[15] The floors are of deal; the length and breadth of the boards depending on circumstances. Wood skirtings run round the walls, following the recesses of the window and doors, 2½ in. in height and 1½ in. in thickness. The skirtings should have no indents in them, which form convenient lodgments for dust and take time to clean. A little rim must run round the top of the skirting, edging the wall. The skirting should thence descend, unindented, upon the floor. The boards are coloured and prepared, as follows: A new floor is rubbed over two or three times, with warm linseed-oil varnish, having some fine yellow-ochre, powdered, in it; then a coat of “laque-lustre,” a species of French polish, is laid over it, the result being a reddish-yellow colour, in which the grain and veining of the wood is shown. If, after being used some time, it begins to look worn, it is rubbed over with oil and a new coat of polish laid on it; but, as this takes a long time to dry, it is usual to fill up the worst parts with thin oil-colour, and then to take the yellow polish and lay it on, in two successive coats, leaving it to dry, if possible, for twenty-four hours, as it wears the better the firmer and drier it is. For old boards, that have been much used, considerably more laque-lustre is required than for new ones. After laying on the laque-lustre it is desirable that the floor should not be trodden upon for six weeks, and it is also well occasionally, say about once a week, to polish it, which conduces much to make it serviceable. [16] And this should be adhered to, the rare though extant cases of efficiency for Hospital nursing, past this age, notwithstanding. [17] Great caution must be used in acting upon this. The Superintendent-General, or the Superintendents who are responsible to her, order the service of each Nurse. How far is it just to consider extra dangerous duties or stations meritorious in the Nurse who does or suffers from them? Others might have done the same, if so ordered. Others might have wished for such an order. Or a strong efficient Nurse who, in other respects, gives anxiety, may render extra useful service on an emergency, and suffer for it in health: and yet, during her whole service, have given more anxiety and less satisfaction than others who did not, perhaps had not the opportunity to, distinguish themselves by any extra useful service. [18] The “Superintendent” and “Matron” are here used throughout as synonymous terms; because “Matron” is the shorter and more familiar name; although, for reasons before given, “Superintendent” would be the better word for Military Hospitals. [19] If it be said that the Workhouse sick are ill-nursed, it is in proportion as this rule is broken, not as it is kept, that they are so.