An enquiry into certain principles of architectural physiology / by D.O. Edwards.

  • Edwards, David Owen, 1801-1878.
Date:
[1866]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An enquiry into certain principles of architectural physiology / by D.O. Edwards. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    13/16 (page 127)
    Mr. Henry Burnell, Associate, reported to the Society, that a vomitorhm formed of a large zinc tube of a calibre equal to twice the area of the flues, according to the proportions named in Dr. Edwards’s paper, and with six round holes on each side to admit jets of air, had been erected by Mr. Callow, of Chelsea, on two houses in Alpha Place, Flood Street, Chelsea. These cottages were badly ventilated, and had chimneys of a very bad character. They are also placed near much taller houses. Since the construction of the vomitorium, their ventilation has become efficient, the grates act briskly, the smoke escapes freely, and in the rooms without fires, no down draughts occur. In Mr. Callow’s opinion, so far as the experiment goes, the success of the vomitorium is complete. The action of the side-apertures is remarkable, the air-currents let in through them impinge against the collars of the flues, and are reflected upwards, producing an exhaurient influence upon the flues, propelling the smoke upwards and outwards, and thus rendering down-draughts impossible. Mr. Jennings, Fellow, rose to propose a vote of thanks to the gentleman who had so kindly given them the paper. It was of the utmost importance that they should have every possible assistance from the medical profession, and obtain any information they could give respecting the erection of buildings, and what they considered desirable with respect to sanitory arrangements. They were, therefore, extremely obliged to Dr. Edwards for this paper. At the same, time he must state that his own views, on some of the points referred to, differed very materially from those of the author. He (Mr. Jennings) had had some little experience in respect of the question of ventilation and other sanitory considerations, in connection with military head quarters, accommodating thirty-six families, and officers’ quarters, in one building, as well as in factories, almshouses, and what were called model cottages, and he could not, at starting, agree with the idea that it was an expedient thing to adopt paved floors, and the foreign system of plaister, in preference to our English wooden floors: that this appeared to be so peculiarly a medical consideration, that he hardly liked to express an opinion that wooden floors were more healthy than paved : he had always understood paved floors to be regarded as a serious evil in rearing young children, in a cold and moist climate. In going over the City prisons he had heard the warders complain of the asphalte floor “ drawing” the feet; that was, probably, owing to the conducting powers in that material. Certainly, there was discomfort to the persons who stood upon it. Then, on the subject of ventilating the cottages of the Avorking classes, he believed the great difficulty Avas to keep the ventilation open Avhen it was provided. Those who had built cottages Avith every convenience and every appliance for the most perfect ventilation, found that the ventilation was pasted up if it Avas within the reach of the occupants. The real difficulty was not to provide a proper supply of air to the inmates, but to get them to use it when supplied. On the subject of materials for building, he thought it worthy of consideration whether hollow bricks might not be used to a much larger extent than was the case at present. He believed they would be a great means of counteracting the effects of extreme alternations of heat and cold within the dAvellings; he believed building Avails with bricks on edge, so as to make them partly hollow, tended to keep the houses so constructed Avarmer in winter, cooler in summer, and di’ier throughout the year. He had found 14-inch walls the most convenient for hollow walls, with the bricks 14 inches long, which are now specially made for this purpose. Then as to the flat roofs, he could not think there was any advantage in adopting that form. They were more expensive than the open roof, and, he believed, if proper arrangements were made, the open space between the ceiling and the roof was very useful for ventilation, and also checked any great effects of heat and cold. Of course it would be more effectual for both purposes if they put on a sheet of felt betAveen the rafters and the tiles or slates. It was extremely difficult, apart from expensive construction, to prevent the wet from getting through a flat roof: unless it Avas first-rate work it did not succeed, but, if executed in the best manner, it would not assist ventilation. Then, again, making a chamber to receive the air between two floors: he was afraid that the draught