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80
Kensington Cases.— It may be interesting to state
that the admissions of Kensington patients were 583, viz.,
scarlet fever, 372; diphtheria, 130; enteric, 38; typhus, 8;
"other diseases," 35. The deaths, all diseases, were 56, or
9 6 per cent. on admissions; the scarlet fever mortality rate
being 5.1; the diphtheria rate 11.7; and the enteric fever rate
12.5 per cent.
Removal of the Sick to Hospital.— The duty of
removal of the sick to hospital, whether by land or by water,
is now effected in a satisfactory manner. The use of public
vehicles for the removal of persons suffering with infectious
disease is unlawful. Occasionally. we hear of the use of a
cab, wittingly or unwittingly, and in such cases the vehicle is
usually lost sight of before discovery of the nature of the
illness, and so does not get disinfected. This is no doubt a
danger to the public, but it is of rare occurrence, as compared
with the time before the passing of the Public Health (London)
Act, 1891, the 70th section of which forbids the employment
of public vehicles. No case of wilful breach of the law came
to my knowledge during the year.
Ambulance Arrangements.—Kensington patients are
removed by the staff at the western station, which adjoins
the Western Hospital at Seagrave-road, Fulham.
Between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m., on all days in the year, cases for
removal are reported at the Managers' offices, Victoria Embankment
(corner of Carmelite-street, E.C.), these being in
telephonic communication with the station. Between 8 p.m.
and 9 a.m. application for a patient's removal must be forwarded
direct to the ambulance station. The Managers'
telegraphic address is "Asylums Board London"; their
telephone numbers are 1601 and 1602 " Holborn,"