Public Health (Scotland) Act 1897
1897 c.38
An Act to consolidate and amend the Laws relating to the Public Health in Scotland.
[6th August 1897]
 Preliminary
 Short title.
1 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Extent and commencement of Act.
2 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Definitions. 
3 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
4 

Part I Authorities for Execution of Act
 Central Authority
 Local Government Board to be central authority. 
5 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Powers of Board to inquire into sanitary conditions of district.
6 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
7 

 Power to Board to appoint commissioners for conducting special inquiries.
8 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
9, 10. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
11 

 Local Authorities
 Local authorities for the purposes of the Act.
12 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
13, 14. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
15 

Part II Sanitary Provisions
 General Nuisances
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
17 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
18 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
19 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
20 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
21 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
22 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
24 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
26 

 Articles removed to be sold.
27 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
28 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
29 

 Penalty for injuring closet, &c. so as to cause nuisance.
30 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Waterclosets, &c. used in common.
31 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Offensive Trades
 Prohibition or regulation of certain offensive businesses, and byelaws as to offensive businesses.
32 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
33 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
34 

 Local authorities may make byelaws as to pigstyes.
35 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
36 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
37 

 Scavenging and Cleansing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
38 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
39 

 Houses in filthy state to be purified.
40 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Provision for obtaining order for cleansing offensive ditches lying near to or forming boundaries of districts. 
41 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Periodical removal of manure from mews and other premises. 
42 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
43 

Part III General Prevention and Mitigation of Disease
 Infectious Diseases.—Notification
 Notification of infectious disease.
44 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Infectious Diseases—Prevention
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
45 

 Provision of means for disinfecting bedding, &c. 
46 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Cleansing and disinfecting of premises, &c. 
47 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Disinfection of bedding. &c. 
48 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Persons engaged in washing or mangling clothes to furnish list of owners of clothes in certain cases.
49 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Infectious matter thrown into ash-pits, &c. to be disinfected. 
50 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Penalty on letting houses in which infected persons have been lodging.
51 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Penalty on persons letting houses making false statements as to infectious disease.
52 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Penalty on ceasing to occupy house without disinfection or notice to owner, or on making false answer. 
53 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Removal to hospital of infected persons without proper lodging.
54 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Detention of infected persons without proper lodging in hospital.
55 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Penalty on exposure of infected persons and things. 
56 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Penalty on sending child to school, so as to spread infection.
57 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Prohibitions on infected person carrying on business
58 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Prohibition on conveyance, &c. of infected person in public conveyance.
59 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
60, 61. 

 Prohibition of retention of dead body in certain cases. 
62 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Body of person dying of infectious disease in hospital, &c. to be removed only for burial. 
63 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Disinfection of public conveyances if used for carrying corpses.
64 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Byelaws as to public conveyances.
65 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Hospitals and Ambulances
 Power of local authority to provide hospitals. 
66 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
67 

 Mortuaries, &c.
 Power of local authority to provide mortuaries.
68 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Power of sheriff, &c. in certain cases to order removal of dead body to mortuary.
69 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Power of local authority to provide places for post-mortem examinations.
70 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Power to sanitary authorities to unite for providing mortuary.
71 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Byelaws as to Houses let in Lodgings
 Power of local authority to make byelaws as to lodging-houses.
72 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Tents and Vans
 Tents and vans used for human habitation. 
73 

(1) A tent, van, shed, or similar structure, used for human habitation, which is in such a state as to be a nuisance or injurious or dangerous to health, or is so overcrowded as to be injurious or dangerous to the health of the inmates, shall be a nuisance liable to be dealt with summarily under this Act.
(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Underground Dwellings
 Rules as to underground dwellings.
74 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Penalty on letting underground dwellings.
75 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Cases in which two convictions have occurred within three months.
76 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
77 

Part IV
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
78—88. 

Part V Regulation of Common Lodging-Houses
 Common lodging-houses to be registered.
89 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 No lodger to be received in common lodging-house till it has been inspected and registered.
90 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Evidence of register. 
91 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Power to local authority to make byelaws.
92 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Copy of bye-laws, to be furnished gratis to keepers.
93 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Power to local authority to require additional supply of water.
94 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Power to local authority to order reports from keepers.
95 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Local authority may remove sick persons to hospitals, &c.
96 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 As to giving notice of fever, &c. occurring.
97 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Inspection.
98 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Cleansing.
99 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Conviction for third offence, &c. to disqualify persons from keeping common lodging-houses.
100 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Part VI Sewers, Drains, and Water Supply
 Sewers and Drains
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
101—112. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
113 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
114, 115. 

