Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham Borough]
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"boundary of the hospital site. The boundary should have a close fence of ???
"less than 6 feet 6 inches in height, and the 40 feet of interval should no
"afterwards be encroached on by any temporary building or other extension
"the hospital. In the construction and arrangement of such temporary building
"as may at times be wanted in extension of the permanent hospital the same
"principles should be held in view.
"In determining the locality where an infectious hospital should be
"placed, the wholesomeness of the site, the character of the approaches,
"together with the facilities for water supply, and for slop and refuse removal,
"are matters of primary importance.
"Hospitals for Small-pox.—Ever since the issue in 1882 of the
"Report of the Royal Commission on small-pox and fever hospitals, great
"difficulty has arisen in the selection of sites for the reception of patients
"suffering from small-pox. Small-pox hospitals have again and again served to
"disseminate that disease to neighbouring communities, and this, to use the
"words of the Royal Commission, 'in spite of precautions almost in excess of
"any that could have been anticipated.' There is, as yet, no evidence
"available to indicate at what distance from populations, whether aggregated in
"institutions or living in dwelling-houses, small-pox hospitals may be established
"without risk to persons who are susceptible of small-pox infection; but that
"distance is often a very considerable one. It may, however, be laid down,
"with a view of lessening the risk of infection, that a local authority should not
"contemplate the erection of a small-pox hospital:
"1st. On any site where it would have within a quarter-of-a-mile of
"it as a centre either a hospital, whether for infectious diseases
"or not, or a workhouse, or any similar establishment, or a
"population of 150-200 persons;
"2nd. On any site where it would have within half-a-mile of it as a
"centre a population of 500-600 persons, whether in one or
"more institutions or in dwelling-houses.