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55
ADMINISTRATIVE WORK.
According to the latest information the accommodation provided and projected by the
Asylums Board is as follows:—
For fevers—
Including diphtheria, and scarlet, enteric, typhus and relapsing fevers,
5,274 beds provided in 11 hospitals, and
800 beds projected in 1 hospital.
Two of the 12 hospitals, viz.: the "Northern," at Winchmore Hill, and the "Southern"
(not yet built) are for convalescents. The total number of beds at these hospitals is 1,452.
For small-pox—
2,400 beds provided at the "Ships" and on shore (3 hospitals).
1,740 beds projected at 2 land hospitals.
A certain number of beds are lost to general purposes on account of the need of providing
isolation of special or doubtful cases. The Board are also, at present, keeping beds available for
plague cases.
The ordinary "standard" provision for the isolation of infectious cases is 1 bed to every 1,000
inhabitants. Estimating the present population of the Metropolis at 4½ millions, the number of
beds required would be 4,500 for the treatment of all classes of infectious disease which are usually
removed to hospital. The Board's hospitals (including those projected but not yet in operation)
contain 10,214 beds, or about double the "standard" proportion. It has also to be borne in mind
that the London Fever Hospital provides beds for scarlet fever cases, and that all or nearly all the
general hospitals receive patients suffering with diphtheria or enteric fever. There ought, therefore,
to be in the hospitals built and building sufficient accommodation for the needs of the Metropolis.
Schools.—In consequence of the prevalence of diphtheria, an Order was issued on October 18th,
under Article 88 of the Education Code requiring the closure of the infant department of Beethoven
Street (Board) School for three weeks. The effect of such Order may be gathered from the appended
statement.

By far the greater proportion of children attending the School resided in the Sub-District
North-West Paddington, but many came from St. Mary's.
Although there was an undue prevalence of diphtheria among the children attending St. James,
School, it was not found necessary to close the school.
Family Shelter.—During the year 24 families, comprising 99 persons, 42 adults and 57
children, were accommodated here. In 1900 15 families were received, and in 1899, 21. Only one