Dr. Sutherland's report on the outbreak of cholera, in the workhouse of the Taunton Union; and the reply of the Board of Guardians. 1849.

  • Sutherland, John, 1808-1891.
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dr. Sutherland's report on the outbreak of cholera, in the workhouse of the Taunton Union; and the reply of the Board of Guardians. 1849. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    15/24 (page 13)
    sumed the circumstance would have been brought to their notice. The occasion, however, was not seized on by the Poor Law Board, for, on the 3rd July last, they acknowledged the receipt of the hospital plans in the following terms :— “ The Board have affixed their seal to the plans in testimony of their approval thereof; but observe, that there are some details of construc¬ tion in the specification which it is desirable should be altered. They therefore send the accompanying copy of remarks by their architect, and recommend the Guardians to carry into effect the suggestions contained in them.” The following are the remarks of the Poor Law Board’s architect, on the subject of ventilation and drainage ;— “ In addition to the proposed means of ventilation it will be desirable to have an Arnott’s valve ventilator in all the sick rooms, fixed in the chimney of each room, as near the ceiling as practicable, to facilitate the escape of impure air. “ The brick drains, specified to be 12 inches square, seem much larger than requisite for the purpose ; but it will be best to use the glazed stone-ware pipe drains, which are much more efficient and durable, as well as, in general, much cheaper than brick drainil. “ The soil drains from the water closets, four inches diameter, con¬ nected with a main drain of six inches diameter, would be ample for the purpose.” These suggestions were carried into effect, and the building is now erected, and capable of supplying, as the Guardians believe, the wants of an Infirmary; but if its construction is, as Dr. Sutherland asserts—bad, and modelled on the faulty construction of the Workhouse, the Board submit that these defects, both in the original construction of the Work- house, and of its supposed copy, the Infirmary, should have been pointed out to them by the architect whom the Poor Law Board consulted, when the plans were before him. Strong remarks have likewise been made by Dr. Sutherland on the Workhouse school-rooms, which the Guardians admit are defective ; but it appears that the appropriation of that part of the building now used as a girl’s school-room (though, as the Board now believes, an injudicious appropriation) was made at the suggestion of Mr. Kempthorne, the ar¬ chitect, who writes thus . “ The alterations proposed by the committee, as to the childrens’ school-rooms, may be easily effected, and at a small expense, viz., pro¬ viding the school-rooms in the present work-rooms in each yard, the pre¬ sent relief stores in boys’ yard will answer well for a boys’ work-shed, and is not likely to be wanted for its original purpose. The room over the dining-hall will then be used in part (as before) for the boys’ bed-room; but a large part will be unappropriated, and may be used for any future purpose.” In connection with this subject, the Guardians have nothing further to add, than that having availed themselves of the best information within their reach of the requiremeriis of Workhouse accommodation, and having, with the approbation of the Poor Law Commissioners, erected at a cost of about £8,700 their Workhouse buildings, on a scale, as they believed, commensurate with the wants of the Union, and with suitable provisions for the health of the inmates, they feel that, assuming the correctness of