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of such inestimable advantage. It has always been a subject of astonishment, more especially with regard to the numerous district schools long since established in the metropolitan district, that women of education, obliged to earn a living, have not ever (as far as we are aware) applied for these posts, where they would be invaluable, and where, as is well known, there is much that could be improved. It is strange that in the case of these schools, when the enlarged Board of Management extends beyond the limits of a single parish or union, this matter should never have been thought of or carried out. What a field would there be here, amongst the thousands of poor, neglected, almost orphaned children (for many who have parents, we know, would be happier and safer without them), for the exercise of woman's true and best work—the care of and influence over children! And not only for them, but for the whole vast organization of these schools, what

a happy change it would be! The difficulties so often occurring between the managers and the teachers, the one drawing in an opposite direction from the other (owing, probably, to the sympathy with differing kinds of work, intellectual and industrial), would be smoothed over and set at rest by the appointment of women. of intelligence and education as supreme heads over the whole, who would be able rightly to discern the respective claims of each department.

But the advantages that would be derived from a Board of Guardians being selected from a wider range and higher class are so manifold, that they may be said to include all other desired reforms. Many of those who are at present elected are wholly ignorant of the working of the Poor Laws, and must therefore be incompetent to carry out their intentions in any liberal sense. Any one who ever takes the trouble to look at the small local papers in

which the proceedings are recorded, can hardly find, in all the round of this class of literature, any more pitiful or depressing display of the weakness and pettiness of human nature than the proceedings of some Boards of Guardians. How can we wonder that such managers choose and prefer a class of officials who will be in all respects subordinate to themselves, and that ladies cannot be found to offer themselves for these posts? It was well said in one of the earlier publications on this subject, that any clever woman placed in authority as matron, was well able to deceive and control a Board of Guardians, so long as she was content to bow down to them in all things, and trouble them with no suggestions. It is easy to understand their unwillingness to appoint any one superior to themselves, for much would then be seen and discovered that would be very inconvenient. We do not say that things are not better, even in this respect, than they were some

years ago; but every one knows how far the election of guardians is still from what it ought to be, and how, probably, the majority offer themselves from some interested motive, connected with the contracts, or with "keeping down the rates -a process which often means the voting against some enlightened and really necessary expenditure of £5, which in the end would save £50. It is also well known how far personal and private friendship and animosities are concerned in voting for or against motions brought before the Board. We believe that these remarks apply equally to country Boards, where farmers predominate, and to those of our towns, where the tradesmen do so even more.

The gross mistakes that have been made, even in the recent buildings of our new workhouse infirmaries, prove only too clearly the incompetency of those who have had the matter in their hands.* Owing to a narrow and short* See Appendix V.

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sighted policy and economy, it is well known that frequent controversies have been carried on between the guardians and the medical officers, who are not consulted as they should be in all matters connected with the welfare of the sick poor; * and amongst various suggestions for the improvement of these asylums or infirmaries, one most important plan has been brought forward, for which, however, an alteration in the Act of Parliament is required-viz, the opening them to medical students for the clinical study of disease. It is proposed that students of third and fourth years should be admitted, as the larger institutions abound with interesting cases; and how valuable the assistance of these young men would be we need hardly urge, when we find that as many as 500 patients are sometimes placed under the care of two medical men.

*There can be no doubt that the medical superintendent ought to be the supreme head of the infirmary, and have a seat at the Board.

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