The life of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Civil Engineer Part 52

The condition of portability requiring that the walls and roofs should be of the thinnest and slightest possible construction, protection against heat has been provided for in the manner before referred to, and good ventilation secured by mechanical means. But, in addition to this, there is a very simple provision made for pa.s.sing the air over a considerable extent of water surface; which would not only cool it, but diminish the effect of excessive dryness, which is said to be occasionally in this climate more oppressive than even the temperature.

As the s.p.a.ce in the wards is very liable to be encroached upon, and the beds crowded, portable baths have been designed, into which the more helpless patients can be lifted, and lowered, on a frame or sack, without requiring s.p.a.ce for a.s.sistants to stand around, or with the bath placed only at the foot of the bed.

The kitchen and laundry have each required many special contrivances.

The instructions given to Mr. Brunton, the engineer, who has been sent out for the purpose of erecting these buildings, are, to commence by determining on his plan of arrangement to suit the peculiarities of the ground, and then to construct the complete system of drainage and to lay on the water supply before the buildings are rendered capable of receiving patients; and all the arrangements of the details are designed with the view of obtaining, as the first conditions, a perfect system of drainage, a good supply of water, free ventilation, and the most perfect cleanliness, quite independent of labour and of the continued attention of a.s.sistants; these conditions being a.s.sumed as essentials, preceding even the mere covering in of s.p.a.ce and providing shelter for patients.

The cost of these buildings, delivered ready for s.h.i.+pment, will be from 18_l._ to 22_l._ per bed, allowing 1,000 cubic feet of s.p.a.ce in each ward-room to each bed. If pressing emergency should lead to the beds being placed closer, and fifty per cent. more patients should be introduced, it is believed that the perfect system of ventilation which is secured would render these hospitals very superior to any now in use for the army.

Of the cost above named, about 12_l._ per bed is that due to the ward-rooms themselves, with all their conveniences attached, and the rest arises from the cost of the store-rooms, kitchen, machinery, residences, and appurtenances.

The cargo s.p.a.ce required for their conveyance is about a ton and a half to a ton and three-quarters measurement per bed.

As the buildings were completed the work of transport was commenced; and twenty-three steamers and sailing-vessels were despatched, containing altogether about 11,500 tons measurement of materials and stores. The first vessel arrived out on May 7, 1855, and the last on December 5, in the same year.

Meanwhile the important question of the site for the hospital buildings was being determined by Dr. Parkes, the Medical Superintendent, with the a.s.sistance of Mr. Brunton, who was in constant communication with Mr.

Brunel on the subject.

After visiting various places, Dr. Parkes finally selected a spot near the village of Renkioi, on the Dardanelles. In a report which he addressed to the Secretary of State for War upon the formation and general management of the hospital, he thus describes 'the nature of the site, and the means which were used in the formation of the hospital:'--

The piece of land on which the hospital was placed was a shelving bank of a light, porous, sandy soil, resting on marl; it contained about 270 acres, stretched tongue-like into the waters of the Dardanelles, and was bounded inland by a low range of sandstone hills, which were themselves backed by rather lofty ranges of oolitic limestone, intersected by deep ravines. The tongue of land formed two bays, north and south, in both of which was good anchorage for s.h.i.+ps, and as the wind blew almost always up or down the Dardanelles, i.e. from the north-east or south-west, one or other of these bays was comparatively calm in all winds except those which came infrequently from the west.

The position of the spot was on the Asiatic coast, nine miles from the mouth of the Dardanelles, in lat. 40 2', long. 26 21'. It was the site of the port of an old Greek city, the ancient Ophrynium.

The extreme point of this tongue of land was about 10 feet above the sea, but from this point it rose regularly and gradually to about 100 feet above the sea. An admirable fall was thus given for drainage, and so gradual was the rise that the wooden houses were placed on the ground without terracing or excavation, whereby very great expense was saved. The extreme length from the point to a spot too steep for the erection of houses was about half a mile, and we were enabled thus to place down the centre of the tongue of land no less than thirty-four houses, capable of holding 1,500 sick, in one long line on either side of the central corridor, an arrangement which facilitated very greatly the laying of both water-pipes and drain-tubes. In fact, we were able to carry out the plan which Mr. Brunel had suggested as the best.

There was enough s.p.a.ce on the tongue of land, on either side of this long central line, for two shorter parallel lines of seventeen houses each. These two lines were placed one to the north, and the other to the south of the large central hospital. Each was capable of containing 750 men, and one of them to the north was nearly completed when the declaration of peace put a stop to the works.

