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WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 

iMK  mmmma  eubcomb 

EDITED  BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


SATURDAY,     JULY     2,      1910. 


£^itorial. 


THE    ISLA    STEWART    SCHOLAR. 

When  tlie  question  of  a  National  ilemorial 
to  the  late  Miss  Isla  Stewart  was  considered, 
the  Committee  formed  to  fnrther  the  scheme 
were  iinanimously  of  opinion  that  nothing 
coiild  be  so  appropriate  as  one  which  would 
afford   increased    educational    facilities    to 
nurses.     Throughout  her  distinguished  pro- 
fessional career  Miss  Stewart  identified  her- 
self with  the  promotion  and  improvement  of 
nursing  education,  realising  that  education 
on  the  right  lines  was  the  keynote  of  that 
nursing  elhciency  which  is  of  the   utmost 
importance  to  the  community,  and  she  was 
■  especially  anxious  that  opportunities  should 
be  affoi'ded  to  nurses — who  had  shown  evi- 
dence in  their  training  of  executive  ability 
— of  obtaining  instruction  fitting  them  to 
undertake  the  duties  of  Superintendents  of 
Training  Schools  and  other  administrative 
posts.     It   is   a   curious   coincidence   that, 
without  consultation,  our  colleagues  in  the 
United  States  should  have  decided  upon  a 
similar  memorial  to  the  late  Mrs.  Hampton 
Robb,  who,  in  America,  held  much  the  same 
relation  to  the  nursing  world  as  that  filled 
by  Miss  Stewart  in  this  countiy.     In  this 
connection  Miss  L.  L.  Dock  writes:  "How 
lovely  and  beautifid  your  memorial  to  Miss 
Stewart.     Is  it  not  a  sweet  coincidence  that 
we    both    thought    of    the   same   kind   of 
memorial  to  our  departed  ones  ?  " 

The  proposal  that  the  scholarship  to  be 
established  as  a  memorial  to  our  great 
leader  should  be  tenable  at  Teachers'  Col- 
lege, Columbia  University,  New  York,  is  a 
very  happy  one,  for  true  education  is  acquired 
from  books  to  a  limited  extent  only — most 
valuable  is  the  knowledge  gained  by  foreign 
travel,  by  contact  with  others,  by  observing 
many  points  of  view  ;  and  the  privilege  of 


passing  through  the  course  at  Teachers' 
College,  under  the  guidance  of  ]\Iiss  A.  M. 
Nutting,  Ii.N.,  and  other  leading  Super- 
intendents of  Nurses  in  the  United  States, 
must  be  a  liberal  education  for  any  trained 
nurse. 

The  aim  of  the  Memorial  Committee  is  to 
collect  a  sufficient  sum  to  endow  a  scholar- 
ship in  perpetuity  ;  but  this  will  take  time, 
and  it  is  desired  that  the  first  Isla  Stewart 
scholar  should  go  into  residence  at  Teachers' 
College  in  September  next.  The  League 
of  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital  Nurses,  there- 
fore, have  guaranteed  the  £160  which  it  is 
estimated  will  be  required  for  the  year's 
expenses,  and  will  have  the  honour  of  main- 
taining, as  the  first  scholar,  one  of  their 
own  members.  It  is  fitting  that  the  first 
nurse  to  hold  this  scholarship  should  be  a 
graduate  of  the  school  to  which  Miss  Stewart 
devoted  the  best  years  of  her  life ;  it  is 
fitting  also  that  when  the  permanent 
memorial  takes  shape  the  scholarship — to 
hold  which  will  be  a  most  coveted  honour 
—should  be  open  to  the  graduates  of  other 
schools  also.  This  is  in  accordance  with 
Miss  Stewart's  generous  breadth  of  view, 
which  was  not  limited  to  one  school,  but 
included  the  better  education  of  the  nursing 
profession  as  a  whole. 

When  the  proposition  was  first  made  that 
a  memorial  should  be  established  which 
should  worthily  commemorate  Miss  Isla 
Stewart,  the  only  thought  in  the  minds  of 
those  initiating  the  scheme  was  that  of 
honouring  a  great  woman.  ,  The  events 
of  the  last  few  weeks  have  unfortunately 
made  them  aware  that  the  additional  duty 
is  now  imposed  upon  them  of  guarding  a 
reputation  happily  too  great  to  be  tarnished 
by  desecrating  hands,  and  of  protecting  the 
memory  of  the  silent  dead  from  premedi- 
tated detraction. 


Zbc  Britisb  3oui:nal  of  IRursing. 


[July 


1010 


nDebical  matters. 

THE  STUDY  OF  THE  TECHNIQUE  OF 
FUMIGATIONS. 

Dr.  Gabriel  Custodio,  Chief  of  the  Service  of 
Disinfection  in  Havana,  contributes  to  Sanidad 
y  Beneficencia  an  interesting  article  on  the 
Technique  of  Fumigations.  Dr.  Custodio  advo- 
cates the  use  of  an  air-tight  covering  of  canvas 
placed  externally  over  the  building  to  be  fumi- 
gated, a  method^suggested  to  him  by  an  im- 
portant paper  read  by  Dr.  Eduardo  Licdaga  on 
yellow  fever  in  Mexico.  He  writes: — I  was 
appointed  in  1907  by  the  sanitary  authorities  of 
Cuba  to  take  charge  in  the  campaign  of  the 
work  of  prevention  and  destruction  of  mosqui- 
toes, and,  as  I  was  fully  aware  of  the  defects 
of  the  sy.stem  in  use,  I  became  keenly  in- 
terested in  the  trial  of  the  new  jiroceeding,  be- 
cause, if  it  proved  practicable,  it  would  solve 
the  great  problem  in  the  technique  of  fumiga- 
tion, which  consisted  in  preventing  the  mosqui- 
toes from  being  chased  out  during  the  prepara- 
tion of  the  building,  either  by  the  inhabitants 
of  the  house  on  moving  the  furniture  and  other 
objects,  such  as  pictures,  tapestry,  clothes, 
etc.,  or  by  the  fumigators  while  carrying  on 
the  work  of  covering  the  openings  or  crevices 
in  the  walls  and  roof. 

Experience  has  shown  the  necessity  of  cer- 
i-nin  details  to  make  the  management  of  the 
canvas  easy  and  to  give  the  best  results  which 
the  method  is  capable  of  producing. 

'•'he  details  to  which  I  refer  are  the  follow- 
lUR :  — 

«.  Selection  of  the  class  of  canvas  for  the 
construction  of  the  air-tight  coverings. 

2.  Accessories  with  which  canvas  coverings 
of  this  kind  should  be  provided. 
3.-  Size  of  the  canvas. 
4.     Mechanism  for  setting  up  the  canvas. 
The  quality  of  the  canvas  is  very  important 
on  account  of  its  relation  to  the  efficacy  of  the 
fumigatioTi.    The  consistency  of  the  canvas  for 
resisting  the  manipulations  to  which  it  must  be 
subjected  is  also  to  be  taken  into  account. 

It  is  necessary  to  insist  on  the  quality  of  the 
canvas,  because  if  it  is  not  compactly 
woven  there  is  the  likelihood  that  the  sul- 
phurous vapours  or  the  smoke  of  the  pyrethrum 
may  escape  through  it,  thus  diminishing  to  a 
considerable  extent  the  quantity  of  material  ■ 
which  has  been  calculatfd  for  filling  the  cubic 
space  of  the  building,  in  addition  to  the  danger 
that  some  mosquitoes  may  escape  the  effects 
of  the  insecticide. 

Of  the  distinct  classes  of  canvas  vvhich  we 
have  employed  since  the  .system  was  intro- 
duced, the  best  result  has  been  obtained  from 


that  known  in  the  market  as  12  ounce  canvas. 
As  accessories,  the  canvas  should  be  provided 
with   eyelets,   cover  eyelets,  cross  pieces  and 
end  pieces. 

The  mechanism  employed  in  arranging  the 
canvas  is  as  follows:  — 

The  canvas  rolled  up  in  the  fonn  of  a  chain 
is  placed  at  the  most  suitable  point  for  raising 
it ,  two  or  more  men  (generally  two)  place 
themselves  on  the  roof  in  order  to  raise  the 
canvas  by  its  upper  extremity,  while  two  others 
from  the  ground  assist  in  unrolling  it,  and  pre- 
venting the  wind  from  opening  it  before  it  com- 
pletely reaches  the  roof.  Arranged  in  this 
manner  on  the  roof,  it  is  unfolded  and  extended 
over  the  roof  until  it  covers  it  totally. 

This  operation  may  be  performed  with  only 
four  men,  in  the  short  space  of  half  an  hour, 
without  danger  that  the  projecting  eaves,  in 
the  case  of  houses  with  tile  roofs,  or  the  rail- 
ing, in  the  case  of  houses  with  terrace,  or  the 
canvas  itself,  may  break  on  account  of  the 
rubbing. 

If  it  has  been  necessary  to  employ  several 
canvases  to  cover  the  house,  after  these  have 
been  extended  over  the  roof,  they  are  unitoil 
b\  means  of  the  ropes  which  pass  through  thf 
eyelets,  and  strips  of  paper  are  pasted  over  the 
latter  in  order  to  secure  the  desired  imper- 
meability. 

In  summary,  its  advantages  are  the  follow- 
ing :  The  work  is  earned  on  externally  witli 
considerable  economy  in  men,  material,  and 
time.  The  last  is  a  very  important  considera- 
tion when  dealing  with  yellow  fever,  in  which 
it  is  necessary  to  intervene  before  the  lapse  of 
a  limited  period  of  time  (12  days)  for  the  total 
destruction  of  the  mosquitoes  before  they  are 
in  a  condition  to  transmit  the  disease.  The 
closure  of  large  open  s]iaees,  such  as  yards  and 
porches,  is  achieved  with  the  absolute  certainty 
that  the  work  done  will  resist  intense  atmo- 
spheric changes,  such  as  rain  and  wind,  with- 
out the  disinfection  l)eing  affected  at  all. 

The  new  .system  diminishes  considerably  the 
injury  which  this  class  of  work  always  causes 
the  families  who  occupy  the  houses  as  well  as 
the  merchants  or  manufacturers  on  account  of 
the  interruption  which  they  suffer  in  their 
occu])ation  and  business. 

It  is  a  problem  already  settled  that  each 
person  is  left  in  possession  of  his  home,  office, 
estai)lishment,  etc.,  a  few  hours  after  the  work 
of  fumigation  has  begim. 

The  new  method  does  not  produce  filthiness, 
as  does  the  pasting  of  paper  in  the  interior  oi 
the  houses,  which  has  always  been  a  nuisance 
giving  rise  to  constant  complaint-s  and  pi-otests 
on  the  part  of  owners  or  tenants. 


July  2,  1010^ 


Zbc  15riti5b  3ournal  of  IRursino. 


3 


1b\>aicnc  a^^  flDoralitv^. 

{Continued  from  page  508). 

Prostitution. 

Last  week  we  reviewed  the  first  part  of  Miss 
Dock's  uew  book,  "  Hygiene  aud  Morality," 
which  deals  with  the  Jledical,  Social,  and 
Legal  Aspects  of  the  Venereal  Diseases. 

In    Part    II.   Miss    Dock    deals    with    pros- 
titution and    the    spasmodic    attempts    made 
from      time       to     time       during      the      past 
ages      to     control     or     punish     it.        These 
attempts,   we   read,   usually  took  the  form  of 
grotesque  and  brutal  punishments  for  women, 
rarely  for  men.      As  a  rule  the  vicious  male 
seems  to  have  been  overlooked  or  regarded  as 
an  insignificant  factor  in  the  problem.    Punish- 
ment     meted      out      to      the      woman     was 
chiefly      hypocritical    or    vindictive,     not     in 
the     least    preventive.      Sometimes    she   was 
put  into  an  iron  cage  and  dipped  into  the  river 
— almost,  but  not  quite,  drowned ;    sometimes 
her  nose  was  cut  off.  or  she  was  whipped  or 
compelled  to  wear  a  distinguishing  dres.*.     She 
has  always  been  the  victim  of  blackmail,  and 
the  methods   by   which  this   has   been  levied 
show     a     remarkable    similarity    right     down 
through  the  ages  to  modern  times :    they  were 
usually  the  enactment  of  non-preventive  legis- 
lation of  a  petty  and  harassing  character,  with 
the    imposition  of   heavy    fines    for   breach  of 
observance.     As  such  legislation  simply  made 
it  more  difiicult  for  her  to  earn  her  bread  in  the 
onl}'  way  open  to  her,  it  of  course  had  to  be 
violated,  and  the  fines  collected  were  divided 
between  the  accuser  and  the  city  government. 
All  such  legislation  rested,  as  it  still  does,  on 
the  acceptance  (once  unquestioned,  but  to-day 
no  longer  so)  of  the  double  standard  of  morals. 
"  The  double  standard  tacitly  permits  men 
to  indulge  freely  and  unchecked  in  sexual  irre- 
gularity   without    consequent    loss    of    social 
standing,  but  it  dooms  the  women    who   are 
necessarily   involved  in  these  irregularities  to 
social  ostracism  and  even  to  complete  degrada- 
tion. 

"  In  order  to  justify  immoral  practices  among 
themselves,  aud  to  have  a  plausible  explana- 
tion ready  if  criticism  oflfered,  the  doctrine  of 
'  physical  necessity  '  has  been  invented  for  men 
by  themselves,  and  has  even  been  fortified  by 
the  positive  teaciiings  of  prominent  medical 
men.  This  doctrine,  however,  has  never  been 
extended  to  women,  but  instead  the  cowardly 
and  cruel  theory  of  innate  depravity  has  been 
industriously  disseminated  as  applying  to 
'  fallen  women,'  thus  skilfully  ensuring  an 
isolated  ^position  for  these  unfortunates,   and 


effectually  checking  tlie  outgrowth  of  pity  for 
them  among  women  of  the  protected  classes. 
The  practical  results  of  this  psychological 
jugglery  have  been  that,  of  two  partners  in  one 
aud  the  same  act,  neither  one  of  whom  could 
execute  this  act  alone,  and  with  whom  if  the 
element  of  compulsion  entered  as  a  complica- 
tion, it  could  not  possibly  be  present  in  the  case 
of  the  stronger  partner — men,  the  stronger, 
have  remained  free  from  blame;  women,  the 
weaker,  have  lived  under  a  curse.  The  fact  that 
this  way  of  regarding  the  woman  concerned  dis- 
proves the  argument  of  '  physical  necessity  '  is 
only  a  part  of  the  illogicahty  of  the  whole.  It 
is  evident  that  if  unregulated  sexual  practice 
were  really  necessary  for  men  there  could  be 
no  element  of  shame  or  wrong  in  it,  and  there 
could  therefore,  obviously,  be  none  for  the 
women,  for  no  act  that  is  physically  necessary 
is  wrong,  no  matter  how  primal  it  may  be." 

Miss  Dock  then  deals  with'  modern  systems 
of  regulation,  aud  shows  why  and  how  these 
have  failed.  She  describes  the  estabhshmeut 
of  the  Contagious  Diseases  Acts  in  this  country, 
aud  shows  how  under  this  law,  as  an  English 
writer  pointed  out,  "  the  pohce  spies,  acting  on 
hints  given  them  by  persons  acting  in  jealousy 
or  revenge,  and  from  motives  of  blackmail," 
held  the  honour  and  reputation  of  every  woman 
among  the  poorer  classes  absolutely  at  their 
disposal.  The  repeal  of  these  Acts,  owing  to 
the  crusade  under  the  leadership  of  Mrs. 
Josephine  Butler,  of  honoured  memory,  is  now 
a  matter  of  history.  The  protest  embodying 
the  reasons  for  this  crusade  appeared  in  the 
Daily  Neivs,  January  1st,  1870,  and  was  signed 
by  250  of  the  great  moral  leaders  among  Eng- 
lishwomen. The  first  signature  is  that  of  Har- 
riet Martineau,  and  half  way  down  the  column 
appears  the  name  of  Florence  Nightingale. 

The  whole  of  this  section  of  the  book  should 
be  carefully  studied:  it  is  the  most  lucid  pre- 
sentment of  "  the  social  institution  called 
prostitution."  Dr.  Elizabeth  Blackwell  wrote 
in  1880:  "  The  fact  must  be  clearly  perceived 
and  accepted  that  male  chastity  is  a  funda- 
mental virtue  in  a  State :  that  it  secures  the 
chastity  of  women,  on  which  the  moral  quali- 
ties of'fideHty.  humanity,  and  trust  depend, 
and  that  it  secures  the  strength  and  truth  of 
men,  on  which  the  intellectual  vigour  and  wise 
government  of  a  State  depend. 
From  that  time  on  women .  physicians 
as  an  entire  body  have  stood  unitedly 
for  a  single  standard  of  morals  and  for  the 
education  of  the  public.  "  lu  the  United  States 
of  America  they  have  been  publicly  called  uixyi 
by  their  colleagues  in  the  medical  profession  to 
carry  the  teachings  of  hygiene  to  the  women  of 
the  land. 


^fce  Britisb  3oiu*naI  of  IRursing. 


:July  2,  1910 


Two  luternational  Conferences  for  the  Pro- 
phylaxis of  Sj'phihs  and  the  Venereal  Diseases 
have  been  held  in  Brussels,  and  among  the 
national  societies  newly  foi-med  to  carrj-  on 
educational  missions  in  regard  to  venereal 
disease,  the  American  Society  of  Sanitary  and 
I\Ioral  Prophylaxis,  under  the  presidency  of  its 
founder,  Dr.  Pi-ince  A.  Morrow,  of  New  York 
City,  stands  easily  in  the  lead  by  reason  of  its 
singleness  of  purpose — certain  others  still 
■wrestling  with  the  vexed  question  of  regulation. 

The  brutalising  effect  of  regulation  on 
character  was  shown  by  the  evidence  laid  be- 
fore a  Select  Committee  on  the  question  in  this 
country.  Thus,  an  officer  who  ordered  an 
establishment  for  his  regiment  in  India  in 
advance,  knowdng  well  that  many  would  be 
little  girls,  excused  this  on  the  ground  that  "  in 
India  prostitution  begins  in  the  cradle."  "  A 
menacing  disregard  for  the  good  of  the  civil 
community  was  suggested  in  the  testimony  of 
such  men  that,'  diseased  women,  if  incurable, 
were  expelled  from  the  cantonment.'  But  it 
w-as  asked  where  did  they  go?  For,  unless 
they  could  die  at  once,  they  must  go  some- 
where and  be  a  danger  to  their  environment. 

"  The  decline  of  traditional  cHivah-y  under 
the  effects  of  the  supervision  of  vice  is  at  hand 
in  the  suggestion  of  a  German  surgeon,  who, 
angered  by  the  failure  of  inscribed  women  to 
appear  regularly  for  examination,  wouJd  have 
had  them  whipped  for  absence,  and  in  that  of 
a  French  doctor  who  proposed  imprisoning  each 
woman  for  several  days  before  examination,  in 
order  to  prevent  their  tampering  with 
symptoms." 

The  second  chapter  in  this  terrible  history 
deals  with  the  White  Slave  traffic,  a  traffic 
which  is  a  disgrace  to  any  country  counte- 
nancing it  for  a  moment. 

Of  this  traffic  District  Attorney  E  .W.  Sims, 
■of  Chicago,  after  investigating  its  organisation, 
wrote  in  much  ihe  same  terms  as  did  the 
English  investigators  into  the  Brussels  condi- 
tions. When  a  white  slave  is  sold  and  landed 
in  a  house  or  dive  she  becomes  a  prisoner,  her 
clothes  are  placed  under  lock  and  key,  and  the 
finery  provided  for  her  is  of  such  a  nature  as 
to  make  appearance  on  the  street  impossible. 
Moreover,  she  is  placed  at  once  in  the  debt  of 
the  keeper  for  a  w'ardrobe,  she  cannot  escape 
while  she  is  in  debt,  and  she  can  never  get  out 
of  debt. 

.Miout  ten  years  or  less  is  the  average  expec- 
tation of  life  in  women  of  this  class.  "  Many 
die  painful  deaths  by  disease  (venereal),  many 
by  consumption,  but  it  is  hardly  beyond  the 
truth  to  say  that  suicide  is  their  general  expec- 
tation." 

Part  III.  deals  with  the  Prevention  of 
Venereal  Disease. 

(To  be   concluded.) 


Zbc  Xeaoue  of  St.  Bartbolomcws 
Ibospital  IHurscs. 

A  General  Meeting  of  the  League  of  St.  Bar- 
tholomew's Hospital  Nurses  was  held  in  the 
Clinical  Lecture  Theatre  at  St.  Bartholomew's 
Hospital  on  Saturday,  June  25th.  Miss  Cox- 
Davies,  the  Pi-esident,  presided. 

In  her  address  from  the  chair,  the  President 
said  that  it  was  impossible  to  open  the  meet- 
ing without  first  referring  to  the  loss  the  League 
had  sustained  of  its  Founder  and  Hon.  Presi- 
dent, Miss  Isla  Stewart.  Many  words  were  not 
necessary,  because  it  filled  the  minds  ot  all. 
At  first  overshadowed  by  their  own  personal 
sorrow,  the  members  hardly  realised  all  they 
had  lost.  They  realised  it  overwhelmingly  now 
and  all  that  it  meant.  All  their  views  as  to 
what  was  best,  highest,  noblest,  and  finest  in 
their  profession  they  had  learnt  fifom  her. 
Not  so  much  what  she  said,  but  by  the  example 
which  she  set  before  them.  What  was  left  to 
Bart's  nurses  was  the  League  which  ^Miss 
Stewart  had  founded.  That  was  theirs  to  keep 
for  the  future  with  all  that  their  Founder  had 
tried  to  put  into  it.  She  then  proposed  from 
the  chair  a  resolution  embodjing  the  League's 
deep  sense  of  its  irreparable  loss,  which  was 
passed  in  silence,  standing. 

The  President  then  said  that  in  their  own 
deep  trouble  they  must  also  remember  that 
since  the  League  last  met  the  death  of  his  late 
Majesty  had  occurred.  She  thought  that  the 
League  would  wish  to  send  a  resolution  of  sym- 
pathy and  loyalty  to  the  present  King  from  the 
certificated  nurses  of  the  Eoyal  Hospital  of  St. 
Bartholomew,  which  stood  highest  in  the  world. 
This  was  carried  in  silence  and  standing.  Votes 
of  condolence  with  American  nurses  in  their 
bereavement  by  the  death  of  Mrs.  Hampton 
Robb,  and  with  Miss  Janet  Stewai't  were  also 
passed. 

The  Annual  Report  w'as  then  presented  by 
the  General  Secretary  and  by  the  Treasurer, 
Miss  Jenkins,  which  showed  a  balance  in  hand 
of  £85  15s.  lid.  and  of  €25  Os.  lid.  in  a  reserve 
fund;  by  the  Financial  Secretary,  presented  by 
Mrs.  Matthews  for  Miss  Whitley.  The  League 
decided  to  retain  in  their  own  hands  the  fur- 
ther sum  of  £4€i-i  collected  for  the  Nurses' 
Home  beyond  tlie  ti,500  already  given,  and 
to  invest  it  in  Trust  Funds. 

The  Benevolent  Fund  Account,  presented  by 
Mrs.  Wates,  also  showed  a  balance  in  hand  of 
f50  ns.  (id. 
National  Memorial  to  Miss  Isla  Stf.wart. 

Tlie  next  business  before  the  meeting  w  as  to 
receive  a  statement  from  the  Conunitto.^ 
formed  to  promote  a  national  memorial  to  Miss 
Isln  Stewart,  which  was  presented  by  Mrs. 
Walter  Spencer,  who  said  that  the  Committee 


July  2,  1910] 


Zl)c  IBritigb  3ournal  of  "Kursino, 


hoped  to  collect  sufficient  funds  to  ena"ble  a 
selected  student  to  tako  a  year's  course  of  pre- 
paration for  Matrons'  jx>sts  at  Teachers'  Col- 
lege, Columbia  University,  New  York,  until 
such  time  as  we  have  a  similar  course  in  this 
country.  She  read  a  letter  from  Miss  M.  A.  Nut- 
ting, R.N.,  Professor  of  Institutional  Adminis- 
tration at  Teachers'  College,  giving  details  of  the 
course,  and  extending  a  cordial  welcome  to  the 
holder  of  the  Isla  Stewart  Scholarship.  As  it 
was  desirable  that  the  scheme  should  be  started 
forthwith,  the  President  asked  whether  the 
League  would  undertake  the  honour  of  sending 
one  of  its  members  in  September  next  as  the 
first  student.  In  order  to  do  this  it  would  be 
necessary  to  raise  £160.    •» 

Sister  Paget  (Miss  Shrives)  said  that  she 
thought  the  general  scheme  would  be  after  Miss 
Stewart's  own  heart.  It  would  be  impossible 
to  think  of  anything  better. 

It  was  proposed  from  the  chair  that  Mrs. 
Andrews  should  confer  with  Miss  Whitley  as  to 
the  best  means  of  promoting  it,  which  was  car- 
ried unanimously. 

Miss  Musson  then  proposed  that  the  League 
undertake  to  raise  the  sum  of  £160,  in  order 
that  it  may  send  out  the  first  student  in  Sep- 
tember, as  speedily  as  possible.  This  was 
seconded  by  Sister  Matthew  (Miss  Bramwell) 
and  carried  unanimously. 

Miss  Maud  Banfield,  a  member  of  the 
League  and  one  of  the  Superintendents  who 
helped  to  found  the  course  at  Teachers'  Col- 
lege, gave  an  interesting  account  of  its  work. 

Miss  Bryant,  Miss  Nevile,  Miss  Bird,  and 
Miss  M.  Sleigh  were  elected  members  of  the 
Executive  Committee  in  place  of  the  retiring 
members. 

On  the  proposition  of  the  President,  it  was 
decided  that  no  lectures  should  be  held  during 
the  winter  session,  and  the  money  which  would 
have  been  spent  on  them  saved  for  the  Isla 
Stewart  Memorial. 

Authority  was  given  to  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee to  make  such  arrangements  as  might  be 
necessary  for  the  next  meeting. 

'Jea  was  afterwards  served  in  the  Great  Hall 
with  the  daintiness  which  always  characterises 
these  functions. 

H  tribute  to  fHMss  36la  Stewart. 

FROM     HER  AMERICAN  COLLEAGUES. 

My  De.\r  Madam, — At  the  Annual  Meeting 
of  the  American  Society  of  Superintendents  of 
Training  Schools  for  Nurses,  recently  held  in 
New  York,  the  following  resolutions  were  acted 
upon,  and  the  Secretary  was  instructed  to  send 
a  copy  of  the  same  to  you  as  President  of  the 
National  Council  of  Trained  Nurses  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland. 


"  Whereas :  In  the  death  of  Miss  Isla 
Stewart  the  nursing  profession  h'as  lost  one  of 
its  most  courageous,  enlightened,  and  trust- 
worthy leaders,  whose  whole  great  weight  of 
character,  personality,  and  distinguished  posi- 
tion has  been  steadily  thrown  on  the  side  of 
the  highest  good  of  the  entire  body  of  nurses, 
without  regard  to  self,  during  her  whole  nurs- 
ing career  as  Matron  of  the  Premier  Royal 
Hospital  of  England. 

"  We,  her  American  colleagues,  many  of 
whom  have  been  privileged  to  know  her  per- 
sonally and  to  feel  the  stimulus  of  her  rich  and 
buoyant  nature,  express  our  deep  sense  of  loss 
in  her  passing,  and  our  heartfelt  sympathy  with 
her  British  co-workers." 

Yours  most  truly, 

M.  H.  McMillan,    Secretary. 
The  American  Society  of  Superintendents 
of  Training  Schools  for  Nurses. 
To  Mrs.   Bedford  Fenwick. 


^be  ^eacbino  of  IRuvsinG  b^ 
Burses. 


As  we  reported  last  week,  the  St.  John  Am- 
bulance Association  has  withdrawn  from  the 
Yoluntan;'  Aid  Scheme  for  aid  to  the  sick  and 
wounded  in  the  event  of  invasion.  A  letter 
from  Sir  Richard  Temple  to  the  Morning  Post 
makes  it  apparent  that  one  reason  is  that  the 
War  Office  has  now  altered  the  Scheme  to  make 
the  St.  John  Ambulance  Association  only  one 
of  a  number  of  bodies  who  may  give  the  pre- 
liminary training,  instead  of  the  only  one.  An- 
other cause  of  oSence,  in  Sir  Richard  Temple's 
view,  is  that  "  it  insisted  that  nurses  should 
teach,  and  nurses  should  examine  and  grant 
certificates  in  nursing  to  candidates  for  Volun- 
tary Aid  Detachments,  w-hereas  the  St.  John 
Ambulance  Association  makes  it  obUgatory 
that  pupils  in  any  kind  of  medical  subject  .  .  . 
shall  be  taught  by  one  medical  practitioner, 
and  examined  and  certified  by  another  un- 
connected with  the  class." 

In  point  of  fact  the  St.  John  Ambulance  As- 
sociation cannot  divest  itself  of  the  beUef  that 
a  nurse  is  an  inferior  kind  of  medical  practi- 
tioner, cannot  realise  that  medicine  and  nursing 
are  distinct  branches  of  the  healing  art,  and 
that  the  duties  of  each  are  best  taught  by  those 
who  have  themselves  learnt  how.  to  perform 
them.  We  most  heartily  congratulate  the  War 
Office,  and  its  liberal-minded  Secretary  of 
State,  on  recognising  this  fact.  The  teach- 
ing of  nursing  by  nurses  in  connection  with  the 
Voluntary  Aid  Scheme  has  been  widely  dis- 
cussed and  strongly  advocated  in  the  columns 
of  this  journal,  and  it  is  with  great  pleasure  we 
chronicle  a  decision  which  must-greatly  add  to 
the  efficiencv  of  the  new  organisation. 


dbe  Defence  of  IHursing   Stan* 
&arJ)s  Committee. 

Much  publicity  has  been  given  in  the  press 
to  the  burning  question  of  the  Bart's  Matron- 
ship.  A  lively  correspondence  is  going  on  in 
the  Citij  Press  and  the  Pall  Mall  Gazette  and 
other  papers  are  also  giving  space  to  its  discus- 
sion. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Council  at  the  Guildhall  last  week  Mr.  H. 
Dixon  lumber  asked  the  Town  Clerk  wtiether 
he  had  received  a  letter  from  Mrs.  Shuter, 
Secretary  of  the  Defence  of  Nursing  Standards 
Committee,  and  if  so  why  it  was  not  mentioned 
on  the  Agenda.  The  Town  Clerk  replied  that ' 
he  had  received  the  letter.  He  had  not  replied 
to  it  because  Mr.  Kimber  had  mentioned  the 
matter  to  him.  It  has  not  been  put  on  the 
Agenda  because  ^it  was  not  the  custom  of  the 
Court  to  be  approached  by  letter  by  self-con- 
stituted bodies,  but  by  way  of  a  Petition,  which 
one  member  must  back. 

Mr.  Kimber  said  that  as  no  answer  had  been 
sent  to  the  lady,  and  she  had  therefore  had  no 
opportunity  of  putting  her  conmiunication  on 
foolscap  instead  of  on  letter  paper,  and  the 
matter  was  one  of  much  importance,  he  would 
ask  leave  of  the  hon.  members  to  move 
a  Resolution  without  notice.  This,  however, 
was  not  acceded  to. 

As  St.  Bartholomew's  is  the  only  general 
hospital  within  the  City  boundaries,  nurses  who 
have  been  trained  there  were  naturally  anxious 
to  bring  the  circumstances  of  the  appointment 
of  the  new  Matron  before  the  Court  of  Common 
Council,  an  end  which  has  been  attained. 

SuBSCBIPTION.S   TO    DaTE. 


Brought  forward  

Mrs.  Shaw       

F.   Rickett,   Esq 

Dr.  Stabb        

Mre.   Stabb     

Mi-s.  Homan    ... 
-Mrs.  Myers 
Mi.ss  M.  Breay 

A   Well  Wisher         

.\.  Donaklson,  Es<j.   ... 
"  Amicus  " 

A  League  Member     ... 
^li.ss   Prichard... 
Mr^.  <k'  ScguiKlo 

Mrs.  Matthews  

Miss  M.  Burr 

Mrs.  King.sford  .,. 

A   GoW   Mwlallist       

.Sister  France.s 

Jlrs.  Priestley,   Certificated  Nui-se 

Miss  Ransome,  ,,  ,,   - 

MifisianfieUl, 

M.  W.  J., 


£ 

30 

5 

2 


s.  d. 
3  6 
0  0 
2  0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
fi 
0 
0 


*na!  of  THnrsing. 

[July  2,  1910 

M.  W., 

1    0 

M.  C, 

1    0 

M.   B., 

1    0 

F.   G.  S., 

1    0 

E.  F.  S., 

1    0 

E.  H.  G., 

„              ...          1    0 

E.  E.  C, 

10 

M.  P.  H., 

1    0 

E.  B.  K., 

1    0 

A.  Bart's  Xurse            ,, 

1    0 

£48  19    0 

passive  IResistance. 

View  Day  at  "  Bart's,"  when  the  Governors 
naake  their  annual  inspection  of  the  hospital, 
has  from  time  immemorial  been  a  flowei-y  fes- 
tival, and  a  time  of  good  fellowship.  Soon 
after  dawn  Sisters  and  nurses  pay  a  visit  to 
Covent  Garden,  and  return  laden  with  the 
finest  flowers  in  bloom.  With  these  the  wards 
are  turned  into  lovely  bowers,  and  patrons, 
visitors,  medicos,  and  patients  are  lost  in  ad- 
miration. Come  tea-time,  the  Sisters  and 
nurses  welcome  all  and  sundry,  and  dispense 
the  kindest  hospitality.  That  is  an  orthodox 
View  Day — -View  Day  as  it  has  always  been 
celebrated  within  living  memory. 

Alas  I  this  year,  when  on  Thursday  the  Go- 
vernors paid  their  visit,  few  of  the  wards  pre- 
sented the  usual  gala  appearance,  the  old-time 
gaiety  was  hushed,  and  in  the  majority  of  wards 
hospitality  was  conspicuous  by  its  absence.  A 
grey  veil  seemed  drawn  between  the  old  time 
happiness  and  joy. 

"  Yes,  we  are  in  mourning,"  it  was  re- 
marked. "  Mutual  respect  and  loyalty  have 
been  the  mainspring  of  our  work  these  many 
years.  These  be  sensitive  things.  We  moum 
that  they  have  been  so  ruthlessly  handled." 

As  an  expression  of  their  disapproval  of  the 
part  taken  by  the  representatives  of  the  medi- 
cal stafi,  in  the  depreciation  of  the  professional 
status  of  their  certificate  at  the  recent  election 
of  a  Matron,  the  Sisters  with  few  excep- 
tions did  not  attend  the  Abernethian  Lecture, 
to  which  they  are  always  invited,  which  was 
delivered  by  the  Senior  Physician  on  Thursday, 
the  23rd  inst.  Their  determination  to  absent 
themselves  aroused  a  lively  sense  of  apprehen- 
sion, and  members  of  the  junior  medical  staff 
made  urgent  requests  in  the  wards  that  this 
very  effective  passive  resistance  should  not  be 
persisted  in.  As  a  result,  a  sprinkling  of  the 
Sisters  attended.  ^len  have  got  to  learn 
the  lesson  that  they  cannot  trample  upon  the 
sensibilities  of  women  in  these  days,  if  they 
hope  for  loyal  service  and  support.  The  medi- 
cal staff  have  the  power  to  have  a  great  wrong 
rectified  if  thev  choose. 


July  2,  1910] 


Zbc  Britisb  3ournal  of  IHuvsino. 


Z\K   ^ciTitorlal    jfoucc    IWuvaino 

Service,  Citv:  an^  County 

of  Xon^on. 


Because  a  "  Loudon  "  trained  nurse  has 
most  unjustly  been  (.-lected  to  supersede  as 
ilatrou  all  the  devoted  women  who  have  built 
up  the  great  nursing  reputation  of  St.  Bar- 
tholomew's Hospital,  that  she  should  also  de- 
prive them,  as  suggested,  of  the  reward  of  their 
patriotism  in  connection  with  the  Territorial 
Force  Nursing  Service  would  be  insufferable. 

The  authorities  at  the  London  Hospital  by 
every  means  in  their  power  opposed  the 
efficient  organisation  of  this  Volunteer  Nursing 
Service;  on  the  other  hand,  by  the  advice  of 
their  late  Matron,  the  authorities  of  St,  Bar- 
tholomew's Hospital  gave  every  encourage- 
ment to  the  JNIansion  House  Committee  under 
the  chairmanship  of  the  late  Lady  Mayoress  in 
organising  the  scheme,  which  has  been  done 
with  the  utmost  success,  owing  principally  to 
the  fact  that  the  standard  for  the  nursing  staff 
is  the  highest  obtainable — a  certificate  of  three 
years'  training.  Moreover,  as  it  has  been 
agreed  that  No.  1  General  Hospital  should  be 
staffed  entirely  from  the  ancient  and  only 
general  hospital  in  the  City  of  London,  St. 
Bart'holomew's,  it  is  only  just  that  a  lady  hold- 
ing the  three  years'  certificate  of  this  first-class 
Nursing  School  should  succeed  Miss  Isla 
Stewart,  to  whose  keen  sense  of  public  duty 
and  warm  patriotism  so  much  of  the  success 
of  the  scheme  was  due. 

The  Territorial  Nursing  Senice  is  a  volunteer 
service  without  remuneration  in  time  of  peace, 
and  no  economic  pressure  can  therefore  be 
brought  to  bear  upon  the  nurses  who  sene  in 
it.  If  an  objectionable  Matron  were  appointed, 
nothing  would  be  easier  for  the  nurses  than  to 
resign. 

The  Mansion  House  Committee  are  to  be 
congratulated  that,  in  electing  Miss  Cox- 
Davies,  the  greatly  esteemed  Matron  of  the 
Royal  Free  Hospital,  to  be  Principal  Matron  of 
No.  1  General  Hospital,  they  have  done  the 
right  thing.  Miss  Cox-Davies  is  a  graduate  and 
gold  rnedalhst  of  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital, 
has  active  ser\-ice  during  the  South  African 
War  to  her  credit,  is  President  by  popular 
election  of  the  League  of  St.  Bartholomew's 
Hospital  Nurses,  a  body  of  700  certificated 
nurses,  from  wlrich  the  'Territorial  staff  can  be 
easily  selected,  and  her  election  has  given  the 
very  greatest  satisfaction  to  St.  Bartholomew's 
nurses,  especially  at  this  crisis  in  the  history 
of  their  Nursing  School,  which  has  received 
such  unmerited  and  unjustifiable  treatment. 


Ouotc5  from  iprivatc  letters. 

By  Permission. 

"  What  a  perfectly  unexpected  blow,  to  have 
this  cruel  cabal,  for  so  it  seems  to  be,  against 
Miss  Stewart,  one  of  the  most  generous- 
minded  and  upright  of  women,  so  chivalrous  in 
all  her  dealings,  her  words,  her  very  thoughts. 
I  cannot  express  my  repulsion — one  can  only 
feel  horrified." 

"  I  enclose  5s.  for  Fund,  as  we  shall  never 
be  able  to  resent  such  slights  as  have  been  cast 
upon  the  memory  of  one  of  our  best  and  grand- 
est pioneer  nurses,  Miss  Isla  Stewart,  until 
we  have  the  i)ower  of  the  State  behind  our  pro- 
fessional standards ;  there  are  only  two  things 
W'hich  nurses  should  concentrate  all  their 
powers  to  obtain.  State  Registration  and  the 
Vote." 

"  I  would  rather  be  defeated  than  win  by 
such  methods." 

"  A  most  degrading  business  for  all  con- 
cerned." 

"  The  whole  thing  is  as  plain  as  a  pike  staff, 
and  incredibly  mean." 

"  The  honour  of  the  hospital  is  damaged,  the 
bar  sinister  across  the  fine  old  arms." 

A  Governor  writes :  "  I  could  not  understand 
why  a  Matron  was  chosen  from  the  London, 
and  supposed  there  was  some  special  qualifica- 
tion— or  some  jobbery.  It  looks  as  if  the  latter 
must  indeed  be  the  case.  I  should  like  to 
know,  as  I  daresay  many  others  would,  the  ins 
and  outs  of  this  extraordinary  job.  As  far  as 
I  can  help  I  will." 

"  The  gleam  of  light  that  I  see  is  that  the 
day  of  the  emancipation  of  women  is  coming 
fast  in  England,  and  when  it  is  here  you  will 
for  the  first  time  have  a  protection  against  the 
powers  of  reaction  and  monopoly." 

"  If  Bart's  can't  train  a  Matron  for  their  own 
hospital,  how  can  they  expect  other  hospital 
committees- to  choose  a  Matron  of  their  train- 
ing? "  (They  can't — here  comes  in  the  profes- 
sional damagc^Ed.) 


INTERNATIONAL  SYMPATHY. 

Sister  Agnes  Karll,  the  President  of  the  In- 
ternational Council,  writes  a  letter  of  deepest 
sympathy  with  ever'y  nurse  certificated  at  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital,  and  .congratulates 
heartily  all  those  graduates  who  at  the  Public 
Meeting  made  so  dignified  a  protest  against  so 
great  a  wrong,  and  thus  declined  to  submit  to 
it  without  protest.  "  We  are  used  to  these 
bitter  injuries  in  Germany,"  she  writes,  "  but 
in  liberal  England  it  seems  an  impossible  thmg 
to  happen.  It  is  a  crying  shame  to  the  whole 
profesision,  and  I  find  it  impossible  in  a  foreign 


Zbc  IBntisb  3oiirnal  of  IRiut-iiuj: 


[Julj  2,  1910 


tongue  to  express  all  I  feel  about  it.  I:  at 
great  Bartholomew's  they  appoint  a  Matron 
who  has  never  had  full  and  independent  respon- 
sibility as  such  in  another  hospital,  we  Ger- 
mans cannot  be  astonished  that  some  of  our 
motherhouses  have  :Matrons  with  little  training, 
and  but  little  experience.  How  bitter  for  you 
all— to  rejoice  that  dear  Isla  Stewart  has 
not  had  to  live  through  this. 

How     I      hope      to     God   for     a      victory 
in  your  Parliament  tor  Women. 


appointments. 


®ur  (Buinea  iprise. 

We  have  pleasure  in  annoiiiicing  that  Miss  Helen 
E.  Fhnt,  224,  Kingsbury  Road,  Birmingham,  has 
won  the  Guinea  Prize  tor  .June. 

Key  to  Puzzles  for  June. 

Xo.   1. — Chino~ol  Hygienic  Co. 

C!iin-0-sole  H-eye-gee-nick  Co. 

Xo.  2.— Grimwade's  Perfection  Bed  Pan. 

G-rim-ivades  peer-FECT-iron  bed  pan. 

Xo.  3. — Gertrude  Hope,  Hair  Specialist. 

G-ear-T-rood  Hoe^PE.  Jlare  specie-list. 

Xe.  4. — Quaker  Oats. 
Qua-cur  oats. 
The  following  competitors  liave  also  solved   the 
puzzles  correctly  :— 

V.  James,  Huddersfield;  M.  G.  Allbrett,  Wake 
field;  G.  Smart,  Cork;  E.  A.  Leeds,  London;  C 
Potter,  London ;  M.  Foster,  Biggleswade ;  A.  M 
AVinram,  Edinburgh;  N.  A.  FeOows,  Edgbaston 
K.  Drew,  Sheffield ;  T.  Donner,  London 
B.  Lowe,  Manchester;  A.  Holding,  Mortlake 
R.  L.  Wiseman,  Parson's  Green ;  E.  A.  Hood 
Ewell;  T.  Daly,  Dublin;  C.  Lindsay,  Edinburgh 
K.  Voss,  Leamington;  A.  Pettit,  London;  M 
Fleming,  St.  Andiews;  J.  Cook,  Portland ;  M. 
Warren,  Leith ;  A.  Mutton,  Plymouth;  S.  Brain- 
tree,  London;  E.  Beever,  Horrabridge;  C.  Leigh, 
Chester;  E.  C.  Ragg,  Curragh  Camp;  J.  M.  Jack- 
son, Guildford:  Sister  Little,  Belfast;  T.  Kerr, 
Liverpool:  C.T.Long,  Brighton  ;  R.  Rutter.  Hayle ; 
.4.  M.  Shoesmith,  Di  .ham  :  E.  McFarlane,  London; 
M.  Modlin,  London;  C.  Parsons,  Kinsale;  C.  F. 
Power,  Truro;  A.  B.  Macvitie,  London;  M.  L. 
Ford,  London;  C.  Maudling,  London;  K.  Parfitt, 
Mortlake;  C.  Denny,  Dublin;  C.  Mackenzie,  Edin- 
burgh; —  Kreckler,  Birkdale;  E.  Islip,  I>ondon ; 
S.  S.  Sherring,  Liverpool;  M.  Lane,  Dover;  K. 
Freeman,  Mundesley ;  K.  Ross,  Stirling;  M.  C. 
Morrison,  Glasgow;  N.  Green,  London;  E.  Dinnie, 
Harrow  ;  C.  Palethorpo,  Greenock  ;  E.  F.  Whatham, 
Barnsley;  M.  Tatham,  Nottingham;  W.  Haviland, 
I/ondon;  C.  T.  O'Donoghue,  Cork;  A.  Derry,  Dub- 
lin; M.  May,  Ipswich;  K.  Foster,  Wick  low ;  F. 
Keen,  London;  K.  T.  Mostyn,  Swansea;  K.  King, 
Lucan;  B.  Terry,  Bath;  M.  Merry,  London;  M. 
Lawson,  Perth. 

The  Riiles  for  Prize  Puzzles  remain  the  same, 
and  will  be  found  on  page  xii.  Competitors  must 
sign  initials,  and  write  "  Prize  Puzzle  Competi- 
tion "  on  the  envelope. 


M.\TROSS. 

Manchester  Ear  Hospital,  Crosvenor  Square,  All  Saints, 
Manchester. — Miss  Violet  James  has  been  appointed 
Matron.  She  was  trained  at  Bury  Diiipeusary  Hiis- 
pital.  The  previous  jxjsitions  which  she  lias 
held  have  been,  Charge  Nurse  of  men's  and  chil- 
dren's wards  at  the  Bury  Dispensary  Hospital ; 
Sister  at  the  Rochdale  Infirmary ;  Sister  at  the 
Manchester  Royal  Eye  Hospital ;  and  Assistant 
Matron  at  the  Huddersfield  Infirmary. 

Victoria  Hospital,  Keighley — Miss  I.  Callaghan  has 
been  appointed  Matron.  _She  was  trained  at  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital,  and  has  held  the  position 
of  Sister  at  the  Royal  Hospital  for  Sick  Children, 
Edinburgh,  and  also  held  a  similar  post  at  the 
Royal  Hospital  for  Diseases  of  the  Cliest,  City 
Road,  E.C.  She  is  at  present  Assistant  Matron  at 
the  Royal   Infirmary,   Liverpool. 

AsSIST.tNT    M.ilKON. 

West  Kent  General  Hospital,  Maidstone. — Miss  Ettie  S. 
Home  has  been  appointed  Home  Sister  and  Assist- 
ant Matron.  She  was  traine<l  at  .St.  Bartholomew's 
Hospital,  London,  and  has  held  the  position  of 
Sister  at  the  Norfolk  and  Norwich  Hospital. 
.Sister. 

Roxburgh  District  Asylum,  Melrose. — Miss  F.  Giiace 
has  been  appointed  Sister.  She  was  trained  at  the 
Lewisham  Infirmary  and  at  the  London  County 
Asylum,  Bexley,  Kent. 

CH.4RGE  Nurses. 
Union  Workhouse,  Richmond,  Surrey. — Miss'  Mary  Brit- 
ton  has  been  appointed  Charge  Nurse.  She  began 
her  training  at  Blenheim  House,  Kew  Gardens, 
and  has  been  Assistant  Nurse  at  Taunton  Union, 
and  Nurse  at  Bristol  Union  and  Andover  Union. 

Strangers'  Hospital,  Rio  de  Janeiro. — Miss  Adelaide  B. 
Carver  has  been  appointed  Nurse  at  the  Strangere' 
Hospital,  Rio  de  Janeiix>.  She  was  trained  at  the 
Gambenvell  Infinnary,  where  she  held  the  position 
of  Theatre  Sister  and  Ward  Sister.  She  then 
joined  the  Nursing  Institute  at  Llanelly,  and  during 
her  term  there  obtaine<l  the  certificate  of  the  Cen- 
tral Midwives'  Board.  Since  August  last  she  has  been 
Sister  at  the  Hospital,  Much  Wenlock,  Salop. 

Miss  Wilhelmina  Ferguson  has  also  been  ap- 
pointed Nurse.  She  was  trained  at  the  Poplar  and 
Stepney  Sick  Asylum,  and  has  held  the  position  of 
Staff  Nurse  at  the  City  Hospital,  Leeds;  and  the 
Women  and  Children's  Hospital,  Leeds;  Out- 
patient Sister  at  the  Royal  Eye  and  Ear  Hospital, 
Bradford ;  Sister  at  the  Dublin  Fever  Hospital ; 
and  Ward  and  Outpatient  Sister  at  the  Midland 
Skin  and   Urinary  H<xspital,  Birmingham. 

Both  ladies  will  leave  on  the  Royal  Mail 
steamer  sailing  on  July  22nd. 

He.^lth  "Visitor. 

Health  Department,  Corporation  of  Blackpool. — ^liss 
.■Vnnie  Kate  Weller  has  been  appointed  Health 
Visitor  and  District  Nurse.  She  was  trained  at 
Sir  Patrick  Dun's  Hospital,  Dublin,  and  at  the 
Rotunda  Ho.spital,  in  the  same  city,  and  has  held 
the  position  of  Staff  Nurse  and  Surgical  Sister  at 
th(*  Rotunda  Hospital,  Charge  Nurse  at  Stour- 
bridge  Infirmary,  and  District  Nurse  on  the  Old- 


July  2,  1910] 


Zhc  SJi'ltisb  3ournal  of  IRursino. 


ham  Town  Mission.    Slio  has  also  had  experience  of 
private  nursing. 

QUEEN  ALEXANDRA'S   IMPERIAL   MILITARY 

NURSING      ERVICE. 
Mi&s  Gortriule   Daisy   Morris  to   W   Staff   Nunse 
(provisionally).     Dattnl  Juno  9th,  1910. 

QUEEN  VICTORIAS  JUBILEE  INSTITUTE 
Transfers  and  Appuiniments. — Miss  Janette 
L«H'chnian  to  King's  Lynn.  Miss  Agnes  McElhiney 
to  Xelsou,  Miss  Annie  t'aldwell  to  Newton  Heath, 
Miss  Gertrude  Line  to  Cardiff,  Miss  Gwenllean 
Morris  to  Holywell. 

KAISAR-I-HINO  GOLD    MEDAL. 

The  Reverend  Mother  Marie  d«-  Kostka.  Lady 
Superior  of  the  Convent  of  Iiumaculate  Conception, 

Nagpur.  

THE  PASSING   BELL. 

