REVIEWS. 
305 
HOSPITALS.* 
T HOUGH this work hardly comes within the scope of the Popular Science 
Reviewer, we venture to call attention to it because of its high intrinsic 
merits, and from the circumstance that many of our readers are interested in 
hospitals or other charitable institutions, and will, we believe, be glad to 
know upon what general sanitary principles, hospitals and such like public 
buildings should be cultivated. All the information which can be desired 
on these points is to be found in the fine volume before us. Dr. Oppert not 
only goes into the minutest questions of hygiene, as relating to hospitals, 
but he discusses the points on which he dwells with candour and earnestness, 
and so far as we can discern, he leaves no views unnoticed, no matter 
whether they be opposed to his own independently formed opinions or not. 
It is impossible for us to attempt even the briefest analysis of his labours, 
but we may state the nature of the division which he has adopted for his 
subject. We may say that his book is divided into three portions ; in the 
first the principles on which hospitals should be constructed are minutely 
detailed, then follow an expression of opinion as to the Administration of 
hospitals, and finally we are given a succinct account of the hospitals of the 
United Kingdom and of the Continent. There is only one point which we 
desire to bring under our readers’ notice, and that is the question of venti- 
lation. Dr. Oppert explains fully the different forms of natural and artificial 
ventilation which are used in European Hospitals, and then proceeds to 
offer his own opinions as to the mode to be preferred. He advocates neither 
the strictly natural nor the artificial means, but considers that the juste 
milieu is the best. His remarks are of much importance, for what he asserts 
of hospitals must within certain limits be true of private dwellings. The 
conclusions at which Dr. Oppert arrives are thus formulated. (1.) Venti- 
lation by doors and windows cannot at any time be dispensed with in 
hospitals. (2.) Hospitals may rely on ventilation by windows and doors 
in summer time, but if an artificial system is to be instituted, none but that 
by forcing in the air is efficient in summer. (3.) In winter time some of 
the artificial systems may operate with advantage, and cannot be dispensed 
with in clinical wards or consumption or fever hospitals during the cold 
season. (4.) No channels for withdrawing air should be formed, unless a 
continuous draught is caused in them. A ventilating fire is a more powerful 
agent than a hot cistern, and for the lower floors it is better to have the 
fire in the basement. If there is a second or third the fire should be as near 
them as possible, and not in the basement. (5.) Where hot-water pipes or 
stoves are used for warming, the outer air may pass over or through them 
into the wards by channels communicating with the atmosphere ; where there 
are only chimneys, they may be surrounded by an air-chamber to the same 
purpose. Such an arrangement is indispensable with the new improved fire 
grates. (6.) Open chimney fires are capital aids to ventilation, and can be 
combined with every other system. (7.) The construction of the windows 
* u Hospitals, Infirmaries, and Dispensaries : their Construction, Interior 
Arrangement, and Management.” By F. Oppert, M.D. London : Churchill, 
1867. 
