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10
either the Highgate Small Pox Hospital, or the London Fever
Hospital, but if the diseases treated at these establishments were
epidemic, he might not obtain admission. Now, gentlemen, this
was the position of affairs at the beginning of 1878, when we found
ourselves iu the midst of an epidemic of Small Pox. Your Board
felt how unsatisfactory that position was, and to its lasting credit
took steps to remedy the anomalous condition of affairs. Yes,
gentlemen, to the Board of Works for the Limehouse District belongs
the honour of taking the initiative in the enquiry as to how the
non-destitute infectious sick should receive Hospital accommodation,
and of conducting that enquiry to a successful issue—to your Board
belongs the credit of evolving order from chaos, and of conferring
on your fellow citizens a lasting benefaction.
At the invitation of your Board, meetings of delegates from
the different Metropolitan Local Authorities took place, and considered
the matter, the result being that a deputation of delegates
waited upon, and was received by, Mr. Sclater Booth, the President
of the Local Government Board, to urge upon him the desirability
of an alteration in the condition of the law; and the result of that
interview was that a short Act has been passed by Parliament giving
the Metropolitan Asylums Board power to contract with the different
Local Sanitary Authorities for the reception and treatment of their
non-destitute infectious sick.
Sanitary Work.
The first locality that claimed my attention in the year was that