One housemaid.
One or two other female servants, such as scourers—or more (number required depending on the flooring used).
Though this staff appears enormous, it is calculated upon the plan of giving only one night nurse to every four beds,—upon the supposition that 32 occupied beds will give a constant succession of cases, enough to provide instruction for almost as many pupil midwives;—upon the principle that for systematic instruction there must be a fair number of pupils; as, if every moment of their time is occupied in active duties, they cannot be well trained;—and also upon the obvious fact that it would be impossible, from its extravagance, to nurse such a construction without pupils.
[For the second year, if a portion of the pupils are to be made thorough midwives, and their time of training two years, possibly the deputy assistant midwife, and probably both the nurses, might be dispensed with.
The second-year pupil midwives ought to be quite competent, each to be in charge of two or three first-year’s pupils and several patients, taking these patients from the beginning, and teaching pupils to handle new-born infants, look after ordinary lying-in cases, and the like; and most excellent practice it is for the young teachers.]
As to scourers, the nature of the floors decided upon will determine what are wanted.
Also, none of the midwives can be expected to be housemaids, even in their own rooms. They have too much to do. The pupil midwives would be expected to clean their own bed rooms, but not to scour, either for the patients or for themselves.
There must be a common room for pupil midwives. Here they take their meals in detachments. Head midwife, as a rule, with first detachment; matron carving. Here they receive lectures and instruction from the physician accoucheur.
The matron must have two rooms.
The head midwife may have two rooms. She will expect to have her tea in her own room.