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Public health (smoke abatement) act, 1926
P U B L I C H E A L TH THE JOURNAL OF
THE SOCIETY OF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH. No. 6. VoL XL.
MARCH, 199,7.
PUBLIC I~EALTH, the Official Organ of the Society of Medical Officers o] Hearth, is prepared to receive a certain number of approved advertisements. Application should be made t o the ExecutiveSecretary of the Society, at 1, Upper Montague Street, Russell Square, London, W.C.1. Subscription price, 31s. 6d. per annum, post free in advance. Single Copies, 2s. 6d., post free.
Contents. PAGE
PAGE
Public H e a l t h ( S m o k e A b a t e m e n t ) Act; 192'6 ...
161
SOCIETY OF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH-Cotmcil M e e t i n g . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Cancer
162
EDITORIAL--
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Encephalitis Lethargiea
in Sheffield, 1924
...
163
T h e L e a g u e of N a t i o n s S t u d y C o u r s e , 1927
.,.
164
Apathy
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
D e a t h of D r . T. R i d l e y B a i l e y
.. . . . . . . .
165
.........
165
SPECIAL ARTICLES-Research W o r k in P r e v e n t i v e M e d i c i n e .
:
B y W . G. SAVAGE, M . D . , B . S c . , D . P . H . , M e d i c a l Officer of H e a l t h , S o m e r s e t s h i r e C o u n t y C o u n c i l ' ; PROFESSOR W . W . C. TOPLEY, M . D . , F . R . C . P . , P r o f e s s o r in B a c t e r i o l o g y , V i c t o r i a U n i v e r s i t y , M a n c h e s t e r ; a n d PROFESSOR MAJOR GREENWOOD, F,R.C.P., F.S.S., Medical Officer (Medical S t a t i s t i c s ) M i n i s t r y of H e a l t h .........
Ut Ira Dicam. Being Comments, apropos and otherw i s e , on S u n d r y M a t t e r s . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ordinary Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The North-Western Branch .......... T h e W e s t of E n g l a n d B r a n c h ......... The Yorkshire Branch .............. The Southern Branch . . . . . . . . . . . . The Midland Branch ...... . ...... The Home Counties Branch ......... The Metropolitan Branch . . . . . . . . . . . . The Maternity and Child Welfare, School Medical Service, and Dental Officers' Groups ... The Maternity and Child Welfare Group ... The Naval, Military and Royal Air Force Hygiene Group . . . . . . . . . . . . Joint Tuberculosis Council
...
.........
REVIEWS-Tile F u n d a m e n t a l s of S c h o o l H e a l t h 167 177
184 185 186 186 188 188 189 189 190 192 193 179
.......
194
CORRESPONDENCE--" This Advertising Fever " .. . . . . . . . Facilities for Wet-Ntirsing . . . . . . . . . . . .
195 196
Editorial. Public Health (Smoke Abatement) Act, 1926. I F F I C U L T as it sometimes is to foresee ultimate value of a new Act of Parliament, the title of optimist may be claimed by anyone who believes that the smoke nuisance will be swept away by the application of: the Public Health (Smoke Abatement) Act, 1926, which will become operative on July 1st, 1927. At the same time, it cannot be denied that some of the provisions may afford help to the authorities. It will n o longer be necessary, when proceeding under the nuisance sections of the Public H e a l t h Act, 1875, to show that tK~
D the
smoke was black smoke. The expression " smoke " for the p u r p o s e s of sections 91, 92 and 102 of t h e 1875 Act in future wilt include soot, ash, grit and gritty particles ; t h e difficulty anticipated here is in providing proof of the origin of these substances from any particular chimney among a group of chimneys. Those who rely on the effect of Prosecutions will be pleased to see a substantial increase in the maximum penalties which may be inflicted, that under section 96 being increased from five pounds to fifty pounds. T h e law relating to London is amended al~O~"grrrr~similar lines.