On the sides of the hills in rear were numerous small springs of excellent water, which were collected together and conveyed in earthenware pipes to a large reservoir, placed by Mr. Brunton 70 feet above the highest house, which was itself about 60 feet above the sea. From this reservoir the water was carried in iron pipes down the centre of the long corridor, and at every ward (which was placed at intervals at either side of the corridor) a leaden service-pipe came off, and led an abundant and never-ceasing supply into the ward cisterns, which supplied the baths, lavatories, and closets. By this arrangement all necessity for pumping water was avoided, and the sewers were able to be flushed very perfectly.

The lavatories and closets were placed at the ends of the wards most remote from the corridor, and immediately outside them ran the two main sewers, which at their sea terminations were carried some distance into the Dardanelles.

The plan of the hospital may be at once understood by imagining a covered way, open at the sides, and 22 feet wide, running nearly east and west, and reaching for a length of more than a third of a mile, on either side of which stood, at intervals of 27 feet on the south side, and in most cases 94 feet on the north, the thirty-four houses, each of which, as already said, was 100 feet long, 40 feet wide, 12 feet high at the eaves, and 25 in the centre, and was capable of containing fifty patients, with an allowance of nearly 1,300 cubic feet of air for each man. Some portion of this s.p.a.ce was occupied by the closets and some small rooms used as orderlies'

and bath-rooms. Thirty of these houses were used as wards; four were used as dispensaries and purveyor's stores. A drawing by Mr.

Brunton, showing the arrangements of one of the wards, is attached.[189]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 22. RENKIOI HOSPITAL.

WARD BUILDING.

A. Corridor B. Ward room C. Orderlies' bed-room D. Bath-room E. Medical officer F. Lavatory, &c.

_g._ Ventilating fan _h._ Ventilating air-trunk _i._ Main drain _j._ Tables in wards

_Transverse Section._

_Longitudinal Section._

_Ground plan._

_Scale of feet._]

To the south of each division of ten houses was placed an iron kitchen, which afforded the necessary accommodation for preparing 500 diets.

At the inland extremity of the corridor were placed two iron laundries, the water from which (some 4,000 gallons daily) was pa.s.sed into the sewers. Beyond the laundries were placed on either side the wooden houses of the medical and other officers, who were thus able to see down either side of this long line, and to preserve to a certain extent surveillance over the patients.

The two smaller hospitals were constructed on a similar plan, each range having, however, only one iron laundry inland, and one iron kitchen in the centre of the range.

About half a mile from the hospital, close to the sea in the south bay, three store-houses were erected, and a railway led from an adjacent jetty or pier by the side of these store-houses to the centre of the main hospital. Had the war continued, it would have been carried to the north pier and bay, and would also have had a branch running along the corridor of each hospital, so as to deposit the sick at the very doors of the wards into which they were to go.

Nothing could exceed the simplicity of the whole arrangement; it was a repet.i.tion of similar parts throughout; and experience enables me to say, that nothing could be better adapted for a hospital than this system of isolated buildings, between every one of which was a large body of moving air, rendering ventilation easy, and communication of disease from ward to ward impossible.

The introduction of the covered way connecting the various houses was a happy idea. In the summer this corridor was left quite open at the sides, and formed a cool walk for the convalescents; while in winter we boarded up its north side, so that in the coldest blasts of the northern wind the men were protected, and were able to leave their wards and to take exercise. I need only further observe that, in order to secure perfect ventilation, not only were openings left under the eaves and in the gables of the buildings (which could be closed in cold weather), but air-shafts were placed under the floors through which 1,000 cubic feet of air per minute could be forced into the wards by fans placed in the corridor and worked by hand [see fig. 22]. As the amount of wind at Renkioi was always considerable, we never had occasion to use these machines; but had the hospital been placed in a less airy situation, they would have been of the greatest use.

For the construction of this hospital every necessary part was sent out by Mr. Brunel. The houses were erected with great care by Mr.

Brunton, a.s.sisted by Mr. Ea.s.sie, jun., and by eighteen English workmen (thirteen carpenters, one pipelayer, three plumbers, and one smith) sent out for this purpose. On account of the size and height of the houses (which were many times the size of the largest Crimean huts), the framework was obliged to be put together very carefully, and Mr. Brunton felt it necessary to employ none but the English workmen on this duty; consequently the erection of the houses took much longer time than we originally antic.i.p.ated; but during the winter we had reason to be satisfied that Mr. Brunton had done wisely, for, in spite of the heavy winds we often had, no finished house was ever damaged, except in one or two instances to a very slight amount.

