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London altogether, a plan which I proposed in 1881, the
epidemic, which was chronic before, has practically ceased. If
this result is due to the fact of removal, which has been made
possible by the existence of the Ships, no better investment of
public money was ever made. The Managers by a large
majority rejected the proposal to close the Ships, and they have
kept steadily to their resolution to remove every case to the
Ships, when removal is not likely to prove prejudicial to
the patient's prospect of recovery.
Extravagant outlay, properly so described, is to be condemned,
but it is true economy to be prepared for every emergency,
and, in my opinion, the Local Government Board did wisely in
making the suggestion a few years ago that the Managers should
endeavour to obtain a further site to the west or south-west of the
Metropolis, which should be available for an additional hospital
for convalescent patients—having in view the possible
exigencies of an epidemic, and taking into account the requirements
of London as a whole.
FEVER HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION.
The Royal Commission recommended provision of sites and
buildings capable of accommodating 3,000 fever patients. "Of
the 3,000 cases, those in the earlier stages, probably about half,
should be provided for in the near neighbourhood of London;
the other half—the convalescents—in two other country hospitals."
The recommendation of the Committee that the
Town Hospitals should "become in the main Fever
Hospitals," has been carried into effect. These hospitals, the
Commission thought, would, "with the aid of another hospital,
which appears to be indispensable for the East of London, fully
accommodate all the cases requiring London treatment." With
a view to give effect to the recommendation of the Commission,
the Managers originally intended to provide another hospital
for East London. This intention was subsequently abandoned,