Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington]
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pox convalescent camp, a principal object of such appeal being
obviously to prevent the erection of a permanent hospital on the
site. The subject being one of much importance, it is interesting
to note that the Lords Justices were unanimous in their decision
in favour of the respondents, who were not called upon, dismissing
the appeal with costs. The decision was based upon the ground
that the Camp was "no appreciable injury to the healthiness of
the plaintiffs' property," and " no real danger." Lord Justice
Cotton " could not say that no danger would arise to the plaintiffs
from the hospital, but the plaintiffs had not made out affirmatively
that there was real danger to their property if the hospital
was allowed to go on; 110 injunction could therefore be granted."
Lord Justice Bowen found it " impossible to doubt that the Camp
was extremely disagreeable to the plaintiffs, but things which
merely abridged a man's pleasure, or made him anxious, were not
actionable nuisances." Lord Justice Fry, in stating his concurrence,
said that the plaintiffs had " undertaken to show that there
was what Lord Chief Justice Cockburn called ' a well-founded and
reasonable apprehension of danger' from the hospital, and, relying
on ' atmospheric dissemination ' of small-pox, they had not made
out their case." " He would not leave the case without expressing
his admiration for the care, skill, and diligence, and he would even
add the courage, of those who had the management of the Camp."
THE WESTERN HOSPITAL
was open throughout the year for the reception of fever cases,
and, until the end of August, for the reception of small-pox
patients. These latter were removed, when fit, to the Hospital
Ships or to the Darenth Camp. The Managers are about to
carry out works, by the adaptation of two of the fever wards,
necessary for the more convenient and economical treatment
of the different classes of fever, and for the provision of isolation
wards for cases of faulty or doubtful diagnosis.
THE HOSPITAL SHIPS
were open throughout the year. They furnish accommodation for
about 400 small-pox patients. At the present time (May), and for