There  are  many  in  the  nursing  world  who  will 
learn  with  sorrow  of  the  death,  on  June  22nd,  of 
Miss  Henrietta  C.  Poole,  late  Matron  of  the  East 
Lancashire  and  Blackburn  Infirmary,  and  eldest 
daughter  of  the  late  Rev.  Hewitt  R.  Poole, 
S.F.T.C.D.  As  a  Matron  Miss  Poole  was  a  most 
successful  trainer  of  muses,  and  her  pupils  not  only 
revered  her  as  one  of  tlie  best  of  Matrons,  but  loved 
hor  as  a  friend  to  whom  they  were  indebted  for 
many  acts  of  personal  kindness.  Miss  Poole  was 
trained  at  St.  Bartliolomew's  Hospital,  and  subse- 
quently held  the  position  of  Matron  at  the  Adelaide 
Hospital.  Dublin.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
trons'Council  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  by  ■'he 
members  of  which  she  will  be  sincerely  mourned,  as 
a  fearless  and  courageous  advocate  of  its  principles. 


BRITISH  RED  CROSS  AND  COUNTY  OF 
LONDON 
The  branch  of  the  British  Red  Cross  Society, 
which  is  responsible  for  the  work  of  the  Society  in 
London,  with  the  exception  of  the  City,  has  had 
delegated  to  it  by  the  County  of  London  Tenitonal 
Association  certain  duties  such  as — (1)  The  selec- 
tion, arrangement  for  equipment,  and  provision  of 
a  certain  proportion  of  the  personnel  of  two  general 
hospitals,  each  of  520  be<ls ;  (2)  the  establishment  of 
convalescent  homes  for  officers  and  men  ;  (3)  supple- 
mentary aid,  where  necessary,  for  the  transport  of 
sick  and  wounded  ;  (4)  the  provision  of  rest  and  food 
stations  along  lines  of  transport ;  and  (5)  the  raising 
and  training  of  voluntary  aid  detachments  of  l>oth 
sexes.  The  county  is  organised  on  the  basis  of  the 
boroughs,  each  borough  l>eing  a  Red  Cix>ss  division, 
with  its  own  local  president  and  committee  and 
representative  on  the  Central  Executive  of  the 
branch,  of  which  the  Princess  Royal  is  President. 

SUSSEX  COUNTY  HOSPITAL  BRIGHTON. 
Mr.  R.  B.  Jay,  who  for  the  past  three  yeare 
has  tieen  Assistant  Secretary,  has  been  elected  to 
fill  the  office  of  Secretary  to  this  important  in- 
stitution. Mr.  Jay  has  many  friends  in  Brighton, 
and  his  success,  which  is  well  deserved,  will  give 
them  very  great  pleasure.  .Since  he  joined  the 
secretarial  staff  of  the  Hospital  Mr.  Jay  has  6tarte<] 
a  fire  brigade  there,  and  he  has  made  himself  ex- 
tremely popular  with  hus  colleagues. 


IWuvsino  lEcbocs. 

A  general  meeting  of 
Queen  Alexandra's  Com- 
mittee in  connection  with 
Queen  Victoria's  Jubilee  In- 
stitute for  Nurses  was  held 
last  week  at  26,  Bruton 
Street,  and  -was  influentially 
attended.  Proposed  by  the 
President,  Adeline  Duchess 
of  Bedford,  and  seconded  by 
the  Vice-President,  Lady 
Dimsdale,  an  address  of  con- 
dolence to  the  Queen  Mother  was  adopted. 

The  report  for  the  year  1909  stated  that,  as 
in  previous  years,  the  Committee  had  handed 
£2,000  to  Queen  Victoria's  Jubilee  Institute  for 
Nurses,  this  being  the  fourth  successive  year 
in  which  the  object  of  the  Committee's 
existence  had  been  fulfilled.  The  Committee 
referred  to  the  interest  shown  by  Queen 
Alexandra  in  their  work,  and  announced  that 
though  they  had  lost  a  number  of  members 
through  death  or  resignation,  they  required 
only  16  new  members  in  order  to  bring  the 
Committee  up  to  its  full  strength — namely, 
200.  The  Committee  added  that  they  would 
earnestly  endeavour  to  carry  out  their  task  of 
aiding  Queen  Alexandra's  nurses  among  the 
sick  poor  by  providing  annually  £2,000  to  assist 
the  central  administration  of  the  Queen  Vic- 
toria's Jubilee   Institute   for  Nurses. 

Sir  Dyce  Duckworth  gave  an  address  on  the 
needs  of  the  Institute,  the  influence  of  which, 
he  said,  was  now  being  extended  to  Australia 
and  other  parts  of  the  Empire.  He  fore- 
shadowed an  appeal  to  the  public  next  year  for 
at  least  £5,000  or  £6,000,  and  said  that  a 
dinner  would  probably  be  held.  Over  them  was 
the  shadow  of  Mr.  Lloyd  George  and  all  bis 
work.  The  poor  and  the  needy  could  not  have 
it  both  ways — they  could  not  have  a  full 
measure  of  charity  and  a  full  measure  of  State 
relief.  His  words  might  seem  crude  and  even 
cruel,  but  the  plain  fact  was  telling  upon 
people's  minds  more  and  more  every  day,  as 
all  those  who  had  to  raise  funds  for  charities 
knew.  

There  can  be  no  better  cause  t<^  which  sub- 
scriptions can  be  sent  than  the  Wonien's  Holi- 
day Fund — dear  to  the  hearts  of  the  Bishops  of 
London  and  Stepney.  Through  it  1,000  work- 
ing women  got  away  from  noise  and  gloom  and 
toil  for  a  week  or  two  last  year.  They  all  paid 
what  they  could  afford  towards  their  expenses, 
but  only  a  small  part  actually  of  the  whole 
cost.    Applications,  we  learn,  are  now  pouring 


10 


XLbc  Britlsb  Journal  of  IRursing. 


[July  2,  1910 


in,    and   many   must   be    refused    unless    the 
receipts  are  greatly  increased. 


A  house  is  now  being  set  apart  for  mothers 
and  infants,  specially  supervised  by  a  com- 
petent person.  By  this  scheme  it  is  lioped  not 
only  to  prevent  those  in  other  houses  from 
being  disturbed  by  children,  but  also  that  many 
valuable  lessons  in  the  management  and  feed- 
ing of  young  children  may  be  learnt  from  the 
lady  who  is  undertaking  the  task  of  supen-ision. 
This  scheme  entails,  some  extra  expense,  and 
the  Committee  are  anxious  that  the  numbers 
should  not  be  reduced  as  a  result  of  an  experi- 
ment from  which  Ihey  hope  much  good  will 
come.  Subscriptions  ^and  donations  will  be 
gratefully  acknowledged  by  the  Hon.  Treasurer, 
A.  S.  Dauiell,  Esq.,  Fairchildes,  Warhngham, 
Surrey,  or  by  Miss  Crawford,  Secretary, 
Women's  Holidav  Fund,  76,  Denison  House, 
Vnuxhall  Bridge  "Road,   S.W. 


;\Ir.  -John  Burns,  President  of  the  Local 
Government  Board,  replying  in  the  House  of 
Commons  to  Mr.  Butcher's  criticisms  in  regard 
to  the  boarding  out  of  children  within  poor 
law  unions,  said  that  as  far  as  possible  he  had 
kept  the  pledge  he  gave  a  year  ago.  In  April 
of  this  year  three  highly  skilled  inspectors 
\^ere  appointed.  He  was  now  engaged  in  ap- 
pointing a  fourth  woman  inspector  for  Wales 
and  the  West  of  England — one  with  a  know- 
ledge of  the  Welsh  language.  Since  -June  the 
number  of  women  inspectors  had  been  in- 
creased from  three  to  seven.  They  were  the 
best  ix)ssible  women  for  the  posts,  with  a  know- 
ledge of  hospital,  infirmary,  and  institutional 
life  that  previous  inspectors  did  not  have. 


Truth  has  some  trenchant  remarks  to  make 
on  the  amount  of  domestic  work  done  by  pro- 
bationers in  training.  "  Granting  that  practi- 
cal efficiency  in  this  work  is  necessary  there  is 
no  reason  why  the  instruction  should  be  en- 
forced to  the  extent  of  breaking  down  the 
pupil's  health.  What  strikes  me  is  that  a  great 
deal  of  rough  work  of  this  kind  is  thrown  upon 
mnse-probationers  for  no  better  reason  than 
to  get  it  done  cheaply.  This  is  simply  the 
educational  principle  employed  by  Mr. 
S(]ueers  :  — 

"  C-1-c-a-n,  clean,  verb  active,  to  make  briglit.  to 
scour.  W-i-n  win,  <J-e-r  winder,  a  casement.  When 
the  boy  knows  this  out  of  the  book  he  goes  and 
dof>s  it." 


The  "  Memories  "  of  n  hospital  nurse,  pub- 
lished by  Messrs.  John  Wright  and  Sons,  Ltd., 
Bristol,  are,  as  the  author  herself  tells  us,  the 
simple  recital  of  "  What  has  really  happened 


to  real  people."  Her  stories  are  told  with  re- 
straint, and  with  due  regard  to  the  fact  that 
the  confidences  of  the  sick  iloom,  and  the 
privacy  of  the  family  life  and  circumstances 
surrounding  it  cannot  be  violated.  The  writer 
began  her  training  many  years  ago  in  a  small 
hosijital  in  a  large  northern  town,  and  writes : 
"  Looking  back  now  in  the  light  of  many  years 
of  nursing  experience,  I  have  nothing  but 
gratitude  and  admiration  for  the  training  1  re- 
ceived in  that  place.  Since  then  1  have  re- 
ceived training  and  certificates  in  other  institu- 
tions for  the  sick,  even  including  a  large  well- 
known  London  hospital,  but  in  my  '  heart  of 
hearts  '  I  still  acknowledge  that  whatever 
success  I  may  have  won  in  my  career  I  owe 
mainly  to  that  unpretending  unrecognisable 
training  school.  .  .  Perhaps  the  secret  of 
the  singular  success  of  the  training  lay  in  these- 
words:  'Best  for  the  patients.'  They  were 
expressed  in  the  whole  atmosphere  of  the  place, 
and  were,  if  I  may  put  it  bo,  the  war-cry  of  our 
leaders." 


Miss  HoDoria  C.  Burgess  writes  to  the  Aus- 
tralasian Nurses'  Journal  from  Palmerstou 
Hospital,  where  she  is  a  Staff  Nurse  along 
with  semi-trained  nurses.  Owing  to  Govern 
ment  red  tape,  an  undisciplined  semi-trained 
nurse  cannot  be  removed  for  impertinence. 
The  Matron,  therefore,  resigned,  and  it  was 
suggested  by  the  medical  officer  in  charge  that 
one  of  the  three  nurses  be  appointed  to  the 
position  of  Matron  by  drawing  lots  '.  JNIiss  Bur- 
gess concludes,  "  I  think  I  miglit  be  safe  in 
stating  that  no  trained  nurse  has  brought  down 
the  standard  of  her  Association  to  drawing  lots 
for  a  position  with  uncertificated  women ; 
hence  mv  resignation." 


All  sorts  of  topsy-turvydom  seems  possible  in 
these  days  of  nursing  chaos.  It  is  quite  certain 
that  the  "  Bart's  "  lesson  will  be  taken  to 
heart  all  over  the  world,  and  give  an  immense 
impetus  to  the  demand  for  legislation  to  pio'tect 
Nursing  Standards  and  discipline. 


?Erntb  about  State  IKajibtration 

in  tbc  1rlnitc^  States  ot 

Hnicrica. 


Letters  to  Miss  L.  L.  Dock. 
State  Board  oj  Examiners  of  Graduate  Xurses, 
Portsinoufh,    Vinjiniu. 
In  Virginia  wo  iind  tliat  Stato  Board  examina- 
tions are  generally    quite  an    incentivo  ti)    pupil 
nurses  to  study,  and  to  their  nurso  and  M.D.  in- 
structors to  bo  inoro  careful  of  tlioir  toadiing.     In 


July  2,  1910_ 


ITbc  Biitisb  3om'naI  of  IRurstno. 


801110  schools  for  ihe  first  time,  a  regular  theore- 
tical course  has  been  ©stablished  where  in  the  past 
only  practical  instruction   had  been   given. 

There  is  less  complaint  about  the  "  over- 
trained "  nurse.  1  was  requested  by  the  Board 
to  inspect  all  nursing  solioois  in  Virginia.  I  am 
now  engaged  in  this  tour.  Formerly,  each  ex- 
aminer inspectetl  the  scluxils  in  her  vicinity.  I  find 
more  interest,  more  cordial  welcome,  mure  readi- 
ness to  discuss  difficulties  and  ask  suggestions,  etc., 
than  formerly.  There  is  also  a  better  appreciation 
of  the  attitude  of  the  medical  profession  toward 
their  part  in  teacliing  nurses,  and  furthering  their 
professional  interests  and  progress,  llegistration 
called  the  State  Society  into  existence,  for  it  was 
organised  to  establish  llegistration.  The  State 
Society  is  the  one  voluntary  general  interest  and 
point  of  contact,  so  to  speak,  of  the  Virginia 
Nurses,  and  is  indispensable  I  The  State  Board 
will  ultimately  bring  about  more  uniformity  in 
"training,"  not  merely  a  uniform  curriculum,  and 
with  it  a  better  ethical  standard. 

Sarah  H.  Cabaniss.  R.X., 
Formrrhj  I'resideut  of  State  Board. 


Zbc  Societv)  for  tbe  State  IRcois* 
tvation  of  Srainct)  IRuvses. 


The  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee  is 
deferred  to  Friday,  8th  July,  from  the  previous 
day.  As  importaut  business  will  come  up  for 
consideration  it  is  hoped  the  meeting  wll  be  a 
representative  one.  Applications  for  member- 
ship should  reach  the  Hon.  Secretary,  Miss  M. 
Breaj',  at  431,  Oxford  Street,  W.,  as  early  as 
possible. 

All  good  registrationists  will  desire,  we  feel 
sure,  to  offer  their  sincere  congratulations  to 
Mr.  E.  C.  Muuro  Ferguson,  M.P.,  upon  the 
well-deserved  honour  conferred  upon  him 
amongst  the  Birthday  Honours.  His  Majestv" 
has  been  pleased  to  direct  that  Mr.  ilunro 
Ferguson  be  sworn  one  of  his  Majesty's  ^lost 
Honourable  Privy  Council. 

We  are  glad  to  report  that  Mr.  H.  J. 
Tennant,  M.P.,  that  very  good  friend  of  trained 
nurses,  is  now  progressing  favourably  after  his 
very  serious  illness,  and  we  heartily  hope  it 
will  not  be  long  before  he  will  be  able  to  resume 
his  Parliamentary  duties  as  Parliamentary 
Secretary  to  the  Board  of  Trade. 

The  President  gratefully  acknowledges  the 
following  donations :  — 

£    s.  d. 

Miss  E.  F.  Eburah,  E.N. S 110 

Miss  G.  M.  Dunsford.  E.N.S.  ...     1     0     0 

Miss  H.  ]\I.  Thorold  10     0 

Miss  M.  Burr  5     0 


£-2  16     0 


ZTbc  Ibospital  Mol•l^. 

SOME  CHARITIES   IN   THE  WEST'RIDING 

OF  YORKSHIRE. 

Bv  M.\(.  K  All. 

111. 

The  Ida  .\xd   Egbert  Aktuixgtox   Semi- 
Convalescent  Hospitals. 

These  hospitals  are  just  what  their  name 
implies — places  for  people  who  are  semi-con- 
valescent. 

"  The  Ida  " — to  give  the  hospitals  the  name 
by  which  they  are  best  known — is  a  branch  of 
the  General  Infirmary  at  Leeds,  and  is  under 
the  same  medical  and  surgical  supervision. 

]\Iiss  Fisher,  Lady  Superintendent  of  the 
General  Infirmary,  is  also  Superintendent  here. 
She  visits  the  branch  hospitals  at  least  once  a 
week,  and  through  the  telephone  is  kept  in 
touch  with  them  just  as  with  the  wards  of  the 
Infirmary. 

That  the  Manager  of  the  Infirmary  and  the 
Committee  are  able  to  keep  the  country  branch 
running  evenly  and  effectively  certainly  shows 
that  in  Leeds  many  of  the  public  spirited  men 
are  geniuses. 

The  success  of  these  convalescent  hospitals 
has  been  proved  in  many  ways,  one  is  in  mak- 
ing room  at  the  Infirmary  for  acute  cases.  As 
the  semi-convalescents  are  removed  to  The  Ida 
so  acute  cases  are  taken  into  the  w-ards.  But  it- 
is  from  the  patients'  standpoint  that  these  hos- 
pitals are  such  a  success.  When  patients  reach 
the  stage,  so  well  known  to  hospital  nurses, 
when  they  seem  to  stand  still,  not  well  enough 
for  the  ordinary  convalescent  home,  and  yet 
not  deriving  much  benefit  from  ward  treat- 
ment, then  these  semi-convalescent  hospitals 
become  a  boon. 

The  patients  are  removed  to  them  in  ambu- 
lances a  distance  of  several  miles,  but  it  is  from 
one  bed  to  another. 

They  then  have  the  advantage  of  proper  hos- 
pital treatment,  and  the  care  of  a  Eesident 
Medical  Officer,  with  at  the  same  time  pleasant 
surroundings,  fresh  air,  and  nourishing  food. 

The  semi-convalescent  hospitals  have  proved 
a  success,  too,  from  th"e  Nurses'  point  of  view. 
Their  nursing  staff  is  supplied  from  the  In- 
fii-mary.  The  Sister-in-charge  is  a  permanent 
officer^  but  the  nurses  are  sent  for  six  months 
during  their  second  or  third  year  to  gain  ex- 
perience in  the  nursing  of  eonvalesceijts. 

To  all  nurses  who  have  done  private  work  the 
benefit  of  such  training  will  appeal.  This  six 
mouths  in  the  country,  among  people  whose 
faces  are  generally  speaking  "  set  towards  life  'J 
is  invaluable  to  the  nurses  themselves  from  a 
health  standpoint.  The  four  years'  training  in 
the  General   Infirmary   at  Leeds   would  be  a 


12 


Zhc  :©r(tisb  3oiirnal  of  1Rur6lno» 


'July  2,  1910 


practical  impossibility  to  the  average  woman  if 
this  interval  for  a  different  but  not  less  useful 
work  were  not  included. 

The  Ida  is  in  the  real  country  at  Cookridge. 
Perhaps  one  needs  to  live  in  the  heart  of  Leeds, 
one  of  the  dirtiest  towns  in  the  Empire,  to 
appreciate  this. 

A  broad  path  sweeps  round  the  front  of  the 
hospitals  which  stand  in  their  own  grounds 
among  flower-beds  and  evergreen  shrubs. 

Beyond,  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach,  is  a 
stretch  of  well-wooded  undulating  country. 
A  quiet  road  leads  up  to  the  Hospital  gates. 
On  the  spring  afternoon  that  I  visited  the 
place  there  was  a  glorious  crimson  sunset,  that 
sent  soft  Yearns  of  light  across  the  fields  and 
into  the  wards. 

The  picture  gives  a  good  idea  of  the  exterior  of 
the  buildings,  but  little  of  their  surroundings. 
The  "  Ida  "  Hospital  was  given  fo  the  In- 
firmary by  Mr'. 
John    North   in 
memory    of     a 
daughter 
"  Robert 
thington 
built 
yea  r  s 
with     money 
lefft      by      Mr. 
Arthington    for 
that  pui-pose. 

The  Hospi- 
tals are  built  in 
bungalow  style, 
the  large  veran- 
dah being  util- 
ised for  open-air 

treatment.  One  block  of  buildings  is  used  for 
men,  and  one  for  women  and  children.  The 
hospitals  contain  88  beds  and  cots,  of  which 
there  is  seldom  one  empty.  Twice  a  week 
patients  are  brought  in  from  the  General  In- 
firmary, and  the  average  stay  is  about  three 
weeks.  Over  1,000  patients  pass  through  The 
Ida  in  a  year.  The  cost  of  the  upkeep  is  esti- 
mated as  between  fc3,0r)0  and  £4,000  per  an- 
num. The  wards  are  smaller  than  those  at  the 
Infirmary.  The  floors  are  polished,  and  the 
walls  painted.  In  each  building  there  is  a  large 
dining-room,  one  for  men,  and  one  for  women 
patients.  These  rooms  have  bay  windows,  fac- 
ing the  fields,  and  are  tastefully,  if  sparingly, 
furnished. 

Some  of  the  patients  treated  at  the  Semi- 
Convalescent  Hospitals  will  never  be  healthy. 
Sometimes  a  hopeless  or  a  chronic  case  is  sent 
out  here  to  reap  the  benefit  of  the  pleasant 
country  surroundings,  the  obje(,'t  being  rather 


The  Ida  Hospital,  Cookridge,  near  Leeds. 


to  brighten  their  outlook  than  to  restore  health. 
One  noticed  a  few  white-faced  men  and 
weary  worn-out  women,  on  whom  death  had 
set  his  mark,  but  whose  latter  days  would  be 
brightened  by  this  change,  sandwiched  in  be- 
tween the  hospital  wards  and  their  over- 
crowded homes.  These,  however,  were  the  ex- 
ceptions. Most  of  the  patients  were  making 
strides  towards  perfect  health.  To  the  chil- 
dren "  The  Ida  "  stands  for  a  country  holiday. 
Even  those  who  were  too  ill  to  leave  their 
cots  wore  happy  faces.  Many  of  the  others 
were  romping  about,  growing  rosy  and  strong- 
limbed,  and  getting  a  glimpse  of  what  life  hi 
the  country  might  be. 

The  Sister-in-charge  said  that  some  of  the 
nurses  were  born  to  nurse' sick  children.  Thus 
one  of  them  was  loved  and  olieyed  by  every 
child  in  the  hospital,  and  found  her  recreation 
as  well  as  her  work  among  the  toddlers. 

There  is  no 
building  set 
apart  as  a 
Nurses'  Home. 
The  nurses' 
bedrooms  are 
on  the  top 
tioor,  and  quite 
apart  from  the 
hospital  wards. 
The  r e  s  i  dent 
medical  officer 
and  the  Sister- 
in-charge  have 
each  a  sitting- 
room  in  the 
centre  of  the 
hospitals.  The 
Sister-in-charge  is  large, 
bright  with 
windows    look 


room     of     the 

comfortably      furnished,     and 

prints      and      flowers.       Its 

out  on  a    wide    sweep    of    peaceful    country, 

and   through    them  is    borne    air    laden   with 

health  and  sweet  odours  of  flowers  and  fields. 

With  such  a  retreat  it  was  not  surprising  to 
find  that  the  Sister-in-charge  had  kept  her  high 
ideals  in  spite  of  several  years'  work  among  the 
sick  and  the  semi-convalescent. 


Members  of  the  Sussex  County  Nursing  As- 
sociation, representing  over  thirty  different 
branches,  were  last  week  entertained  at  a  gar- 
den party,  at  Eatton,  Williugdon,  by  Mr.  and 
the  Hon.  Mrs.  Freeman-Thomas,  who,  with 
the  Hon.  Mrs.  Charles  Egerton,  Hon.  Secre- 
tary of  the  Association,  received  the  guests  on 
arrival.  They  were  driven  in  brakes  from  Pole- 
gate,  whither  they  travelled  from  the  various 
centres. 


Juiv  2,  1010] 


Zbc  :!6ritk^b  3oiirnaI  of  IRursino. 


13 


■Reflcctione. 

From  a  Board  Room  Mirror. 
Her  Majesty  tlie  Quetii  lias  graciously  con- 
tributed £100  to  His  Serene  Higliness.  Prince 
Francis  of  Teck's  Appeiil  Fund  tor  the  Mid<lle6es 
Hospital.  In  sending  tlie  <lon«tion  the  Hon.  A.  Nel- 
son Hood,  Treasurer  to  her  Majesty,  writes:  "  lam 
further  tlirectetl  to  add  tlie  expression  of  Her 
Majesty's  best  wishes  for  tlio  success  of  your  en- 
deavour on  behalf  of  an  institution  which  has  done 
very  much  to  alleviate  tlie  sufferings  of  so  many 
in  urgent  need  of  assistance." 


The  medical  profession  comes  in  for  distinction  on 
the  celebration  of  His  ilajesty's  Birthday.  The 
Right  Hon.  Sir  Walter  B.  Foster  becomes  a  Peer, 
Dr.  Charapneys,  C'hainiiaii  of  the  Central  Midwives" 
Board,  gets  a  Baionotcy  :  Dr.  Dowues,  of  the  Local 
Government  Board.  Mr,  .John  Fagau.  of  the  Belfast 
Royal  Hospital,  Dr.  Geoige  Hastings,  Mr.  John 
Lentaigne,  President  of  the  Royal  College  of  Sur- 
geons, Ireland,  Dr.  David  C.  McVail,  Crown  Mem- 
ber for  Scotland  of  the  General  Me<lical  Council, 
and  Dr.  R.  M.  Simon.  Birmingham  General  Hos- 
pital, receive  Knighthoods. 


At  a  mass  meeting  of  Loudon  Jews  last  Sunday, 
at  the  Pavilion  Theatre,  Mile  End,  it  was  unani- 
mously agreed  to  proceed  with  a  scheme  for  the 
establishment  of  a  hospital  for  Jews  in  the  East 
End  as  a  memorial  to  King  Edward.  The  powers 
that  be  at  the  London  Hospital  are  strongly  op- 
posed to  the  scheme. 


Miss  Elizabeth  Chambers,  of  Hastings,  has  be- 
tjueathed  £10,000  to  King  Edward's  Hospital  Fund, 
£•5,000  to  Guy's  Hospital,  and  £8.-500  to  other 
charitable  institutions. 


The  Solicitor-General  ha.s  resigned  his  seat  on  the 
Divorce  Commission,  and  Sir  F.  Treves  has  been 
appointed  to  serve  on  it.  To  constitute  such  a  Com- 
mission without  a  me<lical  practitioner  upon  it  nas 
always  appealed  to  us  an  extraordinary  omission. 
The  health  question  in  divorce  is  of  paramount  im- 
portance. 

An  admirable,  and  profusely  illustrated  Guide  to 
the  East  Suffolk. and  Ipswich  Hospital,  giving  a  de- 
tailed description  of  the  hospital  up  to  date  is 
issued,  as  a  reprint,  with  additions,  from  the  East 
Anglian  Daily  Times.  The  newly  appointed  Pre- 
sident of  the  Hospital,  Dr.  J.  H.  Bartlet,  and  Mrs. 
Bartlet,,  recently  invited  the  subscribers,  some 
1,400  in  number,  many  being  working  men,  to  in- 
spect the  new  buildings,  including  an  administra- 
tion block,  an  operating  theatre,  with  annexes,  a 
detached  isolation  block,  and  a  laundry  and  mor- 
tuary. The  new  President  was  cordially  wel- 
comed by  a  representative  assembly,  presided  over 
by  Mr.  Herbert  Mason,  Chairman  of  the  ^oard  of 
Management.  In  the  course  of  his  address,  the 
Chairman  mentioned  how  willingly  the  Matron 
(Miss  Deane)  had  adapted  herself  to  the  great  in- 
conveniences, produced  by  the  alterations,  and  ex- 
pressed hearty  thanks  to  her.  Much  credit  is  also 
due  to  the  ^iecretary.  Mr.  .\rthur  Griffiths. 


practical  Ipoints. 

The  distribution  of  leaflets 
The  Management     in     connection     with     public 
of  Infectious        health  matters  has  long  been  a 
Diseases.  striking  feature  in  the  United 

States,  but  it  is  only  of  recent 
years  that  medical  officers  of  health  have  employed 
similar  methods  of  educating  the  people  in  this 
country.  An  excellent  sample  of  such  leaflets  is 
one  issued  by  the  West  I>anoashire  Rural  Distiict 
Council,  which  suggests  the  precautions  to  be 
adopted  by  householders  in  cases  of  infectious  ill- 
ness.    The  rules  laid  down  are  as  follows: — 

1.  The  patient  should  lie  separated  as  completely 
as  possible  from  the  other  inmates  of  the  house; 
or,  better  still,  removed  to  the  isolation  hospital. 
Finst  cases  should  always  l)e  removed  to  hospital. 

2.  Remember  that  the  dangei-  of  infection  is  the 
same  in  all  oases,  whether  mild  or  severe. 

3.  Tlie  sick-room  should  be  made  as  bare  as  pos- 
sible by  the  removal  of  all  Ix'd-cai liains,  carpets, 
and  unnecessary  articles  of   furniture. 

4.  The  sick-room  should  be  well  ventilated;  the 
windows  should  be  kept  partly  open  when  the 
weather  permits,  and  a,  fire  burning. 

•5.  The  door  should  be  kept  closed,  and  a  sheet 
hung  over  it  and  kept  wet  with  the  disinfectant 
solution.  Disinfectants  may  be  had,  free  of 
charge,  from  the  sanitary  inspector. 

6.  Tlie  nurse  should  wear  washing  clothes,  and 
always  wash  and  disinfect  her  hands  and  face,  and 
cliange  her  shoes  and  outer  clothes  after  leaving 
the  sick-room. 

".  Xo  food  or  drink  which  has  been  in  the  same 
room  as  the  patient  should  be  used  by  anyone  else. 
It  should  be  burned. 

8.  Plates,  cups,  spoons,  clothes,  and  anything 
else  brought  from  the  sick-room  should  be  placed 
in  disinfectant  solution  for  at  least  half  an  hour, 
'and  aftenvards  washed  in  water  by  themselves. 

9.  Tlie  patient's  discharges  shuld  be  received  into 
a  vessel  containing  a  disinfectant.  In  cases  of 
typhoid  fever  the  disinfectant  should  be  Izal,  sup- 
plied gratuitously  on  application  to  the  sanitary 
inspector,  and  should  be  used  according  to  the 
directions  printe<l  on  the  label  of  each  bottle. 

10.  Pieces  of  rag  should  be  used  instead  of  hand- 
kerchiefs, and  burned  immediately  after  use. 

11.  'WTaen  scales  or  crusts  fomi  upon  the  skin 
it  should  be  kept  well  smeared  with  carbolic  oil 
or  grease. 

12.  Xo  visitors  should  be  allowed. 

13.  The  i)atient  should  not  be  allowed  to  sleep 
in  the  same  room  as  any  healthy  person  until  at 
least  a  fortnight  after  apparently  complete  re- 
covery. 

14.  The  Medical  Officer  of  Health  should  be  in- 
formed when  the  illness  is  at  on  end,  when  a  van 
will  \je  sent  to  remove  the  bedding  and  clothes  for 
disinfection,  and  will  afterwards  bring  them  back. 

1,5.  Disinfection  of  a  sick  itiom  or  other  room  o^f 
a  house  must  be  done  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
Medical  Officer  of  Health.  The  disinfection  will  he 
carried  out  by  the  Council's  officials,  free  of 
charge,   if  so  desired   by  the  occupier. 


14 


^be  Britisb  3ounihl  of  IRursfno. 


[July  2,  1910 


professional  IRcview. 

THOU  SHALT  DO  NO  MURDER. 
Under  the  above  lioading  the  Hon.  Albiuia  Brod- 
rick  contributes  to  the  current  i.ssue  of  the 
Fortnightly  Seview  one  of  the  most  dramatic  and 
trenchant  pleas  for  State  Registration  of  trained 
nui«es  ^vliich  has  ever  been  i)ennecl.  She  writes  in 
part: — "  There  are  times  wlicn  one  is  forced  to  won- 
der how  it  comes  to  pass  that  tlie  world  was,  iii 
tellectually  at  least,  1x)ru  blind.  And  still  more, 
how  persistently,  carefully,  au<l  successfully  it 
elects  to  remain  blind,  more  ijarticularly  in  those 
niattei-s  which  most  nearly  concern  itself." 

One  class  "  needs  a  surgical  operation  to  open 
the  ej-es;  the  other  half  dare  not  see,  because  they 
fear  the  light  of  truth  ;  and  the  thiixi  half,  as  the 
Irishman  said,  will  not  see,  lest  the  sight  .should 
force  them  to  action. 

"  Some  of  us,  ouce  amongst  the  blindest,  have 
painfully  gained  sight  and  insight  in  those  preg- 
nant houi-s  when  we  realised  that,  under  God,  in  the 
silent  night,  we  held  literally  between  our  hands 
the  life  of  a  fellow-man,  sometimes  of  three  or  f(ur. 
As  those  hours  wore  on,  when  a  moment's  c«rele«s- 
ness  must  mean  the  death  of  the  would-be  suicide, 
when  a  failure  to  notice  the  blanched  liijs  calling 
for  instant  restoratives,  miglit  turn  the  Ivalance  by 
even  so  little  on  the  wrong  side  of  the  scale,  when 
the  neglect  of  a  feeble  cry  for  '  Nurse  '  might  put  it 
be,vond  our  power  to  give  help  for  ever;  when, 
above  all,  in  the  awful  moment  of  maternity,  the 
existence  of  both  child  and  mother  hung  upon  in- 
stant decision  and  courageous  action  :  then,  and  ni 
the  hours  of  re-action  which  followe<l,  the  eyes  of 
our  underetanding  have  been  opened,  and  whereas 
we  were  blind,  now  we  see. 

•'  I  cannot  write  in  any  sense  conventionally  upon 
this  subject  of  nursing.  It  does  not  lend  itself  to 
conventional  treatment.  Neither  do  I  desire  to  do 
so,  since  through  my  profession  it  is  that  I  have 
won  to  mental  freedom,  with  whict  is  bound  up 
the  dear  comradeship  with  all  who  suffer,  the  great 
right,  and  in  some  measure,  I  hope,  the  science  to 
help  the  helpless. 

"  I  propose  to  draw  aside  some  part  of  that  cur- 
tain which  hides  the  life  of  nursing  from  the  public 
view.  A  part  only,  for  if  I  told  all  I  know  1  must 
inevitably  either  sulistantiatc  my  facts  or  be  writ 
down  a  liar.  ...  In  speaking  of  nurses  we  are 
dealing  with  a  large  body  of  women  drawn  from 
every  cla.^  of  society,  of  every  variety  of  character 
and  temperament,  of  differing  races.  They  have 
embrac(>d  their  profession  for  reasons  which  vary 
as  greatly  as  does  their  character,  or  the  colour 
of  their  liair  or  eyes."  Amongst  these  reasons  are 
step-mothers,  disappointment  in  lore,  unhappiness 
at  home,  a  de.sire  for  independence,  loss  of  fortune, 
and  again  there  arc  ''  those  who  could  do  nothing 
else."  Lastly,  Miss  Brodrick  says,  "  I  have  not 
exhausted  reasons,  liut  must  pass  on  finally  to  those 
who  come  to  nursing  'out  of  an  honest  and  good 
heart  '  for  love  of  God  and  of  their  ncigh1)our,  and 
who  find  in  it  not  only  a  profession  but  a  vocation. 
Tlrcse  are  the  salt  of  the  earth.  I  give  them  silent 
homage.    They  know,  as  I  know,  the  agony  through 


which  they  i)a55ed  to  attain  their  goal.  Not  that 
they  count  themselves  to  have  attained. 

"  'Thou  shalt  do  no  murder,'  the  simplest,  most 
primitive  morality  embraced  in  the  elementary 
ethics  of  the  nurse's  training.  Doubtless.  But  the 
training  (sic)  of  the  average  nurse  is  superbly  inno- 
cent of  ethics.  Here  our  American  sisters,  our 
splendid  rivals  in  nursing,  and  our  French  sisters, 
the  latest  recruits  amongst  enlightened  nurses, 
alike  show  us  the  way.  Ethics  as  a  foundation  is 
taught  in  their  nursing  curriculum.  But  not  in 
ours.  '  Thou  shalt  obey  the  doctor's  orders ' 
brieflj'  summarises  the  ethical  training  of  the  '  com- 
plete nurse  '  in  9.3  per  cent,  of  our  so-called  train- 
ing schools.     In  some  it  does  not  amount  to  that. 

Miss  Brodrick  i^oints  out  that  she  is  trying  to 
voice  facts  known  to  all  of  us,  but  that  only  a  nurse 
who  occupies  an  entirely  independent  position  can 
afford  to  tell.  She  proceeds  to  give  instances  of  a 
few  of  the  cases  "  in  which  the  law  '  Thou  shalt  do 
no  murder  '  has  been  transgressed."  Either  these 
cases  have  been  in  the  papers  as  the  result  of  in- 
quests, or  are  personally  known  to  her.  They  in- 
clude :  — 

I.  A  deliberate  lie,  told  by  a  nurse,  the  direct 
result  of  which  was  the  death  from  operation  of  a 
patient. 

"2.  The  neglect  by  a  nurse  of  the  lunatic  ward, 
and  consequent  suicide  of  a  patient. 

3.  The  administration  by  a  nurse  of  opium  to  a 
young  infant.    Death  of  infant. 

4.  Neglect  of  a.  case  of  severe  hj?morrhage  be- 
cause the  nurse  "did  not  like  to  wake  the  hou.se 
surgeon."     Result,  death. 

•5.  Turning  on  of  a  hot^water  tap  in  the  bath. 
Scalding  and  consequent  death  of  patient. 

(«.  Refusal  to  report  to  the  doctor  a  doubtful  ca.se. 
Death  from  typhoid  of  tJie  patient. 

7.  Roughness  in  Ijed-making.  Immediate  deatli 
of  the  iMtient  from  heart  attack. 

8.  Roughness,  despite  remonstrance,  in  moving  a 
patient  for  the  bed-pan.  Death  within  ten  minutes 
from  hjemorrhage. 

9.  The  nurse  aljsent  from  the  ward.  Death  of 
a  delirious — not  lunatic — patient  from  drinking  a 
lX)isonous  lotion  left  standing  in  the  ward. 

10.  Neglect  of  aseptic  precautions  in  child-birth. 
Death  of  the  mother  from  sejjsis. 

II.  Suicide  of  a  lunatic  under  the  nui-se's  eyes, 
with  the  nurse's  own  scissors  left  Ijeside  the  patient 
despite  the  suicidal  mania  being  known. 

12.  Puerixual  infection  conveyed  to  a  maternity 
case  by  the  nui-si'.     Death  of  the  patient, 

13.  Murdon-  of  an  infant  by  n  nui-M^ — its  mother. 
Are   tluKse   instances  sufficient?    asks   Mi.>s  Uro<l- 

rick.  Add  to  them  the  long  list  of  nie<licint>s 
wrongly  administered,  of  nlrortions  procured,  of 
s»'i>.si.s  introduced  by  the  nui«e,  all  resulting  in  the 
death'  of  the  patient.  These,  she  jwints  out.  are 
m<'rely  the  known  casixs.  "  What  alx)Ut  those  which 
arc  occurring  daily  throughout  this  mo-st  Christian 
country,  of  whicli  we  .see  and  lK>ar  nothing?  "  She 
instances  district  nui-sing.  especially  in  country 
l)laee.s,  where,  with  the  doctor  miles  away.  m>  much 
resix)nsibility  rt\sts  ou  the  nurs»\  "  If  she  is  a  lir.st- 
rnte    nurse    and   a    capable   woman     she     nuiy     win 


July  2,  1910] 


Zbc  Britisb  Journal  of  IRursing. 


15 


through  without  mishap.  ...  It  slie  b<?  uii- 
traine<l,  or  scmi-train<xl,  jus  60  many  <hiitrict  nurses 
are,  slie  will  pass  on,  siiblinioly  unaware  that  any- 
thing has  happene<l  which  might  have  been  pre- 
vented. And  the  doctor,  bless  him,  has  no  time  to 
fin<l  it  out.  An  unskilled  nurse  is  not  even  aware 
that  typhoid  depends  tor  a  successful  issue,  all 
things  being  equal,  upon  the  finest  shades  of 
nursing;  still  less  is  slie  competent  to  give  it." 

The  greater  includes  the  less.  All  nurses  will 
realise  that  the  instances  given  by  Miss  Bro<lrick 
are  by  no  means  over-stated.  Read  them  and  see 
tor  yourself.  '■  Every  one  of  these  things,'  she 
says,  "  has  happened.  Every  one  will  infallibly 
happen  again  unless  the  nation  will  stir  itself.  And 
then  there  must  still  remain  a  percentage  of — 
'  accidents.'  " 

'■  The  time  has  come  when  our  collection  of  prac- 
tices or  malpractices  mu-st  be  consolidatetl  into  some 
general  law,  when  the  training  of  a  nurse  must  com- 
pulsorily  be  such  as  will  reduce  to  a  minimum  the 
probability  of  murder  being  done,  when  hospitals 
shall  be  rendered  incapable  of  foisting  upon  the 
public  certificated  nurses — save  the  mark — whose 
ignorance  is  the  theme  of  their  fellows;  when  young 
women  rejected  after  trial  by  the  hospitals  as  un- 
suitable for  nursing  life,  shall,  ipso  facto,  be  ruled 
ineligible  for  the  post  of  '  nurse  '  in  a  nursing 
home,  or  in  private;  when  ignorant,  untrained,  or 
semi-trained  women  shall  no  longer  be  able  to  do 
away  with  their  fellow  creatures  in  a  becoming 
uniform,  under  the  segis  of  a  great  prof ession . ' " 

The  following  dictum  laid  d  i  by  the  writer 
should  be  assimilated;  "A  n  ;;  ■  is  no  more  an 
inferior  kind  of  doctor  than  the  doctor  is  a  superior 
kind  of   nurse." 

■•We  have  arrived,"  we  read,  "  at  the  parting 
of  the  ways.  The  great  majority  of  hospitals  will 
desire  to  give  the  pupil  each  its  own  private  cur- 
riculum of  training,  good,  indifferent,  or  bad,  and 
to  impose  ita  own  private  test  of  efficiency,  high, 
low,  or  medium,  as  the  case  may  be.  Personally, 
in  common  with  the  majority  of  thoughtful  women 
who  have  had  the  advantage  of  the  full  training  at 
present  given,  I  cannot  concur  in  this  view,  either 
in  the  interest  of  the  public  or  of  the  nurse.  I 
know  what  is  the  practice  of  many  hospitals,  and 
am  sorrowfully  acquainted  with  the  results  pro- 
duced." 

The  remedy  Miss  Brodrick  believes  is  the  consti- 
tution of  a  Central  Board,  laying  down  the  broad 
lines  of  the  curriculum,  and  dealing  pitilessly  in 
the  public  interest  with  the  final  test,  which  should 
be  practical  in  the  widest  sense  of  the  word,  as  well 
as  theoretical.  This  would  in  time  do  away  with 
the  greatest  drawback  existent  to-day  in  many  of 
■our  nursing  schools — tlie  Matron — sometimes  ig- 
norant, sometimes  untrained,  frequently  narrow 
and  unjust  to  an  almost  inconceivable  degree, 
often  a  bad  manager  and  a  worse  teacher.  This 
will  seem  an  impossible  word  to  many.  In  reply,  I 
have  only  to  mention  that  the  Matron  of  one  of  our 
largest  London  training  schools,  and  for  whom  I 
have  a  very  genuine  respect,  is  a  lady  without  what 
we  know  as  training." 
Concerning  the  impartial  Central  Board,  it  should 


be  formetl  of  experienced  nurses  and  responsible 
me<lical  men,  and,  she  adds,  "Set  a  thief  to  catch 
a  thief,  and  give  the  lion's  share  of  the  work  to 
those  who  have  themselves  been  through  the  same 
training  and  the  same  experiences.  This  is  an 
examination  in  nureing,  not  in  medical  science." 

We  have  quoted  at  some  length  from  this  article, 
but  it  must  be  read  in  its  entirety  to  bo  fully 
appreciated,  and  every  nurse,  and  everyone  in- 
tereste<l  in  nursing,  should  either  secure  a  copy  of 
the  review  or  read  it  at  tiie  public  library.  Miss 
Brodrick  is  to  be  congratulated  on  her  brilliant  and 
courageous  handling  of  the  case  for  registration. 


Caloaeii  jfiveless  jfunitoators. 

Most  nurses  who  have,  with  all  due  precautions, 
fumigated  a  room  by  the  old-fashioned  method  of 
placing  sulphur  or  other  disinfecting  agents  on  red 
hot  embers,  and  have  then  sealed  it  up,  have  been 
anxious  to  peep  through  the  closed  doors  to  see 
what  was  going  on  inside.  The  more  convenient 
"  candles  "  were  a  step  in  the  right  direction,  and 
now  we  have  a  fumigator  which  is  not  ignited  at 
all,  and  therefore  is  entirely  free  from  danger  from 
fire. 

The  Calogen  Fireless  Fumigators  have  been  de- 
signed for  the  purpose  of  treating  infected  rooms 
with  moist  Formaldehyde  gas,  the  method  employed 
being  to  place  the  Fumigator  in  a  pail,  or  other 
wide  receptacle  with  five  or  six  ounces  of  Formalde- 
hyde solution.  A  large  volume  of  Formaline  gas  is 
immediately  generated  in  such  a  moist  state  that 
it  penetrates  dry  micro-organisms,  fabrics,  and 
clothing,  and  does  not  become  inert.  Its  capacity 
for  killing  pathogenic  germs  is  much  greater  than 
the  usual  dry  method,  and  it  has  the  advantage 
that  furniture,  wall  paper,  curtains,  and  other 
articles  are  not  damaged,  and  may  be  exposed  in 
the  room.  These  fumigators  should,  therefore,  find 
much  favour  with  Local  Sanitary  Authorities,  Hos- 
pitals, and  Public  Institutions.  They  may  be  ob- 
tained, price  6d.  each,  or  post  free  7id.,  from 
Charles  Zimmermaun  and  Co.,  9,  and  10,  St.  Mary 
at  HUl,  London,  E.G. 

6arrouIb'5  Suntmcr  Sale. 

Messrs.  Garrould's  Annual  Summer  Sale  opened 
on  Monday  last,  and  numerous  bargains  are  offered 
^^-hich  are  attracting  many  visitors.  It  affords 
an  unusual  opportunity  for  country  purchasers, 
inasmuch  as  sale  goods  are  sent  on  approval  pro- 
vided the  customer  will  return  them  within  four 
days.  Nurses  will  find  many  bargains, in  blouses, 
and  robes,  which  will  be  most  useful  to  them  for 
holiday  wear.  They  should  write  for  a  catalogue, 
and  study  it  at  their  leisure,  and  then  take  it  with 
them  when  visiting  Messrs.  Garrould's  estal)lisli- 
ment  at  150,  Edgware  Road,  W. 

Every  Friday  is  remnant  day,  when  oddments 
and  remnants  of  every  description  are  offered  at 
half  ]>rice.  This  .should  be  noted,  as  many  useful 
items  can  then  be  purchased  at  bargain  prices. 


16 


JLbc  ISiitisb  3ouifiaI  ot  IRursing, 


[July  2,  1910 


©utsi^e  tbc  (Bates. 


WOMEN. 

Tlie  decision  of  tlie 
Cabinet  to  give  time  >or 
u  dis<'ussion  and  second 
reading  ot  tlie  AVomen's 
Conciliation  Suffiage 

Bill — too  late  in  the 
aeasou  to  grant  .facilities 
for  its  jiassing  into  law — 
satisfies  no  one.  In- 
deed, it  IS  a  filuiffling  ix)licy  unworthy  of 
statesmen.  The  crop  of  insolent  leaders  in  Fri- 
day's dailies,  after  the  sapient  pronouncement  on 
the  suffrage  question  in  the  House  of  Commons, 
made  one  wonder  if  all  journalistic  womenfolk  were 
the  idiotic  and  degraded  creatures  presented 
through  the  press  to  the  derision  of  the  world  in 
general.  Why  have  the  majority  of  newspaper 
men  idiotic  mothers,  irresponsible  wives,  and  airy, 
fairy,  brainless  Ixitterflies  for  daughters?  It  is  not 
presumable  that  if  they  had  known  the  devoted  self- 
sacrifice  of  a  good  mother,  the  unselfishness  of  a 
clever  managing  wife,  the  worship  of  a  sprightly 
little  daughter,  who  is  compelled  to  earn  her  own 
living,  that  men  could  deliberately  insult  the  sex 
to  which  these  dear  ones  belong!  Anyway,  the 
whole  thing  is  as  contemptible  as  it  is  reprehensible, 
and  of  course  invites  reprisals,  which  may  be  of  a 
very  serious  nature. 


Bedford  College  for  Women  is  to  be  rebuilt  in  th& 
grounds  of  South  Villa,  Regent's  Park.  The  build- 
ing fund  now  amounts  to  about  £48,000,  and  it  is 
hoped  to  begin  building  this  year. 


The  text  of  the  Conciliation  Suffrage  Bill  is  now 
i&sued.    Its  two  clausee  are  as  follows: — 

"  Every  woman  possessed  of  a  household  qualifica- 
tion, or  of  a  £10  occupation  qualification,  within 
the  meaning  of  the  Representation  of  the  People 
Act,  1884.  shall  be  entitled  to  be  registered  as  a 
^oter,  and,  when  registered,  to  vote  for  the  county 
or  borough  in  which  the  qualifying  premises  are 
situate." 

"  For  the  purposes  of  this  Act  a  woman  shall  not 
be  disqualified  by  marriage  for  being  registered  as 
a  voter,  provided  that  a  husband  and  wife  shall 
not  both  be  qualTi«l  in  respect  of  the  same  pro- 
I>erty." 


Mre.  H.  J.  Tennant,  Chairman  of  the  Women's 
Work  C^ommittee,  in  «  letter  to  the  press,  draws 
attention  to  the  danger  lost  the  three  work-rooms 
directed  by  the  Central  (Unemployed)  B<Kly  tor 
Loudon  should  have  to  be  closetl  for  want  ot  funds 
wliile  600  women  are  s<H"king  admission.  Mrs. 
Tennant  says  that  the  loss  of  the  expecte<l  work 
would  be  a  c^lamily  to  these  unemployed  women, 
mo-t  of  whom  have  been  waiting  and  hoping  for  its 
opportunities  for  many  weeks,  and  most  of  whom 
are  widows  with  young,  dependent  children.  In 
addition  to  providing  «<>rk  for  poor  women,  over 
8,000  garments  have  Ihhmi  voted  to  the  London 
County  Council  Cai'e  Committee  tor  distribution 
amongst  neoessitious  children  in  the  poorest  dis- 
tricts of  I/ondon.  Contributions  in  sup|X)rt  of  the 
Committee's  work  may  bo  sent  to  Mm.  Tennant,  at 
33,  Bruton  Street,  or  to  the  Lord  Mayor  at  the 
Mansion  House. 


The  ilorality  Bill  which  has  been  introduced 
by  Mr.  King  is  a  compiehensive  measure 
which  will  materially  strengthen  the  law  re- 
lating to  offences  against  morality  and  decency. 
The  age  of  consent  under  the  Bill  is  19.  Provision 
is  made  for  the  protection  of  all  feeble-minded 
women  and  girls,  and  it  is  made  criminal  to  obtain 
consent  by  any  threat  or  inducement  in  connection 
with  employment.  It  is  proprsed  that  lads  under 
19  should  be  protected  from  women  of  abandoned 
character,  and  that  the  existing  law  with  respect 
to  procuration  should  be  greatly  strengthened.  It 
is  made  an  offence  for  any  person  of  either  sex  to 
live  upon  the  earnings  of  habitual  immorality ;  and 
where  the  offence  is  committed  by  a  man  it  is  in- 
dictable, and  punishable  with  imprisonment  for  12 
months,  and,  although  there  may  be  no  previous 
conviction  for  crime,  with  police  supervision.  Fresh 
provision  is  made  with  respect  to  indecent  litera- 
ture, disorderly  houses,  and  soliciting. 


•Boo\\  of  tbe  mcc\\. 


SIMON  THE  JESTER.* 

Simon  de  Gex,  >I.P.,  the  spoilt  darling  of  for- 
tune, as  his  opponent  in  the  labour  interest  called 
him  in  the  last  electoral  campaign,  tells  his  own 
story  in  these  pages.  He  is,  or  was,  engaged  to 
Eleanor  Faversham,  a  girl  with  a  thousand  virtues. 
"  There  seemed  a  whimsical  attraction  in  the  idea 
of  marrying  a  girl  with  a  thousand  virtues.  Before 
me  lay  the  pleasant  prospect  of  reducing  them — say 
ten  at  a  time — until  I  reached  the  limit  at  which 
life  was  i)0ssible,  and  then  one  by  one  until  life 
became   entertaining.  .      .      Even   now    I   am 

sorry  I  can't  marry  Eleanor.  But  marriage  is  out 
of  the  question. 

