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42
In 1925 £11,000 of the original loan will be paid off; in 1926 a
further £8,000, and in 1929 practically the whole buildings will be paid
for.
By that date the conditions in the building trade will probably
simulate those of pre-war times, or, at least, we shall have adjusted our
views to the conditions prevailing. Within the next few years what is
best will become easier to decide.
The County Council of Essex make a grant of £5 per bed yearly
towards the upkeep of the Hospital, but the sum received is but a drop
in the ocean of expenses incurred.
DISEASES ISOLATED.
Enteric Fever.— By an agreement entered into in March, 1912,
with the Walthamstow General Hospital, the Council have two beds
for the isolation and treatment of this disease.
Seven cases were notified during the year, and three of these were
removed to Hospital so that the provision of beds made was ample.
Of the seven notified, four were withdrawn, the subsequent progress
of the cases showing the primary conditions to be due to Tuberculosis
of Bowels; Lobar Pneumonia, Ulcerative Endocarditis and Influenzal
Pneumonia.
Diphtheria.— Twenty-eight beds nominally—at times extended to
forty—are provided in two pavilions for this disease.
In addition, there are twelve beds in the Cubicle Block which, at
times, are used for this purpose.
Owing to the prevalence of the disease in the later months of 1919,
and the first months of the year 1920, the total accommodation
provided was insufficient.
Scarlet Fever.—In normal times 38 beds- 14 for acute and 24
for convalescent cases—are provided for this disease.
During the first six months of the year the accommodation was
ample, the average monthly number of cases arising being 26. These
rose to 50 in the next two months, followed by an average of 100
during September, October, November and December. By the end of
the year our difficulties became very great.
A number of the cases admitted were found to have Diphtheria
bacilli in the Throat and Nose, or both, and their stay in Hospital was
in consequence prolonged, and the accommodation in the cubicles was
totally insufficient to meet this emergency.