296 TlMEHRI. 
much to prefer to see the village tank or vats ere6ted 
prior to the village hospital ; as to the former there need 
be no question as to their usefulness or popularity if 
ere6ted. A bountiful Providence would fill them with 
pure water, and such a reward might then be anticipated 
as the gratitude of a healthier community. 
" These suggestions are offered with no desire to criti- 
cise other proposals ; and much less have I any desire 
to support my own views dogmatically. I am urged 
to such proposals by the conviction that " The health of 
the community is the Supreme Law," and how to assist 
in either maintaining or furthering this law is my desire. 
I consider these proposals need but the guiding hand 
of the Executive to give the free rural population such a 
measure of medical aid as it sorely needs. More, much 
more, is advisable ; but that which lies at our hands, let 
us give. It can be done at the least cost and with the 
least delay ; and in this light the proverb becomes an 
axiom that " Bis dat qui cito dat." 
Having now touched upon the two first questions as 
to " what is," and " what might be done," it only requires 
a very few words to consider the " what should not be 
done" question. The construction in various localities 
of village Hospitals, has many advocates ; and it is a 
question deserving of the very gravest consideration. 
I introduce the subject here because it is one of the 
things which I think at least questionable as to its 
ultimate effectiveness, and as to the amount of medical 
aid it would really give to the people. There are many 
reasons why I entertain doubts as to its usefulness. There 
is no doubt that, in many of the chronic maladies, 
such hospitals would give shelter and medical comforts 
