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106
The views expressed thus far, were submitted by me to
your Vestry at the beginning of October last, in my tenth
monthly report. " The next epidemic," I remarked, "should
not be allowed to find the Asylums Board unprepared.
London should not again suffer the anxieties of 1887 and
1892 ; nor be burthened by a repetition of wasted expenditure,
on temporary accommodation, to an amount probably
equal to half the cost of providing the permanent accommodation
necessary."* I recommended the entire question to
the consideration of your Vestry, as " one that concerns every
Sanitary Authority in London, no portion of which can
suffer from infectious disease without endangering all the
rest," and I concluded by saying that "the hands of the Asylums
Board should be strengthened by those Authorities who
immediately represent the ratepayers."
I brought the subject, shortly afterwards, to the attention of
the Metropolitan Branch of the Incorporated Society of
Medical Officers of Health, by which a resolution was unanimously
adopted to the effect, "That the permanent hospital
accommodation of London for infectious diseases is insufficient,
and in the interests of public health should be increased
forthwith." A copy of this resolution was forwarded to the
Local Government Board, and the London County Council;
as well as to the Asylums Board, by whom it was referred to
the General Purposes Committee for consideration. This
Committee subsequently adopted a report on the subject,
prepared by a sub-committee, which, having been presented
to, and generally approved by, the Managers, on the 19th
January in the present year, was ordered to be sent to the
Local Government Board. As this report, and the "conclusions
" arrived at by the sub-committee, may now fairly be
taken to indicate the views of the Managers, I think it well
to submit to your Vestry the subjoined summary thereof
* In 1892, some ,£96,000 was expended in providing temporary accommodation
(including the North-Eastern Hospital) and charged to the Managers' current
account.