View report page

separate entrances in Alscot Road, one for males and one for
females, and there is easy access to the Dispensary. The building
is constructed of corrugated iron, lined with matchboarding; the
roof is also of corrugated iron, with lantern lights. The accompanying
plan gives a clear idea of the arrangement of the rooms.
The building is divided into two by the nurses' and doctors'
rooms, which occupy the centre. There are two large rooms for
light treatment, one for males, and the other for females, each
measuring 32ft. by 25ft. Corresponding to each room there is a
small dressing room, with lockers and pegs, and a w.c. Two
concreted courtyards are provided, 36ft. by 36ft. The mercury
vapour lamps are supplied with specially long leads, so that they
can be taken out into these yards, when the weather is propitious,
thus enabling treatment to be given actually in the open air. On
that side of the treatment rooms, which is adjacent to the courtyard
there is a large folding door, which extends the whole width
of the room. Except in very inclement weather, this door is
kept open, so that the maximum amount of fresh air and natural
light may enter the room. This prevents overheating, which
seems to be a common defect of many clinics. The "male"
half of the building, including entrance, dressing room, treatment
room, and courtyard, is entirely separated from the female half.
In each treatment room there is one carbon arc lamp, suspended
in the centre of the room. From eight to ten patients can be
treated simultaneously at these lamps. Each room further
has four mercury vapour lamps. Three of these, the Jesionek
lamps, fixed on moveable stands which can be wheeled into any
desired position in the room or the courtyard. Three patients
can be treated at a time with these lamps. The fourth lamp is of
the type known as the Hanovia Alpine Sun lamp. This also is a
moveable lamp, but is adapted for local rather than general
treatment, and is also used for treating infants lying prostrate on
a stretcher. The arc lamps are controlled from the consulting
room, the mercury vapour lamps by means of a local switch.
There is a lamp plug in the consulting room, to which any of the
mercury vapour lamps may be attached, thus providing seclusion
for those cases in which complete nudity may be necessary during
treatment. The Kromayer lamp, which requires a supply of
water for cooling purposes, is generally operated in this room.