15

H.—lBa.

be expected, with a corresponding growth of the township. Although a large number of persons bathe elsewhere than at the Pavilion, yet the receipts have more than doubled those of anyprevious year, and on one occasion no less than fifty-nine baths were given in one day. The visitors, as before, hail from all parts of the world, and are of a class to benefit the colony by a liberal expenditure of money. Every facility and encouragement should therefore be accorded to them ; for, if well treated and benefitted by their trip, they become the best advertisement which could be devised for the Sanatorium. With regard to the hospital arrangements, I fear that another season must now be lost before patients can be admitted. No furniture has yet been procured, and certain modifications of the buildings are very desirable, and, in fact, almost necessary. These buildings were, in a measure, intended for the use of visitors, who might hire the cottages, and obtain their meals at the Government Eefectory. It is now, however, contemplated to devote them altogether to hospital purposes, leaving it to private enterprise to cater for the public. This, I feel sure, may safely be done, and the whole of the existing buildings will be needed for special uses. It is proposed to erect two additional " Priest's " baths on the shore of the lake, where a good deal of hot water now runs to waste. One of these will be set apart for the Maoris, in accordance with the terms of their agreement. The swimming-bath, called the " blue-bath," will be improved, and rendered more private. Several other springs and mudholes might, without difficulty, be utilized. A hot water supply from the " Kachel" spring is to be conducted to the laundry. This should be done by means of an iron tube, which could be cleaned or renewed at comparatively small cost, and which might be useful in drying the towels. A branch from it could also be led through the second " Priest's" bath, which is too cold for use, and has never been enclosed. In view of the annually increasing number of visitors, no time should be lost in rendering every spring and bath serviceable. It will be necessary to provide at least two light wheeled-chairs for the purpose of conveying crippled patients from the hospital to the Pavilion and back again. A tar pavement track should be laid down for them to travel upon. In the course of my visit I noticed some patients who had been sent to Eotorua suffering from diseases which could in no way be relieved by such a proceeding. The journey with some of them must have been most irksome and painful. It is very desirable that a pamphlet be issued, pointing out such affections as experience has shown to be either cured or mitigated in severity by these baths, and also pointing out the folly of sending incurable patients here to die, as I fear is sometimes done. The necessary statistics will be difficult to procure, as many of the visitors never come in contact with the Eesident Medical Officer. Either they have resolved, in the choice of baths, to act upon the advice of their local practitioner, or, as is frequently the case, they simply follow the practice of some friend or neighbour who has previously found relief, often from a totally different complaint. That the baths exercise a good effect over a very wide range of diseases, I get additional proof on every visit. Dr. Grinders, the recently-appointed Medical Officer, is likely to assist very materially in the development of their good reputation. March sth, 1885.

THAMES. I inspected this hospital (at Grahamstown) on February 24th and 25th, 1885. Since my last report, important additions have been made to the buildings, a large ward having been erected for the accommodation of about eleven beds for surgical cases; and also a smaller isolating ward, and an operating room. The surgical ward measures about 41ft. by 21ft., and is 12ft. in height to the ceiling. It is lighted on two sides by six large sash-windows. These, with ventilators in the ceiling, will probably suffice to remove any vitiated air; but Tobin's tubes can easily be added if additional ventilation be found requisite. There is a large grate at one end of the room for a coal fire. The walls are plastered throughout, as also is the ceiling. The floor is of sound kauri timber. The operating room is accessible from this ward, across an entrance passage, by double doors. It is sufficiently large, and well lighted from above. The small ward will be found very valuable at times for troublesome or noisy patients. A small projection from the new building contains an earth-closet, with a swing-window. This will probably require additional ventilation, and would have been all the better if it had been built with a small intercepting lobby. At present the new rooms are not available for use, owing to the want of painting, distempering, gas-fitting, water supply, and furniture. I strongly recommend that the centre of the floor in all the rooms be covered with good linoleum floor-cloth, and that iron bedsteads, with woven-wire mattresses, be supplied throughout. These are both cheaper than, and far preferable to, any other serviceable kind, being practically indestructible. The walls should be well painted dado-high, and coloured above. The older portion of the hospital is quite fall, the total number now under treatment being twenty-three. Some three or four of these are old chronic cases. I spoke to them all individually, and found them perfectly satisfied. The establishment is in excellent order throughout; and, in this respect, presents a great contrast to the state in which I found it two years ago. I spent some time in examining the various books kept by the steward and dispenser. These show at a glance the expenditure upon all items of housekeeping. Great care is evidently taken to promote economy; the cost, of each patient, apart from salaries and medical extras, not reaching 9d per day. The appearance of " smartness," everywhere apparent, reflects the greatest credit upon this officer and the staff who assist him. The