PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF RIO DE JANEIRO. 469 
Let us see what it is now. On the same spot, though occu- 
pying a much larger space, stands the present hospital. 
When completed, it will consist of three parallel buildings, 
long in proportion to their breadth, connected by cross cor- 
ridors enclosing courts between them. The central edifice, 
intended for male patients, has been long in use. The front 
building, looking on the bay, is nearly completed, and is to 
be devoted to the stores, to accommodations for hospital 
physicians, nurses, &c. The rear building, not yet begun, 
will be for the use of women and children, who now occupy 
the old hospital. Let us look first at the central division. 
We enter a spacious hall tiled with marble. A smaller 
hall, leading out of it, connects with one or two reception- 
rooms, where visitors are received, and medicines given 
out gratis to poor applicants. A broad staircase of dark 
wood brings us to the wide corridors, on which the wards 
open, and which look out upon green gardens enclosed 
between the buildings, where convalescents may be seen 
strolling about, or resting in the shade. At the first 
ward we are received by a Sister of Charity, who, in the 
absence of the Superior, is to show us the establishment. 
A description of one ward will answer for all, since they 
are identical. It is a long, lofty room, the beds in rows 
on either side, facing outward, and having a broad, open 
space down the centre. The beds are arranged two and 
two in pairs, each pair being divided by a door or win- 
dow. Between every two beds is a little niche in the 
wall, with a shelf to draw out underneath. In the niche 
are one or two pitchers or goblets holding the patient's 
drink ; on the shelf is his mug, ready to his hand. To a 
height of some six or eight feet the wall is wainscoted with 
blue-and-white porcelain tiles. They are easily washed, do 
