The Carthage, now that she is to remain dhe fitted up in Bombay, provides an example of the possibilities of medical work at sea. The decision of the Indian Marine to do all the alterations there is the best thing that could have happened. Had she gone to Hongkong after di embarking troops, even with everything ready to be put in its place, there might have been serious difficulty at a time like in securing native workers to do what s needed, and in any case work always be best done at headquarters, pecially when there are two such capable men to look after it as Mr. Watson and Mr. King, of the Indian Marine. It. is under their direct superintendence, aided by the knowledge Captain Goodridze acquired during his recent visit to South Africa, that the transformation of the mail steamer into a hospital-ship will be accomplished. The horse-boxes that had Veen put up in view of the embarkation of reaps will have to come down. There will be a wholesale removal of bulkheads and second and part of the first-class quarters. For it has to be remembered that fifteen British officers, fifteen British soldiers, and ninety native souuers must be accommodate. At first sight this would appear a very simple fask—there is so much space on a'P. and O, steamer. But. there is more than the mere dumping down of a lot of beds in such a case, and the division of the beds into wards is hot the difficulty. It is to insure that the inmate of every hed shall have a certain amount of cubic it to breathe under all circumstances, that his ourses shall be accommodated where they can readily come to him when needed, that conveniences shall be within easy distance, and yet that good sanitation shall be guaranteed. There be a operating room, one or two dispensaries, disinfecting room, rooms where the Ahobiex can do their work, and where the cooks for Mahomedans and Hindoos and British will not interfere with each other's arrangements, The navigating 2 gineering staff of the ship must hi tors as well as the medical staff, the nurses, the ward-bors, and native servants. Everything must be carried out with an idea to economy of space consistent with an instrance of fresh air, When completed it is expected that there will be room for 120 patients of the different classes already mentioned. Each will have an iron 6 feet 3 inches by 3 feet bed fitted with copper spring mattress and mosynito curtains. Over each bed, too, will be a small trapeze cement so that, the curtains out of the way, th patient wishing to rise (o a sitting position assist himself by means of hanging This it an invention of Capt Holland, LM.S., at present at Durban, who has contributed in every way towards: the perfection to which hospital ships there have attained, and it may be mentioned that from notes supplied by him and drawings made by Mr. Watson the Carthage will be chiefly arranged.
The question of medicines to be carried is very simple. As in the case of the Commissariat it, has been reduced to a tabulation of so many patients, so much of everything. It is all in a book ready for reference. The chief clerk xt the medical stores on learning the number of beds in the hospital turns up the table referring to that number and in an hour or so the establishment can he furnished with all it requires. But there is one more point, and that is the question of medical comforts, On this it is difficult to speak cepting in reference to the Carthage, with regard to which, however, the Government have been most generous.—Major Sykes been given an absolutely free hand in ter, and the list. of strengthening ming, wines which are to be supplied by one of the best-known firms Bombay shows how much the sick are to be cared for. From champagne to brandy everything is to be of the very best, and there is to be plenty to meet all possible invalid needs. The outfit generally is for six months. It is to be hoped tnat the services of the ship will be little needed, and that peace may come to the Far East. Ti, however, the fullest demands are made upon her it is certain she will acquit herself well. In the rapidity of her arrangement and re-arrangement she is bearing witness to the efficiency of the organisation on this side of India—an organisation of which the Government have reason to be proud as of the men who hare made it—"Times of India."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.