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Managers intend that henceforth the hospital shall be, in fact as in
name, a "Fever Hospital," a certain number of beds, however,
being reserved for temporary isolation of persons suffering from
small-pox, but too ill to be removed direct from their homes to the
Hospital Ships. The permanent reconstruction of the hospital, to
tit it for its intended use—the plans for which have been approved
by the Managers and the Local Government Board—will be
proceeded with as circumstances permit. It is proposed to adapt
the present Fever Wards for the separate treatment of three classes
of Fever, viz.: Scarlet, Typhus, and Enteric, and to provide an
Isolation Ward for each sex, for cases of faulty or doubtful
diagnosis. The arrangements appear to be well calculated to give
effect to the necessary classification of the sick of both sexes.
Small-pox cases are transferred as soon as possible to the
Hospital Ships or to the Darenth Camp. In course of time an
Embarkation Pier will be provided at the "West Wharf," near
Wandsworth Bridge, and then patients will be removed at an
earlier stage than is now possible. The distance from the hospital
to the "South Wharf" (at Rotherhitlie) makes it unsafe to
transfer patients, at present, so soon as could be desired. It is
to be hoped that the Pier will be completed with as little delay as
possible. The number of patients removed by the Western
Ambulance Service up to December 31, was 948. But to
resume:—
Fever.—On December 31, 1883, there were 43 patients
remaining; during 1884, there were 130 admissions, 10 deaths,
and 104 discharges, leaving 59 under treatment at the end of the
year. Of the admissions, 114 were scarlet fever, 6, enteric fever,
and 10, "other diseases." The scarlet fever mortality was below
5 per cent., 78 of the 114 admissions were of children under ten
years of age.
Small-pox.—From May 15 to the close of the year, 300 cases
were admitted, 62 died, and 229 were discharged, leaving 9 under
treatment. The cases were admitted from the following parishes:—
Kensington, 93; Fulliam, 81; Chelsea, 37 (=Borough of Chelsea
cases, 211); Paddington, 20; St. George's, Hanover Square, 34;