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their babies frequently in order that they may be shown
what is done for them and taught the treatment necessary
for their welfare, and it is this combination
which makes the hospital a novelty. There are 16 cots,
and from the opening to the end of the year 100 babies
had been admitted, and the average number of visits
paid by each mother was 14.
Except in special cases a charge of 6d. a day is made
for each child, and patients are only admitted on the
recommendation of a doctor, who has the option of attending
the child while in the Hospital if he wishes.
The Hospital works in close co-operation with the
Fulham School for Mothers, and babies sent from the
School have a prior claim to admission. The value of
the Hospital has been recognised by the Borough
Council, who have agreed to contribute £300 a year
towards its maintenance, of which one half will be repaid
to the Council by the Local Government Board.
Deaths from Epidemic Diseases.—To the seven
principal infectious diseases 139 deaths were ascribed
representing a death-rate of 0.90 per 1,000 which is 0.87
below the average of the preceding five years.
Sickness from Notifiable Infectious Diseases.
Smallpox.—A Belgian who was removed on May
2nd from Earl's Court Refugee Camp to the Western
Hospital as suffering from Chicken Pox, was subsequently
found to be suffering from Smallpox. The
patient landed at Newcastle from Russia on April 24th,
and was brought the same day to Earl's Court, so that
the infection was contracted abroad. All precautions
were taken at the camp and no further case occurred.
Scarlet Fever.—There was again a notable fall in
the prevalence of scarlet fever, 286 cases being notified
against 766, 1,042 and 621 in the preceding three years,
and there were five deaths against 17 in 1915.