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50
Dr. Cameron in his report gives an account of the
method of dealing with infectious diseases in certain
French hospitals. The essence of this method lies in
the strict aseptic treatment of the patient and his
surroundings. For this purpose the wards are divided
by glass screens and each patient is placed in a small
chamber or cubicle by himself. Dr. Cameron suggests
the trial of this plan by the Board. The medical
superintendents approve of the suggestion and hope it
will be adopted.
The present custom in London is to bath all patients
immediately before discharge from hospital, they are
then dressed in clean fresh clothing and sent home.
Dr. Cameron suggests that in order to avoid the risk
of a chill the bath should be taken on the previous
evening during the winter months.
The recommendations of the medical superintendents,
based partly upon the report but amplified by their own
enormous experience, are so important that I reproduce
them in extenso.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
As a result of our examination of the facts brought
forward by Dr. Cameron and such other sources of
information as are known to us, we recommend—
1. That as far as practicable, every patient as soon
as he is in a fit condition, and without regard to age or
sex, be transferred from the acute to the convalescent
hospitals.