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11
"The committee think the above circumstances prove that the ambulance
system, as established and carried out by the Board, fully and satisfactorily
meets the requirements of the sick and the public.
"From the establishment of the station on the 14th July, 1881, to the
31st December, 1882, 3014 removals have been effected, details of which are
appended.
"In conclusion, the committee would again draw the attention of the
Board to the fact that the experience of the last twelve years has shown
conclusively the inadequacy of the accommodation at the Eastern District
Fever Hospital for meeting even the ordinary requirements of the district;
and the Board having, on February 17th, approved the decision of the
committee to use the Eastern District Small Pox Hospital in future for the
accommodation of a limited number of severe Small Pox cases, in accordance
with the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Infectious Hospitals,
virtually prevents that hospital being again utilised for the reception of
Fever cases.
"In their report for the year 1881, as in previous years, the committee
have mentioned the urgent need of an additional Hospital for the Eastern
District, and the Royal Commission also state in their report (p. 32) that
another Fever Hospital for the East End of London appears to be almost
indispensable.
"The committee submit these facts to the serious consideration of the
Board.
"(Signed) Thomas W. Hodges, Chairman
CLOSURE OF BOARD SCHOOLS.
Under section 98 of the new code of regulations, contained in a
minute of the Education department of March 6th, 1882, it is enacted
that the managers of schools*1 must comply with any notice of the
sanitary authority of the district in which the school is situated,
requiring them, with a view of preventing the spread of disease, either
to close the school for a specified time, or to exclude any scholars from
attendance. If the school managers consider the notice to be
unreasonable, they may appeal to the Education department.
As regards the actual closure of a school, this would be a very strong
step, and under ordinary circumstances would not be called for if the
children attending a particular school come from localities where it is
possible to isolate individual cases of infectious disease in a fairly
satisfactory manner ; but where such is not the case, the power given
by the new regulations will be found useful in checking the spread of
disease.
There is, however, a great objection to close such schools as the
Wilmot street school, which is situated near some large blocks of
* By the 1883 Code this is extended to all schools receiving Government grants.