The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-10 00:00:00

NErLEY HOSPITAL..

Sir DENHAM NORREYS moved an address for
returns respecting Netley Hosi;ka!, showing by whom
the site was selected, whether any reports were made on
its salubrity and general eligibility for its purpose, pre-
vious to selection, and by whom ; by whom the original
plans were prepared, whether they were submitted to
any medical authority for approval, by whom they were
officially sanctioned, and whether any report. was made
upon them, aril by whom, previous to their being sanc-
tioned ; also a statement of the alterations or additions
to the original plans which have been determined on,
by whom they were recommended, to whom they were
referred for approval ; and a copy of correspondence or
reports relating thereto which have led to the adoption
of the amended plan.

Sir J. RLJISDEN said he had no objection to the
returns being granted.

Mr. STAFFORD said the return was just what he
wished to be made, and if given fairly would, no doubt,
give great satisfaction both in the house.and out of doors.
He had made a serious charge against the Government,
and it was most desirable for the purposes cf investiga-
tion and elucidation that that charge should be adhered
to. He held in his hand a document which was for-
warded to Lord Panmure from all the medical men at-
tached to the first hospital in London, viz., the Middle-
sex Hospital. It stated that all the ventilation of the
hospital came from the north-east, which was an at-
mosphere highly prejadicial to the recovery of the pa.
tients. There were also other matters referred to which
were most injurious, and which created what was called
" a hospital atmosphere," leading to hospital gangrene
amongst the patient; and disease amongst the
attendants, that no precautions could prevent. These
'statements were verified by Messrs. Shaw, Campbell,
Gordon, and all the eminent medical men on the esta
blishment, and he fe►t it his duty to protest against
more public money being spent in propagating hospital
diseases in that direful form. On the 4th of May, 1857,
however, an additional communicationwas made by those
gentlemen to Lord Panmure, with respect to the pro-
posed hospital at Netley. Capt. Laffan proposed to draw
off the air from a neighboursng field—(laughter)—and
then have it sucked down by an enormous furnace, the
windows beim:, aff the time closed. Those gentlemen ad-
vised that the forcing up of foul air from privies by steam
—laughter)—had been tried and found ineffectual, and
the same result had followed the attempt of sucking
down the air. 111-y proposed that the more simple me-
'hod of leaving the windows open should be tried. [The
hon. gentleman then read the communication which had
Leen sent to Lord Panmure.describing the disadvantages

of the *posed plan, by stating that it would make the
hospital a ho.bed of erysipelas ] When t- e return was
laid on the table, he hoped the house wool/see who vas
the officer responsible for the great expense and the
highly injutlicious arrangement proposed for' the new
hospital, and which were altogether inconsistent with
those prudent and sanitary considerations that recent ex-
perience ought to have taught her Majesty's Government.
Mr. S. HERBERT hoped to have heard some expla-
nation from the Government on that matter. He was
not one of those who felt surprised at a Government
estimate proving insufficient for its objects, because the
same thing happened constantly in commercial under-
takings. • The Crystal Palace and many of our great pri-
vate undertakings might, be cited in support of that
statement. Great deliberations often ended in failure as
well as success, and the present instance was one where
multiplicity of counsels bad not inspired confidence.
Tue difference between the hospitals at Chatham and
Portsmouth was, that the latter hail a long corridor,
but the favourite scheme for a hospital now was,
that there should be separate blocks for build-
ings. At Netley there was one great defect. It was ne-
cessary for hospitals to have not only air, but light and
sun. The corridor at Netley, however, looked to the
scuth east,,and the hospital windows, which were really
the mo,t important, received air from the north-east.
An improvement, however, had been made subsequently
which partially remedied that evil. There was further a
question as to the site, the air of Southampton water
being stated to be of a relaxing character, but to patients
arrnving f, ono the East he did rot know that the relax
ing nature of the climate was any great objection. The
great oljection in•his mind was the building of so large
an hospital at a long distance from the place whence Cie
invalids would be likely to be brought. It was inexpe-
dient both with regard to the invalids having to be
shaking about in long journeys to the hospital, and the
limited practice afforded to the students, who would see
nothing butt loss f chronic disease.

Lord PAL VIERSTON said he had never head any
compl iint about the healthy character cf the site of the
hospital, but with regard to the character of the building
many difftreLt opinions no doubt prevailed relative to
the construction of hospital. The system of block
buildings necessarily created narrow courts between the
bud flogs, and as for having large wards with a great
number of beds in each, that system had been almost
universally condemned. The subject had received the
greatest attention from the Government, and they would
do their utmost to see that the hospital should be an in-
stitution for curing, and not propagating disease.
Mr. TITE said that all the systems of artificial venti-
lation, as. witnessed by Guy's Hospital, and by the
House of Commons itself, hal been brought round to the
simple and natural plan of opening a window when air
was wanted. In the great hospital at Milan this plan
alone was pursued, and there were in that building 3,000
beds, and no better managed hospital existed. With
regard to tl.e site of Nttley hospital he was quite con-
tent to repose upon the wed-known acuteness of the
monks for selecting salubrious spots for their favourite
retreats. laugh,)

After a few wordei from Sir D. NORREYS in reply,
Sir F. SMITH recapitulated tbe amounts of the vari-
ous tenders, showing a difference of about 90,0001. be-
tween the highest tender and the tender accepted.
The return was then ordered to be made.
ECCLESIASTICAL ESTATES.
Sir G. GREY brought in a bill to further amend the
act relating to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and
continue the act concerninc, the management of episco-
pal and cacitulsr estates inbEng:and.
Mr. NEA.TE said he intended to oppose to the ut-
most that or any other measure having for its object to
interfere with the administration of the property of the
Church. He should take no further steps at that stage
of the bill, but gave notice that he should oppose the
bill at a future period.
Leave was then given, and the bill was read a first
time.