PUBLIC HEALTH. Sub-section 8 of Section l m a y be quoted in full : - " In any proceedings for sending forth smoke, other than black smoke, from a chimney in such quantity as to be a nuisance, it shall be a defence for the person charged to show that he has used the best practicable means for preventing the nuisance, having regard to the cost and to local conditions and circumstances, and for the purposes of this sub-section, the expression ' b e s t practicable m e a n s ' has reference not only to the provision and efficient maintenance of adequate and proper plant for preventing the creation and emission of smoke, but also to the manner in which such plant is used." It will be the duty o f the authorised officer on becoming aware of a smoke nuisance, to notify the occupier of the premises, and if the notification be a verbal one, it must be confirmed in writing within 24 hours after he has become aware of it. Section 2 (1) gives power to local authorities to make byedaws regulating the emission of smoke of such colour, density, or content as may be prescribed b y the bye-laws, and the Minister of Health may require an authority to make such bye-laws. A breach of such byelaws will Constitute a nuisance. Power is also given t o make bye-laws requiring the provision of such arrangements for heating or cooking as are calculated to prevent or reduce the emission of smoke, but such bye-laws can only be made in regard to premises other than private dwelling houses; apparently the time was not deemed to be ripe for including the latter. A chimney is defined so as to include structures and openings of any kind capable of emitting smoke. T h e appointment of skilled and well-paid smoke inspectors to undertake duties within the areas of small authorities will be facilitated by the powers contained in section 6, by which two or more local authorities may combine to carry out their duties. Tilis will be useful in the W e s t Riding of Yorkshire, and in Lancashire, where so much atmospheric pollution occurs from mills in distr.icts which individually are t o o small to support a special smoke inspector. Local authorities in county areas failing to carry out their duties in respect of smoke nuisances, will be liable to have their powers taken over and applied by the county council
MARCH,
for a period, subject to certain procedures. The cost of .carrying out the duties will, however, be borne by the local authority. Unfortunately, as many think, sea-going ships d ° not come within the scope of the Act, and the Act does not bring about any change in the law regarding such ships. Research, still so necessary in dealing with the many problems of atmospheric pollution, will be facilitated by the powers which enable authorities, singly or Combined, to spend money upon scientific investigations relating to the subject. It will be seen from this brief summary that the Act cannot be regarded as a sensational a n d revolutionary piece of legislation. Consisting rather of a series of amendments to the existing law on the subject, it probably, however, has value, and may do good.
Cartce.r. H E intense and ever increasing interest taken by the medical profession and the public in cancer, was again demonstrated at the first Hastings Popular Lecture delivered by Sir Berkeley Moynihan, in the Great Hall of the British Medical Association, London, on January 24th, 1927, with the Minister of Health in the Chair. The lecture was characterised by the beautiful English, dramati c phraseology and lucid eloquence which we 14ave learnt to expect from the President of the Royal College of Surgeons. The audience, which was chiefly lay, listened with 'wrapt attention to a masterly exposition of this most difficult subject, in which, after laying bare the alarming extension of the ravages ,of this " Captain of the men of death," the lecturer went on to speak of the curability of cancer in the following words : - " It surprises many to hear that cancer can b e cured; that the patient can be relieved for ever.: from his disease. But it is true." T h o u g h in his following sentences Sir Berkeley slightly qualified this statement by, s p e a k i n g of the increased success of surgical treatment i n the last twenty years, the large proportion o f , cases of malignant disease which are, o n . account of the situation of the growth or t h e . absence of early symptoms, at present quite i n c u r a b l e w a s hardly referred to, and that much later in the lecture. W e feel, therefore, tl~at this .statement that " cancer can~ be Z
T
THE SOCIETY OF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH. No. 6. VoL XL.
MARCH, 199,7.
PUBLIC I~EALTH, the Official Organ of the Society of Medical Officers o] Hearth, is prepared to receive a certain number of approved advertisements. Application should be made t o the ExecutiveSecretary of the Society, at 1, Upper Montague Street, Russell Square, London, W.C.1. Subscription price, 31s. 6d. per annum, post free in advance. Single Copies, 2s. 6d., post free.
Contents. PAGE
PAGE
Public H e a l t h ( S m o k e A b a t e m e n t ) Act; 192'6 ...
161
SOCIETY OF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH-Cotmcil M e e t i n g . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Cancer
162
EDITORIAL--
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Encephalitis Lethargiea
in Sheffield, 1924
...
163
T h e L e a g u e of N a t i o n s S t u d y C o u r s e , 1927
.,.
164
Apathy
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
D e a t h of D r . T. R i d l e y B a i l e y
.. . . . . . . .
165
.........
165
SPECIAL ARTICLES-Research W o r k in P r e v e n t i v e M e d i c i n e .
:
B y W . G. SAVAGE, M . D . , B . S c . , D . P . H . , M e d i c a l Officer of H e a l t h , S o m e r s e t s h i r e C o u n t y C o u n c i l ' ; PROFESSOR W . W . C. TOPLEY, M . D . , F . R . C . P . , P r o f e s s o r in B a c t e r i o l o g y , V i c t o r i a U n i v e r s i t y , M a n c h e s t e r ; a n d PROFESSOR MAJOR GREENWOOD, F,R.C.P., F.S.S., Medical Officer (Medical S t a t i s t i c s ) M i n i s t r y of H e a l t h .........
Ut Ira Dicam. Being Comments, apropos and otherw i s e , on S u n d r y M a t t e r s . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ordinary Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The North-Western Branch .......... T h e W e s t of E n g l a n d B r a n c h ......... The Yorkshire Branch .............. The Southern Branch . . . . . . . . . . . . The Midland Branch ...... . ...... The Home Counties Branch ......... The Metropolitan Branch . . . . . . . . . . . . The Maternity and Child Welfare, School Medical Service, and Dental Officers' Groups ... The Maternity and Child Welfare Group ... The Naval, Military and Royal Air Force Hygiene Group . . . . . . . . . . . . Joint Tuberculosis Council
...
.........
