Twenty-fourth annual report of the trustees of the State Lunatic Hospital, at Worcester. December, 1856.
- State Lunatic Hospital at Worcester
- Date:
- 1857
Licence: In copyright
Credit: Twenty-fourth annual report of the trustees of the State Lunatic Hospital, at Worcester. December, 1856. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![1857.] The great difficulties which seemed almost impossible to re¬ move within any reasonable expense, related to the mode of heating and ventilating the buildings. The various wards were so low studded, being only about eight feet in the clear; the construction of the hot-air furnaces were such, and the hot-air flues so contracted, and the ducts or passage ways for conveying away the foul air, were so small, that to secure an economical and safe mode of meeting with an efficient ventilation, would, in the opinion of competent judges, as well as in the opinion of the Trustees, have required an almost entire change in the internal arrangement of the build¬ ing, unless some different mode of warming and ventilation could be resorted to than that which had been generally in use in such buildings. While the Trustees of 1855 were encountering these difficul¬ ties, their attention was called to a mode of warming and ven¬ tilation, which had been recently adopted at the asylum for the insane at Utica, in the State of New York. The Trustees also acknowledge their indebtedness to John Wright, Esq., of Lowell, for many valuable suggestions, and under whose direction and that of one of their own number, (Mr. W. T. Merrifield,) the work has now been carried to a successful termination. After mature consideration of the plan adopted at Utica, and of the suggestions of Messrs. Wright and Merrifield, the Trus¬ tees of 1855 determined to adopt it, and immediately com¬ menced the work. This has now been completed, and, in the opinion of the Trustees, with entire success. The plan consists in the use of steam for the purpose of heat¬ ing. A general description of it may here appropriately be given, referring, however, to the report of the Superintendent for a more detailed and minute description of it in its various parts. Four large steam boilers are placed outside the main build¬ ings, at a distance of about 120 feet. Between the boilers and the main building is constructed a large air chamber under ground, which is filled with steam-pipes. From this chamber proceeds a spacious passage way to the cellar, and through the cellar under the main building and all its wings. This passage way is so constructed in the cellar as to embrace within it all 2](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30304751_0009.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
