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will not again suffer as in 1871, or even as in 1881, when the
admissions were 8,551, and the deaths 2,367. It is probable,
therefore, that the accommodation provided by the Managers
for this disease, amounting to 1,150 beds; viz.—350 on the
Hospital Ships, and 800 at the Gore Farm, Darenth, may
suffice. It could be supplemented by tents, kept ready to
hand, should need arise ; though I would earnestly press for
an additional Convalescent Hospital, which could be used
interchangeably for Small-pox or "Fever" on occasion. It
should be remembered that the Royal Commission recommended
provision of sites and buildings which could be made
capable of receiving 2,100, or by special exertion 2,700, smallpox
patients, a recommendation to which effect could be given
by the erection of the suggested hospital on a sufficiently large
site.
If the above calculations are even approximately correct,
it follows that London requires in its rate-supported or public
hospitals, at least 6,150 beds ; some 1,050 more, therefore, than
the Royal Commission recommended in 1882. The normal
accommodation already in existence, or provided for, at the
several hospitals, appears to be about 3,959 beds, viz., at the
Eastern Hospital, 298 beds ; the North-Western Hospital, 411
beds ; the Western Hospital (shortly to be raised to) 400 beds;
the South-Western Hospital, 338 beds; the South-Eastern
Hospital, 426 beds; the North-Eastern Hospital, 456
beds ; and the Northern Hospital, for convalescing fever
patients), 480 beds. Total, 2,809 beds. To which must be
added the Hospital Ships, and the Gore Farm Infirmary, for
acute cases of small-pox, 550 beds; and the Gore Farm Hospital
for Convalescents, 600 beds: Total, 1,150 beds. Grand Total
5,109 beds. The Administrative Department at the Gore
Farm Hospital, it may be mentioned, was designed for 1,000
patients. By utilizing this hospital for scarlet-fever cases;
by placing additional beds in the wards of the various
hospitals; and by diverting rooms hitherto used for other