"  I  have  been  told  by  the  highest  medical  authori- 
ties  that    I   may  manage   to  wander    in  the  flesh 
about  this  planet  for  another  six  montlis. 
Save  for  an  occasional  pain  somewhere  inside  me 
I   am    in   robust    health.      .     .  They  gave   it  a 

kind  of  lingering  name  that  I  wrote  down  on  my 
sliirtcuff  .  .  .  but  I  have  always  hated  jieople  who 
talk  about  their  insides.  and  if  mine  is  only  going 
to  last  me  six  months  it  is  not  worth  talking  about. 
But  the  quaint  fact  of  its  brief  duration  is  worth 
the  attention  of  a  contemplative  mind.  ...  I 
am  not  afraid,  but  having  otherwise  the  prospect 
of  an  entertaining  life,  I  regard  my  impending 
dissolution  in  tlie  light  of  a  gi-ievance.  ...  It  is 
the  dying  that  is  such  a  nuisance  .  .  .  there 
should  be  no  tedious  process  of  decay  either  before 
or  after  death.  You  would  go  about  your  daily 
a\ocations  unconoerne^l  and  unwarned,  then — phew 
— and  your  clothes  would  remain  standing  for  a 
surprised  second,  and  then  fall  down  in  a  heap 
without  a  particle  of  you  inside  them.  It  would 
be  so  clean,  so  painless,  so  picturesque.     It  would 

*  By  W.  .L  liocke.    (John  Lane,  Bodley  Head.) 


Jiilv  2.  i9io: 


Zbc  Britigb  3ournaI  of  IRursino. 


IT 


iuUl  to  the  importance  of  our  walks  abroad.  Fancy 
a  stout  policeman  vanishing;  from  bis  uniform  .  .  . 
and  the  spirit  winging  its  way  truucheonless 
through  the  Empyrean." 

So,  with  delightful  humour  and  exquisite  pathos, 
lie  faces  the  great  ordeal,  and  for  the  small  remnant 
of  his  life  he  takes  Marcus  Aurelius  for  his  guide, 
where  he  says:  "Let  death  surprise  me  where  it 
will  and  when  it  will,  I  may  be  '  eumoiros,'  or  a 
happy  man,  nevertheless.  For  he  is  a  happy  man 
who  in  liis  lifetime  dealetli  to  himself  a  happy  lot 
and  portion,  which  is  good  inclinations  of  the  soul, 
good  desires,  good  actions.''  He  translates  this 
literally  by  dealing  out  his  fortune  to  those  in  need, 
leaving  himself  enough  only  for  his  short  sp.ui  of 
life,  and  by  busying  himself  in  the  deliverance  of 
his  young  secretary.  Dale  Kynnersley,  from  the 
toils  of  a  music  hall  artiste,  Lola  Brandt. 

He  then  passes  a  perfectly  uncuinoiros  week 
among  his  friends.  •'  I  had  stood  godfather  to  my 
Sister  Agatha's  fifth  child,  taking  upon  myself 
obligations  I  shall  never  be  able  to  perform.  I  had 
dined  ^musingly  at  Jane's,  shot  pheasants  at  Fair- 
fax Glen's  place,  and  paid  a  charming  country- 
house  visit.  WHien  I  came  back,  I  consulted  my 
calendar  with  some  anxiety,  and  set  out  to  clear 
my  path.  I  have  now  practically  withdrawn  from 
political  life."' 

Judge,  then,  of  his  dismay,  which  for  the  life  of 
us  we  cannot  help  sharing,  when,  after  a  successful 
operation  performed  on  him  without  his  knowledge 
when  unconscious,  he  finds  instead  of  facing  Death 
he  has  to  face  Life,  stripped  of  everything  that 
made  it  desirable. 

■'  The  doctor,  good,  deluded  man,  does  not  realise 
he  is  the  tool  of  the  Arch  Jester.  He  has  no  notion 
of  the  sardonic  joke  his  knife  was  choiven  to  per- 
petrate. .  .  .  That  we  should  come  into  this 
world  again  naked  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight  is  a 
piece  of  irony  too   grim  for   contemplation. 

"Yet  I  am  bound  to  contemplate  it.  Figura- 
tively, I  am  naked.  .  .  .  Partly  by  my  own 
act  and  partly  by  the  help  of  Destiny  (the  greater 
Jester  than  I),  I  have  stripped  myself  of  all  those 
garments  of  life  which  not  only  enabled  me  to  strxit 
peacock-fashion  on  the  pleasant  places  of  the  world, 
but   also  sheltered  me  from  its  inclemencies.'' 

It  is  impossible  to  read  without  pain  the  descrip- 
tion of  his  farewell,  necessitated  by  his  altered  cir- 
cumstances, to  his  chambers  in  the  Albany,  ''  to  the 
tasteful  furnishing  of  which  I  had  devoted  the 
thought  and  interest  of  many  years.  Bits  of  old 
china,  my  choice  collection  of  mezzotints,  a  picture 
or  two — one  a  Lancret,  a  very  dear  possession." 

Though  we  leave  this  dear  Jester  consoled,  we 
are  not  a  whit  satisfied  with  the  manner  of  his 
consolation. 

Readers  who  have  loved  "The  Beloved  Vaga- 
bond "  will  hail  this  volume  with  delight. 

H.   H. 


Born  with  a  nature  that   demanded  joy, 

He  took  full  draughts  of  life,  nor  did  the  vintage 

cloy ; 
But  when  she  passed  from  vision,  who  so  long 
Had  sat   aloft — alone — 

On  the  steep  heights  of  an  Imperial  throne, 
Then  rose  he  large  and  strong. 
Then  spake  his  voice  with  new  and  grander  tone, 
Then,  called  to  rule  the  State 
Which  he  had  only  served. 
He  saw  dear  Dutj*  plain,  nor  from   that  highway 

swerved, 
And,   unappalled  by  his  majestic  fate. 
Pretended  not  to  greatness,  yet  was  great. 
—Sable  and  Purple.  May,   1910. 

By  William  Watson. 


COMING    EVENTS. 

July  1st. — Association  for  Promoting  the  Train- 
ing and  Supply  of  Midwives.  Annual  Gathering 
of  Midwives.  By  kind  permission  of  Mrs.  Penn, 
42,  Gloucester  Square,  Hyde  Park,  W.  Badges  to 
midwives  will  be  presented.     3  p.m. 

July  7th. — Garden  Party  and  Distributions  of 
Medals  and  Prizes,  Guy's  Hospital,  3.15.  The  La- 
Iwratories,  Museums,  College,  and  the  Henriette 
Raphael  Nurses'  Home  and  Wards  will  be  open  to 
inspection  from  3  to  5.30  p.m. 

July  Sth. — Meeting,  Executive  Committee, 
Society  for  the  State  Registration  of  Nurses,  431, 
Oxford  Street,  London,  W.,  4  p.m.    Tea. 

July  11th. — The  Society  of  Women  Journalists. 
Reception  by  the  President,  Lady  McLaren,  43, 
Belgrave  Square,  S.W.     10  p.m. 

July  11th. — East  End  Mothers'  Home.  Annual 
Meeting,  The  Mansion  House,  by  kind  permission 
of  the  Lord  Mayor.    3  p.m. 

July  16th. — Meeting  of  the  Matrons'  Council, 
General  Hospital,  Birmingham,  3  p.m.  Meeting, 
Addresses  on  State  Registration  of  Nurses,  4  p.m. 


Women's  Congress,  J.vpan-British  Exhibition. 

■July  Jith. — Discussion  on  "  Technical  and  Do- 
mestic Training  of  Women  and  Girls."     3  p.m. 

July  .5th. — Discussion  on  "  Women  in  Horticul- 
ture," Lady  Falmouth  presiding.  3  p.m.  (two 
days). 

July  Gth. — Discussion  on  "  Women  in  Agricul- 
ture," Lady  Moiunt  Stephen  presiding.    3  p.m. 

July  7th. — Discussion  on  "  Women  and  the  Fight 
against  Destitution."     3  p.m. 

July  Sth. — Discussion  on  "  Women  in  Philan- 
thropy."    3  p.m. 

July  9th.^"  Physical  Training  and  Organised 
Play."  Adeline  Duchess  of  Bedford  presiding. 
3  p.m 


VERSE. 
This  was  the  English  King,  that  loved  the  English 

ways: 
A  man  not  too  remote,  or  too  august, 
"Foi   other  mortal  children  of  the  dust 
■jo  know  and  to  draw  near. 


WORD  FOR  THE  W/EEK. 
The   contempt    with    which    men    speak    of    "  a 
complacent"    husband    compared   with  the  rever- 
ence and  deep  appreciation  with  which  they  speak 
of  "a  forgiving  wife  ''   is  significant  of  the  neces- 
sity of  raising  to   a   higher  level   the  standard  of 
domestic    morality  which   the   average  woman    de- 
mands of  the  average  man.  * 
Mks.  Fawcett, 
Before  Divorce  Commission. 


18 


^be  Biitisb  3ounial  of  iRursing, 


[July  2,  1910 


Xetters  to  tbe  E&itor. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  com- 
munications upon  all  subjects 
for  these  columns,  we  icish  it 
to  be  distinctly  understood 
that  we  do  not  in  ant  wai 
hold  ourselves  responsible  for 
the  opinions  expressed  by  out 
correspondents. 


PROVIDENT  NURSING. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursitig." 
Dear  Madam. — I  ain  a  trained  nurse,  masseuse, 
and  midwife,  and  I  would  gladly  address  Friendly 
Societies  on  the  advantages  of  their  adding  trained 
nursing  to  their  other  benefits,  if  some  of  your 
readers  would  put  me  in  the  way  of  doing  so. 
Yours  faithfully, 

G.     HOVEXDEN. 

GlenJea.  109,  Thurlow  Park  Road, 
Dulwich,  S.E. 

[We  should  adv'ise  our  correspondent  to  write  to 
the  Secretaries  of  Friendly  Societies.  A  list  of 
these  is  given  iu  the  Post  Office  (Ix>ndon)  Directorv. 

—Ed.]  

"THE  MAN  IN  THE  STREET.' 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 

Dear  Editor, — I  thought  twice  before  coming  up 
to  London  from  the  country  to  take  part  in  "  the 
last  procession  for  the  suffrage,"  but  thankful  I 
am  I  came.  I  would  not  have  missed  that  march 
from  Temple  Stairs  to  Albert  Hall  for  a  year's 
salary.  It  was  a  royal  progress  for  the  nurses,  and 
an  immense  eye-opener.  There  can  be  no  doubt 
after  such  a  public  ovation  from  thousands  of  all 
classes,  for  miles  along  the  route,  how  the  public 
estimate  their  nurses,  and  how  they  regard  their 
uniform.  I  believe  if  you  organised  a  Registration 
Procession,  with  emblematic  banners  and  mottoes, 
we  should  have  the  support  of  every  "  man  in  the 
street."  It  could  be  made  most  picturesque,  and  a 
few-  home  truths  would  be  convincing,  such  as 
"Down  with  nurse  sweating,''  "Why  rob  Peter 
to  pay  Paul  at  the  London."  "  Nurses  and  nursing 
standards  need  protection."  Then  let  literature 
bo  distributed,  stating  why  nurses  need  legal  pro- 
tection from  hospital  committees,  which  make  cent. 
per  cent,  on  their  work.  But  the  "  Bart's  "  case 
should  be  presented  proving  our  helplessness  even 
to  maintain  efiBcient  standards  when  we  have  made 
them;  how  criminals  pose  as  nurses;  something  on 
the  exploitation  in  nursing  homes,  and  any  other 
tasty   tit-bits  which  would   tell. 

I  feel  sure,  from  my  experience  on  Saturday, 
we  could  arouse  a  tremendous  wave  of  feeling  in 
our  favour.  Quiet  and  constitutional  demands  for 
protection  and  i-eform  can  evidently  be  snuffed 
out  by  social  influence  by  professional  philanthro- 
pists. I  feel  sure  our  wisest  plan  will  be  to  "come 
out  "  and  take  the  man  in  the  street  into  our  con- 
fidence. He  has  a  vote,  and  as  the  immortal 
Rhodes  remarked,  "  The  vote  covers  all."  I  hope 
you  will  consider  thi.i  suggestion. 
I  am,  yours  truly, 

Bart's  C'ertificate. 


QUESTIONS  RIPE  FOR  DISCUSSION. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing."' 

Dear  Madam. — I  notice  with  interest  in  your 
valuable  Journal  that  a  Conference  is  to  be  called 
at  an  early  date  to  consider  the  feeding  of  hospital 
nursas.     It  is  needed. 

What  is  also  needed,  one  would  imagine,  is  a 
conference  on  the  housing  of  nurses,  judging  from 
the  Treasurer's  statement  about  the  dangerous  con- 
sti'uction  of  the  Xui-ses'  Home  at  St.  Bartholomew's 
Hospital,  and  the  appalling  conditions  made  public 
as  to  the  housing  of  some  of  the  nurses  on  the  staff 
of  the  Hackney  Infirmary,  under  conditions  w-hich 
if  accurately  reported,  would  be  disgusting  in  a 
common  lodging-house. 

And  we  might  also  with  advantage  have  a  discus- 
sion as  to  the  salaries  nurses  recseive  and  the  money 
they  earn. 

As  an  increasing  number  of  hospital  committees 
are  organising  private  nursing  departments,  the 
salaries  paid  to  trained  nui'ses  might  well  form 
the  subject  of  debate.  It  would  also  be  to  the 
advantage  of  nui-ses  to  know  how  they  oomi>are 
with  the  earnings  of  nurses  working  on  good  oo- 
oj)erations.  lieoause  some  hospitals  enter  into  very 
unfaii-  eomi)etition  with  such  nunses,  more 
esi)ecially  in  one  well-known  in.stance.  where  nui-ses. 
are  certificated  at  the  end  of  two  yeare.  instead 
of  three,  and  sent  private  nureing  for  full  fees. 
Take  again  the  Cottage  Benefit  Association :  It  is 
reix>rted  : — "  The  nurses  are  all  certificated  montniy 
nui-ses,  with  training  in  the  elements  of  geneiial 
uui-sing.  Charge  for  nurses'  services  to  benefit  sub- 
scriber. 2s.  to  £1  per  week  for  ordinary  and 
maternity  oases.  Infectious  cases  double.  Xui-ses' 
wages,  £16  and  lodging  first  year,  rising  £2 
yearly  to  £30  per  annum,  with  bonus  after  termina- 
tion of  engagement.'' 

Why  committees  .send  out  monthly  nurses  at  £2 
a  week — and  presumably  in  the  case  of  non-sul)- 
scribers  a  higher  fee — to  nurse  infectious  case.s. 
and  how  they  dare  take  the  responsibility,  is  not 
apparent.  But  as  this  is  done  why  not  in  equity  pay 
the  nuiises  what  they  earn,  less  the  usual  7^  per 
cent,  for  working  expen.ses? 

These  points  would  lie  extremely  interesting  for 
discussion,  'tt'hy  not  arrange  a  conference  to  in- 
clude them  all? 

Youi-s  faithfully. 

Suggestion. 


NOTICE. 

All  anonymous  Utters  are  put  into  the  waste 
paper  basket,  and  no  further  notice  taken  of  them. 

As  the  Editor  gets  many  letters  weekly  reqiiiring 
replies,  not  on  Journal  business,  for  the  future  no 
reply  can  be  sent  unless  a  stamp  is  enclosed. 


H^oticcs. 


OUR   PUZZLE  PRIZE. 
Rules    for   competing   for   the     Pictorial    Puzzle- 
Prize  will  be  found  on  Advertisement  page  xii. 


July  2,  i9io;  ^|5C  British  3ournal  ox  it^ursitto  SupplcinciU. 

The    Midwife. 


19. 


®n  tbc  lvalue  of  Zest  HDcals  as  a 
6ln^c  to  3nfant  Jfcc^lniJ. 

Dr.  Eonald  Carter,  M.R.C.S.,  writiug  in  the 
Britiali  Medical  Journal,  says  in  part:  — 

Three  years  ago  I  started  "  infant  consulta- 
tions "  in  North  Kensington  (Netting  Dale), 
with  the  help  of  the  Kensington  Health 
Society. 

The  mothers  brought  their  infants  once  a 
week  for  advice,  because  they  were  not  pro- 
gressing favourably.  The  majority  were  breast- 
fed, and,  as  is  usual  in  these  cases,  friends  told 
the  mothers  to  wean  the  child.  It  seemed  to 
me  it  would  be  a  help  in  the  elucidation  of  this 
problem  to  follow  Professor  Budin's  plan  and 
weigh  the  infant  before  and  after  a  breast  feed^ 
and  so  discover  at  any  rate  the  quantity  of  milk 
it  obtained,  and  I  have  found  this  method  to 
bo  of  great  practical  importance.  The  number 
of  breast-fed  infants  that  "  go  wrong  "  is  really 
amazing,  and  I  feel  quite  certain  that  a  large 
proportion  of  the  deaths  from  gastro-enteritis 
attributed  to  bottle  feeding  are  in  reality 
breast-fed  infants  who  have  been  artificially  fed 
as  a  last  resort.  I  have  watched  several  of 
these  cases,  and  I  can  positively  say  that  the 
initial  disturbance  in  nutrition  started  whilst 
the  infant  was  breast-fed,  and  that  artificial 
feeding  was  only  resorted  to  when  the  degree 
of  wasting  had  become  noticeable  to  friends 
and  relations. 

In  the  ease  of  breast-fed  infants  there  should 
be  some  sort  of  co-ordination  between  the 
supply  on  the  part  of  the  mother  and  the  de- 
mand on  the  part  of  the  infant.  A  strong  in- 
fant, by  reason  of  its  active  powers  of  suction, 
affords  the  appropriate  stimulus  for  a  parallel 
activity  on  the  part  of  the  secreting  gland, 
while  the  feeble  nursling,  on  account  of  its  in- 
dififerent  powers  of  stimulation,  excites  little 
reaction  in  the  breast.  In  a  considerable  pro- 
portion of  cases  there  is  no  co-ordination  be- 
tween the  supply  and  the  demand ;  sometimes 
there  is  too  much  milk,  and  sometimes  not 
enough.  Apart  from  the  physiological  test — 
namely,  the  progress  of  the  infant — there  is  no 
way  of  finding  out  how  much  milk  an  infant 
receives  unless  we  weiph  the  infant  before  and 
after  feeding  on  very  accurate  scales :  the 
amount  consumed  is  estimated  by  noting  the 
difference  in  the  two  weighings.  This  method 
is  known  as  the  "  test  feed."  The  following 
case  illustrates  its  practical  application:  — 


A  womau  came  to  my  consultation^  with  a  very 
wasted  infant  aged  2  months,  and  weighing  (3  Ih. 
She  had  fed  it  entirely  on  the  breast,-  and  assured 
me  that  it  obtained  the  milk  because  it  sucked  lor 
about  ten  minutes  and  then  fell  asleep.  A  '■  t»'st 
feed  "  was  arranged,  and  two  hours  after  the  last 
feed  the  infant  was  put  to  the  breast.  The  scales 
proved  that  it  obtained  no  milk  at  all.  Milk  coul'l, 
however,  be  easily  squeezed  from  the  nipple,  show- 
shoning  that  an  adequate  supply  was  present.  I 
ordered  the  mother  to  give  1  oz.  of  cow's  milk  with 
1  oz.  of  barley  water  alternately  with  the  breast 
feedings.  During  the  following  week  the  test  feed 
showed  that  the  infant  obtained  i  oz.  from  the 
breast,  and  the  child  had  increased  4  oz.  in  weight. 
She  continued  to  feed  in  this  manner  for  another 
week  and  the  test  feed  then  showed  that  1  oz.  was 
obtained  from  the  breast,  the  child  having  gained 
another  5  oz.  in  weight.  At  the  end  of  a  month's 
treatment  2  oz.  was  obtained  from  the  breast,  and' 
the  child  had  gained  nearly  1  lb.  The  cow's  milk 
was  now  discontinued  and  the  child  was  fed  entirely 
on  the  breast  till  it   was  8  months  old. 

Irregular  feeding  is  a  frequent  cause  of 
vomiting  and  diarrhoea  in  breast-fed  infants ; 
the  scales  have  often  shown  what  small  quanti- 
ties these  infants  obtain,  and  when  the  mothers 
are  told  to  feed  "  by  the  clock,"  the  result  is 
that  the  vomiting  and  dian-hoea  cease  and  the 
child  obtains  often  double  the  quantity  of 
nourishment  from  the  breast.  When  irregular 
feeding  is  persisted  in,  the  child  begins  to 
waste,  the  mother  then  commences  bottle  feed- 
ing, with  of  course  a  bad  result :  should  such 
a  case  end  fatally,  the  doctor  in  attendance,  if 
he  had  not  inquired  into  the  previous  history, 
would  naturally  assume  that  bottle-feeding  was 
the  cause  of  death. 

Another  interesting  observation  that  the  test 
feed  has  disclosed  is  that  among  breast-fed  in- 
fants it  is  not  always  those  who  are  inade- 
quately fed  according  to  our  accepted  scientific 
data  who  suffer  from  wasting,  but  often  those 
who  receive  an  adequate  or  even  excessive 
amount.  I  have  notes  of  at  least  forty  cases  in 
which  the  infant  appeared  to  thrive  and  main- 
tain a  good  weight  curve  on  half  the  quantity  of 
food  that  it  should  normally  obtain :  for  in- 
stance, it  is  a  common  experience  to  find  that 
an  infant  3  or  4  months  old  is  fed  ten  times  a 
day  and  only  obtains  1  to  li  oz.  of  rnilk  at  a 
feeding,  or  about  12  oz.  in  the  24^^  hours. 
Evidence  from  an  independent  source  confirms 
these  observations,  for  Dr.  Eric  Pritchard  at 
his  consultations  at  the  !Marylebone  Dispensary 
has  come  to  exactly  the  same  conclusions.  » 
.\  starvation  diet  is  hardly  likely  to  promote 


20 


Ibe  Britisb  3ournaI  of  U^ursino  Supplement.  tJ^'y  2, 1910 


active  nutrition,  so  that  in  cases  in  which  the 
test  feed  proves  that  the  child  is  maintaining 
its  weight  on  such  a  small  amount  of  milk,  I 
usually  supplement  the  defective  supply  with 
additional  feeds  from  the  bottle. 

I  frequently  have  infants  brought  to  me  who 
have  been  artificialh-  fed  from  the  first  week  of 
life,  owing  to  the  belief  that  the  breast  milk 
had  '■  dried  up  "  on  the  fourth  or  fifth  day. 
I  regret  to  saj'  that  some  of  these  eases  came 
from  maternity  institutions.  I  am  sure  that  no 
one,  however  skilled  in  matemit}'  work,  can 
possibly  tell,  apart  from  the  test  feed,  whether 
the  infant  obtains  a  small  quantity  from  the 
breast  or  not.  To  show  how  mistakes  can  be 
made,  I  will  quote  the  case  of  an  infant  born 
in  one  of  our  maternity  institutions. 

The  babv  was  2  mouths  old  when  I  saw  it,  very 
wasted,  and  was  having  the  bottle.  The  mother 
told  me  that  her  milk  had  disappeared  on  the 
fourth  or  fifth  day,  and  that  the  nurse  said  she 
rtuist  feed  the  baby  on  the  bottle.  The  financial 
problem  on  leavrng;  the  institution  worried  the 
mother  a  good  deal,  so  she  put  the  child  to  the 
breast  now  and  then  "when  the  nurse  was  not 
looking."  The  test  feed  showed  that  the  child 
obtained  2  oz.  from  the  breast.  I  told  the  mother 
to  stop  the  bottle  and  feed  only  by  the  breast. 
The  child  did  remarkably  well,  and  there  was  no 
further  trouble. 

Mistakes  such  as  this  could  easily  be  avoided 
if  the  test  feed  was  employed  in  all  doubtful 


or  per^yQu,  the  body  or  pei-son  in  question  should 
have  the  right  of  being  heard  on  the  matter  before 
the  Council.  It  is  also  suggested  that  payment  of 
the  travelling  exijensesof  the  members  of  the  Board 
should  Ije  made  obligatory. 


^be  noibwlves'  Bill,  1910. 

WITHDRAWAL  OF  AMENDMENT  BILL. 
Ill  the  House  of  Lords  last  week.  Earl  Beauchamp, 
I/ord  Pre.sident  of  the  Council,  said  there  had  l>een 
a  Bill  on  the  paper  of  their  lordshijw'  House  tor 
some  time  dealing  with  midwives.  He  asked  leave 
to  withdraw  that  Bill,  with  the  idea  of  re-intro- 
ducing it  with  certain  amoudments  which  had  been 
siiggestetl,  and  he  .Jiould  liojje  that  if  he  did  that  it 
would  be  possible  for  the  Bill  to  get  through  Ijoth 
Houses  of  Parliament  in  the  present  Session.  I^eave 
was  given  and  the  Bill  was  withdrawn. 


APOTHECARIES  AND  THE  MIDWIVES'  BILL. 

The  .Society  of  AiMjthecarif-s  of  I/ondon  has  ad- 
dres.sed  a  memorial  to  the  Ix)rd  Piosident  of  the 
Council  ui>on  the  subject  of  the  Midwives'  Bill, 
lillO,  drawing  attention  to  various  points  in  the 
Bill  whidi  it  is  .suggcstod  stand  in  neixl  of  amend- 
ment, lu  Clause  17.  dealing  with  the  payment  l)y 
the  Guardians  of  feet,  of  me<lical  practitioners  callo<l 
in  on  th«  advice  of  midwives,  the  Society  urges  that 
payments  should  Ik-  made  to  the  iirnctitionor  not 
only  where  he  attends  the  motlu'r,  l)ut  where,  in 
case  of  urgency,  the  newly-lx>rn  child  requires 
medical  a.ssistance. 

It  is.  among  otluu-  things.  urgo<l  that  before  the 
Privy  Council  takes  any  <'ffective  action  in  refer- 
ence to  alxjlishing  the  power  of  «pix)intment  of  « 
representative  on  the  Midwives'  Board  by  any  Ixxly 


(Bol&en   IRules  of  ©bstetric 
practice. 

Tliis  little  book,  prico  Is.,  by  Dr.  W.  E.  Fother- 
gill.  M.A.,  B.Sc.,  Clinical  Lecturer  in  Obstetrics 
and  Gynjecology  in  the  University  of  Manchester, 
and  published  by  John  Wright  and  Sons,  Ltd., 
Bri.stol,  has  now  reached  a  sixth  edition,  convincing 
proof  of  its  jjopularity.  It  is  intende<l  primarily  for 
medical  practitioners,  but  many  of  its  rules  are  use- 
ful to  midwives  also.      Here  are  some: — 

A  hot  bath  during  the  first  stage  of  lalx>ur  is  most 
comforting  to  the  patient.  It  may  well  be  pro- 
longed and  should  never  be  omitted  if  it  can  be 
obtained. 

Perineal  tearing  is  minimised  by  extending  the 
legs.  Tliis  relaxes  the  .skin  of  the  parts  which  is 
stretched  when  the  knees  are  flexe<l. 

\Mien  trying  to  resuscitate,  immerse  the  child  in 
a  hot  bath  containing  mustard  for  a  time,  and  then 
sprinkle  cold  water  on  its  chest.  Do  not  Immei^se 
the  child  in  a  cold  bath. 

Keep  up  artificial  respiration  while  the  child  is 
in  the  hot  bath,  as,  well  as  between  the  successive 
immereions. 

Do  not  give  up  until  you  have  worked  for  one 
aud  a-half  or  two  houre. 

When  you  find  the  breech  presenting  inform  the 
friends  of  the  fact  :  explain  that  there  is  no  in- 
creased risk  to  the  mother,  but  that  there  is  a 
certain  degree  of  danger  to  the  child. 

When  the  trunk  is  lx>rn  .  .  .  wrap  up  the  ex- 
ix)sed  parts  of  the  child  in  hot  cloths  to  prevent 
premature  efforts  at  respiration  ;  but  do  not  inter- 
fore  luiless  pulsation  flags  in  the  cord,  or  spasmodic 
movements  of  the  Ijody  commence. 

AVhatever  gi"ip  you  use  carry  the  child's  body  well 
foi-ward  between  the  mother's  legs,  and  see  that 
the  chin  leads. 

Remember  that  in  normal  labour  there  should  be 
no  blee<ling  until  after  the  child  is  born. 

If  there  is  blee<ling  after  the  third  stage  is  over 
do  not  mistake  bl<Kxl  coming  fi-om  a  split  cervix, 
a  lacerattxl  vagina,  or  a  toru  iH-riu.'Pum,  for  true 
uterine  bk>e<ling  (ixxst  partum  h.'cmorrhage). 

Bemember  that  uterine  hicmorrhage  cannot  occur 
if  the  uterus  is  firiidy  contracted,  and  that  its  pre- 
vention consists  in  avoiding  cxhau-stion  of  the 
uterine  muscle  during  labour. 


THE  "MARY"  WARD,  ST.  THOMAS'  HOSPITAL. 
The  Queen   has  given    permission   that  the   ne^v 
maternity  ward   at   St.  Thomas's   Hospital   should 
be  named   "  Mary"  after  her  Majesly. 


ENDOWMENT  OF  MOTHERHOOD. 

The  legislation  |irc.niised  by  the  New  Zealand 
Parliament,  opened  this  week,  includes  a  measure 
for  State  aid  in  maternity  cases. 


THE 


'EmSHJODlIM^ 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 
EDITED   BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


No.  1,162. 


SATURDAY,     JULY     9,     1910. 


le^ito^al. 


THE    ADVANCE    GUARD. 

As  mankind  gains  the  mastery  of  those 
territories  which  have  been  regarded  as 
xiniit  for  human  habitation,  bj'  reason  of 
their  xmhealthiness,  the  world  recognises 
the  debt  of  civilisation  to  those  pioneers 
who,  by  their  self-sacrifice — a  sacrifice  often 
involving  even  life  itself— make  the  world 
more  hal)itable  for  succeeding  generations. 
It  is  not  so  universally  recognised  that 
amongst  these  pioneers  the  trained  nurse  is 
now  constantly  to  be  found,  quietly,  effec- 
tively, and  as  part  of  the  day's  work,  taking 
the  risks,  enduring  the  discomforts,  and 
sharing  the  hardships  inseparable  from  life 
in  an  unhealthy  and  imdeveloped  country, 
with  a  cheery  optimism  which  puts  heart 
into  all  with  whom  she  comes  in  contact. 

One  of  the  latest  territories  to  be  re- 
claimed, as  all  the  world  knows,  is  the 
Isthmus  of  Panama,  formerly  a  mosquito- 
ridden  swamp  and  a  white  man's  grave. 
Now,  according  to  Mr.  W.  H.  Magee,  who 
describes,  in  the  Daily  Telegraph,  a  recent 
visit  after  an  absence  of  thirty-four  years, 
"  a  veritable  inferno  has  been  changed  into 
a  paradise,  where  white  men  can  work  and 
live  with  their  wives  and  families  in  peace 
and  comfort.  Many  look  forward  with  regret 
to  the  time  when  the  work  shall  be  finished 
and  they  are  forced  to  seek  new  homes,  new- 
occupations,  and  perchance  less  kindly 
climates." 

But  this  change  has  not  been  accom- 
plished without  sacrifice  ;  and  what  has 
greatly  impressed  the  writer  of  the  article 
— though  they,  no  doubt,  would  be  the  first 
to  repudiate  it — is  the  heroism  of  the  many 
young  doctors  and  nurses  who  so  nobly 
risked  their  lives  in  the  first  taking  hold  of 
the  country  by  the  Americans.    "  In  the  face 


of  the  enormotis  death-rate  in  the  French 
camps,  where  hundreds  and  even  thousands 
were  swept  off  by  small-pox,  chagree  fever, 
yellow  fever,  and  pernicious  an:vmia,  they 
came,"  he  writes,  "  and  the  few  devoted 
survivors  are  here  still.  Those  who  have 
taken  vacations  to  northern  lands  come  back 
looking  well,  but  those  who  have  remained 
constant  show  the  pallor  and  wasting-away 
due  to  a  system  charged  with  malaria."  He 
describes  the  work  of  one  young  nurse, 
newly  graduated,  whose  first  task  was  the 
charge  of  a  ward  of  forty  negro  small-pox 
patients,  with  only  an  adjoining  tent  to  sleep 
in.  "  .Many  such  instances  could  be  repeated, 
and  it  is  only  to  the  untiring  constancy  of 
these  ministering  angels  that  numberless 
poor  fellows  have  lived  to  tell  the  tale.  The 
respect  and  love  that  is  shown  for  the  whole 
medical  forces — doctors,  nurses,  and  order- 
lies— are  witnesses  of  the  good  work  they 
have  done  and  are  doing." 

We  acclaim  the  courage  and  endorse  the 
honourbestowed  upon  those  medicalmen  and 
nurses  who  have  shown  conspic\ious  gal- 
lantrj'  and  devotion  in  the  care  of  the  sick 
and  wounded  when  serving  with  armies  in 
the  field,  or  during  naval  w-arfare  ;  but  the 
civilian  Services  also  have  their  heroes  and 
heroines,  and  those  Avho  work  on  cheer- 
fully and  maintain  the  courage  of  those 
around  them,  when  their  health  is  under- 
mined by  malaria,  and  inertia,  depression, 
and  constant  weariness  follow  in  its  train, 
display  courage  of  an  unusually  high  order. 
None  biit  those  who  have  worked  in  a 
mosquito-ridden  country  know  how  hard  it 
is  always  to  keep  a  brave  front,  to  discharge 
the  monotonous  round  of  daily  duties 
efficiently.  But  it  is  qualities  such  as  these 
which  gain  for  the  nurse  on  pioneer  duty ' 
the  esteem  and  respect  of  those  amongst 
whom  she  works. 


22 


Zbc  Biltigb  3ournaI  of  IRursing. 


[July  9,  1910 


riDebical  flDatters. 


THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF  THE  PUBLIC  HEALTH 
AND  EDUCATION  ACTS  IN  RELATION  TO 
THE  PREVENTION  AND  CURE  OF  DISEASES 
OF  THE  THROAT  AND  NOSE. 

Mr.  T.  Jeffei-sou  Faulder,  F.R.C.S.,  dealing 
with  the  above  subject  iu  the  Lancet,  says:  — 

"  We  read  a  great  deal  about  mouth  breath- 
iug,  glands  in  the  neck,  running  at  the  nose, 
deafness,  discharging  ears,  backwardness  at 
school,  deformities,  liability  to  ievers,  and  other 
illnesses.  If  anyone  thinks  to  avert  all  these 
evils  by  a  timely  operation  for  the  removal  of 
tonsils  and  adenoids  he  will  be  grievously  dis- 
appointed. There  is  no  royal  road  to  health  in 
these  cases  except  in  a  limited  number.  W  hat 
is  the  condition  of  the  patients  at  the  time  of 
operation  and  what  are  their  ages?  The  first 
question  is  sufficiently  answered  by  saying  that 
practically  all  are  suffering  in  some  way  or 
other.  Therefore,  theoretically  at  least,  earher 
operation  would  prevent  a  good  deal  of  illness. 
Evidences  of  neglect  abound,  and  many  apply 
for  treatment  only  when  permanent  damage 
has  already  been  suffered." 

In  regard  to  the  age  of  the  patients  operated 
upon,  Mr.  Jefierson  Faulder  has  collected 
statistics  concerning  4,769  persons,  who  under- 
went operations  in  nine  hospitals,  and  tabulated 
thern  according  to  their  ages.  In  all  the  tables 
the  percentage  rises  rapidly  from  age  1  to  age  5, 
and  falls  more  gradually  to  the  age  of  20.  The 
rapid  rise  of  the  line  up  to  age  5  unquestionably 
shows  that  the  causes  of  these  throat  maladies 
begin  to  act  early  and  before  the  children  come 
under  the  notice  of  the  school  medical  officer. 
It  is  clear  that  any  complete  system  of  preven- 
tion directed  against  these  diseased  conditions 
of  the  throat  will  have  to  be  begun  long  before 
the  children  arrive  at  the  schools,  and  the 
writer  draws  attention  to  the  work  done  in  «hat 
are  called  "  infant  consultations,"  which  are 
special  clinics  dealing  solely  with  infants.  He 
instances  the  St.  Marylebone  General  Dispen- 
sary in  Welbeck  Street.  W.,  where  such  con- 
sultations are  carried  on  by  Dr.  E.  Pritchard, 
the  pioneer  of  this  kind  of  work  in  London,  and 
says  that  such  work  might  with  obvious  advan- 
tage to  the  public  be  more  widely  extended  and 
ultimately  joined  up  with  the  school  medical 
ser\'ice,  and  that  only  by  some  such  means 
■  shall  we  arrive  at  a  sound  method  of  preventive 
medicine. 

"  Coming  now,"  he  continues,  "  to  the 
actual  treatment  of  the  conditions  found  when 
the  children  have  entered  school,  it  should  be 
postulated  that  unless  this  work  be  well  done 
it  had  better  not  be  done  at  all.  Otherwise  the 
whole   scheme   must   fall   into   disrepute,  and 


everyone — general  public,  ratepayers,  and  llie 
medical  profession — will  be  dissatisfied.  It  is 
absolutely  certain  that  whatever  the  cost  may 
be  the  best  will  be  the  cheapest. 

"  Existing  institutions  are  to  be  utilised  as 
far  as  possible.  But  are  existing  institutions 
at  all  suitable  for  what  is  now  needed?  Is  a 
crowded  outpatient  depai-tment  a  suitable  place 
for  the  treatment  of  chronic  discharging  ears? 
Is  such  a  department  a  favourable  place  for  the 
cure  of  simple  inveterate  mouth-breathing  due 
to  bad  habits  or  uneleanliness?  Is  the  ordinary 
dental  outpatient  department  the  best  venue 
for  the  preventive  treatment  of  decay  of  the 
teeth?  In  these  three  groups  the  main  and 
essential  part  of  treatment  is  of  necessity 
routine,  prolonged  and  more  or  less  tedious. 
And  it  will  be  found  that  the  greatest  and  the 
most  valuable  part  of  "  school  doctoring  "  will 
be  of  this  very  nature. 

"  Many  out-patient  departments  at  the  pre- 
sent time  are  so  crowded  that  it  is  physically 
impossible  for  this  quiet  methodical  diagnosis 
of  each  case  to  be  carried  out.  It  is  certain 
that  as  operation  is  practically  the  only  method 
of  treatment  here  available,  it  is  applied  to 
numerous  cases  where  other  simpler  and  better, 
though  more  tedious,  means  of  remedy  could 
be  devised.  Hence  discredit  is  cast  by  some 
upon  the  operation  for  tonsils  and  adenoids. 
In  the  cure  of  chronic  discharging  ears  it  is  of 
practically  no  use  to  supply  the  patients  them- 
selves with  lotions  or  drops  for  purposes  of 
syringing  and  disinfecting  the  ears.  To  obtain 
satisfactory  results  there  must  be  skilled, 
specially  trained  nurses  available.  A  surgeon 
should  personally  instruct  these  nurses  and 
generally  exercise  supervision.  Exactly  the 
same  applies  to  cases  of  nasal  obstruction, 
nasal  discharge,  etc.  Those  cases  which  are 
subjected  to  operation  as  well  as  those  deemed 
unsuitable  for  operation  should  be  attended  to 
by  skilled  trained  nurses  under  the  general  in- 
struction and  supervision- of  a  surgeon.  Here 
also  it  is  often  a  simple  matter  of  cleanliness, 
but  besides  that  there  is  the  inculcation  of 
proper  breathing  habits — i.e.,  breathing  exer- 
cises systematically  carried  out.  In  connection 
with  breathing  exercises  the  development  of 
th.e  chest  ought  to  be  observed.  This  is  best 
done  by  means  of  callipers.  Two  diameters  of 
the  chest  are  taken,  the  transverse  and  the 
antero-posterior  at  the  same  level,  and  the 
ratio  between  them  determined.  What  may 
be  called  the  normal  development  of  the  chest 
is  known,  and  deviations  from  the  normal  are 
best  found  by  the  calliper  ratio.  Is  an  out- 
patient department  of  the  pi-esent  day  a  suit- 
able place  for  such  treatment?  " 


Julv  9,  1910 


Zbc  ffirltieb  3oiirnal  of  IRursiua. 


23 


■fo^aiene  anb  flOoralit^. 

(Concluded  from  page  -J.1 
The  Prevention  of  Venereal  Disease. 

In  previous  issues  we  have  dealt  with  the 
two  first  Sections  of  Miss  L.  L.  Dock's  book, 
"  Hygiene  and  Morality."  This  week  we  pro- 
pose to  deal  with  the  third,  "  The  Prevention 
of  Venereal  Disease." 

Dealing  with  the  Underlying  Principles  of 
Prevention,  Miss  Dock  says  that  "  The  genuine 
prevention  of  venereal  disease  is  only  made 
possible  by  the  prevention  of  prostitution. 
Prostitution  cannot  be  retained,  and  the 
diseases  fostered  in  it  be  eliminated.  Prosti- 
tution must  be  rooted  out  unless  modern  civi- 
lised states  are  content  to  look  forward  to  the 
same  fate  which  bef el  ancient  Rome.     .     . 

"  Even  if  the  immoral  projects  of  some 
writers  could  be  realised  in  the  use  of  immunis- 
ing vaccines  or  serums  to  enable  men  to  con- 
tinue indulgence  with  greater  security,  venereal 
diseases  would  continue  to  exist  w-hile  prosti- 
tution exists,  and  unless  every  man  and  woman 
in  the  world  could  be  so  vaccinated  there  would 
be  no  security  that  the  reckless,  the  unthink- 
ing, and  the  unsuspecting  innocent  would  not 
continue  to  fall  victims  to,  and  to  become 
carriers  of,  these  deadly  scourges.  Nor  is  it 
credible  that  the  aroused  moral  sense  of 
liumanity  would  consent  to  the  general  com- 
pulsory vaccination  of  syphilis  and  gonorrhcea 
as  it  does  to  that  of  smallpox,  because  moral 
sense,  or  even  every  day  common  sense,  will 
distinguish  between  diseases  which  cannot  be 
extirpated  by  moral  living,  and  the  exertion 
of  self-control  through  the  power  of  the  intelli- 
gent will,  and  diseases  which  can  be  so  extir- 
pated. The  deliberate  use  of  immunising  sub- 
stances with  the  intention  of  making  it  hy- 
gienically  safe  for  men  to  continue  a  brutal 
misuse  of  women  such  as  falls  far  below  the 
practices  of  animals  in  vileness,  could  only  be 
tolerated  in  a  society  that  was  ready  for  its 
own  ruin.  .  .  Dr.  Prince  A.  Moitow,  Pre- 
sident of  the  American  Society  of  Sanitary  and 
Moral  Prophylaxis,  says: —  '  It  is  not  a  ques- 
tion of  making  prostitution  safe,  but  of  pre- 
venting the  making  of  prostitutes.'  This  lofty 
teaching  is  now  being  reiterated  by  ever  larger 
numbers  of  the  foremost  leaders  of  medical 
science.  There  are  in  truth  no  other  diseases 
whose  absolute  prevention  lies  so  wholly  in 
human  power  as  these." 

The  writer  then  points  out  that  "  the  first 
essential  In  a  campaign  of  prevention  is  full, 
open,  and  serious  instruction  for  all  classes  of 
society,  uponthe  situation  as  it  exists  to-day  :  in- 
struction without  exaggeration,  but  also  without 
concealment,  of  the  present  extent  of  disease 


of  venereal  origin,  and  with  the  most  emphatic 
and  positive  information  upon  the  real  source 
of  danger  in  prostitution.  .  As  in  combat- 
ing typhoid  fever  and  the  plague  the  first  thing 
needful  is  that  all  shall  know  that  there  are 
such  diseases,  whence  their  origin,  and  how 
they  may  be  cut  off  at  their  source,  so  it  is 
essential  that  every  citizen  shall  know  that 
there  are  venereal  diseases,  where  they  arise, 
and  how  they  may  be  exterminated.  .  Ex- 
treme difficulties  meet  this  -movement  at  the 
outset,  arising  from  the  peculiarly  personal 
origin  of  these  diseases,  the  prevailing  false 
modesty  as  to  the  reproductive  functions,  and 
the  generally  dense  ignorance  of  the  physiology 
and  hygiene  of  the  generative  organs.  The 
vulgar  prudery  and  hypocrisy  of  a  past  age 
compelled  all  such  subjects  to  be  tabooed,  as 
being  indehcate  and  improper.  Perhaps  this 
point  of  view  has  been  encouraged  by  those 
whose  interests  were  selfish  or  evil;  certainly 
nothing  could  better  serve  siich  interests  than 
the  veil  of  silence  and  the  cloak  of  embarrass- 
ment drawn  over  subjects  so  vital,  pertaining 
to  functions  by  nature  so  sacred,  but  by  man 
so  horribly  debased.  The  function  of  reproduc- 
tion, for  which  the  organs  of  generation  have 
been  evolved,  though  it  has  been  dragged 
through  the  mire  of  vulgar  thoughts  and  cruel 
abuse,  is  yet  the  noblest,  as  it  should  be  the 
most  held  in  reverence,  of  all  human  powers. 
Reproduction  is  natural,  and  should  no  more  be 
regarded  vulgarly  than  are  the  changes  of  the 
seasons.  It  is  a  type  and  symbol  of  immor- 
tality. It  is  indeed  a  present  and  visible  immor- 
taUty,  and  its  humble  physical  phenomena 
should  never  obscure  its  exalted  significance. 
The  generative  act  should  only  be  performed  in 
the  sincerity  of  aspiration  to  bring  a  new  being 
into  the  world.  Such  being  the  truth,  the  de- 
pravity of  exercising  so  miraculous  a  power  for 
the  sole  desire  of  a  passing  pleasure  of  sensa- 
tion, often  combining  with  it  drunkenness  and 
orgies  in  which  all  human  dignity  and  decency 
are  cast  away,  is  so  complete  that  the  decay 
and  fall  of  nations  would  seem  to  need  no  fur- 
ther explanation.       .     . 

"  The  education  of  fathers  and  mothers 
-must,  in  the  future,  include  the  principles  of 
heredity,  the  toxic  eflfect  of  unholy  passions 
upon  temperament  and  character,  and  the 
study  of  eugenics,  the  new  science  for  the  im- 
provement of  the  race  of  man. 

"  First  and  last,  women  need,,  to  be  en- 
couraged to  revolt  against  a  status  of  political 
and  legal  inferiority,  which  is  the  direct  cause 
of  their  economic  and  social  degradation." 

Concerning  the  Practical  Means  of  Preven- 
tion. Miss  Dock  writes: — "These  may  be 
divided  into  two  classes  :  One,  the  means  of  in- 


24 


^bc  Brltisb  3oiirnal  of  IRursma. 


[July  9,  1910 


dividual  care  or  personal  prevention  of  disease 
as  such ;  the  other,  the  means  of  social  or  deep 
h'ing  prevention  of  the  canscs  of  disease.  The 
former  is  the  more  immediate,  the  latter  more 
fundamental." 

In  regard  to  personal  prevention,  the  writer 
advocates  the  prevention  from  earliest  child- 
hood of  all  stimulation  of  the  delicate  nerve 
centres  and  fibres  that  are  connected  with  the 
genital  organs.  "  Such  habits  may  arise  even 
with  babies,  in  complete  innocence,  of  course, 
and  if  not  checked  may  be  less  innocently  con- 
tinued by  older  children  with  grave  danger  both 
to  health  and  morals  .  .  .  for  older  chil- 
dren there  should  be  definite  warnings  of  the 
dangers  they  may  naeet,  as  carefully  and  ex- 
plicitly given  as  directions  in  taking  a  perilous 
journey.  To  leave  little  girls,  especially,  in 
ignorance  of  what  these  dangers  are  is  as 
.wicked  as  it  would  be  to  expose  them  to  wild 
beasts.  Such  warnings  should  be  given  at  an 
early  age.  The  little  girl  of  twelve  has  a 
simple  seriousness  and  sagacity,  which  may 
be  looked  for  in  vain  if  she  remains  untaught 
and  undisciplined  up  to  sixteen  or  seventeen, 
when  youthful  gaiety  often  runs  into  reckless- 
ness.    ... 

"  Equally  criminal  is  it  to  let  the  boys  go  to 
boarding  school  or  college  without  the  most 
serious  and  intimate  counsel  and  warnings 
against  the  horrible  diseases' lurking  amidst  the 
'  wild  oats  '  that  they  may  thoughtlessly  sow. 
The  writer  has  learned  from  the  per- 
sonal knowledge  of  the  head  of  a  large  hospital 
in  a  great  university  centre,  of  the  numbers  of 
young  men  who  coine  in  for  treatment  for 
loathsome  diseases.  A  painful  feature  of  this 
calamity  is  that  '  the  mothers  are  never  told 
the  truth ;  the  fathers  come  and  some  reassur- 
ing falsehood  is  sent  home.'  It  is  thus  evident 
that  in  such  cases  the  mere  fact  of  the  mother 
knowing  the  truth  is  greatly  dreaded.  There- 
fore, if  it  could  be  certain  that  all  mothers 
would  learn  the  truth,  is  it  not  likely  that  a 
powerful  deterrent  to  evil  courses  in  university 
life  might  be  brought  into  play?  " 

The  writer  regards  the  present  repudiation  by 
eminent  physicians  of  the  ancient  heresy  of 
"  physical  necessity  "  so  long  upheld  by  men 
and  tacitly  assented  to  by  women,  as  a  most 
hopeful  sign.  She  writes: — "To  maintain  it 
has  been,  indeed,  an  insult  to  all  those  men 
whose  lives  are  and  have  been  pure,  and  one 
must  wonder  that  such  men  have  so  long  per- 
mitted so  detestable  a  doctrine  to  go  unchal- 
lenged." 

Concerning  mnniagc,  the  writer  holds  that, 
'■  no  parent  should  allow  a  daughter  to  marry 
without  securing  authentic  proof  that  the  ))i'o- 


mised  husband  is  free  from  disease.  This  is 
incontestably  a  duty  of  parents  of  the  utnio<t. 
gravity  and  importance,  neglecting  which  all 
their  previous  care,  expense,  and  nurture 
lavished  on  the  daughter  may  go  for  naught. 
An  honourable  and  virtuous  man  will  willingly 
give  such  testimony,  and  might  rightly  demand 
on  his  side  assurances  from  the  parents  as  to 
their  daughter's  inheritance.  Such  enquiries 
are  not  impossible.  They  could  all  be  con- 
ducted by  the  trusted  physicians  of  one  or  both 
families  with  entire  privacy  and  dignity. 
Fathers  find  ways  to  inform  themselves  of  the 
business  standing  of  prospective  sons-in-law,- 
and  health  is  far  more  precious  than  money." 

