[Almindeligt Hospital -- a large and considerable building]

In the year 1769 a newly erected big public institution was inaugurated in Copenhagen. It was built to accommodate 700 paupers. 200 out of these, who were unable to look after themselves, were given full board, while the others had to pay for their meals out of money they gained by doing the odd jobs in or outside the institution. A small infirmary of 16 beds had in 1790 grown to 154 beds and in 1807 to more than 400. In addition to the care of patients with chronic diseases, the public treatment of syphilis and scabies now had to be attended to. In 1808 the infirmary was divided into two units, one medical and one surgical. It was not until 1855 that a department for venerea and skin diseases was established. In 1845 1500 persons lived in the buildings: 110 employees, 1074 paupers and 316 patients. These packed crowds and bad sanitary conditions led to disaster when the cholera epidemic broke out in 1853. Consequently the Copenhagen Municipal Hospital was built and in 1863 most of the patients from the institution were transferred to this hospital. Nevertheless, in 1890, 1700 paupers and disabled patients still remained in the crowded old buildings. In 1892 it was decided that the entire institution whould move to new premises in Nørre Alle, the present Old Peoples Home. The following year the old buildings were demolished.