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During the year, 5685 Fever and Small-pox patients were
removed from their homes to the Board's Hospitals, as compared
with 5114 in the preceding year. The average daily
removals in the first six months of the year were 8.48, and in
the latter six months 23.01, as compared with 15'4 and 12.8
respectively, in 1888, and 6'7 and 29.1 respectively, in 1887.
The average length of journey of the fever patients removed to
hospitals did not exceed 3½ miles.
Small-pox Patients.—During the year, 25 persons, certified
to be suffering from Small-pox, were removed from their homes,
of whom no fewer than 20 were found not to have the disease,
and were accordingly taken back direct to their homes. The
remaining five patients were conveyed to the Hospital Ships at
Long Reach, opposite your Vestry's land at Purfleet.
Fever Patients.—5680 patients were removed from their homes
to the London Hospitals in the course of the year. In addition,
1731 convalescents were removed to the Northern and other
Hospitals; 1372 recovered patients were removed from the
Northern Hospital to Town Hospitals for discharge, whilst 125
patients were conveyed from hospitals to homes.
Diphtheria.—During 1889, 770 cases of Diphtheria were
removed. Of this number, 560 (72.7 per cent.) were removed
in the latter half of the year. Under the Poor Law Act,
Act, 1889, passed on the 30th of August, diphtheria cases are now
lawfully admitted to the hospitals. The Local Government
Board, however, had sanctioned the admission of cases in 1888,
and the first removal took place 23rd October : from that date
up to the end of the year, 96 cases were removed : 210 cases,
were admitted in the first half of 1889, and, as already stated, 560'
in the latter six months.
Cost of Ambulance Services.—The total cost of the Land
Ambulance Service in 1889 was a little over £12,000, a sum
which includes upwards of £6000 for the reconstruction and
enlargement of the South-Eastern Station. The cost of the
River Service was £3728.