HOSPITAL OPERATING THEATRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13171, 8 May 1906, Page 6

HOSPITAL OPERATING THEATRE.

THE LIGHT THAT FAILED.

The electric lighting at the new operating theatre at the Auckland Hospital, concerning which a complaint was recently received by the Hospital Hoard from Dr. A. ,C. Purchas, was referred to in the report of the Hospital Committee submitted at yesterday's meeting of the Board. Dr. Purehas, in his letter to the Board, stated that whilst ho was engaged on an urgent operation in the theatre on March 17 the electric light suddenly failed, and that the theatre was left for some minutes in total darkness, after which the operation was completed by means of gaslight. This, be slated, was the second occasion on which this serious condition had arisen. He also referred to a decrease in the gas supply when the gas engine was running, and said he did not consider the engineer to blame for the failure of the light. The Hospital Committee, to -whom the matter had been submitted, referred it back to the Board, together with reports on the subject received from Professor Brown, Mr. W. 0. Meddings, Mr. A. J. . Walker, and Mr. H. Hall, hospital engineer.

Professor Brown, in his report, stated that he had inspected the electric lighting plant in company with Mr. Meddings on April 18, in the presence of Dr. Roberton and Dr. Walshe. Although they were not in the operating . theatre more than 40 minutes, the light failed completely on three occasions, and on at least one other became too dim to be of any use. Such frequent failure was very unusual, but, be thought, that under the most favourable circumstances a light, which was directly dependent upon moving machinery, would not be sufficiently reliable considering the nature of the work performed in the theatre. Ho was of opinion that a battery of occumulators should be installed, thus reducing the risk of failures to a minimum, and at the same time furnishing a light free from small fluctuations, which was, an important point in the present case. He suggested that the battery should consist of 3iJ cells, suitable tor use with 65 volt lamps. The cost of the battery and of its installation would not be more than two-thirds of that which would bo incurred in providing a, battery tor the present 110 volt lamps. The present gas engine and dynamo could, without alteration, bo used to charge the battery. ° [( Mr. Meddings, in his report, stated: After visiting the hospital and inspecting the installation in the operating theatre 1 have no hesitation in. strongly recommending the addition of accumulators, ami would also recommend that the electro-motive fore© be lowered to 65 volts, and 60 volt lamps be substituted for those now in use this will reduce the capital cost to a minimum.

Mr. A. J. alter, who drafted the specifications for the electrical equipment of the operating theatre, submitted a lengthy report He denied that the electric light had ever failed, and in referring to the reports of Professor Brown and Mr. Meddings, he stated that a set of accumulators suitable tor a pressure of 65 volts, would cost complete with house, etc., £450. They could not bo used in lighting your main building or in any general scheme of electric lighting at the hospital, therefore would be of no use when your main installation is complete. heir efficiency is only 80 per cent therefore by the addition of a low voltage battery you lose 20 per cent, of current where by direct driving you lose nothing. Accumulators are not reliable, particularly small sets, unless specially cared for, and to employ a man for such a small plant would be adding unnecessary expense to the Board. He stated that the present dynamo was' unfit, without alteration, for the charging of accumulators. No break in connection with the electrical installation, he said, had ever occurred, and the blame for the failures referred to had been cast upon the installation without having been inquired into. It was a well-known fact, he said, that the supply of gas at the hospital was bad, particularly from dusk to nine or ten. o'clock, and he urged that the failure of the light was due to an insufficient supply of gas, rather than to any fault an the part of the installation. He was not" opposed to accumulators if of proper design, but with a proper supply of gas there would be no danger of a breakdown of the present plant. ( Mr. H. Hall, hospital engineer, reported that there was an insufficient supply of gas from dusk till eight or nine p.m., and that he had had occasion to send for the Gas Company's men on six days out of 12 during April. He submitted a number of detailed reports, which, he said, were a clear proof of a poor supply of gas- or else of choked mains.

The Board deferred consideration of the matter until its next meeting.