View report page

132
in times of epidemic ? As a result of their consideration of
this question, they had no hesitation in advising the Managers
to take immediate steps to supplement the existing provision
for acute small-pox patients. They anticipate that the
Managers may expect, in future epidemics, to have to treat
not less than 2,000 cases at one time; whereas, even when
the new buildings at Gore Farm are ready, the existing
accommodation cannot be put higher than 1,500 beds. Of
these 1,500 beds, 1,200 will be at Gore Farm, and available
only for convalescents, and slight cases, able to bear a land
journey of five miles after transit from their homes to the
ships. The number of beds available for acute cases on the
"Atlas" and the "Castalia" (which has been restored at a
cost of 11,500) is put down at not more than 300 at the
outside. It is estimated that if the Managers had 1,000
patients at any time, they would require 300 beds for acute
cases: that with 1,500 patients they would need 450 "acute
beds," and with 2,000 patients, 600 "acute beds," or twice as
many as are at present available. The Committee, therefore,
" think that the need for further provision for acute cases is
sufficiently established." They also point out that the former
provision of 250 beds in London, viz., 50 in each of five
hospitals, is gone ; " absorbed long ago by the pressing needs
of fever " ; and " even if the beds were again available, the
Managers would probably hesitate to use them except under
the strongest compulsion." Coming to the question of how
the deficiency of accommodation for acute cases can best be
provided, the Committee think that, for reasons stated,
" additional ships are out of the question." At the same
time they say, " it is equally out of the question that the
Managers should abandon their connection with the Long
Reach," where, not only has £30,000 been sunk " in the
purchase of land abreast of the Ships, and in the erection
thereat "of various buildings; "but the Long Reach pier
affords the only access to Gore Farm," where another