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THE ISOLATION HOSPITALS BILL.
THE ISOLATION HOSPITALS BILL. on their behalf, moved a resolution calling for a careful inquiry into the charges by an impartial committee. This was not approved, but the following resolution was unanimously carried : "That in the opinion of this meeting there is no evidence to justify any such charges as have been made against the Roman Catholic community in connexion with the hospital." We congratulate the town on the liberal tone of the meeting, which is only what was to be expected in the town of " Dr. Arnold of Rugby." We regret to see by a letter in the local paper
bigh,
that Mr.
315
paupers to be distinguished from others, and we observe that the term "non-pauper"" is used, showing a familiarity with the difficulties which have been experienced in London in attempting to distinguish between these two classes of persons. We do not doubt that if the Bill becomes law in its present form an amending Act will shortly be required which will obliterate this distinction. It is, indeed, not at all obvious why any attempt is made to maintain such a distinction in the present Bill. Lord Thring has given notice of an amendmen to be moved on report to the effect that a person shall. not by reason of his being admitted into and maintained in such a hospital, suffer any disqualification or any loss of franchise or other right or privilege. The only object, therefore, can be to determine the incidence of the cost of the patient, and this might, therefore, properly fall on the sanitary authorities and the patients could be admitted on any medical certificate as is the case in London.
Wood seems "to be of the same opinion still." It is, perhaps, to be regretted that Lord Denbigh’s motion for an impartial inquiry was not accepted, as there is really no difference of opinion on the great question. All are agreed that the use of hospitals for sectarian purposes by Roman Catholics or by members of any other denomination is intolerable. The question is one simply of evidence, and for the sake of the Roman Catholics and of the founder of the hospital alike we think the inquiry should have been granted. A CRUEL EXHIBITION. more honourable could be more or than the Nothing explicit WE have on several occasions discussed the manifest disclaimer of Lord Denbigh and the Roman Catholic clergy, immorality of encouraging in any way such exhibitions as are who, like other people, cannot resist the liberal air of the last in their very nature not only fruitless for any useful purpose decade of the nineteenth century ; but the absolute right of but are also directly injurious or dangerous to the principal nurses to be Roman Catholics or what they please according The bravado of the lion-tamer, the perilous performer. to their conscience, and the right of ministers or priests asceticism of the professional fasting man, the sword swallowoutside the hospital to advise nurses who seek their advice the glass eating-in fact, the whole series of extraordinary ing, must be conceded without a question in every hospital, proand hazardous displays-can acquire sanction from no better vincial or metropolitan. motive than the encouragement of a depraved taste and the greed of gain. All such exhibitions, however, have in common THE ISOLATION HOSPITALS BILL. this redeeming feature, though an insignificant one enough-THE Bill for enabling county concils to promote the namely, that they endanger none but the performer, who establishment of hospitals for the reception of patients is of responsible age. Of quite another character was a suffering from infectious diseases has been amended by the case recently exposed, in which the parents were prosecuted Standing Committee of the House of Lords and has now been in the Leeds County Court by the Society for the Prevention printed. The Bill empowers county councils on the applica- of Cruelty to Children. It was that of a child suffering from tion of any local authority, either by themselves or by a chronic hydrocephalus who was known as the "ballooncommittee of the body appointed by themselves, to hold an headed " baby. The poor infant was exposed to public view inquiry as to the necessity for the provision of an isolation on the mother’s knee, whilst a strong light was reflected on its hospital for any district, and may instruct the medical officer head and an organ created a discordant noise. Two medical of health for the county on their own initiative to