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79
the Brook Station. The greatest number removed in a day
by the Western Station, in which we are locally interested,
was 46, on 17th September: the heaviest week being that
ended 19th September, when 351 removals were effected, and
2,386 miles travelled. Small-pox patients were removed
from every district in London save four. The largest monthly
number (61) was in January; the next largest (48) in June.
In 189 cases only, out of 265 removed to the Wharves, was the
diagnosis of small-pox confirmed by the Medical Officers: 73 of
the non-variolous patients were returned to their homes forthwith.
The year began with 3,529 patients in the Fever
Hospitals (a greater number by 1,042 than at the beginning
of 1895), including 2,844 of scarlet fever, 564 of diphtheria,
and 119 of enteric fever. Of these cases, 359 were in the
local (Western) hospital, including 258 of scarlet fever, 84 of
diphtheria, and 16 of enteric fever. The minimum number under
treatment at the hospitals was 3,217 on the 18th April; the
maximum, 4,996, was attained on the 2nd November. This
number would have been exceeded could all applications have
been complied with. Enteric Fever patients to the number of
109 were removed by the Managers to general hospitals by
arrangement. The cases admitted, certified to be suffering
from diphtheria and "diphtheritic membranous croup," were
5,334, as compared with 4,476 in 1895: 48 per cent. of them
in the first half of the year, and 52 per cent. during the
second half. To other places than the Managers' Hospitals, 433
cases of infectious disease were removed during the year, under
the powers conferred by the Public Health (London) Act,
1891, Section 79 (3). Of these cases, 104 were stated to have
scarlet fever, 125 diphtheria, and 97 enteric fever.
It is satisfactory to learn that, despite the heavy and
anxious work devolving on the staff, "no hitch of any
kind was experienced, and that no patient or nurse had cause
to complain of injury, or even inconvenience, sustained while
under charge of the Service."