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(6) Swat low-place.—This was a case like that of Steele'scourt.
A small sewer receiving the drainage of 6 houses was
obstructed by deposit, and the sewage leaked up into the coal
cellars of the lower houses.
(7) Communication of disease to patients in Hospitals.—
The following is a case which involves a most important principle.
A boy named Thomas P., aged 8, went with his brother
from 18, North Bruton-mews, into St. George's Hospital, on
the 4th November, for the cure of scalds. On or about the
30th, he became affected with scarlet fever, but recovered
sufficiently to leave the Hospital and go home on the 7th.
This, be it observed, was much earlier than was quite safe
for a scarlet fever patient to go into a house—so called—
such as 18, North Bruton-mews, which with the contiguous
premises in Grosvenor-mews ought rather to be called a
village of 140 people under one roof; nevertheless, as it
happened, no infection spread on the present occasion, and
it could not have been helped if there had;—for a child
cannot be maintained by a private charity, such as St.
George's Hospital, till the infectious stage is over. But
there was another boy named James M., set. 12, living
in Bolton-yard, and acting as page at 13, Duke-street,
St. James's, who fell whilst cleaning a window, and broke
one arm, and sustained other injuries on November 1st.
He was taken to St. George's Hospital, and admitted into
the ward contiguous with that in which Thomas P. was,
where he went on well till December 7th, when he took
the scarlet fever and died on the 28th. This is a different
case, and involves the question,—ought patients to be left
to take their chance, or ought every precaution to be taken
that they shall not catch any complaint in the Hospital other
than that for which they were admitted within its walls?
The Sanitary Committee of the Yestry took the latter view,
and directed one of the Medical Officers of Health to confer