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circumstances may be mentioned (1) the depauperisation of
medical relief in the hospitals; (2) the opening of the several
institutions to all classes of the people; (3) the admission of
patients, on whatever form of application, subject only to the
presentation of a medical certificate; (4) gratuitous treatment;
(5) the popularity of the hospitals themselves; and
last, but not least (6) the increasing recognition by the public
of the advantages accruing from the isolation of the infectious
sick. The operation of compulsory notification, moreover, has
had great effect, for now that Sanitary Authorities become
acquainted with, practically, all cases of infectious disease,
they are able to secure the admittance to hospital of numbers
of cases, such as in pre-notification days they would probably
never have so much as heard. In connection with this important
question, it may be mentioned that so far back as
the end of 1893, the Managers had provided normal accommodation
to the extent of about 3,000 beds, for fever and
diphtheria patients, by the erection of additional temporary
hospitals at Tottenham and Lower Tooting. Since that date
the Brook Hospital for upwards of 500 patients has been
erected and opened at Shooter's-hill, and (in November last)
the Park Hospital at Hither-green, Lewisham, also for upwards
of 500 patients. An equally large hospital to be
designated "Grove" will at no great distance of time be
opened at Tooting, adjoining the "Fountain" hospital,
described as a temporary hospital, although from the character
of its construction it is calculated to be serviceable for
many years. These three hospitals for acute cases of
fever, scarlet fever and diphtheria, in addition to isolation
wards, will thus add some 1,650 beds to those previously
provided by the Managers; who, moreover have acquired
a site of 135 acres at Carshalton, Surrey, for a convalescent
fever hospital for 700 beds; having already at
Winchmore-hill, north of the Thames, the Northern Convalescent
Hospital, with accommodation for nearly 1,000
patients. In addition to the new hospitals on new sites,