INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
150
[April
1896.
will be
helpless to protect itself against the ravages of infectious disease. The population is a peculiarly vulnerable one, for the inhabitants in Cal-dwell together in a most extraordinarily overthecrowded state, and when a case of an infectious
THE NEED OF AN ISOLATION HOSPITAL FOR CALCUTTA. The
of
present epidemic
small-pox
cutta which has increased in extent during month of March has demonstrated the need ofdisease
of the inmates, it the other susceptible a rapidity among permanently established isolation hospital.spreads in house. the With the exception of the Campbell Hospitalpersons Prompt removal is the which accommodates some 77 patients there is noonly safeguard, and this is impossible if no isooccurs
among
one
with
other
hospital
pox cases, for special
in the
nor
city
which takes in small-lation hospital has been provided. they should, Whether a sanitary authority shall make proare needed which itvision for treatment of general cases is purely
is it advisable that
arrangements
impossible to secure in the presentan optional matter. The treatment of disease general hospitals. The result is that the Camp-does not come within the sphere of its duties. bell Hospital is overcrowded, and the authoritiesIt is, however, different in regard to the isolation would be
in the interests of the patients themselves aijeof infectious diseases. This rests on the Muniobliged to refuse any more admissions. In thiscipality in its capacity of sanitary authority. As guardian of the public health, the providing emergency it has been proposed by the Health an infectious hospital, of sufficient accomoof the should Officer that
Municipality
provide
accommodation for patients by leasing two largedation and convalesent buildings to prevent houses in the suburbs of Calcutta. A sum ofand check the spread of infectious diseases, is as Rs. 15,000 is asked for to carry out the projectmuch a duty as the providing of a pure waterand prepare, in the first instance, 70 beds, but supply or efficient drainage to protect the public there
be little doubt that these 70 beds will against those diseases caused by be filled. There is, however, plenty ofwater-supply or defective drainage.
can
soon
space for extension on the.proposed sites, and tents and suitable sheds can be quickly run up and provided with beds as may be
required.
The cost is not unlikely to be large, and the effect on the epidemic at this stage will
probably
Yet numbers of cases occur in the such situations that it is absolutely in town should be removed, and this being necessary they not be
great.
the case, it is the duty of the Municipal authoriprovide the hospitals and equip them in
ties to a
proper
manner.
The failure of isolation hospitals which have been hastily erected to arrest the progress of an when that
epidemic has gained ground is well known, and it is because of this that is now expected to maintain at every large city the public cost a permanent infectious hosepidemic
pital
to which all the earlier cases in
mic
can
be
pital
is
one
city. only
promtly
removed.
epide-
an
An isolation hos-
of the chief
sanitary defences of a requires an isolation hospital, not small-pox which becomes epidemic about
Calcutta for
which is never absent for a every five years, and for also measles, diphtheria, and single year, but other infectious diseases, and until it is in possession of such
a
hospital
with of
sary powers of notification and
course
the
neces-
removal, the
town
an
unpure