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10
one time. It has been said that I am asking for a
very heavy expenditure of money, and no doubt it
is so, but it would not have been so much if the
original proposal of four blocks for patients had been
carried out. The population of the parish is increasing
at the rate at the present time of about
6,000 a year, and it will be apparent that before any
new buildings are completed the population will be
100,000. It has been proposed to erect a building
with two floors capable of holding 32 beds, a block
in present use will hold 16 and two iron buildings
12 in each, there would be therefore a total of 72
beds for scarlet fever patients. I have already had
that number in the Hospital at one time, and have
hoped that even with the annual increase of population
it may prove sufficient for a while, but it
would be shutting one's eyes to a very obvious fact
if I were to say that I considered it would prove
sufficient for long. With regard to diphtheria I
have shown that there have been already 30 cases
under treatment at one time, and there is accommodation
for 16, leaving, as is absolutely necessary,
the isolation block for isolation purposes and for
typhoid fever cases. I consequently must press
upon the notice of the Council the unfortunate
circumstance of one block in the original plan not
having been built, and to emphasise the fact of its
being urgently wanted now for diphtheria patients.
The experience in England for the last few years
has shown that diphtheria has become much more
prevalent in towns than was formerly the case, and