"arises from the long ward on the ground floor of the wing (containing twenty beds), and that immediately adjoining (containing seven beds), which from their situation will not admit of being converted into well-aired lodging rooms." They propose "to convert these into physicians' and furgeons' consulting rooms, a waiting hall for the patients, and a dispensary, (all of which necessary accommodations are at present very imperfect) and to remove an extremely offensive necessary in the passage." The committee confider the long ward on " the second floor of the wing (containing twenty-three beds) capable of complete ventilation, by substituting a water-closet for the neceffary, opening the gallery at each end, and dividing the ward into three apartments, containing fix beds each. The adjoining ward on the same floor of the wing, they would convert into a dining-room for the female patients; and that immediately above, into a comfortable apartment for three patients."

The wards in the front appeared also " too much crowded, and in fummer to suffer much from the heat of the fun." The committee propose, " that instead of eleven, these wards shall contain only feven beds each, and that every window have strong Venetian blinds on the outside. Also that two small rooms, now differently occupied, be converted into wards, each to contain two beds."

"To obtain a fucceffion of pure, fresh air," they recommend, " that every window have a portion of each pane in the top of the upper sash cut away, and a frame of glass placed on a cross bar, moveable on it by hinges, so as to make a greater or less angle with the window, and confequently to admit more

or

or less air at pleasure, rising towards the cieling.+ Also that apertures be made through the walls into the gallery, opposite to the windows in each ward; having doors turning on swivels, which may, if necessary, be locked, to prevent the patients from shutting them."

"As bedsteads constructed of wood are prolific sources for the propagation of vermin, and as complete cleanliness cannot be effected in Infirmaries where such furniture is used," the committee also propose to have" all the bedsteads made of hammered iron, with joints, to turn up in the day time, and to stand with their heads against the wall. Some of the iron bedsteads, in every ward, to have a screw to raise or lower the back, for altering the position of patients when in a weak state."

"Having pointed out these improvements, the committee declare it to be their "decided opinion, that the air can never be kept pure, if more than fifty patients are admitted into the old building. Accommodations will therefore be wanting for thirtyfour in-patients, according to the present establishment, as well as feparate rooms for patients under dan

† Still more effectually to diffuse the air equally, it is proposed to convey it from without, by a wooden tube placed under the floor, and opening into the middle of each room, with a valve to shut at pleasure; and to carry off the vitiated air, by means of an aperture and valve in the cieling, immediately above the opening in the floor below, communicating with a fimilar tube, which terminates in a brick funnel, running parallel with the chimney, to the top of the building. In calm weather, or when the atmosphere in any of the wards becomes tainted by particular difeases of the patients, it is proposed to fix a stove grate in every funnel in the garret, to accelerate the motion of the air, and carry off contagious vapours.

dangerous diseases, and after operations of magnitude, when perfect quiet and pure air are so essential to recovery." To embrace these important objects, and to place this charity on a footing with the most approved Infirmaries, the committee propose an extenfion of the building."

In planning this extention, it was the leading object to effect complete ventilation both in the new and in the old house. For this reason the quadrangular form has been avoided, and the new building, instead of being added as a wing correspondent to the other, is to commence immediately where the front galleries of the present building terminate towards the weft. Each story is to consist of a fingle row of wards, and a gallery, which will have a southern aspect, and will communicate with those of the old house; by which means a thorough ventilation of both buildings will be fecured; while the new wards will not only enjoy the benefit of every contrivance for ventilation which has already been mentioned, but, having a northern aspect, will be protected from the inconvenience of the heat in fum. mer, experienced in the old house. Still more effectually to fecure a supply of fresh, pure air, ventilating cross galleries, with a fire place in each, are proposed to be constructed in the second and third stories, between the new and the old building. These are also to serve the purpose of dining-rooms for the male patients, and fuch patients as are able to fit up are to remain in them some hours daily, during which

† The new building will be one hundred and twenty-five feet long, and the gallery fix feet fix inches broad; in which the pa. tients will be allowed to walk when the weather is wet.

which time their bedding is to be carried into the open air, and the wards exposed to ventilation.

"The committee having paid so much attention to the obtaining supplies of pure, fresh air, and also to its equal distribution, have further recommended that a useful invention of Mr. Moser's should be introduced in the construction of the new building, by which atmospheric air, paffing through a square opening made in the wall on a level with the floor in the basement story, is heated by a fand-bath, and is conveyed, by earthen tubes placed perpendicularly, into the galleries, and thence into the wards.

"Each ward, containing fix bedsteads, will have two windows in front, and also two sashed windows in the back wall, in a direct line with those in the front and in the gallery. The wards with two beds will have each a window in front, and also in the back wall, in the fame direction. By this means the most complete thorough ventilation may be obtained at all times. The basement story, eleven feet high, will contain hot, cold, vapour, and shower baths, a laundry, and other requifite offices. The second and third stories, fourteen feet high, will contain four wards, each twenty-five by twenty-four, capable of holding fix beds each; and the fourth story, five rooms, each twenty-five by twelve, in which are to be lodged only one patient, and a convalefcent or a nurse. These rooms are to be allotted to patients in dangerous complaints, or after operations of magnitude, and are therefore properly placed on the fame floor with the operation-room.

" To the west end of the new building it is proposed to annex two wards with fix bedsteads each, and two wards with two bedsteads each, together with a kitchen,

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kitchen, wash-house, and water-closet, for infectious fevers of accidental occurrence. There will be a door at the end of the gallery, communicating with the stair-case belonging to these wards, for the convenience of removing patients from the Infirmary, but which, afterwards, will be kept shut, to prevent the contagion from spreading.

"Every floor in the new house will have a nurse's room, scullery, and water-closet, conveniently fituated, and abundantly supplied with water from a large leaden cistern, placed on the top of the new building, where it joins the old Infirmary. From this cistern the wards in the new building, and water-closets and wards in the old house, are also to be supplied; by which means cleanliness will be more readily and expeditiously effected.

"The committee presented the report, of which the above is an abridged account, to a special court held on the 4th of August, 1801, (Sir M. W. Ridley, bart. M. P. in the chair) when, after mature deliberation, and examination of the plans and elevation of the proposed new building, the following motions, among several others, were made by Sir J. E. Swinburne, bart. and unanimoufly agreed to :

1. That this court, being of opinion that the Infirmary, in its present state, is but ill calculated to answer the benevolent purposes of such an institution, do approve of the report of the committee, dated 21st July.

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2. That a subscription be entered into, for the purpose of carrying into execution the plan proposed by the said committee, for the improvement and extenfion of the Infirmary."

"The