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rapid. Notwithstanding that the Managers have more than
doubled their accommodation for fever cases during the past
few years, the committee state that it is still necessary to
make further provision, as the present accommodation would
prove inadequate should scarlet fever and diphtheria again
become as prevalent as they were in the year 1893. Spotted
maps appended to the report show the distribution of the
principal fevers throughout the metropolis during 1898.
Age and Sex-Distribution.— Both scarlet fever and
diphtheria are shown to be most prevalent amongst children,
over two-thirds of the cases being under ten years of age. But
whereas scarlet fever is most prevalent amongst children from
five to ten years of age, diphtheria is most so amongst those
under five years.
Ambulance Work.— For many years, it is stated, three
ambulance stations– the Eastern Station at Homerton,
the Western Station at Fulham, and the South-Eastern
Station at Deptford— were sufficient for the work of the land
ambulance service. But the work has increased so much in
recent years— and there is every evidence of a still further
increase— that the provision of additional ambulance stations
became absolutely necessary. Three new stations were opened
in three years, respectively adjoining the Brook Hospital,
Shooter's Hill, the North-Western Hospital, Hampstead,and the
South-Western Hospital, Stockwell. During the year 20,959
fever, diphtheria, and small-pox patients were conveyed to
the various hospitals; 6,437 convalescent patients were
transferred to the Northern and Gore Farm Hospitals, and
6,671 recovered patients were brought back from those
hospitals to London. Further, 326 private persons were
removed, on payment, to other places than the Managers'
Hospitals. Altogether, 35,043 removals were effected by the