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I referred in my last Report to the pressing necessity for the
provision of additional Hospital accommodation. I am glad to
say that now that the preliminary formalities have been complied
with the work of enlarging the Hospital has been rapidly
proceeded with, and the buildings, which will provide additional
accommodation for patients, nurses, and domestic staff to the
number of 16 and 12 respectively, will, it is confidently
anticipated, be completed and ready for occupation by the
25th March next, the date on which the Agreement recently
concluded with the Friern Barnet Urban District Council takes
effect. The Council has, thereunder, to reserve from that time
six beds for the exclusive use of Friern Barnet patients in
consideration of an annual payment by the Friern Barnet Council
of £360 plus 1s. per day per patient in respect of the patients'
maintenance.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Return of the Metropolitan Asylums Board.—
During the past year 4,910 cases were admitted into this
Hospital, situated at Winehinore Hill; of these, 4,638 were
Scarlet Fever, and 272 Diphtheria. There were two deaths from
Scarlet Fever.
Sewerage and Sewage Disposal.—The District is
drained by the dual system. The surface-water sewers discharge
at convenient points into the nearest watercourses, and as the
fields adjoining the smaller courses become converted into
building land, suitable sewers and culverts are provided. Where
possible and necessary the surface-water sewers are laid at such
depths as will enable the subsoil under cellars and basements to
be drained and connected thereto, thus ensuring dry dwellings,
and avoiding any accumulations of stagnant water inside any
dwelling-house.
The main foul sewers traverse as much as possible the
natural valleys, and run from the higher lands on the west
towards the east, where they join up to the sewers of the
Edmonton District at three points along the boundary between
the Southgate and Edmonton Districts. By the Edmonton
Local Board Separation Act, 1881, by which Southgate became
a separate district, the Edmonton District is required to receive,
convey, and dispose of the sewage of Southgate. Only one
length of sewer, apart from culverts, is now constructed of
brickwork, that length being the southern main joining the
Edmonton sewers.
The sewers are laid principally in open trenches, but as their
depth is in some cases as much as 30 feet below the surface, the
driving of short tunnels as headings is occasionally resorted to.
Pymmes Brook is crossed in several places by means of inverted