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8
about three weeks, while cases of small pox in unvaccinated
persons, were seven or eight weeks under treatment in the hospital.
The cost of which at 1s. 4¾d. per diem for maintenance (exclusive
of salaries to the Hospital Staff) amounted to £9, 300; or 33,000
days treatment beyond what would have been the expense and
time of well vaccinated small pox cases.
Early removal of Cases of Fever, Small Pox, &c.
In the Report of Dr. P. M'Cann, there is much experience on
questions yet undecided, which ought to be better known to those
who are entrusted with sanitary administrative functions, whether
Vestrymen, or Guardians of the Poor. One of these is the
mode of conveying patients from their homes to the Hospitals
with safety and comfort, and as early as possible.
This question has been fully considered at various times, and
provided for by the Sanitary and Public Health Committee.
Our fever ambulance is constructed on a good model, running
easily; it has a soft air bed and pillow; it is well ventilated
and warmed with hot-water bottles in cold weather. There
are two sets of fittings, and every precaution is taken to
cleanse, aerate and disinfect after using them. Lastly, we
insist upon the recumbent position, and object to friends
journeying with the patient, thus breathing the poisoned atmosphere.
I would remark upon another matter of most importance in
our Sanitary duties, viz., that of endeavouring to facilitate the
isolation and removal of patients suffering from contagious forms
of disease. So very desirable is it that early steps should be taken
in such cases by Medical men who have to recommend a removal
to the Hospital, that they need not be ashamed to confess an early
diagnosis to be difficult, or almost impossible.
It appears from the returns of the Hommerton Hospital, that
170, or nearly 25 per cent, of admissions were patients suffering
from "other diseases," and 29 persons were in a very exhausted
state, and died within 48 hours after admission;
probably to some extent this was owing to a reluctance, either
on the part of patient or friends to the removal from home.
Unless we run some risk of diagnosing the case, patients will
often be kept at home in the early stages of contagious diseases
until it is too late to remove them at all, and great danger to the
health of others, as well as themselves is the result of any
doubt and delay, until some prominent symptom shows itself and
determines the nature of the case.