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6
It becomes at once apparent that for nearly half the year the hospitals
contained never fewer than 3,000 cases of Scarlet Fever, and throughout
the year there were to be found constantly more than 650 cases of
Diphtheria under treatment in the hospitals under the control of the
Asylums' Board. At the close of the year nearly 4,000 cases of Scarlet
Fever and 850 cases of Diphtheria were receiving attention as in-patients.
So far as the matter concerns the Whitechapel District, I can only be
thankful that our cases have been so well provided for. During the later
summer months some delay in removal—of course—occasionally took
place. For the sake of favourable comparison with last year's figures, I
append from Mr. Cook's return the following extract:—
"Owing to insufficient hospital accommodation 104 cases of infectious
"disease were taken to their homes from the London Hospital, and they
"had to await vacancies in the hospitals before they could be admitted."
"In 52 cases 3 daily applications were made for the removal of patients.
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"In 27 cases removal was not effected at all owing to the delay."
This difficulty was chiefly experienced immediately previous to the opening
of the new Brook Hospital, at Shooter's Hill. Since that time no
delay of importance has taken place. The Brook Hospital is the most
modern institution of its kind, and is replete with every appliance that
science and forethought could suggest. Although the cost of construction
and fitting was considerable, I think few who inspect the buildings
thoroughly would begrudge the outlay. I cannot, however, help thinking
that something more is required to cope with these diseases successfully—
and I look forward to the time when scientific research shall place
a preventive serum in the hands of the medical profession, such as
we at present possess in vaccine in the case of small-pox. Already,
so far as the treatment of diphtheria is concerned, experience points
to the enormous value of anti-toxin, and the Managers of the
Metropolitan Asylums' Board have arranged for a supply of the remedy
for use in cases which await removal to their hospitals. What is to be
eaid concerning Small-pox ? I am writing with the current week's
statement of the Registrar-General, on my desk. I notice that the whole
of London has been only able to produce two cases of Small-pox. With
such a recent history as Gloucester in our minds, it seems scarcely
necessary to give further proofs of the efficacy of vaccination in the
prevention of Small-pox, but I would briefly refer to the long-looked for
Report of the Royal Commissioners, who were so anxious to use up all the
information which they obtained, that seven years were occupied altogether
before the results of their labours were published. So many extracts from
the Reports have appeared in the papers, that everyone is familiar with
their general outline. So far as the value of vaccination is concerned, the
Commissioners were practically unanimous in recommending it; indeed,
some went so far as to declare their belief that re-vaccination should also
be made compulsory. The most important differences between the Commissioners
had reference to details in mode of carrying out their recommendations.
Probably, early in the next Session, Parliament will consider
the advisability of increasing the facilities for the gratuitous use of Calf
Lymph, as well as other matters which will give effect to the recommendations
of the Commissioners. Personally from a very large experience in
all matters appertaining to vaccination, I still am strongly of opinion that
the greatest success attends the use of humanized lymph.