Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/587

 1869.] Hospital Construction. 477 windows, light being as necessary to health as is ventilation. Staircases should be wide, with a double return ; and the stair-chamber should be so arranged, as to shut out effectually all noise from the wards. Dumb-waiters and lifts should abound and one of the latter, centrally located, be provided, for the easy conveyance of the sick, from the first floor to that where their appointed ward is to be. The site is, however, the prime idea to be kept in view. It must be out of the way of all malaria, and on as ele- vated a position as circumstances will admit of. Ample space must be secured, as cities are so apt to become crowded, that the structure, which has been erected in an originally open and very airy location, as in the case of the New York City Hospital, is but too apt to be crowded up, to a degree depriving it of its sanitary character, and inducing the necessity of its removal. Ample grounds should alwaj'S sur- round hospitals, so as to perfectly insu- late the building, in all future time ; and not alone merely insulate it, but keep it completely out of the possible propin- quity of unwholesome influences. As to the interior arrangements, or " cutting up," as it is technically termed, we will not presume to dictate to our professional brethren, that being their peculiar care, in the case of designing such works. We would, however, urge the avoidance of the doctrine of econ- omy, where its introduction might mili- tate against the interest of sanitary science. On this point, Dr. John Jones, the medical adviser of Washington, in the days of the Revolution, writes : — " A false economy has universally pre- vailed in the structure of hospitals for the sick ; for those that have hitherto had a principal direction, both in the archi- tecture and management of them, have confined their views entirely to objects of convenience, cheapness, and ornament. "In short," he says, " the physician and architect have, generally, two very opposite and incompatible views ; the latter laying out his plan, so as to con- tain the greatest number of persons in the least possible space ; whereas the former always aims at having the utmost room, which is consistent with use and convenience." We hope, that the remarks of the doctor do not apply in our day in any case. We know that, in our great cities, the designs in general, and the details in particular, are keenly criticised; so that our hospital structures are as near to perfection as the existing knowledge of the require- ments of such institutions will admit. Brickmaking in Austria. — One of the most remarkable brick manufactories in any country is that of Alois Mies- bach, in the Austrian dominions ; or, rather, there are several belonging to the same person. He sent over an assortment of bricks, draining-tiles, roofing-tiles, and hollow-bricks made hy machinery to the Great Exhibition in London ; and the following account was then given of his manufacturing enter- prises. He has seven establishments in various parts of Austria and Hungary, giving direct employment to 4,880 per- sons. His brick manufactory at Inzers- dorf, on the Wienen Berg, is said to be the largest in the world. It covers an area of 265 English acres ; while 680 acres of clay land have also been pur- chased, in oi'der to secure excellent materials for a long period. There are diying sheds, 24,930 feet in aggregate length, for ordinary bricks ; moulding sheds 8,304 feet long for tiles and orna- mental bricks ; 446 moulding benches, 43 kilns capable of burning 3,510,000 bricks at one time, 5 Artesian wells, washing and kneading pits, blacksmith and carpenter shops, and tool shops. There are emplo3'ed in this one manufac- tory 2,890 persons, and 300 horses. The establishment also comprises schools for the children, dwellings for the workmen, a hospital, and public kitchens.