The erection of the houses was commenced on May 21, 1855. On July 12, I reported the hospital ready for 300 sick; on August 11, it was ready for 500, and on December 4, for 1,000 sick. By January 1856, viz. seven months after its commencement, it was ready for 1,500 sick; and when the works were discontinued, at the end of March 1856, we could, with a little pressure, have admitted 2,200 patients. In about three months more this immense establishment for 3,000 sick could have been finished and in full activity.

On the working of the system, Dr. Parkes says in his report:--

Although the hospital was ready for 300 patients on July 12, 1855, we were not called on to receive sick till October 2. From that time till February 11, eleven s.h.i.+ps arrived from Balaclava and Smyrna.... After February 11, 1856, we received no more sick. The total number of military patients who were received from these s.h.i.+ps was 1,244, and, in addition, 87 soldiers were admitted, either from the guard at Renkioi or Abydos, from transport s.h.i.+ps which touched at Renkioi, or from the English soldiers attached to the Osmanli Horse stationed at the town of Dardanelles during the summer and autumn.

The total number of admissions was 1,331--

Cured 961 Invalided 320 Deaths 50

Besides the military patients, we admitted 77 civilians.... The total number of patients actually treated was 1,408, the largest number at any one time 642....

The antic.i.p.ations we had formed of the health of the spot and of its adaptability for a hospital were quite confirmed by the experience of more than a year. The winter was mild, and the climate seemed especially adapted for pulmonary complaints, of which we had a large number. The changes of temperature, it is true, were very sudden and great; but as the men had warm wards, these changes were not felt, and there were few days in which the most delicate consumptive patient could not get out into the sheltered corridor for a short time during the day. The construction of the hospital was admirably adapted for men recovering from illness. As all the wards were on the ground, as soon as a man could crawl he could get into the air either in the cool and sheltered corridor or in the s.p.a.ces round the hospital.

In April and May 1856 the greater number of the patients had been either discharged or invalided home, and ... the medical and nursing staff was reduced more than one-half, and ... in the middle of July the remaining staff was sent home.

All the stores which were likely to be used or to sell well in England were sent home, and everything else was sold on the ground.

Major Chads, with twenty soldiers, and Mr. Brunton remained behind, to superintend the sale of the buildings, which took place on September 20.

CHAPTER XVI.

_MR. BRUNEL'S PROFESSIONAL OPINIONS AND PRACTICE._

SCHEME OF THE CHAPTER--MR. BRUNEL'S POSITION IN RELATION TO THE COMPANIES OF WHICH HE WAS ENGINEER--LETTER ON THE DIRECTION OF RAILWAY WORKS IN ITALY (MARCH 4, 1845)--LETTER ON THE POSITION OF JOINT ENGINEER (OCTOBER 16, 1843)--LETTER ON THE POSITION OF CONSULTING ENGINEER (DECEMBER 30, 1851)--LETTER ON THE POSITION OF THE ENGINEER IN RELATION TO THE CONTRACTORS (MAY 26, 1854)--LETTERS ON THE POSITION OF THE ENGINEER IN RELATION TO THE DIRECTORS (APRIL 15, 1850; DECEMBER 6, 1851; JANUARY 22, 1857)--MR. BRUNEL'S a.s.sISTANTS--LETTERS ON INTERFERENCE OF DIRECTORS WITH THE a.s.sISTANT ENGINEERS (JANUARY 19, 1842; JANUARY 28, 1842; JANUARY 12, 1851)--MR. BRUNEL'S PUPILS--HIS RELATIONS WITH OTHER ENGINEERS--INVENTORS--LETTER IN REPLY TO AN INVENTOR (SEPTEMBER 17, 1847)--MR. BRUNEL'S VIEWS AS TO STATE INTERFERENCE--LETTER ON THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON THE APPLICATION OF IRON TO RAILWAY STRUCTURES (MARCH 13, 1848)--LETTER ON A PROPOSAL TO OBTAIN THE RECOGNITION IN ENGLAND OF DECORATIONS CONFERRED AT THE PARIS EXHIBITION OF 1855 (FEBRUARY 9, 1856)--MR. BRUNEL'S OPINION ON THE PATENT LAWS--MEMORANDUM FOR EVIDENCE BEFORE THE SELECT COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS ON THE PATENT LAWS, 1851--EXTRACT FROM OBSERVATIONS ON THE PATENT LAWS, MADE BY MR. BRUNEL AT A MEETING OF THE SOCIETY OF ARTS (MARCH 26, 1856).

It is proposed in the earlier part of this chapter to describe, princ.i.p.ally by extracts from Mr. Brunel's correspondence, the position occupied by him in regard to the Companies which he served, and to the various cla.s.ses of persons with whom he acted in the discharge of his duties as engineer to those Companies. These selections are followed by extracts relating to questions of general professional interest.