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18
Hospital Accommodation.—During the year the four wards
of the Plaistow Fever Hospital were utilized for the reception of 316
cases of infectious disease. Of these, 160 were cases of scarlet fever,
and 156 cases of diphtheria. 250 cases were sent in as the result of
visits of Inspectors of Nuisances, in response to notification
certificates, and 66 were admitted by the Medical Superintendent on
application at the hospital.
The want of adequate accommodation for scarlet fever cases
remarked upon in previous reports, was again shewn during the year
1897, many cases having to wait some days before admission could
be obtained. The diphtheria wards, however, were scarcely ever full,
and as several cases were sent to the hospital in a moribund condition,
it was thought desirable to facilitate removal as promptly as possible.
With this end in view, I issued the following circular-letter to all the
medical men practising in the Borough:—
Town Hall,
West Ham, E.,
February 15th, 1898.
Dear Dr.,
At the last meeting of the Public Health Committee I
was instructed to invite the co-operation of all the Medical men in
the Borough, with a view to enhancing the usefulness of the Council's
Hospital for Infectious Diseases at Western Road, Plaistow.
The efficacy of the Antitoxic treatment of Diphtheria depending
so largely on early administration, it was felt that every facility should
be given for the prompt and speedy removal of cases of that disease
into hospital.
The means for satisfactorily isolating cases at their own homes,
and the suitability or otherwise of cases for hospital treatment, can
best be judged by the medical man in attendance, and the Committee
feel assured that you will lend your assistance in securing the removal
of cases of Diphtheria in the speediest way possible.