222 REPORT— 1871. 



stitutions, but occupy a very important position as fields for scientific inquiiT, and 

 as means for increasing and diffusing medical knowledge. This double nature 

 brings them directly under the recognition of a scientific association such aa this, 

 whose great aim is to develope the high function of science — the promotion of the 

 welfare of mankind. Some details regarding the Royal Hospital for Sick Children 

 were given. It contains 74 beds, 32 for ordinary patients and 42 for fever cases. 

 There is also an outdoor or dispensary department. The patients have likewise 

 the benefit of the Convalescent House at Corstorphiue. No letters of introduction 

 are required — the doors are open to aU who are sick and young. The liability to 

 abuse which this peculiarity gives rise to was pointed out, and how it lets in the 

 evil of indiscriminate charity. 



Important as is the question of the proper administi-ation of charity, it is the 

 scientific economy of the subject which falls more directly under the recognition of 

 this Association. As charities, om- hospitals for children have ah-eady reached a 

 full maturity, as scientific centres their development is still imperfect and stunted. 



The scientific requirements prove the necessity for children's hospitals as sepa- 

 rate establishments. To an-ive at any important clinical results, requires the 

 grouping together of large numbers of cases, such as only can be done in hospitals 

 of considerable size. They must be also imder the care" of able men, who should 

 be enabled to devote a large share of their time to the special work. In both these 

 respects the progress of medical science is stiU greatly retarded in this country. 

 Our children's hospitals are too small, and in London the tendency at present is to 

 multiply the number, rather than increase the size of those already existing, to the 

 proportion commensurate with the requirements of science. Much may be said in 

 favour of small (/eneral hospitals, but there already exist the necessary'large insti- 

 tutions of this kind, and were these divided, science would sufler in proportion to 

 the subdivision. 



On the Continent children's hospitals bave for years existed on a scale which it 

 is hopeless ever to expect in this country. But it' is to them we are indebted for 

 much of om* present knowledge of infantile pathologv' ; Jind on this accoimt our 

 ideas still bear a foreign stamp, which does not prepare us for the modifications which 

 climate, mode of life, and national differences produce in the natm-e of disease. 



One of the great objects in establishing the Children's Hospital was to meet the 

 want in the Edinburgh Medical School of proper " appliances for aflbrding sub- 

 stantial assistance and practical instruction in the diseases of children."' That 

 defect has been supplied ; the public has nobly done its share in the work, and 

 regular instruction is now given to the students who avail themselves of the oppor- 

 tunity. But at the same time no advance has yet been made by our Universities 

 or Licensing Boards of the country to give that recognition to the subject, without 

 ■whicb the resources tbus supplied must remain very partially taken advantage of 

 by oui- students. It is an anomalous fact that medical men obtain their diplomas, 

 and go forth to practise, without having received any special instruction in that 

 department of their profession which is to foi-m two thirds of theii- patients, and 

 "which relates to the causes which are producing the greatest mortality in the 

 country. Special instruction in the physiological, pathological, and clinical pecu- 

 liarities of childhood holds no real place in the cm-riculum of study assigned to 

 medical students, and they pass from our schools ignorant of the simplest points of 

 infantile hygiene, or the character of the most important constitutional afl'ections. 



This constitutes the gi-eat barrier which exists to the full development of one of 

 the gi-eat objects which have called our children's hospitals into existence. By the 

 removal of it alone can we expect to combat with gi-eater success, with the widely 

 spread, the far reaching in point of time, and giievously fatal influences, which 

 strike sorrow into our hearts, and carry suff'ering to those who are dearest and most 

 dependent upon us. 



On the Belatlon between British and Metrical Measures. 

 By G. JoiTN-sToxE Stoxet, F.R.S. 



