Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-09


hospital uses before any attempt was
made to open it's doors to patients. The
work of repair and construction could
only be carried on otherwise to the dis
turbance of those undergoing treat
ment, and the sacrifice of the rest and
quiet which are. necessarily. essential
factors in their recovery. 1t was,
! therefore felt advisable to fully com
plete the task of renovation before the
/ building should be occupied, even al
though doing so might involve larger
outlay of money than the directors
then had at their disposal and necessi-
tate a temporary loan. This work
throughout was under the immediate
charge of the committee on buildings
and grounds whose chairman, Hon. Ira
H. Randall. and his associates, were
interchangeable in the care and attention
they gave to every detail. Everything
from start to finish was done with an
eye single to the aseptic conditions
which are essential to the highest sue
cess in hospital work. The paper was
in most instances removed from the
walls and replaced by hard tint. the
heating system was thoroughly over
| hauled and put in complete repair;
hard wood floors were laid throughout,
and a complete and sanitary system of
| modern plumbing installed. The
total cost of the building, including the
repairs, was $12, 333O1S.
| BY no means the least important
of the improvements made was the
providing of a modern operating
room. This has been constructed on
thoroughly scientific principles, and we
do not believe that there is today o
better one in New England. although
there are. doubtless, many larger
ones This room is fifteen feet in
height and is situated in the south
wing. 1t is beautifully lighted by
seven large windows of ground glass.
and an overhead shylight. All the
conditions essential to absolute Cleanli
ness have been carefully observed in
its construction. The floor is of slate,
and it's walls. laid in adamant, are
finished in hard tint, enabling them to
be wiped up at short notice in anti
septics. 1t has no corners whatever
where germs can lodge. being built
entirely upon curves. 1t has Il large
chimney ventilator and is equipped, SO
far as necessary. with modern plumb
makes it possible to secure any desired
temperature irrespective of weather
conditions The furniture in this room
is practically all of steel and glass.
and embodies the very latest improve
ments known to modern surgery.
Much of it has been added within the
past month. and together it constI-
tutes a thoroughly aseptic and up-to-
date equipment. In addition to these
furnishings the hospital has been en-
abled during the past year, through
the generous contributions of Mrs.
Llewellyn LithgOw and members of
the staff, to secure an outfit of new
and modern surgical instruments
sufficient to meet all ordinary demands.
Prior to this it had been obliged to de
pend upon the private Instruments of
various members Of its staff Every
thing that has been added to the plant
i'm the way of permanent equipment
has from the start been the very latest
and best and the conditions in the
operating room at the Augusta City
hospital are as favorable for securing
the best surgical results as can be
found in any similar apartment in the
country. With these conditions and
these facilities. and with the assistance
o. a corps of trained nurses constant
ly available, there is no reason why
the surgery done at the Augusta City
hospital should not be as successful as
that done anywhere in the world. and
the splendid record of results which
the members of the staff are enabled
to embody in their annual report is
IA, ~ 80 L.
character of the professional service
which has been rendered under these
favorable conditions.
Connected with the operating room is
preparation room where the sur
geOnS put themselves in readiness for
their work. 1t is provided with sinks.
set wash bowls, a slop hopper. n gas
heater for the sterilization of instru-
ments, and two spacious closets. one
of which is used for the storage of
surgical supplies, and the other for
the gowns used in operating by mem
bers of the surgical staff. From the
preparation room we pass into the
etherizing room, pleasant little
apartment fitted up with the appli-
anccs necessary for the administering
Of anacstheticS. 1t is also provided
with a rubber tired wheel stretChe1.
constructed wholly of steel and glass,
which is used in conveying patients to
and from the operating room. Many
patients have come and gone from the
hospital where they have undergone
important operations without ever see
ing the apartment in which this work
is done the rooms devoted to this pur
pose being 50 arranged as to be en-
t;rely distinct from the rest of the
hospital, and everything that could
possibly suggest their existence to a
patient is carefully avoided.
An important feature of the new
plant is the large refrigerator which
| has been built into the house This
| takes in the ice through a door opening
| upon the outside of the building, and
has capacity for large amount of cold
! storage.
| An iron fire-escape connects with
every floor, and system of house
/ telephones affords easy communica-
ton with all parts of the building.
| An electric enunciator now at the
hospital. and which will shortly be IN
| stalled, will enable any patient to
! summon a nurse by pressing bedside
button.
| A modern diet kitchen on the second
ronr which is thoroughly equipped