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Asylums Board should be charged with the duty of providing for this class
of persons. But, failing the action of this Board, it would be necessary for
your Board to act upon the powers given to you in the "Sanitary Act, 1866,"
and to establish a hospital under your own control for this class of cases not a
temporary hospital, but a permanent one, always open and ready for the
reception of patients.
Self-supporting Hospitals. 81. I beg also to suggest that as there are'
from time to time, many persons suffering from infectious disease whom it
would be desirable to remove to a hospital, but for whom in the present
vague state of the law, it is doubtful whether your Board could lawfully
make provision out of the public funds; it is most expedient that Hospitals
should be established, where such patients could be received on payment of
a certain sum, sufficient to defray the expenses of medical care and
maintenance. It is certain that many employers of labour would gladly, in
cases of emergency, avail themselves of such accommodation for their
dependants, and there can be no doubt also, that many friends of a better class
of sufferers, would feel the advantage of such a resource on the breaking out
of any infectious and dangerous disease. It is my opinion that such institutions
should be established and managed by a public Board, and not left to
the precarious support of voluntary agency. Such Institutions as these,
co-operating with the Hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, would
probably suffice to supply all the public needs arising from the spread of
epidemic disorders.
The Mortality in tlie Workhouse and other Local Institutions.
82. The number of Births in the "Workhouse during the year 1870, was
103, and the number of admissions 2,328, making a total of 2,431. The
number of Deaths was 254, and of these, 24 had been inmates of the House
for a longer period than 12 months; the others had died within the year of
admission. The following tabular statement shows the length of residence
in the House of the several patients.

83. This Return includes the still-births and inquest cases. It appears
that of the entire mortality in the Workhouse, nearly one-half died within
the first month of admission. This analysis shows that a considerable number
of persons enter the "Workhouse as a last resource in sickness.
(See next page Table XI.)
84. About one-half of the persons who died, were over 60 years of age.
One woman is recorded to have died at the extreme age of 102. Tho deaths
from phthisis and bronchitis make up about one-half of the mortality.