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42
sirableness of giving effect to my views. That time arrived in
1888, when the Managers stated their opinion " that the conveyance
of infectious cases by public vehicles should be prohibited
by law,"and expressed willingness to" use the machinery they
possess for the prompt and economical removal of infectious
cases." Doubting their "power to use their ambulances for
other cases than those contemplated by the Poor Law Act of
1879," they were ready to take action" with the view of obtaining
for the Board the power to undertake the general removal of infectious
cases in the Metropolis."The views of the Managers
were communicated to the Local Government Board, and now,
under circumstances narrated in the following pages,* the Managers
have become the Ambulance Authority, as well as the Infectious
Hospital Authority, for all London.
The recommendation of the Royal Commission on Infectious
Hospitals, that the Asylums Board should have "entire control of
the ambulances, by which all other modes of conveyance should
be as far as possible superseded," has been carried out by the
establishment of Ambulance Stations at three of the Managers'
Hospitals (Eastern at Homerton, South-Eastern at Deptford,
and Western at Fulham), under the provisions of Section 16
Poor Law Act, 1879. Small-pox patients are taken down the
river in Ambulance Steamers, specially built or fitted for thepurpose,—embarking
at "Wharves which the Managers were
authorised to provide by Section 6 of the Diseases Prevention
(Metropolis) Act, 1883. Kensington patients are removed by
the ambulance staff at the Western Station, Seagrave Road,
Fulham. Between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., on week-days, cases for
removal are reported at the Managers' Central Offices, Norfolk.
House, Norfolk Street, Strand, W.C.,t these being in telephonic
communication with the Station. During the night, and on
Sundays, application for a patient's removal is forwarded direct to
the Ambulance Station.
* Vide page 65.
†Telegraphic Address, Asylums Board. London : Telephone Number, 2587.