THE KING'S SANATORIUM.

1720

unchallenged statement, that the law regulating the inspection of meat was written by the packers themselves for the express purpose of making it impossible to prevent trade in condemned meat. By this law the Federal inspectors condemn meat but they have no legal power to destroy the meat. It is the State or municipality in which the diseased meat is found that must destroy it according to its own local regulations, and the great packing firms rightly anticipated that they would be able to influence the Ilow manner in which such local regulations were applied. the system worked is described as follows by Dr. Jacques :-

Committee and the architect towards carryobject. His Majesty replied, expressing the pleasure which it had given to him and to the Queen to be present and to open the magnificently situated building. Sir William Broadbent presented to the King the architect (Mr. H. Percy Adams, F R.I.B.A.), the builder (Mr. Charles Langley), Miss Jekyll, who had designed the gardens, Dr. Noel D. Bardswell and Dr. G. Basil D. Adams, medical officers of the sanatorium, and Miss Blanche Trew, R.R.C., the matron. Their Majesties were then conducted round the buildings by Sir William Broadbent and Sir Frederick Treves. In the library Dr. Arthur C. Latham and Dr. F. J. Wethered, who had respectively gained the first and second prizes offered by the King for essays on the Construction of a Sanatorium, were presented to the King. Amongst those present on the occasion in addition to those mentioned above were Professor T. Clifford Allbutt, Dr. F. Bagshawe (Hastings), Dr. H. T. Bulstrode, Dr. A. Newsholme, Mr. R. Clement Lucas, Dr. Nathan Raw (Liverpool), Dr. L. A. Weatherly (Bath), and Dr. W. H. White. Dr. Nathan Raw had also the honour of being presented to the King. A brief description of the buildings, which have been fully described and discussed in the Architeotural Review, will show that the sanatorium is admirably situated, designed, and equipped for its purposes. the

ing

Advisory

out their

The condemnation of diseased meat is a State function and it is to the city of Chicago in its charter. The city ordinance empowers the Commissioners of Health to perform this duty. Federal inspectors do condemn and destroy meat. but they have this. Their instructions as to separating no legal right to do and tagging of diseased meat ends with "to be disposed of according to the laws and ordinances of the State and municipality in which it is found." This throws it into the hands of the city inspectors and they are the only ones who can legally destroy it. The Federal inspectors admit this and claim that their condemnations are made under the threat of withdrawing the inspection if not allowed to do so. Foreign countries refused our meat and the packers appealed to our Government. It was finally arranged that Germany would accept American meat if our Government would guarantee its quality. To this end Federal inspection was instituted at the packingThe Federal inspector comes to the packer to inspect houses. his meat for export and at his bidding. He is under the packer’ss influence continually and if not satisfactory to the packer will lose his place. His instructions make it easy for him by saying that the diseased meat is "to be disposed of according to the laws and ordinances The site of the Sanatorium is on the southern of the State and municipality in which it is found " The city inspectors are the usual grade of employees on duty during City Hall hours from of Easebourne Hill, three and a half miles from Midhurst, 9 to 5. The civic federation employed a detective to watch three of and seven miles from Haslemere. The is these and found that most of their time was spent in saloons, There Sussex, at an altitude of 496 feet above the sea-level and a of under head were only four of them at the yards were They of 150 acres of land from department at the City Hall, who got his position for strenuous activity stands in its own in the last campaign. The packers’ contribution made this same duty the Earl of In the immediate of the sanapleasant. Just to show how the packers have their hands on the torium are forests of in the trees. The situation, I have only to say that the first of this month Dr. Biehn, my successor, was withdrawn from this work and the stockyards inspection grounds is 630 feet above the level of the sea and the sanato the north and to the east by woods of placed under " Fish" Murray, a protégé of the stockyards alderman, torium is Cary. Murray was fish inspector under me and laughed at my efforts fir and oak and birch. To the south-west and west the buildto make him do something to earn his salary. To my knowledge he never condemned a pound of fish nor did a day’s work in the 14 months ings lie open to the sun and air and the balconies and that I was his chief. for the open-air treatment of the terraces are well

delegated

King’s

slope

building

placed

grounds Egmont. pine

purchased vicinity highest point

protected

the state of affairs prior to August 7th, 1905, and this explains why 85 per cent. of the meat condemned during last year in Chicago has been destroyed since the month of August. But such destruction is to protect the inhabitants of Chicago and not of Great Britain. As many as 150,000 animals have been killed in a single day in the stockyards. Only a small proportion of them was intended for consumption within the city of Chicago. The Federal Government does not employ enough inspectors properly to examine the rest and yet the enormous amount of meat condemned at Chicago shows how much such strict inspection is needed.

