A MODERN SURGICAL HOSPITAL.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9249, 29 October 1895, Page 3

A MODERN SURGICAL HOSPITAL.

(BY OUR SPECIAL REPORTER)

The writers of medical books tell us that forty years ago 90 per cent, of abdominal operations terminated fatally. Today, in the hands of special operators, und under favourable conditions as to hygiene, this rate ha 3 been reduced to between dud 3 per cent., but in operations by promiscuous operators, and under unfavourable conditions, the death rate is much higher, the average reaching somsthing like 7or 8 par cent. The reisons for this are twofold. Firstly, there has been a great advance m surgical science or technique, aud, secondly, there has been the use of aseptio precautions and surroundings. A marked advance iv the direction of obtaining these conditions for favourable j operations lias been made in our midst by tiie provision of a building kuown as i'.ratnmore Hospital, which has been fitted up with all the most improved and up-to-date aseptic appliances. Indeed, there is not, it is stated, iv the Southern Hemisphere to-day any hospital possessing the same specially constructed rooms, &c, for the carrying out of the most delicate and important operations with the minimum of risk, an advantage which up to now it has not been possible to obtaiu, whatever amount of ssill or expenditure of money was brought to bear. The completion of the building under notice marks a great advance iv the direction, of reducing tne danger of operations to a miuimuin, aud ur> doubt ere long the appliances described below will be introduced into our public institutions in the colony. As the matter is one of considerable public importance, a member of the stall" of the Press paid a visit to the Hospital a few days ago, with a view to inspecting the special arrangements which have been made there. The building, which is situate on the Ferry road, just over the East belt, contains thirty rooms, and has been very substantially constructed. It has been placed at tho disposal of Dr. J. H. Townend by Mrs J. CochraneBrown for use as a hospital, mainly as will be seen for surgical cases. Iv having the Hospital built, Alra Brown has been actuated chiefly by humanitarian motives, and the pecuniary considerations have iv no way influenced her. Khe felt that there was a real necessity for an institution where persone having to undergo surgical treatment should have the benetit of the best hygienic conditions, thus minimising as far as possible the risk inseparable from every eerious operition. With this view a specially constructed operating room has been built. This is 18ft square, lighted by windows having southern and eastern aspects. Each wiudow is Bft by 6ft, and in addition there are also three skylights. The great point in the arrangement of the room is the precaution taken to ensure the admission only of air which has been rendered aseptic, whereby a very great element of danger in operating is removed, and also the regulation of the temperature. In order to prevent the radiation of heat, the walls aud ceilings of the operating-room are of coke concrete, six inches in thickness in the walls, five in the floor, and three in tne ceiling. The whole of this ia covered with Portland cement, and, in addition, the interior of the room is linei with stout sheets of glass bedded in plaster of Paris and fixed firmly in position. The sheets come close to each ! other, so that there is but a little line in the solid glass surface, thus ensuring that there can be no lodgmeut of microbes. The windows are of double glass of extra thickness, and are fitted at tne top aud bottom of the sashes with air filters. They are on the counter-balancing principle, and the frames are fitted with two sheets of wire gauze, between which are placed layers of cotton wool for mechanically filteriug the air with medical gauze to render it aseptic. The room ie also ntted with a very effective ventilating chamber, from which the air passes into a heating receptacle behind a gas fire. By the opening or shutting of a ventilator, the temperature of the room can be raised and lowered at pleasure, and a uniform temperature of 90deg and upwards can be maintained if required. By means of the ventilating arrangements the air of the room can be changed, if necessary, ten times an hour. The sky lights are fitted with spring blinds, so that the light can be regulated, and these blinds act between double glasses. The means of thoroughly and completely cleansing the walls, ceiling and floor of the operating room, which is a very important matter, has been provided for very effectively. The floor is laid with a slight slope to one corner, where there is a discharging pipe. A hose ia provided which can be fitted on to either hot or cold water, and a copious and thorough drenching of all parts of the room can thus be given. The furniture of the room is all aseptic, and hue been speciallyimported from Messrs Richard Knyn and Co., of New York. The operating table is from the design of Dr. Edelnols, and coneieta of three plates of polished French glass, set in iron frames. The table ie also fitted with rubber castors, and ia eminently fitted for laparotomy and gynaecological work, as well as all kinds of general operations. A steriliser is provided, in which the clothes worn by the doctors and the nurses , dresses will be sterilised. There is also a smaller one which will be used for sterilising instruments, the boiler of which is electro-plated and the table of glass. No mouldings of any kind have been used in fitting up the other rooms of the Hospital, the junctions between the walls and the floors being all convex. The windows throughout are all fitted with counterbalancing sashes, and so devised that fresh air is freely admitted and the vitiated withdrawn without the least draught being felt. For winter ventilation, and for the bathrooms and other offices, some of which lire lined with glass in the manner described in the operating room, special provision has been made. Throughout the appliances are of the most modern type, combining everything that can be provided fer the purpose of renderiug operations absolutely safe, except in casee where the results are entirely beyond human control, and Christchurch can be congratulated on possessing an establishment quite unique in its completeness, one the like of which is not to be found to-day even in the large centres of population in the Old Country. The work has been carried out most successfully by the builder, Mr Harry, uuder the supervision of the architect, Mr 3. Hurst-Seager.