470 



A JOURNEY IN BRAZIL. 



not contract dampness, and look very cool and fresh. Tlio 

 floor is made of the dark Brazilian wood, partly inlaid, and 

 waxed carefully ; not a stain is to be seen anywhere on its 

 shining surface. The bedding consists of a well-stuffed 

 straw-mattress below, with a thick hair-mattress above. 

 The sheets and pillow-cases are spotless. Indeed, every- 

 thing in this fresh, well-aired, spacious room bespeaks an 

 exquisite order and neatness. The bath-rooms are in con- 

 venient relation to the wards, furnished with large marble 

 bath-tubs, and with hot and cold water in abundance. 

 From the public wards we pass into large corridors, upon 

 which open private apartments for the use of persons who, 

 not having convenient arrangements at home, or being 

 strangers in the city, prefer, in case of illness, to go to the 

 hospital. The rent of these chambers is exceedingly mod- 

 erate ; — for a room to one's self, $1.50 a day ; for a room 

 shared with one other person, $1 a day; for a bed in a 

 larger room occupied by half a dozen, but withdrawn from 

 the general throng, 75 cents. These charges include medi- 

 cal attendance, nursing, and food. From the wards de- 

 voted to ordinary diseases, fevers and the like, we went to 

 the surgical wards. It need not be said that here the same 

 neatness and care prevailed ; the operating rooms, the sur- 

 gery lined with cases containing instruments, lint, bandages, 

 &c. were all in faultless order. 



From this building — looking, as we went, into the kitchen, 

 where the contents of the great shiny copper kettles smelt 

 very invitingly — we passed through a paved court to the 

 old hospital, in which are the wards for women and chil- 

 dren. This gave us an opportunity of comparing, at least 

 in its general arrangement, the ancient establishment with 

 the modern one. The neatness and order prevailing through- 



