The Hospital Requirements of Sydney. 41 



rapidly increasing class exists in the colony which is not provided 

 for in the hospitals just mentioned. The immigration of a large 

 number of persons in adult and advanced life, possessing few, if any, 

 family ties in this country ; the number of persons who do not 

 possess a fixed habitation ; the general absence of thrifty habits ; 

 the solitude and monotony of country life and occupation, — 

 such are some of the influences which are rendering many of the 

 lower orders friendless and helpless, and making them willing, if 

 not anxious, to obtain a refuge at the hands of charity or of 

 government. 



Eor this class it is necessary to provide accommodation in the 

 form of one or more infirmaries, which should be distinct from 

 the hospitals, and capable of being conducted at less proportionate 

 expense. 



The necessity for such institutions is every day becoming more 

 pressing ; but they should be constructed and supported entirely 

 at the Grovernment expense. They do not, therefore, requh'e 

 further attention in a paper like this ; but I may observe that, as 

 the convalescing patients and chronic cases should, for sanitary 

 reasons, be removed from the eity, it is even more important that 

 the infirm should be provided for at a distance from the metropolis. 



But, wherever they may be placed, their support should cost 

 the country less per head than the inmates of the convalescent 

 hospital. 



It follows, therefore, that all chronic invalids should be drafted 

 from this establishment to the infirmaries when they have ceased 

 to benefit from treatment. 



"We have next to consider the nature of the site which is best 

 suited to the requirements of the two forms of hospital under 

 consideration. 



The commission appointed by the House of Commons for im- 

 proving the sanitary condition of barracks and hospitals state, in 

 their report, that the great points to be secured in the construc- 

 tion of hospitals are — 1st, purity of external atmosphere ; 2nd, 

 abundance of pure air and sunlight within the building ; 3rd, 

 facility of administration and discipline. 



Applying these principles to Sydney for the purpose of a central 

 general hospital, it will be necessary that the site should be upon 

 the summit of a hill capable of perfect drainage, and possess a dry 

 soil. Ic should be either within some one of the public reserves, 

 or at the edge of one, having a free space, if possible, upon the 

 other side, occupy as nearly as may be a central position to the 

 population. A considerable tract of adjoining vegetation and 

 undulating ground, with varied and cheerful scenery, will be 

 material and substantial advantages. 



The site for a convalescent hospitaljshould be at such a distance 

 from town as will fulfil the following requirements . — - 



