Do we look enough into the importance of giving ourselves thoroughly to study in the hours of study, of keeping careful _Notes of Lectures_, of keeping notes of all type cases, and of cases interesting from not being type cases, so as to improve our powers of observation--all essential _if we are in future to have charge_? Do we keep in view the importance of helping ourselves to understand these cases by reading at the time books where we can find them described, and by listening to the remarks made by Physicians and Surgeons in going round with their Students? (Take a sly note afterwards, when nobody sees, in order to have a correct remembrance.) So shall we do everything in our power to become proficient, not only in knowing the symptoms and what is to be done, but in knowing the “Reason Why” of such symptoms, and _why_ such and such a thing is done; and so on, till we can some day TRAIN OTHERS _to know the “reason why.”_ Many say: “We have no time; the Ward work gives us no time.” But it is so easy to degenerate into a mere drudgery about the Wards, when we have goodwill to do it, and are fonder of practical work than of giving ourselves the trouble of learning the “reason why.” Take care, or the Nurses, some of them, will catch you up. Take ten minutes a day in the Ward to jot down things, and write them out afterwards: come punctually _from_ your Ward to have time for doing so. _It is far better to take these ten minutes to write your cases or to jot down your recollections in the Ward than to give the same ten minutes to bustling about._ I am sure the Sisters would help you to get this time if you asked them: and also to _leave_ the Ward punctually. And do you not think this a religious duty? Such observations are a religious meditation: for is it not the best part of religion to imitate the benevolence of God to man? And how can you do this--in this your calling especially--if you do not thoroughly understand your calling? And is not every study to do this a religious contemplation? Without it, _May you not potter and cobble about the patients without ever once learning the reason of what you do, so as to be able to train others?_ (I do not say anything about the “cards,” for I take it for granted that you can read them easily.) Our dear Matron, who is always thinking of arranging for us, is going to have a case-paper with printed headings given to you, and to keep this correctly ought to be a mere every-day necessity, and a very easy one, for you. 2. And for the Nurses: They are placed, perhaps here only, on a footing of equality with educated gentlewomen. Do they show their appreciation of this by thinking, “We are as good as they”? Or, by obedience and respect, and trying to profit by the superior education of the gentlewomen?