Such

was

THE KING’S SANATORIUM. THE OPENING CEREMONY. THE King, who was accompanied by the Queen, visited the King Edward VII. Sanatorium on Wednesday last, June 13th, when His Majesty performed the opening About 250 invitations were issued to those ceremony. interested in the institution and the arrangements for the journey to and from the sanatorium were admirably carried out. Their Majesties were received at Midhurst Station at 4 P.M. by the Lord Lieutenant of Sussex, the Duke of Norfolk, the Sheriff of the County, Mr. Philip Secretan, the Under Sheriff, Mr. Walter Bartlett, the Chairman of the West Sussex County Council, the Earl Winterton, General Lord Methuen, G.C.B., K.C.V.O., General Officer Commanding the District. On arrival at the sanatorium they were received by His Majesty’s Advisory CommitteeSir William Broadbent, Bart., K.C.V.O. (chairman), Sir R. Douglas Powell, Bart., K.C.V.O., Sir Frederick Treves, Bart., G.C.V.O., Sir Francis Laking, Bart., G.C.V.O., Sir Felix Semon, K C.V.O., Sir Hermann Weber, Dr. C. Theodore Williams, Lieutenant. Colonel Lascelles, Mr. William James, D.L., Mr. Roland Bailey, M.V.O., I.S.O., Dr. P. Horton Smith-Hartley, Dr. John F. H. Broadbent, the two lastnamed being the secretaries to the committee. The religious part of the ceremony having been conducted by the Bishop of Chichester (Dr. E. It. Wilberforce), Sir William Broadbent read an address which stated in brief the general objects of the institution and the design of

arranged patients. Splendid views are obtained from the site and it is possible to trace the line of the South Downs as far as the Chanctonbury Ring. In the immediate neighbourhood of the sanatorium paths have been made amongst the pines and on the moorland so graded that the physicians will be able to arrange suitable exercise according to the varying needs of the patients. The sanatorium is built nearly in the centre

of the site and is divided into two parts, one for administrative purposes and the other for patients. These two buildings run on parallel lines east and west and are joined together by means of a broad central corridor (see illustration). Red brick has been used for constructive purposes, relieved by white stone, and distinctive features of the buildings are the red roofs and the vivid green shutters for the windows. The edifice for the patients faces the south and south-west with a gradually curving front of nearly 700 feet in length. In the centre there are three storeys, the two wings having only two storeys. Broad balconies are continued nearly the whole length of the front of this building and the bedrooms open by means of casement doors on to these balconies. Each patient will have a part of a balcony screened off with canvas pull-down blinds. Along the ground and first floor of the patients’ building are placed the bedrooms for the patients and on the top floor of the central portion there is accommodation for 22 necessitous patients. On the ground floor there are also spacious recreation rooms, writing rooms, and bath-rooms. The rooms are so arranged that each sex of either class of patients can gain access to the medical consulting rooms, recreation rooms, the dining hall, and the grounds without passing the apartments of the other sex. The bedrooms are floored with teak polished with wax and the wall-papers can be washed. The windows are of large size and can be thrown fully open. Outside the windows the shutters are so arranged that they can be closed when the windows are open, thus excluding rain and direct sunshine when required. To secure a direct draught through the bedrooms windows are placed opening on to the corridors and to guard against danger from fire every room in the building has two exits. Opposite the end of the bed in the centre of one side wall in each bedroom there is a hot-water radiator. The furniture has been manufactured by Messrs. Heal and Son and is of the plainest possible description so as to secure the utmost facility for cleanliness and the prevention of any collection of dust. Riveted joints are used in the bedsteads and rubber-shod buffers are arranged so that the bedsteads

THE KING’S SANATORIUM.

1721

1722

pushed against the wall, these buffers being used handles for moving the bed. The articles of furniture stand well up from the floor and all shelves and tops of cupboards and washstands are made of glass so that they are perfectly non-absorbent. The administrative block has a main central entrance to the north and the entrance hall is spacious and well appointed. The ground floor of this block contains waiting rooms, consulting rooms, an operating theatre, and various committee rooms, and rooms for the medical officers, together with a dispensary, library, and laboratory. There is a commodious dining hall for the patients and conveniently to this hall there are placed the kitchens, in which every arrangement is fully up to date. Accommodation is also provided in this block for the medical superintendent, At the western end of the staff, and the servants. the buildings the chapel has been built; it is a V-shaped structure, the arms of the V forming two naves, one for men and the other for women. This can be truly called an open-air chapel because the south walls of the two naves are built in open arcade work but provision is made to prevent rain or snow from drifting in. At the apex of this curious chapel there are two pulpits, one of which can be used by the preacher in wet weather when the congregation will be gathered round him sheltered, if necessary, by cloisters erected for the purpose. The chapel is heated by means of steam pipes running under the This method of heating is a revival of stone floor. the old Roman plan of warming rooms. An up-to-date laundry has been built and close to it is the engine-house with machinery for the supply of the electric light. The equipment of this portion of the institution is of a most elaborate character and care has been taken to introduce the best of modern labour-reducing machinery. The watersupply comes from a reservoir on Henley Common in North Park Copse. It is pumped to the highest part of the grounds of the institution and a reservoir has been there made capable of holding 160,000 gallons. The daily service of water will be amply met as there will generally be sufficient water to yield 60,000 gallons a day. One advantage of having a reservoir holding such a large reserve is that in case of fire there will be no lack of water. The drainage system is in connexion with that of the town of Midhurst, and although the carrying out of this drainage work presented considerable difficulty it has been found possible to complete the work in the most satisfactory manner. A word or two must be said in praise of the landscape work involved in laying out the grounds and there is no doubt that the sanatorium is rendered attractive by the fine gardens and lawns that have been placed around it. The site of the building was chosen, amongst other considerations, for the mild and equable climate of the district, largely influenced by the proximity of the sea and the shelter afforded by the pine forest. The average number of hours of sunshine for the year is 1689 and for the week 35. The average yearly rainfall is 30 inches, the number of rainy days is 157, the mean annual temperature is 48° F., the mean maximum temperature is 57.1°, and the mean minimum temperature is 41.4°. There is accommodation provided in the King’s Sanatorium for 100 patients ; 14 of these will pay eight guineas a week and the remainder two guineas a week. Those who pay at the higher rate will have slightly better bedrooms and enjoy superior arrangements for feeding. The class for which the sanatorium is specially built is that just above the very poor for whom no provision in case of sickness, such as tuberculosis, exists ; the institution will serve a useful purpose for such people as governesses, teachers, and badly paid members of certain professions. It is not intended that rich people should be able to send their gardeners and other servants to the sanatorium by merely paying so much a week.