ascertain men bore testimony to the injurious influence exercised by the needs of any district for this purpose. The council may such ill-considered surroundings and happily not without for the purpose of the inquiry appoint certain of their own effect, the unnatural parents being fined for their share in members with other persons, if they think well, to conduct the transaction. Poverty was the only excuse put forward the inquiry, and may constitute a hospital district. The them in defence; but, as was only to be expected, it by Local Government Board is authorised to consider whether was not allowed. We are pleased to find that the medical any local area-i. e., any urban or rural sanitary district or evidence was on this occasion of distinct utility. A case like any contributory place-shall be included in the hospital where a brain morbidly irritable was daily district and the decision of this board shall be final. this, indeed, to severe and prolonged irritation, could only end in When the hospital district is formed the county council exposed the well-merited verdict of cruelty against the defendants. may appoint a committee to carry out the work, and this committee may consist either wholly of members of SOAP-BOILING IN THE -
the county council or of the local areas, or of both, and the Local Government Board is authorised on appeal to alter the constitution of the committee. The provision of a hospital and ambulances must then be undertaken by the committee and regulations must be made for their management and this committee may provide accommodation of an exceptional character for those who are prepared to pay for it. Theexpenses of construction as well as establishment expenses are to be paid out of the rates, but the cost of the maintenance of any person is to be charged to the guardians of the union from which he is sent if he is a pauper, and if not it is to be chargeable to the local authority of the area. The hospitals, therefore, are to be free and only in the case of those who require special accommodation will any charge be made to Persons can be admitted from the patients themselves. outside the hospital district, but the hospital committee are then permitted to charge something more than the mere cost of maintenance, so as to include a reasonable share of the costs of construction and establishment. We do not find any provision in the Bill which will enable
CITY.
THE manufacture of soap has passed through many phases. It may be conducted so as to create a serious nuisance or in a manner which is practically inoffensive. Where fat iff collected and heated with an alkali and the fat, coming from London slaughter-houses, is offensive the result: are anything but agreeable to the surrounding neigh bourhood ; but the manufacture of soap may consist of nothing more than the addition of scent to a previously prepared material or the use of refined tallow, and then nothing but a slight elevation of temperature is required for the purpose. A well-known firm of soap manufacturers were summoned last week by the City Commissioners of Sewers for creating a nuisance in the manufacture of soap, but as the medical officer of health of the City was unable to assure the court that this particular business could be conducted so as to obviate nuisance the magistrate could only suspend judgment with a view to giving the defendants an opportunity of carrying out any suggestions that might be made for the improvement of their method, ani.
bigh,
that Mr.
315
paupers to be distinguished from others, and we observe that the term "non-pauper"" is used, showing a familiarity with the difficulties which have been experienced in London in attempting to distinguish between these two classes of persons. We do not doubt that if the Bill becomes law in its present form an amending Act will shortly be required which will obliterate this distinction. It is, indeed, not at all obvious why any attempt is made to maintain such a distinction in the present Bill. Lord Thring has given notice of an amendmen to be moved on report to the effect that a person shall. not by reason of his being admitted into and maintained in such a hospital, suffer any disqualification or any loss of franchise or other right or privilege. The only object, therefore, can be to determine the incidence of the cost of the patient, and this might, therefore, properly fall on the sanitary authorities and the patients could be admitted on any medical certificate as is the case in London.
