Recorder (Port Pirie, SA : 1919 - 1954), Thursday 6 April 1922, page 1


PETERBOROUGH HOSPITAL

WELL-EQUIPPED INSTITUTION.

The •Peterborough Soldiers' Memorial 'Hospital, which was •opened by the Chief Secretary (Mr. J. G. Bice) is claimed by the committee to be the most modern in the Stale. It is at; the soulh-wesi corner of the town, on 16

acres of Ir.'/id, 1,800 ft. above sea | level, -and commands a view for miles j

in almost any direction. For 30 yearsthe residents of the district have tried to establish a suitable hospital in Peterborough, but <they were not successful until in 1913 a committee unde> the chairmanship of Dr. C. Lowlher Clarke obtained a definite promise of •assistance from the Government and raised over £500. Owiag to the war the scheme was allowed to lie dormant. In 1918 Dr. Arthur Goode took up the matter, and rapid strides were made towards the achievement of the ambition tion.

About £18,000 has been expended on the erection of the present structure. As it is a memorial of the sol-diers from this district who fought in the "Great War it will be a useful and a lasting tribute to their memory.

The building is of stone, roughcoated with e.emen'', with broad verandahs round every portion. It consists of four blocks, with the kitchen and .service block in the centre and connected with covered ways to the main

building,_ isolation block, and nurses' quarters. The walls have , rounded corners at ceilings arid skirtings, thereby leaving no harbors ror dust. Wide door windows open on (o the verandah from every room. A feature is the ventilation scheme, the whole, structure being fnigh, bright, and freely ventilated from all quarters. An up-to date electric light and powe!' service has been installed- throughout, the current being drawn from two mains. Hot-and cold water service is supplied to all parts of,the building. There arc live bath rooms and a septic tank. A well has been sunk, the water being excellent, and it is connected with a 20,000 gallon lank for irrigation pureposes, and a 2,000 gallon - tank for

sluicing in the hospital. It is so arranged that it can be used in cases of emergency {o augment the rainwater stored, or to supply Uie hospital. The rainwater service is supplied from a 50,000 gallon underground tank. In (he main building is a well-lighted operating block, consisting of theatre, preparation room, and sterilising room. An auxiliary gas plant is attached for emergency lighting of the operati-ag theatre and to provide heati for the sterilising apparatus. There are specially prepared linolite floors in that block and the isolation block. In convenient parts of the hospital -there are

numerous large linen cioscts and store cupboards. Provision has been rnacic for 4wo large wards, two small wards, and four single-bed wards, in addition to the isolation block of .four wards. The kitchen block consists of large, airy kitchen, domestics' dining room and bedrooms, and a well-ventilated cellar and pantry. The water from the kitchen is run into a patent grease :'rap and is filtered before finally passi.ig out of the trap for irrigation purposes. That trap does away with Hies and the gen civil nuisance' of waste water. Attached to the kitchen block is a well-fitted laundry, with a dupv.vcate water" service and all convenienc

es. The nurses' quarters are up-to-dat^ consisting of sitting-dining room, large •bedrooms, and all conveniences. The mortuary block and other buildings art■on suitable positions.

All the beds in the hospital are Patent hospital beds on wheels, with adjustable back rests. Each is provided with a patent bed-table on wheels, and white enamel locker. All the furniture is of white enamel. The whiteness is relieved with bright-colored rngs. The floors are of stained and polished Australian oak. Special care was taken in the selection of the crockery and cutlery with a. view to serving dainty jnd appetising meals. An English x-ray plant has ben installed at a cost or 5:500 by =the generosity of the Red Cross Society, with the aid of the Government subsidy. A multostat had been added, providing every form of eleelrje -current used In medical treatment. A laboratory has been included, and is fitted to allow of all bacteriological work being done in the

institution.

The grounds have been laid out with great care and are pleasing to l*ie eye. They have been beautified solely by the- voluntary efforts of various

members of the .committee, under the. direction of Dr Goode, and are a credit to the workers. In the 'front of the main entrance is an extensive lawn, on the north-east corner of which stands a machine-gun, presented to Peterborough as a war memorial. There are a .large orchard, of two-years growth, vegetable gardens, ornamental trees, and flower plots, all of which are Irrigated from pipes and standards. It is the desire of the committee to raise-all 'its own farm produce, and lucerne" patches are making wonderful headway. There are cow sheds, poultry runs, duck nonds, and haystacks. A kiosk ifor patients and a smoker's den has been presented to the committee, the former 'being- on the west, and the latter on the east I

side.

A light hand arid a flexible .wrist

are common; essentials Of a ,stf5cess--'< ■f.ul'professionalmeat? carver.