View report page

45
letter, dated 9th inst., from the London Branch of the Incorporated
Society of Medical Officers of Health, with which they forwarded copies
of certain resolutions having reference to the provision of sanatoria for
London consumptives, and, in expressing the opinion that the Managers
should undertake the establishment of these sanatoria, suggested the
Gore Farm Hospital as suitable for the purpose.
We have also had before us a letter, dated 20th inst., from the
Local Government Board, which will be submitted to the Managers on
the 28th inst., and in which the Board forward copy of a letter on the
subject of the "provision of suitable institutions for the treatment of
"pauper patients suffering from phthisis" which they have received
from the Guardians of the Poplar Union, and ask "to be furnished with
"the observations of the Managers on the suggestion in the Guardians'
"letter as to the Managers being authorised to establish sanatoria for
"the treatment of persons suffering from phthisis who are chargeable to
" the Metropolitan Unions and parishes."
Having given careful consideration to the whole question and to the
representations made in the several communications which have been
addressed to the Managers on the subject from time to time during the
past two years, we have come to the conclusion that the question of the
establishment of sanatoria for consumptive patients is one which calls
for an authoritative expression of opinion of the part of the Local Government
Board. We accordingly recommend the Managers to adopt the
following resolution, viz.:—
That the Managers, having duly considered the question of the
proposed establishment of sanatoria for consumptive patients, and
the letters received from the Local Government Board and the
various Metropolitan Local Authorities and Medical Officers of
Health in regard thereto, are of opinion that the matter is one of
such vital and far-reaching importance to the community at large,
and the proposal one which, if adopted by the Managers, would
entail so considerable an extension of their duties and responsibilities,
and so large an increase in their expenditure, as to call for some
authoritative expression of opinion by the chief health authority of
the country, viz., the Local Government Board, before the Managers
are asked to take any definite action in the matter or to make any