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60
dwelling houses were adjacent, it does not appear to the Board that
the Managers need be apprehensive of any successful attempt to
interfere with their proceedings, provided that proper precautions
are taken with respect to the removal of the patients going to and
fro."
With the view to avoid delay in seeking for sites, the Board
advised the Managers to utilize their spare land adjacent to the
imbecile asylum at Darenth for the erection of tents and huts for
the reception of convalescent cases.* On Monday, 9th May, the
Managers met to consider the above letter (which is given in
extenso in the Minutes of the Board, page 135), and a report dated
9th May, by the "Committee for Darenth Schools and Asylum,"
as follows:—"Haying regard to the alarming increase of the
epidemic of small-pox, and to the relief which would be afforded to
the existing hospitals by the provision of a temporary establishment
for convalescent patients, your Committee, at the request of
the Chairman and Yice-Chairman of the Board, have had under
consideration the question of the erection of tents upon the land at
Darenth, and are of opinion that accommodation can be provided
for the reception of at least 800 convalescents without detriment
to the health of the imbecile patients already located there." The
Managers thereupon resolved unanimously, "That, subject to the
sanction of the Local Government Board, the Committee for
Darenth Asylum be authorised to erect, on the site at Darenth,
tents for convalescent small-pox patients; to obtain such furniture,
bedding, etc., as may be required without advertising for sealed
tenders, and to make all other arrangements that may be
necessary for the reception of patients." The sanction of the
Local Government Board was at once given; the work of providing
the necessary accommodation was undertaken without loss of time,
with the immediate effect of relieving the pressure on the existing
hospitals, which have since proved adequate to meet the requirements
of the Metropolis.
I have referred at some length to this interesting movement,
because it shows how the difficulty that " underlies " the matters
* The suggestion to use the grounds at Darenth, originated, I am informed,
with Sir E. H. Currie, the Chairman of the Darenth Committee.