In  regard  to  the  nursing  care  of  cases  of 
venereal  diseases,  the  writer  points  out  that 
"  nurses  shoidd  observe  as  rigid  a  technic  of 
disinfection  as  in  diphtheria  or  other  acute  in- 
fectious fevers.  .  .  It  is  the  right  of  every 
nurse,  for  self-protection,  to  know  what  she  is 
taking  care  of,  and  it  should  be  impressed  upon 
all  nurses  that  they  must  invariably  insist  upon 
knowing  the  diagnosis  in  the  cases  they  care 
for.  It  has  not  infrequently  happened  that 
nurses,  kept  by  the  attending  physician  in 
ignorance  of  the  venereal  origin  of  patients' 
maladies,  have  contracted  them.  It  is  also 
true  that  if  all  nurses  were  sufficiently  well 
taught  and  trained,  it  should  be  second  nature 
with  them  to  avoid  all  infectious  contact.  The 
proper  precautions  being  observed,  nurses  and 
all  others  should  clearly  comprehend  that  there 
is  no  danger  whatever  from  the  simple  presence 
of  cases  of  venereal  disease  amongst  other 
people,  and  no  more  danger  in  caring  for  them 
than  there  is  with  cases  of  ordinary  sepsis.  Ac- 
cidental infection  arises  solely  from  ignorance ; 
this  cannot  be  too  strongly  emphasised. 

After  dealing  with  the  Social  Methods  of 
Preventing  Prostitution,  Miss  Dock  concludes: 
"  A  new  ideal  needs  to  be  formed;  an  ideal  of 
the  worth  and  dignity  of  human  life,  and  of  a 
commanding  place  and  power  that  must  be 
assumed  by  women  in  all  that  pertains  to  the 
cherishing  and  enn<iMing  of  the  race.  This 
ideal  must  be  built  upon  the  single  standard  of 
sex  morality,  and  it  must  be  attained  by  a 
grad\ial  process  of  assumption  of  knowledge 
and  authority  by  wonion,  to  the  end  that  they 
may  finally  produce  a  nobler  and  a  finer  race  of 
men." 

The  appendices  to  the  work  contain  much 
useful  and  interesting  matter,  including  the 
l)aper  road  by  Miss  ^fai'y  Burr  at  the  Inter- 
national Congress  of  Xurses,  giving  "  Statistics 
of  Criminal  .\ssaidt  upon  Young  Girls." 

Once  again  wp  coniinond  this  book,  published 
by  (}.  P.  Putnam's  Sons,  price  6s.,  to  all  nurses. 


July  0,  191(1 


Zhc  Britisb  Souinal  of  ll^iuijino. 


Care  an^  Control  of  tbc  jfccblc* 
nnn^c^. 


The  present  issue  oi  the  Xineteenth  Century 
and  After  contains  an  interesting  article  on  the 
.  "  Care  and  Control  of  the  Feeble-JMinded,"  by 
Mrs.  Hume  Pinseut.  one  of  the  members  of 
the  Eoyal  Commission  on  this  most  important 
question. 

Mrs.  Pinsent  states  that  the  Report  of  that 
Commission  shows  that  "  the  number  of  men- 
tally defective  persons  in  England  and  Wales, 
apart  from  certified  lunatics,  is  estimated  at 
149,628,  or  .46  per  cent,  of  the  population.  Of 
these  66,509  are  at  the  present  time  urgently 
in  need  of  provision,  either  in  their  own  interest 
or  the  public  safety.  In  the  latter  figure  we 
are  told  only  such  cases  are  included  as  are, 
in  the  opinion  of  a  competent  investigator, 
'  improperly,  unsuitably,  or  unkindly  cared  for, 
or  who,  by  reason  of  particular  habits  and  char- 
acteristics, are  a  source  of  danger  to  the  com- 
munity in  which  they  live.'  If  we  add  to  the 
former  figure  the  number  of  certified  lunatics, 
the  total  number  of  the  mentally  defective  may 
be  estimated  to  be  271,607,  or  0.63  per  cent, 
of  the  population.     .     .     . 

"  The  great  majority  of  these  two  hundred 
and  seventy  thousand  people  need  support, 
care,  and  control,  and  can  never  pay  back  to 
the  community,  in  any  way,  the  equivalent  for 
the  time,  energy,  and  money  which  must  be 
spent  upon  them.  Not  only  are  they  a  burden 
upon  the  resources  of  this  generation,  but  they 
are  producing  children  who  in  turn  will  have 
to  be  supported  and  cared  for  by  the  labour  and 
at  the  expense  of  the  next  generation."  This 
condition  of  afiairs  is  suflBciently  serious,  and 
though,  as  the  writer  points  out,  "  the  certified 
lunatics  are  already  provided  for,  much  of  this 
provision  is  unnecessarily  expensive,  and  in 
some  cases  of  an  unsuitable  nature."  Added 
to  this  do  we  really  realise  our  barbarous  treat- 
ment of  many  mentally  defective  persons? 

The  Pieport  of  the  Koyal  Commission  states  : 

"  We  find  large  numl>ers  of  persons  wlio  are  com- 
mitted to  prisons  for  repeated  offences,  which,  being 
the  m^nife-statious  of  a  xx?rmanent  defect  of  mind, 
there  is  no  hope  of  repressing,  much  less  of  stopping. 
by  short  punitive  sentences.  We  find  lunatic 
asylums  crowded  with  patients  who  do  not  require 
the  careful  hospital  treatment  that  well  equipped 
asylums  now  afford,  and  who  might  be  treated  in 
many  other  ways  more  economically  and  as 
efficiently.  We  find  also  at  large  in  the  population 
many  defective  persons,  adults,  young  persons,  and 
children,  who  are,  some  in  one  way,  some  m 
another,  incapable  of  self -control,  and  who  are, 
therefore,  exposed  to  constant  moral  danger  them- 
selves, and  ^)ecome  the  source  of  lasting  injury  to 
the  community." 


We  revolt  at  the  implements  of  torture  used 
by  bygone  generations  in  the  treat^ment  of  the 
insane,  and  now  consigned  to  the  museums  of 
asylums.  What  will  future  generations  say  to 
the  standard  of  civilisation  and  humanity  in  the 
20th  century  when  we  punish  the  mentally  de- 
fective by  imprisonment  for  offences  which 
being  the  manifestations  of  a  permanent  defect 
of  mind  there  is  no  hope  of  repressing  by  puni- 
tive sentences'.'  While  this  crime  against 
humanity  is  perpetrated  could  there  be  a  stron- 
ger plea  for  the  employment  of  trained  nurses 
in  prisons  ? 

The  Commissioners  have  recommended  to 
remedy  this  state  of  afiairs,  a  new  "  Act  for 
the  Care  and  Control  of  the  Mentally  Defec- 
tive," the  scope  of  which  Mrs.  Pinsent  explains 
in  the  article  under  consideration.  In  the 
course  of  the  article  she  describes  the  difficul- 
ties which  beset  parents  who  endeavour, 
through  the  Poor  Law,  to  obtain  assistance  for 
their  mentally  defective  children.  "  It  is  not 
too  much  to  say  that,  as  things  are  at  the  pre- 
sent time,  everything  is  done  to  discourage  a 
respectable  working  man  in  his  attempt  to  ob- 
tain care  and  training  for  a  mentally  defective 
child. "  Yet  consider  the  result  of  letting  these 
children  grow  up  untrained  and  uncontrolled. 
We  read :  — 

"  The  imbecile,  however  unfit  to  do  so,  must 
associate  with  the  rest  of  the  family.  I  have 
seen  them  tied  into  a  chair  or  under  the  kitchen 
table.  I  have  seen  them  kept  almost  naked  in 
the  back  room.  I  have  seen  sane  children 
neglected  because  the  imbecile  monopolises 
the  mother's  time.  It  cannot  safely  be  left  for 
one  minute.  I  have  known  the  mother  un- 
avoidably called  away,  to  find  on  her  return 
that  the  imbecile  had  burnt  himself,  another 
had  put  the  cat  on  the  fire,  another  had  locked 
the  baby  up  in  the  cellar,  another  had  undressed 
herself  and  rolled  under  a  horse's  feet  in  the 
street.  Many  escape  from  home,  causing  hours 
of  anxiety  to  their  parents  before  they  are 
brought  back  by  the  poHce.  To  complete  this 
description,  we  must  bear  in  mind  the  fact  that 
the  parents  of  such  children  are  frequently 
themselves  mentally  defective,  or  highly  ex- 
citable, unstable,  neurotic  individuals.  I  have 
hardly  ever  seen  a  mother  that  I  should  con- 
sider a  suitable  person,  either  by  capacity, 
temperament,  or  education,  for  the  training  of 
her  own  mentally  defective  child." 

The  two  important  new  powers  suggested 
under  the  proposed  Act  are  (1)  to  compel  the 
parent  to  allow  a  defective  child  to  go  into  a' 
residential  institution  if  suitable  training  can- 
not be, provided  at  home.  (2^  The  power  to  de- 
tain such  a  defective  in  an  institution  after 
schoi-il  !jtj>-  if  he  iir  <he  is  unfit  for  liberty. 


26 


^be  Britisb  Journal  of  IRursfng. 


[July  9,  1910 


Study  the  tables  giveu  in  this  article  of  the 
family  history  of  mentally  deficient  persons. 
Thus  the  history  of  a  mentally  defective 
woman,  a  drunkard,  and  a  prostitute,  is  as  fol- 
lows: — The  father  of  her  eldest  child  was  a 
burglar,  the  child,  a  daughter,  mentally  defec- 
tive, has  been  four  times  in  the  workhouse, 
twice  in  lock  hospitals,  and  also  in  four  chari- 
table homes;  she  is  now  maintained  by  the 
Guardians  at  a  training  school  for  the  mentally 
defective.  The  father  of  the  second  child  was 
deaf,  mentally  defective,  and  very  violent,  and 
died  in  the  workhouse.  The  child,  a  daughter, 
almost  an  imbecile,  has  been  committed  under 
the  Industrial  Schools  Act. 

Again,  the  Commissioners  were  informed 
that  in  one  workhouse  sixteen  mentally  defec- 
tive women  had  produced  116  illegitimate  chil- 
dren. How  many  mentally  defectives  will  they 
in  their  turn  produce,  and  what  nation  can 
stand  either  the  resulting  physical  deterioration 
or  the  expense  of  maintaining  a  constantly  in- 
creasing number  of  degenerates  in  workhouses, 
prisons,  and  asylums? 

The  remedy  proposed  is  t<)  restrict  the  pro- 
duction of  degenerates  by  the  continuous  con- 
trol of  the  mentally  defective.  Mrs.  Pinsent 
concludes  a  most  able  and  interesting  article 
by  saying  that  "  the  passing  of  the  suggested 
Act  for  the  Care  and  Control  of  the  Mentally 
Defective  would  at  once  reduce  drunkenness, 
crime,  prostitution,  illegitimate  births,  and 
disease,  and  it  would  be  the  first  preventive  step 
in  deahng  with  a  great  evil  which  threatens  us 
with  a  steady  deterioration  of  national  effi- 
ciency, both  mental  and  moral."  M.  B. 


Zbc  flDatrons'  Council. 


Arrangements  have  now  been  made  for  the 
visit  of  the  Matrons  Council  to  Birmingham  on 
Saturday,  July  16th.  The  members  will  have 
the  advantage  of  travelling  by  a  non-stop  excur- 
sion train,  which  leaves  Euston  Station  at  11.45 
a.m.,  and  returns  from  Birmingham  (New 
Street),  at  7.35  p.m.,  the  return  third  class 
ticket  to  cost  5s.  As  the  time  of  arrival  in 
Birmingham  will  be  2.15,  and  the  Business 
Meeting  will  be  held  at  the  General  Hospital 
at  3  p.m.,  it  will  be  wise  to  take  a  picnic 
"luncheon  on  the  train.  !Mrs.  Walter  Spencer, 
"2,  Portland  Place,  London,  W.,  who  is 
making  arrangements,  will  be  pleased  to 
iiear  as  soon  as  possible  from  members  and 
friends  who  intend  to  go  to  Birmingham,  and 
will  secure  tickets  and  seats  for  those  who 
notify  her  that  they  wish  this  done. 

]Miss  Musson,  with   her  usual   kindness,  is 
preparing  to  give  the  Council  a  hearty  welcome. 


^bc  IWursino  Scbool  of  tbe 
assistance   Ipubllque. 

VISIT  OF  THE  QUEEN   OF  BULGARIA. 

The  School  of  Nursing  of  the  Assistance 
Publique,  at  the  Salpetriere  Hospital,  Paris, 
recently  had  the  honour  of  a  visit  from  H.M. 
the  Queen  of  Bulgaria. 

Her  Majesty,  who  was  accompanied  by 
Madame  Fallieres,  admired  the  order  and  the 
refinement  of  the  arrangements  throughout  the 
building.  She  insisted  upon  seeing  everything, 
and  inspected  the  dining-room,  the  kitchen, and 
the  laboratory,  where  she  questioned  several 
pupils.  She  took  great  interest  in  the  massage 
department,  where  iliss  G.  Procop6,  the  Pro- 
fessor, explained  the  cases  under  treatment, 
and  the  Queen  had  a  kind  word  for  each  sick 
person. 

After  seeing  the  bathroom,  she  inspected  the 
schoolroom,  the  cupboards,  and  the  surgical  in- 
struments; and,  in  the  library,  the"  dolls  in  the 
uniforms  of  Sister,  nurse,  and  pupil,  which 
obtained  an  award  at  the  Nursing  Exhibition 
in  London  last  year  attracted  general  attention. 

The  party  then  proceeded  to  the  first  floor, 
where  several  pupils  had  the  pleasure  of  show- 
ing their  rooms. 

But  a  surprise  awaited  the  Queen.  She  took 
tea  with  the  pupils  in  the  drawing-room,  and  a 
monitrice.  Miss  Gosselin,  shyly  came  forward 
and  asked  her  Majesty  to  sign  a  photograph 
enlarged  from  a  snapshot  in  Manchuria.  The 
Queen  is  in  the  Nurse's  unifoi-m  which  she 
wore  when,  as  a  Kcd  Cross  nurse,  she  superin- 
tended the  nursing  on  a  surgical  train.  This 
seemed  to  please  her  Majesty,  and  when  she 
went  to  the  lecture-room  and  found  all  the 
teachers,  certificated  nurses,  and  pupils  of  the 
School  gathered  tofiether,  she  expressed  her 
satisfaction  and  pleasure. 

Before  leaving  the  School  her  Majesty  was 
presented  with  a  bouquet  of  flowers. 

The  pupils  were  particularly  touched  by  the 
Queen's  kindness  in  bringing  three  lovely 
baskets  of  flowers. 

It  is  the  first  time  that  the  pupils  Lave  had 
the  opportunity  of  receiving  such  a  distin- 
guished visitor  in  their  Home,  and  they  were 
greatly  delighted  by  the  Queen's  visit.  Her 
i\Iajesty  was  heartily  cheered  by  a  crowd  of  old 
women,  inmates  of  the  Salpetriere,  to  whom 
her  visit  gave  great  pleasure. 

It  must  be  a  great  gratification  to  M. 
Mesureur,  the  Director-General  of  the  Assist- 
ance Publique  in  Paris,  and  his  Chef  du 
Cabinet,  M.  Andre  Mesureur,  that  the  School 
has  now  more  than  justified  its  existence,  and 
that  the  good  work  will  continue  to  extend. 


July  0,  1910J 


Zbc  Britisb  3oiurtal  of  1Hur5ino» 


^be  Battle  of  tbc  Stan^al•^9. 


QUOTES^FROM  THE  PRESS. 

This  mouth's  Xursing  Notes  devotes  an  edi- 
torial ill  large  type  to  "  The  Matron  and  the 
Training  School."  It  is,  of  course,  a  highly 
orthodox  contribution  to  the  burning  question 
of  the  hour.  It  expresses  the  belief  that  the 
"  Bart's  "  election  of  Matron  was  "  a  per- 
fectly fonscieutiuus  selection  "  (we  beg  to 
differ),  and  then  proceeds  to  point  out  that 

"  Any  liospital  that  has  been  training  long 
enougli  for  its  probationers  to  liave  i)asst><l  through 
all  grades  of  the  protec>sion,  and  to  have  sliown  their 
capacity  in  good  outside  appointnionts,  should  l>e 
able  t'lom  amongst  its  own  pupils  to  select  the  blue 
ribbon  of  its  training  school,  or  it  does  not  speak 
well  for  its  selection  ol  tlie  woman  or  its  training  of 
the  nurse ;  hence  the  acute  feeling  that  has  been 
aix)use<l  among  Bait's  nuiTses." 

"  WTiat  would  the  woild  of  St.  Tliomas's  Hos- 
pital say  to  a  new  matron  not  a  '  Xightingale  '  ? 
The  position  is  unthinkable.  St.  Bartholomew's 
and  the  London  are  the  two  hospitals  whose 
matrons  have  not  In^n  traine<l  within  their  own 
walls,  but  the  matrons  of  both  have  been  long 
enough  there  to  have  trained  many  generations  of 
nurses.  Is  it  possible  that  the  authorities  at  Bart's 
are  dissatisfied  with  the  training  of  their  nurses, 
and  desire  to  see  another  system  introduced?  To 
the  outside  world  it  would  appear  so,  and  therefore 
it  is  easy  to  undei'sfand  the  feelings  of  St.  Bar- 
tholomew's graduates." 

"  One  cannot  but  feel  that  the  appointment  to  a 
long-established  training  school  of  a  matron  not 
trained  there  is  not  a  good  prece<lent  for  the 
I>opularity,  influence,  or  solidarity  of  that  training- 
school." 

The  conclusions  of  Xursing  Notes  are  those 
of  the  world  at  large.  Thus  intended  injury  is 
done  to  the  life's  work  and  memory  of  the 
noblest  of  women  and  to  every  pupil  she 
trained. 


The  Journal  of  the  Victoria  and  Bourne- 
mouth Nurses'  League  says:  — 

"From  St.  Bartholomew's  one  hears  of  what 
appears  to  be  a  gratuitous  and  unprovoked  insult 
to  the  memory  of  the  late  Matron  and  to  the  School 
of  Nnrses — past  and  present — who  have  trained 
tliece,  or  who  are  now  training,  in  the  appointment 
of  a  matron  from  a  school  who.se  standard  of  train- 
ing is  diametrically  opposed  to  all  that  Miss 
Stewart  held  so  strongly  and  courageously,  and 
whose  appointment  must  be  distasteful  to  all  most 
concerned.  Everj-  hospital  has  a  right,  and  is 
bound  to  use  it,  to  secure  the  very  best  materials 
for  its  working,  but  to  make  fresh  rules  with  so 
pali>able  an  object  a-s  to  exclude  those  well  fitted  for 
the  post  is  a  different  matter ;  it  is  clever,  but 
scarcely  an  example  one  desires  to  see  followed." 


St.  B.\rtholomf.w's  Hospit.al  .Journ.^l. 
The  attitude  of  the  medical  staff  at  St.  Bar- 
tholomew's Hospital  is  unsparingly  condemned 


wherever  this  question  is  dLseussed,  mid  tin.- 
whole  nursing  staff  in  and  out  of  the  hospital 
realise  that  their  interests  have  been  sacrificed. 
The  truth  is  that  a  reactionary  minority  of  the 
medical  staff  are  in  entire  sympathy  with  the 
mischievous  official  policy  which  has  done 
much — and,  if  permitted  to  continue,  will  do 
more — to  injure  the  repulatioH  of  this  hospital 
in  public  opinion.  It  is  rumoured  that  one  man 
of  science  has  stated  that  "  it  is  not  necessary 
that  the  ^latron  should  be  a  trained  nurse — 
what  is  wanted  is  someone  in  the  office  I 
Why  not  apply  to  ilme.  Tussaud's"?  A  smiling 
wax  effigy  in  the  matronal  chair  would  be  a 
decided  economy,  and,  where  the  nurses  are 
concerned,  economy  appears  to  be  the  order  of 
the  day,  to  judge  from  the  deplorable  condition 
of  their  Home.  Such  assurances  as  "  the 
Matron  is  to  have  no  power.  ■  She  will  not  be 
permitted  to  alter  this  and  that  "  are  surely 
almost  as  banal. 

A  Matron  has  the  power  of  making  or 
marring  the  reputation  of  a  whole  hospital.  The 
patients  don't  care  a  fig  for  the  secretariat, 
and  in  their  ignorance  but  little  for  the  reputa- 
tion of  the  medical  staff,  but  as  they  come 
into  intimate  jjersonal  relations  every  hour  of 
the  day  and  night  with  the  nursing  staff  and 
those  who  control  the  domestic  routine,  it 
is  on  the  management  of  the  nursing  depart- 
ment that  the  reputation  of  a  hospital  stands 
or  falls,  and  the  happiness  and  efficiency  of 
every  nurse  in  it  largely  depends. 

The  thorough  practical  standard  of  nurse 
training,  the  exquisite  standard  of  clean- 
liness maintained  in  the  w^ards,  the 
high  ethical  code  in  force  in  the 
Home,  the  loyalty  to  authority,  and  good 
discipline  inspired  and  enforced  with  so  much 
devotion  by  the  late  Matron,  are  apparently 
neither  to  the  taste  of  the  office  nor  the  medical 
staff.  Let  us  hope  that  a  regime  of  superficial 
training  of  nurses,  blatant  advertisement,  and 
social  patronage  will  produce  better  results. 
According  to  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital  Jour- 
nal, the  medical  staff  are  anxious  to  try  it. 
It  offers  compliments  and  good  wishes  to  the 
lady,  whose  inferior  certificate  and  method  of 
selection  as  Superintendent  of  Nursing  of  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital,  are  realised  by  the 
whole  world  to  be  an  affront  purposely  directed 
at  the  professional  reputation  of  fier  prede- 
cessor in  office,  and  an  attempt  to  subject  the 
ntirsing  staff  by  the  inquisitorial,  anti- 
registration  London  Hospital  system  of  con- 
trol, which  Miss  Isla  Stewart  held  in  wfll 
deserved  detestation.  The  attempt  to  placate 
Bart's  nurses  by  stating  in  the  same  paragraph 
"that  the  School  rank^  amongstjthe  highest  in 
the  world  "  is  cold  comfort  for  their  world-wide 
humiliation,  and  professional  damage. 


28 


Zbc  Britiab  Journal  of  IRursincj. 


[July  9,  1910 


One  of  the  worst  phases  of  this  Battle  of  the 
Standards  is  that  the  majority  of  the  daily 
papers  are  apparently  closed  to  the  views  of  St. 
Bartholomew's  nurses.  They  owe  the  City 
Press  a  debt  of  gratitude  that  its  editor  has 
realised  the  public  importance  of  their  com- 
munications, and  devoted,  so  much  valuable 
space  to  the  admirable  letters  contributed  by 
them. 


The  following  letter  f'ronj  India  is  one  in  sen- 
timent with  many  others  received.  It  ex- 
presses what  all  honourable  women  think  on 
this  question. 

A  S.'iCRED  Duty. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 

Dear  M.\dam, — Jlay  I  l.e  permitted  to  exprtfes 
through  your  columns  my  feelings,  and  tho&e  ot 
thousands  ot  fellov\-  nurses,  on  becoming  aware  ot 
the  new  apixiiutmeni!  of  the  Matron  of  Bart's.  .My 
first  teeling  is  one  of  renewed  sympathy  with  *ij'e 
entire  staff,  i>a6t  and  present.  Was  it  not  enougli 
that  their  loved  and  honoiued  leader  should  hare 
been  so  sudtlenly  reaped  by  the  Great  Reaper .»  Yet 
even  in  tliat  sorrow  there  were  the  consolations  ot  a 
life  nobly  lived,  of  innumerable  good  deeds  done, 
and  an  ever  fragrant  memory  of  them. 

But  this  dishonour  laid  on  them  by  the  hands  of 
their  governors,  whom  they  trusted,  is  on  an 
entirely  different  plane  of  sorrow ;  rousing  feelings 
of  disgust,  disgi-ace  to  tlie  memory  and  work  ot  on© 
those  %-ery  men  pi-ofessed  to  revere,  and  resent- 
ment at  the  treatment  hundreds  of  women  trained 
at  the  historic  hospital  have  had  meted  out  to  them. 

I  only  want  to  add  this — that  if  those  who  oppo&e 
our  efforts  for  progress  and  professional  improve- 
ment wanted  to  fan  our  energies  into  a  more  living, 
all-conquering  fire,  tliey  could  not  have  devi&ed  a 
better  means;  for  now  the  only  way  those  trained 
in  Mi.s6  Isla  Stewart's  Training  School,  and  those 
who  join  the  ranks  of  the  associations  she  was  sudi 
an  enthusiastic  worker  in,  can  show  their  loyalty  to 
her  work  and  memory  is  in  rising,  every  individual 
member,  in  her  fullest  ,-strength,  and  working  as  she 
never  worke<l  before  to  bruig  to  a  successful  and 
speedy  issue  those  things  needful  for  our  profession 
for  which  Miss  Stewart  worked  and  gave  her  life. 
I  am  not  a  Bart's  nur;>e,  but  I  feel  what  they  feel, 
knowing  many  intimatt>ly  and  working  for  the 
causes  they  work  for;  and  I  say  this  dishonour  is 
not  of  our  doing.  Let  us  see  to  it  that  our  de- 
pai-t<Hl  friend's  work  for  the  good  of  the  profession 
is  in  highest  honour  finished,  as  becomes  the  love 
and  leverence  due  to  her  memory,  and  show  those 
who  want  our  profession  to  remain  as  it  is,  witlioiit 
proper  recognition  and  status  in  the  world,  that 
Mi.=s  I.sla  .Stewart's  work  lives  and  flourishes  «'Voii 
more  with  -death's  hand  near  us,  than  it  did  when 
she  was  able  in  the  flesh  to  guide  our  steps. 
Youre  faithfully, 

S.  Grace  Tindall, 
Lady  SupcTiiifriKh  nt. 

Cnnia  Hospital,   Bombay. 
.June  17th,  1910. 


Cbe  defence  of  IRursmo    Stan* 
t)ar&s  (Tommlttcc 


SUBSCRIPTIONS  TO   DATE. 

We  have  received  from  Mrs. 
laud  House,  Chiswick  Lane,  W 
additional  list  of  subscriptions : 

Brought   forward   ... 
Lady  Hampden  Smith 


Hospital  Sisters. 


Certificated  Nurses. 


E.  H. 
E.  R.  S. 
R.  M.  B. 
.M.  C. 
N.  L. 
H.  S. 
P.  D. 
P.  S. 
M.   N. 
11.  .M.  O. 
A.  E.  T. 
-M.  X  .W. 
K.  E.  C. 
-M.   C. 
!• .  M.  R. 
E.  B.  W. 


Nurses  in  Training 


11 

S. 

F. 

S. 

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H. 

N. 

.\I. 

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H. 

D. 

H. 

E. 

T. 

F. 

E. 

E 

Shuter 

,  Cleve- 

,  the  following 

£ 

s.  d. 

48 

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2 

2    0 
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1     0 

1  0 
•2     G 

2  0 
6 
6 
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A    Keen   Supporter 

.An    Tiiter<»«.te<l    Nurse 


The  more  money  subscribed,  the  more  widely 
this  matter  can  be  ventilated. 


July  9,  1910] 


Zhc  Biitisb  3onrnal  of  IHursiiuj. 


29 


profivess  of  State  IKcoistration. 

Miss  Albinia  Brodrlck's  paper  in  the  Fort- 
niijhthj  is  recoguised  as  a  most  forcible  argi- 
nieiit  in  support  of  statutory  registration  ui 
trained  nurses — tliL  title  "  Thou  Shalt  Do  Xo 
Murder  "  is  very  elective.  The  skilled  workers 
continue  to  demand  legislation,  and  the  em- 
ployers to  denounce  it.  The  truth  is  that  ^ho 
Bart's  business  has  been  a  more  convinoiag 
Jessou  to  the  nursing  world  at  large  than  any- 
thing which  has  previously  occurred,  and  it 
will  bear  fruit  a  thousandfold  in  the  reuew.-ii 
dcuisnd  for  registration,  and  in  the  energy  with 
v.hich  the  demand  will  be  prosecuted. 

^Irs.  Bedford  Feuwiek  will  be  pleased  1o 
speak  during  July  on  the  State  Registration  of 
Trained  Nurses,  and  explain  the  details  of  the 
jsJurses'  Eegistration  Bill  drafted  by  the  Cen- 
tral Eegistratiou  Committee  to  meetings  of 
nurses  and  others  by  aiTangement,  in  town  or 
country.  She  will  be  glad  to  hear  from  others 
who  will  take  part  in  this  educational  work, 
as  every  effort  must  now  be  made  to  push  this 
most  necessary  reform,  for  the  preservation  of 
efficient  nursing  standards  already  attained, 
and  the  protection  of  liberty  of  conscience  for 
professional  nurses. 


Mr.  Sydney  Holland  in  the  current  issue  of 
the  Nhicteenth  Century  and  After,  purporting 
to  reply  to  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick's  article  on 
State  Registration  of  Trained  Nurses  in  that 
review  for  -June,  does  not  answer  her  argu- 
ments, but  offers  as  "  the  proper  remedy  for 
the  piresent  state  of  things  " — which  he  thus 
ailraits  needs  a  remedy — an  "  OfiBcial  Direc- 
tory of  Nurses  "  which  suggestion  was  rejected 
by  the  House  of  Lords  in  1908.  A  Directory  is 
only  of  value  when,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Medi- 
cal Directory,  it  is  based  on  a  previous  Register. 
To  place  all  the  different  experience  obtained 
by  nurses  before  the  public,  and 'ask  them  to 
discriminate  as  to  its  value — work  which  can 
only  be  done  efficiently  by  an  expert  profes- 
sional Board — is  not  only  futile,  but  a  public 
danger. 

Mr.  Holland  trots  out  all  the  old  wearisome 
arguments  exploded  long  ago,  and  repeats  that 
London  Hospital  nurses  will  not  register.  This 
is  liosh  ;  we  know  they  will.  The  present  regime 
at  the  London  will  pass  away  ,and  with  it  one 
of  the  most  deplorable  episodes  in  the  economic 
subjection  of  working  women. 


John  Bull  continues  his  expose  of  illicit 
r.ursing  homes,  and  has  something  of  interest 
to  say  about  "  Nurses  and  Undertakers." 


•  Let  m«  now,"  the  Commiesioner  writ-es,  "  refer 
t«  aiioth<ir  abuse  of  the  profession  that  Registration 
would  stop.  Nurses  of  a  quostionable  type  are  much 
in  evidence  when  death  occure.  They  consider 
tliey  liave  a  right  to  a  commission  from  the  under- 
taker. Bribery  and  corruption  have  l>een  so  bad  m 
this  direction  tliat  undertaken  have  been  compelled 
to  take  action. 

"Councillor  R.  W.  Hurry  is  the  President  ot 
the  Undertakers"  Society  for  the  Prevention  of 
Secret  Commission.  This  gentleman  is  prol>abiy 
one  of  London's  largest  undertakers,  as  he  conducts 
over  2,000  funerals  annually. 

•'  Great  suspicion  should  be  attached  to  any  nurse 
who  is  anxious  to  introduce  an  undertaker.  He 
assure<l  me  that  their  usual  demand  is  10  per  cent, 
on  the  funeral  account.  Some  of  these  ladies  don't 
stop  at  demanding  a  commission  on  the  funeral 
account,  but  that  they  will,  whenever  possible,  re- 
commend a  monumental  sculptor  and  demand  a 
commission  from  him  also. 

•■  In  discussion  of  the  general  question,  Mr.  Hurry 
dealt  with  the  burial  of  infants.  Many  '  Nursing 
Homes'  thrive  on  maternity  cases.  It  is  com- 
paratively easy  to  destroy  life,  but  it  is  quite 
another  thing  to  get  rid  of  the  body.  It  is  generally 
supposed  with  a  child  that  has  lived  a  death  cer- 
tificate is  required  previous  to  burial.  In  the 
ordinary  way  that  is  so,  but  with  undertakers  in 
league  with  nurses  everything  is  easy.  No  death 
certificate  is  required.  A  five-pound  note  to  the 
undertaker  from  the  nurse  would  do  the  trick,  and 
an  unused  certificate  (of  which  several  are  usually 
on  hand)  is  at  once  forthcoming.  How  they  come 
to  be  on  hand  was  explained  to  me,  and  it  was  even 
demonstrated  to  me  how  an  adult  body  might  be 
got  rid  of  at  any  London  cemetery  by  collusion 
between  the  nurse  and  undertaker.  'We  must 
purge  our  ranks,'  said  Mr.  Hurry,  '  and  in  my 
opinion  State  Registration  of  Nurses  would  at  least 
help  us  to  do  it,  for  with  that  an  accomphshed  fact 
we  could  report  any  nui-se  who  demanded  a  funeral 
commission,  arid  she  would  then  be  struck  off  th-> 
rolls.'  " 

"an  Open  Xettcr  to  riDi*.  5\)bnev> 
1boIlan^." 

De-UI  .Sib, 

The  spirit  of  your  reply  to  my  Open  Letter  is  so 
admirable  that  it  gives  point  to  the  wide  difference 
between  your  reasoning  and  your  reasonablen^s. 

You  ask:  "  T\'hy  should  I  be  prejudiced  against 
any  suggestion  if  I  thought  it  would  help  nurses 
and  nursing?"  AVhile  the  question  is  one  I  can- 
not answer,  let  me  hasten  to  point  out  that  the 
contained  criticism  had  no  place  in  my  letter.  The 
line  taken  in  it  was  that,  being  prejudiced  against 
registration,  you  assumed  it  would  harm  rather 
than  help  the  cause  you  have  at  heart. 

And,  having  read  the  latter  part  of  your  letter 
with  care,  I  am  compelled  regretfully  to  state  ♦nee 
more  that  your  opposition  must  be  the  outcome  of 
prejudice.  For,  after  all,  prejudice  is  opinion  based 
on  unsound  or  insufficient  data,  and  yours,  as  was 


m 


Zbc  Bi'itteb  3ournal  of  iRursinG. 


[July  9,  191(1 


mv  unhappy  task  to  make  clear,  are  mere  triviali- 
ties. As  you  seein  to  be  hypnotised  by  the  argu- 
ment of  a  "  continuing  guarantee,"  I  doubt  if  I 
can  bring  home  its  limitations  to  you.  Does  it  not 
occur  to  you  that  to  make  the  extreme  case  do  the 
work  of  the  average  one  is  poor  logic."  Your  point 
is  that  a  registered  nurse  may  become  "  unfit  to 
nurse  a  guinea-pig,  let  alone  a  human  being.'"  It 
is  a  pity  that  your  well-known  dislike  of  hyperbole 
did  not  save  you  from  this  phrase,  but  its  meaning 
is  plain  enough.  Well,  there  are  guaran- 
tees and  guarantees.  There  may  be  people 
simple  enough  to  believe  that  the  in- 
scribing of  a  name  in  a  book  inevitably 
iaci.sares  life-long  efficiency,  but  I  have  never  met 
them.  The -restriction's  of  a  register  are  sufficiently 
«-ell  understood  by  those  whom  it  serves.  Its  abso- 
lute guarantee  does  not  extend  beyond  the  fact 
that  a  certain  training  has  been  received  in  lue 
past,  and  has  been  tested  bv  examination.  For  tne 
rest,  it  implies  a  reasonable  likelihood  that  the  re- 
gistered individuals  will  retv-iin  a  degi^ee  of  efficiency 
thereafter,  and  be  mono  reliable  than  those  who  are 
not  registered  because  the  conditions  as  regar<ls 
training  and  examination  have  not  been  fulfilled  by 
them.  One  admits,  of  course,  the  possibility  of 
such  degeneration  as  you  do.scribe.  Still,  the  value 
of  your  objection  dei)ends,  not  On  the  possibility, 
but  the  probability.  What  is  the  probability  .f  Re- 
member that  those  trained  are  picked  women  ;  that 
they  are  subject  to  a  proce.ss  of  weeding-out  after 
selection ;  and  that  they  are  disciplined  as  well  as 
taught..  After  regi&tiiation  these  women  would  not, 
any  more  than  now,  remain  out  of  touch  with  their 
work  for  a  period  long  enough  to  wipe  out  the  im- 
press of  their  training.  It  is  a  question,  indeed, 
whether,  normally,  the  essence  of  what  is  valuable 
in  the  training  of  a  nurse  ever  evaporates 
entirely.  Doubtless  in  the  coui-se  of  their  career, 
after  they  left  their  training  school,  some  know- 
ledge would  be  lost,  some  gix>w  stale,  but  the  vast 
majority  of  them — and  we  are  dealing  with  a 
mathematical  pro1>ability — would  maintain  an  aver- 
age efficiency  in  their  daily  work,  whatever  its  field 
may  be.  What  then  becomes  of  the  probability? 
Is  it  not  so  small,  as  'ompared  with  the  aveiiage 
chance,  as  to  merit  the  term  trivial? 

You  assert  that  registration  would  not  touch  the 
sham  nurse.  My  answer  is  that  it  would  place  her 
with  the  same  readiness  that  the  registration  of 
medical  men  places  the  sham  doctor.  The  sham 
nurse  would  pretend  at  lier  peril.  She  would  bo 
declassed  to  the  i^ositiou  of  a  quack,  and  could  no 
more  hide  the  fact  than  a  quack  can  do  so.  And 
if  nursing  homes  harbo\ired  her,  without  admitting 
it,  there  would  be  a  speedy  reckoning  in  their  case 
also. 

You  speak  of  the  carelessness  shown  by  medical 
men  in  the  temporary  engagement  of  nurses.  But 
the  engagement  of  a  nurse  usually  implies  an  emer- 
gency. There  is  no  time  for  detailed  inquiry,  and 
even  if  there  were  time,  there  is  a  limit  to  bar- 
gaining of  this  sort.  Jledical  men  usually  ask  for 
a  reliable  nurse  for  a  given  case,  and  there  the 
matter  has  to  rest.  They  may  add  that  they  want 
a  certificated  nurse,  but  a  certificate  under  present 
conditions  is  an  unknown  quantity. 


The  Directory  of  Nurses,  which  has  your  ap- 
proval, would  soon  be  a  scrap-heap  of  undesirables; 
for  I  have  heard  enough  to  know  that  few  well- 
trained  women  would  aspire  to  a  place  on  a  list 
which  opened  its  pages  so  wide.  Once  they  are 
outside  large  training  schools,  genuine  nurses  soon 
acquire  an  extensive  and  peculiar  knowledge  of  the 
kind  of  people  I  have  in  mind.  Moreover,  the 
Directory  would  allow  the  riff-raff  to  assume  an 
official  "status."  Y'ou  may  be  sure  they  would 
make  the  most  of  it.  It  is  because  of  the  value  that 
attaches  to  a  real  register  that  such  a  counterfeit 
would  be  dangerous. 

Finally,  may  1  ask  yon  if  you  appreciate 
common  sense.  Y'ou  have  the  experience  of  the 
general  practitioners  against  you--— the  men  who 
work  with  nui-ses  iu  the  field  where  registration  is 
specially  required.  Y'ou  are  one,  and  they  are 
legion.  Still,  one  respects  your  courage — and  hopee 
that  you  may  yet  have  the  higher  courage  to  change 
vour  opinions. 

I  am,  dear  Sir, 

Yours,  etc., 

Ipractical   Ipoints. 

Dr.  G.  Werley,  as  reported 
Fatal  Factors  by  the  British  Medicul 
in  Pneumonia.  Joitmal,  finds  the  causes  of 
de;Uh  in  pneumonia  to  be  a 
failure  to  recognise  the  importance  of  a  few  under- 
lying principles.  The  patient  will  recover  if  placed 
under  the  most  favourable  conditions  for  nature  to 
cure  him.  The  great  needs  of  the  body  in  pneu- 
monia are  plenty  of  air,  water,  food,  and  proper 
rest.  The  first  factor  iu  unfavourable  surroundings 
is  a  close  room,  not  supplied  with  plenty  of  cool, 
fresh  air.  The  second  is  a  failure  to  aid  the  kidneys 
in  carrying  off  the  toxins  of  the  disease  by  giving 
plenty  of  fresh  water.  Overfeeding  and  wrong  feed- 
ing are  responsible  for  a  loss  of  energy  used  up  in 
an  attempt  to  digest,  assimilate,  and  excrete  un- 
suitable foods.  Meat  broths  are  not  useful,  because 
they  make  no  energy  and  tax  the  kidneys.  Sugar 
is  a  valuable  energy  jjroducing  food,  and  leaves 
nothing  but  water  and  carbon  dioxide  to  be 
eliminated.  Eggs  and  milk  are  appropriate. 
Fright  and  worry  are  responsible  for  loss  of  nervous 
energy.  Failure  to  keep  the  patient  in  a  horieontal 
position  so  as  to  aid  the  heart  in  carrying  on  the 
circulation  is  responsible  for  many  cases  of  death. 
Drugs  are  only  necessary  to  aid  the  heart  and 
obtain  perfect  rest.  There  is  no  serious  infectious 
disease  against  which  tbo  body  has  better  natural 
means  of  defence  than  pneumonia.  If  given  a  good 
fighting  chance,  a  complete  cure  in  five  to  ten  days 
is  the  rule. 

.\     correspondent      in     St. 

Compresses  in        I'ltmsburg     writes:  — In     his 

Pneumonia.         paper     ui)on     "  Pneumonia," 

in  the  Journal  of  April  9th, 

Dr.  Knyiptt  Cordon  says  that  there  are  two  kinds 

of   local   applications  used    for  this  condition — an 

ico-bag  and  a  hot  poultice.    My  experience,  nursing 


July  0,  191(V 


Zhc  Britisb  3ournaI  of  HAurslncj, 


31 


on  the  Continent,  is  of  a  cold  compress,  which  I 
consider  far  superior  to  cither  of  the  ochers.  First, 
1  will  describe  exactly  how  it  is  made,  and  then 
give  my  reason  for  preferring  it. 

A  small  towel  may  be  used,  or  two  largo  handker- 
chiefs, something  that  can  be  folded  several  times 
and  made  to  lie  smoothly  and  evenly  exactly  to 
cover  the  surface  indicated  by  the  doctor.  This 
cloth  must  be  wrung  out  in  water  that  has  been 
standing  in  a  warm  room  (unless  the  doctor  orders 
it  unusually  cold) ;  it  must  be  wrung  as  dry  as 
possible  and  put  on  to  a  piece  of  oilskin  which  is 
a  shade  larger  than  itself;  this  is  put  on  to  a 
thick  layer  of  cotton  wool  which  is  about  an  inch 
larger  all  round.  In  bad  cases  of  pneumonia,  where 
it  is  very  necessary  to  husband  the  patient's 
strength,  I  use  a  many-tailed  flannel  bandage; 
then  this  compress  can  easily  be  i)ut  into  place  all 
together.  One  movement  of  the  patient  on  to  his 
healthy  side,  and  the  old  compress  comes  off  and 
the  now  is  slipped  on.  and  it  will  generally  remain 
moist  for  four  hours ;  when  the  fever  is  very  high 
it  must  be  changed  oftener,  but  it  helps  of  itself 
to  reduce  the  fever.  The  routine  treatment  is  to 
leave  off  the  compress  for  an  hour  or  two  every 
morning;  otherwise  it  is  kept  on  day  and  night. 
When  it  comes  off  it  should  be  quite  damp,  and  it 
will,  of  course,  be  quite  warm ;  once  it  dries  it  is 
of  no  use. 

The  compresses,  besides  being  so  easy  to  put  on, 
are  no  shock  to  the  patient;  they  are  comfortable 
and  soothing,  and  do  their  work  gradually;  they 
can  be  more  carefully  prepared  than  a  poultice,  and 
be  got  ready  before  the  old  one  is  taken  off.  as 
there  is  no  danger  of  their  getting  cold :  they 
cannot  leak  if  properly  made;  they  can  always  be 
changed  when  most  convenient  to  the  patient,  as 
half  an  hour  earlier  or  later  does  not  generally 
matter  at  all,  and  they  are  not  irritating  to  the 
skin.  When  a  many-tailed  bandage  is  not  used,  the 
compress  is  usually  kept  in  place  by  a  (flannel) 
roller  bandage ;  or  some  people  prefer  a  roller 
towel  with  a  piece  of  flannel  to  keep  the  warmth  in. 
These  compresses  are  used  for  every  kind  of  inflam- 
mation, and  it  is  wonderful  what  a  relief  they  are 
to  pain ;  the  usual  effect  of  changing  the  compress 
is  to  put  the  patient  to  sleep.  A  compress  will 
remain  quite  comfortable  all  the  time,  not  getting 
cold  and  clammy,-  not  even  shifting  from  its  position 
if  properly  put  on. 

I  have  often  been  astonished  at  the  neglect  of 
this  remedy  in  England ;  no  one  that  has  had  ex- 
perience of  it  will  forget  what  a  comfort  it  is,  and, 
while  it  can  do  no  possible  harm,  a  timely  applica- 
tion of  a  cold  compress  has  kept  off  many  and  many 
a  serious  illnes.s. 

The     yeu-     York     Medical 
Disinfection  of       .J, .an, a],  quoting  from  a  Ger- 
rooms.  man     contemporary,     says:  — 

Hannes  recommends  the  use  of 
formaldehyde  produce<l  from  a  mixture  of  para- 
dorm  powder,  potassium  permanganate,  and  water 
in  the  proportion  1:2:3  as  equally  as  efficient  and 
cheaper  thah  the  gas  produced  by  means  of  an 
apparatus. 


appointincnte. 


MATltoNS. 

Edinburgh  Royal  Maternity  and  Simpson  Memorial  Hospital. 
— Miss  H.  W.  Barclay  has  been  appointed  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Dundee, 
where  she  was  Staff  Nurse  in  the  Gynsecological 
Ward,  Sister  in  a  Medical  AVard,  Home  and  Xight 
Sister,  Sister-in-charge  of  the  Theatre,  and  Sister- 
in-charge  of  the  Maternity  Hospital  for  five  years. 

Cottage    Hospital,    Fleet,   Hants. — Miss  A.   E.   Middle- 
ton  has  been  npix)iiite<l  Matron.     She  was  trained 
at  St.   George's  Hospital,   where  she  has  held  the 
jxisition  of  Sister.     She  is  a  certified  midwife. 
Assistant  M.\tron. 

County  Council  Training  College,  Eltham.' — Miss  Ida 
Robinson  has  l>eoii  api)ointetl  Assistant  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Portsmouth  Poor-Law  In- 
firmary, and  has  hold  the  positions  of  Staff  Xurse 
and  Sister  at  St.  Mary  Islington  Infirmary. 
.Sister. 

Princess  Alice  Memorial  Hospital,  Eastbourne. — Miss  M. 
F.  Reynolds  has  boon  appointed  Sister  of  the  Male 
and  Children's  Wards.  She  was  trained  at  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital,  London,  and  has  been  for 
a  yoar  on  its  private  nursing  staff.  Before  receiving 
her  general  training  slie  was  for  three  years  at  the 
Royal  Xational  Sanatorium,  Bournemouth. 

New  Infirmary,  Edmonton. — Mi.-is  Jennie  Ma.sters  has 
been  appointed  Sister.  She  was  trained  at  the  .St. 
Mary  Infirmary.  Islington,  where  .she  has  held  th  ■ 
{>osition  of  Staff  Xur>e. 

The  Sanatorium,  Blackpool. — Miss  Mabel  Spencer 
has  been  appointed  Sister.  She  was  trained  at  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital,  London,  and  the  City 
Hospitals,  Sheffield,  where  she  held  the  positions 
of  Staff  Xurse  and  Sister.  She  has  also  been  Sister 
at  the  Combination  Hospital,  Johnstone,  N.B. 
XiGHT  .Sister. 

Victoria  Hospital,  Keighley. — Miss  Lilian  A.  Parsons 
ha.s  l>een  appointed  Xight  .Sister.  She  was  trained 
at  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Bristol,  and  has  held  tue 
ixksition  of  Staff  Xurse'  at  the  City  Hospital,  Liver- 
1XK)1.  and  at  the  Hospital,  Sevenoaks;  of  feistor 
at  the  Isolation  Hospital,  II ford ;  of  Sistor-in- 
Charge  at  the  Sanatorium.  Hull;  of  Xurae-Matron 
at  the  Accident  Hospital,  Bircliinlea ;  and  of  Sister 
and  Deputy-^Matrou  at  the  Isolation  Hospital. 
Menston. 

Head  Xight  Nurse. 

Whislon  Infirmary,  Preston  — Miss   E.    V.    Loney    has 
been    appointed    Head    Xight    Xurse.        She    was 
trained  at  the  ruion  Infirmary.  Birkenhead. 
Charce  Xurses. 

Union  Infirmary,  Wolverhampton. — Miss  Alice  M.  TJlyatt 
has  been  appointed  Charge  Xur.se.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Bagthorpe  Infirmary,  Xottingham. 
and  has  been  Sister  at  Gravelly  Hill  Infiijnary,  and 
at  Solly  Oak  Infirmary,  tvoth  near  Birmingham. 
School  Xurse. 

Reigate  Education  Committee. — Miss  Ethel  Mau<l 
Xairne  has  been  appointed  School  Xurse.  She  was  ■ 
trained  at  the  Hospital  for  Sick  Children,  Groat 
Ormond  Street,  London,  and  has  done  private 
nursing  at  Ealing,  and  been  Health  Visitor  in  the 
Borough  of  St.  Pancras. 


32 


♦ibc  Britisb  Journal  of  IRursiiuj: 


.July  9,  1910 


QUEEN  ALEXANDRA'S  IMPERIAL  MILITARY 
NURSING  SERVICE. 
The  under-mentioiied  Staff  Xur^es  to  be  Sisters: 
-^iis«  ^1-  J-  Hepple,  Miss  S.  Richards,  :Mis6  M.  B. 
AVilliams  (June  16th).  The  under-meutioned  .Staff 
Xui-ses  are  conSrinetl  in  their  appointments,  their 
periods  of  provisional  service  having  expiretl :— JIis; 
G.  F.  V.  Temperlev,  Miss  X.  Molloy,  Miss  R.  M. 

Rooke.  

QUEEN  VICTORIAS  JUBILEE  INSTITUTE 
FOR  NURSES. 
Transfers  aitd  Appointments. — Miss  Sybil  Par- 
tridge to  Clavbrooke;  Miss  Lois  Griffithsj  to  Hert- 
ford; Miss  Kate  Hartland.  to  Tottington  ;  Miss 
Mary  L.  Stephens,  to  Bishop's  Auckland;  Miss 
Ursula  Hughes,  to  Beckenham  ;  Miss  Mary  Trevor- 
Roper,  to  Taunton. 

PRIZES  AT  THE  FLEMING  MEMORIAL  HOSPITAL. 

Mrs.  J.  T.  Cackett,  wife  of  the  Chairman  of  the 
Fleming  Memorial  Hospital,  Xewcastle-on-Tyne, 
presented  last  week,  in  the  presence  of  a  large 
gathering,  the  prizes  under  the  Heath  Bequest,  and 
certificates  to  the  nurses  who  had  gained  them  in 
the  recent  examination. 

Phize  Winxebs. 

Third  year  nurses,  Xurses  Cockburn  and  Hendry 
(divided),  1;  Xurse  Davis.  2.  -Second  year  nurses, 
Xurse  Robson,  1 ;  Xurse  McLeary,   2.     First  year 
nurses,    (one   prize),  X'nrse  Dunkerley. 
Certificates. 

Xurses     Cockburn,     Hendry,     Hutchinson,     and 

Leeson.  

RESIGNATION. 

At  the  forty-fifth  annual  meeting  of  the  Royal 
Derby  and  Derbyshire  Xursing  and  Sanitary  Asso- 
ciation, the  resignation  of  the  Lady  Superinten- 
dent. Miss  Matilda  Athill  after  holding  the  position 
for  13  years,  was  announced  by  Mr.  E.  S.  Jolinson, 
who   warmly  eulogised   her  work. 


