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the shortest possible distance for treatment, letters were
sent to the authorities of the neighbouring hospitals asking
whether in the event of cholera breaking out in the
Metropolis they would be prepared to place any, and if so,
what number, of beds at the exclusive disposal of your
Board, and upon what terms.
In reply, the managers of the French and Charing Cross
Hospitals at once intimated their willingness to place a
certain number of beds at your disposal.
But this accommodation which the hospital authorities
offered had to be declined in consequence of a communication
received from the Metropolitan Asylums Board
dated 29th August, which stated " that the managers had
placed themselves in communication with the authorities of
hospitals, infirmaries, &c., in London, with a view of ascertaining
what accommodation could be placed at the disposal
of the managers for cholera patients in the event of
necessity arising, and urging that to avoid any overlapping
of operation by the two authorities, the provision of hospital
accommodation should be left in the hands of the managers
of the asylums."
This arrangement, the same as in 1885, constituted the
managers a first line of defence for immediate action on the
appearance of cholera.
In addition to the accommodation thus provided by the
Asylums Board, and it being highly desirable that hospital
accommodation should be provided in as close proximity as
possible to the place where the disease was likely to break
out, inquiries were made for utilising one of the common
lodging-houses in the District as a hospital for the treatment
of patients in the event of the necessity arising.