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58
guardians, and I have suggested that information should be
forwarded to the medical officer of health also, in order that
he may take proper measures for disinfection, &c.
Such an admirable plan was impossible of execution while
the ambulance arrangements were under the control of numerous
local authorities, but it became practicable when the Board
decided to undertake the duty of removing the sick over the
entire district of the Metropolis. In this connexion I may
mention that the Western District Ambulance Station, adjoining
the Hospital at Fulham, being now in use, applications
for removal of cases to that hospital between the
hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., and all day on Sunday, are required
to be sent to the Ambulance Superintendent direct.
To facilitate the working of the new system, I have suggested
to the Guardians the desirability of their offices being placed
in direct telegraphic or telephonic communication with the
Ambulance Station, and with the chief offices of the Board,
and this suggestion is now receiving their consideration.
I communicated the above information as to the removal
of cases to the medical men throughout the parish, and
supplied them with copies of a suitable form of certificate,
&c. I also informed them that your Vestry would reimburse
the cost of the telegraphic application for removal in the case
of any patient unable, through poverty, to pay for it.
Interruption of Education at Elementary Schools
resulting from the prevalence of infectious diseases.
—It is customary at Board and other elementary schools, to
refuse admission to children from houses where infectious
disease exists, even when the rejected children are not
members of the family affected. The propriety of this
practice is beyond question, and to its existence we may
reasonably ascribe the fact that on no occasion has it been
found necessary, in this parish, to close a school on account
of the prevalence of infectious disease among the pupils.
The "notification of infectious disease," when it shall have
been secured by legislation, and the increased powers of