CHAPTER VIII.
THE SICK-ROOM.
OWEVER skilfully designed the
arrangements of a house may
appear to be, however sumptuously
decorated and furnished its rooms,
it is impossible to know whether
a great law of common sense and practical
usefulness has guided such arrangements, until
there has been an illness in the house. Then will
it be discovered—too late alas!—whether doors
and windows open conveniently, whether
fire-places give out proper warmth, how the apparatus
for ventilation works, and whether the staircases,
landings, cupboards, and a thousand
unconsidered items of the architect's labours have been
planned in the best possible way, or in the
stupidest. For the comfort and convenience of the
patient at such times, it is by no means
necessary that much money should have been spent
on the construction of the house that chances
