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303
patients are treated at home, a "letter of advice"
covering extracts of the Public Health (London)
Act, 1891, and of the Factory and Workshops Acts,
1895, together with a sheet of precautions specially
suited to the disease then prevalent in the house, is
sent to the "parent or guardian of or other person
responsible for" the patient. A form on which the
Medical Attendant can certify the recovery and
freedom from infection is also enclosed. During
1899, 121 such letters were sent out. It is
desirable that disinfection should be carried out by
the Staff of the Vestry, and it is, therefore, satisfactory
to report that in 14 instances only was the work
done privately.
Hospital Accommodation.— There was no difficulty
in securing the removal of patients ill with
scarlet fever or diphtheria at any time during the
year, and only an occasional delay with those ill
with enteric fever during the late summer and early
autumn. The last disease is one which is likely to
cause least mischief if kept at home for a day or
two. Acknowledgments have been frequently
made to the Department for the prompt removal
of patients and subsequent disinfection. Under
favourable circumstances the patient has been out
of the house and the room closed up for fumigation
within two hours (often less) after receipt of
the notification.