A much needed adjunct to a hospital ward is an isolation or “quiet” room, to which a patient whose presence is offensive to the other occupants of the ward may be removed. Whenever possible, a dying patient should be separated from the other patients in the ward. Gruesome tales that are disgraceful have been told of patients passing out of life in full view of the other occupants of the ward, without even the measure of privacy a screen affords. It is a melancholy comfort to relatives and friends to be with the patient in his last hours, and this cannot be permitted in a ward without confusion and discomfort to other patients. When planning a ward for the care of the sick or the poor, the object, of course, is the saving of lives, but people will die in hospitals in spite of the best skill and care, and the poor man is surely entitled to a quiet place to die in. There is much in hospital life to blunt the sensibilities of those who live in such institutions constantly. Familiarity with suffering and death robs them of mystery and awe, but it should never be allowed to detract from the reverent care of the dying and dead. “Put yourself in his place,” is a good rule to observe in dealing with even the most unworthy of Adam’s sons. [Sidenote: Matters Miscellaneous] The ease with which the routine work of the ward goes on will depend largely on proper facilities and a proper system. There should be a regular order for the work of the day—a time for bed making, a time for sweeping and dusting and washing the ward floors, a time for the daily cleaning of the bath rooms and toilet rooms and refrigerators and cupboards. Interruptions may be expected, but unless a routine order of work is established the cleaning will be executed in haphazard style. Neither nurses nor maids can be depended on to use their judgment in such matters. If left to plan their work, they will probably be found sweeping their wards when the doctors are ready to begin their dressings, and the time for other things will depend on their ideas of the importance of the various duties. The habit of doing things quickly and thoroughly should be formed by every one who has any responsibility of the routine work of a hospital, where everything should move with clock-work precision. So much time can be wasted by lack of system, or in talking or dawdling. The untidy habit of leaving glasses or utensils dirty till a sufficient quantity has accumulated to make it a necessity to wash them, should never be tolerated.