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88
The Brook Hospital. — This magnificent structure,
which had been two years in building, was opened in August.
It is situated at Shooter's Hill, Woolwich, nine miles from
Charing Cross. Containing normal accommodation for 488
patients—scarlet fever 352, enteric fever and diphtheria 112,
and isolation 24, it appears to be able on "emergency"
to make up 576 beds (vide return page 86.) The buildings
were thrown open for inspection on 31st July, and were visited
by a large number of persons interested in the treatment of
the infectious sick. It would be futile to attempt here any
detailed -account of the hospital, but it may be mentioned that
the site contains 29 acres, of which 21 acres are used for the
purposes of the hospital, leaving eight acres of surplus land
available for temporary wards during epidemics. The site,
which adjoins the Herbert (Military) Hospital, cost £550 per
acre. It stands 200 feet above the level of the sea, and falls
rapidly to the south from Shooter's-hill-road, thus enabling
the buildings to be arranged in terraces, sheltered from the
north and east winds, and with lovely views to the south
and west across a large tract of country. The following are
the spaces allowed per bed in the several wards of the 12
main pavilions, each pavilion having two storeys, and all the
wards being 13 feet high:—
Scarlet Fever.
Enteric Fever and
Diphtheria.
Linear wall space 12 feet 15 feet.
Floor area 156 feet 195 feet
Cubic space 2,028 feet 2,535 feet
The main wards for scarlet fever, which each contain 20 beds,
are 120 feet long and 26 feet wide. The enteric and diphtheria
wards each contain 12 beds and are 90 feet long.
There are six isolation pavilions, with 24 beds in 12 wards,
for the isolation of concurrent infectious disease, and for the
isolation of cases of doubtful diagnosis. There are 23 beds to
each acre of utilised site. The staff of the hospital comprises
a Medical Superintendent, five assistant medical officers,