CONSRUCTION or HOSPITALS. 349 
height from the ground, and ranged at a diftance from 
each other, like the tents of an encampment. 
The cieling or roof of each ward fhould be formed into 
a number of {pherical arches according to its fize, the 
crown of each arch being in the middle of the breadth of 
the ward, and opening into a funnel like a common chim- 
ney, which fhould be fupplied with a vane, (refembling 
that we call a cow) fo that it may always open to leew-=- 
ard. | 
In each floor, midway as to breadth, fhould be a row 
of holes at fuitable diftances from each other, to admit air 
from below, fo. conftruéted that the quantity of it may 
be regulated at pleafure. 
In confequence of this ftructure there muft bea conftant 
change of air, for that which is in the lower part of the 
ward, being warmed by the patients and nurfes, and the 
neceflary fires, will afcend, and in confequence of the {phe- 
rical conftruction of the roof, will be direted to the open- 
ings in it, and flow through them, while the holes in 
the floor will afford a conftant fupply of freth air, which 
will move rapidly as it enters the room fo low, 
A number of arches with openings is preferable toa 
fingle arch in the center, becaufe the air in pafling from 
the extremities of the room to the center flows, from one 
patient over another—and a plane or flat cieling, even 
with apertures, is improper, becaufe the upper air at a dif- 
tance from the apertures cannot move to them. 
The rooms may be warmed by placing grates or ftoves 
over thefe holes in the floor, and no bad effeét can be pro-~ 
duced by the fire as the air and vapours will afcend from 
it and go off by the holes in the cieling—If it be neceflary 
to quicken the circulation of air, either on account of the 
fluggifhnefs of the atmofphere, or of the contagious na- 
ture of any difeafes in the ward, fmall fires may be fixed 
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