PRESENTATION. 
On  Monday.  Miss  Babcock,  Matron  of  the  Ret- 
ford Hospital,  who  has  resigned  the  position  after 
holding  it  for  ten  years,  was  presented  by  her 
friends  with  a  silver  "asket  and  purse  of  gold.  The 
presentation  was  made  by  Colonel  Denison,  and 
Sir  Frederick  Milner  .said  he  had  made  a  special 
journey  from  London  to  show  his  personal  friend- 
ship and  respect  for  the  Matron  who  had  done  such 
noble   work. 


LEGAL  MATTERS. 
Miss  Jeannie  AnderKmi,  a  certificated  nurse,  10, 
Queen's  Park  Avenue.  Ivlinburgh,  ha>s  I>een  success- 
ful in  an  action  agoiiist  Mrs.  Edith  Laing.  lo.  AVef-t 
•Maitland  Street.  E^linbiirgh,  to  whom  she  had  paid 
i2  10s.,  in  reply  to  an  advertisement,  for  intix)- 
ductions  to  private  ca.ses.  The  defence  was  that  the 
home  was  a  recently  ♦■stablishe<l  institution,  and 
that  it  was  impossible  to  i;uarante<'  work.  Det<>iKler 
t*id  she  had  done  her  best  to  get  work  for  Her 
nurses.  It  came  out  in  cix)s>4-examination  that 
seven  nui-ses  were  connectetl  with  the  in.stitution, 
and  that  only  two  cases  had  l>een  taken  up,  Tlie 
nurses  had  paid  in  nil  iUi  Ss.  to  defender.  Decree 
was  given  for  juii-Nuer  with  expenses. 


IRursina  Echoes. 

The  Victoria  and  Bourne- 
mouth Nurses'  League  is 
working  hard  to  obtain  a  pen- 
siou  of  £"20  at  the  November 
Eltetion  at  the  Eoyal  Hos- 
pital for  Incurables,  Putney 
Heath,  for  ]\Irs.  Z^Iary  Corr, 
one  of  its  members,  and  also 
for  Miss  Whitford.  Mrs. 
Corr,  who  is  57  years  of  age, 
\^as  two  and  a  half  years  ago 
suddenly  struck  down  by 
paralysis  of  the  right  side  while  en- 
gaged in  her  professional  duties,  so  that 
she  is  quite  unable  to  work  or  help  herself  in 
any  way.  She  is  quite  incurable,  and  has  no 
means  of  support.  Since  her  seizure  she  has 
been  living  on  her  savings,  which  are  now 
almost  at  an  end.  She  had  177  votes  in  May 
last,  and  it  is  earnestly  desired  that  she  should 
poll  sufficient  in  November  to  secure  a  pension. 
The  League  has  voted  a  donation  of  £1,  which 
will  help  to  secure  votes,  and  some  of  her  fellow 
workers  are  doing  the  same.  .\  correspondent 
writes: — "  I  do  beg  your  readers  to  use  any 
influende  they  may  have  in  obtaining  votes  to 
help  us  in  this  most  deserving  case."  It  is 
strongly  recommended  by  Miss  Forrest,  Vic- 
toria Nursing  Institute,  Cambridge  Road, 
Bournemouth,  and  Dr.  Milne,  3,  Albert  Ter- 
race, Buddie  Road,  Wallsend-on-Tyne. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  House  Committee  of 
the  Leicester  Infirmary,  held  on  Wednesday, 
•June  29,  it  \vas  decided  to  name  the  top  ward  of 
the  new  wing  (shortly  to  be  opened  for  the  re- 
ception of  patients),  the  "  Gertrude  Rogers  " 
Ward  in  appreciation  of  the  long  period  of  de- 
voted service  of  Miss  G.  A.  Rogers,  the  Lady 
Superintendent,  under  whose  direction  the 
nursing  of  the  institution  has  reached  a  high 
standard  of  efficiency. 

The  ward  contains  33  beds,  and  will  be  used 
tor  female  surgical  cases.  The  association  of 
the  name  of  Miss  Rogers  with  the  extensive 
additions  and  improvements  recently  carried 
out  will  give  the  greatest  satisfaction  to  past 
and  present  members  of  the  nm-sing  staff  of  the 
institution  by  whom  Miss  Rogers  is  held  in 
affection  and  high  esteem,  and  will  also  afford 
appropriate  recognition  of  Miss  Rogers'  zealous 
devotion  to  the  best  interests  of  the  infimiary. 


The  Johns  Hopkins  Nurses'  Alvmnce  Maga- 
riMc  devotes  much  of  its  space  this  month  to 
Appreciations  of  the  founder  of  its  Nursing 
School,  JIrs,  Hampton  Eobb.  Nurses,  doctors, 
and  governors  all  unite  in  praise  of  her  char- 


Julj  9,  1010] 


Sbe  Bvitisb  3oiii*nal  of  IRursliuj. 


33 


acter  and  work,  and  all  will  unite  in  raising  to 
her  illustrious  memory  a  worthy  memorial. 


Miss  Nutting  st-nds  word  of  the  gift  of  a 
scholarship  in  her  honour  of  £50,  available  in 
the  year  1910—1911.  at  Teachers'  College,  New 
York,  given  by  Mrs.  Hartley  Jenkins.  It  is  to 
be  awarded  preferably  to  a  student  who  desires 
to  fit  hei-self  to  train  teachers  of  nursing.  Miss 
Xutting  adds:  "  How  I  wish  that  some  gra- 
duate of  Isabel  Kobb's  beloved  Johns  Hopkins 
Hospital  might  apply  and  get  this  first  scholar- 
ship in  her  name." 


What  a  sympathetic  tie  there  will  be  between 
these  "  memorial  "  scholars  from  England  and 
America  when  they  come  to  meet  in  New  York. 
Would  that  we  were  young  enough  to  be  one  of 
them. 


One  of  the 
most  impor- 
tant positions 
in  the  nurs- 
ing world  in 
the  United 
States  of 
America  is 
that  of  In- 
s  p  e  c  t  o  r  of 
Training 
Schools  under 
the  Educa- 
tion Depart- 
m  e  n  t,  R  e- 
gent's  Of&ce, 
New  York 
State,  a  posi- 
tion in  con- 
nection    with 

the  carrying  out  of  the  Eegistration  of  Nurses 
Act.  ^Nliss  Anna  L.  Alline,  who,  for  several 
years,  has  carried  out  the  duties  of  this  office 
in  the  most  expert  manner,  highly  appreciated 
by  the  Eegents,  has  just  resigned  the  appoint- 
ment, and  has  accepted  that  of  Superintendent 
of  Nurses  at  the  Homoeopathic  Hospital  at 
Buffalo.  Her  successor  is  to  be  ^liss  Annie  W. 
Goodrich,  the  vei-y  able  Superintendent  of 
Nurses  at  historic  Bellevue  and  the  Allied 
Hospitals,  New  York. 


Nurses  in  London  a  year  ago,  and  deeply  im- 
pressed  us  all  with  her  brilliant  and  fearless 

personality.  

.\  small  but  interesting  exhibit  at  the  Japan- 
British  Exhibition,  Shepherd's  Bush,  is  that 
of  the  Red  Cross  Society  of  Japan  in  the  build- 
ing devoted  to  the  exhibits  of  Japanese  Govern- 
ment Departments.  Our  illustration  is  that  of 
the  fine  new  building  in  "  Tokio  for  the 
Headquarters  of  the  Bed  Cross  Society  of 
Japan,  of  which  a  large  picture  is 
exhibited  in  this  section,  and  a  group 
of  the  Bed  Cross  Nurses,  in  which  Miss 
Take  Hagiwara  is  the  central  figure.  There  are 
also  many  interesting  pictures  of  scenes  in  the 
Bed  Cross  Hospitals  during  the  China-Japan- 
ese War,  and  during  the  Boxer  troubles  in 
North  China  and  Japan,  and  of  a  ward  on  a 
Bed  Cross  ship,  as  well  as  a  model  of  the  ship, 
Hal-iiai  Marv.  The  appliances  and  materials 
used  in  these 
campaigns  are 
also  shown. 


There  are 
life  -sized 
models  in 
neat  dark  blue 
uniform  of  a 
Red  Cross 
nurse  with  a 
white  bras- 
sard bearing 
the  red  cross 
..n  the  left 
arm,  and  of  a 
member  of  the 
Ladies'  Vol- 
unteer Asso- 
ciation, the 
latter  in  a 
black  alpaca  dress,  piped  with  blue.  During 
the  Eusso-Japanese  War  the  "  Relief  Staff  "  of 
the  Society,  all  of  whom  are  "  paid  persons, 
doing  their  work  as  contract  duty,"  gave  aid 
on  land  or  sea  to  a  large  number  of  patients, 
including  28,800  Eussian  prisoners. 


Buildings   for   the   Head-quarters  of   the    Red    Cross   Society 
of   Japan,  Tokio. 


Miss  Goodrich  is  a  great  educationalist, 
a  bright  and  charming  woman,  and  eminently 
fitted  for  this  special  branch  of  work,  than 
which  nothing  can  conduce  more  to  the  better 
organisation  of  the  jjrofession,  of  which  she  is 
such  an  esteemed  member.  As  President' of 
the  American  Federation  of  Nurses,  Miss  Good- 
rich  attended  the  International    Congress  of 


Specially  interesting  are  the  insignia  and 
badges  of  the- Society,  and  the  charming  gold, 
silver,  and  wooden  prize  cups  which  are  greatly 
valued  by  those  on  whom  they  are  bestowed. 
The  examples  of  the  dainty  knitted  articles 
made  for  the  patients  by  the  Eed  Cross  nurses 
in  the  hospital  ships,  and  greatly  prized  by 
them,  attract  much  attention.  In  this  build- 
ing are  also  some  very  attractive  tableaux 're- 
presenting scenes  in  important  national  and 
international  wars,  the  soldiers  being  in  the 
accoutrements  of  the  period.  .All  the  details 
are  carried  out  with  the  greatest  exactness. 


34 


Cbe  Biitisb  3ournal  of  iRurstng. 


[July  9,  1910 


The  proposition  that  the  Borough  of  Hastings 
District  Nursing  Association  should  augment 
its  income  by  sending  out  nurses  to  private 
cases  is  rightly  objected  to  by  Dr.  Holcroft, 
who  states  that  the  Association  is  starting  a 
"  cheap  nursing  supply  company."  If,  as  it  is 
stated,  "  there  is  a  grave  fear  of  the  Associa- 
tion ceasing  to  exist,  for  it  is  an  open  secret 
that  its  liabilities  are  heavy  and  its  assets  prac- 
tically nil,  and  that  it  has  little  or  no  money 
to  continue  its  work,"  then  it  should  wind  up 
its  affairs,  and  not  attempt  to  finance  its  work 
amongst  the  poor  by  sweating  its  nurses  for 
this  purpose.  The  exploitation  of  nursing 
labour  under  the  guise  of  charity  is  a  very  sinis- 
ter phase  of  the  nursing  question.  It  is  grow- 
ing to  such  proportions  that  it  is  proposed  later 
in  the  year  to  hold  a  conference  on  "  Nursing 
Economics,"  when  this  and  kindred  questions 
can  be  discussed.  It  is  time  the  public  under- 
stood that  it  is  not'charity  to  finance  the  nurs- 
ing of  the  poor  out  of  the  earnings  of  working 
women. 


IReflections. 


The  Bakewell  Guardians  have  decided,  sub- 
ject to  the  consent,  of  the  Local  Government 
Board  to  defray  out  of  the  common  fund  of  the 
Union  such  portion  of  the  legal  expenses  in- 
curred by  Miss  Lizzie  Smith  in  defending  the 
action  recently  brought  against  her  by  Mr.  W. 
E.  Ponsford,  late  Workhouse  Master,  as  may 
be  decided  upon  by  the  Board.  The  circum- 
stances of  the  case  will  be  witliin  the  memory 
of  our  readers.  Mr.  Nixon,  in  supporting  the 
resolution,  said  the  nurse  had  discharged  a 
public  duty  against  terrible  odds — discharged 
that  duty  against  the  risk  and  danger  of  being 
condemned  in  the  eyes  of  every  decent  man 
and  woman.  Had  she  failed  she  would  have 
been  cast  out  of  society.  She  ran  the  risk  of 
absolutely  beggaring  herself,  and  she  stood  be- 
tween the  Board  and  a  great  danger. 


The  Coventry  Guardians,  who  propose  to 
build  a  new  home  for  their  nurses,  have 
adopted  the  wise  course  of  appointing  a  Sub- 
committee to  visit  the  homes  attached  to 
other  infiiTnaries  to  gain  a  practical  knowledge 
of  the  best  arrangements,  as  they  believe  that 
they  will  save  expense  by  so  d<5ing,  and  that 
this  would  therefore  be  the  most  economical 
course  in  the  end.    

The  Edinburgh  jMedical  Practitioners'  Asso- 
ciation propose  to  start  a  nursing  home  of  50 
beds  to  be  jivailable  at  fees  of  from  one  to  three 
guineas,  for  which  it  is  estimated  that  £10,000 
will  be  required,  which  the  public  are  to  be 
(isked  to  contribute.  The  medical  profession 
has  intimated  its  willingness  to  conlributo  £800 
to  the  initial  expenses. 


Fkom  a  Bo.\kd  Room  Mirror. 

The  King  has  been  pleased  to  become  Patron  of 
King  Edward's  Hospital  Fund  for  London.  His 
Majesty  has,  on  the  recommendation  of  the  Lord 
Chancellor,  the  Prime  Minister,  and  the  Governor 
of  the  Bank  of  England,  in  accordance  with  the 
Act  of  Parliament,  appointed  as  Governors  of  King 
Edward's  Hospital  Fund  for  Loudon  the  following: 
The  Duke  of  Teck,  Viscount  Iveagh,  and  the 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons. 


The  King,  Sovereign  head  and  patron  of  the 
Order  of  the  Hospital  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem  :ii 
England,  has  become  the  patron  of  the  British 
Ophthalmic  Hospital  at  Jerusalem  (belonging  to  the 
Order),  in  succession  to  King  Edward  VIL  His 
Majesty  has  also  become  patron  of  Guy's  Hospital, 
and  of  the  British  Red  Cross  Society,  the  King  and 
Queen  have  become  patrons  of  the  Brompton  Hos- 
pital for  Consumption,  and  the  Queen  is  graciously 
pleased  to  become  Patron  of  the  Chelsea  Hospital 
for  Women. 


Prince  Francis  of  Teck  appears  to  be  a  model 
Chairman  for  the  ^Middlesex  Hospital.  His  Serene 
Highness  has  asked  for  £20,000,  and  tHe  public 
seems  inclined  to  let  him  have  it.  Tlie  Prince 
visits  the  wards  and  out-patient  department,  and 
is  acquainting  himself  m  ith  every  detail  of  manage- 
ment. There  is  now  no  use  for  chairmen  and 
governors  of  hospitals  who  do  not  know  the  differ- 
ence between  me<lical  and  nui-sing  qualifications, 
and  how  important  it  is  for  the  patients  tha^  in 
lM>th  professions  they  should  be  the  highest  obtain- 
able.   

Tlie  Conference  of  tlie  National  Association  for 
the  Prevention  of  Consumption  and  other  forms  of 
Tuberculosis,  which  was  opened  in  Edinburgh  on 
Friday  last  week,  has  been  extremely  interesting. 
Full  reports  have  appeared  in  the  Scotsman  and 
the  GlasgoiD  Herald  to  which  we  direct  the  atten- 
tion of  our  readers. 


The  St.  John  Ambulance  Association  has  issued 
details  of  a  scheme  for  organising  ambulance  county 
companies  for  aid  to  the  sick  and  wounded  of  the 
Territorial  Force  in  time  of  war.  Two  classes  of 
local  bodies  are  to  bo  constituted.  These  will  be 
called  the  .St.  John  .\Miliulance  Brigade  Companies, 
to  be  formed  under  brigade  orders,  and  the  St. 
John  .\mbulaiice  County  Companies,  which  will 
be  formed  by  the  Territorial  branch  of  the  associa- 
tion. Both  will  be  under  the  ambulance  depart- 
ment of  the  Order,  aiul  in  case  of  war  in  this  couii- 
tr.v  their  services  will  Ix'  offered  to  the  War  Office. 
The  members  of  a  county  company  must  be  eitlier 
registered  medical  practitioners,  pharmacists, 
trained  nurses,  or  persons  who  have  obtained  a  .St. 
John  Ambulance  Association  certificate  in  first  aid 
as  regards  men,  and  in  first  aid  and  home  nursing 
as  regards  women,  .\ll  officers  and  members  of 
companies,  both  men  and  women,  will  enter  into 
an  obligation  to  servo  in  their  own  county  with 
the  Territorial  Force  in  case  of  war. 


July  9,  1910] 


Zbc  IBdtisb  3ouniaI  of  IRursino, 


35 


]Profct55(onaI   IRcvicw. 


NEIGHBOURS    AND     FRIENDS. 
Probably  none  of   Miss  Loane's  books  will  ever 
have     quite    the    charm  for  us  of  "  The  Queen's 
Poor,"  with  it«  freshness,    humour,    and     pathos, 
nevertheless,     all    who     are    interested     in    social 
problems  should  read  lier  latest  book,  "  Neighbours 
and     Friends  ''     (.published    by    Edward    Arnold). 
Voluntary  workers  will  do  well  to  study  attentively 
the  first  chapter,  in  which  the  author  endorses  the 
view  of  the   Poor  Law   Commissioners  that   "  one 
great  cause  of   pauperism  is   that  Voluntary  and 
Stat©  Aid   compete   with  one   another,   instead   of 
dividing   out  their  respective  territories,   and   es- 
tablishing a  firm  and  uniform  system  within  those 
l>oundaries.     .     .     ^Miere   we  are  going  is  as  im- 
portant a  question  as  where  we  are,  even  more  so; 
to   take   long   views  will  at  least,   to    use   an  old- 
fashioned  Americauisiii,   '  solemnise  '   us,  and  com- 
pel  us  to  realise    that  all   dilettantism   and   ama- 
teurism   iu   works  of   charity   is   little    more  than 
mere    indulgence    in    moral     sleeping    draughts." 
Without  conference  and  co-ordination  there  will  be 
overlapping  of  charitable  aid  in  one  jjlace,  and  a 
Terrible  gap  in  another.    Miss  Loane  says: — "  Fre- 
quently I  have  had  to  beg  voluntary  workers  not  to 
supply  alcohol  to  my  patients  unless  they  received 
a  direct  request  from  the  doctor  in  charge  of  the 
case    as   the   messages    sent  them    were  often   not 
merely   fabrications,    but    in   direct   opposition   to 
his  stringent  orders.     I  have  kn,"wn  the  following 
articles     demanded    (and    obt.  i   .  1)     for  the  sup- 
posed benefit   of   the  same  patient  within    thirty 
hours:    Wine  and   brandy  because  he    was    'sink- 
ing ' ;  jelly,  custard,   and  broth  because  he  '  must 
have  something  light  ' ;  roast  beef  (mutton  on  no 
account  to  be  sent)    because  he  '  must  have  some- 
thing strengthening.'    Except  for  a  couple  of  days, 
when   a   few  pennyworth  of  milk   would  have  met 
all   requirements,   the   man   was  capable  of  eating 
ordinary  food,  and  was  drawing  his  usual  wages." 
We  often  hear  of  the  wages  on  which  the  work- 
ing classes  lived  and  brought  up  large  families  in 
day."!  gone  by.     Did  they?     One  of   Miss   Loane's 
acquaintances  told  her,  "  When  I  was  young  people 
didn't  even  have  enough  to  eat.    How  could  they  ? 
Father  was  gettin'  seven  shillin'  a  week,  and  there 
was  six  of  us.    I  was  the  eldest,  so  I  had  the  worst 
of  it,  but  mother' n  father  had  it  still  worse  when 
they  was  young.     Wages  was  about  the  same,  but 
they  went  no  way  at  all.     Mother's  often  told  me 
that  bread  was  Is.  lOd.  and  2s.  for  the  four  pound 
loaf.'   But  all  that's  clean  forgotten;  when  I  tell 
people  they  don't  believe  me.     We  wasn't  as  bad 
off  as  some,  for  if  there  was  a  bit  extra  to  be  earned 
for  his  family,   father  was  the  man  to  get  out  Qf 
his  bed  in  the  middle  of  a  winter's  night,  and  go 
five  miles  to   earn    it.'     Seeing  the   spirit  of  his 
daughter,  adds  the  author,  I  could  well  believe  it." 
•'  If,"  says  Miss  Loane,   "  we  would  solve  even 
the  simplest  of  problems,  we    must    be    willing  to 
le:\rn  from  the  working  classes  as  well  as  to  teach. 
T  have  never  forgotten  what  a  respectable  woman 
living  in  ^  crowded  parish  in  London,  where  the 
local  demand  for  domestic  servants  was  almost  nil, 


said  to  me  when  I  asked  her  if  no  one  ever  helped 
her  to  find  situations  for  her  daughters  outside  its 
borders.  '  Well,  you  see,  Miss,  there  isn't  hardly 
anyone  but  the  vicar's  wife,  and  she's  so  busy  with 
them  that's  gone  wrong  that  she's  no  time  for  the 

others.       And   there's  Mr.  just   the  same. 

I'm  not  one  for  wishing  to  push  anyone  in  the 
dirt,  and  many's  the  girl  I've  helped  on  the  quiet, 
but  to  see  him  acting  as  if  he  couldn't  make  enough 
of  girls  who  hadn't  kep'  straight,  and  not  a  word 
nor  a  look  to  help  the  others,  fair  turns  me  sick. 
.  .  One  side  of  the  results  of  this  exclusive  at- 
tention to  those  of  bad  reputation  was  rather 
amusingly  brought  out  by  a  girl  of  twenty-three 
applying  to  mo  for  employment.  I  asked  if  the 
vicar  would  give  her  a  reference,  and  she  replied 
indignantly,  '  I've  always  had  a  good  character  of 
me  own.  I've  never  had  no  need  to  ast  for  one ! — 
as  if  characters  were  second-hand  clothing  passed 
on  to  those  in  need." 

We  shall  many  of  tis  endorse  Miss  Loane's  re- 
marks when  speaking  of  private  nurses.  "  For 
some  reason  unknown  to  me,  nurses  need  more  bed- 
clothing  than  most  people.  I  have  generally  found 
that  they  like  four  blankets  in  winter,  and  to  have 
a  third  one  at  hand  even  in  summer.  In  many 
private  houses  two  are  considered  enough,  and  the 
unlucky  nurse  shivers  and  shakes  half  the  night." 

A  word  as  to  the  '  cured '  maniac  shows  how 
many  homes  are  terrorised  by  the  early  discharge 
of  asylum  patients.  "  Forty  or  fifty  years  ago 
there  was  a  great  outcry  against  the  detention  of 
persons  in  asylums  for  the  insane  who  might,  it  was 
asserted,  with  safety  and  advantage  have  been  sent 
to  their  homes.  Doubtless  there  was  some  justifica- 
tion for  the  complaints,  but  since  then  the  pendu- 
lum has  swung  too  far  in  the  opposite  direction; 
women  are  discharged  when  utterly  unable  to  bear 
the  mental  annoyances  and  petty  vexations  of  or- 
dinary domestic  life,  and  this  is  still  more  fre- 
quently the  case  with  men.  Can  anyone  who  has 
neither  endured  such  For|;une,  nor  seen  anyone 
else  compelled  to  endure  it,  imagine  what  it  is  like 
to  be  day  and  night  in  the  power  of  a  man  who, 
at  any  moment,  may  be  attacked  by  homicidal 
mania?  Of  a  man  who  falls  into  a  paroxysm  of 
rage,  or  broods  for  days  at  a  stretch  over  an 
imaginary  insult,  who  sleeps  with  a  loaded  pistol 
tinder  his  pillow,  or  a  sharpened  razor  in  his  hand? 
.  .  .  The  whole  town  is  horror-stricken  when 
some  discharged  maniac  murders  wife  and  chil- 
dren, btit  few  think  of  the  life  of  fear  which  pre- 
ceded the  terrible  deed,  nor  of  the  many  hundreds 
of  families  living  under  similar  conditions." 

One  more  story:  "The  ordinary  father  h;i3 
always  to  '  show  cause '  why  he  should  not  black 
the  boots,  and  he  can  rarely  do  this  during  the  first 
fourteen  or  fifteen  years  of  married  life.  A  North 
Country  school  teacher  told  me  that  she  was  giving 
a  lesson  on  the  history  of  Solomon.  She  could  not 
avoid  mentioning  his  wives,  but  was  trying  to  pass 
over  that  portion  of  the  subject  as  lightly  as  pos- 
sible, when  a  boy  showed  his  appreciation  of  the 
drawbacks  of  polygamy  by  the  heartfelt  sympathy 
v/ith  which  he  exclaimed,  '  What  a  lot  o'  boots  he 
must  have  had  to  clean  1  '  " 

P.   6.   Y. 


36 


XLbc  36riti5b  Journal  of  IRursing, 


[July  9,  1910 


®ut6i^e  tbc  (Bates. 


WOMEN. 

Suffragists  are  again 
in  liigh  hopes  of  success, 
the  Premier  having 
promised  time  for  the 
second  reading  of  the 
Parliamentary  Franchise 
Women's  Bill — on  Mon- 
day and  Tuesday,  th:- 
11th  and  12th  of  July. 
All  the  societies  are  therefore  working  all 
the.ii-  know.  Tliere  will  be  a  great  demonstration 
with  speeches  in  Trafalgar  S<juare  on  July  9th,  and 
another  in  Hyde  Park  on  .July  23rd.  Both  must  be 
enthusiastic  and  imposing. 

There  is  to  be  an  Autumn  .Session,  so  now  there 
can  be  no  possible  reason  why  the  Bill  should  not 
become  law  if  the  House  of  Commons  fulfils  its 
pledges.  Intelligent  women  quite  realise  that  with- 
out the  rote  they  have  no  security  in  the  body 
politic.  I 

Lady  Frances  Balfour,  who  presided  at  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  Freedom  of  Labour  Defence 
Association,  said  that  nothing  very  serious  had  been 
directetl  against  women  in  the  past  year,  but  they 
iiad  one  aroh-enemy,  as  she  might  call  him,  a  per- 
sonal  friend  of  her  own,  Mr.  John  Burns.  In  these 
matters  she  considered  him  quite  one  of  the  most 
dangerous  and  most  revolutionary  of  Ministei'S.  He 
was  one  of  the  vicious  class  of  men  who  were  always 
trying  to  do  good  to  women  without  in  the  least 
cou-sulting  women  as  to  nhether  they  wished  to  be 
done  good  to  in  that  particular  forai.  He  was  an 
advocate  of  that  fonn  of  benevolent  despotism 
which  he  himself  would  have  most  disliked  if  it  had 
been  turned  against  himself  in  his  unregenerate 
da  vs. 


The  EngVishuoinaii  is  very  good  this  mouth,  and 
the  article  on  that  great  pioneer,  Dr.  Elizabeth 
Blackw'ell,  who  has  recently  passed  away  in  her 
eighty-ninth  year,  by  Mrs.  Fawcett,  strikes  a 
nece.ssary  note  "  because  I  think  that  one  and  all 
we  take  for  granted  far  too  much,  without  grati- 
tude, barely  even  with  acknowledgment,  all  that 
has  been  gained  for  us  by  the  generations  that 
have  preceded  us.  AVe  regard  it  all  as  if  it  were 
manna  dropped  from  heaven,  freely  granted  by  the 
bounty  of  Providence,  without  continuous  human 
effort  or  sacrifice." 


Mrs.  Fawoett  speaks  of  her  deeply  religious 
nature.  and  of  the  spirit  in  which  she 
ajipro.ached  the  relations  between  immorality  and 
disease,  and  how  to  help  to  establish  more  worthy 
relations  between  men  and  women.  )>ocamfl 
one  of  the  objects  of  her  life.  "I  will  never," 
she  wrote,  "  so  help  nie  G<xl,  be  blind,  indifferent,  or 
Btiipid  in  relation  to  this  matter,  as  are  most 
women.  I  f.M>l  si)eoially  called  to  act  in  this  reform 
when  I  have  gaine<l  wi-sdoni  for  the  task.  The  world 
can  never  Ije  redoenuHJ  till  this  central  relation  of 
life  is  placed  on  a  truer  looting." 


She  felt  both  as  a  physician  and  as  a  citizen  the 
enormous  imjjortance  of  a  healthy  family  life,  and 
she  wrote : — 

"  The  physician  knows  that  the  natural  family 
group  is  the  first  essential  element  of  a  progressive 
society.  The  degeneration  of  that  element  by  the 
degi-adation  of  either  of  its  essential  factors — th& 
man  or  the  woman — begins  the  ruin  of  the  State." 


The  Albert  Medal  of  the  Royal  Society  of  Arts  for 
the  current  year,  the  highest  honour  in  the  gift  of 
the  society,  has  been  awarded  to  Mme.  Curie  tor 
the  discovery  of  radium.  With  the  exception  of 
Queen  Victoria,  Mme.  C'urrie  is  the  only  woman  to 
whom  the  medal  has  been  awarded. 


Boof?  of  tbe  mccW. 


THE  DOP   DOCTOR.* 

The  scene  of  this  wonderful  story  is  laid  in 
South  Africa.  Its  opemng  chapters  are  perhaps  its 
greatest,  and  the  tragedy  enacted  under  the  gor- 
geous beauty  of  the  African  sky  cannot  fail  to 
appeal  to  the  imagination  of  the  reader. 

It  begins  by  describing  the  progress  of  two  large 
heavily  laden  waggons. 

'■  Days  and  days,  and  nights  and  nights,  of  bil- 
lowing, .spreading,  lonely  sky-arched  veld  inter- 
vened between  each  homestead.  .  .  .  Perhaps 
there  would  be  rain  ere  long.  There  had  been  rain 
already  in  the  foremost  waggon,  not  from  the 
cloudsi,  but  from  human  eyes.  A  KaflBr  drove  the 
second  waggon.  It  held  stores  and  baggage  be- 
longing to  the  Englishman,  for  you  would  have  set 
down  the  man  who  owned  the  waggons  as  English, 
even  though  he  called  himself  by  a  Dutch  name. 
The  child  of  three  years  was  his.  And  his  had 
been  the  dead  body  ot  the  woman  lying  on  the 
waggon  bed,  covered  v.hh  a  new  white  sheet,  with 
a  stillborn  boy  baby  lying  on  her  breast.  For  this 
the  man  who  had  loved  and  taken  her,  and  made 
her  his,  had  wept  sucli  bitter  scalding  tears.  For 
this  his  dead  Love,  with  Love's  blighted  bud  of 
fruit  uijon  her  bosom,  liad  given  up  her  world,  her 
friends,  her  family — h>r  husband,  first  and  last  of 
all.  .  .  Amid  the  .shouting  and  cursing  of  the 
native  voor-loo^ers,  and  the  Boer  and  KafiBr 
drivers,  the  rain  of  blows  on  tortured,  struggling 
bodies,  and  the  creaking  of  the  teak-built  waggon 
frames,  he  only  heard  her  weakly  asking  to  be 
buried  properly  in  some  churchyard  or  cemetery 
with  a  clergyman  to  read  the  Service  for  the 
Dead." 

W  hen  the  Englishman  learns  that  it  is  still  three 
days'  trek  to  the  nearest  village  town  and  pastor, 
he  made  up  his  mind.  "  He  would  bury  her  since  it 
must  be,  and  then  fetch  the  clergyman  to  read  the 
pra.vers.  .  .  No  other  hands  than  his  own  should 
prepare  a  last  bed  for  her,  his  dearest.  It  should 
be  deep,  because  of  the  wild-cat  and  the  hungry 
Kaffir  dogs.  It  .should  lie  wide,  to  leave  room  for 
him.     .     .     All   the  day  through  and  all   through 


*    By    Richard    Dehan. 
London.) 


(William    Heineinaun, 


July  9,  1010] 


Ci)C  Brttisb  3ounial  of  IRurslno. 


37 


the  uight  of  wiud-drivoii  mists    and    faint     luoou- 
light,  he  wrought  like  a  yiant  possessed.'' 

A  few  days  after  this  pathetic  burial,  from  sud- 
den failure  of  the  heart,  Richard  Alildare,  for  uow 
the  Englishman's  iianjo  was  known  :  Captain  the 
Hon.  Hiohard  Mildare,  late  of  the  Grey  Hussars — 
was  dead.  One  brief  tiual  pang  and  he  had  gone 
to  join   her  he  lored.'' 

But  the  little  child  is  left  at  the  mercy  of  the 
brutal  tavern-keeper   and  his  mistress. 

Years  later  we  find  her  under  the  protection  of 
the  Mother  Superior,  in  a  Convent  School  in  Guel- 
dersdorp,  and  this  good  woman,  who  in  former 
years  had  been  jilted  by  Richard  Mildare  for  her 
mother,  devotes  heitsolt  to  the  girl,  and  end-.'avours 
by  love  and  religion  to  efface  from  her  mind  the 
terrible  experiences  of  her  childhood. 

This  was  at  the  time  when  people  were  whispering 
in  corners  of  impending  war  between  John  Bull 
and  Oom  Paul. 

It   was  during  the    siege  of    Gueldersdorp   that 
Lynette  made  the  acquaintance  of  the  Dop-Doctor. 
■  Dop  "  being  the  native  name  for  the  cheapest 
and  most  villainous  of  Cape  brandies. 

"  It  did  not  matter  what  the  liquor  was,  the  bar- 
tcudere  were  aware  « ho  served  the  Dop-Doctor, 
as  long  (as  the  stuff  scorched  the  throat  and  stupe- 
lied  the  brain,  and  you  got  enough  for  your  money.*' 

How  a  distinguishetl  Harley  Street  surgeon  came 
to  earn  this  title,  and  how,  in  the  end,  he  wins  the 
affection  of  the  beautiful  Lynette,  we  must  leave 
the  reader  to  discover.  But,  underneath,  the 
man's  chanacter  is  a  fine  one,  and  his  cruel  dis- 
appointments in  private  and  public  life  go  a  long 
way  in  his  excuse.  The  threads  of  many  romances 
are  intenvoven  iii  this  remarkable  book. 

Emmigration  Jane,  the  under-housemaid  at  the 
'Convent,  and  young  Walt — "true  Boor's  son  tuat 
he  was,  though  he  did  not  entertain  the  idea  of 
marrying  Jane,  considered  she  might  be  made  use- 
ful in  a  variety  of  ways" — are  very  amusing. 

•'  The  young  Doi)per  wannly  grasped  her  hand. 

■'  ■  Miud  me  bad  tiuger.  Lumme!  you  did  give  us 
a  stjueeze  an'  a  'arf.' 

"  '  If  I  shall  to  hurt  you  I  been  sorry,  miss!  ' 
apologised  the  slabbert. 

"  '  All  righto.  Dutchy!  '  smiled  Emmigration 
Jane.     '  Don't  tear  your  features.' 

"  She  l>estowed  a  glance  of  almost  vocal  disdain 
upon  a  Kaffir  girl  in  turkey-red  cotton  twill,  witli 
a  green  hat  savagely  pinned  upon  her  wholly  hair. 

"'Funny,'  she  observed,  'when  I  was  'ome  1 
used  to  swaller  all  the  tales  what  parsons  kept 
pitchin'  about  that  black  lot  'aving  souls  like  you 
aud  me.'  " 

We  -centure  to  think  that  the  lx)ok  is  far  too  long, 
and  that  there  is  too  much  wading  in  muddy 
streams.  A  great  deal  could  be  omitted  to  its 
advantage  in  both  these  respects,  l)ut  it  is  a  book 

to  read.  H.  H. 

THE     HEALTH   VISITOR. 

Considerable  impetus  has  of  late  been  given  to 
the  development  of  Health  Visiting,  and  the  Na- 
tional League  for  Physical  Education  and  Improve- 
ment, 4,  Tavistock  Square,  W.C.,  has  issued  a 
useful  little  pamphlet,  price  Id.,  giving  practical 
details  as  to  the  necessary  qualifications,  training, 
duties,  remuneration,   etc.,  of   Health  Visitors. 


TO  DAISIES. 

This  month's  Eiujlish  Itevicw  contains  a  hitherto 
unpublished  jx)em  by  the  late  Francis  ITiompson — 
"  To  Daisies"  : — 

Ah,  drops  of  gold  in  whitening  flame 

Burning,  wo  know  your  lovely  name  — 

Daisies,   that  little  children  i)ull! 

Like  all  weak  things,  over  the  strong 

Ye  do  not  know  your  power  for  wrong. 

And  much  abuse  your  feebleness. 

Daisies,  that  little  children  pull. 

As  ye  are  weak,  be  merciful ! 

These  hands  did  toy, 
Childien,  with  you,  when  I  was  child. 
And  in  each  other's  eyes  we  smiled. 
Not  yours,  not  j-ours  the  grievous-fair 
Apparelling 

With  which  you  wet  mine  eyes ;  you  wear, 
Ah  me,  the  garment  of  the  grace 
I  wove  jou  when  I  was  a  boy ; 
O  mine,  aud  not  the  year's  your  stolen  Spring! 
And,  since  ye  wear  it, 
Hide  your  sweet  selves — I  cannot  bear  it ! 
For,  when  ye  break  the  cloven  earth 
AVith  your  young  laughter  and  endearment, 
No  blossomy  cariUon  'tis  of  mirth 
To  me;  I  see  my  slaughtered  joy 
Bursting  its  cerement. 


COMING    EVENTS. 

July  8th. — Meeting,  Executive  Committee, 
Society  for  the  State  Registration  of  Nurses,  431, 
Oxford  Street,  London,  W.,  4  p.m.    Tea. 

July  9th. — Lady  Margaret  Fruitarian  Hospital, 
Bromley,  Kent.  Founder's  Day,  Garden  Party. 
4.30  to  7  p.m. 

July  9th. — National  'Onion  of  Women's  Suffrage 
Societies.  Great  Demonstration  in  support  of  the 
Conciliation  Committee's  Women's  Suffrage  Bill. 
Trafalgar  Square.     3  p.m. 

July  11th. — The  Society  of  Women  Journalists. 
Reception  by  the  President,  Lady  McLaren,  43, 
Belgrave  Square,  S.W.     10  p.m. 

July  11th. — East  End  Mothers'  Home.  Annual 
Meeting,  The  Mansion  House,  by  kind  permission 
of  the  Lord  Mayor.    3  p.m. 

July  16th. — Meeting  of  the  Matrons'  Council, 
General  Hospital,  Birmingham,  3  p.m.  Public 
Meeting  on  State  Registration  of  Nurses,  4. .30 
p.m. 

July  19th  and  20th.— Penal  Cases.  Central  Mid- 
wives'  Board.    Board  Room,  Caxton  House,  2  p.m. 

July  2Srd. — The  Women''s    Social    and    Political 
Tnion.      Great  Demonstration    in  support   of  the 
Conciliation  Committee's  Suffrage  Bill.  Hyde  Park, 
London,  W'. 
WoitEN's  Congress,  J.\pan-Bkitish  Exhibitiok. 

July  Sth. — Discussion  on  "  Women'  in  Philan- 
thropy."    3  p.m. 

July  9th. — "Physical  Training  and  Organise<l 
Play,"   Adeline    Duchess    of     Bedford    presiding. 

3  p.m  

WORD  FOR  THE  WEEK. 

State  registration  ot  nurses  stands  for  education 
of  the  nurse,  and  hence  for  better  nursing  car©  of 
the  sick.  Anna  L.   Allinb. 


38 


JLhc  Britieb  Journal  of  IHurstng. 


[July  9,  1010 


Xetters  to  tbc  CMtor. 

Wliilst     cordially     inviting     com- 


V-i.'  .1--/        munications    upon    all    subject) 

'"^L*'        ~^'  i         loT    these    columns,    we  uish  it 


to  be  distinctly  understooa 
that  ut  do  not  in  ant  wai 
kold  ourselves  responsible  for 
the  opinions  expressed  by  out 
correspondents. 


OUR  GUINEA  PRIZE. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 
Deah  Madam, — This  morning  a  British  Journal 
OF  XuHSiNG  came  for  me,  ami  much  to  my  surprise 
but  with  very  great  jjleasure  I  see  that  I  hare  won 
the  Guinea  Prize. 

I  like  the  Journal  immensely,  and  have  taken  it 
in  regularly  for  some  time. 

Yours  truly, 

Helen  R.  Flint. 
224,  Kingsbury  Road,  Erdington,  Birmingham. 


THE  TEACHING  OF  NURSING  BY  NURSES. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Xursing." 

JIadam. — I  was  very  glad  to  see  that  the  St.  John 
Ambulance  Association  lias  retreated  from  an  en- 
tirely untenable  position  in  regard  to  the  teaching 
of  nureing  by  nurses.  It  i.s,  however,  sad  to  think 
that  an  As.sociation  which  professes  to  be  national 
and  educational  in  sooix'  should  xjrefer  to  withdraw 
from  such  a  thoroughly  national  and  educational 
plan  as  the  Voluntary  Aid  Detachment  Scheme 
rather  than  widen  its  borders,  revise  its  constitu- 
tion, and  generally  bring  its  work  up  to  date. 

It  seems  to  me  that  every  society  which  is  to  l>e 
effective,  whether  for  iieace  or  war,  while  being  well 
organised,  should  also  be  sufficiently  ela.stic  in  con- 
stitution to  meet  ever  improving  methods.  This 
cei-fainly  oannot  be  when  a  society  is  so  bound 
down  by  "  fundamental  rules"  that  even  a  sugges- 
tion of  progress  will  not  be  entertained  by  those  .ii 
power.  I  fear  the  Council  of  the  St.  .John 
Ambulance  Association  have  chosen  the  wrong  road, 
and  will  discover  too  late  that  they,  at  least  as  an 
er)iir.Mtl.'ii\!il  liody,  art'  not  of  the  running. 
I   remain,  dear  Madam, 

Yours  faithfully, 

Mart  Brnn. 

Ebford,  Topsham,  S.  Devon. 


THE    INTERDEPENDENCE    OF    MEDICINE    AND 

NURSING 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 
De.vr  Mada.m, — .\t  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
Cottage  Benefit  Nursing  Association,  held  last 
week,  at  12,  Belgrave  Square,  S.W.,  when  the 
Countess  of  Ancastcr  presided.  Miss  Broadwooil. 
Hon.  Secretary,  said  that  they  had  been  experi- 
menting for  many  years  to  supply  to  cottagers  the 
class  of  nurse  they  required,  not  the  class  that 
some  people  thought  they  ought  to  have. 

"The   class  that   tliey   ought    to   have"    is   the 
thoroughly  trained  nurse,  efficiently   educated   for 


her  duties,  not  a  monthly  nurse  with  a  smatteririg 
of  general  nursing  picked  up  outside  a  hospital. 
If  the  Cottage  Benefit  Association  restricted  itself 
to  supplying  Cottage  Helps  it  might  serve  a  useful 
purpose,  but  to  claim  tliat  it  is  a  Nursing  Associa- 
tion, and  that  its  so-called  nurses  are  the  mo.st 
suitable  for  cottagers  is  an  arrogant  claim  which 
must  be  exposed  in  the  interests  of  the  poor  who 
are  entitled,  when  ill,  to  as  good  nursing  as  the 
rich.  To  train  nurses  in  the  East  End  slums,  as 
an  additional  experience  to  their  hospital  training, 
woidd  be  useful  to  those  intending  to  nurse  the 
poor  in  their  own  homes,  but  to  substitute  work  in 
the  slums  for  that  training,  is  to  create  a  class  of 
workers  who,  whatever  they  are,  are  not  trained 
nurses,  and  have  no  right  to  be  sent  out  as  such. 
It  is  natural  that  the  anti-registrationists  should 
be  welcome  on  tlie  platform  of  the  Cottage  Benefit 
Nursing  Association.  It  is  always  those  with 
'"  vested  interests,"  that  is  to  say,  those  who  main- 
tain inefficient  standards  of  training,  who  make 
money  out  of  nurses'  labour,  who  oppose  efficient 
education  and  organisation  for  nurses.  Last  year 
the  Hon.  Sydney  Holland  found  an  opportunity 
for  expressing  his  anti-registration  views  on  the 
platform  of  tlie  C.B.X.A..  This  year.  Sir  William 
AUchin.  who  said  he  had  been  an  opponent  of  re- 
gistration from  the  first,  spoke  against  the  move- 
ment. Registration  would,  he  said,  neither  protect 
the  public  not  benefit  the  nurses  themselves.  So 
the  anti's  have  said  for  years,  but  failed  to 
convince  a  Select  Committee  of  the  House  of 
Commons,  and  later  the  House  of  Lords,  on  this 
point.  Nursing,  said  Sir  William  Allchin,  was  not 
a  profession,  and  ''  whatever  the  claims  of  women 
to  take  a  medical  decree  might  be,  it  was  obviously 
undesirable  to  make  her  both  a  nurse  and  a  d<Mt<ir 
at  the  same  time."  The  speaker,  of  course,  showed 
himself  thereby  quite  out  of  touch  with  the  value 
of  modern  nursing  in  connection  with  medical 
treatment.  As  Miss  Albinia  Brodrick  has  well 
said.  "  a  nurse  is  no  more  an  inferior  kind  of  doctor 
than  a  doctor  is  a  superior  kind  of  nurse,"  and  the 
nurse  of  to-day  is  far  too  well  aware  of  the  inter- 
dependent relations  ot  medicine  and  nursing,  and 
too  happy  in  her  work,  to  wish  to  be,  or  pose  as,  an 
inferior  member  of  any  other. 
\"our-  truly. 

A  SfPERINTENDKXT  OF  Tr.VINED   Di.STRICT  NfRSES. 


IWotices. 


CONTRIBUTIONS. 

The  Etlitor  will  at  all  times  be  please<l  to  consider 
articles  of  a  suitable  nature  for  insertion  in  this 
Journal— those  on  practical  nursing  are  specially 
invited. 

Such  comniunicatioiis  must  be  duly  authenticated 
with  name  and  nddross.  and  should  be  addressed  to 
the  Editor,  20.  Upper  Wimpole  Street,  London.  \V. 
OUR  PUZZLE  PRIZE. 

Rules  for  competing  for  the  Pictorial  Puz.zle 
Prize  will  be  found  on  Advertisement  page  xii. 


lulv  0,  I'.ilii 


ilhc  3Sriti5l?  3oiu-nai  of  iRurfuno  SuppIcinciU. 

The    Midwife. 


Zbc  Cential  riDibwives'  »oar&. 


The  monthly  meeting  of  the  Central  Midwivee' 
Board  was  lield  at  tlu'  Uoaixl  Room,  Caxton  House, 
Westminster,  on  Thm-sday,  June  30th. 

At  the  beginning  ol  the  proceedings  Mr.  Parker 
Vouug  more<l  the  toUowing  resolution  of  congratu- 
lation to  the  C'luiirnian  of  the  Board,  Sir  Francis 
Champneys,  on  whom  the  honour  of  a  Baronetcy 
was  conferre<l   amongst   the  Birthday   Honours: — 

"  That  the  hearty  congratulations  of  this  Board 
be  accorded  to  its  t'liairman  on  the  distinguished 
honour  oonferreil  on  him  by  the  liing,  an  honour 
they  feel  he  so  «oll  deserved  for  the  dignity, 
courtesy,  and  imixirtiality  with  which  he  has  pre- 
sided oFer  the  Board's  delibel^ations  since  its  com- 
mencement," 

Mr.  Parker  Young  said  he  counted  it  a  pleasure 
to  move  a  resolution  which  any  niemtier  of  the 
Board  would  have  l)een  only  too  proud  to  move. 
When  the  admiilistration  of  the  .\ct  first  com- 
menced, eight  years  ago,  and  it  became  the  duty  of 
the  Board  to  elect  a  chairman,  the  members  met  sis 
sti^ngers  to  one  another.  The  late  Dr.  Cidling- 
north  moved  the  election  of  Dr.  Champneys  as 
tliairman,  and  the  >.peaker,  not  knowing  Dr. 
Champneys,  and  realii^ing  how  important  it  was  to 
have  the  right  chairman,  felt  it  his  duty  to  move  a 
rider  that  the  appointment  should  be  pro  tern. 
Since  that  time,  year  after  year,  they  had  re-elected 
the  chainnan,  and  he  hoijed  it  would  be  long  before 
they  lost  his  services.  The  honour  conferred  upon 
him  added  lustre  to  the  Board,  and  they  felt  it  an 
honour  to  have  Sir  Francis  as  their  chairman. 

The  resolution  was  seconded  by  iliss  Paget,  who 
endorsed  all  that  llr.  Parker  Young  had  said,  and 
thought  that  midwives  owed  the  Chairman  a  debt 
of  gratitude  for  his  fairness  and  impartiality. 

It  was  supported  by  every  member  of  the  Board 
present,  Mr.  Golding  Bird  saying  that  there  was 
no  man  upon  whom  his  college  would  sooner  see 
this  honour  conferred  tiian  upon  Dr.  Champneys, 
who  introduced  into  all  his  professional  relation- 
ships the  high  tone  on  which  a  liberal  profession 
should  be  based.  The  resolution  was  carried  unani- 
mously. 

Sir  Francis  Champneys,  in  acknowledging  the 
resolution,  thanked  the  members  of  the  Board  for 
the  exceptionally  kind  way  in  which  they  had 
spoken  of  his  work,  and  said  that  the  honour 
which  his  Majesty  had  seen  fit  to  confer  upon  him 
would  be  of  comparatively  little  value  to  him  unless 
it  had  been  endorsed  by  those  who  knew  him.  He 
would  distribute  the  honour  amongst  the  members 
of  the  Board.  He  had  rowed  stroke,  but  no  boat 
ever  won  a  race  unless  the  crew  all  rowed  together. 
He  referred  to  the  eminent  services  Miss  Jane 
Wilson  had  rendered  to  the  Board.  They  would  never 
forget   her    extraordinary    public    spirit,  Xor 

would  they  forget  what  they  owed  to  the  late  Mr. 
Hevwood  Johnstone,  and  the  late  Dr.  CuUingworth. 


lie  thought  that  the  action  of  his  Majesty  would 
promote  the  dignity  and  u.setulness  of  the  Central 
Midwives'  Board,  and  might  be  taken  as  a  proof 
of  the  Koyal  estimation  of  its  work. 

The  Board's  opinion  of  the  value  of  the  work  of 
its  Chairman  will  be  generally  endorsed.  We 
appreciate  his  generosity  in  divitling  his  honours 
with  his  colleagues,  but  may  we  hope  in  some  future 
Birthday  Honours  list  to  find  that  Miss  Paget  and 
Miss  Wilson  are  awarded  some  per-sonal  recognition 
for  their  work  in  promoting  the  Midwives'  Bill,  in 
that  most  trying  period  Ijefore  it  became  law,  and 
the  Board  was  constituted.  May  we  hojie  also  that 
some  day.  in  the  near  future,  the  Chairman  of  the 
Central  Midwives'  Board,  who  realises  the  benefit 
conferred  upon  the  public  by  the  registration  of 
midwives,  will  also  realise  that  it  is  for  the  public 
good  that  the  qualifications  of  nurses  should  be 
tested  and  registered  ? 

Report  of  Pen.\l  Cases  Committee. 

On  the  leport  of  the  Penal  Cases  Committee   it 
was  decided  to  cite  twenty-nine  midwives  to  appear 
before  the  Board,  and  that  special  meetings  should 
be  held  on  July  19th  and  20th  for  this  purpose. 
Report  of  the  Standing  Cojuiittee. 

