DISEASES. 143 



practise in the colony. I once made the suggestion; it was 

 received with approbation, but nothing has been done yet. 



There are now in the island two hospitals, one in Port-of- 

 Spain, equal, I believe, to any in the West Indies, and the other 

 in San Fernando. They were built for the accommodation of 

 250 patients ; it is seldom, however, when that number is not ex- 

 ceeded. There were in the Colonial Hospital, 31st December, 

 1877, 276 patients, and 105 in the San Fernando Hospital. 

 Daily average in 1880, 433 ; San Fernando, 130. The Colonial 

 Hospital staff consists of a resident surgeon, with two assistants, 

 two dispensers, a consulting physician, and a consulting surgeon. 

 At San Fernando, there are a resident surgeon, an assistant, and a 

 dispenser. 



No patients are admitted into the hospitals unless some party 

 be responsible for the sum of one shilling a day, which is 

 charged for every poor patient; two shillings are exacted for 

 sailors, who are not considered as poor persons. 



It was once proposed that each ward should have its own 

 hospital ; and this is still considered as feasible. Such proposi- 

 tion must have emanated from, and it can only be entertained 

 by, persons who never reflected on the necessary expenses conse- 

 quent on the establishment of a hospital, on however limited a 

 scale. Besides bedsteads, bedding, cloth, and other requisites, a 

 large annual sum is required for defraying the salaries of the 

 medical attendant, superintendent, and dispensers ; also the hire 

 of a cook, washerwoman, and at least one nurse. Neither should 

 it be overlooked that the smaller the establishment the larger 

 the proportionate expenses. One hospital for each county is 

 just the utmost required and possible. Numerous facts and 

 extensive observations having proved the great influence that 

 extraneous causes may exercise on the salubrity of towns and 

 country districts generally, the importance of sanitary measures 

 was at once rendered palpable ; and, in our days, it is regarded 

 as almost a necessity that a Board of Health consisting of special 

 men should be established in all well-organised communities, for 

 the purpose of watching over the public health. The general 

 Board of Health of the island consists of eleven members, with 

 the Governor as president. There are two sanitary inspectors 

 appointed for the boroughs of Port-of- Spain and San Fernando : 

 wardens are sanitary inspectors in their respective wards. 



