Model Hospitals. 75 



found 111 combination with an elegance and comfort which not 

 only shows that that hospital is richly endowed, but that it is 

 conducted by men who combine knowledge witti real love for 

 the suffering. They form indeed a pattern which deserves to 

 be imitated everywhere, as does the whole magnificent hospital. 



The wooden houses were not very large, and none of them 

 contained a great number of wounded. They stood on posts, 

 and their' flooring was raised one foot and a half or two feet 

 above the ground, leaving space enough underneath to keep 

 out the wet of the earth, and to permjt the air to circulate 

 without producing a draught, which would have been the case 

 if they had been more elevated. They were all whitewashed 

 and provided with windows, and gave the impression of little 

 friendly country cottages. 



Their interior corresponded with their outside. There was 

 not the chilling, half-barrack, half house-of-correction-like 

 appearance, which struck one not rarely on entering such 

 places in Europe, especially if built under the direction of the 

 military authorities. Though they were kept scrupulously 

 clean, and everything went on with military regularity and 

 order, it was not^exaggerated into pedantry. The wards looked 

 cheerful, and rnade an agreeable impression on the minds of 

 the wounded or sick, who all lay on beds provided with white 

 light hangings (mosquito nets), protecting them against the 

 importunity of the flies. The ventilation was perfect, and so 

 was the heating in cold weather. In these places the soldiers 

 lelt comfortable and home-like. 



In a hot climate like that of Washington, where the ther- 

 mometer shows in summer not rarely roo degrees Fahrenheit 

 in the shade, strict cleanliness is most necessary, and the 

 greatest attention was paid to it. The wards were whitewashed 

 every four or six weeks, and the dust taken up from the floor 

 every day. It was not done by swamping the floor with cold 

 water and permitting the wet to enter the boards, by which, 

 especially in cold or rainy weather, a chilly and damp air is 

 produced, but the washing of the boards was done in a more 

 practical manner with hot water, which dried almost immedi- 

 ately after the cloth had passed over it. 



Lady nurses were not employed in these hospitals, and I 

 must confess that they were not much missed by the American 

 soldiers, who generally preferred to be attended by men, 



