 Maternal
deaths due to obstetric complications and
puerperal fever were frequent occurrences
in the nineteenth century. Semmelweis in
Vienna in 1850 had demonstrated that careful
cleansing of hands and instruments could
reduce the death rate due to maternal infections
in a public hospital. These observations
were not widely endorsed. However by the
latter part of the nineteenth century when
the germ theory of infection was recognized,
the need for isolation, asepsis and antisepsis
to prevent maternal infections was acknowledged.
In view of the increasing number of maternity
patients and their particular needs, the
hospital Board proposed a new building for
women. A bequest of $23,000 from the estate
of Michael Doran provided for the Doran
Building which was officially opened in
February 1894.
The Doran Building was a two-storey limestone
structure. The main entrance was on the
north end with a facade in keeping with
the Main building. The building was an example
of a pavilion hospital, long and narrow
to promote ventilation. The interior finishes
were designed to provide a clean environment.
The building was self-contained with its
own heating and kitchens to ensure separation
of the patients. There were separate wards
for maternity cases and women's disease
as well as five single rooms. The operating
room was equipped to provide for the expanding
role of gynaecologic surgery.
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Outstanding care, always.