On  the  recommendation  of  the  Standing  Com 
mittee  the  Board  decided  to  reply  to  a  letter  from 
Miss  F.  M.  Bernard  Boyee.  Inspector  of  Midwives 
for  the  County  of  Xorfolk,  .stating  that  the  period 
of  susi)ension  for  the  puiTKJse  of  disinfection  in  that 
county  has  now  been  reduced  to  .seveu  days,  that 
"the  Board  considers  that  it  is  unfortunate  that  the 
arrangements  for  disinfection  in  the  County  of 
Xorfolk  are  so  far  from  adequate,  and  hopes  that 
they  will  be  provided  without  delay,"  As  regirds 
the  period  of  quarantine,  the  Board  refeiTed  to 
their  original  communications  on  the  subject. 

In  reply  to  a  further  question  from  Miss 
Bernard  Boyce  it  was  decided  to  reply  that  the 
Local  Supervising  Authority  has  power  to  suspend 
a  raid«  ife  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  the  spread 
of  infection  when  she  has  been  in  attend- 
ance on  a  case  of  puerperal  fever  as  a  mater- 
nity nui-se  and  not  as  a  midwife. 

In  reply  to  a  letter  from  the  Right  Hon.  G.  W. 
Palmei'.  of  Marlston  House,  Xewbury,  as  to  the 
difficulty  of  maintaining  midwives  in  country  dis- 
tricts by  voluntary  efforts,  and  the  necessity  of 
their  provision  by  the  .State,  referred  to  the  Boaid 
at  the  instance  of  the  President  of  the  Ixical 
Government  Board,  it  was  decide<l  to  reply  that  the 
Board  "  thinks  it  desirable  that  the  State  should 
subsidise  midwives  for  i)oor  and  sparsely  populated 
rural  districts." 

In  reply  to  a  letter  from  the  British  Medical 
Association  as  to  the  danger  of  midwives  employ- 
ing pupils  as  their  substitutes,  and  suggesting 
that  a  midwife  should  be  made  directly  responsible 
for  any  misconduct  on  the  part  of  her  pupil,  the. 
Board  agreed  to  inform  the  Association  that  a  mjd- 
wife  employing  a  pupil  is  already  responsible  to  th<^ 


40 


JTbe  Bvitisb  3ournal  of  H^urstiuj  Supplement.    [July  9,1910 


central  Midwives'  Board  for  any  breach  of  the  rules 
by  her  pupil. 

A  letter  was  cousideretl  fix>m  Sir  Donald 
MacAlister,  president  of  the  General  Medical  Coun- 
cil, as  to  the  practice  of  midwifery  by  unqualified 
men,  and  it  was  agreed  to  forward  in  reply  a  copy 
of  the  Board's  resolution  of  May  26th  dealing  with 
this  question. 
Removals  from  and  Admissions  to  the  Roll. 
Twelve  midwives  were  removed  from  the  Roll 
at  their  own  request,  and  100  names  added  to  it 
under  Rule  B  2. 

Fifty-eight  applications  for  admission  were 
refused. 

Applications  Approved. 
The  application  for  the  approval  of  the  Lambeth 
Union  Infirmary  as  a  Training  School  was  granted. 
Dr.  Thomas  Evans  was  approved  as  a  teacher.  The 
following  midwives  were  approved  to  sign  Forms 
III.  and  IV.  Emily  Diana  Curtis,  No.  23321, 
Jennie  Davidson,  No.  2468,  Elizabeth  Dyson,  No. 
23516. 

It  was  decided  to  forward  to  the  Privy'  Council 
a  memorandum  drafted  by  the  Secretary  on  the 
Board's  objections' to  certain  clauses  of  the  Mid- 
wives'  Bill,  1910. 

July  28th  was  fixed  as  the  date  of  the  next 
meeting. 

llbe  n;rainino  anb  Supply  of 
flDiSwivee, 

At  the  annual  gathering  of  midwives  working  m 
connection  with  the  Association  for  promoting  their 
training  and  supply,  held  by  kind  invitation  of  Mrs. 
Eric  Penn  at  42,  Gloucester  Square,  Hyde  Park,  on 
July  1st,  Mi-s.  AVallace  Bruce,  who  presided,  said 
that  the  Association  has  the  pati-onage  of  tne 
Queen  Mother,  and  Princess  Cliristian  also  took  a 
<leep  interest  in  its  work.  It  was  a  great  pleasure 
to  the  membeis  to  nieot  the  midwives  gathered 
there,  as  it  was  their  object  to  keep  in  intimate 
touch  with  those  engaged  in  such  difiBcult  and 
ard lions  work. 

The  Duchess  of  Montrose,  before  presenting 
badges  to  the  midwives  who  had  qualified  for  them, 
said  that  l)efore  the  passing  of  the  Midwives'  Act 
an  enorm-tjus  number  of  i)reventable  deaths  took 
place  owing  to  the  ignorance  of  uncertifietl  mid- 
wives,  but  this  .state  of  things  was  being  stcauuv 
remedied.  Her  Graci'  gave  an  interesting  account 
of  the  experience  of  a  midwife  in  the  Hebrides.  In 
a  shepherd's  hut,  while  in  attendance  on  a  case,  she 
counted  twenty-four  hens  and  a  oat  and  kittens,  in 
addition  to  a  hen  which  was  sitting  on  her  eggs  in 
a  corner  of  the  bed.  .V  smoke  fire  was  in  the  centre 
of  the  room.  In  this  case  the  nearest  doctor  was 
fourteen  miles  away. 

She  thought  that  a  longer  training  in  midwifery 
should  be  the  aim  of  tlio  Association,  and  expressed 
a  hope  that  the  Act  would  soon  be  extended  to  Scot- 
land, whfere  it  was  wante<l  just  as  much  as  in  Eng- 
land. 

Mrs.  Ebden  read  the  list  of  the  recipients  of  the 
badges,  the  majority  of  whom  were,  unfortunately, 
not  able  to  be  present.     They  were :  — 


Miss  Minnie  Dunstcr,  Leckhampton ;  Miss  Editli 
Ellis,  Aintree;  Miss  Rose  Gardner,  Berkeley;  Miss 
C.  E.  Glenn,  Potter's  Pury ;  Miss  Ada  Jellicoe, 
Hastings;  Miss  Helen  Kitt.  Plymouth;  Mi~.s 
Amelia  Madgwick  (^lidhunst) ;  Miss  Martha 
Masters,  Hanley;  Miss  Jane  Murray,  Candahar 
Barracks;  Miss  Florence  Reader,  Upjxsr  Basildon; 
Miss  Matilda  Smith,  Martock ;  Miss  Emily 
Wickens,  Welford  Park ;  Miss  Annie  Williams, 
Beckford.  Of  these,  iMiss  Jelliooe,  Miss  Madgwick. 
and  Miss  Reader  were  present,  and  they  received 
their  badges  from  the  Duchess  of  Montrose. 

Miss  Lucy  Robinson  expressed  her  disapi)oint- 
ment  that  comparatively  few  of  those  entitled  »o 
receive  badges  were  able  to  be  present,  and  a  brief 
speech  was  also  made  liy  Lady  Beaumont. 

At  tho  conclusion  of  the  meeting  the  midwives 
were  most  hospitably  entertained,'  and  sat  down  to 
a  table  6-0  loaded  «itli  good  things  that  the 
absentees  sliould  liave  been  sent  a  vote  of  con- 
dolence. 


Zbc  irinion  of  flDibwives. 


The  Union  of  ilidwives  are  holding  a  Concert  and 
•Sale  of  AVork  on  Wednesday,  July  27th,  at  the 
Cavendish  R-ooms,  iloitimer  Street,  Loudon,  W. 
For  sal©  will  be  found  garments  suitable  !or 
mothers,  babies,  midwives,  and  nurses,  and  th? 
dooi-s  will  open  at  7  p.m.  Tickets  are  free  to  mid- 
wives;  6d.  and  Is.  to' others. 


pupil  flDi^\vlve5  an^  professional 
Secreci?. 

The  Paris  correspondent  of  the  Lancet  reports 
that  at  a  recent  meeting  of  the  Society  of  Legal 
Medicine  M.  Thoiuot  discussed  an  interesting  case 
which  liad  arisen  at  a  hospital  where  there  was  a 
school  for  midwives.  An  unmarried  woman  had 
been  delivered  of  a  child  in  presence  of  the  pupils. 
When  a  deserted  infant  was  found  soon  aftem'aids 
.suspicion  fell  on  her,  ami  the  examining  magistrate 
wished  that  all  the  pupil  midwives  should  see  the 
deserted  infant  so  that  they  might,  if  i)ossible,  re- 
cognise it.  The  medical  director  of  the  school  pro- 
tested against  this,  saying  that  the  pupil  mid- 
wives  were  present  at  the  delivery  in  a  medical 
capacit.v  and  that  tboy  were  therefore  iKiund  by 
the  rules  of  pix)f«issi<)nal  secrecy,  but  the  magis- 
trates to  whom  the  matter  was  referred  did  not 
share  his  view.  M.  Thoinot  then  resolved  to  lay 
the  facts  before  the  Society  of  Legal  Medicine, 
which  was  unanimously  of  opinion  that  the  pupil 
midwives  being  cognLsant  of  the  circumstances  in 
a  medical  oajwicity  w«vr(>  bound  by  tho  rules  of  pro- 
fessional sccrccv. 


Do  not  use  ice  or  <'«ld  water  for  clu>cking  jxwt 
partum  hicmorrhnge.  Hot  water  works  l>ettor,  and 
stimulates  tho  patient,  while  cold  lowere  vitality 
and  increases  shock. 


THE 


[HnSilOUeUL«"JRUiEIiE 

WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 

TME  mamsma  WKcmm 

EDITED  BY  MRS  BEDFORD  FENWICK 


SATURDAY,     JULY     16,     1910. 


IE^ito^iaI. 


THE    MATRONS'  COUNCIL  AT   BIRMINGHAM. 

The  invitation  given  by  Miss  Musson, 
ilatron  of  the  tieneral  Hospital,  Birming- 
ham, to  the  members  of  the  Matrons'  Council 
to  hold  their  summer  meeting  at  that  insti- 
tution, by  the  kind  permission  of  the 
authorities  of  the  hospital,  will  afford  the 
members  an  opportunity  of  seeing  some- 
thing of  the  great  capital  of  the  Midlands, 
and  of  meeting  their  colleagues  from  its 
many  hospitals. 

The  idea,  which  originated  with  the  Hon. 
Secretaiy,  ]\liss  MoUett,  that  the  Council 
shoxdd  meet  in  various  centres,  instead  of 
always  in  London,  is  a  verj'  happy  one,  and 
now  that  Scotland  and  Ireland  have  each 
their  own  Matrons'  Association,  we  hope  it 
may  be  possible  for  the  members  of  the 
Association  of  Matrons  in  the  three  countries 
to  meet  occasionally  in  the  capital  of  each. 

The  time  to  be  spent  in  Birmingham  is 
too  short  for  more  than  a  passing  glimpse, 
and  presumably  most  of  the  visitors  will 
not  attempt  to  do  more  than  see  the  General 
Hospital,  which  is  a  most  up-to-date  and 
interesting  building,  on  this  occasion  ;  but 
it  is  probable  that  they  will  be  inspired  to 
return  to  see  more  of  the  citj',  and  of  its 
institutions  and  surroundings,  on  a  future 
occasion.  The  city  is  noted  for  its  public 
spirit,  and  its  hospitals, poor-law  infirmaries, 
andother  institutions  are  well  worth  visiting. 
Added  to  this,  Birmingham  itself  has  many 
interesting  sights  to  offer.  It  is  a  cathedral 
city  and  a  most  progressive  university 
centre  ;  it  is  a  hive  of  industry — firearms, 
electro-plate,  and  buttons  being  amongst 
its  manufactures ;  it  has  a  famous  Art 
Gallerj'  containing  many  beaxitiful  pic- 
tures, an4  in  the  suburbs  an  old  Eliza- 
bethan    mansion,    Aston    Hall — now    the 


property  of  the  public — will  well  repay 
a  visit,  as  will  also  the  beautiful  pleasure 
grounds  which  adjoin  it.  If  this  is  not 
enough  to  inspire  a  visit  to  the  capital  of 
the  Mid  lands,  within  easy  reach  are  Warwick 
and  Kenihvorth  Castles,  Worcester  and 
Lichfield  Cathedrals,  Stratford-on-Avon, 
Bournville,  and  the  Malvern  Hills. 

English  men  and  women  are  sometimes 
reproached  that  they  take  their  pleasure 
outside  their  own  country  and  ai'e  ignorant 
of  much  that  would  be  profitable  and 
pleasurable  for  them  to  know  concerning 
its  beauties  and  its  industries.  Nurses 
who  come  into  intimate  contact  with  the 
people  should  make  a  point  of  studying  the 
conditions  under  which  they  live,  especially 
in  the  great  industrial  centres,  and  a  holi- 
day spent  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Birming- 
ham, which,  being  in  the  centre  of  the  map 
of  England,  is  most  accessible,  might  be 
very  enjoyable. 

It  is  quite  a  mistake  to  suppose  that 
because  of  its  proximity  to  the  "  Black 
Country  "  that  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
city  is  unlovely ;  on  the  contrary,  it  is 
set  in  the  midst  of  some  of  the  most  attrae 
tive  scenery,  in  England,  and  the  Black 
Country  itself  affords  many  points  of  i-iterest 
to  the  thoughtful  student  of  social  econo- 
mics, amongst  whom  many  nurses  are 
numbered.  A  day  spent  in  studying  the 
conditions  under  which  our  fellow  men  and 
women  work  at  Cradley  Heath  and  other 
Black  Country  towns  would  afford  food  for 
thought,  and  would  be  a  unique  and 
interesting  experience. 

We  hope  that  the  visit  of  the  Matrons' 
Council  to  Birmingham  will  be  the  prelude 
to  others,  which  will  increase  our  knowledge' 
of  the  localities  in  which  our  members 
are  working  in  different  parts  of  the 
kingdom. 


42 


Z\K  Biitisb  3ournaI  of  IRursing. 


[July  16.  1910 


riDcMcal  fIDatters. 


HEAT    IN    THE    TREATMENT    OF    SHOCK, 
ESPECIALLY  AFTER   SEVERE  BURNS 

lu  au  address  on  "  Certain  Subjects  oi  Surgi- 
cal Interest,"  delivered  before  the  annual  meet- 
ing of  the  Sevenoaks  Division  of  the  British 
Medical  Association,  and  reported  in  the 
British  MedicalJournal,  Dr.  Herbert  F.  Water- 

'  house,  r.E.C.S.,  Lecturer  on  Surgery  at 
Charing  Cross  Hospital,  and  Senior  Surgeon  to 
the  Victoria  Hospital  for  Children,  said  in  re- 
gard to  heat  in  the  treatment  of  shock,  espe- 
cially after  severe  burns,  "I  believe  that  the 
method  I  am  about  to  bring  under  your  notice 
is  quite  novel ;  I  am  convinced  that  it  is  of  real 
value  as  a  means  of  life  saving,  and  I  wish  to 
make  it  clear  that  I  can  lay  no  claim  to  the 
merit  of  having  introduced  it.  The  whole  credit 
is  due  to  my  excellent  Ward  Sister  at  the  Vic- 
toria Hospital  for  Children,  Miss  Alexandra 
Gray.  I  may  perhaps  best  describe  the  method 
if  I  relate  the  story  of  its  origin.  A  few  months 
ago,  when  I  was  making  my  ward  visit  at  that 
hospital,  I  was  shown  a  child  2  years  of  age 

'who  had  sustained  a  truly  awful  burn.  The 
child  was  pulseless  and  collapsed,  and  I  re- 
marked to  the  Senior  Eesident  Medical  Officer, 
Mr.  A.  C.  D.  Firth,  M.B.,  B.C.  Cantab.,  one 
of  the  most  able  and  experienced  resident 
officers  I  have  ever  known,  '  That  child  will 
die  before  midnight.'  Mr.  Firth  agreed  with 
my  oijinion.  I  left  the  poor  child  to  die  as  an 
entirely  hopeless  case.  ]My  Ward  Sister,  how- 
ever, felt — and  all  honour  to  her — that  she 
would,  as  1  had  abandoned  hope,  endeavour  to 
save  the  tiny  life.  She  had,  she  subsequently 
told  me,  noticed  that  children  in  intense  col- 
lapse' after  burns,  are  invariably  cold  and  rest- 
less, and  that  waiTnth  soothes  and  quiets  them. 
She  therefore  dressed  the  burns  with  my  usual 
lotion,  a  1  per  cent,  solution  of  aluminium 
acetate,  and  covered  the  small  body  with  a 
single  blanket.  Then  she  placed  a  cradle  over 
the  child,  and  inside  the  cradle  inserted  a  32 
candle  power  electric  lamp,  covering  the  cradle 
with  a  blanket.  A  thermometer  inserted  inside 
the  covering  blanket  enabled  the  temperature 
to  be  maintained  at  an  average  of  10.3  deg. ; 
the  temperature  was  never  allowed  to  fall  below 

■  IfHi  deg.  or  to  exceed  105  deg.  To  cut  a  long 
story  short,  the  child  made  an  excellent  re- 
covery, and  in  my  opinion  owes  its  life  to  Miss 
Gray's  care  and  ingenuity.  Since  this  case 
every  burn  has  been  thus  treated. 

"  Mr.  Firth  kindly  wrote  me  in  answer  to  nij' 
inquiry :  '  We  have  had  this  year  seven  severe 
burns.  The  oldest  child  was  only  4  years  of 
age,   and  in   every   case    the    shock    was  very 


marked.  All  seven  children  recovered.'  lam 
convinced  that  Sister  Gray's  discovery  will 
have  far-reaching  results,  and  will  prove  of  life- 
saving  value  in  the  treatment  of  profound 
shock.  In  a  case  of  gastro-enterostomy  per- 
formed for  congenital  pyloric  stenosis  in  an  in- 
fant 9  weeks  old,  both  Mr.  Firth  and  I  consider 
that  the  infant's  recovery  from  grave  shock  was 
largely  due  to  the  application  of  this  heat  treat- 
ment. I  puiijose  in  future  to  make  extended 
use  of  this  ti-eatment,  of  whose  efficacy  I  am 
convinced,  as  it  has  been  frequently  employed 
at  the  Victoria  Hospital  with  excellent  resuFt-s 
in  the  case  of  children  suffering  from  severe 
shock  due  to  manv  causes." 


TUMOURS  PRODUCED  BY  SURGICAL 
DRESSINGS. 
The  Paris  corre5[ij!iiient  of  the  Lancet  re- 
ports that  ^I.  Paul  Reynier  is  of  opinion  that 
certain  kinds  of  dressings  applied  to  wounds 
may  lead  to  the  formation  of  inflammatory  de- 
posits simulating  tumours,  and  at  a  meeting 
of  the  Academy  of  Medicine,  held  on  -June  21st, 
he  gave  clinical  details  of  two  cases  which  sup- 
ported this  view.  He-  said  that  such  mishaps 
were  more  common  than  was  generally  sup- 
posed, evidence  to  this  efiect  being  readily  ob- 
tainable by  those  who  took  the  trouble  to  look 
for  it.  As  the  gauze  which  was  supplied  to  hos- 
pital wards  sometimes  had  a  fleecy  surface  and 
was  overheated  in  sterilising,  when  compresses 
made  of  it  were  used  for  absorbing  the  fluids 
present  in  wounds  it  was  vei'y  difficult  to  pre- 
vent them  from  leaving  fragments  of  vegetable 
fibre  in  the  tissues.  It  would  be  "desirable  to 
have  all  these  compresses  hemmed.  The  larger 
sizes  of  these  fibres  remained  on  the  surface  of 
the  wound  and  were  harmless,  but  the  very 
small  ones  might  be  taken  up  by  the  capillary 
lymphatics  and  carried  along  until  they  were 
stopped  by  an  abrupt  bend,  whei'e  they  gave 
rise  to  defensive  processes  of  phagocytosis  and 
sclerosis,  which  mis;ht  be  mistaken  for  a  relapse 
or  a  metastasis.  The  diagnosis  of  this  condi- 
tion was  particularly  difficult,  but  could  be 
made  when  there  was  a  very  short  interval  (less 
than  20  days)  between  the  operation  and  the 
pseudo-relapse,  and  especially  when  the  size 
of  the  growth  was  out  of  proportion  to  its 
duration.  It  ought  to  be  remarked  that  in  the 
cases  described  by  M.  Eeynier  the  presumed 
emliolism  of  fibres  from  the  dressings  occurred 
in  patients  already  suffering  from  tumours,  and 
that  the  condition  of  the  tissues  in  which  tlic 
pseudo-relapses  made  their  appearance  might 
be  of  importance.  This,  however,  was  a  hypo- 
thesis which  would  have  to  be  tested  by  the 
subsequent  course  of  events. 


Julv  IG,  1910 


Zhc  Bvitisb  Sournal  of  iRursing. 


43 


Clinical  IHotcs  on  Some  Common 
ailments. 


By  a.  Knvvf.tt  Gokdox,  M.B.,  Cantab. 
NEPHRITIS. 

\Vc  now  come  to  some  diseases  of  the  kid- 
neys, and  tliough,  as  will  be  seen,  not  all  of  the 
wiwiigdoiugs  of  these  oi"gaus  are  due  to  inflam- 
mation of  their  substance,  it  will  yet  be  con- 
venient to  describe  them  all  under  the  generic 
name  of  nephritis,  and  to  point  out  the  excep- 
tions to  this  classification  subsequently. 

In  order  to  understand  what  happens  when 
the  kidneys  go  wrong,  we  must  first  see  how 
they  do  their  work  in  health,  and  the  key  to 
this  is  to  remember  that  they  are  essentially 
filters  where  certain  waste  products,  which  are 
circulating  in  the  blood,  are  removed  and 
passed  out  of  the  body  in  the  form  of  urine. 
There,  however,  the  resemblance  ceases,  for  a 
filter  in  the  ordinary  sense  of  the  word  is  a 
lifeless  machine,  while  one  of  the  most  marked 
features  of  the  kidneys  is  the  way  in  which 
they  are  constantly  altering  their  rate  and  man- 
ner of  the  filtration  under  the  control  of  the 
nervous  system,  as  will  he  seen  subsequently. 

We  know  that  as  the  blood  circulates  through 
all  the  different  parts  of  the  body — the  tissues 
as  we  call  them — it  not  only  gives  up  to  them 
its  fresh  food,  the  result  of  digestion,  but  is 
also  continuously  receiving  the  waste  matter 
which  is  the  outcome  of  the  wear  and  tear  all 
over  the  body,  just  as  ashes  are  the  product 
of  a  burning  fire :  obviously  a  mechanism  is 
necessary  for  removing  these  ashes. 

Xow  these  waste  products  are  of  many  differ- 
ent kinds,  though  they  all  contain  nitrogen, 
and,  as  the  blood  cnculates,  they  reach  the 
liver,  where  they  are  converted  into  a  sub- 
stance called  urea,  and  the  kidneys  have  to 
take  this  out  of  the  blood  along  with  waste 
water  and  some  salts  and  a  little  colouring 
matter,  which  all  together  make  up  the  fluid 
urine.  In  a  healthy  adult,  the  quantity  of  this 
which  is  passed  in  the  twenty-four  hours  is 
about  fifty  ounces. 

How  do  the  kidneys  do  this?  Omitting  de- 
tails, we  may  consider  each  kidney  to  be  made 
up  of  a  number  of  separate  filtering  systems, 
each  of  which  consists  of  a  tube  with  its  at- 
tendant blood  vessels.  Each  tube  is  lined  with 
a  layer  of  cells,  and  receives  blood  from  a 
branch  of  the  artery  going  to  the  kidney — the 
renal  artery — so  that  the  Islood  passes  from  the 
little  artery  through  the  substance  of  the  cells 
and  out  again  into  the  renal  vein ;  in  its  passage 
through  the  cell  water,  salts,  and  urea  are 
sucked  ouf  of  it  by  the  cell,  and  passed  into 
the  tube  which  ultimately  joins  a  collecting 
tube  called  the  ureter,  which  conveys  the  urine 


into  the  bladder,  where  it  is  stored  until  it  can 
be  conveniently  passed.  Each  cell  has  also 
a  tiny  nerve  filament,  whereby  its  action  is 
regulated  by  messages  from  the  brain  and 
spinal  cord;  in  practice  the  rate  at  which  the 
kidney  works  is  determined  by  the  nerves 
which  act  on  the  blood  vessels,  causing  them 
to  e.xpand  (and  so  give  the  cell  more  blood) 
when  a  great  flow  of  urine  is  required,  and  to 
contract  when  less  work  is  demanded  of  the 
kidney. 

Another  ^xiint  which  we  must  bear  in  mind 
is  that  the  skin  is  also  an  excretory  organ,  and 
that  the  kidneys  work  with  it,  so  that  when 
the  skin  is  acting  freely,  as  in  hot  weather,  the 
kidneys  are  comparatively  idle,  and  vice  versa. 
If  anything  happens  to  cause  the  skin  to  stop 
working  temporarily,  such  as  the  sudden  im- 
mersion of  the  body  in  a  cold  bath,  the  kidneys 
have  a  great  deal  of  work  suddenly  thrust  upon 
them,  so  we  can  see  the  necessity  for  the  ner- 
vous mechanism  which  regulates  their  action. 

So  much  for  the  healthy  kidneys ;  let  us  now 
see  how  and  why  they  can  go  wrong.  In  the 
first  place,  they  can  either  become  acutely  in- 
flamed, or  they  can  gradually  lose  their  power 
of  etficient  filtration  as  the  result  of  continual 
strain  or  ill-usage ;  let  us  take  the  acute  inflam- 
mations first. 

These  occur  either  as  the  result  of  a  chill,  or 
from  the  action  of  the  poisons  produced  by  cer- 
tain diseases,  notably  the  acute  infections  such 
as  scarlet  fever,  enteric  fever,  and  the  like  : 
Other  poisons,  such  as  tui-pentine,  often  have 
a  like  effect.  When  the  disease  is  due  to  chill, 
the  cells  lining  the  tubes  are  affected,  and  we 
have  the  so-called  tubal  nephritis,  but  in  scar- 
let fever,  the  change  is  mostly  between  the 
tubes — interstitial  nephritis — and  the  disease 
is  usually  not  so  intense,  for  in  the  latter  case, 
the  tube's  are  only  pressed  upon  (though  ren- 
dered inactive  for  the  time)  while  in  the  former 
they  are  themselves  damaged,  and  the  mischief 
is  more  frequently  permanent. 

Xow,  the  effect  of  the  inflammation,  wher- 
ever it  is,  is  that  the  tubes  instead  of  being 
living  things  with  the  power  of  selection  which 
we  have  described,  become  inactive,  so  that 
we  have  a  two-fold  effect,  in  that  they  do  not 
false  out  of  the  blood  the  things  that  they 
should,  and  they  let  unchanged  blood  pass 
through  them.  The  circulating  blood  has, 
therefore,  an  excess  of  urea  in  it  (and  the  urine 
contains  but  little  urea),  and  also  blood  itself. 
or  the  serum  albumen  which  the  blood  contains,, 
is  found  in  the  urine.  Beyond  some  degree  £>f 
ansemia  from  loss  of  blood,  the  latter  process  is 
not  as  important  to  the  patient  as  it  is  to  the 
phvsician,  to  whom  it  is  a  valuable  means  of 
detecting  the  disease,  but  to  th«  patient  the 


44 


Zbc  3S6rUi6b  3curnal  of  IRursing. 


[July  16,  1910 


retention  of  urea  in  the  system  is  fraught  with 
many  and  great  dangers.  Inasmuch  as  the 
water  also  is  not  extracted,  the  quantity  of 
urine  passed  is  very  much  diminished. 

We  will  now  consider  the  symptoms  of  an 
acute  nephritis  as  they  occur  in  practice,  and 
they  may  be  divided  into  those  which  show 
that  the  kidney  is  inflamed  and  those  due  to 
the  effects  of  the  retained  urea  and  water  on 
the  system.  In  the  former  class  we  have  a  rise 
of  temperature,  headache,  shivering,  and  pains 
in  the  back,  which  latter  instead  of  ceasing 
after  the  onset  of  the  illness  has  passed  (as  in 
other  febrile  ailmentsi,  settles  down  into  a  con- 
tinuous aching  in  the  loins.  As  aforesaid,  there 
is  a  great  diminution  in  the  amount  of  urine 
passed,  or  there  may  be  even  total  suppression 
of  the  flow,  and  the  urine  that  is  passed  con- 
tains blood  and  albumen  and  much  less  urea 
than  normal.  On  examining  the  sediment 
from  the  urine  uader  the  microscope,  we  find 
clumps  of  dead  epithelial  cells  which  have 
come  from  the  interior  of  the  inflamed  tubes 
and  are  therefore  known  as  tube  casts. 

Then  the  effect  of  the  retention  of  water  is 
shown  by  the  occurrence  of  swelling  of  the  face 
and  feet — ^dropsy — and  in  severe  cases  the 
fluid  collects  also  in  the  peritoneal  cavity — 
ascites — and  in  the  pleura,  where  it  gives  rise 
to  pleurisy ;  sometimes  there  is  a  local  swelling 
at  the  outlet  of  the  larynx  so  that  the  patient 
is  unable  to  breathe  and  may  die  of  suffocation 
in  consequence.  The  effect  of  the  retained 
urea  is  seen  in  persistent  headache,  drowsiness, 
sometimes  going  on  to  unconsciousness  and 
general  convulsions  from  the  irritation  of  the 
brain  by  the  poison ;  these  together  make  up 
the  condition  which  we  call  ursemia. 

Death  may  take  place  at  the  outset  from 
complete  suppression  of  urine,  or  later,  from 
the  pressure  of  the  accumulated  fluid  on  the 
internal  organs,  or  from  uraemia.  Recovery  is 
always  slow,  and  liable  to  be  interrupted  by 
relapses  due  to  fresh  inflammation,  the  out- 
look being  much  better  in  the  scarlatinal  form 
of  the  disease,  than  in  the  tubal  variety  for  the 
reason  previously  given. 

[To  be  contimied.) 


Dr.  Paul  Ehrlich,  as  reported  in  the  Tiiiicn, 
has  made  a  statement  concerning  a  cure  for 
syphi-lis  which  he  has  discovered  and  prepared 
with  his  collaborators,  and  which  is  already 
being  used  in  some  lumdred  clinics.  Work  for 
the  perfecting  of  the  cure  is  still  proceeding, 
hut  Dr.  Ehrlich  considers  that  high  expecta- 
tions of  the  healing  power  of  the  preparation 
are  justified. 


Zbc  Battle  of  tbe  Stan^ar^6. 

The  ■■  Bart's  "  appointment  has  had  one 
good  result.  The  appeal  of  the  Defence  of 
Nursing  Standards  Committee  has  compelled 
the  Governors  to  take  a  personal  in- 
terest in  the  conduct  of  business  at 
that  institution.  It  is  almost  incredi- 
ble that  men  who  are  no  doubt  inspired 
with  the  most  philanthropic  motives,  so  far  as 
the  patients  are  concerned,  know  absolutely  no- 
thing of  the  medical  and  nursing  departments. 
WKln-e  a  medical  school  exists,  the  medical 
staff  may  safely  be  left  to  care  for  the  best  in- 
terests of  their  own  profession,  and  the  qualifi- 
cations of  the  medical  staff  are  printed  in  black 
and  white.  But  how  different  it  is  with  the 
nursing  department.  For  the  JNIatron  and 
Superintendent  of  Nursing  no  standard  is  de- 
fined in  the  rules,  and  presumably  a  woman 
semi-trained  or  not  trained  at  all  is  quite 
eligible  for  the  responsible  duty  of  superintend- 
ing the  education  of  the  nursing  staff  and  their 
professional  work  in  the  wards !  The  absolute 
necessity  for  standards  defined  by  statutory 
authority  has  been  borne  in  upon  every  "Bart's" 
nurse  of  late,  and  we  hope  upon  all  the 
Governors,  some  of  whom  confess  they 
do  not  know  the  term  of  training,  or  curriculum 
demanded  for  the  training  of  the  nurses  for 
whom  they  are  responsible  to  the  public. 

We  learn  that  the  fact  that  the  lady  selected 
as  Matron  had  only  a  two  years'  certificate  of 
training  was  not  brought  to  the  notice  of  the 
Election  Committee,  as  it  should  have  been, 
in  printed  form  by  those  responsible  for  setting 
out  the  qualifications  of  the  candidates,  so  that 
the  majority  of  those  present  did  not  realise 
that  they  were  ignoring  their  own  three  years' 
standard  of  certification.  Surely  this  omission 
was  not  intentional  I 

It  would  be  interesting  to  know  if,  as 
vehemently  stated,  the  election  was  bow-fide, 
how  it  was  tliat  a  member  of  the  medical  staff 
was  able  to  inform  a  ward  sister,  who  was  to 
be  appointed  two  days  before  the  election  took 
place — information  which,  moreover,  was  wide- 
spread and  instigated  the  withdrawal  of  more 
than  one  fully  trained  Matron  candidate,  who 
did  not  wish  to  be  superseded  by  a  Matron's 
assistant,  and  her  status  and  qualifications  thug 
depreciated.  We  leani  that  the  inteiToga- 
tion  of  some  of  the  candidates  was  so  super- 
ficial as  to  amount  almost  to  discourtesy,  and 
certainly  to  justify  the  assumption  that  it  was 
not  a  genuine  competition. 

In  our  opinion  one  of  the  mast  reprehensible 
features  of  the  whole  discreditable  affair  was 
the  manner  in  which  tlie  strongest  "  Bart's  " 


July  16,  1010 


tlbc  Brltlsb  3ournal  of  IRursino. 


candidat-es  were  depreciated  personally.  One 
was  described  as  a  "  chronic  invalid,"  another 
"  too  Ill-tempered,"  another  "  lacking  in  tact," 
and  so  on.  Who  primarily  made  these  inten- 
tionally damaging  statements.  The  more  this 
matter  is  cnn^iil.i.il  the  more  unscrupulous  it 
appears. 


Zbc  Sodctv)  for  the  State  Hxcoiss* 
tration  of  ^l•ainc^  IRursccs 


We  regret  to  learn  that  several  Sisters  at  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospitalhave  sent  in  their  re- 
signations, to  take  effect  on  October  1st,  as 
they  do  not  wish  to  work  under  the  new  regime. 
Their  action  can  cause  no  surprise,  and  indeed 
self-respect   naturally   prompts  such  a  course 


The  Week  End  has  a  very  pertinent  article 
on  the  Bart's  scandal,  and  asks  how  the  Trea- 
surer, Lord  Sandhurst,  can  reconcile  his  ap- 
proval of  the  new  appointment  with  the  fact 
that  he,  as  Chairman  of  the  Select  Committee 
of  the  House  of  Lords  on  Metropolitan  Hospi- 
tals, in  1892,  recommended  that  the  three 
years'  training  stanihird  should  be  adopted. 

llbe  fIDatvons'  Council. 


A  meeting  of  the  Matrons'  Council  of  Great 
J3ritain  and  Ireland  will  be  held  at  the  General 
Hospital,  Birmingham,  on  Saturday,  July  16th, 
at  3  p.m.,  at  which  the  new  President  and 
Vice-Presidents  will  be  elected.  Tea  will  be  at 
4  p.m.,  after  which  an  Open  Meeting  will  be 
held  at  which  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  will 
speak  on  The  Educational  sind  Economic  As- 
pects of  the  State  Registration  of  Trained 
Nurses,  and  Miss  Mollett  will  discuss  the 
clausesof  the  Registration  Bill  now  before  Par- 
liament. .  Miss  !Musson,  the  Matron  of  the 
General  Hospital,  will  be  pleased  to  welcome 
any  who  are  interested  in  the  subject,  and  will 
be  glad  if  any  nurses  who  have  not  received 
notices  will  notify  to  her  their  intention  of 
attending  the  meeting.  The  wards  may  be 
visited  during  the  afternoon. 


Seats  will  be  reserved  for  all  those  members 
of  the  Council  who  have  notified  Mrs.  Spencer 
that  they  intend  to  travel  by  the  non-stop 
excursion  train  leaving  Euston  Station  for  Bir- 
mingham at  11.4.5  on  Saturday,  16th  iust.,  the 
compartments  will  be  marked  "  Matrons' 
Council,  reserved."  The  return  ticket  is  5s.  It 
is  hoped  there  will  be  quite  a  representative 
party,  and  no  doubt  it  will  be  full  of  life  and 
spirits  as  the  members  of  the  Council  iisually 
are.  Miss  ^lollett  returns  from  Germany  in 
time  to  take  part  in  the  meeting,  and  the  Pre- 
sident eleet,  Miss  Heather-Bigg,  Matron  of 
Charing  Cross  Hospital,  will  take  part  in  the 
proceedings. 


A  Meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee  was 
held  at  the  offices  on  Friday,  July  8th,  at 
4  p.m.,  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick,  President,  in 
the  chair. 

Report  of  the  President. 

"  Since  the  last  meeting  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  .Society  has  been 
held,  at  which  the  Lady  Helen  Munro-Ferguson 
presided,  and  gave  an  address  which  was  eloquent 
te.stimony  to  the  work  and  ijereonality  of  our  late 
President.  Miss  Isla  Stewart.  The  attendance  at 
the  meeting  was  the  largest  on  record. 

"  A  resolution  passed  at  that  meeting,  calFnig 
the  attention  of  the  public  and  of  Parliament  to 
the  injury  done  to  well-trained  nurses  by  the  ex- 
ploitation of  their  uniform,  and  to  reputable 
nursing  homes  and  nurses  by  the  use  of  bogus 
nursing  homes  and  massage  houses  for  criminal  and 
vicious  purposes,  has  been  sent  to  every  member  of 
the  Government  with  a  covering  letter  which 
pointed  out  that  the  lack  of  educational  standards 
and  status  for  nurses  is  acting  most  detrimentally 
on  the  quality  of  candidates  for  training,  and  that 
until  means  are  established  whereby  nurses  who 
have  given  evidence  of  having  satisfactorUy  pass^ 
through  an  adequate  professional  education  and 
training  are  dissociated  in  the  public  mind  from 
ineflficient  and  unskilled  workers,  as  well  as  from 
criminal  and  immoral  i)ersons,  many  carefully 
brought  up  girls  of  the  high  standard  required 
win  naturally  hesitate  to  adopt  uui-sing  as  a  pro- 
fession, to  the  loss  of  the  community,  which  requires 
highly  conscientious  service  ujwn  the  part  of  its 
nurses.  It  was  intimated  to  the  Government  tliat  if 
added  to  the  Statute  Book  the  Nurees'  Registrat'iou 
Act  would  be  a  measure  of  the  greatest  public 
utility  to  the  credit  of  any  Government  during 
whose  term  of  office  it  became  law. 

"  It  is  a  pleasure  to  record  that  Mr.  R.  C.  Munro- 
Ferguson,  M.P..  who  has  charge  of  the  Xurses' 
Registration  Bill  in  the  House  of  Commons,  lia;> 
been  appointed  a  Privy  Councillor  by  the  King. 

"  Tlie  Special  £100  Registration  Fund  has  now 
been   close<l,    £104    "s.    having   l>een    received. 

"  The  apix)iutmeut  of  a  lady  holding  only  a  two 
years'  certificate  of  training  from  the  London  Hos- 
pital to  the  position  of  Matron  and  Sujierinteudent 
of  Nursing  at  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital,  where  the 
three  years'  standard  of  training  and  certification 
has  Ijeen  in  force  for  close  on  thirty  years,  places 
in  the  hands  of  registrationists  the  very  strongest 
argument  possible  for  the  establishment  by  -Vet 
of  Parliament  of  a  governing  body  for  the  iiui-sing 
profession,  empowered  to  define  and  maintain 
efficient  nursing  standards  which  cannot  be  trifled 
with  by  irresponsible  and  ignorant  pei^sons  to  the 
serious  depreciation  of  a  nursing  school  and  the 
status  of  its  nurses. 

"  The  Council  of  the  British  Medical  Association, 
through  the  good  offices  of  Dr.  Goodall,  has 
courteously  con.sented  to  the  request  of  this 
Societv  to  hold  a  meeting  on  the'^^uestion  of  th.- 


46 


Zbc  36iitisb  3ournaI  of  IRurslno. 


[July  16,  1910 


Stat€  Registiiation  of  Trained  Nui-ses  during  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  British  Me<lical  Association 
in  London  at  the  end  of  July,  if  thought  advisable. 
"  The  nuises  in  the  State  of  Massachusetts, 
U.S.A.,  have,  after  a  prolonged  struggle, 
gained  their  legal  status,  an  Act  for  Regis- 
tration of  Xurses  being  now  in  force.  This 
success  is  greatly  owing  to  the  efforts  of  Mis.s 
Riddle,  Matron  of  the  Newton  Hospital,  and 
President  of  the  Nurses'  State  Association. 
Another  star  is  thereby  added  to  the  firmament 
of  American  registration. 

"It  is  with  great  regret  I  have  to  report  the 
death  of  the  Lady  Victoiia  Campbell,  a  Vice-Presi- 
dent of  our  Society,  who  always  took  a  most  in- 
telligent interest  in  nursing,  especially  in  the 
efiBcient  training  of  district  nurses." 

Ethel  G.  Fenwick, 

President. 

The  report  having  been  adopted,  a  vote  of 
thanks  to  the  British  ^ledical  Association,  pro- 
posed by  Miss  Cox-Davies,  and  seconded  by 
Miss  Sidney  Browne,  was  passed  unanimously. 

The  President  was  asked  to  convey  the  con- 
gratulations of  the  meeting  to  !Mr.  E.  C.  ^lunro 
Ferguson  upon  becoming  a  member  of  the 
Privy  Council,  proposed  by  Miss  Barton,  and 
seconded  by  Miss  Pell-Smith. 

The  congratulations  of  the  meeting  were  also 
to  be  conveyed  to  !Miss  Eiddle,  President,  and 
the  Nurses'  State  Association  of  ^lassachusetts 
upon  the  victory  they  had  attained  in  the  State 
Legislature  by  the  passing  of  the  Nurses'  Regis- 
tration Bill,  proposed  by  Miss  Heather-Bigg, 
and  seconded  by  Miss  H.  Hawkins. 

Eepresextative  on  the  X.\tional  Council 

OF  WOMEX. 

Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  was  invited  and  con- 
sented to  represent  the  Society  at  the  meeting 
at  Lincoln  in  October.  Other  business  having 
been  considered,  the  following  new  members 
were  elected :  — 

New  Members. 
No.  Name.  Where  Trained. 

2838  Miss  E.  E.  Gibson  Hill,  cert.,  St.  Bartholo- 

mew's Hosp. 

2839  Miss  E.  T.  Clogg,  cert..  Royal  South  Hants 

Hosp. 

2840  Miss  K.   M.  Roe,   cert.,   St.   Bartholomew's 

Hosp. 

2841  Miss  T.  Stubbs, 

2842  Miss    L.  C.  Cooper,   cert..  Central    London 

Sick  Asylum,   Hendon. 

2843  Miss  L.  A.  Bourner,  cert.,  St.  Bartholomew's 

Hosp. 

2844  Miss  0.    Bennett  „  ,, 

284.5     Miss  S.    M.   Alv*,  cert.,  General  Hospital, 
Birmingham. 

2846  Miss   AV.    HarJy,    cert.,    Hawera    Hospital, 

Saranaki,  X.Z. 

2847  Miss  E.  Kir.'~c)pp,  cert.,  Roynl  Free  Hosp. 

2848  Miss  T  Lewin,  cert.,  St.  Bartholomew's  Hosp. 

2849  MissG.K.  S.Robson,    ,, 

2ajO     Miss  E.  Jones,  „  ,,  ,, 


28-51     Miss   L.     Farley,    cert..     General   Hospital, 

Rotherham. 
2852     Miss  T.  M.  Hayes,  cert.   St.  Bartholomew's 

Hosp. 
28-53     Miss  A.  Campbell,        „ 
2854     Miss  R.   V.  Irvin, 
28-55     Miss  M.  H.  Gibson      „ 

2856  Miss  G.  Cowlin, 

2857  Miss  G.  Farqiiahar,      ,, 

2858  Miss  N.  Hunter, 

2859  Miss  E.  Bantield,  „ 

2860  Miss  M.   Saffrev,  „ 

2861  Miss   E.    Hall, 

2862  Miss  H.    Scrase, 

2863  Miss  H.  M.  Harper,      „ 

2864  Miss  K.F.  Wilkinson,    „ 

2865  Miss  E.  Dearbersh,        „ 

2866  Miss  F.  S.  OldfieTd,        „ 

2867  MissB.M.E.Hesketh,  „ 

2868  Miss  M.  O.  Crown,       „ 

2869  Miss  M.  M.  Davis,       „ 

2870  Miss  M.  C.  Barker,       „ 

2871  Miss  I.  M.  Svmonds,    „ 

2872  Miss  A.  0.  Manson,     „ 

2873  Miss   E.    Newton,  „ 

2874  Miss  R.   MacEwan,       „ 

2875  Miss  G.  M.  Simm,s,      ,, 

2876  Miss  M.  K.  Minet,       „ 

2877  Miss  M.  Drurv,  „ 

2878  MissA.  M.B.favlor,    „ 

2879  Miss  E.  B.  Havnes,       „ 

2880  Miss  J.   McGregor,       „ 

2881  Miss  M.  L.  Marsh,       „ 

2882  Miss  E.  Griffiths. 

2883  Miss  F.  E.  Evans, 

2884  MissF.M.Loveband,    „ 

2885  Miss  M.  Maclavertv,      „  ,.  ., 

2886  Mies  A.  E.  Tavlor,   cert..  East  Dulwich  Inf. 

2887  MissE.  W.  Tavlor,  cert..  East  Dulwich  Inf. 

2888  Miss  H.  M.  Hullver,  cert.,  St.  Bart's  Hosp. 

2889  Mrs.  E.  M.  King.  cert..  Liverpool  Roval  Inf. 

2890  Miss  C.  W.  Clephan,  cert..  Royal  Free  Hosp. 

2891  Miss  K.   Bowerman,  cert.,    Bristol    General 

Hosp. 

2892  Mi*  C.  Heron,  cert.,  St.  Bart's  Hosp. 

2893  Miss  E.  Orchison,   cert.,  Dundee    Parochial 

Hosp. 

2894  Miss  L.  M.  Crump,  cert.,  St.  Bart's  Hosp. 

2895  Miss  W.   Crown,  „  ,,  ,, 

2896  Miss  M.  E.  Maclean,     „  ,,  ,. 

2897  Miss  A.  K.  'Wallis,       ,,  „ 

2898  Miss  L.  Ellis,  cert.,  Westminster  Hosp. 

2899  »Miss    I.    MacXay,    cert..   Royal    Infirmary, 

Manchester. 

2900  Miss  M.  Davitt,  cert..  Royal  Hosp..  Sheffield. 

2901  Miss  E.  Spioer,  cert.,  St.  Mary's  Infirmary, 

London,  N. 

2902  Miss  L.  K.   Evans,    cert.,    St.    Mary's   In- 

firmary, Liindon,  N. 

2903  Miss  L.  A.   Balloch,  cert.,  Fulham  Inf.,  W. 

2904  Miss  E.  Hartrick,  cert.,  St.  Marylebone  In- 

firmary, W. 

2905  Miss  M.  Packer,   cert.,  Portsmouth   Inf. 

2906  Miss  J.  J.  Dynam,  cert.,  St.  Vincent's  Hosp., 

Dublin. 

M.MIOARET  BrEAY. 

Hon.  Secretary. 


July  Ifi,  1910] 


Z\K  Britisb  3ournaI  of  iHursing. 


IHurscs  of  IRotc 


MISS  S.  GRACE  TINDALL. 

Miss  S.  Grace  Tiiulall,  Matron  of  the  Cama 
and  Allbless  Hospitals,  Bombay,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Matrons'  Council  of    Great   Britain 

and  Ireland,  is  the     

youngest  daughter 
of  the  late  Kev. 
H.  Woods  Tindall, 
M.A.  She  began 
her  training  as  a 
nurse  at  the 
Metropolitan  Hos- 
pital, Kingsland 
Koad,  London, 
but  the  rush  of  a 
London  Hospital 
as  an  introduc- 
tion to  work 
proved  too  great 
a  strain,  and  a 
serious  breakdown 
followed  necessi- 
tating cessation  of 
work,  but  through- 
out this  enforced 
rest  Miss  Tindall 
kept  one  aim  in 
view,  to  return  to 
the  life  which 
seemed  best  worth 
living,  and  later 
she  gained  the 
three  years'  certi- 
ficate of  the  Croy- 
don Infirmary  un- 
der the  able  Ma- 
tronship  of  Miss 
Julian.  On  gain- 
ing- her  certificate 
she  took  up  pri- 
vate nursing,  and 
then  worked  for 
a  year  for  Sir 
Frederick  Treves, 
for  the  most  part 
as  a  Sister  in  Miss 
McCaurs  Nursing 
Home  in  Welbeck 
Street,  W. 

Then  came  a 
sudden  call  to 
Egypt,  and  in  24 
hours  London  was 
left  behind,  and  two  winters  were  spent  by 
Miss  Tindall  as  Sister  in  Dr.  Milton's  English 
Hospital  and  Victoria  Nursing  Home  when  it 
was  in  its' old  quarters,  varied  by  occasional 
rushes  up  to  Assouan  (a  21  hours'  journey),  and 


Miss   S.    ORAC 
of   the    Matrons' 
and  I 


other  parts  of  Egypt  to  nurse  private  patients. 
A  return  to  England  followed,  during  which 
Miss  Tindall  gained  the  certiticate  of  the  City 
of  London  l..ying-in  Hospital,  and  then,  in  till- 
companionship  of  a  Sister,  also  a  trained  nurse, 
began  a  never-to-be-forgotten  varied  nursing 
experience  in  al- 
most every  part  of 
E&ypt. 

On  the  forma- 
tion of  Lady  Min- 
to's  Indian  Nurs- 
ing Association  in 
1907,  Miss  Tindall 
was  offered  the 
superintendence  of 
one  of  the 
branches,  and  fif- 
teen mouths  later 
the  !Matroushii)  of 
the  Cama  and  All- 
bless  Hospitals, 
Bombay,  which 
are  under  Govern- 
ment, was  offered 
to  and  accepted  by 
her. 

These  hospitals 
contain  over  100 
beds,  and  form  a 
Training  School  for 
30  or  40  nurses — 
European,  Eura- 
sian, and.  high 
caste  natives. 
There  are  five 
Charge  Nurses, 
and  two  native 
Staff  Nurses.  At- 
tached to  the  hos- 
pital is  a  small 
Private  Nursing 
Institute,  which 
supplies  Indian 
nurses  with  three 
years'  training  to 
Indian  families. 
Although  only 
opened  last  year, 
this  Institute  is 
meeting  a  real 
need  that  is  gi'ow- 
iug  among  the  na- 
tives, and  there  is 
also  a  certificated 
"  Bazaar  Nurse,"  who  visits  patients  who  can-" 
not  afford  to  pay  fees.  ' 

The  Midwifery  School  of  these  hospitals  was 
recognised  last  year  by  the  Central  Midwivts' 
B.vinl  a«  ;i  Training  School  for^Iidwives. 


E    TINDALL. 

Council   of   Great   Britarr 
iland. 


48 


Zbc  Brittsb  Journal  of  IRursino. 


[July  16,  1910 


iliss  Tindall  is  a  member  of  the  Army  Nurs- 
ing Service  Keserve,  the  Royal  British  Nurses' 
Association,  acting  as  its  Lady  Consul  for  Bom- 
bay, one  of  the  early  members  of  the  Society 
for  the  State  Eegistration  oi  Nurses,  and  the 
Matrons'  Council  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland, 
also  numbers  her  amongst  its  members. 

