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destroyed and buried before either my department or the police were
informed. The subsequent disinterment and examination of the dog's
carcase gave uncertain results, but for precaution the person bitten
was treated at St. Thomas's Hospital by the Pasteur method. The
patient did not develop any signs of hydrophobia.
ISOLATION HOSPITAL
The Wanstead Isolation Hospital is situated in the S.E. corner
of the district and adjoins Wanstead Park. It is on the pavilion plan
and consists of two pavilions, each sub-divided into wards capable of
very complete isolation. It is primarily intended for the accommodation
of patients suffering either from Diphtheria or from Scarlet Fever,
but I shall be prepared to hear from any medical man who has
charge of any severe case of Pneumonia complicating either Measles or
Influenza in a young child where the home conditions handicap the
chance of recovery, and will endeavour to admit such a case to Hospital,
if circumstances at the time permit. During the year, the number
of patients treated in the Hospital was 36, namely, Diphtheria 20 and
Scarlet Fever 16.
Average duration of time spent by patients in Hospital :—
Scarlet Fever 40 days.
Diphtheria 27 days.
No deaths occurred in the Hospital during 1919.
HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION FOR SMALLPOX
For the greater part of 1919 the Council were still under their
old contract with the West Ham Authorities for the reception of cases
of small-pox at Dagenham. Since September, 1919, however, the
County Authorities have caused this contract to be discontinued and
now any occasional case of small-pox has to be sent to Orsett. We
have had no occasion during the year to deal with any case of this
terrible disease.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE
The supervision of midwives is carried out by the County
Authorities, and that these have little to do in the Wanstead area is
evident from the fact that the notifications of births sent in by a midwife
during 1919 only numbered two. In this connection it may be well
to record as a little matter of history why the women of Wanstead,
with hardly an exception, engage the services of a medical practitioner
for their confinements. For very many years (since about 1882) two
maternity charities existed in the parish, and through their agency the
poorer women received the services of a good nurse and could have
the doctor of their own choice, together with other advantages, all for
a nominal sum. Although the activities of these charities came to an
end with the passing of the National Insurance Act, the habit of
engaging a doctor for confinements remains—much to the benefit of the
mothers and infants. Our figures for parturition and infant mortality
are eloquent testimony in this direction.