The Construction of Hospitals for the Insane

PART I.

* Chapters 1 - 10

Chapter I
PRELIMINARY REMARKS
Chapter II
DEFINITIONS OF INSANITY
Chapter III
FREQUENCY OF INSANITY
Chapter IV
CURABILITY OF INSANITY
Chapter V
ECONOMY OF CURING INSANITY
Chapter VI
HOSPITALS THE BEST PLACES FOR TREATMENT
Chapter VII
DIFFERENT CLASSES OF HOSPITALS FOR THE INSANE
Chapter VIII
STATE PROVISION TO BE FOR ALL CLASSES
Chapter IX
THE ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENTS OF AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS FOR THE INSANE
Chapter X
FIRST STEPS TO SECURE A HOSPITAL

* Chapters 11 - 20

Chapter XI
FORM OF LAW FOR ESTABLISHING A HOSPITAL
Chapter XII
BUILDING COMMISSIONS
Chapter XIII
SELECTION OF A SITE
Chapter XIV
AMOUNT OF LAND
Chapter XV
SUPPLY OF WATER
Chapter XVI
DRAINAGE
Chapter XVII
ENCLOSURES
Chapter XVIII
PATIENTS' YARDS
Chapter XIX
IMPORTANCE OF ARCHITECTURAL ARRANGEMENTS
Chapter XX
CHARACTER OF PROPOSED PLANS

* Chapters 21 - 30

Chapter XXI
SIZE OF BUILDINGS AND NUMBER OF PATIENTS
Chapter XXII
POSITION, AND GENERAL ARRANGEMENTS OF THE BUILDING
Chapter XXIII
FORM OF BUILDING
Chapter XXIV
HEIGHT OF HOSPITALS
Chapter XXV
TEMPORARY OR WOODEN STRUCTURES
Chapter XXVI
NUMBER OF PATIENTS IN A WARD
Chapter XXVII
NATURAL VENTILATION
Chapter XXVIII
CELLARS
Chapter XXIX
MATERIALS OF WALLS
Chapter XXX
PLASTERING

* Chapters 31 - 40

Chapter XXXI
SECURITY FROM FIRE IN CONSTRUCTION
Chapter XXXII
ROOFS
Chapter XXXIII
SIZE OF ROOMS AND HEIGHT OF CEILINGS
Chapter XXXIV
FLOORS
Chapter XXXV
DOORS
Chapter XXXVI
LOCKS
Chapter XXXVII
WINDOWS AND WINDOW GUARDS
Chapter XXXVIII
INSIDE WINDOW SCREENS
Chapter XXXIX
STAIRS
Chapter XL
ASSOCIATED DORMITORIES

* Chapters 41 - 50

Chapter XLI
INFIRMARY WARDS
Chapter XLII
BATH ROOMS
Chapter XLIII
WATER CLOSETS
Chapter XLIV
WARD DRYING ROOMS
Chapter XLV
WATER PIPES
Chapter XLVI
DUST FLUES AND SOILED CLOTHES HOPPERS
Chapter XLVII
KITCHENS AND SCULLERIES
Chapter XLVIII
DUMB WAITERS AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD
Chapter XLIX
RAILROAD
Chapter L
HEATING AND VENTILATION

* Chapters 51 - 60

Chapter LI
AXIOMS ON HEATING AND VENTILATION
Chapter LII
HOT AIR AND VENTILATING FLUES
Chapter LIII
LIGHTING
Chapter LIV
PATIENTS' WORK ROOMS
Chapter LV
GENERAL COLLECTION ROOM
Chapter LVI
WASHING, DRYING, IRONING, AND BAKING
Chapter LVII
FARM BUILDINGS
Chapter LVIII
COST OF HOSPITALS FOR THE INSANE
Chapter LIX
DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES
Chapter LX
DESCRIPTION OF THE FRONTISPIECE AND ITS GROUND PLAN

More to come...

CHAPTER XXXV
DOORS.

THE door of a patient's room should be about six feet eight inches by two feet eight inches, and the frame should be well built in, and thoroughly secured to the wall. Over each door in the principal frame may be an open space, not exceeding five inches in width, which can be closed from the outside when desired, by a movable board or covered frame, or in all but the wards for excited patients, a wooden or iron sash, sixteen inches high, unglazed, but covered with wire of proper size on the inside, makes a good finish. Without the wire, the unglazed sash offers a most dangerous opportunity for suicide.

Although not absolutely necessary except in a small portion of the rooms, it will be found very convenient, to have a neat wicket, secured by a spring lock, in many, if not all of the doors of every ward, to enable the night watch to ascertain the condition of a patient with facility, without disturbing his rest, and also to give food or water, or indeed at any time to see what a patient is doing, when it might not be prudent for a single individual to enter the room. What is called a bead and butt door, well made of thoroughly seasoned timber, will probably be found one of the best kinds; and if greater security is desired for a very violent patient, a casing of boiler iron, firmly secured on the inside and neatly painted to resemble wood, will make it entirely safe; or a door, made by having the outside strips perpendicular, and those on the outside horizontal, is both cheap and very strong.

The doors may be made to open either into the rooms or into the corridors as may be thought most desirable. As the patients' chambers, however, are small, and as great annoyance and no little danger frequently result from patients barricading their doors from the inside, so as to render it almost impossible to get access to them, the plan of making the doors to open into the corridor is generally to be preferred. The only advantage resulting from the doors opening into the rooms, is that they are less likely to be forced by the efforts of patients from the inside. A good lock and two suitable bolts on the outside, however, will be found sufficient to prevent risk from this cause, except in very extraordinary cases; and in nearly all, no bolts are required. Wherever used, they should be made to move smoothly and without noise, and should not be in any way conspicuous. A plain and cheap, but very good finish on the sides of both doors and window frames is made by using bricks rounded to the proper shape, with hard plastering; and a moulding where the plaster joins the door frame effectually prevents its being knocked off.

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