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9
expected. In 1895 and in 1896 out of every 1,000
of the population, 4.3 each year wore admitted to
the Hospital; in 1897 the proportion was 5.0.
Of scarlet fever only, 1ho proportion in 1896 was
3.3, and this year 3.5. No doubt the proportion
would have been higher if I could have admitted
all the cases. It was not long, after the increased
accommodation enabled me to admit those requiring
it, before the disease began to decline in the district.
The Hospital has been full during each quarter, in
the first 99 cases were admitted
„ second 85 „ „
„ third 124 „ „
„ fourth 179 „ „
it will be thus seen that directly there was the usual
autumnal increase the accommodation hopelessly
failed, and the provision of sufficient number of
beds for this is what is really required. It is not
contemplated that Stonebridge Farm will be anything
but a temporary occupation, and as soon as circumstances
will permit (it is hoped early in the ensuing
year), the premises will be able to be vacated.*
It will be necessary to use one of the permanent
hospital blocks for diphtheria, at present used by
scarlet fever patients, and to transfer the latter to
the new iron building. This block for diphtheria
will be able to accommodate 16 beds (all it was
sanctioned for by the Local Government Board),
but other provision will also ba necessary, as thirty
cases of diphtheria have been under treatment at
*It has since been done.