202 
NATURE 
| Fan. 12, 1871 

The principal channel of communication between the 
several blocks of the building is one long corridor on the 
ground flat or floor. This corridor runs the entire length 
from the administrative block (No. 1) to the block for 
contagious diseases (No. 8). But the portions of the cor- 
ridor which lie between blocks 1 and 2, and between 
blocks 7 and 8, take the form of an open colonnade. For | 
the rest of the distance, it is intrinsically an internal pas- 
sage. The open, or colonnade, portion which leads to block 
8, the assigned seat of infectious disorders, is carefully cut 
off from the rest of the corridor by closed glass doors, so 
that all contamination of the other blocks of the building 
by the infected air is simply impossible. The open air- 
space which intervenes is ample for the neutralisation and 
destruction of atmospheric infection of any kind. The 
marvellous extent of space covered by this hospital is 
perhaps best estimated by stating the actual length of this 
corridor. The continuous length of the spacious passage 
is 916 feet from end toend. A very pleasant and con- 
venient communication between the several blocks is 



writer of these lines inclines to think that the material yet 
needs further evidence of endurance and success before it 
can be held to have established the character at which 
it aims. 
In addition to these corridors of communication, there 
is a still longer passage in the basement, extending 
quite from the administrative block to the Museum and 
Schools at the farther end of the structure, and giving 
immediate access to the department for washing linen, 
and to the Anatomical Schools and mortuary receptacles 
which lie beyond under the shadow of the old walls 
of Lambeth. There is also a sunken but open-air way 
running from end to end of the building immediately 
within the parapet trenching upon the river-embankment, 
which gives still further facility for the transport of heavy 
material. This channel of communication is very inge- 
niously and completely masked from observation both 
from the building itself and from the external space. 
The important and interesting details relating to the 
arrangements which have been made within the large wards 
themselves to fit them for their beneficent work, must be 
reserved for another article, 
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effected on the second floor by a casemented passage, 
which runs along the main corridor. The communica- 
tion for the third floor is along the open flat roof of this 
casemented passage ; and above this there is no communi- 
cation atall between the blocks. The effect of the light 
and airy outlook, giving the impression of altogether un- 
restricted lightness and freshness, which is encountered 
in passing along these higher passages of communication, 
is very charming and agreeable. There is scarcely any- 
thing in the arrangements of the buildings which is more 
striking and pleasant to an observer upon a first visit. 
The open passage at the top is guarded by a balustrade, 
which is very profusely ornamented by large urns made 
of artificial stone ; a material which has been largely em- 
ployed in the ornamental parts of the structure. This com- 
pound, which is a special patent, is formed of dissolved 
flint mingled with sand, the material being then saturated 
with silicate of potash under exhaustion or pressure, Itis 
expected that this artificial stone will possess very enduring 
qualities, but from the present aspect of these urns the 
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EMBANKMENT 
THE COLLECTION OF INVERTEBRATE ANTI- 
MALS IN THE FREE PUBLIC MUSEUM, 
LIVERPOOL 
] N October 1861, when the Natural History collections 
presented to the town of Liverpool by the grandfather 
of the present Earl of Derby were removed from Duke 
Street to the building which they now occupy, the ques- 
tion arose, how should the museum be made as fully as 
possible to answer the requirements of the population by 
whom it was to be supported under the provisions of the 
Library and Museum Act. 
The Curator, Mr. Moore, whose invaluable services are 
too well known to require further notice on my part, 
having on his hands, besides the duties of general super- 
intendence, the re-arrangement of the extensive series of 
Mammalia and Birds, together with preparations for the 
reception of a similar series of Fishes and Reptiles, 
availed himself of my offer of assistance in obtaining and 
arranging a collection of Invertebrate animals, our stock 
of which at that time included little beyond some corals 
and a few very miscellaneous specimens. 
The accommodation available for the proposed collec- 

R. J. M, 
tion consisted of the central areas of a suite of five rooms 


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