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THE HALIFAX UNION.
624 and that no attempt has been made to sift the very small modicum of fact from the large measure of opinion unsupported by any fact whatever. This task, which we have ourselves already endeavoured to perform for our readers,‘ would have rendered both the Report and the voluminous minutes of evidence of great value. In the present state, the absence of any means of getting at the substance of the evidence makes the minutes of very little value indeed.
THE HALIFAX UNION.
and
with much constitutional disafter half an hour to an hour’s use of this bath, profuse diaphoresis becomes established, and most of the bad symptoms disappear, and this frequently without a dose of medicine being given, except it might be some liquor of the acetate of ammonia to assist and keep up cutaneous action. In lumbago and local rheumatism, whether acute or chronic, I have used it with the most decided results. The former ail. ment, so frequently intractable to ordinary remedies, speedily yields to its use, as generally do those flying pains arising from cold and exposure, so constantly complained of by the
scanty
highly albuminous,
tress ; and yet,
poorer classes. The principal
advantage I claim for it is this, that there is WE are delighted to observe that our Reports on the Country no necessity to remove the patient from his bed. Where he Workhouse Infirmaries have aroused the emulation of an in- has been first put on admission he may continue to lie, and after the apparatus has been removed there is no need to spector of the Poor-law Board. The defects reported must have disturb him. been the growth of years, and the public will rejoice that they With this introduction, I proceed to describe the construchave at least one inspector who has the boldness to make them tion of the apparatus. known. At Halifax, it appears, the sick are kept in the ordinary wards, mixed up with inmates who are free from disease. The sick wards admit of no classification. Old and young, children and adults, cases of chronic as well as of active disorders, surgical cases and cases of accident, as well as persons afHicted with infirmity from age, are mingled together in these wards. There is no bath attached to any sick ward. The waterclosets (of which there is only one for males and one for females) are quite insufficient, badly ventilated, and occasionally in an offensive state. The female contagious and foul wards seem to have been constructed as sheds or outhouses before they were converted to their present use. They appear to be wholly unfit for the reception of cases of sickness of any kind. The fever wards are very ill contrived, and are placed in the midst of the workhouse premises. There are no convalescent wards or yards. Mr. Cane is of opinion that the sufferings of the sick must be aggravated, the duration of disease prolonged, and ultimate recovery rendered more doubtful, The first figure represents an ordinary iron bedstead without the want of space, proper classification of cases, and of ordi- foot-board, upon which has been placed a mattress covered nary and necessary convenience in these wards. The inspector, with a double blanket, on which the patient lies, supported at moreover, is reluctant to enter into offensive particulars ; butb. the head by pillows, which may be elevated to suit the rehe says that the effects of the bad arrangements and imperfect of his case. The bedclothes being removed, the construction of the premises are distressingly evident, and that; quirementsis apparatus placed over him. It consists of two convex frames, investigation has disclosed circumstances as disagreeable as! each three feet long, and two feet high at the crown; and conany which came under his notice in the whole course of hisI structed of galvanised iron rods, held together in the middle experience, which, seeing that he conducted the inquiry at the by a screw. The whole space at the foot is closed in by sheet Strand Union, is speaking in the strongest terms. iron, perforated at the junction of the upper and middle third This report was endorsed in graphic diction by one of thei to receive the extremity of a two-inch curved gas tube, which guardians, who stated that the eflluvium on opening the door of is held firmly by a screw-nut, and the lower end of which a sick room was enough "to knock a man down." It is indrops on to the conical top of a stove in which is burnt gas structive to observe that Mr. Cane’s report was followed by mixed with ordinary air, and which generates great heat withno result. We hope that Parliament will, on its meeting, call out smoke. for the fullest information, and demand that the whole administration of the Poor Law should be once more reviewed.
by7 -
I
Correspondence. "Audi. alteram
partem."
A CONVENIENT FORM OF HOT-AIR BATH AN INVALID IN BED. To the Editor
of
THE LANCET.
FOR
The second figure represents the apparatus when in use, SIR,-The accompanying woodcuts represent a contrivance showing the position of the patient. 1 is the line of junction pieces; 2, the foot-plate perforated by the gas designed at my suggestion and under my superintendence, and of the two tubing; 3 is the apparatus for burning gas ; 5, a stop-cock; made by a partially disabled smith who was an inmate of my whilst 4 is a piece of india-rubber tubing of sufficient lengthworkhouse at the Strand some few years ago. say thirty or forty feet-to enable it to be fixed on to any It was suggested in consequence of my desire to supply a gas burner in the ward, infirmary, or other place, as the case want which I had long felt, the absence of any proper bath may be. When in use the tilt is to be covered with blankets, and, if accommodation in my infirmary for those forms of diseased outside all a macintosh sheet, so as to retain heat, practicable, union more so in action so, per- &c. hospitals, commonly met with It will be seen that there is plenty of room for the patient haps, than in other kindred establishments,-viz., affections to move his limbs freely about; and whilst exposed to the inarising from exposure to cold and damp amongst the poor, who fluence of the hot air generated by the burning gas, he is so in addition frequently are very insufficiently clad. placed that his head and face are wholly outside, the upper I have repeatedly ordered it to be used in cases of renal part of the apparatus being closed in by the blankets, which be tucked in all round. dropsy with the most marked and speedy benefit. I have should be large enough to after a very short time the temperaseen patients admitted who were bloated with fluid, the urine being ignited, gas The ture rises to 120°, and, if required, as high as 130° at the crown THE LANCET, Feb. 9th, 16th, 23rd, March 23rd, and May llth, 1867. of the arch. After burning from half an hour to one hour, or *
THE HALIFAX UNION.
