The Improvements effected in Modern 3Iuseums. 25 



the Museum is indebted for a valuable series of eggs, birds, fishes, 

 and mammals. John Edward Dunn was well known to many of 

 our fellow colonists, and he lost his life in the pursnit of his 

 favourite study, trying to serve the Museum where so many 

 of his leisure hours were spent. 



Aet. III. — On the Hospital Requirements of Sydney, by Alfred 

 Roberts, Esq. 



[Eead, 14th August, 1868.] 

 The subject of the following paper, although of a quasi profes- 

 sional character, must always be of considerable importance, and 

 at the present time is one in which the public feel an especial 

 interest. I have, therefore, thought that a few remarks on Hos- 

 pitals, however unworthy in themselves, might be acceptable to 

 the Eoyal Society, and would, by the discussion which they evoke, 

 assist in giving a direction and form to the reflections of the com- 

 munity. I shall invite you to consider — 



1st. The class for whose benefit it is necessary in this country 



to provide hospital and infirmary accommodation. 

 2nd. The arrangement of this class into such sub-divisions as 

 will allow of the required relief being given in the most 

 efficient and economical form. 

 3rd. The character of the structures which appear most suited 

 to each division, and the nature of the site upon which they 

 should be placed. 

 4th. The condition and fitness of existing buildings for the 



purposes in view. 

 1st. I would define the class of citizens for whom it is necessary 

 to provide gratuitous hospital or infirmary accommodation to be 

 those chiefly of the hand-working class, whose circumstances in 

 life deprive them for the time being of the ability to pay the ex- 

 penses incident to an illness, or serious corporal infirmity. The 

 individual may be a blind beggar, or a clerk, the illness a tempo- 

 rary indisposition, or a railway accident ; in either case it is the 

 custom of Englishmen to provide from the purse of charity the 

 means necessary to restore, if possible, the sick and maimed to 

 health and society. 



P 