 Distilleries, &c. to deposit refuse. 
116 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
117 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
118 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
119, 120. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
121 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
122 

 Works of distribution of sewage to be deemed a land improvement.
123 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
124—130. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
131 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
132 

Part VII Rating and Borrowing Powers
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
133, 134. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
135, 136. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
137 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
138 

 Borrowing Powers
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
139 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
140 

 Power of borrowing for hospitals, &c.
141 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
142, 143. 

Part VIII Acquisition of Lands
 Power to acquire lands.
144 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Regulations as to compulsory purchase of land, &c.
145 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Part IX Legal Proceedings
 Enforcement of and Procedure under Act
 Procedure if local authority neglect its duty under Act. Procedure under 18 & 19 Vict. c. 68.
146 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
147 

 Procurator fiscal may sue by directions of Board.
148 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Procedure where nuisance beyond district.
149 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Local authority may require payment of costs, &c from owner or occupier, and occupier paying to deduct from rent.
150 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Penalty for wilful damage of works.
151 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
152 

 Recovery of penalties.
153 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Form of applications to the sheriff, &c.
154 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 No written pleadings &c. allowed.
155 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Appeal in certain cases.
156 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appeal to sheriff or sheriff principal in certain cases: sections 54, 55 and 96
156A 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Further appeal to sheriff principal: section 96 decision
156B 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Further appeal to Court of Session: sections 54, 55 and 96
156C 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Effect of appeal in relation to section 54 order, section 55 direction or section 96 decision
156D 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 No appeal otherwise.
157 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Justices, &c. being members of local authority may act.
158 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
159, 160. 

 One or more joint owners may be proceeded against alone.
161 
In case of any demand or complaint under this Act to which two or more parties, whether as owners or occupiers of premises, may be jointly answerable, it shall be sufficient to proceed against any one or more of them without proceeding against the others or other of them, and any one or more of such persons may be proceeded against, notwithstanding that the acts or defaults of any one or more of them would not separately be an offence against this Act; but nothing herein contained shall prevent the parties so proceeded against from recovering relief in any case in which they would now be entitled to relief by law. Proceedings against several persons included in one demand or complaint shall not lapse by reason of the death of any one or more of such persons, but all such proceedings may be carried on as if the deceased persons had not been originally so included. Whenever in any proceeding under the provisions of this Act relating to nuisances it becomes necessary to mention or refer to the owner or occupier of any premises, it shall be sufficient to designate him as the owner or occupier of such premises without name or further description.
 Penalty on occupier obstructing owner.
162 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Penalty for violating Act or obstructing its execution.
163 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Compensation to be made.
164 
Full compensation shall be made, out of any fund or assessment applicable to the purposes of this Act, to all persons sustaining any damage by reason of the exercise of any of the powers of this Act, except when otherwise specially provided; and in case of dispute, if the sum claimed do not exceed the sum of fifty pounds sterling, the same may be ascertained on a summary application by either party to the sheriff or sheriff principal, whose decision shall be final and not subject to review, unless when pronounced by the sheriff, in which case it may be reviewed by the sheriff principal on appeal; and when the sum claimed exceeds fifty pounds sterling, such compensation shall be ascertained and disposed of by a sole arbiter appointed in manner set forth in sub-section eleven of section one hundred and forty-five of this Act.
 Convictions not void for want of form.
165 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Local authority or Board not liable for irregularity of their officers.
166 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
167 

 Exemption from stamp duties.
168 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Police constables to aid in executing Act.
169 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Act not to impair right of action, &c.
170 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Powers of Act cumulative.
171 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Part X Port Sanitary Authority
 Constitution of port local authorities. 
172 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Jurisdiction of port local authority.
173 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Delegation of powers by port local authority.
174 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Expenses of port local authority.
175 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Proceedings for raising a sum for payment of debt within district of a defaulting authority.
176 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Part XI Miscellaneous
 Provisions as to Ships
 Provision as to ships within the jurisdiction of local authority.
177 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Provision as to district of local authority extending to places where ships are lying.
178 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
179, 180. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
181, 182. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
183—188. 

Part XII Saving Clauses and Repeals
 Saving Clauses
 Act not to affect navigation of rivers or canals, or irrigation of lands.
189 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Saving of certain Acts.
190 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
191, 192. 

 Reference to Public Health Acts.
193 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Exemption of Government property from building regulations.
194 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
195 

 Repeal of Acts
 Repeal of Acts.
196 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
FIRST SCHEDULE

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

SECOND SCHEDULE

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
