The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-31 00:00:00

CANCER HOSPITAL.'

The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of
the new Hospital for Cancer at Brompton, nearly
opposite the Consumption Hospital, was performed
yesterday afternoon by Miss Burdett Coutts, in the
presence of a very numerous company, including
the Bishop of London, the Ven. Archdeacon Sin-
clair, Dr. Conridge, St. Mark's • the Revs. J. B.
Owen, T. Pearson, N. Liberty, H. Stephens ; the
Rev. Fathers Ballard and Bagshawe, Priests of the
Oratory, Brompton ; Mr. J. A. Smith, Mr. D. Mo-
catta, Mr. Halswell, Dr. O'Connor, Dr. Cotton, Dr.
Marsden, Dr. Knox, Mr. A. Marsden, Mr. W.
Cooke, Mr. Cottrell, Mr. B. Brown, &c, Before de-
scribing the ceremony we may state that the charity
was commenced in a small house in Cannon-row,
Westminster, in the year 1851, and very soon at-
tracted the attention of benevolent persons, who
saw the benefits which might accrue to all classes
of society by the establishment of a special institu-
tion for the reception and treatment of the poor
suffering from so dire a disease as cancer, and where
this intractable scourge of our race might be studied
in all its phase*, so that our medical men should
be afforded every opportunity of battling with, and,
if possible, of overcoming this worst of all bodily
evils. In this twofold capacity, as an asylum for
the poor afflicted with cancer, and as a school for
the study and improved treatment of the disease,
this institution has done'much service to the com-
munity. 2,250 out-patients have been under the
care of the surgeons, a large number of whom have
been benefited, some cured, and all have had the
advantage of the experience which such opportu-
nities must give to the medical officers of such an
institution. At Brompton, where a house has dur-
ing the last six years been devoted to the reception
of in-door patients, 803 afflicted persons have been
received, and treated with all the advantages which
a generous dietary, good nursing, and medical skill
can give. The house, however, could not be made
to afford that which is essential in all disease, and
most especially to one so obnoxious as this—viz.,
pure air. A site for a new hospital, the foundation-
stone of which was laid yesterday, has therefore
been purchased by the trustees of the charity with
a view of ultimately accommodating 300 patients.
The building is to consist of a central compartment
(capable of holding 60 patients) with wings, but it
is the central portion only that will fbr the present
be proceeded with. The building, when complete,
will present a frontage of 130 feet to the Fulham-
road, and a depth of i 0 feet, surrounded by an area
of 10 feet, securing to the building the means.
n.
of
convenient external communication and ventilation.
The building. will be constructed of plain
drNhieoistse_
Suffolk bricks, with a sparing use
of stone dress
with
ings. There will be also bands of red bricks.
1 a an
keystone, and cornices, to give the hospital
architectural feature, and destroy the monotony of
a flat surface. The lower story will be 10 feet
high, and contain the usual domestic offices, while
will be 14 feet i
the principal or ground floor
by a flight ofn
height. This will be approached. steps,
and contain the hall and staircase—with the clerks'
apartments for the and secretary's offices,
medi-
cal officers, and a ward for patients, 41 feet by 20
feet. On the first story there are to be three
wards, 41 feet by 20 feet, with rooms for the
matron, nurses. &c. These will communicate with
staircases and corridors, the whole of which,
throughout the building, will be of stone. An addi-
tional story in the central portion of the building
will also afford further accommodation for patients.
The building is to be erected from the design of
Mr. John Young, jun., by Messrs. Laurence, at a
cost of about £7,000. Miss Coutts, with the
Bishop
of London, arrived on the ground shortly after four
o'clock yesterday, when the
proceedings were coin-