This is a very important reason, I humbly consider, for avoiding as much as possible small wards. I do consider small wards very objectionable in working a Hospital. But it is right to remember that we have been told of England, of Austria and of Prussia that the proportion of severe cases in Military Hospitals in time of peace is considerably smaller than in Civil Hospitals. Night watching is not done in the Military Hospitals either of Vienna or Berlin. Orderlies, or an Orderly, sleep in each ward, and watching is only done to bad cases. How far English Army Surgeons consider night watching desirable in the Army Hospitals I will presently tell. I should think the convalescent wards, among many important advantages, would receive a number of patients who require no night watching. An Orderly ought to be at hand here, but not watching. If night duty is considered requisite in the ordinary wards, I do not see how the English standard of things could be met, excepting by having one Watcher in each ward where there is regular night watching. I think, however, that the foreign system of night watching above detailed might give very useful hints for women in war service, and for emergencies of cholera, &c., &c., in home service; and with regard to supervision in the latter. I think, with submission to the proper authorities (the two or three experienced Army Surgeons I have so often adverted to) feeling strongly that awkward mistakes might occur in several of these matters without them, as civilians and women cannot and ought not to trust their own judgments respecting such, that in a large Military Hospital, an Assistant Ward-Master ought to go round the wards at night. Not with any idea of his rendering assistance to the Watchers over bad cases. The Nurses must do their duty of Head-Nurses, and see to this themselves. Perambulation through a large Hospital at night in point of fact excludes the possibility of doing anything in any one ward, unless in some exceptional occurrence which only proves the rule. The object is the important one of seeing that the Orderlies are awake, sober, alert, and at their duty, and that the patients are quiet and in bed. The Nurse would hear any noise, but there is such a thing as quiet drinking, as well as noisy drinking. In St. George’s there is a Night-Matron, chief over the Night-Nurses, who goes through the Hospital every hour during the night-watch. I have heard this spoken of by experienced Authorities of other Hospitals with approbation and envy, and some idea was entertained of introducing it into another great Hospital. In Civil Hospitals, I think, but I do not know, that the benefits of this Night-Matron may be perhaps more imaginary than real. The Head-Nurses at St. George’s sleep away from their wards; a great mistake, I humbly consider.