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

The Need of an Isolation Hospital for Calcutta.

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