New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-12-19
OPENING or THE NEW SMALLPOX
HOSPITAL

The new SMALLPOX Hospital, which has lust been
completed on Blackwells Island, was opened yester-
day fortbe inspection Of some fifty or more gentlemen
among whom were a number Of members of the Legis-
laure, members Of the Board of Aldermen and other
city ofhcer who were invited by the Board of Ten
Governors to inspect the provisions made for the treat
ment of smallpox patients in a manner consonant with
the requirements Of the city, and on system both
proper and humane. The building is an elegant one
rejecting credit upon the Governors, who nave de-
signed and completed structure for the tire ,tment Of
persons who attacked with that loathsome disease
For number of years the only accommodations pro-
vided for patients of this class were 70 onestory
shnntes, i'll adapted for the purposes they were ap
propnatedto.
At II o'clock a. the Governors, with their invited
guests, proceeded to the leland in steamboat where
they frt yisited the Lunstic Asylum An object of
interest here was the Child Of the Asylum" bright
eyeo rOeycheeked little girl nearly five years old
whose mother has been inmate of the Asylum sin &c
the child was infant a few days old. The bright
little girl is q universal favOrte Of the Inmates and
pet of the Governors.
The Small pOx Hospital was next visited. The
building stands on the southern point of the Island
surrounded three sides by water and distant bout
200 yards from the Penitentiary Hospital which is the
nearest building 1t is Of smooth cut, hard AMI dur
able blue sone Of soft color, qusred on the Island.
1t is in the early English Gothic style, l0i feet in
length by As feet in BREADTH three stories HIGH resting
on heavy base, and surmOunted by bold stone
cornice. The principal front, looking toward the city,
is broken by massive stone porch, surmounted by
oriel window. The north and south fronts have stone
bay window, bracketed out upon the second floor. The
roof is of slate, pierced with clusters of tall chimney.
u 81.
The interior sdivided on each floor by two corridors,
crossing each other in the center at rgat angles and
extending the tire length and width of the building
The staircase of iron is in the east corridor, oppost.
the entrance porch. The first floor is occuE led with
the Physicians and Matrons apartments the servants
rooms, kitchen laundry and sorerooms. TIE kitchen
and laundry are paved with fag-stones; the hall on
this floor paved with marble to render the building
az clearly as possible. Double doors with movable
glass panel at each end Of the Corridors light and
tate them. The second floor is for charity patients,
and is divided into four large and four small wards.
The large wards 30 by Is feet the small ID by
III feet they can accommodate from IS to 30 patients.
The wards are supplied with hot and cold Croton water
ar d are connected with baths, &c. The corridors
terminated by bay windows, fitted up with seats for
the use Of the and patients. The third floor has
10 rooms for pay patients, which are very neatly AMI
conveniently fitted up. The ceilings II and II feet
in hight The building is ventilated by means of an
air duct extending under the long corridor and connect
ny with a chimney and windsail the southeast
Conner This ar-duct communicates by fiues in the
walls with the wards. Near the ceilings other ues
connecting with the cupOla in which the air is
rarif.d by constant fire, and drawn
from the rooms below This plan of ven.lating HIS
been partly tried, ard with much success, by DR..
Sanger in the Penitentiary Hospital The building has
been cor sructed in the most substantial manner. The
exterior walls resting the solid rock are two feet in
thickness and the partition walls either side of the
corridors are tscrty inches thick, built hollow to
tain the vebtlatipg-nues The walls and ceilings
hsrd.fnished throughout. The building has been
mostly constructed by prison labor, at cost little
less than So, coo; while it is estimated that it would
have cost by contract not far from 100000. This
edice presents massive and imposing appearance
landing pier and stairs being construc ed oppo-
site the west entrance. and the seawal around the
point is completed. The ground between the Small
pox and Penitentiary Hospitals is graded, laid out
with eraveed walks, and planted with ornamental
shade.rees. which will render it charming exercis-
nc-ground for the convalescent commanding, with the
windows Of the Hospital, extensive views ofthe Long
Island and New-York shores aud the harbor. Sepa.
rate hospitals for smallpox patients to be met with
in most of the great cities abroad but in this coun
try the patients have, thus far, been placed in
sheds and authouses this hospital being the first
organized for their exclusive USE In it,
not only the poor will be received but the wealthy
citizen and the traveller who visits the city for business
or pleasure, can find refuge ii attacked by the dis
case who would otherwise have none, however able or
wiIns he might be to pay for proper attention Tue
building was commenced on the let of April, 1854
under the direction of the following named gentlemen,
who were appointed building committee: Cows
Isaac Townsend Simeon Draper, j. S. Taylor Patrick
Henry. A. Dugro, Washington Smith, d. f. Tiemann
and w. S. Duke. Mr. X. T. Auchmuty acted as arch
itect for james Renwick, jr.
After the building had been inspected, the company
proceeded to the Penitentary where they partook OF
an excellent dinner which followed By speeches
and toass by Gov Townsend, the Rev. Mr. Van Pelt,
Dr. Wood of Bellevue Hospital tae President OF the
Board, Gov. Draper, Mr.. Pinckney newly elected
Goytnon the Hon. Mr.. Narnum, AID. Kelly, Mr..
Aucbmu,y. and others The company re urned to the
| cit, about o'clock.