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12
Croydon Borough Isolation Hospital.
Total number of beds : 170.
24 of the beds are in cubicle wards, which are designed for the
individual isolation of patients, such isolation is also carried out in the
" special " wards attached to the main wards of the Hospital. 12 of the
cubicle beds and in addition 5 shelters are used for the treatment of
advanced cases of pulmonary tuberculosis (6 female and 11 male).
The extension of the hospital to meet the growing needs of the
town is receiving the consideration of the local authority. The work of
the hospital is detailed in the Borough Hospital Report (see page 84).
Croydon Borough Sanatorium, North Cheam.
This was formerly the Croydon and Districts Joint Small-Pox
Hospital, and has been converted into a Tuberculosis Sanatorium under
a five years' Agreement with the Joint Small-Pox Board. 50 beds are
provided, of which 15 are for Croydon, 30 for Surrey and 5 for Kent.
St. Mary's Maternity Hostel.
This institution is conducted under the auspices of the Croydon
Mothers' and Infants' Welfare Association. 17 beds (each with its cot)
are provided. The hostel is largely subsidised by the local health
authority.
Two members of the Council are on the hostel committee of which
the Medical Officer of Health is chairman, in addition to which he acts
as the general medical superintendent of the hostel. Statistical details
of the work of the hostel are given on page 56.
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DISTRICT.
Water.
The Corporation is the water authority for the whole borough.
The supply is mainly derived from deep wells in the chalk, but the
north-eastern part of the borough is supplied with water from the
Metropolitan Water Board by agreement made with the latter
body—this section of the water supply is intermittent in character.
The following is a description of the water works : —
LOW LEVEL.
Surrey Street Wells.—The chief pumping station is in the Wandle Valley,
close to Surrey Street, where there are four wells varying in size and in depth
to 50-ft. below which they are all bored. When pumping is going on the
level of the water in the wells is about 27-ft. below the surface of the ground,
and when it ceases it rises to within 14-ft. The lift to the reservoir averages
160-ft.
The first pair of pumping engines were set to work in December, 1851;
they are now removed, the town having outgrown their size. The next pumping
engine set to work was the 60-in. Cornish engine of 110-h.p., capable of
lifting 134,000 gallons per hour into the low level reservoir, Park Hill. This
was erected in 1867.