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13
accommodation for small pox patients not being paupers." The
Committee for General Purposes, in a report dated February 22nd,
1877, which was subsequently adopted by the Managers, stated
that "a large proportion of the patients received into the hospitals
of the Managers belong to a class above that of paupers, although
they are sent as paupers with certificates from the parochial
medical officers and relieving officers." The Committee further
stated that on the 15th February, 1877, "the proportion of
patients" (in the several asylums) "who acknowledged to having
previously received parochial relief, was under 10 per cent." The
replies of the Vestries, &c., to the circular letter of the Local
Government Board, dated 2nd January, 1877, on the subject of
hospital accommodation, confirmed the Committee in "the belief
that adequate provision for the isolation and treatment of epidemic
infectious diseases in the Metropolis does not exist," and they arrived
at the following conclusions:—
(a.) That such provision could be best made in a comprehensive
and systematic manner, by one Central Authority
acting for the whole Metropolis, not only for pauper
patients, but for other classes desirous of hospital accommodation.
(b) That such Central Authority should not be merely a
Department of Poor Law Administration, but should
have the powers of the Sanitary Acts conferred upon it.
(c) That either the Metropolitan Asylums Board should be
merged into such Central Authority, or should itself be
that authority, in which case its constitution should be
altered and adapted to its enlarged duties and responsibilities.
A copy of the above report was directed to be transmitted to
each of the Sanitary Authorities of the Metropolis, also to the
Medical Officers of Health, and they were invited to express their
opinions thereon to the Managers.
Your Vestry referred the subject to the Special Purposes Committee,
whose report thereon unanimously adopted, was as
follows:—
"Tour Committee have to report that they have very carefully considered
the several suggestions contained in the report sent from the
Managers, and have had before them a report presented by this Committee
to the Yestry on the 17th January, 1877, submitting that it is inexpedient
and unnecessary for this Vestry to provide hospital accommodation,
seeing that the whole of the cases can be so easily dealt with by
extending the powers of the Metropolitan Asylum Board so as to enable
them to provide for all persons in the Metropolis suffering from small
pox or other infectious disease, and requiring isolation in hospitals.
"Your Committee agree with the Managers that adequate provision