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arranged that rags should not be imported without proper precautions
against possible mischief. With reference to hospital provision for
London, the Asylums Board could only act, as had been stated, as
a first line of defence. The two thousand beds they were said to
be able to provide would be very useful, but it was important to
inquire as to the convenience of the proposed hospitals in point of
nearness to those who would be likely to require hospital treatment.
The Vestries and District Boards would form the second line of
defence, and this would be the more important should Cholera
come. The Vestries would have to provide places of refuge for the
healthy when the sick were too ill to be removed. With this
branch of work, probably the most important, as being the best
way of dealing with Cholera, the Asylums Board would have
nothing to do, nor with the provision of disinfectants, medicines,
&c. He concluded by inviting suggestions as to arrangements it
was desirable for the Board to make, and as to any arrangements
with reference to which it was desirable that the Board should
make communication to the Sanitary Authorities.
In September a communication was received from the Asylums
Board informing the Vestry of the extent of hospital accommodation
which, in the event of the Local Government Board issuing an
order under the Diseases Prevention Act of 1855, will be provided
in the Metropolis for persons suffering from Cholera.
The Managers, by the offers of Boards of Guardians, and the
Governors of Hospitals, &c., anticipate being able to provide about
1800 beds for Cholera patients, but up to the present time, notwithstanding
the endeavours of the managers, little or no accommodation
is forthcoming in certain large districts where it might be required.
Should, therefore, no further accommodation be secured, and the
disease break out in those particular districts, it will be the duty of
the Sanitary Authorities to provide accommodation for, and to treat
the sick in hospitals, or to provide houses of refuge for the healthy,
and to undertake the care, nursing and treatment of the sick in
their own homes, since it is considered to be prejudicial to the
recovery of a patient to remove the case to a hospital at any
considerable distance.