7 
which a convalescent, the moment he is able 
to leave his bed in the ward might be moved. 
His entire recovery would be sooner effected, 
both by change of air and scene. Attached to 
these cottages should be airing grounds and 
gardens lor gende exercise and amusement. It 
seems to me that a patient who can leave his 
bed for a day room] ought to be retained in the 
ward no longer, but give up his place to another. 
Several other branches of the subj ct still re- 
main to be treated, but time will not allow me 
to trouble you with them to-night, and I 
prefer to allude to them, by name only rather 
than do them injustice by too casual a notice, — 
such, for instance, as the proper materials for 
the floor, walls and roofs of the wards ; the 
proper posi ion, size, and number of the offices ; 
administration, and other departments; and 
list, though not least, the provision to be made 
for out-patients, and system of management to 
be adopted in relieving them, all of which must 
be lelt for another opportunity or relinquished. 
Very briefly, however, it may be stated that 
the use of wood should be reduced to a mini- 
mum, — 'that the floor should be built on brick 
arches and laid with hardwood, oiled or rubbed; 
the walls rendered with Parian cement brought 
almost to a polish. For out-patients, the 
waiting-room9 should be so arranged that the 
sexes may be separated, with alternate access to 
the physician or surgeon in attendance. 
Enough has, I trust, been stated to give proof, 
if any were wanting, of the immense impor- 
tance of toe subject, and I shall be gratified if 
anything I may have said should be the means 
of directing yet closer and more searching at- 
tention to the various points insisted on. On 
one part of the subject — that of cost — I have 
been purposely silent, and will at .once admit 
that the system I have been recommendingisthe 
most costly as to the first outlay . It must be 
remembered that the duty of a hospital is net 
to harbour the iufirm, but to receive (he sick 
and restore them to health as quickly as pos- 
sible. A well appointed institution on a small 
scale will in the cud be m re successful than a 
larger ill-arranged, and badly managed 
infirmary — and m considering the cost we 
often have cause to remember that the very ex- 
istence of a hospital is in a great measure vin~ 
dictive — a stroke of Nemesis for our neglect in 
the proper draiuage of our streets and houses, 
and in the use of due precaution against 
disease. I do not mean to trace directly the 
presence of all the patients in a hospital to the 
want of drainage and general cleanliness, but 
most assuredly a great portion of the diseases 
there treated may be traced directly to those 
causes, and a still greater proportion indirectly. 
Discomfort at home and bad smells incite to 
drinking and otner vices which fill our hos- 
pitals, and if we would but see this, and turn 
our energies in this direction at first, we should 
not unfrequently have to pay less, but, what is 
of more importance, should save many a life 
that is otherwise lost to the community, and 
help to raise the tone both moral and physical 
of that portion of the commuuity which stands 
most in need of it. ^ 
Since this paper was written, my attention 
has been kindly drawn by Captain Pitt, R.A., 
to the report on the Military Hospital lately 
erected by the Home Government at Wool- 
wich. Tnis institution is built on the pavilion 
principle, and the plan and general manage- 
ment are in every respect confirmatory of the 
views I have endeavored to maintain. 
Note Diagrams in illustration of the- 
various plans were exhibited, to which refer 
ence is made in the preceding paper. 
Printed by G. Wight, “Guardian Office,” Brisbane. 
