The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-07 00:00:00

The London Workhouse Infirmaries.

The medical officers of the London workhouses
have had a number of questions submitted to them
in a circular from the Poor-law Board, with respect
to the condition of the infirmaries, and their answers

given in a Parliamentary paper, which, it is ex-
pected, will attract some attention in the Legisla-
ture, show the shortcomings of the rate-supported

and guardian-governed places a very little time
_ _

since: Mr. Sim monds, the medical officer of St.
Mary's, Newington, states that accommodation
should be made for 250 patients, epidemics not ex-
isting ; that the existing accommodation would pro-
perly admit 135, including insane, itch, and another
class of disease, and that on a specified day there

were 233 cases in the wards. He had no exact ex

perience as to cubical space, but he could say " At
night our wards stink overpoweringly." As to de-
fects in accommodation and general arrangements I
in the different wards, he says the space was insuffi-
cient, ventilation ill-regulated (down-draught pro-
ducing
ophthalmia and discomfort), the air was
often very impure, some bedsteads were short, and
better beds were needed. Arm-chairs ought to be
provided, and the close-stools should have arms to
prevent the feeble from tumbling off. The patients
needed hair-brushes, pocket-handkerchiefs, and
waste paper. The medical appliances wanted in
the infirmary were baths and hot water, pulleys and
bed rests, padded rooms, quarantine rooms, special
rooms for fever and smallpox ; trained nurses and
night nurses were also wanted. The nursing and at-
tention to the sick he described as " not good," and
he states that recovery from illness was retarded by
"unwashed skins, impure air, and queer nurses."
Ile had faults to find because his orders for extra
diets, stimulants, &c., had not been attended to,
but this was being mended." The remedies he
proposed for the evils he knew to exist
are very suggestive, and point to a shocking
condition of things. They were :—" The active.
consideration of the defects ; the airing courts should
not be used by the washers ; there should be flowers
and shrubs instead of the pavement; better nurses,
and a dormitory for them; a separate ward for sick
children ; a master and matron of a respectable
class ; a quarterly inspection by the Poor Law
Board's officers; allow the sick to be seen oftener."
As to his salary, he says he has £lO5 yearly, and his
other emoluments consist of £8 or £lO yearly " for

going before the magistrate and swearing concerning
the paupers." Duty compelled him to go daily into
every room occupied, and see about 200 in summer
and 250 in winter, for 25 to 30 of whom he had to
prescribe medicine daily. lle was always at the call
of the workhouse officials, and when he was out a
substitute had to attend at his cost. He thought a
proper salary for his duties £2lO per annum, with
"emolument to be given for reports furnished to the
Poor Law Board, and, in order that we should fur-
nish good answers, we should be apprised of the
nature of the report required a suitable timea,ntece-
dent." The deficiencies of Bermondsey Workhouse
infirmary were described by Mr. Cuolahan, the medi-
cal officer. The space was insufficient in all the day
and night wards, and he believed recovery from ill-
ness was retarded it. diseases of the lungs through
deficiency of space and consequent overcrowding and
irregularity of ventilation arising from the efforts
made to compensate for deficiency of space. His
was £BO a-year, with emoluments of about
salaryl3o
, out of which he had to provide drugs to the
cost of £25 a-year, and an assistant. With respect
to the nursing he said, " Now that the guardians
have resolved to appoint paid nurses, this defect [not
stated] is remedied." Ile considered there was room
only for 51 sick, while provision should be made for
94. The cubical space he recommended was 1,000
feet, and 80 or 90 superficial feet for floor space for
each patient. He exercised daily a general'surveil-
lance over 100 sick persons, and gave special atten-
tion to about 40. He thought his salary should be in-
creased to £l5O, his emoluments remaining the same,
and the guardians should find the drugs. Bethnal-
green Infirmary was described by Mr. Smart, the
medical officer, as having accommodation for 318
sick, while accommodation was needed for 600.
The beds were too close and crowded, and the
supply of nurses was not sufficient to insure the
medicine being given and the medical appliances
being regularly carried out. Recovery from illness,
he said, was retarded by the overcrowded state of the
wards ; more space, better ventilation, and increased
supervision, both by medical help and by nurses,
were needed. Ills salary was £l6O per annum
without other emolument, and he had to employ
and pay both assistant and dispenser. Ile con-
sidered that the guardians should appoint a resident
medical assistant, and that his own salary should be
raised to £2OO or £250 per annum. Of Clerken-
well workhouse infirmary, which is considered by
the authorities very defective, a few of the defects,
and not by any means the worst, are given in the
answers of Mr. H. J. Brown, the medical officer.
He states that by the existing accommodation from
100 to 125 should be properly admitted, but that
room should be provided for 250. The space,
ventilation, light, and air, nursing and attention to
the sick are all marked as " deficient," the bedding
(flock beds) and furniture described as " tolerable;"
but he wished mattresses to be provided. Recovery
from illness was retarded in the house, but the
causes were not specified. The remedies suggested
were " day rooms for the insane and other patients
able to leave their beds, increased space in the
wards, exercising grounds, paid n 2.ises to each sick