201

H.—l

4911. As to the floors, what is your opinion concerning them ? —The joints are not what they should be; they are far too open. 4912. Then they"are not perfect?— They are not. 4913. Are they very imperfect ?—Certainly they are. 4914. Flooring boards should be tongued and grooved ?—I think so. 4915. Possibly it would be better if new floors were laid now ?—I think so. 4916. And as to the walls ?—They are not very bad. I think that they are fairly well kept, but they are perhaps a little too rough. That is, however, made up for by frequent limewashing. 4917. And the ceilings'?—-They are in pretty-much the same condition as the walls. 4918. How do the floors, walls, and ceilings compare with those of other hospitals ?—They are roughly finished, as they are in a good many hospitals. We have a painted dado, which is a protection in some way. 4919. Is that an advantage ?—I think so. 4920. Do you know that there is a system of " fallowing " practised here, by which two wards are kept clear and are repainted at the same time?— Yes. 4921. And that that is done to the wards in rotation?— Yes. 4922. Do you approve of that ?—Certainly. It is a good sanitary measure. I think that the floors might with advantage share in the repainting process. A little varnish would do them good. 4923. Should anything further be done to improve them, or do you think that the floors should be left as they are ? —lt seems difficult to get properly-seasoned boards here which will not shrink and leave gaps between them. If the present ones could be re-tongued they might be laid down again so as to make a closely-fitting floor. It would be perhaps better if the floors were soaked with chloride of lime, carbolic acid, or some other disinfectant; then have them varnished and painted. 4924. Now as to the alleged overcrowding, have you paid any attention to that aspect of the case ? —I have paid very little attention to the surgical side—that is not in my line—but on the medical side the beds are a little too close. 4925. I find that on the 25th August, 1890, one of the wards contained twelve patients: do you think that a ward is overcrowded with that number of patients?— No. But if all the beds were occupied it would be a little too crowded. 4926. The Chairman.] How many beds are there in the ward you are referring to ?—Sixteen, I think. 4927. Mr. White.} You think that that number is rather many ?—lt is too many for a medical ward, and I think it is too many for surgical purposes. 4928. You say that it is too many for a medical ward ? —lt is rather in excess of the number. 4929. What would you say would be a fair number ?—I do not know. What is the size of the ward ? 4930. Mr. Solomon.} It is 50ft. long by 25ft. wide.—The dimensions of floor-space to each patient is not a matter of opinion. Galton, who is our highest authority, gives it as 90 square feet under the bod. 4931. The Chairman.'] Does he distinguish between medical and surgical wards?— No. He only distinguishes between lying-in hospitals and workhouses, I think. He gives as an example a ward 24ft. in width. 4932. Is that the bed plus 7ft. 6iu. ?—No ; 7ft. 6in., including the bed. About 3ft. 6in. on each side of the bed is given as a typical measurement. 4933. Mr White.'] Assuming that the measurements range from 2ft. Gin. to 10 ft. 7in., do you think that that would be overcrowding?—l am afraid I cannot do mental arithmetic for you on the spur of the moment. 4934. What number of beds should a ward contain ? —lt depends on the cubic space. 4935. A ward occupied by fourteen persons, which we have been told would give 1,436 cubic feet per bed?— That would depend on the height of your ward. 49 6. Fifteen feet, we have been told, is the height of the upper wards, and that the size of the ward is : length 50ft. lOJin., width 25ft. 2in., and height 14ft. llin. Can you state what number of patients can occupy such a ward with safety ?—That is a matter of calculation. According to some authorities you want something about 7ft. 6in. between the beds, while according to others sft. may be allowed. 4937. The Chairman.} Do you mean sft. between the beds, or sft. including the beds ?—lncluding everything. The rule is 3ft. between bed and bed. 4938. How near are they to one another do you think ?—1 think under 3ft. 4939. Therefore, you think them too close ?—Yes, I think they are rather too close. 4940. Ninety feet, you say, is a typical ward, which would give about sft. ? —That is the general rule, with 2ft. 6in. added for breadth of each bed. 4941. Mr. White.] You have been given beds in the Hospital?—Y~es. 4942. What has been your experience in the Hospital ?—lt has been too short to allow me to say much about it. I have had one or two cases of pneumonia, and some of typhoid fever. 4943. The Chairman,'] Arisen in the Hospital ?—No; outside. Those cases were about as bad as they could be, but recovered remarkably well compared with my experience at Home. 4944. Mr. White.] Then your experience at the Hospital has not been very bad?—My cases have done very well; I was satisfied with them. But my experience—eight months—is too short to enable me to judge. 4945. Can you not give us a general opinion as to the cases you have had in the Hospital since you joined the staff '.'= — No. 26— H. 1.