Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/568

534 tion with the sea by means of a vaulted passage, a portion of which, cut off by rough masonry, was brought to light last spring during the sewerage excavations. At the end of this large apartment is a small oratory, and there are traces of an altar, above which now hangs a large picture, representing the reception of the hand of St. John by the Grand-Master D’Aubusson. All down the wall on the sea side of the apartment are little recesses, which were used as latrines in former days. The windows were high and small, so that the apartment was (and is even with it s additional windows) very dull and somewhat close. The dreariness of the room was relieved in former times by tapestries and pictures, the work of Matteo Preti and others. To those who look at sanitation with the eyes of the seventeenth century there is nothing but admiration to be given to the costly, nay lavish, arrangements and service of the hospital. The bpildings were extended in 1662, and again by the Grand-Master Perellos in 1712. In Perellos’ time also the chapel of the Holy Sacrament was erected opposite the ward for the dying.”

Such was the hospital of the Order in Malta. It now remains to discuss the statutes relating to its maintenance. Supreme in its governance was the conventual bailiff of the langue of France, who held, ex officio, the post of grand-hospitaller. He nominated from amongst the knights of his own langue an overseer of the infirmary, under whose immediate charge the whole institution was placed. The statutes thus define his duties:—“The infirmarian is a professed knight, to whose zeal the care of the sick is intrusted, for whom he must provide beds according to their condition and need. He resides in a separate apartment in the infirmary. Early in the morning he has the bell rung for the visitation, at which he is present to see that the sick are carefully attended by the physicians, and that what is necessary is ordered for them. The time for dining arrived, he has the dinner bell rung to summon all the officials, and he is present to make sure that each bed is supplied with the proper allowance, and that each of the subordinates does his duty. He does the same in the evening at the visitation and supper. Above all, he must have perfect quietness observed, and therefore he must often visit the wards by night, to see after