View report page

spread of the present type of smallpox, great attention should be
paid to every relevant factor before another agreement is entered
into to accommodate smallpox cases from other areas which are
now being provided for viz:—Barking, East Ham, Romford Joint
Hospital Board, Ilford, Wanstead, Waltham Joint Hospital
Board, Brentwood, Billericay, Loughton, Epping Urban, Ongar
Rural, and Leyton.
I am strongly of opinion that the present type of smallpox is
peculiarly a disease of which the liability to spread over extended
areas is not likely to be prevented by the individual efforts of
different authorities. It appears to be more a question of the
variation of conditions of work, of transport, and other factors
connected with modern social life.
If hospital accommodation is to be provided for all cases of
this type it would be best to build for the reception of cases from
large combined districts, each to pay their proportion of upkeep,
rather than for individual authorities.
Tuberculosis.
DAGENHAM SANATORIUM.
(4) Under the Tuberculosis Scheme formulated after the passing
of the National Health Insurance Act, the Council were permitted
to use Dagenham Hospital as a Temporary Sanatorium
for Adults with Pulmonary Tuberculosis but, owing to an outbreak
of smallpox at Easter, 1920, the Hospital had to be promptly
cleared of consumptive patients and revert to its primary use ; a
costly and very inconvenient undertaking, as only 30 smallpox
cases were admitted. Fortunately, in 1922 the Council was
enabled to enter into an agreement with the Orsett Joint Hospital
Board, whereby the latter authority will admit sporadic cases of
smallpox, up to 22 in number, sent to their Hospital by West
Ham, thus enabling the Council to continue using Dagenham
Hospital for the reception of Tuberculosis until the increasing
pressure on the accommodation of the Orsett Hospital compels
the Council to arrange for further accommodation.
The total number of beds available for tuberculosis cases at
Dagenham Sanatorium is now 128.
During the recent outbreak of smallpox, cases have been, bv
arrangement, accepted for treatment by the Metropolitan Asylums
Board, who have ample accommodation—the necessity for reopening
Dagenham as a Smallpox Hospital has thus been avoided.
It would be almost in the nature of a tragedy to have to evacuate
all the Tuberculosis cases being treated at the Sanatorium in order
to provide accommodation for Smallpox. The generous action of
the Metropolitan Asylums Board in accepting for treatment cases
of Smallpox from West Ham district has been greatly appreciated.
25