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accommodation for fever and diphtheria (6,050 beds) will meet the requirements
of the Metropolis; in which event Gore Farm Hospitals would be
available for the suggested purpose.
In these circumstances, I venture to hope that you will think it desirable
to exert your influence to induce your Council, in view of the approaching
inquiry, to support the proposal to utilise Gore Farm for the isolation and
treatment of persons suffering from consumption.
The Councils of the Boroughs of Battersea, Finsbury, Fulham, Lambeth,
Poplar, St. Marylebone, St. Pancras, Shoreditch, Stepney and Stoke Newington
have already signified their concurrence with the proposal of my Council, and
have addressed communications to the Local Government Board and the
Metropolitan Asylums Board in support thereof.
Many of the Boards of Guardians have taken similar action. Others of
these bodies, and some of the Councils, decided not to move in the matter at
the time January, 1903—very few dissented from the proposal.
It is manifest, I think, that the Managers would welcome an expression
of the views of the Sanitary Authorities, in particular, and having regard to
the wording of the report of the General Purposes Committee, adverted to
above, it seems hardly too much to say that they are "waiting for a lead" by
those authorities.
Yours faithfully,
T. ORME DUDFIELD.
Medical Officer of Health..
The Medical Officer of Health,
Metropolitan Borough of Bethnal Green.
This letter was communicated to the Public Health Committee
and carefully considered. The opinion expressed was to the
effect that it would not be advisable to, in any way, limit the
small-pox accommodation at the disposal of the board. The
difficulty in obtaining suitable sites for small-pox hospitals is
almost insuperable, whilst the selection of one upon which to
erect a sanatorium for consumptives presents no difficulties other
than those of a financial nature.
I am aware that it is the expressed intention of the Metropolitan
Asylums Board no longer to consider Gore Farm as a
small-pox hospital, but no one knows what the Board would be
compelled to do in face of a real epidemic of small-pox.
Personally I do not consider that the Asylums Board is the