74

EXPOSITION  AT  VIENNA.

the  plain  miglazed  tiles  are  to  be  preferred  for  pavements.

Besides  the  use  of  the  glazed  and  enamelled  tiles  in
mural  decoration  for  dados,  panels,  etc.,  they  are  especially
  applicable,  and  are  largely  used  abroad,  for  lining
the  walls  of  dairies  (the  dairy  farmers  finding  them  Superior ­
  for  cleanliness  and  keeping  the  milk  pure),  for  larders,
kitchens,  around  sinks  and  cooking-ranges,  in  bath-rooms,
water-closets,  and  in  stables.  For  such  places  the  six-inch
plain  white  glazed  tile  is  in  general  use.  Another  very
important  application  of  wall-tile  is  in  hospitals,  for  completely
  lining  the  walls  of  wards  for  fever  patients.  The
new  St.  Thomas  hospitals  (erected  in  London  opposite  the
Houses  of  Parliament)  have  the  fever  wards  lined  with  sixinch
  white  glazed  tiles,  which,  it  is  believed,  will  prevent
the  absorption  of  the  germs  of  disease  which  it  is  wellknown
  penetrate  porous  plaster  walls,  and  are  even
absorbed  by  bricks,  so  that  after  a  time  whole  wards  of
hospitals  and  entire  buildings  become  unfit  for  occupation.
The  same  is  true  of  rooms  in  dwellings,  hotels,  and  dormitories
  in  Colleges.  An  impervious  tile-wall,  which  can  be
thoroughly  cleaned  by  wiping  with  a  sponge,  is  a  great
sanitary  improvement,  and  deserves  the  attention  of  physicians ­
  and  architects.  A  thoroughly  vitrified  body  like  porcelain,
  would  be  better  for  the  purposo  than  a  porous
earthenware  base  with  a  glazed  surface,  though  the  latter
would,  no  doubt,  be  far  better  than  even  the  hardest
painted  plaster  wall.
Another  important  use  of  the  plain  white  glazed,  or
enamelled  tiles,  is  as  reflectors  in  lining  dark  passages,
staircases  and  entrances,  especially  in  basements,  or  wherever
  there.  is  liability  to  dampness  or  a  smoky  atmosphere.
They  are  largely  used  about  the  stations  of  the  uuderground
  railway  in  London,  particularly  around  the  windowopenings,
  or  wherever  light  is  admitted  through  tliick  walls.
Most  of  the  lavatories  and  retiring-rooms  of  the  railway
stations  in  England,  and  on  the  Continent,  are  lined  with
white  glazed  tiles.
Encaustic  tiles  may  also  be  either  with  or  without  a
glaze.  In  this  dass  the  design  upon  the  tile  is  not  merely