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13
out the separation and isolation of patients suffering from
contagious diseases in this Parish. During the last four
years more than four-fiths of all cases of contagious diseases
requiring removal, were of a non-pauper class, and during the
late small pox epidemic, the majority were nominally made
paupers, and unwillingly treated at the Rate-payers’ expense.
It is quite time a Cottage Hospital, or Sanitary retreat for
non-pauper class was established; and what also could be combined,
and almost of equal advantage, is a small children's hospital,
with facilities of access for parents, who living in one room, would
gladly take children to be nursed and cared for when suffering from
contagious maladies; much of the danger to others in the same
family could be avoided by separation and isolation. Sanitary
authorities have the power to do this, and the expense would be
trilling. A small establishment in the suburbs could be maintained
at less than £ 500 per annum, and with payments for
patients, would be almost self-supporting. It should be kept
free from the pauper element.
Cost of an Epidemic.
The cost of this epidemic of small pox, light as it has been
in this Parish in comparison with others adjoining, must have
been very considerable, if all items entering into the calculation
were fully ascertained, such as the following:—
a. A sanitary supervision. b. Removal to Hospitals,
c. Disinfection and cleansing of clothing, bedding,
furniture, papering of rooms and places, d. Cost
of treatment in Hospitals, and the nursing, with
medical attendance at home in private practice.
e. Cost of burial, mourning, &c. f Loss of work in
wages and services, g. Loss of life to the community.
h. Cost of widows and children, either to friends,
or for poor law relief, education, &c.
The costliness of preventible disease is enormous, and
unfortunately falls most on those least able to bear it [vide
Annual Report 1872, p. 16 and 17). But the poor are not the
only sufferers.