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18
A Circular was received in September last from the
Managers of the Metropolitan Asylums Board's Hospitals on
the subject of the Removal and Treatment of Non-Pauper
cases of Infectious Disease in their Hospitals, requesting the
Board to enter into an agreement with the Managers for the
payment of the expenses incurred (settled at £4 4s. 0d. each) and
to defray other sums that might otherwise become chargeable
to the Board, for new clothing, &c., or for burial in the event
of death.
This Circular was referred to the Sanitary Committee for
consideration and report, and at their request I drew up and
presented to them the following report:—
Gentlemen,
I have carefully considered the Agreement submitted
by the Managers of the Asylums Board respecting the reception
into their hospitals of persons suffering from a dangerous
infectious disorder and not being persons chargeable to any
Union or Parish, and am of opinion that such an agreement is
unnecessary, decidedly objectionable., and would be very unfair, so
far as this District is concerned.
I am of opinion it is unnecessary because up to the present
time there has not been any difficulty in obtaining admission of
such patients into the Asylums Board's Hospitals, or other
Hospitals for Fever and Small-pox, except at a time when the
Asylums Board's Hospitals were full, and no patient could be
received into them, either by payment or otherwise.
That the proposed arrangement is objectionable because a
conflict of jurisdiction would necessarily arise between the
Relieving Officers of the Guardians and myself as to the
chargeability of the said persons to the Union.
I am of opinion that all persons suffering from such
diseases are chargeable to the Union or Parish, if they or their
relations cannot procure the necessary medical attendance,
nursing, and medical comforts, and also if they have not homes
of their own where they can be properly treated. The Relieving
Officers might hold a different opinion to this, in which case