and
with much constitutional disafter half an hour to an hour’s use of this bath, profuse diaphoresis becomes established, and most of the bad symptoms disappear, and this frequently without a dose of medicine being given, except it might be some liquor of the acetate of ammonia to assist and keep up cutaneous action. In lumbago and local rheumatism, whether acute or chronic, I have used it with the most decided results. The former ail. ment, so frequently intractable to ordinary remedies, speedily yields to its use, as generally do those flying pains arising from cold and exposure, so constantly complained of by the
scanty
highly albuminous,
tress ; and yet,
poorer classes. The principal
advantage I claim for it is this, that there is WE are delighted to observe that our Reports on the Country no necessity to remove the patient from his bed. Where he Workhouse Infirmaries have aroused the emulation of an in- has been first put on admission he may continue to lie, and after the apparatus has been removed there is no need to spector of the Poor-law Board. The defects reported must have disturb him. been the growth of years, and the public will rejoice that they With this introduction, I proceed to describe the construchave at least one inspector who has the boldness to make them tion of the apparatus. known. At Halifax, it appears, the sick are kept in the ordinary wards, mixed up with inmates who are free from disease. The sick wards admit of no classification. Old and young, children and adults, cases of chronic as well as of active disorders, surgical cases and cases of accident, as well as persons afHicted with infirmity from age, are mingled together in these wards. There is no bath attached to any sick ward. The waterclosets (of which there is only one for males and one for females) are quite insufficient, badly ventilated, and occasionally in an offensive state. The female contagious and foul wards seem to have been constructed as sheds or outhouses before they were converted to their present use. They appear to be wholly unfit for the reception of cases of sickness of any kind. The fever wards are very ill contrived, and are placed in the midst of the workhouse premises. There are no convalescent wards or yards. Mr. Cane is of opinion that the sufferings of the sick must be aggravated, the duration of disease prolonged, and ultimate recovery rendered more doubtful, The first figure represents an ordinary iron bedstead without the want of space, proper classification of cases, and of ordi- foot-board, upon which has been placed a mattress covered nary and necessary convenience in these wards. The inspector, with a double blanket, on which the patient lies, supported at moreover, is reluctant to enter into offensive particulars ; butb. the head by pillows, which may be elevated to suit the rehe says that the effects of the bad arrangements and imperfect of his case. The bedclothes being removed, the construction of the premises are distressingly evident, and that; quirementsis apparatus placed over him. It consists of two convex frames, investigation has disclosed circumstances as disagreeable as! each three feet long, and two feet high at the crown; and conany which came under his notice in the whole course of hisI structed of galvanised iron rods, held together in the middle experience, which, seeing that he conducted the inquiry at the by a screw. The whole space at the foot is closed in by sheet Strand Union, is speaking in the strongest terms. iron, perforated at the junction of the upper and middle third This report was endorsed in graphic diction by one of thei to receive the extremity of a two-inch curved gas tube, which guardians, who stated that the eflluvium on opening the door of is held firmly by a screw-nut, and the lower end of which a sick room was enough "to knock a man down." It is indrops on to the conical top of a stove in which is burnt gas structive to observe that Mr. Cane’s report was followed by mixed with ordinary air, and which generates great heat withno result. We hope that Parliament will, on its meeting, call out smoke. for the fullest information, and demand that the whole administration of the Poor Law should be once more reviewed.
by7 -
I
Correspondence. "Audi. alteram
partem."
A CONVENIENT FORM OF HOT-AIR BATH AN INVALID IN BED. To the Editor
of
THE LANCET.
FOR
The second figure represents the apparatus when in use, SIR,-The accompanying woodcuts represent a contrivance showing the position of the patient. 1 is the line of junction pieces; 2, the foot-plate perforated by the gas designed at my suggestion and under my superintendence, and of the two tubing; 3 is the apparatus for burning gas ; 5, a stop-cock; made by a partially disabled smith who was an inmate of my whilst 4 is a piece of india-rubber tubing of sufficient lengthworkhouse at the Strand some few years ago. say thirty or forty feet-to enable it to be fixed on to any It was suggested in consequence of my desire to supply a gas burner in the ward, infirmary, or other place, as the case want which I had long felt, the absence of any proper bath may be. When in use the tilt is to be covered with blankets, and, if accommodation in my infirmary for those forms of diseased outside all a macintosh sheet, so as to retain heat, practicable, union more so in action so, per- &c. hospitals, commonly met with It will be seen that there is plenty of room for the patient haps, than in other kindred establishments,-viz., affections to move his limbs freely about; and whilst exposed to the inarising from exposure to cold and damp amongst the poor, who fluence of the hot air generated by the burning gas, he is so in addition frequently are very insufficiently clad. placed that his head and face are wholly outside, the upper I have repeatedly ordered it to be used in cases of renal part of the apparatus being closed in by the blankets, which be tucked in all round. dropsy with the most marked and speedy benefit. I have should be large enough to after a very short time the temperaseen patients admitted who were bloated with fluid, the urine being ignited, gas The ture rises to 120°, and, if required, as high as 130° at the crown THE LANCET, Feb. 9th, 16th, 23rd, March 23rd, and May llth, 1867. of the arch. After burning from half an hour to one hour, or *