(5.) Two years ago the greater part of the boards in the Kaiserswerth Institution, which are of deal, were oiled, both on sanitary grounds, and to rid the Sisters of the drain on time and strength in scrubbing. They are considered far preferable to the old ones, and to answer in every respect. Yet the Kaiserswerth floorings would not answer the English requirement of extreme cleanliness. They are substantially clean, but, like those of the Military Hospital of Berlin, it takes examination to ascertain that they are so, and from the same cause--there is no “laque.” Also the colour is not at all so agreeable as the Bethanien colour. These oiled boards last a year only. A moderate amount of laque is required to add to their durability. The sum of the information, condensed as much as possible, on this subject is;-- I. The boards, which are always of deal, can be prepared in three ways: (I.) Laquering, only suitable for reception rooms, or when by some chance a ward is wanted to be got ready in a hurry; it takes less time; after two or three days, the room or ward can be used, and it shines brighter, but it lasts a much shorter time than the other procedures, as it stands less the incessant treading incident to all ward floors; it is also more expensive. Let us consider it wholly unsuitable for wards. (II.) Oiled boards, with more or less laque. The Charité boards have a great deal of laque. The Bethanien and St. Hedwig’s boards much less. (III.) Oiled boards without any laque-- As in the Military Hospital. II. Much laque makes the floors shine brighter; requires more time to clean them; and earlier re-preparation than where less laque is used. The Charité boards would be unmeaningly splendid for an English Hospital, and quite out of place in a Military one; besides entailing some unnecessary annual expense, and some daily finicking care. III. A small quantity of laque, as at Bethanien, gives an amount of polish to the floors, which enables the eye at once to ascertain whether they are clean or not; considerably improves the appearance of the floor; and, according to all high authority, adds both to the durability of the floor, and the healthiness of the Hospital. It renders the whole flooring less subject to cracks, to dirt and dust getting into holes and corners; and, above all, by filling up the grain of the floor, it prevents the saturation, by organic matter, which otherwise takes place and which scrubbing only makes more mischievous. IV. Where no laque is used, the absence of all polish on the dark-brown floors makes examination necessary, to see whether they are thoroughly clean or not. This flooring would never satisfy the eye or the mind of an English Inspector-General or Surgeon. But the main objection to the absence of laque certainly consists in the sanitary one above stated.