1885.) NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 71 



had to be aljiuidontHl in e<)iiso(|aence of the im])i-egnation of its 

 Avails with malign influences from the reception of large numbers 

 of sailoi'S and emigrants with "ship fevei'." Thorough ventila- 

 tion was tried foi- several months, with no avail. The walls were 

 then scraped — several of ihe workmen becoming ill, and tlii-ee 

 died. Even after re-plastering the walls, this north wing had to 

 be abandoned. 



The Lincoln Connty lIos]iital in England became saturated 

 with pysemic aud septieasmic poisons. Ventilation, scraping, and 

 re-plastei'ing the walls were tried in vain. Finally the hospital 

 was torn down aud rebuilt. 



A few years ago the surgical wards of Bellevue Hospital were 

 in a similar condition. Pygemia would prove fatal to patients 

 who hafi undergone but trivial surgical operations. This was 

 remedied by elaborate processes of disinfection with chlorine, but 

 it required frequent repetition. Other hospitals in the city have 

 found it necessary to employ chlorine gas as a disinfectant. Even 

 the new New York Hospital has been obliged to jiurify one of 

 its wards by the liberal generation of this gas. 



Now if walls, ceilings and jQoors can be rendered im])ervious 

 and non-absorbent, they could then be washed occasionally with 

 dilute solutions of corrosive sublimate, and hospitals, schools, 

 hotels, etc., and all a])artments wliei-e the sick are confined, 

 could be kept in a healthful condition. 



Mr. Caffall stated that after experiments, the authoiitiesof 

 the Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum for Great Britain, 

 placed the buildings, which held at the time eight hundred 

 patients, in his hands. During several years of work upon it, 

 about 40,000 square yards of interior walls were treated. 'J'he late 

 Mr. George Jarvis, who had charge of the buildings, said that 

 this treatment had reduced the death rate among the inmates 

 from the "Broadmoor fever ^' fifty per cent. Previous to the 

 walls being water-proofed, it was customary after the death of a 

 patient from "Broadmoor fever" to remove from the room the 

 plastering of the walls and ceilings which, however, was not 

 always efficacious. 



November 30, 1885. 



Stated Meeting. 



The President, Dr. J. S. Newberry, in the chair. 



Thirty-four persons present. 



Mr. p. H. Dudley announced that, in his study of fungi in 

 and upon wood, he had discovered that the mycelium of these 



