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25
I would first remark that it is not so very long ago
that cases of all infectious diseases were received into the
general wards of hospitals both in this country and on
the Continent, and that Scarlet Fever cases were received
into the general wards of St. George's Hospital, until
about 12 years ago, when you, at my suggestion, protested
against the custom, and it was abandoned.
Diphtheria and Enteric (Typhoid) Fever patients are
still received into most, if not all, of the general hospitals
in London, but the Diphtheria cases are now, I believe,
generally treated in separate wards. Enteric Fever cases
are, however, mixed up with the other patients in the
medical wards. I have seen cases of both these diseases
communicated in hospitals to Medical Attendants, Nurses,
and other patients, and I have long been of opinion that
cases of these diseases should not be admitted into the
wards of general hospitals.
The argument so often used that Students would
not have an opportunity of studying cases of these
diseases if they were not admitted to the Hospitals
connected with the Medical Schools is now very much
weakened by the fact that the General Medical Council
has induced the Metropolitan Asylums Board to allow
Medical Students to study these diseases at the hospitals
for infectious diseases under their direction.
I therefore quite agree with the suggestion made by
the Vestry of St. Pancras on account of the recent
outbreak of Enteric fever at University College Hospital,
that your Vestry, as the Sanitary Authority of the
Parish, should inform the Authorities of the Hospitals in
the Parish that in your opinion it is undesirable to
admit patients suffering from Diphtheria and Enteric
Fever into a hospital not specially constructed and
conducted with a view to treating and isolating infectious
diseases.' "