St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-09-21

clean, and the beds and covers
are of iron and mattresses of
hair. the blankets being specially
manufactured. 1t is only medical
man who can recognize the danger of
placing cases of sickness of different
types in the same wards. More often
than not lives are sacrificed. Off from
the wards is the dining room for con-
valescent patients. 1t is % feet long.
Is feet wide and 10 feet high, and has
two small windows for lighting pur-
poses. Male and female patients are
compelled to take their meals in the
same room, the poor women sitting at
table behind a screen. 1t is thor
oughly inadequate for the purpose
for which it is used, and the GLOBE rep
resentative, VINO was at one time on the
staff of st. Thomas hospital in London,
England. could not but think of the
magnificent dining halls in that institu-
ton in which the male and female pa
tientS took their meals. All this, how
ever,
Will BE Soon Remedfed.
The kitchen in which the meals are
prepared for 100 patients and the staff
OF twenty-five is very small one, and
being situated within twenty feet of the
wards is most dangerous in case of fire.
Up stairs are the bedrooms of the
matrOn, Mrs. E. M. Meade, who has oc
cupied her present position four years,
and of whom Dr.. Ancker speaks in the
highest terms. Two small bedrooms
accommodate three and two nurses re-
Spectively. A number of small rooms
are used on this floor for surgical cases,
and. though the light is fair, the space
c a For, orIc n,n
fourteen feet long, eight feet wide and
ten feet high contains three beds, and
there Is just room for the nurses to pass
between the foot of the beds and the
wall. An operating room has
been improvised on this floor,
1t is lighted by three windows. but is
not fit for the purpose. The building is
lighted by gas, which was piped into
the building only short while ago. and
it was not an uncommon thing for diff
cult operations to be performed by
lamplight. AS patients have to be
carried up winding and steep stair
case from the patrol wagons used under
the present system as ambulanceS, it
can be understood by any person not
possessed of surgical or medical skill,
that the humane work of DR.. Ancker
and his able staff is very much hamp-
cred. Another menace to the build
ing is the manner of heating.
Twenty coal stoves are S catered
in different directions, with no appll-
ances to eXtinguiSh all outbreak of fire.
Although the hospital is in very
cramped and crowded condition at pres
ent, it was still more so a year ago,
when female patients were housed. The
DR.. ADcker using the founding build
inc which was oOmnlptpd in tho hOC
pital grounds over year ago, as a ward
for female patients. This is a compact
model building and contains lofty
wards, we'll supplied with light and air.
On the lower floor are four wards con-
tanning sixteen beds, also sitting and
dining rooms. On the upper floor there
are two wards containing sixteen beds
for patients, and fourteen cots for chill
dren. There are ten fOundlingS in this
building who are well cared for. Two
small rooms on this floor are used for
maternity cases only, one fitted with all
appliances for delivery. and one for
convalescing. The building is heated
by steam and is thoroughly fire proof,
and will form part of the system of the
new hospital pavilions. The present
laundry of the hospital is in the base
ment of the extension of the Stewart
building. 1t is dark, grueSCme place,
with but two dungeon lights.
and it is necessary to burn gas
all day. The work is done by hand,
which is very dangerous owing to con-
tagion, and is entirely unfit for use for
any purpose. much less for hospital,
where linen very often has to be
changed on bed eight or ten times
day.
The above description of the present
building will suffice to show that
A New Hospital Building
is absolutely necessary, and that DR..
Ancker is not possessed of an idea to
build elegant and costly hospitals, as
has been charged in certain quarters.
The new buildings are situated OppO-
site to the present one, and the plan is
that known as the pavilion hospital. 1t
secures the best light, air and isolation,
persons. The administration build
ing, which is finished, faces
on Jefferson avenue, and will
be flanked on each side by ward build
ings connected by corridors. In the
rear will be the kitchen and boiler
house, also connected by corridors, to-
gether with the present founding and
Isolation wards. The architecture of
the buildings is free rendering of En-
glish Renaissance, and while present
ing an imposing appearance, has been
built for use. DR.. Ancker and the archi-
tect. Clarence 81. Johnson, of st. Paul,
visited the principal hospitals of the
country, and as Mr.. johnson has visited
been able to erect buildings which are
ideal in every respect for hospital pur-
poses. The administration building is
three stories high, the cornice line be-
ing forty-eight feet from the ground,
and the top of the ventilating tower
ninety-siX feet. 1t is seventy-five feet
wide and ninety feet deep. 1t has a
sandstone foundation, and the elevation |
is carried up in pressed red brick
backed by hollow brick. T he cornice
are of copper, and the roo
are faced with sandstone plaste |
which is impervious to germs and |
moisture. 1t is impossible to find an |
angle anywhere in the buildings, all |
corners being elliptic or rounded, the |
same prevailing where floor walls and |
ceiling meet, so that dust or germs can
not find resting place. The corridors
are laid with tile, and the walls are
wainscoted with the same material to a
height of four feet. The floors of the
wards are narrow birch strips laid in
white lead and resin. and finished in
elastic oils. The basement contains ac-
cident receiving rooms, where slight ac-
cidents can be attended to and the pa
tient allowed to depart: strong rooms
for injured criminals or per-
sons suffering from temporary in
sanity. bath rooms, closets and
store houses. On the first floor, eight
feet above grade, are the offices. private
offices. trustees rooms. reception room,
resident physicians room and sitting
room. two rooms for the matron library,