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It will now be a matter for the Council to consider what steps
should be taken to provide accommodation, and other means for
treatment, of cases of this disease, and in this direction I have
attended several meetings of Medical Officers of Health to consider
and discuss the question generally.
At present it seems to me that the only practical way will be
for the County Authorities to provide an adequate number of sanatoria,
and divide the County into hospital or sanatoria areas.
I conferred with and advised your Sanitary Inspector how we
should proceed, and sent a circular letter, dated December 22nd,
1911, to medical men residing in the area, asking for their co-operation,
and informing them that infective material could be examined
in the interests of the public health free of charge to them at the
County Laboratory, Maidstone.
In addition to the prescribed registers, details are collected
on cards (of which I have drawn up a special form to suit the requirements
of the District) which are filed, and to which further
notes of the history of each case can be added from time to time.
The special return of the Local Government Board on
"Phthisis: Sanatorium and Hospital accommodation" is not included
in this Report, as there are no facts to insert for this District.
The advance copy of the form has been sent to the Board, as
requested.
HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION.
Nine cases of infectious disease were treated in the Bromley,
Beckenham Joint Hospital, and were admitted as follows:—
February. 2 cases (Diphtheria).
March. 1 ,, (Diphtheria).
October. 2 ,, (Scarlet Fever).
November. 3 ,, (1 Scarlet Fever, 2 Diphtheria).
December. 1 ,, (Scarlet Fever).
Total ... 9 cases (5 Diphtheria, 4 Scarlet Fever).
No deaths occurred at the Hospital among patients admitted
from this District in 1911.
A County Laboratory (at present at Mill Street Chambers,
Maidstone) is to be established at the commencement of 1912.
where Diphtheria swabs, specimens of sputum, suspected typhoid
blood, &c., can be examined free of direct charge, if for the interests
of public health, and when sent in the special outfits to be