HOSPITAL CONSTRUCTION. 623 



described, with proper inlet and exhaust natural ventilation — 

 2,000 cub. ft. of air per bed, 16 super, ft. of light per bed — perfect 

 sanitary appliances, good nursing, and the professional care of a 

 hospital staff, should be almost perfect. 



The operating theatre block should contain waiting-room and 

 instrument fitter's shop combined, anaesthetic-room leading into 

 theatre, and a corresponding room on the other side for surgeons ; 

 and, connected by a corridor with the theatre, two four to six bed 

 wards and two single bed wards with nurses' room between, as per 

 plan which I exhibit (see Plate XVIII.b). In the operating 

 theatre I consider it absolutely essential to have a zone of warm 

 air surrounding the table in winter time ; this can be provided 

 with aid of gas-heated coil. I strongly recommend the cleverly- 

 designed table used in our theatre to be insjjected by visiting 

 surgeons ; the designer is Mr. Woods, the hospital instrument 

 fitter. 



The kitchen block should contain large kitchen proper, with 

 roasters, cupboards, tables, kc, steam cooking kitchen, scullery 

 and main boiler-house, from which all the steam required in the 

 institution can be supplied, viz.. cooking steam, steam for hot 

 water generators for distribution by gravitation fi-om sjjecial tower 

 in administrative block to all wards and buildings, steam for wash- 

 ing machines in laundry, and for drying room, also for the super- 

 heated steam disinfecting machine : and here 1 may say I know of 

 nothing better for hospitals than the Washington Lyon machine. 

 The superheated steam process of disinfecting has, owing to its 

 excellent results, completely superseded the use of the dry hot air pro- 

 cess. To go back for a moment to the kitchen, large well- ventilated 

 cellarage is an absolute necessity, the w^hole including ventilation 

 shafts rendered fly-proof. The liitchen should also, by use of vdre 

 doors, wire window screens, and ventilation openings, be fiv proof. 

 By using jacketed copper boilers and ordinary direct steam' copper 

 boilers the cooking of potatoes, vegetables, boiled meats, soups, 

 &c., for large numbers is rendered comparatively easy. Colonial- 

 made ranges can do the rest in roasting, baking puddings, &.c. 

 Kitchens should have ironed Seyssel asphalte floors with "central 

 drainage for frequent hosing. Walls can be unplastered with 

 struck flush joints for whitewashing, which should be done perio- 

 dically. Laundry block should have walls and floor as for kitchen, 

 and contain steeping and disinfectant tank and steam boiling 

 troughs, and automatic washing machines, drying room for bad 

 weather worked by steam pipes, or, if too great a strain on the 

 supply of steam by furnace, Avith circulating smoke flue ; mangling 

 and ironing room should be attached. Separate troughs should 

 be provided for the clothes of staff, nurses, servants, kc. 



The mortuary house should contain a large post morfem room 

 with smooth Seyssel asphalte floor, plentiful supply of hot and 

 cold water, extra light and semi- open roofs, carefully graded 



