The Board of Health is in action, and is taking
steps to remove the causes of epidemic disease. A circular has been sent to the lo- cal authorities for publication, and extensively published ; giving directions how to survey and report the causes of disease, and. how to proceed for compelling their removal under existing acts of Parliament. The causes are separated into two classes,—those which may be removed by cleansing, and those which require works for their removal. Besides these instructions, advice is given to the Guardians of the Poor for prompt action in the case of an out- break of disease. It is probable that this method of directing the public will be more successful than the attempt to coerce the people, locally and individually, into the management of their towns, and even homes, according to the ideas of individuals at the centre of government. But in the present instance, undoubtedly, there is a serious deficiency of any power to take the initiative, or to enforce duties if the local authorities should be generally unwill- ing. We do not observe that the Board of Health at present pro- poses to act as public prosecutor, although such a functionary would evidently be requisite where it is necessary to compel sum- mary and peremptory observance. As last session was wasted chiefly in endeavouring to accomplish that which was impracticable, only a little time was left for securing that which can be done without new powers ; and so we are still left practically without a sanitary police—we have nothing better at present than sanitary special constables.
Previous page
