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62
As will be seen by the above figures, the percentage of the
number of cases removed to hospital falls very far short of that
of previous years. This was due to the deplorable breakdown
of hospital accommodation for infectious diseases which occurred
early in last year. For several months it was found practically
impossible to get cases removed, so that the idea af limiting the
spread of disease in a particular area was out of the question.
So serious was the condition of affairs at one time that I asked
the Sanitary Committee to provide an infectious hospital for the
district, the superintendence of which I proposed to take in
hand. The Committee was fully alive to the urgency of the
case and cordially endorsed the suggestion ; at the same time
they instructed me to write to the Asylums Board to enquire if
that body could provide us with a staff of nurses. It was with
regret that I received a communication to the effect that the
Asylums Board did not see their way to help us in the matter,
and so our desire to check the spread of infectious diseases was
rendered nugatory, and for a considerable period any attempt to
limit the spread of these diseases was almost futile.
The appended report of sanitary works, carried out under
the supervision of the Sanitary Inspectors, will show that we
have been fully alive to the necessity of keeping abreast of
modern ideas of sanitary reform.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
JAMES HEBRON, M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health.