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, <fcc. 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 witli 

 blue-and-white porcelain tiles. They are easily washed, do 



