HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION. 



By Alfeed Eobeets, Esq., M.E.C.S. 



\JS,ead lefore the Royal Society, 1st July, 1874.] 



I AM again indebted to the kindness of the Committee of this 

 Society for permission to bring under your consideration a subject 

 which belongs more strictly to the sphere of social than of general 

 science. 



I have, however, always entertained an opinion, which increases 

 with experience, that such topics are of vital importance to all 

 Committees, and more especially so to those of young Countries, 

 where as the seed is sown will the harvest follow. 



The present position of the hospital question in Sydney is both 

 critical and important, demanding the earnest consideration of 

 all who take an interest in this branch of charity, and calculated 

 to induce those possessiug special opportunities for observation to 

 offer their experience for the review of others. 



The subject has, moreover, an additional interest at the present 

 time, when a week hardly passes in England without the publica- 

 tion of anxiously thoughtful pamphlets and reviews founded upon 

 the startling disclosures made through the labours of the newly 

 established " Charity Organization Society," and the reports of 

 the Committee of the Hospital Sunday Fund, &c. 



The inquiries of these useful Associations have proved, beyond 

 doubt, that the present system of administering " medical charity" 

 has resulted in its rapid and inconsistent increase in the most 

 wealthy cities of England, and in an extravagant expenditure. 



For instance, we find that in Manchester, during the year 1836, 

 the recipients of medical charity were in the proportion of one to 

 every eight of the population, but in 1872 the proportion had risen 

 to " one " to " five." In London, at the present date, no less than 

 30 per cent, of the population are recipients of gratuitous medical 

 aid, the funds for which are raised by voluntary subscription. In 

 Manchester the amount thus raised would, if distributed among 

 the recipients, give to each four shillings and fourpence-halfpenny. 

 In London it would yield ten shillings to each of the more 

 numerous recipients. 



I must, however, refer those who feel interested in the instruc- 

 tive details of this important inquiry to two admirable articles in 

 the Westminster Sevieio for January and April, and the Quarterly 

 Review for April of this year. I will only now quote one additional 

 fact in support of the conclusions above mentioned, and as 

 affording evidence of a demoralizing spirit similar to that which, 



