OF SIX MEDLEVAL WOMEN 



carved in stone a figure of St. John, the patron 

 of hospitals and of the needy generally, with a 

 poor man and woman on either side of him. 

 The principal ward was 160 feet long and 

 34 feet wide, with walls 16 feet high ending in 

 a gabled roof, with two windows in each gable, 

 and this, coupled with the fact that the sick 

 were sometimes laid on cushions by the open 

 windows, goes to show that what we pride 

 ourselves on as a special discovery in modern 

 hygiene the benefit of fresh air was known 

 and applied even in what we are wont to con- 

 sider a very benighted age in such matters. 



Whilst touching upon such a subject as this, 

 it may be a surprise to some to learn that in 

 large towns baths were provided for those who 

 could not afford to have them in their own 

 homes, and that there were also professional 

 women hair-washers. 



But to return to the hospital. On one side 

 of the ward were ten windows, each four feet 

 square, and on the opposite side was a large 

 door leading into the cloister with its garden, 

 where the convalescents and the old people, 

 whilst sheltered, could enjoy the sunshine and 

 see the flowers and the birds. In addition to 

 this there was a smaller ward for women, a 

 chapel, a kitchen, and a room for the matron, 

 as well as accommodation for the resident doctor, 

 Maitre Robert, and the serving-women. It is 

 some consolation to think that these poor suffer- 

 ing folk of centuries ago were even thus well 



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