rmously, and
the number of patients was extended beyond more than three times the
regulation limit. The additional patients were then accommodated in
marquees and bell tents, according to the nature of their diseases.
Under these circumstances the working of the hospitals was difficult,
and the officers both of the R.A.M.C. and the civilian surgeons were
placed at a great disadvantage.

My space does not allow me to give any description of the general
arrangement of these hospitals, but I would suggest that a certain
number of them should be so modified as to increase their mobility and
allow of their being more readily utilised as Stationary hospitals.

During the whole campaign it seemed to me that the Stationary hospitals
(that is to say, the hospitals necessary to receive patients when the
Field hospitals were rapidly evacuated), were those in which some
increased uniformity of organisation was most needed.

It scarcely needs to be pointed out that this is the most difficult link
of the whole hospital chain to be uniformly well organised and equipped.
It is needed at short notice, and often for a short period, and it is
difficult to maintain a regular staff of officers ready for any
emergency without keeping a certain number of men idle.

The conversion of Field hospitals to Stationary purposes is undesirable,
as the troops move with only a regulation number of the former, which
under ordinary circumstances is the minimum that may be necessary.

Stationary hospitals as individual units are undesirable for the reasons
above given.

[Illustration: FIG. 11.--Type of a General Hospital (No. VIII.
Bloemfontein) extended by use of bell tents in the distance. (Photo by
Mr. C. S. Wallace)]

The difficulty might be met by increasing the mobility of a certain
number of the General hospitals, by making them divisible into five
sections, each of which should be able to move independently, and to the
last of which should be attached the heavy part of the equipment, such
as the iron huts for operating and X-ray rooms, kitchens, store sheds,
&c. The tents might also be lightened by the substitution of the
tortoise tent for the service marquee. The tortoise tent is lighter (360
as against 500 lbs.), easily pitched and moved, and holds at least two
more patients with ease. The capabilities of this tent were amply proven
during its use by the Portland, Irish, and other civil hospitals
attached to the army. It withstood wind a