Electrical installations in hospitals

The paper reviews the considerations which apply more particularly to hospitals than to other public buildings. For permanent work, paper-lead cable is recommended for the circuits to the fuse-boards and wiring in conduit for the subcircuits. Under-floor ducts are not recommended for hospital wiring. Suggestions are made regarding the selection of accessories and fittings. For general ward lighting a comparatively low value of horizontal illumination is recommended, with local lighting at the beds. Capacitance dimming is described. The use in the future of fluorescent lamps is discussed. The shadowless lamp for operating-table lighting is described. Precautions to be taken against explosions in operating theatres are referred to. Requirements for screening in connection with high-frequency (diathermy) apparatus necessitated by war conditions are reviewed, and the opinion is expressed that regulations for this will be continued after the war. The precautions necessary in the construction and use of apparatus for electric therapy are discussed. Developments in X-ray apparatus are mentioned, and questions of voltage-drop and shielding briefly discussed. On ultra-violet treatment, the opinion is expressed that the mercury lamp, possibly supplemented by ordinary tungsten-filament lamps, should eventually entirely displace the more expensive arc-lamp treatment, and that there is no need to aim at an artificial reproduction of sunlight. Other subjects which are dealt with briefly are infrared rays, cardiograph wiring, heating, ventilation of operating theatres, water supply pumps, cooking, refrigeration, lifts and signalling circuits.