Abstract
The public hospitals were general hospitals founded by the prefectural or municipal authorities not the hospitals affiliated with medical schools, company hospitals and special hospitals. The public hospitals were under various influences of the hospitals affiliated with medical schools. The three stages of development of layout and floor planning of the public hospitals are as follows ; 1) From the early age of the Meiji Era to the 20th year of Meiji Era. The public hospitals in this stage were not so large and covered all departments and hospital functions were not specialized at that time. The most typical hospitals was the Karita Public Hospitals. 2) From the 20 th year of Meiji Era to the early age of the Taisho Era The public hospitals in this stage became larger and larger and composed of specialized departments and complexed hospital functions. The typical hospital in this stage was the Sapporo Municipal hospital. 3) From the early age of the Taisho Era to before the world war II. The public hospitals in this stage were composed of specialized departments with their own facilities. Reinforced concrete buildings constructed after the Kanto Earthquake in 1923, most of which, however, were mostly intensive plan-type buildings shaped like the Japanese character-日 or 田 and had problems with respect to flow planning, sunshine, and ventilation. The typical hospital in this stage was the Yamanashi Prefectural Hospital. The Gifu Prefectural Hospital was the successful example of one of the reinforced concrete buildings.
