Metropolitan workhouse infirmaries, &c. : Copy of the report of Dr. Edward Smith, Poor Law inspector and medical officer to the Poor Law Board, on the Metropolitan Workhouse infirmaries and sick wards / (Viscount Enfield).

  • Edward Smith
Date:
1866
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Metropolitan workhouse infirmaries, &c. : Copy of the report of Dr. Edward Smith, Poor Law inspector and medical officer to the Poor Law Board, on the Metropolitan Workhouse infirmaries and sick wards / (Viscount Enfield). Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

    81/218 page 81
    No. of Ward. Class of Inmates, or Purpose to which Approprit ited. Floor Space Allowed to each Peraon. Cubical Space Allowed to each Person. Sup. feet. Cub. feet. 2 Male sick and infirm - - - - - - 62 549 3 Ditto - ditto - - - - - - 65 579 23 Male infirmary - - - - - - 68 545 23 Ditto 62 494 23 Male (nurses room) - - - - - - - — — 24 Ditto - ditto - - - - - - 63 422 20 Female infirmary - - - - - ) 57 458 20 Ditto - ditto * - “ J 22 Ditto - ditto - - - - - - 71 709 5 Ditto - ditto - - - - - - — — 5 Ditto - ditto - - - - - - — 31 Ditto - ditto - - - - - - 65 491 30 Ditto - ditto - - - - - - 65 552 9 Male infirmary - - - - - - 52 476 ]0 Ditto - ditto - - - - - - 47 439 11 Ditto - ditto - - - - - - — — 12 Ditto - ditto - - - - - • 39 352 12 (a) Ditto - ditto - - - - - - 44 443 13 Ditto - ditto - - - - - - 42 425 36 Ditto - ditto “ ' m “ 61 596 Hence there are nine wards in which there is not the cubical space required by the Poor Law Hoard. There are not any wards especially appropriated to acute cases ; neither are there any infectious wards, since cases of fever and small-pox are sent to the hospitals. If a case of scarlet fever were to occur it must at present be placed with ordinary cases. There are not anv separate imbecile wards, but the cases of that class, amounting to about 18, are mixed with the other inmates. There are not any convalescent day rooms. The size and general character of the sick wards vary much, but with some exceptions they are good, light, and airy. The exceptions are as follow: 1. Nos. 2 and 8, appropriated to aged and infirm males, are upon the ground floor, and have windows on one side only. They are dark, close, and somewhat repelling, and unfit for their present use. 2. The lying-in ward is divided into two parts, and is small and close. 3. No. 12 is an exceedingly long ward, and on that account does not look comfortable. 4. No. 36 is wider than is necessary. With the exception of Nos. 2 and 3, and a small room or two, there are windows on both sides of the wards. The beds and bedding throughout the workhouse are good, viz., flock beds, upon iron bedsteads, with sacking or laths. There are not any mattresses. There are not any cupboards in the wards. There are benches, with backs and cushions, and some chairs. The rugs are old looking. There are very few prints upon the walls, or illustrated periodicals and books upon the tables. The lavatories are not numerous; and the washhand basins, although clean, are dirty looking. Pottery washhand basins are provided for those who wash themselves in the wards. Water-closets are provided, and night-stools are placed in each room. There are also bath rooms. There is a separate cooking kitchen for the use of the sick and others for washing up. Every part of the wards, linen and appurtenances are kept clean ; but the linen is not of very good colour. The ventilation is defective in several of the rooms. In Nos. 2 and 3 ventilation is provided for by perforated glass in the windows, on one side of the room, and by long square wooden tubes on the other side, which run through the upper rooms to the roof. Tne air of these rooms is not fresh, but is close. The lying-in ward is ill-ventilated, and is close. Nos. 9, 10 and 11 wards did not smell fresh and sweet. In the other rooms there are large tubes passing through the ceiling, and communicating with the outer air, at the bottom of which is a gas jet. There are also some of Sir John Walsham’s tubes; and air-brick ventilators are placed near the bottom of the floors, all of which were closed. There is only one paid nurse, and she has also to perform the duties of assistant matron. One day nurse, one helper, and one night nurse, are allotted to the infirmary wards on both the men’s and women’s fide. Other nurses of a similar class are devoted to the lying-in 372. M2 wards Appendix. IIeumokesey. Size and general character. Bedding and furni- ture. Cleanliness. Ventilation; Nursing.
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3