The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-10 00:00:00

711 E ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL.

The British Medical .Journal describes this week
the interior arrangements of this hospital. There
are only four wards in use ; the walls of rough
limewashed brick ; the furniture scanty and broken ;
much of the linen torn and tattered ; the accommo -
dation for the head nurses very bad ; the under-
nurses bivouacking behind screens in one of the
large empty wards. In most of the details there
are apparent negligence, untidiness, and want of
order and comfort. The matron and steward are
mother and son. They consider it no part of their
duty to visit the wards. The latter was unaware
that in the accident ward the patients who are able
to sit and move about have no table, but sit on
their lockers and dine off their beds. The
matron rarely goes into the wards, or
supervises them ; but, if anything is wanted,
the nurses come to her. The steward, her
son, was till lately "in the building trade."
The butcher's bill for 85 patients is as high as that
of other hospitals for double the number. There
is no system of contracts and estimates. LThere is
a drug committee for the dispensary, and no inde-
pendent check upon the prices and qualities. One
sub-committee of investigation lately recommended
that " the powders given to patients should be dis-
pensed separately, and not en bloc ;" and that esti-
mates and contracts should be obtained for drugs.
The report containing these mild suggestions was
rejected. The operating-room is a very big, very
bare room, without water laid on, or any proper
stock of instruments or ordinary conveniences.
The times and mode of consultation, visitation,
and operation, are irregular and unsatisfactory.
This is mainly attributable to the fact that
the board have not authorised the formation of a
medical committee. The staff have had to buy for
the patients such things as extra bread and milk,
owing to the unsatisfactory dietary arrangements.
Although the patients are, by the theory of the hos-
pital, supposed to be " homeless and destitute," they
are compelled to buy for themselves tea, sugar, and
butter. The surgical appliances are scanty and in-
sufficient ; and it is altogether astonishing by what
extremity of mismanagement so large a sum can
possibly be spent on so small a number of beds, so
ill-found, and.on an establishment bearing about it
such unseemly marks of poverty and neglect. The
reporters of the British Medical Journal forbear
making any comments upon the supposed duties
of the gentleman called " general superintendent,"
because, since they have commenced their labours,
he has resigned."

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

GRAVESEND, Friday Morning.

Arrived, July 9.—Admiral Peter Fordenskjold, from
Namsos ; Norrlaud, from Sundswall ; Gerda, from Umea.
Arrived, July 10.—Fanny, from Bartleur ; Florence,
steamer, from Rotterdam.

Sailed, July 10—Greatha.m Hall, steamer, for Mogador;
Galacia, steamer, for Lisbon ; Stratton Audley, for Cal-
cutta ; Lord John Russell, steamer ; Blonde, steamer ; and
Normandie, steamer—all for Dunkirk; Cologne, steamer,
for Boulogne; Velocity, steamer, for Calais ;
steamer, for Ghent; Marie, steamer, for Stettin.
DEAL, Friday Morning.

Passed, July 9—Leontine Marie, frotuNamsos, for Mar-
laix ; Hawthorn, of Shoreham, from the north, for the
west; Omar Pasha, from London, for Brisbane; Kenil-
worth, from London, for Quebec; Rockliff, from London,
for Port Philip; Velasquez, screw steamer, from Santan-
der, for London.

Bank of England Returns.

An Account, pursuant to t
cap. 32, for the week ending 1
ISSUE DE/

,ho Act 7th and Bth Victoria
Wednesday, July 8, 18G8.
P kRTAENT.
Governmt. Debt.Xll,ols,loo
Other Secarities 3,94900
Gold Coin and
Bullion
Silver Bullion

Notes issued ..,.£36,388,460

£36,388,460
BANKING a

X 36,338,460

ProprietoreCapi-
tal £14,553,000
Rest
Public Deposits
(including Ex-
chequer, Sav-
ings' Banks,
Commissioners
of National
Debt, and Div.
Accounts
Other Deposits 23,158,431
Seven Days and
othor Bills 499,601

a'ARTMENT.
Governmt. Secu-
rities(including
Dead Weight
Annuity) .... £14,614,394
Other Securities 18,412,785
Notes 11,665,730
Gold and Silver
Coin

£I-3,855,9n X 45,855,091
FRANK 31AY, Deputy Cashier.

LOAN FOR. THE DANUBE.—A Convention was
signed at Galatz on the 30th of April between the
United Kingdom, Austria, Franco, Italy, the North Ger-
man Confederation, and Turkey. These six Powers agree
to guarantee a loan of 3,375,000 f , or £135,000, to bu con-
tracted by the European Commission of the Danubefor the
purpose of completing works of improvement at the mouth
and in the branch of the Sulina ; the loan to be redeemed
by annuities comprising both interest and repayment of
capital within 13 years from the Ist of January, 1871, the
date at which the payment of the loan will have been com-
pleted by the lenders. If the tolls should not suffice to
pay the annuities, the British Government will, to avoid
delay, discharge them as they fall due, the other contract-
ing Powers engaging to remit immediately their share to
the Driti§h Cloyorwannt.