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6
manufacturing works. If the grounds were not so well wooded
the unfavourable features of the site would be more noticeable.
The hospital needs modernisation of many of its component
units; whilst repairs have again been necessary to certain of the
ward blocks owing to subsidence and cracking of walls.
The full capacity of the hospital, using wards which are out
of date, and temporary corrugated iron buildings, is 220 beds
and these have to serve a population of some 266,000, i.e., less
than one bed per 1,000 of the population. It is fortunate that
the strict application of the principles of prevention which is
carried out in dealing with cases of infectious disease—a strictness
which not infrequently is commented upon by those who
are affected thereby—has so far kept down the incidence of
infectious disease to relatively small proportions. If a severe
epidemic of Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria or other notifiable
disease should unfortunately arise, the isolation accommodation
provided at the hospital will prove insufficient.
Tuberculosis.
No new developments of major importance have occurred
during the year. The slow decline in the number of new cases
continued, and the incidence rate of Tuberculosis in Croydon,
1.11 per 1,000 of the population for pulmonary cases, and 0.25
for non-pulmonary compares very favourably with other centres
of population. The problem of the young female adult, who
develops pulmonary tuberculosis about the age of 20—25 years,
was again in evidence, and a higher proportion of young women
between these ages died than young men in the same age group.
The fashion of slimming cannot be exonerated in this connection.
The Committee have, during the year, had before them the
question of the provision of a new Dispensary in place of the
unsuitable one now in use, and also the establishment of a new
Sanatorium. Both these matters were still under review at the
end of the year, and although the dual need was generally recognised
no definite progress had been made towards the accomplishment
of these aims, when the year closed.
Venereal Diseases.
The number of new cases presenting themselves for treatment
at the local clinic again rose, whilst the number of Croydon