How the government may beneficially interfere to limit the spread of infectious diseases / by William Hardwicke.

  • Hardwicke, William.
Date:
1870
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: How the government may beneficially interfere to limit the spread of infectious diseases / by William Hardwicke. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    J HOW THE GOVERNMENT MAY BENEFICIALLY INTERFERE TO LIMIT THE SPREAD OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES.*' The present time is peculiarly favourable for the discussion of the question here proposed. A severe epidemic of scarlet fever pre- vails in most parts of the kingdom, and continues to increase in the numbers attacked, aud in the violence of its character; while re- lapsing fever has again made its appearance in London, and seems to show sigus of abiding with aggravated conditions amongst the poorer classes during the approaching winter. Under the circum- stances a discussion of the means to be adopted for the repression aud control of the high rate of mortality resulting from contagious maladies, and of the cognate but more comprehensive question, How are we to remove the cause ? becomes a public duty and is well worth the careful consideration of this Association. This subject is within the range of legislative action, and one which, if undertaken by members competent to the task, would indubitably effect the deliberations of the Royal Sanitary Commission now sitting, and whose report in the forthcoming year is looked for with interest. The ordinary treatment of epidemic diseases is notoriously unsatis- factory, and very little success has attended the efforts of medical practitioners to check their spread, either in densely populated towns or in rural districts. Equally unsatisfactory, although not altogether insignificant, have been the results of sanitary legislation, as proved by the high mortality from contagious diseases in all parts of the country. General experience clearly testifies that nothing cau more effectu- ally prevent the invasion, or arrest the progress, of epidemic maladies than a systematic general action, which would bring within its scope districts adjacent to each other, and involve an amendment of sani- * One of the Special Question* for discusBion nt tho meeting of tho Health Department of tho Social Science Congress at Bristol, Septembor 29th, 1809; J. A. Symonds, Esq., M.D., F.R.S.E., in the Chair.