3. The regulations lately in force contained in plain strong language prohibition of swearing and indecent language in Hospitals; they are quoted from the Articles of War. It would be well to retain this in any new Regulations; and the retention of this Rule is not the less important when women are put in charge of Military wards, since, though it is not their business to maintain discipline, it is their duty to call in those whose duty it is when discipline is infringed. And it is important that this prohibition of swearing and foul language should not be looked upon as an individual or collective crotchet, or female innovation, but remain the rule of the Service. Such language would never be used in the Nurse’s presence unless by her own fault. But it should be unheard in the ward, whether she is in it or not. The old definite words should be transcribed.
Conclusion.
I do not like writing any part of the above, not because it can, in any sense, be said to strain the necessary principle of reserve, save for strictly business purposes, as to all which is, strictly speaking, Hospital business, but because of the extreme caution necessary as to this sort of topics. Still life is so uncertain that the possible introduction of permanent Female Service into Army Hospitals has determined me on writing what I had rather not have written.
Additional Hints as to Pavilion Hospitals suggested by the construction of the Lariboisière Hospital at Paris.
I.—Ventilation.
The question of ventilation is so all-important, so much doubt still seems to exist as to the comparative merits of natural and artificial ventilation, so much has been said in favour of the latter, because it is seen adopted in the finest hospital in the world, the Lariboisière, that I have added a few practical remarks upon this system. The conclusion is, that even at the Lariboisière, without opening the windows occasionally, and especially in the morning, real freshness is never obtained in the wards, and that, therefore, if there must be artificial ventilation, that is the best which allows the most of the windows being opened.
On the men’s side, Thomas’ system, or that of injecting air at given points, by means of two high-pressure steam engines, each working a large fan, is adopted. On the female side, Duvoir’s system affords ventilation by extracting air at given points. In both, a number of shafts and openings provide for the exit of the air.
Persons at the Lariboisière Hospital, who ought to be good judges, including foremost the Director, an experienced and able administrator, consider the ventilation on the male side the most expensive and the best, both for day and night, being the coolest in summer and the warmest in winter. In winter two great advantages are assigned to this side: first, the heating being provided by the Hospital, the wards are warmable at pleasure; whereas that of the female side is provided by the contractor at a fixed degree of heat, which, in extra cold weather, is augmented: from 15° to 18° C are the usual limits of the winter temperature on the female side, while that on the male side is usually several degrees higher. Secondly, the system of heating on the male side permits the windows to be opened: while on the female side objections are often made to opening the windows in winter, which it is alleged interferes with the heating.