The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-10-01

MCARTHUR, Jr the architect for the Govern
ment while the medical organization was
effected by DR.. NELL, then acting as Medical
Director.
The peculiar features Of our Philadelphia
hospitals, in their police, ventilation. interior
economy, and discipline, were bought iulo
existence at this time. Christian Street Hos
pital was enlarged Immediately, and the hos
pitfalls at Twenty-fourth and South streets.
Twenty-sccond and Wood streets, Broad and
Cherry streets, and Fifth and Bltt,nwood
streets were ready 10 receive patients before
Christmas, and soon after organized by the
appointment of surgeons, &c
These were llled by patients almost imme-
dately, and it soon became obvious that exten-
siyc hospitals should be constructed outside Of
the city, and the authorities at Washington
approved Of the building Of large hospital Of
one thousand bed, in West Philadelphia, now
the Satterlee Hospital The plan Of consruc.
tion Is entirely due TO Mr. MUARruuR, Jr.,
and from this hospital has originated all that Is
valuable in the principles Of the construction
OF "shcd hospitals" as these extensive build
ings are often termed.
The Satterlee Hospital was subsequently
much enlarged; but it Is very questionable
oversee professionally the necessities of over
one thousand beds.
Other general hospitals were put in opera
ton during the summer, at Mechanics Hall
Fourth and George streets, Sixth and Master
Streets the State Arsenal, at Sixteenth and
| Filbert streets, National Guards Hall, Race
below Sixth street, Hestonville Depot, Ger
man Hospital on Turner's lane, and the hos
pital at Chester, while many Of the old ones
were enlarged.
At Chester and Turner's lane extensive
buildings have been put up on the general
plan Of shed hospitals; but the most striking
Of these structures were built about this time
at Chestnut Hill and Nicetown.
The hospital at Chestnut Hill, originally de-
signed TO have been built at Red Bank, N. j.
is said to be almost the largest hospital in the
world and when visitor coutemplates its
vast proportions, and yet its completeness he
cannot but regard it as one Of the greatest
features of our time, In connection with the
war.
The hospital at Ncetown, which was in
tended to have been placed in Hunting Park,
has the same general features and is regarded
by some as the most perfect model of wooden
hospitals that we have. Additional hospitals
were also fitted up for special loathsome and
contagious diseases, at the Summit House, on
the Darby road, and at Twelfth and Button
wood streets; but at the present time the
smallpox patients are accommodated at the
building at IslingtOn Lane.
We must not omit to notice the wonderful
capacity for extension now possessed by
many of these hospitals, by means of hospital
tents, which have been found to be the most
salubrious tenements for the sick. By these
additional accommodations no sudden demand
can ever occur, whereby churches, stores, and
private houses may be required to be used for
temporary purposes as was the case early in
the war. This Improvement is undoubtedly
due to the fact that many Of the surgeons in
charge at the present time have seen field
service, and are prepared for all emergencies.
In order to show the capacity of Philadel-
phla at tie present time, we will enumerate
the hospitals now in operation under the dlrec-
ton of Surgeon JOHN CAMPBELL, Medical
Director. 1t will be observed that the size of
this command equals any corps now in the