6 
fdinly be occasional exceptions in favor of the 
former, but I propose to deal with them in a 
different way. The level of the verandah 
should be a little lower than that of the ward 
to prevent the surface water getting into it. I 
do not think the relative position of the nurse’s 
room, scullery, bath room and closets need be 
altered from that shewn on diagram D. 
Greater care, however, must be taken to cut off 
the air with which the latter are surrounded 
from that of the ward ; and this brings me to 
a very difficult part of the subject. The ade- 
quate drainage of a hospital in this climate 
would of itself afford materials almost for a 
separate paper ; so many and various are the 
difficulties to be surmounted. The possible 
want of water is an item of consideration 
which is most important, and on the solution 
of this must depend, in a great measure, the 
course to be adopted. For the present, how- 
ever, we will assume that by means of the 
water works, cisterns and other appliancse we 
have an ample supply, and the^question is how 
the sewage and refuse matter are to be re- 
moved. The drains, without question, con- 
veying it from the sculleries and closets should 
be as much as possible external to the build- 
ing aud properly trapped, bur where are these 
drains to discharge ? Jfixcapt # at a very great 
distance from the hospital, and indeed any 
other human dwelling which the expense 
would virtually preclude, it would be 
folly, and worse, to discharge it into 
a neighboring stream or ditch, more especially 
if that stream happened to be tidal. Again ; 
to attempt to use the sewage as manure in its 
n.itural state and undeodorizei on land in the 
neighborhood of the hospital would be, to say 
the least, hazardous. I propose, then, as the 
only alternative, to meet the difficulty boldly, 
and, with the full certainty of provoking sharp 
criticism, to suggest the old and ugly-souuding 
word £> cesspool,” modified and disarmed, 
however, I hope, of its usual terrors. All 
drains being constructed, as far as possible, 
external to the building, I would make them 
deliver into a cesspool or tank at some conve- 
nient distance, carefully constructed and arched 
over, with ready means of access. The con- 
nection of the drains with the cesspool should, 
in each case, be properly trapped ; and to pre- 
vent the evils arising from the inevitable gene- 
ration of gases within, I would connect the 
cesspool with the external air by a tube de- 
livering at a point quite above the hospital, 
or, betcer still, where practicable, into the 
chimney of the furnace of the steam-engine 
which would not unfrequentiy be required for 
pumping and other uses. By means such as 
these the great sewers of London are frequently 
ventilated. The cesspools should be constructed 
so that the contents may not soak away and 
impregnate the soil, but be retained for a time 
till opportunity is given for emptying. This 
process can very easily be effected by an air 
pump and exhausted barrel or receiver, which 
properly worked would quickly remove the 
contents without the slightest offence to sight 
or smell. The process and apparatus are much 
in use in Germany, and I believe it has been 
tried in Melbourne. The barrel when filled 
can be sent away, and its contents deodorised 
at some safe distance and turned into manure 
for the land. Into this question, however, we 
cannot now enter, as of itself it would afford 
ample material for a separate paper in connec- 
tion with the drainage and health of towns. I 
cannot discuss this part of the subject without 
alluding to a system which has found ad- 
vocates in England, and many also in 
these colonies, particularly in Melbourne. In 
criticising it I am certainly at some 
disadvantage, having never seen it in actual 
work ; but I know it well by description and 
plans. I refer to the earth closet, and mast 
confess that I cannot get reconciled to the idea 
of adopting it. Whether it be effectual or not, 
or cleanly and wholesome or not, in a private 
house, I "will not undertake to say ; but I am 
pretty sure that in a mixed assemblage of 
characters of all kinds, such as are generally 
found in hospitals, any scheme involving so 
much individual attention, and the utility of 
which is so completely and entirely frustrated 
by the slightest omission in carrying out its 
requirements, has much to contend with at the 
very outset, and I have consilerable doubts as 
to its working well in a hospital. On the 
other hand, I find in the Builder for this 
month, “ that some very interesting experi- 
ments had been made in the gaol at Alipore, 
near Calcutta, by Dr. Faucus, of the Bengal 
Medical Service, and published in the last 
number of the Indian Annals of Medical 
Service .” The writer says: — “ They are the 
best and most conclusive of any that he has 
ever met with, and in all hot countries ought 
to lead to practical results and adds “ that 
earth containing much organic matter should 
deodorize faeces more rapidly than earch 
containing little organic matter, as the experi- 
ments of Dr. Faucus seem to prove, will be a 
new and praciically valuable fact for sanitary 
reformers.” The editor of the Builder , no mean 
authority in these matters, and from whom, in 
compiling thi9 paper, I have received great 
assistance, says that “ a person advocating 
the earth closet in towns or places where there 
is the least attempt at water supply ought to 
have his head shaved.” But without going this 
length, 1 think we should be unwise to adopt 
this system in a public institution without 
greater proof of its success, and without some 
attempt at ensuring its right and proper actim, 
independent of caprice or inattention. With 
regard to day rooms, I think, where possible, 
that they should not be in the same building 
with the wards, but attached to the hospital, 
and in the most pleasant portion of the 
grounds. I would build a few cottages, to 