REVIEWS-Tile F u n d a m e n t a l s of S c h o o l H e a l t h 167 177
184 185 186 186 188 188 189 189 190 192 193 179
.......
194
CORRESPONDENCE--" This Advertising Fever " .. . . . . . . . Facilities for Wet-Ntirsing . . . . . . . . . . . .
195 196
Editorial. Public Health (Smoke Abatement) Act, 1926. I F F I C U L T as it sometimes is to foresee ultimate value of a new Act of Parliament, the title of optimist may be claimed by anyone who believes that the smoke nuisance will be swept away by the application of: the Public Health (Smoke Abatement) Act, 1926, which will become operative on July 1st, 1927. At the same time, it cannot be denied that some of the provisions may afford help to the authorities. It will n o longer be necessary, when proceeding under the nuisance sections of the Public H e a l t h Act, 1875, to show that tK~
D the
smoke was black smoke. The expression " smoke " for the p u r p o s e s of sections 91, 92 and 102 of t h e 1875 Act in future wilt include soot, ash, grit and gritty particles ; t h e difficulty anticipated here is in providing proof of the origin of these substances from any particular chimney among a group of chimneys. Those who rely on the effect of Prosecutions will be pleased to see a substantial increase in the maximum penalties which may be inflicted, that under section 96 being increased from five pounds to fifty pounds. T h e law relating to London is amended al~O~"grrrr~similar lines.
PUBLIC HEALTH. Sub-section 8 of Section l m a y be quoted in full : - " In any proceedings for sending forth smoke, other than black smoke, from a chimney in such quantity as to be a nuisance, it shall be a defence for the person charged to show that he has used the best practicable means for preventing the nuisance, having regard to the cost and to local conditions and circumstances, and for the purposes of this sub-section, the expression ' b e s t practicable m e a n s ' has reference not only to the provision and efficient maintenance of adequate and proper plant for preventing the creation and emission of smoke, but also to the manner in which such plant is used." It will be the duty o f the authorised officer on becoming aware of a smoke nuisance, to notify the occupier of the premises, and if the notification be a verbal one, it must be confirmed in writing within 24 hours after he has become aware of it. Section 2 (1) gives power to local authorities to make byedaws regulating the emission of smoke of such colour, density, or content as may be prescribed b y the bye-laws, and the Minister of Health may require an authority to make such bye-laws. A breach of such byelaws will Constitute a nuisance. Power is also given t o make bye-laws requiring the provision of such arrangements for heating or cooking as are calculated to prevent or reduce the emission of smoke, but such bye-laws can only be made in regard to premises other than private dwelling houses; apparently the time was not deemed to be ripe for including the latter. A chimney is defined so as to include structures and openings of any kind capable of emitting smoke. T h e appointment of skilled and well-paid smoke inspectors to undertake duties within the areas of small authorities will be facilitated by the powers contained in section 6, by which two or more local authorities may combine to carry out their duties. Tilis will be useful in the W e s t Riding of Yorkshire, and in Lancashire, where so much atmospheric pollution occurs from mills in distr.icts which individually are t o o small to support a special smoke inspector. Local authorities in county areas failing to carry out their duties in respect of smoke nuisances, will be liable to have their powers taken over and applied by the county council
MARCH,
for a period, subject to certain procedures. The cost of .carrying out the duties will, however, be borne by the local authority. Unfortunately, as many think, sea-going ships d ° not come within the scope of the Act, and the Act does not bring about any change in the law regarding such ships. Research, still so necessary in dealing with the many problems of atmospheric pollution, will be facilitated by the powers which enable authorities, singly or Combined, to spend money upon scientific investigations relating to the subject. It will be seen from this brief summary that the Act cannot be regarded as a sensational a n d revolutionary piece of legislation. Consisting rather of a series of amendments to the existing law on the subject, it probably, however, has value, and may do good.
Cartce.r. H E intense and ever increasing interest taken by the medical profession and the public in cancer, was again demonstrated at the first Hastings Popular Lecture delivered by Sir Berkeley Moynihan, in the Great Hall of the British Medical Association, London, on January 24th, 1927, with the Minister of Health in the Chair. The lecture was characterised by the beautiful English, dramati c phraseology and lucid eloquence which we 14ave learnt to expect from the President of the Royal College of Surgeons. The audience, which was chiefly lay, listened with 'wrapt attention to a masterly exposition of this most difficult subject, in which, after laying bare the alarming extension of the ravages ,of this " Captain of the men of death," the lecturer went on to speak of the curability of cancer in the following words : - " It surprises many to hear that cancer can b e cured; that the patient can be relieved for ever.: from his disease. But it is true." T h o u g h in his following sentences Sir Berkeley slightly qualified this statement by, s p e a k i n g of the increased success of surgical treatment i n the last twenty years, the large proportion o f , cases of malignant disease which are, o n . account of the situation of the growth or t h e . absence of early symptoms, at present quite i n c u r a b l e w a s hardly referred to, and that much later in the lecture. W e feel, therefore, tl~at this .statement that " cancer can~ be Z
T