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47 of continued fever, 48 of rheumatic fever, 13 of erysipelas,
and 8 of diphtherite. There were also 483 cases of
bronchitis, and 19 of pneumonia.
Small-pox. — This complaint has occurred in several
houses from some of which sanitary evils have been removed.
It happened in a mild form, and mostly among unvaccinated
persons. A threat of taking proceedings in cases of neglected
vaccination, has had a salutary effect upon the parents,
who have immediately had the operation performed upon
their other children.
It is gratifying to notice the sanitary improvements which
are now being made at St. George's Hospital. It appears that
there are 48 nurses to be accommodated, viz., 17 head
nurses, 19 assistant nurses, 11 night nurses, and the superintendent
of the night nurses, who is now obliged to live
elsewhere, for want of room in the hospital. This number
sleep in 21 rooms; these rooms vary from 6 feet to 7 feet
8 inches in height, giving an average height of only 7 feet
1 inch. The cubic space for each nurse averages 657 feet
only, viz., from 487 feet to 915 feet. Of these rooms 8
only have chimneys; 3 have chimneys, but not grates;
and 13 have no chimneys at all. Two rooms, in which 8
nurses sleep, situate in the centre of the hospital, have no
fire places or external windows, the only access for light and
air being two openings into a staircase; consequently, these
8 women are constantly sleeping in an hospital atmosphere,
and are themselves tainting this atmosphere. Some of the
rooms are only lighted by skylights or borrowed lights, and
through some of them, small and ill-ventilated as they are,
the pipes containing hot water for warming the hospital pass.
The water-closets were badly placed, having no communication
with the exterior of the building. All these evils
are now being remedied.