HOSPITAL MANUAL,

OR

SOLDIER'S GUIDE

IN

THE HOUR OF SICKNESS;

TO WHICH IS PREFIXED,

A SHORT SERVICE FOR THE USE OF MILITARY HOSPITALS.

BY THE

REV. E. P. HANNAM, M.A.

CHAPLAIN TO REGENT'S PARK BARRACKS,
AND AUTHOR OF "THE INVALID'S HELP."

"Fear God. Honour the King."-1 Pet. ii. 17.

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE; SOLD AT THE DEPOSITORY,

GREAT QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS;

4, ROYAL EXCHANGE; 16, HANOVER STREET, HANOVER SQUARE; AND BY ALL BOOKSELLERS.

LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET

INTRODUCTION.

IN submitting the following pages for the use of Military Hospitals, the intention of the author is twofold; first, to offer a general Service for the Sick; next, to present a Manual of Prayers, for the benefit of soldiers individually.

Of the utility, not to say necessity, of the former, the writer is convinced, from the experience which he himself has had, for some years, among his Majesty's household troops.

The latter also, from what he has seen

in his attendance upon soldiers, at all periods of sickness, and, from his knowledge of their habits, he trusts will have its advantages.

In order to explain the First Part, it may be proper to remark, that prayers are directed to be read "at least once a week," to the inmates of every Hospital; which, that the whole may be benefited by them, is usually done in the largest ward, or that containing the worst cases. But from the fatigue naturally attendant on invalids, the Morning Service is frequently found too long moreover, military regulations will not always admit of an unlimited portion of time being given up to this pur

pose; consequently an abridgment, many occasions, becomes absolutely

on

ne

cessary hence the Form of the Visitation

of the Sick is often used, with some addi

tional Prayers, at the discretion of the Reader.

Now although there are many excellent and appropriate Prayers and Collects scattered throughout the Liturgy, to which a Clergyman on these occasions may easily turn; yet to those who are not so conversant with its pages, (which a soldier cannot be supposed to be,) it becomes a work of difficulty; and the book is generally laid down, after an ineffectual attempt to follow the Reader.*

To remedy these inconveniences, this short compilation (entirely selected from

* A military congregation (such is the nature of the profession) must at all times be fluctuating, and still more so the members that would compose one in an Hospital; whence it would be impossible for a Chaplain to accustom the men to any particular manner of reading or selecting the Prayers.