Post by Lady Aislin Creed of Eohmark on Mar 28, 2009 0:04:08 GMT -6
The Infirmary is a place of learning medicine and medical practice. White stone makes up the skeleton of this very large building, holding four different wings and a large center within. When one first approaches the building, they will note the bell that hangs soundlessly in a small tower, centered in the middle of the building and raising up higher then the roof to stand out. This is the warning of illness, war and mass death to the rest of the city. Pray it does not ring often. Double thick, wooden doors with iron laced and hammered in give it that extra protection against trespassers stand at the front. Once inside, the boot covered feet will make soft noises against the slate that covers the floor in pieces that are fit firmly together, making them easy to clean, scrub and treat. The inner walls of the building have been chiseled and smoothed down for much of the same purpose. There are no pictures to hang on the wall, though every now and then someone has been known to sneak in a religious symbol and hang it upon the wall to give hope to those who praise the Gods. The main hall lays within those first few moments after entering. To the right, a hall way that can fit four men walking side by side comfortably, leads to the East wing. To the left, a hallway much the same as the east, lies the West wing. Towards the back wall opposite of the front, lies a door and beyond that, the North, North west and North east wing which complete a circle that goes straight to the north once more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Main Hall: Upon entering the main hall, you will walk directly into the most active place in the whole building. Cots, made from thick oak wood, sheep's wool for stuffing and sheets line in perfect rows along the hallway, giving enough room for two men to walk side by side so that there is space to maneuver. Down the middle, a walk way for five men to walk side by side, is left without cots to block the way in case more seriously wounded need to be rushed inside. This area is where those with mild wounds and colds are treated. It may be gruesome to see open gashes upon a man's chest or back, when all you have came in for was some herbs for a cough, but this is life. The hall is filled with healers and attendants, normally switching between one victim or another. There are always people walking about that could be stopped and asked for help. Attendants generally stick near the door during busy times, waiting for others to enter and help them to a cot to be seated and wait to be seen. No less then ten healers work each side every day, all day. Fires are kept lit, more so during the colder seasons to prevent farther sickness for those that are ill. Privacy is very limited, though a time or two, attendants have been known to stand around a bed side, holding up sheets to give what privacy they can to those who are more modest. The hall itself is scrubbed down with herbs and boiling water every four hours to keep any blood from drying too deeply into the slate covered floor and smells of illness at bay.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
North Wing: A place of learning, meetings and studies. The wing consist of four, grand rooms and a few smaller ones. While much of the learning is held on the field and by shadowing their heads during live duties, the needs to learn in a less stressful environment can be found within these rooms.
Study Room - This is the largest room in the entire wing. Consisting of several long, oak tables and chairs, they line the front of the room, all facing the same way so that the teacher of the class will be in the front view. Here is where each station will have classes held at. The teacher's are always heads of the fields, or council members. Those working within the infirmary become better students of their field, learn to read and write here and are made aware of updated information such as new healing techniques, new herbal or other medicines that are available for use and how to use them. Generally, these are more book based teachings held here.
Visual Study - This is a place of learning for the Physicians & Surgeons. More hands on and visual learning tends to happen here. A long table and few chairs are held within the medium sized room. Many windows are placed higher up, leaving the light of day able to shine in, but no one able to look within the room or out to get distracted. Human dumbies made of straw, sticks, leather and mud are kept in here for physicans to physically learn how to amputate limbs, sow severe wounds, attatch limbs back on and what to look for when attending a victim.
Library - The last door lies at the end of the hall way, heavy with iron and steel though always unlocked, yet never left open. Inside, the library can be found. Open for use of all stations, including attendants to learn and study for advancement. Personally gain is generally done here on the student's own time.
Council Rooms - The small rooms that can be found between each of the larger ones, is where the council members of each field can be found. Private studies or quarters are labeled with an iron or steel, flat plate holding their names upon it and nailed into the heavy wooden doors. Among them are and in order from the beginning to the end of the hallway are: William Bishop (Council Attendant), Henry Smithson (Council Healer), Dina Richards (Council Healer), Mary-Ann Lanita (Council Midwife), Robert Ingman (Council Herbalist), Ronda Livingstine (Council Field Physican), Winston Temit (Council Physican) and Aislin Creed (Council and Infirmary over seer/head). [/ul]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
North East Wing: medical/undecided
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
North West Wing: Under the churches influence, this wing is dedicated to those who work within the building. Many small rooms line the right and left of this wing where those without a home or family may stay, those who need rest from a long day's work may find some sleep for a short time, or a place to escape the pressures of life and death. Each private room holds within a cot, desk, small shelf for books, blankets and personal affects of the said person and a small area for a private fire. Simple living, which no one seems to mind. Most of the attendants without families can be found taking up the rooms, along with healers and herbalist who are completely taken over by their duties and need to learn all day and night. Men and women alike are allowed within these halls, though only those who work within the Infirmary are allowed access here for safety reasons.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
North East/West Hallway: A long stretch and slightly curved hallway, which is opened by massive columns so that those who walk the hall can find some sense of comfort, as the view contains etched stone on one side and a open view of the garden on the other. This hallway leads from the North East wing, to the North West wing, or the other way around. Generally, the only people who can be found walking this hallway are those who work within the building itself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
East Wing: The doors to this wing are always kept closed. Screams echo down the hallways as mothers-to-be bring forth the life they have held within their bodies for the past few months. Mothers in labor and who were able to reach the Infirmary to deliver, are taken here so they are kept away from illness and other gruesome sights that could add stress. More colorful and filled with hope, this wing has also earned the nickname of ' wing of life '. Birthing beds are made of the simplest form of cots, and after the women have had their children, they are cared for and moved to more comfortable accommodations to heal and care for their new born child/children. A nursery is also found here, where orphanages may come and care or collect unexpected (unwanted) children.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
West Wing: After entering the large, double doors, you will come face to face with the longest hallway in the entire Infirmary. All of a six to ten minute walk to the next wing, provides better separation. This wing has need of it, for it holds victims of serious trauma and illness that could possibly spread or are otherwise incurable. Labeled the "Death Wing", those who enter here have a fifty/fifty chance of coming out alive. Only the most skilled are allowed here. Attendants are advised to wear cloth over their face and leather gloves over their hands when cleaning this area. Anything from here is to be burned immediately and not reused.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Spice House: The Infirmary of Turas Lan is best known for it's private 'spice house'. Herbalist grow their spices here, much like a green house. A little larger then a 'wing' area and with many rooms sectioned off, it can hold a great deal of plants within. With solid walls of stone, mud and straw, along with a constant and controlled fire place, even in the winter, the house grows a variety of spices that would other wise be hard to find. Each plant is labeled correctly, though all herbalist known what the spice and plant they are looking for look like in natural form (before it has been dried and grated). Healing plants are not the only thing that can be grown within. In a separate, smaller section of the building, many plants that are harmful can be found growing as well, for sometimes they are used to counter venoms and poisons. Only herbalist and council members are allowed within the spice house, which is guarded by two men at all times.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gardens: The garden is filled with a variety of plants, flowers of color and herbs for scents such as lavender and jasmine. The sight alone is a gift, giving hope were it may have been lost during the time of healing. It is also a area where all those in the infirmary can roam freely and on their own. A small walk way through a pond gives those within a chance to feed the ducks and relax with simple comfort. During the winter seasons, statues of children, religious figures, knights of old, fountains frozen in their design and grands trees cover the area to make up for the lose of color.[/font]
