5 
openings, so as not to acquire a great velocity 
and produce disagreeable currents. 
“ The air which has been harboured in the 
wards escapes from them through four evacuating 
channels in their corners or angles, a number too 
limited, in my opinion, but the pavilion being 
already built where the system of ventilation was 
adopted to it, a greater number would have oc- 
casioned a considerable outlay for cutting chaces 
in the walls, or for placing the channels on the 
wall surfaces with a very disagreeable appear- 
ance. 
“The three channels at each angle of the upper 
ward, and which correspond with the three wards, 
rise side by side vertically to reach the loft, where 
they are received into a horizontal zinc pipe, one 
at each of the four corners, which unite in the 
centre of the loft in a tambour, capped with an 
evacuating cylinder of zinc, 75 centimetres (2 
feet 5i inches) in diameter. At the intersections 
of the air-escape channels from the wards with 
the receiving channels of the left, registers are 
fixed, by which the openings may be regulated, 
and, consequently, the draft or extraction from 
each of the wards. 
“ The air from the wards has besides the evacu- 
ating channels above-named, an exit for escape 
through the water-closets by an opening in the 
ceiling, which also communicates with the 
channel in the loft. The air from the ward, 
entering into 'the water-closets through an open- 
ing in the lower part of the door, rises towards 
the evacuating opening in the water-closet ceiling 
sweeping through and carrying away in its course 
all smell. The ventilation is not effected through 
the water-closet basins, as at La Riboisiere, the 
seats being closed, and the ventilation acting ex- 
clusively upon the atmosphere within the water- 
closet ; it is quite sufficient, and in no hospital 
have I found the water-closets so completely rid 
of smell as in the hospital Beaujon. 
“ By way of concluding what refers to the in- 
troduction and exit of air, I must mention a 
source of pure air considered as accessory, which, 
however, is not unimportant. 
“ On the ground floor at the entrance to the 
cellaring, is placed a small steam-engine, of which 
I shall presently speak. The smoke-flue from its 
furnace, united to that of the calorifere stove, is 
surrounded by a concentric enclosure, the lower 
end of which is open to the outer pure air, and 
draws it in through its orifice in the garden. 
This air circulates in the annular space round the 
smoke-pipe, in contact with which it becomes 
warm as it rises to the top of the building. This 
air flue is situated in the thickness of the wall 
separating the staircase from the wards ; at the 
level of each story it presents three openings, one 
into the ward, one towards the stairs, and the 
third into the two-bedded room. 
“ These openings afford a passage for the warm 
air during winter, in the summer season it is al- 
lowed to rise to the upper part of the building 
where it disperses itself, but Mr. Van Hecke was 
desirous to turn this warm air to account by 
causing it to enter a loft used as a drying cham- 
ber. 
“ When the upper orifice of this air funnel is 
closed, as is the case in winter, the warm air dif- 
fuses itself in the wards, and in the staircase, of 
which it keeps up the warmth. In summer wheu 
the upper orifice it entirely open, the smoke-flue 
draws upon the air within the wards, and thus 
produces an increase of ventilation. 
“ Such is the channel system for the passage of 
the air derived from the garden, and finally escap- 
ing through the common flue. Now let us con- 
sider the moving power. 
“ I have before mentioned the small steam- 
engine at the entrance to the cellaring; it is 
intended to keep in motion a ventilator, which, 
in the first instance, Mr. Van Hecke had placed 
in the upper part of the tubing within the flue or 
chimney of the loft. 
“A band or strap transmits the movement 
from the ground floor to the loft ; the ventilator 
there produces a suction draft from the air of the 
wards. The apparatus of Mr. Van Hecke has 
produced ventilation by suction by mechanical 
agency. Since it was fixed, an important addition 
has been made to it. Mr. Van Hecke has placed 
a second ventilator, identical with the first, in the 
lower indraft channel, where the column of air 
takes its rise within the vault. On connecting 
this ventilator with the machine, it drives into 
the wards the air which it inspires from without, 
and thus produces a ventilation by injection 
analogous to that produced by the apparatus of 
Messrs. Thomas and Laurens, at the hospital La 
Riboisiere. 
“ In this manner the apparatus is arranged to 
allow of ventilation by suction, on putting the 
upper ventilator in motion, or by injection when 
the engine is in connection with the ventilator 
situated in the lower part 6f the building > the 
change being effected simplv by the band which 
transmits the motion, an operation requiring but 
a few minutes. 
“ The ventilator of Mr. Van Hecke is composed 
of two fans or blades, fixed to two stems which 
are inserted perpendicularly on the axis of rotation 
and inclined from fifty to sixty degrees. A pecu- 
liarity distinguishing this ventilator is, that the 
inclination of the fans is not constant, but varying 
with the speed of the rotary movement. 
“ The boiler of the engine warms the office on 
the ground floor, in which are arranged pans for 
poultices, and a warm linen closet. A portion 
of the steam, after giving motion to the engine 
i s sent to the upper floors, where it heats the 
water required by the patients ; but the greater 
portion which might be usefully employed, is for 
the present wasted.” 
“ Dr. Grrassi then proceeds to show how the 