In  India  she  is  a  member  of  the  Association 
of  Nursing  Superintendents  of  India,  and  of  its 
Executive  Committee;  she  is  on  the  Central 
Committee  of  the  Bombay  Presidency  Nursing 
Association,  and  is  Hon.  Secretary  for  the 
Guild  of  St.  Barnabas  for  Nurses. 

The  Committee  of  the  Countess  of  Dufferin's 
Fund  who  pay  for  the  training  and  mainten- 
ance of  some  of  the  nurses  have  recognised  the 
efforts  of  the  Lady  Superintendent  to  raise  the 
standard  of  teaching,  and  of  the  whole  ione 
and  organisation  of  the  Training  School  and 
work  in  the  Cama  and  Allbless  Hospitals,  by 
adding  a  monthly  bonus  to  the  insuflBcient 
salary  allowed  by  Government. 

The  dog  who  appears  in  the  picture  travelled 
from  Egypt  with  his  mistress,  and  is  her  most 
faithful  and  devoted  companion  and  friend.  It 
was  not  intended  that  he  should  "  sit,"  too, 
but  he  is  not  to  be  persuaded  to  leave  his 
accustomed  post  at  his  mistress's  side  (unless 
she  is  busy  in  the  hospital,  when  he  awaits  her 
in  the  office  with  his  ever  ready  welcome  !)  and 
so  the  best  attention  of  all  was  concentrated  on 
getting  his  picture  ! 

presentation. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Leicester  In- 
finnary  Nurses'  League,  Miss  M.  H.  Sherlock 
(Sister  Lena),  who  is  shortly  leaving  the  In- 
firmary to  take  up  the  position  of  Matron  at 
the  Home  of  Recovery,  Hunstanton,  was  pre- 
sented with  a  gold  watch  and  a  purse  of  money. 
The  watch  bore  Miss  Sherlock's  monogram  and 
was  engraved  with  the  following  inscription  :  — 

"  To  Miss  Sherlock  on  leaving  the  Leicester  In- 
firmary after  24  rears'  work  as  Sister,  from  the 
resident  Nursing  Staff,  and  members  of  the  League, 
June,  1910." 

On  the  following  Wednesday  the  members 
of  the  Committee,  and  the  Hon.  Medical  Staff 
presented  Miss  Sherlock  with  a  travelling  case 
in  green  crocodile  leafier,  with  silver  fittings, 
'inscribed  as  follows:  — 

"Presented  to  Miss  Sherlock  (Sister  Lena)  from 
members  of  the  Board,  and  of  the  Hon.  Medical 
Staff,  on  the  occasion  of  her  leaving  the  Leicester 
Infirmary  .after  25  years'  devoted  service.  June 
29th,  1910." 

iliss  Sherlock  will  carry  with  her  the  good 
wishes  of  many  friends  for  her  success  and 
happiness  in  her  new  work. 


practical  points. 

Experience      is      a       great 

Picked  up  by  a      teacher,  and  perhaps  some  of 

Private  Nurse.       the       following       "points" 

picked  up  during  many  years' 

private  work  may  be  of  use  to  some  of  the  younger 

nui-ses. 

Those  who  have  any  choice  in  the  matter  of  out- 
door uniform  will  find  a  white  lining  to  the  cloak 
looks  well,  and  is  a  great  saving  to  the  dress  sleeves. 
Made  quite  separate  of  nun's  veiling  or  cashmere, 
and  tacked  into  the  cloak,  it  is  easily  removed  for 
the  wash,  and  takes  only  a  few  minutes  to  replace. 

A  stuff  dress  for  travelling  and  those  times  when 
cotton  is  not  necessary  if  made  of  alpaca  will  wash 
many  times  without  looking  shabby.  It  seems 
rather  extravagant  to  use  a  clean  cotton  dress  for 
a  journey  only,  and  yet,  of  course,  one  worn  in 
common  cabs  and  railway  carriages  is  not  fit  for  a 
patient's  room,  so  should  be  put  aside  for  like  oc- 
casions. 

A  trunk  of  the  Saratoga  type  seems  to  stand  the 
constant  banging  bett<;r  than  any  other,  and  may 
with  advantage  have  a  cotton  lining  fitted  to  the 
inside   with  drawing   pins. 

A  tin  is  a  most  useful  sponge  carrier.  Painted 
inside  and  out  it  will  go  on  for  years  without 
rusting,  and  should  be  tall  enough  to  take  a  tooth- 
brush. It  is  surprising  how  much  will  go  into  an 
ordinary  coffee  tin,  sponge,  loofah,  tooth  powder, 
soap,  tooth  and  nail  brushes  will  all  easily  find  a 
place. 

A  point  which  seems  often  overlooked  is  that  a 
nurse's  dressing-gown  needs  frequent  washing. 
Cotton  ones  are  simple  enough  for  the  summer,  but 
for  cold  weather  nothing  seems  more  satisfactory 
than  a  fairly  good  flannelette  (red  and  dark  blue 
wash  best).  It  should  be  lined  to  a  little  below  the 
waist  with  a  loose  cashmere  lining.  Again, 
how  often  is  a  bed-pan  picked  off  the  floor 
and  put  straight  under  a  patient,  carrying  pro- 
bably a  large  and  varied  crop  of  germs  which  are 
rubbed  off  on  the  patient's  sheet.  After  being  pro- 
perly cleansed  a  pan  should  be  wrapped  in  a  clean 
towel,  and  when  brought  to  the  bedside  should  be 
left  on  the  towel  while  any  necessary  arrangements 
of  bedclothes,  etc.,  are  made. 

E.  M.  Dickson. 


X.C.C.  Scbool  IRurscs. 


Six  nurses  have  been  approved  for  appointment 
as  School  Nurses  under  the  Loudon  County  Council 
by  the  Section  of  the  Education  Committee  charged 
with  their  selection.  They  are: — Miss  A.  C.  Mar- 
shall (cert.  Chelsea  Infirmary),  Miss  R.  E.  !Mar- 
shall  (cert.  General  Infirmary,  AVorcester),  Miss  M. 
K.  Herbert  (cert.  Shoreditch  Infirmary),  >Iiss  M. 
E.  AVindemer  (cert.  Guy's  Hospital),  Miss  M. 
Stewart  (cert.  Camberwell  Infirmary),  Miss  M. 
C^oodlass  (cert.  General  Hospital,  Cheltenham). 
Tho  first  four  are  alreadj'  doing  tenijiorary  duty  as 
School  Nurses. 


July  16,  1910] 


Cbc  3Siitl0b  3ournal  of  IRursino. 


49 


appointmcnti?. 


Lady  Superintendent. 

General  Hospital.  Toronto,  Canada. — Miss  Robiua 
Stewart  has  been  apiminted  to  succeed  Miss  Snively 
;is  Lady  Superiuteudent  of  the  General  Hospital, 
Toronto.  She  was  trained  at  the  Johns  Hopkins 
Hospital,  Baltimore,  where  she  had  charge  of  the 
private  wards  for  some  years;  afterwards  she  spent 
some  time  in  the  study  of  training  schools  in  the 
middle  West,  and  for  the  past  three  years  has  been 
Superintendent  of  Nurses  at  the  Allegheny  General 
Hospital,  Pittsburg. 

Matron. 

Bristol  and  Clifton  District  Nurses'  Society.  — Miss  Hodges 
has  b^eu  appointfd  Matron.  She  was  trained  at 
the  Bristol  Borough  Infirmary. 

SiSTEBS. 

The  Dispensary,  York.  -Miss  M.  S.  Ferens  has  been 
appointed  Sister.  She  was  trained  at  the  Eoyal 
Infirmary,  Glasgow,  where  she  also  held  the  position 
of  Sister.  She  was  also  Sister  for  four  years  at 
Princess  Louise's  Hospital,  Rosneath,  and  has  had 
experience  of  iirivate  nursing  in  connection  with 
the  Glasgow  and  West  of  Scotland  Co-operation  and 
the  Ayr-  and  West  of  Scotland  Co-operation. 
.She  is  also  a  certified  midwife. 

isolation  Hospital.  Morton  Banks,  Keighley. — Miss  B. 
M.  Goulder  has  been  appointed  Sister.  She  was 
trained  at  the  General  Hospital,  Rotherham,  and 
the  Isolation  Hospital,  Keighley,  and  has  lately 
been  engaged  in  private  nursing. 

General    Hospital.    Rotherham. — Miss  F.   W.  Johnson 

lias  lieen  appointed  .Sister.     She  was  trained  at  the 

Walsall    and   District    Hospital    and   has   held    the 

Ijosition  of  Sister  at  the  Jessop  Hospital,  She£Seld. 

Charge  Nurse. 

Hahnemann  Home.  Bournemouth. — Miss  Kathleen 

Pomeroy  has  been  apiwiuted  Charge  Nurse.  She 
Avas  traine<l  at  the  St.  Marykbone  Infirmary,  and 
has  held  the  po.sitions  of  Night  Sister  at  the 
Giiavesend  Hospital,  of  Midwife  and  Staff  Nui-se  at 
the  Brighton  and  Hove  Hospital  for  Women,  and  of 
•Sister-in-Charge  of  the  District  Nurses'  Home, 
Hanham,  Bristol.  She  is  a  certified  midwife. 
He.vith  Visitor. 

Corporation  of  Blackpool.  -Miss  Annie  Kate  Waller 
has  been  selected  by  the  Health  Committee  for  the 
position  of  Assistant  Lady  Health  Visitor.  'She 
was  trained  at  Sir  Patrick  Dun's  Hospital,  Dublin, 
and  at  the  Rotunda  Hospital  in  the  same  city. 
She  is  at  present  District  Nurse  in  connection  witli 
the  Oldham  Town  Mission.  Miss  Waller  is  es- 
]x>cted  to  take  up  her  duties  as  soon  as  the  Town 
Council  have  sanctioned  the  appointment.  She  will 
be   attached  to  the    department    of    the    Medical 

OflBcer  of   Health.       , 

Miss  M.  F.  Reynolds,  who  was  appointed  Sister 
at  the  Princess  Alice  Memorial  Hospital,  East- 
bourne, has  accepted  a  post  at  Margate,  and  will 
not  take  up  her  duties  at  Eastbourne. 

QUEEN  VICTORIAS  JUBILEE   INSTITUTE. 
Transfi.n  and  Appr'intmf nts. — Miss  Annie  Mee- 
son,  to  Taunton,  as  training:  midwife;  Miss  Maria 
Latenstein,  to  Stockton;   Miss  Gwenllean   Norris, 
to  HolywelL 


RESIGNATION. 
The  news  of  the  resij^natiou  of  Miss  Elizabeth 
M.  Jones,  Lady  Superintendent  of  the  Royal  In- 
firmary, Liverpool,  will  be  receivetl  with  great 
regret  not  only  by  the  pupils  and  graduates  ol  the 
school,  but  also  by  the  nui-sing  world  at 
large.  Miss  Jones  was  trained  in  the  institution 
of  which  she  was  ultimately  appointed  Lady  Super- 
intendent, having  entered  the  Liverpool  Nurses' 
Training  School,  connected  with  the  Royal  In- 
firmary, in  1889.  She  subsequ^tly  held  the  posi- 
tions of  Ward  Sister,  Night  Superintendent,  and 
Assistant  Lady  Superintendent,  and  had  practical 
experience  in  hospital  housekeeping,  and  in  the 
management  of  private  nurses.  Before  entering 
the  Royal  Infirmary  for  her  general  training,  she 
trained  at  the  Pendiebury  Children's  Hospital. 
During  her  term  of  office  the  syllabus  of 
lectures  at  the  Liverpool  Royal  Infirmary  has 
been  revised,  and  is  very  comprehensive  and  admir- 
able. Miss  Jones  is  interested  in  the  international 
movement,  and  is  also  a  supporter  of  the  movement 
for   the  State  Registration  of  Trained  Nurses. 


THE  PASSING  BELL. 
We  regi-et  to  record  the  death  of  the  Lady  Vic- 
toria Campbell,  a  Vice-President  of  the  Society  tor 
State  Registration  of  Trained  Niirses,  who  always 
took  a  deep  interest  in  the  skilled  nursing  of  the 
sick,  and  herself  often  an  invalid  realised  the  im- 
portance of  thorough  training. 

Preaching  at  St.  Columba's  last  Sunday  morning, 
Dr.  Fleming  said,  according  to.  the  Times, that  it  was 
more  than  20  yeai-s  since  Lady  Victoria  Campbell 
l>ecame  a  meml^er  of  that  church,  and  never,  li 
health  permitted,  was  she  a  Sunday  in  London 
without  worshipping  there.  He  remembered  her 
telling  him  how,  long  yeai-s  ago,  she  was  looking  out 
ot  the  mined  windows  of  the  Cathedral  at  loua,  and 
it  was'there  and  then  that  the  "call"  came  to 
her  to  dedicate  her  life  to  the  islands.  Thencefor- 
ward that  fragile  frame  was  made  servant  to  an 
indomitable  will  and  purpose.  In  the  open  boat, 
on  the  stormy  seas,  in  the  drifting  sleet,  she  crossed 
her  ferries  and  sought  her  ports — always  witli  a 
cheerful  smUe  and  a  heart  that  quailed  betore 
nothing,  the  heart  of  a  chieftainess,  and  withal  the 
heart  of  a  woman. 

'•  From  the  lone  shieling  on  the  misty  island. 
Mountains  divide  us,  and  a  waste  of  seas; 
Yet  still  the  bloo<l  is  warm,  the  heart  is  High- 
land, 
And  we  in  dreams  behold  the  Hebrides." 
Tliree  years  ago  he  had  occasion  to  go  out  and  m 
for  a  day  or  two  among  some  of  the  cottars  and 
crofters  on  one  of  her  Ix-loved  islands — places  where 
a  face   from  the   mainland  was  the  rarest   vision. 
There  he  found  peoi)le  who  would  haive  kissed   lier 
very  sliadow,  who  blessed  her  name,  and  worshipi>ed 
the  ground  she  trod,  who  knew  through  her  what 
self-forgetful  love  could  be. 

In  her  will  Lady  Victoria  Campbell  directs  her 
trustees  to  pay  £700  to  the  County  Fund  of  ^the 
Argyll  Nursing  Association,  the  interest  to  be  used 
for  the  support  of  Queen's  Nurses  in  Tiree  and  Ross 
of  Mull. 


50 


Z\K  Britisb  3oiirnal  of  IRursma.         [J"b  ig,  loio 


IRursing  jEcboes. 

We  are  uot  surprised  to 
learii  that  public  opinion  has 
been  a  good  bit  roused  over 
the  question  of  bogus  nurs- 
ing homes,  and  that  an  In- 
corporated Federation  of 
Nursing  Homes  is  projected. 
The  intentions  of  those 
public-spirited  people,  who 
are  interesting  themselves 
in  this  intricate  question, 
are       to      be      commended. 

We  are  entirely  in  sympathy  with  them  in  their 

ultimate  aim,  of  affording  the  public  adequate 

infomiation   concerning     the     character      and 

capacity        of       Nursing 

Homes,  and  to  effect  the 

repression    of    bogus    in- 

stitufcions,    but    the 

scheme  as   it  stands   is, 

we      fear,      doomed      to 

failure. 


The  pretty  jjatriot  whose  picture  appears  on 
this  page  is  the  little  daughter  of  a  nurse  on 
the  staff  of  No.  1  General  Hospital  of  the  City 
and  County  of  London,  who  aspires  to  be  a 
future  member  of  the  Ten'itorial  Force  Nursing 
Service.  She  is  wearing  the  badge  of  the  Ser- 
vice presented  to  her  mother  by  Queen  Alexan- 
dra in  March  last. 


The  Federation  of 
Nursing  Homes,  for  their 
own  protection,  would 
not  have  the  desired 
effect,  although  the  pre- 
sent agitation,  the  result 
of  abuse  in  their  midst, 
is,  we  fear,  calculated  to 
injure  some  excellent  in- 
stitutions in  public  esti- 
mation. What  is  re- 
quired is  that  every 
citizen  should  urge 
County  Councils  to  deal 
effectively  with  the  re- 
gistration and  inspection 
of  all  Nursing  Homes, 
and,  if  necessary,  to  pro- 
ject legislation  for  the 
purpose. 

We  have  no  wish  to  discourage  anyone  «  ho 
realises  the  present  discreditable  condition  of 
affiiirs,  and  who  has  time  to  agitate  in  the 
matter,  but  the  federation  of  Homes  governed 
by  luiprofessional  people  will,  we  feel  sure,  not 
I)rovide  the  remedy. 


Prelty    Little    Patriot. 


A  public  meeting,  arranged  by  Miss  E.  K. 
Wortabet,  Lady  Superintendent  of  the  Hind- 
head  Nursing  Home,  was  recently  held  at 
Hindhead  under  the  presidency  of  !Mrs.  Lionel 
Phillips,  for  the  purpose  of  explaining  the 
objects  of  the  British  Red  Cross  Society, 
when  Colonel  Grier,  E.A.M.C,  the  County 
Director,  gave  an  interesting  address,  and  ex- 
plained the  War  Office 
scheme  for  the  organisa- 
tion of  voluntary  aid  for 
the  sick  and  wounded  in 
the  event  of  war  in  the 
home  territory.  Colonel 
Grier  said  that  Miss  Wor- 
tabet had  most  gener- 
ously and  patriotically 
offered  to  provide  accom- 
modation for  twelve 
wounded  officers  in  the 
event  of  invasion,  and  to 
allow  her  Home  to  be  the 
training  centre  for  the 
Hindhead  district.  He 
explained  the  details  of 
the  scheme,  and  said 
that  the  duties  of  the 
voluntary  aid  detach- 
ments would  be  to  re- 
ceive the  sick  and 
wounded  from  the  field 
ambulances  and  remove 
them  to  the  general  ho>;- 
pitals.  i\Ien  and  women 
would  have  to  be  trained 
for  that  work.  The  great 
difficulty  throughout  the  country  was  with 
regard  to  practical  training,  but  at  Hindhead, 
thanks  to  the  kindness  of  Miss  Wortabet,  that 
ditfieultv  would  not  exist. 


Miss  Ethel  McCaul,  E.R.C.,  who  was  sent 
on  a  mission  to  inspect  the  Japanese  Red  Cross 
Society's  work,  has  had  bestowed  upon  her  the 
Russo-Japanese  war  medal.  She  was  also 
honoured  by  a  decoration  from  the  .Japanese 
l{i'd  Cross  Society.  At  the  Women's  Congress 
at  the  Japan-British  Exhibition  Miss  McCaul 
read  a  paper  on  the  Red  Cross  Society  of 
Japan. 


Miss  Wortabet  also  spoke,  and  the  Rev.  G. 
P.  Trevelyan,  in  proposing  a  vote  of  thanks  to 
the  speakers,  said  that  the  zeal,  energy,  and 
business  capacity  which  Miss  W^ortabet-  had 
already  dis]ilayed  were  things  of  which  they 
could  rightlv  he  iiroud. 


The  Lady  Inspector  who  has  been  sent  down 
by  the  Local  Government  Board  to  inspect  the 
Holbeck    Union   Workhouse    Infirmary,    con- 


July  iti,  iiuo; 


liDe  Bvitigb  journal  of  IRursino. 


51 


siders  that  the  intirinary  is  understaffeil,  and 
advocates  the  appointment  of  two  additional 
nurees.  That  this  recommendation  is  justified 
is  apparent  if,  as  is  stated,  the  present  propor- 
tion is  one  nurse  for  32  patients,  whieii  means 
that  on  both  day  and  night  duty  each  nurse  has 
the  full  care  of  04  patients,  and  if  one  nurse 
goes  off  duty  it  is  at  the  expense  of  the  other 
who  has  to  relieve  her.  The  cases  include 
patients  with  phthisis,  septic  legs,  and  cancer. 
Councillor  Katcliffe,  on  the  other  hand,  states 
that  in  the  event  of  two  extra  nurses  being  ap- 
pointed, another  must  by  law  be  appointed  to 
supervise  them.  This  would  be,  we  imagine, 
for  the  great  benefit  of  the  patients  under  the 
care  of  the  Holbeck  Board  of  Guardians. 


We  are  glad  to  observe  that  Dr.  Holcroft  is 
still  contesting  the  jjroposal  of  the  Borough  of 
Hastings  District  Nursing  Association  to  attend 
patients  for  small  fees,  and  in  reply  to  a  letter 
to  Dr.  Haviland,  Chainnan  of  the  Committee 
of  the  Association,  published  in  the  local  press, 
protests  against  an  organised  charity  cdmijet- 
ing  in  what  he  considers  an  unfair  way  with  the 
local  nurses,  and  considers  this  action  tends  to 
lower  the  statvis  and  emoluments  of  a  most  de- 
serving class  of  women,  and  is  ill-advised  with 
regard  to  the  success  of  the  Association. 


Dr.  Haviland  defends  the  position  by  saying 
that  all  other  means  having  failed,  the  Com- 
mittee decided  to  charge  small  fees  to  certain 
patients,  which  fees  would  help  to  provide 
funds  for  gratuitously  nursing  the  very  poor, 
and  adds  that  the  Queen  Victoria's  Jubilee  In- 
stitute, "  the  recognised  champion  of  nurses' 
rights  throughout  the  kingdom  sanctions  the 
practice."  But  we  may  point  out  the  object 
of  the  Q.V..J.I.  is  to  supply  nurses  for  the  sick 
poor  in  their  own  homes,  not  to  champion  the 
rights  of  nurses. 


Dr.  Holcroft  rejoins  that  "  a  charity  that 
helps  to  maintain  itself  by  sending  out  nurses 
for  hire  is  in  a  delicate  position,"  and  adds 
"for  a  committee  of  well-to-do  people  to 
finance  their  charity  in  this  manner  is,  in  my 
opinion,  the  acme  and  quintessence  of  every- 
thing that  is  mean."  The  "  charity,"  which 
takes  the  form  of  helping  to  finance  institutions 
out  of  the  earnings  of  working  women,  is,  un- 
fortunatelv  far  too  common. 


On  Saturday,  July  9th,  Founder's  Day,  was 
celebrated  with  a  Garden  Party  at  Lady  Mar- 
garet's Fruitarian  Hospital,  Bromley,  Kent. 
The  wards  were  bright  with  flowers,  and  the 
Sisters  in  their  picturesque  head-dresses  were 


busy  with  their  guests,  pointing  out  objects  of 
interest,  and  ready  to  answer  the  many  en- 
quiries as  to  the  mode  of  their  working.  In 
support  of  their  principles  it  was  shown  that 
there  had  been  no  death  after  operations, 
though  a  large  number  of  major  operations 
have  been  perforaied  there.  The  little  theatre 
with  its  white  tiled  floor  looked  vei-y  business- 
like. The  long  verandah  with  its  glass  roof 
admits  of  open-air  treatment  for  phthisis  cases. 
There  is  a  tiny  chapel  with  oak  stalls  facing 
north  and  south.  As  may  be  supposed,  the 
chief  interest  centred  round  the  kitchen, 
where  the  Sister  of  that  department 
showed  us  many  cunning  dishes  prepared  ac- 
cording to  the  principles  of  the  institution. 
Sausages  and  cutlets  made  from  dark  beans, 
blauc  manges  made  with  vegetable  gelatin, 
jjastry  mixed  with  nut  fat  instead  of  lard,  etc. 
As  the  kitchen  has  to  serve  for  a  refectory  as 
well  it  must  require  much  forethought  and 
method  to  secure  comfort  during  the  meals  as 
well  as  efficiency  in  the  serving.  It  is  a  quaint 
room  with  doors  opening  into  the  garden,  and 
the  floor  laid  with  red  tiles,  and  it  is  adorned 
with  clever  panelling  in  poker  work.  Tea  was 
served  here  for  the  visitors,  and  afterwards 
music  was  given  in  the  women's  ward,  and  a 
stall  of  needlework  for  the  benefit  of  the  funds 
of  the  hospital  was  at  one  end  of  the  verandah. 
There  was  a  good  number  of  visitors  present. 


A  most  successful  Garden  Fete  and  Sale  of 
Work  recently  took  place  in  the  grounds  of  the 
County  Hospital,  Bedford,  which  was  or- 
ganised by  the  Bedfordshire  Hospital  Guild, 
and  planned  on  a  scale  of  attractiveness  worthy 
of  the  cause  it  was  intended  to  benefit. 

The  opening  ceremony  was  performed  by 
Adeline,  Duchess  of  Bedford,  and  Lord 
Ampthill,  Chairman  of  the  Hospital,  expressed 
the  great  pleasure  of  all  present  in  welcoming 
the  Duchess  .again  in  Bedford  where  at  one 
time  she  played  so  important  a  part  in  the  life 
of  the  county.  The  little  son  of  Lord  and  Lady 
Ampthill  then  presented  to  the  Duchess  a 
beautiful  bouquet  of  flowers,  and  ^liss  Munro. 
the  IMatron,  on  behalf  of  herself  and  the  nurs- 
ing staff,  presented  some  lovely  carnations  to 
Lady  Ampthill. 

Her  Grace  was  then  conducted  round  the 
hospital  by  Lord  and  Lady  Ampthill  and  the 
]\Iatron,  and  distributed  flowers  to  -the  adult 
patients  and  toys  to  the  children.  She  was 
delighted  with  her  visit,  and  gave  much 
pleasure  by  saying  that  the  Children's  Ward, 
was  the  sweetest  she  had  ever  seen.  As.  a 
result  of  the  day's  proceedings  the  Guild  have 
over  £600  to  give  to  the  funds  of  the  hospital. 


52 


^bc  Britisb  3ournaI  of  iRursing. 


[July  16,  1910 


^bc  Ibospital  Moiib. 

FOUNDER'S  DAY  AT  GUYS  HOSPITAL. 

The  Distribution  of  Prizes  to  Medallists  and 
Prizemen  at  Guy's  Hospital  is  always  the  oc- 
casion of  a  very  pleasant  garden  party,  for 
which  the  hospital  with  its  picturesque  colon- 
nade and  quadrangles  and  central  park  offers 
exceptional  facilities.  In  the  centre  of  the 
front  quadrangle,  by  which  one  obtains  access 
to  the  hospital,  is  a  statue  of  Thomas  Guy,  the 
Founder  of  this  great  charity,  in  his  livery 
gown.  The  west  wing,  overlooking  this  quad- 
rangle, is  formed  by  the  Matron's  House — and 
no  other  I\Iatron  in  the  Kingdom  has  such 
charming  quarters — and  the  chapel,  in  which 
may  be  seen  the  tomb  of  the  Founder.  On 
oaken  panels  round  the  walls  are  inscribed  the 
names  of  the  doctors,  nurses,  and  students  who 
have  died  in  the  service  of  the  hospital,  while 
the  colonnade  is  ihe  memorial  erected  by  past 
and  present  students  to  their  comrades  who 
fell  in  the  South  African  war. 

On  the  east  side  of  the  front  quadrangle  is 
the  old  Court  Boom,  approached,  as  is  the 
Great  Hall  at  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital,  by 
a  fine  oak  staircase,  and  on  the  walls  hang  the 
portraits  of  distinguished  medical  men  con- 
nected with  the  school. 

Thomas  Guy,  who  was  born  in  1644,  was  the 
son  of  a  lighterman  in  Southwark.  After  being 
apprenticed  to  a  bookseller,  he  started  in 
business  on  his  own  account,  and  for  many 
years  printed  Bibles  foi-  the  University  of  Ox- 
ford, but  he  is  said  to  have  amassed  his  for- 
tune principally  from  the  purchase  of  seamen's 
prize  tickets  in  Queen  Anne's  war,  and  from 
dealing  in  South  Sea  stock.  A  quaint  story  is 
told  of  him  that  in  his  old  age  he  arranged  to 
marry  his  maid  servant,  and  previous  to  the 
wedding  ordered  the  pavement  in  front  of  his 
door  to  be  mended  to  a  certain  spot  which  he 
marked.  The  maid  noticing  another  broken 
place  told  the  paviers  to  mend  it,  and  on  being 
told  it  was  beyond  the  mark  to  which  they  were 
hmited  by  Mr.  Guy's  orders,  told  them  to  mend 
it  nevertheless,  as  her  master  would  not  mind. 
^Ir.  Guy,  however,  was  so  greatly  incensed  to 
find  his  orders  exceeded  that  he  broke  off  the 
match  and  resolved  to  build  hospitals  with  his 
money.  He  built  and  furnished  three  wards  at 
St.  Thomas's  Hospital,  built  his  own  hospital 
at  a  cost  of  nearly  €19,000,  besides  leaving  over 
£209,000  to  endow  it.  He  just  lived  to  see  the 
roof  in  position. 

The  Distribution  of  Prizes. 

The  Distribution  of  Prizes,  at  which  Vis- 
coimt   Onu4h.Ti.    the  recently  appointed   Tvn- 


surer,  presided,  took  place  in  the  new  School 
Buildings.  Viscount  Goschen  succeeds  Mr. 
Cosmo  Bonsor,  who  has  been  appointed  Presi- 
dent of  the  hospital  in  place  of  his  Majesty  the 
King,  who,  on  his  accession  was  obliged  to 
resign  from  this  oflace  but  who  has  now  become 
Patron  of  the  hospital. 

Viscount  Goschen,  who  was  supported  by  the 
staff  of  the  hospital  and  others  in  their  academic 
robes,  said  that  as  this  was  the  first  occasion  of 
his  appearance  as  Treasurer,  he  availed  himself 
of  this  pubhc  opportunity  to  express  his  appre- 
ciation of  the  great  compliment  paid  him,  and 
his  earnest  desire  to  further  the  interests  of  the 
hospital.  He  expressed  regret  at  Mr.  Bonsor's 
absence,  and  the  general  pleasure  that  he  had 
only  moved  on  from  one  post  to  another,  and 
that  his  advice  and  assistance  would  still  be 
available.  Lord  Goschen  spoke  warmly  of  the 
great  services  rendered  to  the  hospital  by  its 
present  President,  of  his  untiring  energy,  con- 
stant kindness,  and  power  to  sustain  interest, 
and  in  conclusion  hoped  he  might  count  on 
the  same  support  from  the  stafi  of  the  hospital 
which  had  been  so  generously  given  to  his  pre- 
decessor. 

The  Dean  then  presented  the  Annual  Report 
of  the  Medical  and  Dental  Schools  to  a  crowded 
audience,  consisting  not  only  of  members  of 
the  School,  but  of  their  relatives  and  friends. 

Amongst  the  honours  gained  by  the  School 
the  report  recorded  its  congratulations  to  Mr. 
H.  I.  .Janmahomed,  who  obtained  the  Univer- 
sity Gold  Medal  in  the  Examination  for  the 
M.D.  London. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  Dean's  Report, 
Lord  Goschen  invited  Professor  Howard 
Marsh,  Professor  of  Surgery  at  Cambridge  Uni- 
versity, to  distribute  the  Medals  and  Prizes. 
As  the  prize-winners  received  tlie  well-earned 
rewards  of  their  hard  work  they  were  warmly 
applauded,  and  a  special  ovation  was  accorded 
to  Professor  E.  H.  Stariing,  M.D.,  F.R.S., 
who  won  the  Astley  Cooper  Prize  of  f"300. 

Professor  Howard  Marsh  spoke  of  the  great 
pleasure  which  he  had  had  in  accepting  the 
invitation  to  present  the  prizes  to  Guy's  men, 
and  said  that  tliough  there  was  keen  com]ieti- 
tion  and  healthy  rivalry  between  Guy's,  Bart's, 
and  St.  Thomas's  men,  their  relations  were 
always  most  friendly.  Addressing  specijilly  the 
"  gentlemen  who  are  students,"  Professor 
Howard  Marsli  said  that  their  profession 
afforded  them  ample  opportunities,  their  futiu'e 
depended  upon  themselves,  with  the  externals 
of  good  health  and  good  fortune.  He  had  a 
strong  belief  in  good  and  bad  luck,  but  indivi- 
duals could  largely  influence  these  if  they  were 
ready  to  seize  a  chance  when  it  came  to  them. 


July  16,  1910J 


Z\K  BritiC'b  3oiu-naI  of  IRui-^ina. 


53 


Tliej'  must  not  be  like  the  foolish  virgins,  al- 
though iu  these  days  virgins  were  no  longer 
foolish,  even  they  had  taken  matters  into  their 
own  hands.  It  they  had  a  reverse  they  should 
remember  that  a  tumble  might  do  them  a 
world  of  good.  Whatever  happened  they  must 
never  say  die,  but  remember  it  is  "  dogged  as 
does  it."  Many  a  man  had  given  up  when  he 
was  close  to  the  winning  post,  though  he  did 
not  know  it.  The  personal  qualities  of  kind- 
ness, sympathy,  and  raagnanimitj'  were  im- 
portant, and  honest  hard  work,  based  on  an 
intelligent  estimate  of  circumstances  would 
can-y  theai  far.  Their  work  would  be  congenial 
and  they  were  fighting  with  weapons  which 
were  constantly  becoming  more  efficient.  Some 
men  thought  that  if  only  they  could  have  a 
good  start  they  would  do  great  things,  but  most 
great  men  had  started  at  the  foot  of 
the  ladder  and  climbed  it  laboriously.  The 
speaker  said  that  medicine  had  been  entirely 
recast  in  the  last  30  years,  and  no  longer  con- 
sisted in  prescribing  a  series  of  drugs  supposed 
to  be  beneficial  iu  the  hope  that  one  of  them 
would  hit  the  mark.  Now  medicine  was  a  de- 
partment of  biology,  and  no  one  could  doubt 
that  the  destructive  diseases  would  eventually 
be  wiped  out.  Speaking  of  scientific  research 
and  its  possibilities,  the  Professor  gave  his 
hearers  as  a  good  working  axiom  the  advice  of 
John  Hunter,  "  Don't  think,  go  and  see." 

A  vote  of  thanks  to  Professor  Howard  ^larsh, 
proposed  by  Dr.  Hale  White,  and  seconded  by 
Mr.  Symonds,  Senior  Surgeon  to  the  hospi- 
tal, concluded  the  proceedings,  after  which  re- 
freshments were  hospitably  served  in  the 
colonnade  quadrangles,  and  on  the  terrace  in 
the  Park,  after  which  many  of  the  guests 
visited  the  wards  and  other  parts  of  the  build- 
ing thrown  open  for  inspection.  The  new  Out- 
patient Department  came  in  for  much  admira- 
tion, and  its  spacious  hall  and  convenient  ar- 
rangements must  add  greatly  to  the  smooth 
working  of  the. hospital.  The  walls,  lined  with 
green,  and  white  tiles,  were  very  harmonious. 

The  tesselated  floors  of  some  of  the  wards 
were  especially  worthy  of  note,  and  the  colour- 
ing was  delicate  and  beautiful,  especially  in 
one  tase  where  pink  and  blue  pre- 
dominated. The  wards  themselves,  needless 
to  say,  looked  as  inviting,  fresh;  and  restful  as 
only  hospital  wards  can  look  when  under  the 
management  of  well-trained  Sisters  and 
nurses. 

The  Matron,  Miss  L.  V.  Haughton  was  in- 
defatigable in  her  efforts  to  extend  a  cordial 
welcome  to  the  guests,  providing  tea  and. straw- 
berries in  her  beautiful  Georgian  house,  and  a 
very  happy^  afternoon  was  spent. 


iRcflccttons. 


From  a  Bo.\bd  Room  Mibbor. 

The  King  has  become  patron  ot  St.  Mary's  Hos- 
pital, the  Great  Noitheru  Ceutral  Hospital,  and 
also  ol  the  Noilolk  and  Norwich  Hospital. 


The  Queen  lias  consented  to  continue  her  patron- 
age of  tlie  Children's  Happy  Evenings  Association, 
of  wliich  Mrs.  Bland  Sutton  is  the  energetic  ho'n. 
secretary.  For  twenty  years  this  Association  has 
laboured  to  brighten  the  lives  of  children  whose 
p<arents  can  do  little  more  than  provide  them  with 
the  bare  necessaries  of  life. 


The  Government  have  undertaken  to  contribut© 
to  the  Palace  ot  Peace  at  The  Hague  the  four  large 
upi)er  window.^  ot  stained  gUis^  ot  the  Great  Hall 
of  Justice. 


The  value  of  the  j.ite  of  AVefetminbter  Hospital  is 
so  great  that  its  removal  to  Battersea  or  other  out- 
lying distiiet  ol  London  would  be  a  great  advantage 
from  an  economic  point  of  view.  With  .St. 
Thomas'  in  close  proximity,  and  Charing  Cross 
Hospital  not  tar  away,  it  is  thought  that  West- 
minster can  be  spared  from  its  present  district. 

Active  steps  are  now  being  taken  to  give  effect  to 
the  project  of  erecting  a  Jewish  Hospital  iu  East 
London,  and  if  the  Jews  wish  for  a  hospital  of 
their  own  why  should  they  not  have  one?  Tre- 
mendous opposition  is  being  worked  up  against 
the  scheme  by  the  managers  ot  hospitals  contain- 
ing Jewish  wards.  Surely  these  institutions  Lave 
no  right  to  take  this  line.  There  are,  especially  in 
the  East  End,  enough  Jews  to  go  round,  or  is  it 
the  financial  competition  which  is  feared? 


As  the  result  of  a  special  inspection  shows  that 
th?  Chichester  and  West  Sussex  Infirmary  build- 
ings are  inadequate  for  the  increased  work  and 
for  modern  scientific  requirements,  it  has  been  de- 
cided to  make  important  alterations  and  additions, 
estimated  to  cost  £20,000  to  £24,000,  which  it  is 
proposed  to  form  as  a  memorial  to  King  Ed- 
ward VII.  

The  Secretary  for  Scotland  announces  that,  act- 
ing under  the  powers  conferred  by  the  Prisons 
(Scotland)  Act,  1900.  he  has  ai)i><)inte<l  .3o  ladies  to 
be  additional  members  of  the  visiting  committees 
of  the  prisons  in  Edinburgh,  Glasgow,  Aberdeen, 
Inverness,  Dundee,  Dumfries,  and  Greenock. 
Among  the  ladies  appointed  are  Miss  Crombie,  Dr. 
Ann  Mercer  Watson,  Mrs.  Montgomery  Campbell, 
Mrs.  Wardlaw  Ramsay,  Mrs.  Gilbert  Beith,  and 
Lady  Alice  Shaw-Stewart. 


TIi.:it  the  Edinburgh  Maternity  Hospital  re- 
quires rebuilding  on  mo<lern  lines  is  well  known.  It 
is  too  small,  and  is  old  fashionetl.  It  is  to  be  hojied 
when  this  is  done  it  will  be  erected  on  a  more  suit-" 
able  and  airy  site.  Tlie  proi)osal  has  been  niaJlo 
that  it  should  be  rebuilt  as  a  fitting  memorial  in 
Edinburgh  of  the  late  King. 


64 


Zbc  Britisb  3outnal  of  IRursing. 


[July  16,  1910 


®ur  jforeiGii  Xettcr. 

A  LETTER   FROM   THE  COLONIES. 
The  Jumpi.ng-off  Point. 

Dear  Sister  . 
So  you  are 
thinking  of 
joining  the 
noble  army 
of  poultioe- 
s  1  i  n  g  e  r  s. 
Well,  I  wish 
you  luck.  I 
dou't  know 
much  about 
it,  having  only  been  ill  twice  myself.  I  wiU  tell  you 
about  those  illnesses — it  «ill  be  of  use  to  you,  as  you 
will  learn  from  my  experiences  what  not  to  do. 

The  first  time  was  when  I  had  the  "  flue."  There 
are  few  things  that  can  make  you  feel  so  like  a 
bankrupt  worm  as  the  flue.  I  was  with  friends, 
and  they  said  a  fe^er  should  be  starved.  I  don't 
know  about  the  fever,  but  I  do  know  I  was  starved. 
It  took  me  months  of  stoking  to  get  my  weight  up 
to  its  proper  standard  again. 

Once  I  was  sick  in  a  boarding-house.  Don't  you 
ever  do  that — seek  out  some  remote  place  and  die. 
The  equanimity  of  a  Ixiarding-house  keeper  will 
just  hold  out  with  healthy  boarders,  but  one  sick 
one  will  break  down  that  calm  reserve,  piostrate 
her  nervous  energy,  and  altogether  make  a  devil 
of  a  mess  of  everything. 

The  first  day  it  was  all  right.  Nobody  knew  I 
was  sick  until  5  p.m.,  when  the  slipshod  chamber- 
maid came  to  make  the  beds.  (On  Sundays,  when 
a  man  would  like  to  stay  in  bed.  an  hour  or  two 
longer  than  usual,  they  rout  round  at  7  a.m.)  She 
promptly  bore  the  evil  news  to  the  landlady, 
and  that  fair  dame  came  waddling  into  the  room, 
exuding  an  odour  of  stale  cabbage  and  fish  insepar- 
able from  her  class  of  woman. 

She  insisted  on  my  seeing  a  doctor,  and  wanted 
to  know  why  I  had  not  told  her  a  week  before. 
Sho  told  me  of  a  man  who  was  taken  ill  in  No.  4, 
just  like  me,  and  described  his  sickness  and 
gradual  decline  into  an  early  grave — all  because  he 
would  not  mention  the  fact  that  he  was  feeling 
seedy  to  this  estimable  lady. 

I  apologised  with  deep  humility,  and  told  her 
I  did  not  know  myself  a  week  before  that  I  was 
booked  for  this  affliction.  It  had  come  as  it  were 
like  a  thief  in  the  night,  sought  out  my  weak 
places,  and  smitten  me  therein.  The  lady  merely 
sniffed  (why  do  all  landladies  sniff?)  and  asked  me 
what  I  would  like  to  eat.  As  I  did  not  want  to 
-  eat  I  told  her  that  a  cup  of  tea  was  all  my  soul 
desired.  Of  course  this  was  wrong;  she  insisted 
on  my  having  a  good  meal,  and  said  she  would  send 
me  something  up,  hoping  that  I  would  eat  it  and 
try  to  get  well,  and  so  on,  ad.  lib.  I  meekly  ac- 
quiesced, and  waited  the  arrival  of  the  tea. 

The  tea  was  brought  by  the  chamber-maid  afore- 
said, who  put  the  tray  on  a  chair  beside  my  bed, 
and  told  me  to  iiustle  along  and  get  through  with 
it,  as  she  was  not  going  to  wait  all  night  for  me, 
nor  nobody  else ;  she  was  too  much  put  on  as  it 


was  without  having  to  wait  on  every  man  who 
thought  he  was  sick,  and  so  on  and  so  on.  I 
waited  until  her  back  was  turned,  and  then  fired 
the  stuff  out  of  the  window,  and  so  got  rid  of  her 
for  the  night. 

I  lay  all  the  night,  and  counted  the  hours  and 
quarters  as  they  were  chimed  by  a  clock  near  by. 
In  the  morning  the  doctor  came,  and  said  I  had 

;  I  can't  spell  the  word,  but  it  was  some 

sort  of  cholera,  caused  by  drinking  bad  water. 
(I  always  do  come  to  grief  if  I  drink  water.)  The 
landlady  held  up  her  fat  and  dirty  hands  in 
horror,  and  hoped  it  would  be  a  lesson  to  me.  I 
hoped  so,  too.  The  medico  sent  found  a  bottle  of 
physic,  and  I  took  one  dose.  That  was  quite  enough. 
I  felt  that  one  dose  of  that  stuff  would  cure  me, 
and  if  it  didn't,  well,  I  would  sooner  have  the 
cholera.  A  sick  man  with  this  peculiar  complaint 
is,  I  admit,  a  nuisance  in  any  house ;  but  a  man 
taking  that  vile  stuff  would  soon  become  obnoxious,, 
so  I  refused  to  take  any  more.  Physic  is  not  much 
good  any  way,  and  a  man  is  in  a  bad  way  who  leans 
too  heavily  upon  it. 

The  next  day  my  head  was  swelled.  I  felt  swollen 
all  over.  It  was  a  comfort  to  be  in  bed,  for  if  I 
had  wanted  to  go  out  an  umbrella  would  have  been 
the  only  article  I  could  have  worn.  I  was  feeling 
sick,  and  very  sorry  for  myself.  The  bed  was  hard, 
the  room  hot  and  stuffy;  ten  thousand  odours  from 
the  kitchen  assailed  my  olfactory  nerves.  I  fancied 
I  could  trace  each  one  back  to  its  particular  saiice- 
pan  or  sink.  They  were  all  vile,  and  only  differed 
in  that  some  were  more  vile  than  others.  Outside, 
above  all  the  noise  of  the  traflBc,  could  be  heard  the 
hideous  complaining  of  a  hurdy-gurdy.  Who 
makes  these  things?  'SMiere  do  they  come  from, 
and  are  there  any  new  ones?  I  never  saw  a  new 
one.  All  that  I  have  seen  are  apparently  about  five 
hundred  years  old,  and  very  badly  worn  at  that. 
They  are  aU  gone  on  the  top  notes,  and  a  bit  gaspy 
on  the  lower  ones.  In  health  one  can  hear  them 
and  live,  but  in  sickness — a  funeral  dirge  would  be 
cheerful  in  comparison. 

Of  course,  the  landlady  came  to  see  how  I  pro- 
gressed, and  stayed  awhile  to  cheer  me  up.  She 
brought  a  few  flowers,  too,  to  brighten  the  room. 
She  said  they  would  not  be  wasted  in  any  case,  be- 
cause she  could  work  them  into  a  wreath  or  cross 
if  anything  happened.  I  smiled  as  I  thought  of 
those  derelict  fragments  of  a  rosebush  worked  into 
a  wreath  and  roosting  on  my  bosom. 

She  also  asked  me  for  the  address  of  any  friends 
I  might  chance  to  possess,  in  case  it  would  be 
necessary  to  tell  them  that  I  had  left  this  vale  of 
woe  In  the  course  of  her  cheerful  conversation  she 
regretted  that  I  was  in  that  particular  room ;  one 
of  the  rooms  downstairs  would  have  been  so  much 
handier  in  every  way.  The  last  coffin  that  wont 
down  those  stairs  si)oilt  quite  a  lot  of  paint.  I 
seemed  to  feel  a  sort  of  resentment  against  Iier 
continual  harping  on  the  subject  of  funerals,  and 
was  glad  when  she  left  me. 

I  passed  a  week  in  that  room,  and  came  out  a 
wreck.  I  had  gone  to  bed  a  man — weary,  it  is  true, 
but  still  I  had  the  outward  semblance  of  a  man. 
I  rose — and  Heaven  help  me !  I  was  a  ghost.  But 
I    had   learned  much.     Long  interviews  with  the 


July  16, 1010]         ^|5c  36iitisb  3oiu-ual  of  IHursino. 


landlady  had  taught  me  how  poor  a  thing  is  iiiaii 
when  he  is  a  boarder;  and  how  gracious  and  kind 
is  woman  when  she  takes  in  boarders.  ("  Takes 
in  '■  may  be  read  literally.)  From  her  remarks  I 
judged  that  about  half  of  her  past  boarders  were 
no  good ;  the  other  half  were  wandering  round 
the  world  singing  her  praises,  and  offering  up  con- 
tinual prayers  on  her  behalf.  I  offered  up  a  few 
myself.  Ah,  well !  If  ever  I  am  ill  again  I  hope 
I  shall  be  somewhere  near  the  fringe  of  civilisation ; 
then  I  might  have  a  real  poultice-slinger  to  look 
after  me;  or  better  still,  go  to  hospital  and  have 
half-a-dozen  at  once.  But  I  suppose  in  hospital 
they  would  not  all  be  qualified ;  some  would  be 
'prentice  hands.  In  that  case  I  could  give  them 
some  valuable  hints. 

I  remember  once  when  we  were  up  in  the  moun- 
tains one  of  our  party  took  sick — got  cold  most 
likely,  through  sleeping  in  the  open  so  many  feet 
above  sea-level.  He  had  an  uncanny  craving  for 
physic,  was  sure  if  he  could  get  some  he  would  be 
all  right.  We  had  run  short  of  quinine,  and  hav- 
ing a  l)ottle  of  Yorkshire  Relish  in  the  commis- 
sariat we  mixed  some  pepper  and  a  few  other  things 
with  it  and  gave  it  to  him  in  teaspoonful  doses.  It 
bucked  him  up  in  no  time.  You  might  try  that 
on  some  of  the  victims  in  your  hospital. 

If  I  come  across  any  more  hints  that  may  be  of 
use  to  you  I'll  let  you  have  them.  Till  then,  fare- 
well. Don't  work  too  hard.  It  is  bad  manners  to 
try  to  do  all  the  work  yourself.  Let  someone  else 
do  a  bit. 

Every  vour  loving  br  'l.er, 

H. 

BRITISH  ORGANISATION  FOR  VOLUNTARY  AID 
The  first  meeting  of  the  recently  formed  Advisory 
Committee  to  facilitate  the  working  of  the  scheme 
for  the  organisation  of  voluntai-y  aid  was  recently 
held  at  the  War  Office,  the  following  mem- 
bers being  present :  —  The  Director-General 
Army  Medical  Service  (Chairman),  Lieut. -Colonels 
F.  S.  llaude  and  E.  Eckersley  (Secretary),  repre- 
senting the  War  Office ;  Sir  Richard  Temple  and 
Colonel  R.  B.  Colvin,  representing  the  Council  of 
County  Territorial  Associations;  Sir  Frederick 
Treves  and  Mr.  A.  A.  Bowlby,  representing  the 
British  Red  Cross  Society ;  and  Colonel  Sir  George 
Beatson,  representing  the  St.  Andrew  Ambulance 
-Association. 


Qutsibc  tbc  Gates. 


LADY  DUDLEY'S  NURSING  SCHEME. 
At  a  public  meeting  held  at  Sydney,  at  which  the 
Lord  Mayor  presided,  Lord  Dudley,  Governor- 
General  of  Australia,  Lord  Chelmsford,  Governor 
of  Xew  South  Wales,  Mr.  Wade,  Premier  of  New 
South  Wales,  Sir  Samuel  Griffiths,  Chief  Justice  of 
Australia,  and  Vice-Adrairal  Sir  Richard  Poore, 
Commander-in-Chief  on  the  Australian  station, 
supported  the  Countess  of  Dudley's  Bush  Nursing 
Scheme  as  a  memorial  to  King  Edward,  and  re- 
quested the  Lord  Mayor  to  open  a  subscription 
list.  We  understand  that  tlie  feeling  in  Australia 
is  that  only  thoroughly  traine<l  nurses  should  be  em- 
ployed, and  vthe  Counters  ol  Dudley  well  tinder- 
stands  the  importance  of  the  three  year^'  .standard. 


WOMEN. 
The  result  of  the  Debate  on  the  Second  Read- 
ing of  the  Women  Suffrage  Bill  on  Tuesday  last 
was  a  majority  of  145  in  its  favour,  but  the 
Bill  was,  nevertheless,  throttled  by  the  practical 
refusal  of  the  Government  to  send  it  to  a  Grand 
Committee.  The  chief  point  o^  interest,  as  the 
outcome  of  the  Debate,  was  the  clear  proof  afforded 
that  one  sex  cannot  speak  for,  or  legislate  for, 
the  other.  To  be  most  effectively  presented,  women 
must  plead  their  own  cause. 


