or four years of age*), the beds are
surrounded with a low network, to prevent
their occupants tumbling out. At their
head is a little iron shelf, on which to
deposit supplies of herb-drinks, as well as
toys, fruit, and other sundries in which all
children take delight. Necessarily, the
room is furnished with little tables and
little benches, before which the inmates
can sit and play in little chairs.
Accessories to the dormitories are curtained
or boxed-in retreats or cabinets, for the
use of the sisters on service for the night;
also lavatories fitted up with enamelled
basins ingeniously swinging on a hinge, so
as to be instantly emptied into the sink
below. To each patient is assigned, and
numbered, his own private towel, sponge,
and brush.

* As a rule, the hospital is devoted to the treatment
of children not less than four, and not more than fifteen
years of age. As the exception, a certain number of
children are admitted at two years old. In such cases, at
four years old, the deformations of the skeleton have
mostly become irremediable; consequently, a valuable
therapeutic measure would be employed two years too
late. Applied in good time, it has the double result of
preventing osseous deformities, and effecting a rapid
cure.

Admirable is the swimming-bath, which,
during winter, is filled (by the steam-engine)
with warm sea-water three times a week.
It is, in fact, a spacious conservatory with
a pool in the middle, around which is a
framework of thrifty plants, while flowers,
drooping from tasty vases, hang suspended
from the transparent roof. Nor is warm
sea-bathing its only purpose. On Christmas
evenings and other winter fêtes, the bath
being emptied, and the floor well dried, the
children are treated either to Christmas-
trees profusely hung with oranges, or to
the more ideal delights of dissolving views
and the magic lantern.

The swimming-bath does not supersede
vapour and shower-baths, after using which
the patients retire to well- warmed dressing-
rooms. The little children have likewise
to themselves a room for cold sea or freshwater
baths, each bath screened by a marble
partition, and each bather having a slab of
cork to stand on. Indeed all ranks and
conditions here have their special
bathrooms.

Bathing gives an appetite; which leads
us to the refectories. The children sit, on
benches, on one side only of the tables,
which are of marble, in such a way that
they all face the middle of the hall. Each
child has a glass engraved with the initials
A. P., from which to drink excellent Abbeville
beer (the regulation beverage, wine
being given only on the doctor's special
order), a knife, foik, and spoon, and a
napkin folded in a numbered ring. Their
diet is choice, liberal, and varied. Twice
a week there arrive from Paris provisions
and dainties not to be had on the
spot in sufficient abundance. We saw in
the larder and store-rooms, artichokes,
brocoli, and preserved fresh vegetables
in plenty. The neighbourhood supplies
milk and fish at will, the latter being
especially desirable on account of the
phosphates it contains, fresh herring taking
high rank.

The patients' day is laid out thus.
Children not confined to bed, rise at six. This
early hour is fixed to give time for their
toilette, and especially for those unable to
dress themselves. Breakfast at seven ;
bread and milk, once a week chocolate.
Half-past seven, mass in church. Eight to
nine, walks. Nine to eleven, baths or school.
The children, as far as possible, have two
hours schooling per day; from nine to ten,
and from one to two. Eleven, dinner; say,
as a sample, soupe maigre, roast meat, and
stewed prunes, but always consisting of
three different dishes. After dinner till
one, recreation, in the form of play,
gymnastics, gardening, or sewing. The
authorities hold that for children under nine, the
best gymnastics are those which they
improvise in their sports. It is also remembered
that the bones of the inmates cannot
without danger be exposed to abrupt or
violent movements. One to two, school.
Two to four, baths, work-room, collation;
bread (sliced by machinery),
seasoned either with butter, cheese, preserves,
or fresh fruits. Four to five, religious
instruction and reading. Five to six, walks.
Six, supper; say, soup, boiled meat, and
fresh vegetables, but always three dishes.
Half-past six to eight, reading or
recreation, according to the weather. Eight,
bed.

The hospital's handsome and richly
decorated church, like the rest of the
establishment, can be reached by all the
patients without going into the open air.
There is ample room there for everybody,
healthy and sick, high and low, inmates
and strangers. At the back of the church,
corresponding with the sacristy, is a room
furnished with little iron bedsteads fitted
with white mattresses, and decently draped
with white curtains. These are for the
reception of children who die in the
hospital, until the time of their interment.