are

not

also

as

BIRMINGHAM. (FROM

OUR OWN

CORRESPONDENT.)

Complaints against tlte General Hospital. WiTHiN a short space of time two serious complaints have been made against the resident staff of the General Hospital. The first was by the father of a child who was accidentally burnt, it being asserted that great and unnecessary delay had occurred before the child was

admitted, and the second was by a nurse of the Church Army who considered that she and the patient whom she accompanied had been treated with scant consideration and discourtesy. Both complaints were fully investigated by the house committee and by the board of management and both have been proved to be without foundation. The delay

which occurred in the first case was due to the father’s hesitation to leave his child in the hospital and in the second case it was shown that the nurse had misunderstood what the resident surgical officer had said to her. He had told her that the patient could not be admitted at once but would be taken in as soon as possible and she had waited on hoping her patient would be taken in that day, whilst the surgical officer had communicated with the medical man who sent the case telling him that he would write and let him know when the case could be received. Neither of the complaints is to be regretted, for the thoroughness of the investigations which followed and which proved both the efficiency and thoughtfulness of the staff will serve still further to increase the confidence which the general public have in the institution. Moreover, the second case should draw the attention of practitioners to the fact that it is advisable to communicate with the authorities and to assure themselves that room is available before sending a serious case for admission.

l2etirement of Mr. Bennett May. For many years Mr. Bennett May has rendered invaluable service to the Queen’s Hospital and to medical education in Birmingham, but in the ordinary course of events the time has come when his term of office as honorary surgeon to the Queen’s Hospital terminates and the committee has accepted his resignation of office with feelings of the greatest regret. He is still a keen and an active surgeon whose interest in his profession seems to grow with increasing years and in order to express its high appreciation of his past services the committee has recommended to the governors of the hospital that Mr. May be elected honorary consulting surgeon. His connexion with the hospital for which he has done so much will thus be maintained, whilst his time will be more free for the purposes of his private work. Death of Sir Willoughby Francis Wade. Many years have passed since a severe illness necessitated Sir Willoughby F. Wade’s resignation of his appointment of honorary physician to the General Hospital and it is ten years since he left Birmingham, but his services to the city, his excellent medical work, and his interesting personality have not been forgotten, and sincere regret was felt when it was known that he had died in Rome. Though born in Ireland he was of Yorkshire descent, and he was educated at Rugby, Trinity College, Dublin, and in Paris. He took an active interest in all things associated with the medical profession and for many years he was a member of the council of the British Medical Association. In 1890 he delivered a memorable address on medical education, in which he pointed out how insufficient was the scientific knowledge then possessed by medical That address was but an indication of the men. general scientific tendencies which stimulated him to take an active part in the foundation of the scientific grants committee of the British Medical Association. He was a keen observer and was one of the first to recognise that diphtheria was something more than a mere local disease. It was in his to medicine that he was of services recognition great knighted in 1896 and the distinction thus conferred upon him gave the greatest pleasure to his colleagues and friends. He served on the staff of both the General Hospital and the Queen’s Hospital and he was one of the founders of the Birmingham Medical Institute.

Successes of the Birmingham Ambulance Brigade. During Whit-week the members of No. 3 district of the St. John Ambulance Brigade camped in the old park of Broughton House, near Kettering. No. 3 district is a large one, including Birmingham, Dudley, Northants, &:c., and 325 officers and men were in camp. The weather was delightful, the work was done enthusiastically, and the Birmingham men were jubilant when as the result of the competition for the Markham Cup it was found that Birmingham No. 1 and No. 2 teams had secured first and second places respectively. Medical Benevolent

Society.

At the recent annual meeting of the Medical Benevolent Society of this district it was pointed out by Sir James Sawyer that 4000 medical men resided within the area of the