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has done much for the comfort of the staff and satisfactory
administration of the institution. The old dining room and
kitchen have been converted into a discharge block for patients
suffering from Scarlet Fever, and should to some extent prevent
the occurrence of return cases. The location of the Hospital on
its present site has been definitely decided upon, and a block plan
of a hospital for 100 beds approved. A detailed plan of the first
block has been prepared and submitted, but was deferred for a
time. Although the present accommodation of 50 beds is adequate
for the district, still the planning of the present wards is
of such a nature as renders the individual isolation of patients
suffering from mixed infection impossible. In several cases
patients have contracted the disease for which they were isolated,
and in others the course of the disease has been unnecessarily
severe. Early in the year the lower part of the Hospital grounds
was drained, raised, and planted with willows, the condition
of the soil being much improved. Now that the whole area is
available for the children to play over, it would be advisable for
some adequate protection to be placed at the margin of the
brook, as there is some chance of accident. An attempt was
made to cultivate part of the vacant ground, but the results were
such as did not warrant a repetition of the experiment.
Staff.
During the year Miss Atkinson resigned her position as
Health Visitor and School Nurse, and Miss M. Holman was appointed
to fill the vacancy. Also Miss Taylor, Matron of the
Isolation Hospital, resigned her appointment through illness, and
Miss Christie was appointed in her stead.
The General Sanitary Conditions of the Town.
Water Supply.—The town itself is supplied by the South
Essex Water Company. During the year branch mains were laid
from the Castle to the adjoining cottages, and complaints were