Document emQ76O894j1gDMJErQBqaqJVp
jxOtC` More and more, hospital authorities are using
v * color instead of white in decorating interiors.
With that in mind this article and the others in the series were written. The previous articles dealt with red, yellow
and gray. Those in succeeding issues will discuss blue and
green. These articles are by M. Rea Paul, consulting colorist
of National Lead Company.
Blinding ... Cheerle
WHIT
Color is gaining ground rapidly in
o s p it a l interiors
H are losing their "in
stitutional look." They
hospital interiors, lending a feeling ofsoftness and warmth to walls, wood
sidered a separate prob lem. The interiors of your hospital may necessitate
are creating a cheering, work and ceilings where once only lighter or darker tints or
restful effect on patients, visitors and. hospital staff
cold, dazzling white was ever present.
shades than similar inte riors in another. The colors
alike. The reason is that
you should use can be de
in many hospitals the traditional
cided on only after consideration of
white is no longer used on walls, woodwork,, and ceilings.
The case against white
the illumination, exposure, t he size of the room and the use to which
Physicians, surgeons, superin tendents and architects have all had a hand in banning white fin
ishes. They have proved that .white is cold and cheerless--a negative
THE followingquotations are reprinted from articles on the subject of white vs. color. Ifyou desire to read the complete articles, we can refer you to the sources from which these thoughts were taken. For further information regarding use of color in hospitals, address our Department ofDecoration in care ofour nearest branch.
the room is put. You can with no expense obtain
the cooperation of our Department of Decoration in selectingthe proper colors for any room in your hospital
influence on the minds of patients.
or for the entire building. The spe
They have learned that certain colors have a stimulating effect on jaded, depressed minds, while others have a quieting, soothing influence on excited, unstrung nervous systems. Thus, the proper
general. Different shades of gray greensor warm grays, all wiehoutrioss or lustre, are being used extensively. There is a rever sion from having everything in the wards
white and without ornamentation . . . Now a more sensible view prevails that tends to colors which are more pleasing and restful to the patient and do not lower the standards of cleanliness and sanitation."
cialists in this department have made a study of hospital decoration and the therapeutic value attrib uted to color. They are working today with hospital administration boards, superintendents and archi
colors are.positive aids to recovery,
tects on the subject, preparing
especially during the convalescent period.
This belief that white should not
be employed in hospital interiors is growing constantly. Hospital au thorities find that the use of tints does not lower standards of cleanli ness and sanitation. Neither does it lower the standard of durability
and washabtlity. Paint made of Dutch Boy white-lead and Dutch
is givin,
..
-------
n the brilliant white tiles of the
operating room having been replaced by
. dull light gray in the newer hospital insti
tutions .... Next to white, light tan o t
buff, cream, light blue, light gray and light
olive green have the highest reflection fac
tor and at the same time are colors that
are not likely to cause eye fatigue. Even
in the operating rooms, the absence of
white is conspicuous. It has been found
that the operating surgeons and attend
ants are annoyed by eye strain and their
eyes become tired when working in rooms
finished with highly glazed white tile where
white, glossy equipment is used. All the
cables, chairs, cabinets and otherequipment
are painted a dull gray in numerous in
stances, instead of the usual white enamel.*'
paint specifications, paint formulas and actual color samples.
More than 200 hospitals through out the country are successfully using the color treatments recom. mended by this department. I f you wish further information regarding the service that this de partment can renderyou,
write to the Department of Decoration in care of
Boy flatting oil is durable and wash
our nearest branch.
able to the extreme. It is easily tinted to desired colors by very small additions of tinting colors.
''Each ward contains eighteen beds, and all beds and furniture in all parts of the hospital are brown instead of white. This relieves the dismal tombstone look which
is so prominent in some hospitals."
NATIONAL LEAD COMPANY
We can help you select color treatments
The question of what colors to use
in your hospital is not easy to decide. Every room should be con
New York, l ll Broadway; Boston, ;jl Scale Street;
Buffalo, 116 Oak Street; Chicago, 900 \V. 18th Street;
Cincinnati, 659 Freeman Avenue; Cleveland, 320 W. Superior Avenue; St. Louis, 722 Chestnut Street; San Francisco, 489 California Street; Pittsburgh. National Lead (e Oil Co. of Pa., } 16 Fourth Avenue; Philadel phia, John T. Lewis ft Bros. Co., 437 Chestnut Street.
This advertisement appears in the following publication:-- Page Modern Hospital--April