Wood seems "to be of the same opinion still." It is, perhaps, to be regretted that Lord Denbigh’s motion for an impartial inquiry was not accepted, as there is really no difference of opinion on the great question. All are agreed that the use of hospitals for sectarian purposes by Roman Catholics or by members of any other denomination is intolerable. The question is one simply of evidence, and for the sake of the Roman Catholics and of the founder of the hospital alike we think the inquiry should have been granted. A CRUEL EXHIBITION. more honourable could be more or than the Nothing explicit WE have on several occasions discussed the manifest disclaimer of Lord Denbigh and the Roman Catholic clergy, immorality of encouraging in any way such exhibitions as are who, like other people, cannot resist the liberal air of the last in their very nature not only fruitless for any useful purpose decade of the nineteenth century ; but the absolute right of but are also directly injurious or dangerous to the principal nurses to be Roman Catholics or what they please according The bravado of the lion-tamer, the perilous performer. to their conscience, and the right of ministers or priests asceticism of the professional fasting man, the sword swallowoutside the hospital to advise nurses who seek their advice the glass eating-in fact, the whole series of extraordinary ing, must be conceded without a question in every hospital, proand hazardous displays-can acquire sanction from no better vincial or metropolitan. motive than the encouragement of a depraved taste and the greed of gain. All such exhibitions, however, have in common THE ISOLATION HOSPITALS BILL. this redeeming feature, though an insignificant one enough-THE Bill for enabling county concils to promote the namely, that they endanger none but the performer, who establishment of hospitals for the reception of patients is of responsible age. Of quite another character was a suffering from infectious diseases has been amended by the case recently exposed, in which the parents were prosecuted Standing Committee of the House of Lords and has now been in the Leeds County Court by the Society for the Prevention printed. The Bill empowers county councils on the applica- of Cruelty to Children. It was that of a child suffering from tion of any local authority, either by themselves or by a chronic hydrocephalus who was known as the "ballooncommittee of the body appointed by themselves, to hold an headed " baby. The poor infant was exposed to public view inquiry as to the necessity for the provision of an isolation on the mother’s knee, whilst a strong light was reflected on its hospital for any district, and may instruct the medical officer head and an organ created a discordant noise. Two medical of health for the county on their own initiative to ascertain men bore testimony to the injurious influence exercised by the needs of any district for this purpose. The council may such ill-considered surroundings and happily not without for the purpose of the inquiry appoint certain of their own effect, the unnatural parents being fined for their share in members with other persons, if they think well, to conduct the transaction. Poverty was the only excuse put forward the inquiry, and may constitute a hospital district. The them in defence; but, as was only to be expected, it by Local Government Board is authorised to consider whether was not allowed. We are pleased to find that the medical any local area-i. e., any urban or rural sanitary district or evidence was on this occasion of distinct utility. A case like any contributory place-shall be included in the hospital where a brain morbidly irritable was daily district and the decision of this board shall be final. this, indeed, to severe and prolonged irritation, could only end in When the hospital district is formed the county council exposed the well-merited verdict of cruelty against the defendants. may appoint a committee to carry out the work, and this committee may consist either wholly of members of SOAP-BOILING IN THE -
the county council or of the local areas, or of both, and the Local Government Board is authorised on appeal to alter the constitution of the committee. The provision of a hospital and ambulances must then be undertaken by the committee and regulations must be made for their management and this committee may provide accommodation of an exceptional character for those who are prepared to pay for it. Theexpenses of construction as well as establishment expenses are to be paid out of the rates, but the cost of the maintenance of any person is to be charged to the guardians of the union from which he is sent if he is a pauper, and if not it is to be chargeable to the local authority of the area. The hospitals, therefore, are to be free and only in the case of those who require special accommodation will any charge be made to Persons can be admitted from the patients themselves. outside the hospital district, but the hospital committee are then permitted to charge something more than the mere cost of maintenance, so as to include a reasonable share of the costs of construction and establishment. We do not find any provision in the Bill which will enable
CITY.
THE manufacture of soap has passed through many phases. It may be conducted so as to create a serious nuisance or in a manner which is practically inoffensive. Where fat iff collected and heated with an alkali and the fat, coming from London slaughter-houses, is offensive the result: are anything but agreeable to the surrounding neigh bourhood ; but the manufacture of soap may consist of nothing more than the addition of scent to a previously prepared material or the use of refined tallow, and then nothing but a slight elevation of temperature is required for the purpose. A well-known firm of soap manufacturers were summoned last week by the City Commissioners of Sewers for creating a nuisance in the manufacture of soap, but as the medical officer of health of the City was unable to assure the court that this particular business could be conducted so as to obviate nuisance the magistrate could only suspend judgment with a view to giving the defendants an opportunity of carrying out any suggestions that might be made for the improvement of their method, ani.