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hospitals would be “ a retrogressive and most unfortunate step,
and a marked reversal of the policy deliberately adopted by the
Managers.” In conclusion, they expressed " a strong hope that,
in the interests of the public health of the metropolis, the Managers
will adhere to the decisions they have on several occasions
come to in favour of maintaining the Hospital Ships on their present
footing.” The report was received, and the proposal—against
which your Vestry, on my advice, sent an earnest protest—may
be considered as dropped by common oonsent.
MEDICAL INSPECTION OF THE HOSPITAL
SHIPS, &c.
It may be mentioned that, by the courtesy of the Asylums
Board, and on the recommendation of the Hospital Ships’ Committee
(of which Rev. C. Darby Reade, M.A., J.P., was Chairman),
the Metropolitan Medical Officers of Health had an opportunity,
in July, of inspecting the Wharves, the Ambulance Steamers, and
the Hospital Ships, together with the several buildings for
administrative and other purposes, erected opposite the Ships on
land acquired by the Managers under the provisions of the
Diseases Prevention (Metropolis) Act, 1883. Anything more
perfect in its way, or better adapted for safeguarding the Metropolis
against small-pox, by securing isolation of the sick, could hardly
be conceived. There was but one opinion among the Medical
Officers present—viz., that the work of the Managers, in this
regard, is of the greatest value to the Metropolis, and that the
Managers will do well to persevere in their resolution to remove
every case of small-pox to the Hospital Ships, “ unless the condition
of the patient be such that the journey down river would be
dangerous to life or prejudice the patient's chauce of recovery.”
This resolution the Managers have acted upon now for many months,
and with complete success, seeing that not for many years has the
Metropolis been so free from small-pox as during this period,
when every land hospital has been practically closed against smallpox
patients.