Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the regulations affecting the sanitary condition of the army, the organization of military hospitals, and the treatment of the sick and wounded ; with evidence and appendix. Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of Her Majesty.

Great Britain. Royal Commission Appointed to Inquire into the Sanitary Condition of the Army.

Date:: 1858

Credit: Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the regulations affecting the sanitary condition of the army, the organization of military hospitals, and the treatment of the sick and wounded ; with evidence and appendix. Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of Her Majesty. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

691/978 page 565

$from these lists at the time of the distribution, and when ranged in their ranlcs, their portions will be given to them. Everything that is given to the infirmiers eating in the hall must be nicely served, and hot. On the other hand, they must present themselves neatly dressed, hands and face Avashed, and all their vessels perfectly clean, which the cook shall ascertain before putting in any of the aliments. These must also be all in good preservation and all uniform in shape and size, that no abuses may take place, not even for infirmiers majors, who may have some distinction in choice, but never in quantity. Chapter 7th. Utensils,— Cleansing and Preservation. Cleanliness in an hospital kitchen is one of the most important points, and the cook by giving his attention to it fulfils his duty, and gains for himself the praise of his superiors and all the visitors. All the objects in painted wood must be daily washed, and those that are not painted scrultbed with fine sand, or brush and soap, to remove all greasy spots. All the copper vessels also must be regularly scoured, and dried well outside, and washed with hot water inside, not forgetting the lids. These should be always well tinned inside; and whenever tinning is required no time should be lost in informing the officier d''administration, who will see tliat it is done. All other vessels also will be kept perfectly clean outside and inside as soon as they cease to be in use ; and all must be wiped dry as soon as they have been washed, to pi-event them from rusting. The safe also requires to be kept always very clean, and all that is put into it should be cold and arranged in order. Nothing shall be put there in copper saucepans. The scullery requires the constant attention of the cook. He will see that nothing remains there, that the objects are immediately washed, wiped dry, and replaced ; that no dirty water is kept, but is thrown away and repiaced by clean. The floor and walls of it should be painted with oil colour to bear continual washing, in order to remove all greasy substances, &c. The character, the conduct, the aptitude, and ap- pearance of his assistants deserve also his special observation. They must be subordinate and polite, behave honestly, and act with regularity and activity, neither too slowly nor too hurriedly; they must do all readily and with precision, and observe cleanli- ness. Their clothes must be clean and changed according to the different work they have to do. Their hair cut short, and their hands and faces frequently washed. His own example is of great importance on this point. The cook must look over his establishment very frequently, and particularly in the evening before leaving the kitchen, to assure himself that there is no ■danger of fire. Instructions for the Porter. General Duties. An ynfirmier major charged with the duties of porter should be alive to the importance and responsi- bility of his place ; he should take the greatest care so to act as to deserve the confidence placed in him. On his conduct the internal regularity of the service chiefly depends, and the prevention of abuses of all kinds. He being always prominent in view should be a model of neatness, bf»th in his person and his lodge. ■He must be always watchful, and nothing entering or igoing out should escape his notice ; he must join firmness with good manners, politeness, and dignity in his conduct ; and if any one should attempt to take advantage of his kindness, and conciliatory ]-emon- strances should not avail, without losing temper he may call the guard to his aid to enforce obedience to his orders. He will observe also that the sentry on guard obeys the orders of his post. Opening and closing of the Gates. The hospital gates will be open at 5\ every morning from the 1st October till the 31st ofMarch, and at 41 from the 1st April till the 30th September. They shall be closed at 10 o'clock precisely every day all the year round, and shall be opened only for the admission of the sick or wounded and for the medical officers on duty. No one shall go in or out without the porter's consent, watching the people that enter. The porter will allow no one to introduce any food or drink unless for the service of the hospital, or for the medical or commissariat ofiicers in active service. He has the right to question and even to search the people that enter, and if he can detect anything con- cealed he has a right to stop it, reporting it immedi- ately to the commissariat officer or the officer on guard. He will proceed in all this with respect to con- veniences and the best possible manners. People may deposit things that they bring with them in his lodge, and the porter will restore them to the owners on their going out. By frequently searching the men on guard, he will make sure that they do not smuggle in anything forbidden; and they will be deterred from doing so Avhen they know that if they are detected in attemp ing to commit such an offence they will be reported to the officers on duty and severely punished. No one will be allowed to enter without a ticket of admission, except those going to the medical or com- missariat officers ; he will see that persons do not make this a pretext to introduce themselves into the hospital ; and if he has reason to suspect that they will attempt to do so, he will adopt measures to see the rules obeyed. Even those that are provided with a ticket of admission must be closely watched, and if such persons are known to be women of bad character the porter can refuse them admission. Bearers of tickets of admission can be admitted from 12 till 3 ; in the event of persons coming from a distance it must be reported to the director, who will give the necessary orders on the matter. The bearers of tickets who obtain admission shall be noted down ; and if at half-past 3 they have not left the hospital the serjeant shall be ordered to request them to quit. Arms, sticks, and dogs must be left at the entrance. No one shall be allowed to stop at the lodge longer than the time i-equisite for the fulfilment of the above regulations. The porter shall keep only one wicket gate open, allowing entrance by the large gate to vehicles or large bodies of men, when he will remain present to see the gates shut after such admissions. The discharged patients will be examined on leaving ; if there should be a large number of them the porter will demand assistance, and they will be examined in small detachments. Men with bandages on will not be allowed to take them out unless they have a medical certificate, testifying to the necessity of them. No object whatever will be allowed to pass without a certificate or pass signed by tlie director or a first-class adjutant. Infirmiers entering or going out. Every morning he Avill receive from the infirmier major on guard a list of the infirmiers on guard or under restriction. Those not on guard will be alloweil to go out after the distribution of their provisions, accompanied by an infirmier major or with a written leave. Without either of these they Avill not be allowed to go even to the yards at any time of the day. Those who go out at 12 must return at 2, 4 C May call the .uuard in aid to make Iiimsolf obeyed. He is to watcli also on the Bcnti-y. Time for opening f;att'S, 4-i in cummer, 54 in winter. Gates clos- ing time, 10 o'clock. No admis- sion without porter's consent. Xo food or drinkjidmittp<l exoejit I'm- otli- cei-b oil duty. Porter can question and search IK'Oiile, and if he detects lliiuL's cou- c'( p.li'd can stoi) them. Must iHoieed Hi^v;l,vs with good maimers. 01>jects de- ('!:ired must be dcp.).-i(ed, Hiid then I ctuiiiod tu thpii- ownc'1'3 wlien tiie.v i-'o out. ill' will search lriH[uciitiy the men fflhi: idijuct TO deter lllcm IVom tr.vinu to smut-'L'Ie in anvthiiig^.-nid wlien found in fault report them. Tii-kets of .-id- mi.^siniiiiei'es fai-y to enter tl;e hospital; jn'opln ad- mitted ti) hi watched. ^ To women of bad character no ad- mission granted. Hours of admission from 12 till 3, all must have left at half-past 3. Arms, sticks, and dogs to be left at the lodge. Only one wicket to be kept open, exc' pt for vcliick'S and large bodies of men. Bandages not tohf pertnitted to l^e taUen (»ut unless with a certifi- eate of a niedi- eill ortieer. Xo olijpft al- lowed to L'O out witlioiit a si)i'cial pass from tl.p di- rector or first- class adjutant. A list of ill- Jlnnicrs on guard or under re- striction. Inlirmiers not on {,'uai'd call fro out after the ilistrihu- ioti arcompa nied by an In- JirmierJIajor$