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These hospitals, it was 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 Committee, the Managers intended to
provide another hospital for East London; but the fever
cases under treatment at any one time, between 1882 and
May, 1887, never having approached 1000, the intention was
abandoned, and a site having been obtained at Winch more
Hill, nine miles north-east of Charing Cross, the Northern
Hospital, with present accommodation for 480 convalescent
patients, was erected. The recommendation of the Commission,
however, was justified by the scarlet fever epidemic
of 1887; and what happened in 1887 may happen again, *for
the very satisfactory reason that the Managers' Hospitals
have attained a popularity certain to lead to increased use of
them in the future by people in need of isolation; the fact
being that the strain in 1887 was due in no slight degree to
the larger proportion of the sick removed to hospital as
compared with previous years. Evidence of this fact is
furnished, as regards our own Parish, by the figures set out
in the Table at page 32. It is certain, moreover, that in
the event of a severe epidemic, the demands on the hospitals
would be more pressing than ever, as a result of Compulsory
Notification.! Few cases now escape notification, and the more
cases notified the greater will be the number of sick persons requiring
isolation in hospital. Hie Managers, convinced that
an additional fe\ er hospital is needed, have long been seeking a
site, but have hitherto failed to find one free from objection by
owners or occupiers of property in the locality fixed upon. One
site which appeared to be in all respects satisfactory, failed to
obtain the approval of the Local Government Board. In my
view, however, the provision of an additional hospital for
acute cases will not suffice, nor will London be fully equipped
for meeting all emergencies without a hospital for convalescent
fever and diphtheria cases south of the river.
* It is happening at the present time—June, 1892.
† This anticipation is now being realised—June, 1892.