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110
Of the advantages to the community of erecting such a Hospital
for the isolation of infected sick, it may be of interest to quote from
statistics, prepared only last month by the Metropolitan Asylums
Board, showing the death-rates in London per 1,000 in 1870 (before
the advent of the isolation hospitals) and those in 1896.
From these it appears that the death-rate per 1,000 from scarlet
fever in 1871 was 0.58, and in 1896, 0.21, or a reduction of over
one-third; enteric fever in 1871, 0.27, and 1896, 0.13, or a reduction
of one-half.
Previous to 1887, it is estimated that only 10 per cent. of the
total scarlet-fever sick were admitted to the Board's Hospitals, whereas
in 1896 the percentage had risen to 62.65, and in May and June of
1897 this had increased to 73.01.
When it is borne in mind that every case admitted into Hospital,
is the removal of a centre of infection from the homes of the people,
it will be more fully realized what a boon is conferred, what money is
saved, and what an economy of life is effected by the erection of a
properly-designed infectious Hospital. That the Council are fully convinced
of these truths, is evident by the course they are taking, and I
trust that in this report I have laid before them sufficient information
to enable them to bring their convictions to practical fruition.
EDWIN T. HALL,
F.R.I.B.A., F.San I.
57, Moorgate Street,
London, E.C.