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cent. The average duration of stay of completed cases, was 58
days. None of the cases of enteric fever had heen completed
when the year closed. Eleven of the employes suffered from
scarlet fever, 8 being first attacks, but happily none of them
died. Measles broke out in the hospital ; 2 children were admitted
with the disease, and 11 children convalescing from scarlet
fever were attacked: two of the cases proved fatal. I am
indebted to the report of Mr. Sweeting, reappointed medical
superintendent, for the above particulars.
HOSPITALS COMMISSION.
In my last annual report (at page 48) I alluded to the
appointment in November, 1881, of the Commissioners to inquire
respecting Small-pox and Fever Hospitals in the metropolis, and
stated in full the subjects, under six headings, referred to their
consideration.
The Royal Commission consisted of the following gentlemen :
Lord Blatchford (Chairman), Sir James Paget, Sir Rutherford
Alcock, Mr. A. W. Peel, M.P., Mr. E. L. Pemberton, M.P.,
Dr. Burdon Sanderson, Dr. Alfred Carpenter, Dr. Broadbent,
and Mr. Jonathan Hutchinson.
The Commissioners held 37 meetings, at 32 of which they
examined 48 witnesses, " comprising physicians of the highest
eminence, the Secretary and several medical inspectors of the
Local Government Board, managers and officers of the Metropolitan
Asylums Board, Metropolitan Health Officers, District
Medical Officers, &c." The results of their enquiry are set out
in a blue book, published in the autumn, and containing an able
and interesting report, dated July 21, minutes of evidence and
several appendices, with maps, plans, &c. The Commissioners
state that the questions on which they are called upon to report
" relate to the prevention and control of epidemic infectious
diseases in London and its neighbourhood, and concern mainly
the operations of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, constituted
under the fifth clause of the Metropolitan Poor Act, 1867."