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[page 93] Now it is a fact in all hospitals that no patient can be properly attended to if the attendant is not in the halls to look after them. That would be an opinion I suppose. Now I come to the water question which has always been a somewhat difficult one to get at. And it has been the cause of a good many words. Some time in 1878, I think it was at the time when the water failed that there was a full board meeting of the trustees, Dr. Harlow, Dr. Sanborn Mr. Lakin and I were in the public office. In came Mr. Shorey, Dr. Cushing and Mrs. Quimby. Said Mr. Shorey, "Mrs. Quimby has been inquiring or speaking, Mr. Lakin, how it is that when there is said to be plenty of water, it is so difficult to get any in the wards." Mr. Lakin immediately seemed quite provoked, full of rage, and asked Mrs. Quimby in a loud boistrous [boisterous] tone, "Who told you? Who told you? I would like to see any one in my department tell any one any thing before telling me." She was a good deal embarrassed and hardly knew what to do. Dr. Harlow was there. He said nothing, as it was his place to say any thing by being superintendent of the institution. Finally I spoke