484 — Convalescence. 
probably be within the mark to allow one month to produce 
an equal or even greater improvement under the circum- 
stances of a change. 
Unfortunately this remedy is beyond the reach of the 
poor, and on this account it is encouraging to see that a 
benevolent lady is earnestly endeavouring to lead the public 
to regard the sad condition of their poorer brethren, and is 
urging the propriety of making hospitals for convalescents 
an object of charity. 
We feel pleasure in humbly assisting this lady in her 
noble efforts to alleviate the sufferings of poor convales- 
cents. A gentle womanly nature has enabled her to find 
out a great want which has escaped the notice of recog- 
nised sanitarians, and a quick perception has pointed out 
to her the best way of giving practical effect to the dis- 
covery she has made. 
We unhesitatingly affirm that there is no more deserving 
channel into which the offerings of the charitable could 
flow than the one this lady has opened; and we hope to 
witness increased activity in developing this particular 
branch of hygiene, so that new channels may be opened 
and ample contributions pour into them. 
So many hospitals, dispensaries, and charitable institu- 
tions of various kinds attest the philanthropy and Christian 
feeling of the English public, that we feel confident it is 
quite sufficient to suggest the want to ensure that necessary 
funds to meet it are forthcoming; it is simply because 
general attention has not been directed to it that the evil 
exists at all. 
As a matter of daily occurrence, poor men return to 
their work before their strength is thoroughly regained ; 
the struggle for bread must be entered upon; every idle day 
after discharge from hospital involves an empty stomach, 
and so the attempt is made to resume toil too soon, and a 
complete breakdown is often the lamentable consequence. 
What desiderata then to such persons are places where 
health could be completely re-established, and what true 
charity would result from institutions of the kind. Provi- 
dence placed us in this beautiful world to be happy and en- 
joy all His wondrous works in Nature ; rich and poor alike 
may derive inexhaustible treasures of innocent pleasure 
from the contemplation of the charms of the country or the 
sea-side. Surely when scanty means oppose an obstacle 
to the attainment of such happiness, more especially when 
the re-bracing of the unstrung system of the poor conva- — 
