I have reckoned 12 hours for the Orderly to be off duty. It is better for him to have eight than seven hours’ sleep, and one or two hours’ fresh air are more healthy, and make a man last longer than going to and from his bed and his ward. An English soldier comes on duty clean, washed, and shaved, a once national peculiarity it is highly desirable he at all events should retain--at any rate that of thorough cleanliness--the shaving is unfortunately now not certain; for this and for his meals, some little time must be given. I think you will get more, and get it longer, out of the man by giving him 12 hours on night duty and 12 hours off. Still it will not do to interfere too much with analogies, and the proper authorities must decide whether this is too much. [Sidenote: Exercise for Orderlies.] 25. Again, leaving the question for decision to the proper authorities, I had rather each Orderly had one hour or two hours for exercise each afternoon or each alternate afternoon, care of course being taken that he did not exercise himself in some tap. He should report himself to the Nurse, or to the Ward-Master, or Assistant Ward-Master on going and on his return. So should the Night-Orderly when coming on and going off duty. Also in many emergencies of no very unfrequent occurrence at home, and constantly abroad, the Orderly must dispense with recreation time. But as a rule, it is certain that fresh air is necessary to preserve health in Hospital duty. Doctors of all kinds know and act on this as regards themselves. The waste of time and strength, at present too often incurred by the endless fetching, heavy carrying, &c., of many Hospitals is in a considerable degree counteracted by its forcing the Nurses into other than ward air; the air of a Hospital Court is better than that of the best ventilated wards as it is, not as it might be. The same applies, in its degree, to Orderlies. But it is better, and far more economical, to avoid the fetching and carrying as much as possible; to keep the ward attendants in the ward to their duty under the supervision of the chief and responsible ward-servant; and to give each in turn a short daily recreation, if possible. [Sidenote: Night Refreshment for Orderlies necessary.] 26. Now comes a thing I am very anxious about concerning night duty, the more anxious because it is important, and because I am afraid it is an innovation. I have watched the night duty with particularly anxious interest, in each Hospital I have entered, feeling at once its importance and its difficulties, and of the following principle I am thoroughly certain. The Orderly doing night duty should either be allowed refreshment during the night, or the recurrence of this night refreshment should be considered in allotting the rations.