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19
sec. 37, to provide a small Cottage Hospital for the
temporary reception of those non-pauper cases, that
require isolation or removal when attacked with a
contagious disease, where they can remain until convalescent
and safe to return to their families.
In consequence of a letter from the Secretary of
the London Fever Hospital in July last year and
again in January this year, soliciting an Annual Subscription
for one more bed to be kept in readiness, the
Sanitary Committee had under consideration the
question of providing for the removal and reception of
persons suffering from a dangerous infectious disease.
Recent regulations of the Metropolitan Asylum Board
render it impossible for Guardians legally to take charge
of a certain class of non-pauper cases as they were
formerly accustomed to do. Our present system would
break down in the event of any severe epidemic.
At present we are dependent upon two sources :
First, Guardians taking cases simply as Paupers ;
Secondly, the Vestry send them to the Fever Hospital
at Islington, or to the Small Pox Hospital at Highgate,
on payment of a fee. At some future time one or
more Authorities (as suggested in the Act), might possibly
agree to have a Hospital, or part of an existing
Hospital, and in connexion with it a place for
disinfection of clothing and articles of bedding would
be provided for. There is ample proof that such an
Institution would be nearly self-supporting.
Everybody is under the delusion that it would be
a dangerous nuisance in their neighbourhood, in spite
of the opinions expressed by some of the most eminent