The New York herald., 1869-04-19
TEE vERs;s.AsgK STATE HOSPITAL.

Description of the New Emisrnnf Hospital
ON Wards Isiand-Its Extent, Arrange-
nieyf, Architecture and COst-Wkere the
Fands Were Derived Erom-The New Euai-
grafton Measure Before Congress.
Comparatively few OF the citizens OF the metropo-
lis or indeed of the entire state possess any nror
nation relative TO the scope, aims and benencent
results embraced Dy and moving from the noble In
stilution known the Verplanck State Emgrant
Hospital and considerable proportion of the people
are perhaps as ignorant OF its actual existence as
they are of its precise location. Persons who pass
up the east side avenues Of the city on the way
Harlem may have observed directly across the East
river from the foot OF 10th street. large brick
structure. surmounted by q number OF cunei-
form turrets, with slated roofs, the general
appearance OF the building being suggestive OF the
medieval style Of architecture SO popular on the
Continent OF Europe. This building Is the verplapck
State Emigrant Hospital. situated ON Wards Island
between Manhattan and the Long Island shore.
The corner stone OF this hospital was laid with ap-
propriate ceremonies, August TO- 1854, which were
participated In by prominent State officials divines
and private citizens. In It's present completed state
1t presents a substantial and commodious appear-
ance with sufficient ornamentation OF design to re-
eve IL OF positive painness. The walls are of brick
hollow throughout, and the "water tables,n BELTS
sils and cornces are OF brown stone. The buildings
composing the hospital are five in number, arranged
upon what is known as 'the pavilion plann and the
general direction OF the edince lies east and west
The five wings referred to extend towards the south
their northern extremties being connected by cor
ridor running at right angles, the corridor being
divided by doors into q series Of vestibules into
which each wing opens. This plan combines
the comfort and conveniences OF a large building
under single roof, with complete isolation OF each
OF the several pavilions thus preserving all the ad
vantages OF separate and disconnected buildings
Each of The vestibules may be used as a sanaorium
by the patients Of their respective wards, being
spacious, and well venti ated and lighted The build
ing is three stories in height with "pitched' roof
the second and third floors only being used for
hospital purposes; and each pavilion contains two
wards making ten apartments in all devoted to the
occupancy OF the sick. The wards viii accOmmo-
date three hundred BEDS and each furnished with
separate dining room for cOnyalescents, nurses
room, Kitchen linen closets, bathroom, sink, water
closets and baths. With three hundred beds the
average proportion OF air would be over I,2OO cubic
feet but with 500 patients each bed would average
700 cubic feet OF air, which Is greater than that OF
most existing hospitals; The first floor, or what is
the offices OF the superintendent Leonard h. Wees,
aud his subordinate oicefs, the physicians Oilce,
mates. baggage ana stOreroOms, heating apparatus,
air ducts, &C. The southerly ends OF the pavilions
arc Rarnshed with towers or buttresses, the peaks
OF which are finished in the dOrmer style and in
these turrets are situated the water closets OF the
respective wards, the ventilation and secluson from
the sick room being perfect. The third 1oor of the
central pavilion Is devoted to the operating theatre |
for surgeons, instrument room, museum and ward |
Tor severe surgical cases, with accommodation for |
twenty beds
The pavilion principle upon which the hospital is
planned was devised in France nearly eighty years
ago, and submitted with recommendations for its |
adoption In an ofclal report upon the French hos
pitfalls made under governmental direction The re.
port was approved BY the government. but no fur.
ther steps regarding 1t were taken until the latter
part part, Of the reign OF Louis Philippe when the H
the plan. That establishment is now endorsed by
the highest medical authorities OF France furnish
In 1868 the Royal Sanitary Commission OF Great |
Britain, IN report condemning ia hospitals and |
OF new buildings upon new principles and insisted |
upon communication with the outer air by windows
opposite sides as absolutely and that
exposed to sunght.n All the new hospitals Of |
Fran France Germany, Holland and Belgium, are built
wings or pavilions OF the hospital especially refer
red to in TINS article, extend from north to SOUTH
and at all hours Of the day. or at least while the
Is shining, some portion OF each ward must Recessa-
rily be exposed TO the salutary, purifying aud In
vgoratlng influence Of the great orb's rays. The
benefits conferred upon the sick by such an arrange
ment are too palpable to require even the merest
from steam coil chambers, introduced into the cen
tire OF the wards by hollow iron columns, extending
through both floors and with The best appliances
Tor the adjustment OF the temperature. The most |
thorough ventilation also Is secured through air
ducts opening into pure atmosphere, the atmos- |
Wheel operated by steam power, and the |
principle OF the plan Of ventilation being 10 |
by injecting them with pure and constantly circu.
latlng air. The impure air Is conducted through |
charged from its summit into the outer atmosphere.
The water closets are ventilated by pipes making |
direct connection with an immense stack or ohm.
ney used by the kitchen, bakery and laundry, In |
which the fires are continually burning, thus draw.
Ing constant current OF air IRON the closets to the
tower. |
At the centre OF the main corridor which con. |
meets the five pavllions, and projecting northward
from 1t, Is building containing a large kitchen,
bakery, laundry. drying and ironing rooms. fuel |
cellars engine and boiler rooms, the fan wheel air
pump for ventilation &c. This building, also, has
corridor leading 10 the several pavilions. This |
building, together with the corridor, elrectually
shelters the northerly ends Of the paviliOns from
storms and cold winds, and as a further precaution
against such nclemency, the space In each ward de.
lescents dining rooms Is taken from the same ex-
tremity Of the pavilions. The large cook room in
and four ranges, and the noor above are located
The bakery with four ovens having capacity each |
cbnerv M and sne wsns % roo with ma
sixty-three washtubs. On the third floor are the |
drying rooms, furnished with centrifugal drying ap-
pafatus anu the ironing rooms Elevators extend |
through all the floors for hosting nour, COAL &C.,
from the basement.
The total length OF the hospital building on the |
corridor side Is s50 feet. The payiions, wings,
are each l3O feet in length and twenty-five feet |
wide. The central wing is one story higher than |
The other four aud the two turrets at its south. |
ern corners each 100 feet 10 height The towers
On corresponding corners OF the other pavilions are
each about eighty feet high. At the western end OF
ne hospital facing the river, Is ornamental por.
lco forming the entrance to the Offices, and sur
mounted also by towers OF about sixty feet in height
rhe building cost nearly $500 00o and four years
n course Of erection.
Detached, and situated a short distance from the |
hospital proper, are the former hospital buildings |
low used az fever wards for males and females |
zach In separate buildings the former consisting OF
our brick structures In close contiguity, one |
tory and basement, with bathrooms, Kitchens
Sc. They are each 100 feet deep by
twenty-five feet wide, and will accommodate
orty-nve patients. The fever wards for females are
n a three story brick building, 35x125 feet, and
ave capacity for 100 patients. The surgical ward
or males s also a separate building, three stories
ligh, and Will accommodate 120 patients. The dis
,ensary building 10 frame structure, three stories
Ugh and basement, with Mansard ROOT, is 100 feet