary administration throughout the country generally between the inmates of the one set with thoseof than the consolidation under the Public Health Act 1875 of the other is possible, unless they make the tourof all the sanitary laws then in existence. But the metropolis the building, a thing that can easily be prevented by mean; has always had exceptional legislation, and this legislation of proper administrative control. One diagram showsa is spread over a number of Acts, and is even contained in small administrative cottage for a care-taker, and it is sugisolated clauses in general Acts, the result being that there gested that the nurses should sleep in an upper floorof are but few persons who have a detailed and accurate knowthis building ; but in case no such arrangement shouldbe as law to The of London. the applicable ledge sanitary practicable, a second storey containing a nurse’s sleepingGovernment have therefore done well to introduce the room is shown in the centre of the ward-block, and in ont’r Public Health (Metropolis) Bill, which is really an Act to to secure that infected ward air should not have accessto
found in the nomination of Dr. FLINT as President of the Conference. Dr. FLINT is so well known amongst us, not only by his works but by his genial and dignified presence, that the English profession will need no other proof of the oneness of the profession in both countries, both in its spirit and its practice, than the selection by the American Medical Association of this distinguished physician for the chair of the Congress. It will be the same in other European countries. Dr. FLINT has not hesitated to take long voyages in promotion of the international co-operation of the profession. He was as active at Copenhagen as in London, and we doubt not that the European response to the American invitation will be wide and hearty. The little differences which have arisen in America are such as the near approach of the Conference will dispel or resolve. Some of them are differences which will keep, and which The Congress can be postponed till after the Congress.
Annotations.
THE INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CONGRESS.
great country may, we trust, be taken as already secured. consolidate, with certain amendments, the Acts relating to so One guarantee of this hopeful view being realised is to be nuisances, infectious diseases, and other allied matters in
far as the metropolis is concerned. The principal matters dealt with relate to public and private nuisances, offensive trades, inspection and condemnation of unsound foods, water. supplies, isolation of the infectious sick, disinfection, &c,. and as regards some of these matters the sanitary authorities are invested with new powers. Concerning isolation arrange. ments in the metropolis, it is probable that the plan, which was adopted in 1883 and renewed in 188t, of vesting thu matter essentially in the hands of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, and this quite irrespective of the question of pauperism, will become permanent, for it is re-enacted in the proposed Bill, and it becomes increasingly evident that the system of multiple authorities dealing with precisely the same question is not likely to ensure success. The duties of the vestries in this matter, however, are not done away with; but, as things now stand, it is to be expected that they will, apart from any great emergency, look to the Asylums Board to do the work. In the face of any great epidemic, the proposed Bill will re-enact the various powers which now vsf in the Local Government Board as to issuing orders relating itself will swallow many of them up, and give an over- to the speedy burial of the dead, house-to-house visitations, whelming exhibition of the unity of the profession, such as disinfection, &c., and the provision of medical aid for the will best at once answer and convert those who would break sick. The Bill is not intended to become law this session. It will, however, now be printed and circulated, so thatitit it up into sections and cliques, or liberate any of its members may be studied by those concerned in the health of the from those great traditions which have been the distinction metropolis, with a view to such suggestions as may tendto of the profession from the time of HIPPOCRATES downwards. make the consolidation effective. There are, indeed, powerful attractions to draw members of the profession over to Washington in 1887. The road is not INFECTIOUS HOSPITALS FOR SMALL TOWNS an untrodden one. Many of our brethren have already crossed AND VILLAGES. the water, and they bring back but one report of the greatness THE Government Board have recently issued two Local of the land, and the hospitality and kindness of its people, and to the provision of infectious hospital relating especially of our medical brethren. Besides this, we need not diagrams and accommodation, these, taken together with the re-issue remind our readers of the fact that medical art and science of the official report on the same subject, go to showtha are in a most active state across the Atlantic. The Americans interest which is now given to the importact increasing set us an excellent example year after year of disregarding means of sanitary defence which adequate isolatiob the sea and its sickness in search of knowledge, and to acquire accommodation affords to a community. The official report the last hints of Europe in art or science. They come so laid it down as a principle that the permanent accommo. centre should include provision for dation at each freely that we are apt to think they are only learners, and the immediate hospital isolation of two diseases in both sexes; and, not teachers; but no mistake could be greater. They are since this has always been carried out by providinga profoundly influencing both surgery and medicine, and our separate pavilion for each disease, the arrangement II own foremost leaders would be the first to admit their inquestion necessarily involved the erection of two ward debtedness to American physicians and surgeons in respect blocks in addition to the requisite administrative buildings of details, and of boldness, in the improvement of instru- In the case of small towns and sparsely populated district where some four to ten beds alone were needed as a perments, in the great operations of surgery, in the addition manent provision, this plan seemed altogether prohibitory, of new medicines, and of enterprise in the whole field and hence we are glad to see that the difficulty has becu of pathology and therapeutics. overcome in one of the diagrams in question, which largely indicates the best form for a hospital building in the case of small towns, villages. or public institutions. One ward building alone is provided, and it consists of four rooms, arranged in two groups. Each set of rooms consistsofi "Ne quid nimis." ward for two beds and of a nurse’s room; and whereas thl two doors of the one set open into a covered verandahat PUBLIC HEALTH (METROPOLIS) BILL. the front of the building, those of the other set open FEW circumstances tended more to increase efficient similarly at the back, and thus no commimicatin sanitary administration throughout the country generally between the inmates of the one set with thoseof than the consolidation under the Public Health Act 1875 of the other is possible, unless they make the tourof all the sanitary laws then in existence. But the metropolis the building, a thing that can easily be prevented by mean; has always had exceptional legislation, and this legislation of proper administrative control. One diagram showsa is spread over a number of Acts, and is even contained in small administrative cottage for a care-taker, and it is sugisolated clauses in general Acts, the result being that there gested that the nurses should sleep in an upper floorof are but few persons who have a detailed and accurate knowthis building ; but in case no such arrangement shouldbe as law to The of London. the applicable ledge sanitary practicable, a second storey containing a nurse’s sleepingGovernment have therefore done well to introduce the room is shown in the centre of the ward-block, and in ont’r Public Health (Metropolis) Bill, which is really an Act to to secure that infected ward air should not have accessto
found in the nomination of Dr. FLINT as President of the Conference. Dr. FLINT is so well known amongst us, not only by his works but by his genial and dignified presence, that the English profession will need no other proof of the oneness of the profession in both countries, both in its spirit and its practice, than the selection by the American Medical Association of this distinguished physician for the chair of the Congress. It will be the same in other European countries. Dr. FLINT has not hesitated to take long voyages in promotion of the international co-operation of the profession. He was as active at Copenhagen as in London, and we doubt not that the European response to the American invitation will be wide and hearty. The little differences which have arisen in America are such as the near approach of the Conference will dispel or resolve. Some of them are differences which will keep, and which The Congress can be postponed till after the Congress.
Annotations.