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100
the Metropolis for its public health legislation, the effect of which
has been to elevate the Asylums Board to the position of Central
Hospital and Ambulance Authority for all London.
HOSPITALS' COMMISSION.
In 1881, a Royal Commission was appointed to consider the
question of Hospital Accommodation for Infectious Diseases, and
I was invited to give evidence. The Commission made a number
of " Practical Recommendations " in their Report (1882), which
were in accord with principles, in regard to public health administration,
for which I had long contended: among others (1) Compulsory
notification of all cases of infectious disease; (2) Compulsory
removal of the sick when necessary for isolation; (3)
Unity in Hospital Administration, and Representation of the
Sanitary Authorities on the Hospital Board; (4) Separation of
hospital treatment from all connection with poor relief, or, in other
words, Abolition of distinction of Pauper and Non-pauper in
respect of the treatment of infectious diseases; (5) Free hospital
treatment of infectious diseases, with pay-wards for those who
desire special or separate accommodation; (6) Provision of
additional hospitals in London, with skeleton staff of doctors,
nurses, and other officers, capable of extension so as to cope
with all emergencies; (7) Provision of hospitals in the country
for removeable cases of small-pox, and for the reception of convalescents
generally; and (8) Transference of Vaccination arrangements
to the Hospital—i.e., the Sanitary Authority. Previous
sections of this Report will have shewn to how large an extent,
in practice, my views have already been carried out. Parliamentary
sanction, I doubt not, will sooner or later be given to those
other recommendations, which areas yet in advance of public
opinion.