View report page

39
intervention of a contractor. The consideration of this report was referred
to a special meeting of the Council, but at the end of the year the subject was
not settled.
In September it was stated that the ambulance had run something like
2,680 miles to convey patients from their homes to our Isolation Hospital
during 12 months' use. During this time it had met with some vicissitudes,
needing repairs, and in December £26 was spent on a complete overhaul.
Accident Ambulance.—In September it was agreed that in future no
charge be made to residents for its use.
SMALLPOX HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION.
Since January 31st, 1907, the Middlesex Districts Joint Smallpox Hospital
has been in existence at South Minims. We must rejoice that although precepts
have been made from time to time on the Edmonton treasury, no patients
from the district have been sent there yet with smallpox. The money (£242
for 1919-20—it was £237 the year before) is a premium for an advantageous
insurance.
Dr. Ta'Bois, the resident medical superintendent, informs me that there
are 70 beds in the permanent buildings, and 143 more can be put in the buildings
of wood and corrugated iron.
During 1919, six cases (all from Finchley) were admitted to Oxbridge.
Twenty-two urban districts are now shareholders in the Joint Hospital.
In April, Mr. George Rowe was appointed for three years on this Board,
vice Mr. S. J. Sanders.
In June the urban districts of Finchley and Kingsbury, and the rural
districts of Staines and South Mimms, were included in the constituent
authorities of the Middlesex Districts Joint Smallpox Hospital Board.
In August, our Engineer was permitted to advise on the treatment of
sewage at Clare Hall.
During the year I had under observation contacts with cases which had
occurred on board ship, or in London and suburbs, etc., but no developments
arose.
The number of tuberculosis cases in the institution on December 27th,
1919, was 163, 18 of whom were resident in Edmonton Urban District. Beds
at Uxbridge and Picketts Lock, Edmonton, are available for sporadic cases
of smallpox. If there should appear a prospect of a larger number, the
tuberculous patients at Clare Hall would be cleared out at once.