€22 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION I. 



architectural considerations should be allowed to predominate in 

 the construction, but the true basis of hospital construction should 

 combine the science of hygiene with the results of the experience 

 of the best svirgeons and medical practitioners — in short, such 

 construction as will advantage the life and health of man rather 

 than satisfy aesthetic tastes ; and while the constructor should not 

 be unmindful of the latter he must absolutely pay primarily the 

 strictest attention to the proven results of medical experience, 

 using his knowledge of construction to achieve the requirements 

 demanded by the most advanced healing sciences, and always 

 aiming to. as far as possible, deprive the causes which vitiate the air 

 of a hospital of the poAver to create mischief, and only by striving to 

 guarantee the essentials to good health can he hope to gain success 

 as a constructor. Were money no object, and were 1 consulted as 

 to the best method of designing a hospital, I would recommend a 

 series of small one-story isolated pavilion wards grouped round a" 

 large central administrative block and equidistant from a main 

 operating theatre, with special wards attached; each isolated 

 pavilion ward to contain, say, from twelve to sixteen beds, with two 

 small single bed separation Avards, small ward operating room, 

 nurses' room, ward store room, convalescents' day room, bath 

 rooms with hot and cold water, separated patients' "w.c. with 

 faecal trough and faecal cupboard, nurses' w.c, and the whole 

 surrounded with broad verandahs connected direct on each side 

 with the wards, so that patients' beds could be wdieeled right out- 

 side into the fresh air. 



The administrative block should have in near proximity the 

 kitchens, laundry, servants' house with housekeeper in charge, 

 nurses' house with superintendent of nurses in charge, and in the 

 rear the mortuary house, desiccating house, and steam disinfecting 

 house ; wards to be grouped separately for medical and surgical 

 cases. Contagious diseases, and noisy cases or delirium tremens 

 hovise should be set well apart ; while for epidemics there could be 

 temporary buildings in the extreme rear for use when required, each 

 isolated ward to have a broad zone of aeration, and to be con- 

 nected by tramline with the central operating theatre and the 

 main administrative block. The small tramlines would carry the 

 patients in an enclosed litter to the operating theatre, and food, 

 coals, and materials generally for distribution round the wards. 

 All walls should be of brick, and hollow% allowing free ventilation 

 from ground line to underside of roof between walls, the sun- 

 heated air being carried off thence by dormers ; walls, including 

 hollow, should be at least 20.Vin. thick. Internally all walls of wards 

 and theatre should be sheathed in glazed tiles ; ceilings of panelled 

 Avood, painted and highly varnished, and covered on top Avith a 

 lieaA-y coating of seaAveed ; floors of iMinton tiles, covered in winter 

 ■with pieces of soft felting, frequently changed and disinfected ; 

 ventilation, &.c., as will be hereafter described. Such Avards as 



