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cases of Small-pox to the Highgate Hospital, or of Diphtheria
to general hospitals—this disease being inadmissible at the
Managers' Hospitals. In view of these circumstances, I proposed
to the Asylums Board " to place disengaged ambulances at the
service of the medical profession, and of Medical Officers of
Health, for the conveyance of infectious sick persons to other
hospitals." The Managers, in reply, stated that they were " not
yet in a position to undertake the removal of any cases of infectious
disease beyond those which are to be received into hospitals "
under their own control. It is to be hoped that the Managers
will in course of time recognize the desirability of removing
such cases; they are comparatively few in number and hence the
difficulty of obtaining ambulances; for if the cases were numerous
supply would follow demand and the difficulty would cease.
Repobt of the Ambulance Committee.—Arrangements in
connexion with the transit of the sick, between home and hospital,
and back again, are under the control of a special Committee of
the Asylums Board, whose first report, issued in March of the
current year, is of singular interest. As regards River
Ambulance Service it appears that between 9th February, 1884,
when patients were for the first time taken to the Hospital
Ships, and the close of 1885, some 11,060 were removed to
Long Reach—the greatest number in one day was 104'—and
10,076 recovered patients were brought back to the London
wharves. The Committee report with justifiable satisfaction that
this large number of persons " of both sexes and all ages, for the
most part in physical suffering, and many helpless from disease,"
were " carried in all weathers and throughout all seasons of the
year, and to a great extent during the hours of darkness, without
detriment to the patients and without accident or mishap to any
person whatsoever." The Managers possess three steamers,
Red Cross and Maltese Cross, built to their order, and Albert
Victor purchased and adapted, which the Committee believe
" capable of meeting the demands of the severest epidemic, so far at
any rate as the centre and east of the Metropolis are concerned.
Whether the Pier at the West Wharf (Fulliam) will necessitate