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patients were admitted to this hospital. On the 28th June, scarlet
fever convalescents were admitted to the Lower Hospital. It is
mentioned as an " interesting contribution to the controversy as to
the aerial convection of small-pox," that " no single instance occurred
of infection being transferred from one hospital to the other." On the
subject of hospital reconstruction, attention is called to the temporary
character of the hospitals at Hampstead, Fulham, and Deptford,
which, hastily constructed of wood and iron to meet emergencies,
"have given indications that they will not for long remain in a
condition fit for the reception of patients, notwithstanding extensive
repairs," and will have to be replaced by brick structures.
Diphtheria Accommodation.—Since October, 1888, the Managers
have admitted diphtheria patients to their hospitals, and the annual
admissions, during the last five years, 1889-93, were 722, 949, 1,312,
2,009, and 2,848, respectively. In 1893, many patients whose removal
was desired, had to be denied admission for want of accommodation.
At the end of the year the beds set apart for this disease
numbered 252, only, distributed as follows:—Eastern Hospital, 48
beds; North-Western Hospital, 88 beds; Western Hospital, 36 beds;
South-Western Hospital, 52 beds, and South-Eastern Hospital, 28
beds. It is proposed to extend considerably the present insufficient
accommodation for this disease.
Cases of Mistaken Diagnosis.—In 1893 some 732 patients, or a
percentage of 3 9 on the total numbers, were, after admission at the
fever hospitals, found to be not suffering from the diseases mentioned
in the medical certificates upon which they were removed to hospitals.
At the Eastern Hospital as many as 208 such cases, or 7.2 per cent.,
were received. Eighty-one of the patients admitted to the Hospital
Ships, or 33 per cent., were not suffering from small-pox.
Staff Illness.—Of 2,484 persons employed at the several
hospitals, 130 (or 5.2 per cent.) fell ill with fever, diphtheria, or
measles, presumably having contracted disease in the performance
of their duties: two of them died. On the Ships, of 307 persons
employed, six (or 1.9 per cent.) contracted small-pox, and all recovered.