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buildings to accommodate not less than 400 patients, and the
necessary staff of officers, with the least possible delay. The
construction of the Hospital itself was put in hand forthwith,
and the first wards were opened for the reception of patients
in October, the greater part of the buildings having been
erected within a period of seven weeks.
With the full allowance of 144 superficial feet to each
bed, the hospital accommodates 456 patients. With the
usual allowance of 120 feet, it will accommodate 548 patients.
Provision has been made for a staff of 207 officers and
servants. I had the privilege of being present at the official
inspection made by the Managers prior to the opening, and
must confess that no pains appear to have been spared to
make the hospital all that a temporary building of this kind
should be. The walls, floors, and roofs of the dormitory
wards, and other buildings, (excepting the boiler house,
chimney shaft, steam coal store, and heating rooms, which
are of brickwork), are composed of a double thickness of wood,
with an interposed layer of felt. The roofs are covered with
galvanized corrugated iron. Ample provision has been made
for lighting, ventilation, drainage, etc., and the supply of
baths, etc., is abundant. The principal buildings are connected
by covered ways, with which are combined brick
ducts for the reception of water, gas, and steam pipes.
These covered ways form a quadrangle, and their total length
is 2,120 feet. No sick ward is placed within one hundred
feet of the boundary. Each of the ward-huts contains a
ward, 120 feet by 24 feet, sanitary room, bath room, scullery,
pantry, and linen closet. The huts, and the other buildings,
are upon brick piers raised upon concrete platforms. The
buildings consist of twenty-two ordinary patients' blocks;
two isolation blocks; two administrative blocks; seven dormitory
blocks and two mess blocks for female staff ; one block
for male staff; one stores block and one kitchen block; one
laundry, including boiler house, disinfecting-room, destructor,