ON THE EFFECTS OF THE ANTISEPTIC SYSTEM 

 OF TREATMENT UPOxN THE SALUBRITY OF A 

 SURGICAL HOSPITAL 



[Lancet, 1870, vol. i, pp. 4, 40.] 



The antiseptic system of treatment has now been in operation sufficiently 

 long to enable us to form a fair estimate of its influence upon the salubrity of 

 a hospital. 



Its effects upon the wards lately under my care in the Glasgow Royal 

 Infirmary were in the highest degree beneficial, converting them from some 

 of the most unhealthy in the kingdom into models of healthiness. The interests 

 of the public demand that this striking change should be made generally known ; 

 and in order to do justice to the subject, it is necessary, in the first place, to 

 allude shortly to the position and circumstances of the wards. 



Each of the four surgeons of the infirmary had charge of three large wards, 

 two male and one female, besides several small ones for special cases. Of these, 

 the most important were the male accident ward and that for female patients, 

 the former containing the chief operation cases as well as those of injury. The 

 third main ward of each surgeon was devoted to chronic male cases, and was 

 in the old infirmary building ; but the other two were in the ' New Surgical 

 Hospital ', erected nine years ago. This consists of four stories above a base- 

 ment, each floor containing two large wards communicating with a central 

 staircase, besides several smaller apartments. The wards are spacious and 

 lofty, and in the centre of each are two open fireplaces, in a column which runs 

 straight up to the roof, conveying the chimneys of all the floors, and also 

 collateral ventilating shafts, which are warmed by the chimneys that accom- 

 pany them, and, communicating with various apertures in the ceilings, form 

 excellent means of carrying off the vitiated atmosphere, while fresh air is amply 

 supplied M' numerous windows at both sides, the beds being placed in the 

 intervals between them, at a considerable distance from each other. Except 

 the serious defect that the water-closets in many cases open directly into the 

 wards, the system of construction seemed all that could be desired. 



But, to the great disappointment of all concerned, this noble structure 

 proved extremely unhealthy. Pyaemia, er3'sipelas, and hospital gangrene soon 

 showed themselves, affecting, on the average, most severel}' those parts of the 



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