The  report  has  been  issued  of  the  Departmental 
Committee  on  the  Employment  of  Children  Act, 
1903,  and  its  recommendations  as  to  child  trading 
would  prevent  the  making  of  loafers,  and  sweep 
away  the  "  bandit  life  "  of  the  street  boy.  Street 
trading  by  girls  is  considered  the  woi'st  of  moral 
risks.  "  There  can  be  no  doubt,"  says  the  report, 
■  that  large  numl)ers  of  those  who  were  once  street 
tradei's  dritt  into  vagrancy  and  crime,  and  so  far  as 
girls  are  concerned  there  must  be  adde<l  to  other 
evils  an  unquestionable  danger  to  morals  in  the 
narrower  sen.se.  The  evidence  presente<l  to  us  on 
this  point  was  unanimous  and  most  emphatic. 
Again  and  again  persons  specially  qualifie<l  to  speak 
assured  us  that  when  a  girl  took  up  street  trading 
she  almost  invariably  was  taking  a  fii'st  step  to- 
wards a  life  of  immorality.  On  the  physical  side, 
the  evidence,  though  not  entirely  unanimous,  em- 
phasises the  obvious  danger  to  health  arising  when 
children,  and  especially  young  girls,  often  very  in- 
adequately clothe<l,  are  expose<l  for  long  iwriods 
to  inclement  weather." 


Miss  Olive  Hargieaves,  who  had  been  carrying 
on  investigations  at  .Sheffield,  told  the  Committee 
it  was  quite  a  common  thing  for  a  boy  or  a  girl  to 
make  12s.  a  week.  In  most  of  the  cases  it  was 
almost  impossible  to  get  to  know  what  they  did 
earn.  A\'hen  there  was  a  big  race  on  they  would 
sell  a  good  many  papers,  and  it  was  a  great  tempta- 
tion not  to  tell  their  mother  what  they  had  earned. 
These  children  lived  in  a  state  of  glorified  picnic, 
and  indulged  in  such  things  as  ice  cicam.  Tliey 
almost  invariably  finished  the  evening  at  a  music- 
hall.  They  smoked  a  tremendous  lot  of  cigarettes. 
That  was  specially  so  in  the  case  of  the  girls,  who 
would  sometimes  get  through  twelve  cigarettes  a 
day,  and  cigarettes  of  the  poorest  kind  of  cabbage- 
leaf.     The  report  deserves  careful  study. 


The  organisers  of  the  great  suffrage  demonstra- 
tion of  the  Women's  Social  and  Political  Union, 
to  take  place  in  Hyde  Park  on  Saturday,  July  23rd, 
write  to  us  that  "AVe  are  very  anxious  to  have  a 
really  good  contingent  of  nurses.  The  public  is 
very  "sympathetic  to  them,  and  is  always  impress«l 
by  the  fact  that  so  earnest  and  respected  a  l>ody  of 
w'orkers  should  spare  their  very  scant  leisure  in 
order  to  take  part  in  the  suffrage  movement.     The 


56 


tbc  Brltisb  journal  of  IRursiHG. 


[July  16,  1910 


details  of  the  arrangements  for  this  demonstra- 
tion, will  be  found  in  this  week's  Votes  for 
Women,  the  official  organ  of  the  T7nion,  and  after 
the  wonderfully  sympathetic  reception  given  to 
the  nurses'  contingent  on  June  18th,  we  hope 
even  a  greater  number  will  be  present  on  the 
coming  occasion.  The  people  love  caps  and  aprons; 
let  them  if  possible  be  worn. 


■Boo\{  of  the  mcc\{. 


THE  OTHER  SIDE* 

This  book  presents  to  us  the  history  of  a  young 
musician,  David  Archdale,  and  it  is  with  his  failure 
to  carry  out  the  high  ideals  with  which  he  started 
his  career  that  the  story  lias  to  do.  Under  the  pres- 
sure of  poverty  he  yields  to  the  temptation  of 
vulgarising  his  art.  and  using  it  as  a  commercial 
a^et.  He  is  punished  for  this  by  losing  to  a  great 
extent  his  spiritual  vision,  and  on  the  death  of  his 
wife,  whom  he  devcytedly  loves,  he  realises  that  the 
hopeless  sense  of  eepaiiation  which  he  gradually 
comes  to  feel  is  caused  more  by  the  inability  of  his 
soul  to  ascend  to  hers  than  by  the  mere  dissolution 
of  the  flesh. 

Tlie  prologue  tells  us  how.  the  boy  David  is 
adopted  by  the  Abbey  organist,  Sebastian  Fermor, 
and  how  his  early  pixjmise  of  a  great  career  con- 
soles the  older  man  to  a  great  extent  for  his  own 
failure  to  achieve  fame.  In  the  firet  cliapter  we 
read. of  an  "audience  gathered  together  to  listen 
to  David  Archdale's  first  recital,  after  his  appoint- 
ment as  organist  of  Sherborne  Abbey.  The  towns^ 
men  knew  that  the  young  man  was  succeeding 
Sebastian  Fermor,  who  had  retired  after  twenty-five 
yi^rs  of  service.  .  .  .  Half  way  down  the  nave 
sat  Fermor  himself,  and  by  his  side  a  young  woman. 
This  was  Mary  Pigueiol.  David's  future  wife. 

"  The  third  movement  began.  Into  the  spaces  of 
the  nave  a  miserere  quivered,  as  if  from  the  am- 
bulatory, where  the  Saxon  kings,  Ethelbert  and 
Ethelbald  lie  at  rest.  The  girl  pressed  Termor's 
arm,  and  smiled.  To  her  death  meant  the  passing 
to  an  ampler  life,  a  passage  so  easy,  involving  so 
little  change,  that  apart  from  the  pangs  of  dis- 
solution it  ouglit  to  be  no  more  dreadful  than 
falling  asleep." 

On  their  honeymoon  she  tells  David  that  she  has  a 
conviction  that  she  will  die  first,  and  that  it  wilt 
be  soon.  He  answers  her,  "  If  you  went  it  would 
be  very  dark,"  and  makes  her  pledge  herself  "  to 
come  back  at  once  if  you  go  first.  If  I  have  the 
most  shadowy  glimpse  of  you  I  shall  believe  in  a 
future  life." 

She  answered  after  a  pause,  "  I  will  come  back 
if  I  can.     1  swear  that.'' 

"  Then  he  ki<se<l  liei-.  .straining  her  to  him  in  a 
passion  of  revolt  against  the  law  which  binds 
husband  and  wife  together  with  the  knowledge  and 
therefore"  with  tho  intention  of  rending  them 
asunder." 

Little  '  Marionette  "  arrives  on  the  scenes  at  the 
same  time  that  his  cantata  is  finished,  and  his  san- 


guine temperament  is  already  dreaming  "  of  a 
nurse  and  pony  cart,  and  perhaps  a  parlour  maid, 
and  a  gorgeous  pram,  and  pelisse  lined  with  the 
bes±  white  satin."  But,  alas!  the  ablest  musicians 
agreed  that  the  cost  of  its  production  would  be 
enormous  and  prohibitive.  Crushed  by  disap- 
pointment, he  to  a  great  extent  yields  to  the  sug- 
gestion of  a  great  star  of  musical  comedy  that  he 
should  "  chuck  Church  music,  and  concentrate  on 
songs.  Excuse  me,  ISfrs.  Archdale,  this  husband 
of  yours  can't  realise  that  he  has  a  little  gold 
mine  under  his  nose.'' 

Wonderful  financial  success  crowns  this  depar- 
ture, but  to  Mary  it  i.s  the  breaking  up  of  their 
old  intimate,  and  to  her  satisfying,  life.  When 
theii'  little  girl  ie  seveu  years  old  Mary  dies  of 
enteric  fever  at  Spa. 

"  There  was  no  parting,  no  last  words.  She  died 
at  two  in  the  morning,  passing  easily  to  the  otner 
side." 

Ten  years  afterwards,  while  motoring  with  Fer- 
mor abix)ad,  they  meet  with  a  terrible  accident, 
in  which  Fermor  is  killed,  and  David's  disembodied 
spirit  hovers  for  a  while  round  the  scene  of  the 
accident,  calling  vainly  for  Fermor,  and  unable  to 
reach  him  or  Mary.  It  is  then  that  he  realises  that 
he  has  neglected  his  spiritual  nature  in  seeking  tor 
mere  success.  These  experiences  are  accounted  for 
by  suspeude<l  animation,  and  in  the  total  blindness 
with  which  he  is  afflicted  during  the  few  remaining 
months  of  liis  life  he.  recovers  the  heavenly  vision 
and  at  last  finds  Mary  after  his  long  quest. 

"Listenl"  said  David. 

He  had  opened  his  eyes.  They  were  still 
limpidly  blue,  the  eyes  of  the  boy  who  had  sung 
anthems  in  the  Abbey  Church. 

Then  in  a  loud,  clear,  joyous  tone  he  exclaimed : 

"  Mary!  " 

He  struggled  to  sit  up,  extending  botli  arms  and 
looking  straight  into  the  sun.  Then  his  head  fell 
back  upon  the  i>illow.  H.  H. 


*  By  Horac<>  .\nnosIey  Vacholl.     (Thomas  Nelson 
and   Sons.    lyondon.) 


COMING  EVENTS. 

July  l^fft.— Annual  Staff  Tea,  Royal  Maternity 
Charity,  Eustace  Milt's  Restaurant,  W.C,  3 — 5  p.m. 

July  16th. — Meeting  of  the  Matrons'  Council, 
General  Hospital.  Birmingham,  3  p.m.  Public 
Meeting  on  State  Registration  of  Nurses,  4.30 
p.m. 

July  19th  and  iiOth.— Venal  Cases,  Central  Mid- 
wives'  Board.    Board  Room,  Caxton  House,  2  p.m. 

Jiihj  SUf. — Annual  Meeting,  Registered  Nurses' 
Society,  431,  Oxford  Street.  London.  W.,  to  re- 
ceive the  annual  report  and  audited  accounts. 
5  p.m.    Tea. 

July  23rd. — The  Women's  Social  and  Political 
Union.  Great  Demonstration  in  support  of  the 
Conciliation  Committee's  Suffrage  Bill.  Hyde  Park, 
London,  W. 

WORD  FOR   THE  WEEK. 

"  Fri>m   my   point  of  view   it   is   a   matter  of  no 

importance  whothi^r  a    majority   or   a   minority  of 

women  desire  the  chanKO.     If  our  laws  are  ever  to 

become  human  and  civilised  the  State  requires  it." 

Mr.  Crcll  Chapmiin  on  Womcn'.i  Suffraoe. 


July  16,  1010] 


dbc  Brttisb  3oiu-nal  of  IHiUjjiiic}, 


57 


Xcttcri?  to  tbc  leMtor. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  com* 
munications  upon  all  subject* 
for  these  columns,  u-e  xcish  it 
to  be  distinctly  understood 
that  xce  do  not  in  any  way 
hold  ourselves  responsible  for 
the  opinions  expressed  by  out 
correspondents. 


A  SACRED  DUTY. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 

Dear  Madam. — May  I  be  permitted,  as  one  of 
Miss  Isla  Stewart's  jmpils — who  liokls  her  memory 
in  siacerest  reverence — to  thank  Miss  Grace  Tin- 
dall,  of  Bombay,  for  lior  generous  and  inspiring 
letter,  which  ap^>e«ro<l  in  your  Journal  last  week?. 

I  feel  stixjngly  that  recent  events  will,  indeed, 
as  Miss  Tindall  say.s,  "  fan  our  energies  ...  to 
bring  to  a  successful  and  speedy  issue  those  things 
needful  for  our  profession  for  which  Miss  Stewart 
worked  and  gave  her  life." 

It  is  the  sacred  duty  now  of  all  of  us  who  loved 
and  lionoured  our  great  leader  to  strain  ourselves 
to  the  utmost  to  further  the  Bill  for  the  State 
Registration  of  Xurses..  which  is  so  vitally  neces.sary 
to  our  profession.  If  a  trumpet  call  were  needed  to 
stir  nurses  into  energy  surely  that  call  has  lately 
been  sounded  in  an  unmistakable  fashion? 

This  letter  from  Miss  TindaU,  of  sympathetic 
appreciation  of  Miss  Stewart's  work  and  out-six>ken 
criticism  of  the  treatment  Bart's  nurses  have  re- 
■ceived — coming  as  it  does  from  a  lady  who  has  no 
connection  with  St.  Bai-tholomew's  Hospital — is 
specially  gratifying  to  us  who  loved  Miss  Stewart, 
and  who  feel  so  keenly  the  lack  of  appreciation 
shown  her  work  and  memory  by  the  medical  and 
surgical  staff  of  the  Hospital  in  permitting  this 
appointment  to  be  made  without  combining  in  a 
vigorous  protest  to  the  authorities.  The  many 
letters  received  from  all  parts  of  the  world  show 
that  in  the  opinion  of  the  nursing  world  Miss 
Stewart  held  a  verj-  high  position,  and  that  her 
services  to  the  nursing  profession  were  greatly 
esteemed.  These  letters  also  show  clearly  the 
world-wide  condemnation  of  this  recent  appoint- 
ment . 

I  am,  etc., 

Flokence  G.  Stabb. 

132,  Harley  Street,  AV. 


■CURED  MANIACS." 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 
Dear  Madam, — In  ili.-;s  Loane's  book,  "■  Neigh- 
bours and  Friends,'  what  she  says  about  the  many 
homes  which  are  terrorised  amongst  the  jioor  by 
"cured"  lunatics — poor  creatures  let  loose  on 
their  families,  after  asylum  treatment,  who  are 
quite  unable  to  attend  to  them,  and  save  them  the 
worry  which  keeps  them  anything  like  sane,  is  well 
known  to  many  district  nurses  in  crowded  towns. 
I  have  personally  come  in  contact  with  many  such 
eases,  more  than  one  of  which  has  resulted  in 
death,   and  the  courage  and  devotion   with  which 


the  poor  accept  the  terrible  risks  is  quite  mar- 
vellous. You  will  hear  a  man  say  of  his  liall- 
deniente<l  wife,  "  Poor  critter,  she  can't  atjoar  to 
be  away  from  us;  it  worrits  her  terrible;  she  did 
so  fret  after  the  children."  And  a  few  months 
later  he  returns  from  work  to  find  the  children 
with  their  throats  cut,  or  mother  and  child  cast 
away  in  the  river,  or  if  the  caretaker  is  the  wife, 
she  will  sooner  or  later  probably  have  her  brains 
battered  out.  Life  is  very  hard  for  the  poor — how 
hard  only  those  who  come  into  intimate  touch  with 
them  can  know.  In  this  busy  Yorkshire  mill 
town,  great  resentment  has  been  expressed  by 
middle  class  comfortable  people  that  Sunday 
is  not  spent  at  home  as  a  complete 
day  of  rest,  and  that  men  and  women, 
young  and  old,  spend  money  required  to  keeptluni 
out  of  the  House  when  old,  or  to  bury  them  when 
young,  in  excursions  to  the  sea-side,  where  they 
have  whitt  they  call  "a  jolly  old  bust"  by  the 
briny.  Well,  I  am  of  opinion  that  these  "busts" 
keep  the  workers  sane,  and  that  they  counteract  the 
results  of  the  terrible  monotony  of  the  factory  and 
lack  of  light  and  oxygen  iu  their  mean  homes.  I 
have  been  "on  the  bust"  on  more  than  one  occa- 
sion with  these  hilarious  "  hands,"  and  thoroughly 
enjoye<l  the  experience.  Blackpool  was  our  des- 
tination, and  no  need  to  praise  its  glorious  nerve- 
reviving  air.  Fun  was  rough  and  ready,  but 
"nuss"  was  treated  like  a,  queen.  If  there  were 
more  "jolly  old  busts"  there  would  be  less 
lunatics,  suicide,  and  murder. 
Yours  truly, 

A  Queen's  Nurse. 


THE  WOMEN'S  HOLIDAY  FUND. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 
Dear  Madam, — I  am  so  glad  to  see  the  claims  of 
the  Women's  Holiday  Fund  advocated  in  your 
valuable  journal.  There  is  no  class,  I  believe,  who 
need  a  thorough  holiday  once  a  year  more  than 
London  mothers.  Just  consider  what  their  lives 
are.  At  best,  with  decent  hard-working  husbands, 
who  bring  their  wages  home,  it  is  a  constant  strug- 
gle to  make  ends  meet,  in  the  one  room  which  usually 
serves  as  living  and  bedroom,  kitchen  and  nursery. 
Can  we  wonder  that  with  the  children,  not  too 
well  disciplined  usually,  all  about  her,  and  when 
she  is  probably  looking  forward  to  the  advent  of 
another,  a  woman  gets  irritable  and  impatient 
as  the  weary  round  of  the  work  that  is  never 
finished  goes  on  day  after  day.  Is  it  too  much  to 
ask  that  she  shall  once  a  year  for  a  week  or  two 
be  removed  from  it  all,  and  in  the  quiet  of  country 
surroundings  be  thought  for,  for  a  brief  space,  in- 
stead of  having  to  think  constantly  for  others? 
Those  who  work  in  the  slums  learn  to  appreciate 
the  heroism  of  these  brave  toilers. 
Faithfully  yours, 

A  District  Nurse. 


NOTICE. 

Our   Puzzle  Prize. 
Rules    for    competing    for   the   Pictorial   Puzzle 
Prize  will  be  found  on  Advertisement  page  xii. 


53 


^bc  Brltisb  3ournai  of  iRursino  Supplement.   [J^^iy  i6,  loio 

The    Midwife. 


Zlbc  Central  niM^ wives'  KoarD. 

LIST  OF  SUCCESSFUL  CANDIDATES. 
June  Examination. 

At  the  examination  of  the  Central  Midlives' 
Board,  held  on  June  loth  in  Loudon,  Provincial, 
and  Welsh  centres,  540  candidates  were  examined, 
and  -147  passed  the  examiners;  the  percentage  of 
failures  was  17.2. 

London. 

British  Lying-in  Hosjyital—'E.  J.  Harvey,  H.  K. 
Johnson,  E.  M.  Sutton. 

City  of  London  Lying-in  HospitaL — E.  A.  J.  C. 
Hans,  A.  H.  Jagenberg,  A.  R.  Lailey,  A.  M.  Merri- 
man.  J.  K.  Tiedt. 

Chphnm  Maternity  Hospital.— M.  V.  Burgess, 
E.  M.  Deane,  E.  E.  A.  Eraser,  C.  A.  Hall.  C.  H. 
McCracken,  L.  E.  Roberts,  D.  Spong,  E.  D.  Stubbs, 
J.   Watts. 

East  End  Mothers'  Home.—F..  L.  Bracey,  E.  T\ . 
Ope,  I.  M.  L.  Du  Sautoy,  J.  Fieldeu,  A.  Freeman, 
E  Johns,  E.  M.  Noakes,  E.  O'Dolierty,  L.  Scarrott, 
A.  M.  B.  Simpson,  L  Sprott. 

Edmonton  Union  InfirmaTy.—'E.  E.  Saunders. 

(General  Lying-in  Eospital. — M.  L.  Cairnes,  H. 
E.  Fairhead,  E.  L.  Jones,  E.  M.  M.  Moilat,  F.  M. 
Rose,'V.  M.  Stuteley,  G.  E.  Wilson. 

Guy's  Institution.— "SI.  E.  Dudding,  U.  I.  H. 
Gidney,  R.  M.  McMorland,  C.  M.  Stewart,  E.  C. 
Strappini. 

London  EospitaL — M.  Heather.  A.  Pointon,  E. 
E   Pollard.  J.  R.  Sraaill.  D.  H.  Taylor,  T.  Willder. 

Middlesex  Hospital. —A..  Gill,  A.  M.  Hadow,  E. 
AV.   Hamblin. 

"  Begions  Beyond"  Missionary  Union. — L.  A. 
W.  Collett,  B.  A.  N.  Du  Commun,  E.  Elder. 

Queen  Charlotte's  Hospital.— F.  E.  Bakewell,  C. 
L  Birtles,  R.  Evans,  E.  E.  Gerard,  A.  Goulder, 
E.  J.  Hourston,  E.  M.  E.  Johns,  K.  R.  Peck,  E.  A. 
Perrott,  P.  M.  Perry,  S.  Reynolds,  M.  A.  Riley, 
L.  Smith,  H.  E.  M.'lTsher,  A.  F.  Wright, 

Solvation  Army  Maternity  Hospital. — E.  M.  L. 
Davies,  M.  E.  M.  Harman,  E.  A.  Waters,  A.  M. 
Miisgrave. 

Shoreditch  Union  Infirmary.— D.  K.  Fussell. 

Woohcieh  Home  for  Mothers  and  Bahics.—l.  M. 
Bloyd,  A.  R.  Kedward. 

PnOVINXIAL. 

.^hlershot  Louise  Margaret  Hospital.— 'E.  M. 
-Chalmers,  L.  E.  Dawson,  G.  C.  Kirk. 

Bradford  Union  Hospital.— L.  M.  Hale,  G.  A. 
Wliarton. 

Birkenhead  Maternity  ffo.92>ifof.— E.  Adams,  E. 
Davis,  S.  Edwards,  M.  A.  Jones,  K,  Lenthall,  F. 
Lowsby,  J".  Mills,  E.  Rainforth,  A.  D.  Scott. 

Birmingham.  /Iston  Union  Workhouse. — M.  A. 
Jii(()Upst,  M.  A.  Watson. 

Birmingham,  King's  Norton  Union  Infirmary. — 
M.  Jones. 

Tiirmingham  Maternity  Hospital. — G.  Beckett, 
E.   Dudley,  E.  M.   Hooper,  E.   Hough,   G.   A.  B. 


Miller,  M.   A.  Parish,  M.  Pickering,   A.   E.   Pitt, 
M.  Sherwood,  E.  Smith,  E.  Wafer. 

Brighton  and  Hove  Hospital  for  ]Tomen.—E.  H. 
Andertou,  R.  D.  Ferguson,  L.  M.  Francis,  M. 
Kirkham.  G.  J.  Pitts,  E.  C.  Quin,  E.  G.  Williams, 
C.  M.  Willocks. 

Bristol  General  Hospital. — A.  Gerrard,  E.  S. 
Golding,  A.  Millward,  E.  M.  Moore,  E.  H.  Sher- 
gold.  M.  G.  Waithman. 

Bristol  Boyal  Infirmary. — N.  Britten,  M.  B. 
Crow,   K.  L.  Kerr,  B.   Olver,  F.  H.  Robinson. 

Cheltenham  District  Xursing  Association. — A.  R. 
Davies,  M.  A.  Kelly,  G.  Page. 

Chester  Benevolent  Institution. — E.  H.  Coxon, 
L.  M.  Hannah. 

Dtrby  Royal  Nursing  Association. — M.  E.  Davies, 
M.  E.  Moulds,  W.  C.   Smart. 

Devonport  Military  Families  Hospital.  —  A. 
Smith. 

Devon  and  Cornwall  Training  School. — E.  J. 
Bur.rows,  E.  A.  Conry,  A.  M.  Harris. 

Essex  County  Cottage  Nursing  Society. — E. 
Blunt,  L.  M.  Johnson,  A.  Jones,  E.  A.  Vellaoott, 
L.   Ventris. 

Gloiicester  District  Nursing  Society. — E.  Ban- 
nister, A.  Conduit,   A.  M.  Park. 

Greenwich  Union  Infirmary. — A.  E.  Durrant. 

Hidl  Lying4n  Charity. — G.  Mit*?!!^!. 

Il^swich  Nxirses'  Home. — E.  Buckle,  M.  W.  Moore. 

Leeds  Maternity  Hospital. — M.  J.  Bonnar,  S. 
Glasby,   E.  M.  Humphrisj  M.  E.  Woolhou^o. 

Liverpool  Matrrnitii  Hospital. — I.  Barclay,  F.  P. 
Berrv,  A.  Bolton,  INl.  J.  Brewster,  B.  M.  Brundrit, 
G.  M.  Clayton,  G.  A.  Cockburn,  E.  Fillingham,  J. 
Harvev,  E.  M.  Ireland,  A.  Liptrop,  A.  Little,  M, 
H.  McNeish,  A.  Orr,  S.  M.  Phillips,  A.  Pierce,  G. 
A  Quane,  A.  Rich,  M.  A.  Rock,  E.  A.  Royston, 
E.  Shore,  F.  A.  Smith,  M.  Thackwray,  H.  Tipper. 

Liverihwl  West  Derby  Union  Infirmary. — ^A. 
Clare,  M.  M.  Pearson,  S.  E.  Smethurst,  E.  E. 
AVilkinson. 

Liverpool  Workhinise  Hospital. — J.  K.  Bowie,  S. 
Bruokshaw,  L.  M.  Ghent,  E.  M.  Hudson,  M.  A. 
Kinghorn,  G.  Scadding. 

Manchester,  Charlton  Union  Hospitals. — E. 
Smithies,   A.  Spencer. 

Manchester.  St.  Mary's  Hospitals. — E.  Calder- 
liank,  H.  Cakhvell,  E.  Cooper,  E.  Dawson,  E. 
Evans,  K.  Flint,  E.  A.  French,  A.  Gallimore.  M. 
Hall,  S.  A.  Hall,  A.  Howarth,  A.  Lamb.  R.  E. 
Lill,  E.  Mitchell,  C.  G.  Muller,  S.  E.  Newton, 
M.  A.  Gates,  A.  Pickford,  M.  Pickup,  S.  J. 
Pinches,  F.  A.  Spence,  S.  L.  Yates. 

Manchester  Workhouse  Infirmary.— A.  Burgess, 
L.  F.   Pickett. 

Mimmouth  Tr.iining  Centre.— E.  M.  B.  A. 
Brotherhood,  J.  Ellaway,  L.  M.  Fisher,  M.  Hiscott, 
C    S.  Morgan. 

NeircosHc-on-Tune  Maternity  Hospital.  —  J. 
Batov,  M.  J.  Black,  M.  E.  Cripps,  W.  Fitrimtrick, 
M.   Lavfiold,  M.   S.  Walton,  J.  Whitelaw. 

riai'stou-  Maternity   Charity.— M.   H.   Allen,  M. 


July  16,  i9io:  ^i5e  jBritisb  3ournal  of  IHuisino  Supplement. 


59 


E.  Ashman,  A.  Bicki.ll,  A.  Dale,  M.  L.  Davis,  S.  I. 
Dubell,  A.  Finn,  E.  J.  Geerin},',  M.  E.  Harries,  A. 
Hedger,  I.  B.  Higiiiiis,  E.  M.  Holmes,  A.  G.  Jones, 
E.  Jones,  A.  L.  May,  H.  Morris,  B.  M.  Pope,  F. 
Pope,  S.  Preston,  C.  H.  Price,  A.  V.  M.  M. 
Sanders.  C.  Smith,  M.  A.  Stallard,  S.  Tomlinson. 

^heffiild,  Jessof  Hosi>ifaL—E.  Cockhill,  A. 
Collins,  J.  C.  Humphries,  A.  Nutter,  M,  Robinson. 

irin(/,TOr,  H.B.H.  Princrss  Christian's  Maternity 
Homt'.— R.    Burton.    E.    T.    Landells. 

Wolverhampton.  (,'.1.7.7. — F.  A.  German,  M.  A. 
Luckman,  K.  G.  G.  Maitland,  E.  E.  Underwood. 

Koohcich  Militarij  Families'  Hospital  — A. 
Healey. 

■\V.\LES. 

Cardiff,  Q.V.J.I.—M.  Davies,  M.  Jenkins,  L.  M. 
Richards,  M.  Samuel,  S.  Thomas. 

Cardiff  Union  ffosj>i<aL— M.  E.  Callaway,  M.  G. 
Moseley,  M.  P.  Spence. 

SCOTL.^ND. 

Aberdeen  yiaterniiij  Hospital. — B.  L.  McPherson. 

Dundee  Maternity  Hospital. — F.  H.  Holmes.  M. 
M.  Muir,  E.   T.   Taylor. 

Edinhurqh  Eoynl  Maternity  Hospital. — J. 
Brechin,  F.  A.  Dingwall,  J.  Fyfe,  M.  M. 
Mackenzie,  A.  McLaclilan,  J.  C.  Macmillau.  E.  M. 
Robertson,  M.  P.  Sime.   A.   B.  Wilson. 

Glasgow  Eastern  District  Hospital. — E.  Murray. 

Glasgow  Western  District  Hospital. — J.  T. 
Mcintosh. 

Glasgow  Maternity  Hospital. — ^W.  W.  Fargie.  C. 
Hagen,  M.  A.  Hall,  M.  Ingrain,  M.  F.  Nichol,  H. 
E.  Romer,  M.  A.  Scarffe,  M.  C.  Taylor,  J.  L. 
■Wilson,  J.  E.  Young. 

IREL.AN-D. 

Belfast  Union  Maternity  Hospital. — K.  Evans. 
A.  Graham,  B.  McVeigh,  M.  Newell,  A.  Smyth. 

Corl:  Lying-in    Hospital. — J.   M.    Britton. 

Dublin.  Botunda  Hospital. — B,  Crompton,  A.  B. 
Denton,  M.  Eraser,  E.  L.  Gibbs.  K.  E.  Henry.  A. 
G.  Hughes,  I.  E.  Joly.  A.  J.  Law!  E.  K.  Midwinter. 

Dublin,  yational  Maternity  Hospital. — M.  J. 
Manning. 

Pkiv.\te  Tcition. 

S.  E.  Allison,  A.  G.  Alves,  A.  S.  Anderson.  L. 
Andrews,  M.  J.  Ashcroft.  H.  C.  Ballantvne.  K.  L. 
Bally,  E.  M.  Barker,  J.  R.  Barlass,  S.  E.  Boulton, 
E  Brander,  A.  M.  M.  Broome,  H.  J.  Brown,  P. 
Cambell,  M.  A.  Caveen,  E.  P.  Chew,  C.  Clark,  E. 
L.  P,  Clarke,  E.  M.  Coaker,  A.  E.  Coles.  S.  Collis, 
L.  E.  Cope,  L.  A.  Craoknell,  C,  G.  Craib,  F.  Cutts, 

E.  A.  Dewhurst,  L.  M.  K.  Drennan,  L.  M.  Dun- 
babin,  M.  M.  Dunlevy,  J.  D.  Earlv,  H.  Evans. 
S  K.  f.  Eyre,  B.  L.  Fairhead,  M.  S.  Ferens.  D. 
M.  Fishburn,  F.  M.  Fothergill,  M.  N.  Geekie,  F. 
Gentle,  F.  L.  Giebler,  H.  Gilbey,  M,  A.  Graham. 
A.  L.  Greenaway,  J.  S.  Griffiths.  L,  G.  Griffiths, 
C.  D.  Guest,  M.  M.  Harrington,  E.  G.  Harris,  E. 
Harrison,  M.  H.  Hartland,  A.  C.  Heuslowe,  I. 
Hogg,   F.   E.  Holloway,  A.  Holrovd,  E.  Holrovd, 

F.  A.  Hopewell,  D.  E.  Horn,  A.  Hozack,  M. 
Humphries,  H.  E.  Hurley,  H.  E.  Hutson,  E.  L. 
Jacobeon,  J,  P.  Jamieson,  L.  P.  R.  Jarrett.  A. 
Jones,  G.  Jones,  J.  B.  Jones.  M.  Jones,  51.  Keel, 
E.  M.  E.  Kerens.  E.  Kerr,  E.  Knih,  G.  E.  Lee, 
M.  H.  MacColl,  M.  M.  MacDermott,  E.  McDonald, 
Jane  A.  Macleod,  Jessie  A.  Macleod,  A.  H.  Mason, 


M.  E.  Jlayue,  M.  Mennem,  F.  Methlev,  D.  Mills, 
G.  Murphy,  E.  E.  Myers,  L.  Oldrovd,  B.  E 
Osbourn,  A.  Owens,  C.  M.  Pace,  K.  Parkes,  A.  L 
Parry,  E.  E.  Parry,  A.  E,  Patterson,  E.  M.  Pavne, 
J.  Phillips,  M.  A.  Pickles,  A.  Powers,  H."  M. 
Quarmby,  A.  E.  C.  Ralph,  E,  Rawnslev,  D.  C.  M. 
Read,  R.  Reader,  E,  V.  Reay,  L.  H.  Reeve,  G.  Y. 
Rigby,  M.  Roberts,  A.  E.  Rogerson,  L.  A.  Row- 
botham,  H.  L.  Ryder,  L.  Ryder,  J.  S.  Schorn,  M. 
Schulz,  E.  Seweil,  E.  M.  Smith,  M.  Smith,  W.  A. 
Smith,  H.  St«H}le,  E.  A.  Stwr.  E.  M.  .Stiflf,  A.  M. 
Stoddard,  M.  M.  G.  Sweett,  R.  A.  Tavlor,  F.  M. 
Thackray,  K,  Thirlwell,  A.  B.  Thomas,  "e.  Thomas, 
A.  M.  Thompson,  E.  Tinsey,  S.  E.  Topping,  I.  m! 
AVaddington,  B.  Walk,  M,  Walker,  E.  M.  Watson, 
S.  L.  Wheatcroft,  A.  Whiteley,  E.  Wilkinson,  S. 
Wilson,   E.   V.   Wood,  A.  Wright,  E.  M.   Wright, 

A.  Young.  

The  August  Examin.\tion. 
The  next  examination  of  the  Central  Midwives' 
Board  will  l>e  held  in  Loudon  at  the  Examination 
Hall  on  the  Victoria  Embankment,  W.C,  on 
August  3rd.  The  oral  examination  will  follow  a 
few  day^  later.  

Cbe  Brittsb  Iping^in  Ibospital. 

The  Queen  has  consented  to  continue  her  patron- 
age of  the  British  Lying-in  Hospital,  Endell  Street. 

Zbc  IRo^al  fIDatcntitv  Cbanty. 

The  Annual  Staff  Tea  of  the  Royal  Maternity 
Charity  is  to  be  held  at  the  Eustace  Miles' 
Restaurant,  40,  Chandos  Street,  Charing  Cross, 
W.C,  by  invitation  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Charity, 
Major  Killick,  on  Thursday,  July  14th,  at  3  p.m. 
This  annual  festival  is  a  very  pleasant  one,  and  is 
always  greatly  appreciated  by  the  members. 


Cbc  36.ni>.a.  an^  tbc  fIDibwivcs'  Uct. 

The  Council  of  the  British  Medical  Association 
report  that  the  recommendations  of  the  Depart- 
mental Committee  on  the  working  of  the  Midwives' 
Act  have  been  carefully  considered,  and  the  Coun- 
cil is  glad  to  report  that  in  the  main  they  agree 
with  the  views  .which  have  been  expressed  by  the 
Representative  Meeting,  and  which  were  placed 
before  the  Departmental  Committee  by  the  wit- 
nesses of  the  Association.  An  important  difference 
between  the  recommendations  of  the  Committee 
and  the  jjolicy  of  the  Association  is  in  respect  of 
the  authority  which  should  deal  with  the  payment 
of  medical  men  called  in  by  midwives.  The  Associa- 
tion considers  this  should  be  the  Local  Supervising 
Authorities,  and  not  the  Poor  Law  Authorities,  as 
recommended  b.v  the  Departmental  Coinmittee. 

Do  not  think  of  eclampsia  as  a  kidney  disease,  but 
rather  as  an  intoxication  which  causes  temporary 
renal  inflammation,  and  aggravat^es  pre-existing 
kidney  disease.  The  most  dangerous  cases  are  those  • 
in  which  fits  begin  after  labour  is  over,  or  some  con- 
siderable time  l>efore  laI>our  is  due. 

Albuminuric  patients  whose  limbs  are  much 
swelled  are  less  likely  to  have  fits  than  those  in 
whom  swelling  is  absent.  v». 


60 


^be  Brltisb  journal  of  IRursino  Supplement.  [J"^y  i^,  1910 


Zbc  iEast=«£n^  HDotbers'  1l5onie.       ^be  nDi^\\nve5  Hct  anb  3relanb. 


The  East-End  Mothers'  Home,  394,  Commercial 
Road.  E.,  the  Annual  Meeting  of  which  was  held  at 
the  Mansion  House  on  Monday  last,  under  the 
presidency  of  the  Lord  Mayor,  is  an  institution 
which  is  doing  an  immense  amount  of  good  work 
in  an  extremely  poor  locality,  and,  in  addition  to 
the  skilled  care  bestowed  on  the  patients,  extends 
to  them  a  human  sympathy  and  interest  which  ex- 
tends far  beyond  the  time  in  which  the  women  are 
patients  in  the  institution. 

The  Resident  Lady  Superintendent,  Miss  Mar- 
garet Andei-son,  from  whom  so  much  of  the  home- 
fike  atmosphere  of  the  institution  emanates,  says  in 
her  report  to  the  Committee  for  last  year  that  ttie 
poverty  in  the  neighbourhood  is  absolutely  heart- 
rending. The  nursing  of  out-patients  without 
having"  recoui-se  to  the  Samaritan  Fund,  which 
sadly  "needs  augmenting,  would  indeetl  l>e  hopeless 
work.  She  instances  the  fact  that  104  patients  who 
booked  to  enter  the  institution  were  struck  off  the 
register,  the  reas»u  being  that  in  a  Large  number 
of  cases  the  sole  snpi>ort  of  the  home  was  the 
mother.  After  a  certain  period  the  latter  could  not 
get  work,  and  the  result  was  that  before  it  was 
time  for  the  baby  to  arrive  the  whole  family  had 
been  compelled  by  stre=*  of  •  hunger  to  enter  the 
woi-khouse,  and  again  it  has  sometimes  hapi>ened 
that  when  discharged  from  the  Home  mothers  have 
had  to  join  their  families  in  the  workhouse,  their 
homes  having  been  sold  up  in  their  absence. 

It  is  the  normal  condition  of  patients  admitted 
to  the  Home  that  they  are  badly  nourished,  but 
until  the  past  winter  it  has  "never  had  to  deal 
with  women  whose  vitality  has  suffered  by  con- 
tinued want  and  the  absence  of  the  common  neces- 
sities of  life.  In  this  condition  they  face  a  most 
perilous  and  critical  time,  and  the  anxiety  caused 
is  tremendous.  It  is  indeed  a  burning  lesson  for 
the  bravest  heart,  and  a  stern  and  terrible  trial  for 
the  strongest  faith  to  witness  the  patience  and  en- 
durance of  these  poor  mothers.  In  ordinary  cir- 
cumstances the  coming  of  a  precious  baby  is  a 
joyful  event,  but  to  our  poor  women  the  joy  must 
be  heavily  discounted.  Yet  who  will  eay  that  they 
do  not  give  the  new  comer  love  and  make  much 
of  it  while  they  may. 

"  Tliis  is  where  our  Samaritan  Fund  comes  m. 
We  relieve  the  immediate  distress  and  feed  the 
mother  while  she  is  in  bed,  at  the  same  time  mov- 
ing to  get  permanent  help  for  the  family  from 
other  sources.  In  this  connection  we  get  help  from 
the  Stepney  Welcome,  which  aids  us  with  food  for 
the  nursing  mothers." 

Besides  the  good  work  which  it  is  doing  for  the 
patients,  the  Home  is  an  excellent  and  sticcossful 
training  school  for  midwives  and  monthly  nurses. 

At  the  Mansion  House  Meeting,  the  Ijord  Mayor, 
who  supported  the  appeal  for  funds,  said  that  he 
and  the  Lady  Mayoress  had  recently  visited  the 
Home  and  were  extremely  jjleased  with  the  excel- 
lent management.  Tlie  Bishop  of  Stepney,  in  pro- 
posing a  resolution,  stating  that  the  gixid  work  of 
the  Home  merits  increased  support,  spoke  of  the 
tenderness,  affection,  and  enthusiasm  with  which 
the  work  was  carried  on.  The  resolution  was 
seconded  by  Mrs.  Quintin  Hogg. 


It  is  announced  that  at  a  recent  Conference  in 
Ireland,  at  which  representatives  of  almost  all  the 
important  corijorations  and  medical  societies  in 
Ireland  were  present,  a  unanimous  decision  was 
arrived  at  in  favour  of  the  extension  of  the  Mid- 
wives'  Act  to  Ireland. 


The  following  memorandum  has  been  issued  by 
the  Board  of  Governors  of  the  Rotunda  Hospital : — 
We  beg  to  draw  attention  to  the  serious  <lis- 
abilities  under  which  Irish  midwifery  uui'ses  are 
now  place<!  owing  to  the  limitation  of  the  scope  of 
the  Midwives'  Act  of  1902,  which  applies  only  to 
England  and  Wales. 

As  this  Act  at  present  stands  it  is  quite  possible 
for  the  Central  Midwives'  Board  to  frame  rules 
which  will  preclude  Irish  tnained  midwives  from 
practising  in  England,  and  will  largely  lessen  their 
chances  of  employment  in  the  Colonies.  Tliat  this  is 
not  hypothetical  is  proved  by  the  fact  that  rules 
actually  were  frame<l  which  had  this  result ;  more- 
over, under  the  Act,  Irish-trainetl  midwives  can 
practise  in  England  only  by  a  special  concession 
fi-om  the  Central  ilidwives'  Board,  a  concession 
which  may  at  any  time  be  Avithdrawn  by  the  vote 
of  a  bare  majority  of  that  Board. 

Since  the  establishment  of  a  State  Registration 
for  midwives  it  has  been  an  almost  univei-sal  le- 
cjuirement  in  advertisements  for  appointments  in 
the  Colonies  that  the  State  degree  must  be  held  : 
unless,  therefore,  an  Irish  mid^vife  is  prepared  to  go 
to  the  expense  and  inoonvenienoe  of  crossing  to 
England,  remaining  there  for  ten  days,  and  spend- 
ing money  for  a  diploma,  thus  contributing  to  the 
support  of  the  English  Board,  she  is  practically  de- 
barred from  receiving  a  Colonial  appointment. 
Further,  the  military  authorities  at  the  Curragb, 
when  advertising  for  a  midwife  in  this,  the  very 
centre  of  Ireland,  require  that  she  should  hold  a 
diploma  from  the  Central  Midwives'  Board. 

Thus  the  Act  is  a  one-side<l  and  inequitable 
measure  of  protection,  for  while  English  midwives 
can  practise  in  Ireland,  Irish  midwives  are  pro- 
hibited from  practising  in  England.  An  unmerited 
stigma  is  thus  cast  on  Irish  midwives,  and  this,  too, 
in  .spite  of  the  fact  that  the  time  devotetl  to  their 
training  is  longer  tlian  that  require<l  by  the  C<»ntral 
Midwives'  Board,  and  the  standard  of  excellence 
exacte<l  fix)m  th<>m  will  lx>ar  favourable  eomixirison 
with  any  in  the  I'liitetl  Kingdom.  To  meet  this  in- 
justice it  is  only  lu'ces.sary  to  extend  the  scoi>e  of 
the  existing  Act  so  as  to  include  this  country, 
giving  it  adequate  representation  on  the  Central 
Jlidwives'  Board,  with  a  branch  Council,  to  hold 
examinations  in  Dublin,  Belfast,  and  Cork,  and  to 
grant  diplomas. 

This  extension  of  the  Act  ha.s  tlio  uiiqualiti«xl  sui>- 
5K>rt  of  the  Royal  College  of  Phy.sicians.  of  tlie 
Academ.v  of  M<Hlicine,  and  of  the  other  mo<lical 
bodies  in  Ireland.  It  would  also  contribute  largely 
to  the  discontinuance  of  the  employment  of  un- 
qualifie<l  women  throughout  the  country  districts, 
and  in  tliis  way  effect  for  our  country  what  the  Act 
of  1902  has  done  for  England  and  Wales. 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 
EDITED   BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


No.   1,164. 


SATURDAY,     JULY     23,     1910. 


lEMtorial. 


THE  DUTY  AND  CHARGE  OF  THE  GOVERNORS 
OF  ST.  BARTHOLOMEW'S  HOSPITAL. 
"  It  is  your  duty  and  charge  to  acquit  yourself  in 
that  office  with  all  faithfulness  and  sincerity,  en- 
deavouring that  the  affairs  and  business  of  the  said 
Hospital  may  be  well  ordered  and  managed ;  and 
promoting  the  weal  and  advantage  of  the  poor 
wounded,  sick,  maimed,  diseased  persons  harboured 
in  the  said  Hospital." — From  the  Governors'  Charge. 

A  General  Court  of  Governors  of  St.  Bar- 
tholomew's Hospital  has  been  convened  for 
Thursday,  July  2Sth,  and  it  is  announced 
that  at  this  Court  the  recent  appointment 
of  Matron  will  be  under  consideration. 
Under  the  circumstances  attending  the  ap- 
pointment made  by  the  Election  Committee, 
independent  nurses  holding  the  certificate 
of  the  hospital  have  considered  it  their  duty 
to  communicate  with  all  the  Governors, 
asking  that,  before  it  is  too  late,  they  will 
exert  their  \\tmost  influence  to  prevent  the 
appointment  being  carried  into  effect,  and 
to  secure  an  Inquiry  into  the  management 
of  the  Ntirsing  Department. 

Although  the  nurses  have  apparently 
everything  against  them,  they  are  confident 
that  the  large  majority  of  Governors  do  not 
understand  the  wrong  which  has  been  done 
in  their  name.  Eveiy  endeavour  has  been 
made  to  keep  the  matter  quiet,  and  whj-  ? 
Because  those  who  have  perpetrated,  or 
consented  to,  this  wrong  are  afraid  of  the 
truth,,  whereas  the  nurses  desire  nothing 
better  than  full  publicity,  and  that  all  the 
facts  shoidd  be  known. 

Why  do  the  nurses  desire  an  Inquiry  ? 
Because  the  appointment,  as  it  stands, 
is  a  direct  vote  of  censure  upon  the 
nursing  in  the  wards  of  the  hospital 
and  upon  the  training  of  the  nurses,  and 
in  that  censure  both  the  living  and  the 
dead  are  implicated.  Further,  they  consider 
that  the  Election  Committee  have  by  their 


action  practically  passed  a  vote  of  censure 
on  the  Governors  themselves,  and  their 
methods  and  standard  of  training,  and  on 
the  medical  as  well  as  the  nursing  officers. 
Because  if  the  system  of  training  in  force 
does  not  qualify  the  pupils  of  the  hospital 
for  the  higher  positions  in  the  nirrsing 
world,  and  to  this  the  medical  members  of 
the  Election  Committee  apparently  have 
agreed — that  is  practicallj'  a  vote  of  censure 
on  the  educational  system  in  force. 

The  nurses  rightly  hold  that  here  is 
matter  for  inquiry.  If,  as  they  believe,  the 
system  of  training  will  compare  favourably 
with  that  of  any  nurse  training  school  in 
the  kingdom  ;  if  they  can  point  to  pupils 
of  the  school,  who,  trained  under  its  system, 
have  gained,  and  held  with  distinction, 
appointments  of  first-class  importance  at 
home  and  abroad,  then  the  nurses  claim  that 
the  Election  Committee  have  subjected  the 
school,  and  those  who  have  been  responsible 
for  it,  to  immerited  condemnation  and 
injury,  in  passing  over,  in  the  appointment 
of  Matron,  not  only  its  own  well-qualified 
pupils,  but  other  applicants  with  three 
years  ce)-tificates  who  have  held  the  position 
of  Matron,  in  favour  of  a  candidate  with  a 
tico  years'  certilicate  of  traiiiing,  who  has 
merely  been  a  Matron's  Assistant  and  who 
has  never  held  an  independent  and  respon- 
sible charge. 

The  niirses  appeal  to  the  (tovernors,  who 
include  the  Qiteen  Mother  and  the  Queen 
Consort,  to  institute  a  searching  inquiry 
into  the  whole  matter,  and  meanwhile  to 
prevent  the  appointment  being  carried  into 
effect.  The}-  rely  upon  the  Governors,  whom 
they  have  always  served  loyally,  to  acquit 
themselves  "  with  all  faithfulness  and  sin- 
cerity "  at  this  crisis,  and  to  take  such  actiqn' 
in  the  maintenance  of  justice  as  will  satisfy 
public  opinion  and  maintain  the  honourable 
record  of  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital. 


62 


Zbc  Biitisb  Journal  of  IRursino* 


[July  23,  1910 


flDe&ical  fIDatters. 

MISSIONARIES  AND  THE  CAMPAIGN   AGAINST 
MALARIA. 

A  most  interesting  and  suggestive  address, 
prepared  by  Major  Eonald  Eosb,C.B.,F.R.C.S., 
Nobel  Laureate,  and  Professor  of  Tropical 
Medicine  in  the  University  of  Livei-pool,  for  the 
recent  Commemoration  Day  proceedings  at 
Livingstone  College,  has  now  been  printed  in 
pamphlet  form. 

Major  Eoss  shows  that  during  the  beginning 
of  civilisation  in  Egypt,  Greece,  and  Rome  the 
priests  were  also  the  physicians,  and  the  temple 
was  also  the  hospital,  and  that  there  is  no  doubt 
the  progress  of  medical  science  not  only  in 
these  countries,  but  also  in  India,  was  due  to 
the  ancient  priesthoods.  The  teixiple  was 
always  the- centre  of  local  civilisation,  at  least 
in  rural  areas;  the  priests  were  the  first  to 
collect  information  about  disease,  and  certainly 
collected  more  tkan  we  have  at  present  any 
conception  of.  Thus  in  Egypt  and  Greece  they 
learned  the  connection  between  rats  and 
plague,  that  the  bile  of  a  snake  is  antidotal  to 
its  own  venom,  and  that  immunity  against  that 
venom  can  be  acquired  by  repeated  inoculation. 

Major  Eoss  believes  that  the  missionary  of 
to-day  may  still  hold  a  similar  position  among 
the  barbarous  people  he  is  called  upon  to 
educate.  To-day,  as  in  ancient  times,  the  mis- 
sion house  and  the  church  and  chapel  are  the 
centres  of  local  light,  that  though  the  priest 
and  the  physician  now  tread  separate  but 
parallel  paths,  they  still  walk  in  advance  of  the 
civilising  army,  which  has  yet  to  conquer  many 
of  the  dai-ker  areas  of  the  world.  He  therefore 
desires  to  induce  missionaries  to  come  to  the 
front  again  in  connection  with  the  remarkable 
development  of  science  which  we  have  wit- 
nessed during  the  last  ten  years  in  connection 
with  malaria  and  other  insect-borne  diseases. 
He  believes  that  the  missionaiy  can  play  a  part 
in  the  prevention  of  such  diseases  which  will 
add  both  to  the  greatness  of  his  calling  and  to 
the  happiness  of  those  to  whom  he  ministers. 
Often  called  upon  to  live  in  the  remotest  dis- 
tricts, far  from  hosjjitals,  municipalities,  health 
departments  and  officials,  he  is  now  exactly  in 
the  position  of  the  priest  of  old,  and  to  him  still 
belongs  the  double  duty  of  curing  both  mind 
. and  body. 

The  missionary  will  have  observed,  we  are 
told,  that  numbers  of  the  children  whom  he 
asks  to  his  chapel  or  school  are  suffering  from 
enlarged. spleen  or  from  fever;  that  many  of 
the  infants  die  shortly  after  birth ;  that  many 
of  the  parents,  especially  the  mothers,  suffer 
from  prolonged  fevers,  and  he  knows  that 
malnria  is  caused  by  a  parasite  of  the  iilood 


which    is    carried    by    a    certain    species  ■  of 
mosquito. 

Methods  by  which  he  may  fight  malaria  are 
then  detailed.  First,  he  must  endeavour  to 
measure  the  amount  of  malaria  within  liis 
domain.  If  there  is  a  mission  hospital,  the  ad- 
missions for  malaria  should  be  compared  with 
the  admissions  for  other  diseases,  and  the  ratio 
will  give  some  indication  of  the  proportion 
(often  amounting  to  from  25  to  50  %)  of  the 
total  admissions.  He  should  then  endeavour 
to  discover  the  spleen  rate  of  the  locality  by 
examining  all  children  of  15  years  of  age  or 
under,  and  carefully  recording  the  projiortion 
with  enlarged  spleens.  This  is  about  equal  to 
the  proportion  affected  with  malaria.  These 
records  are  indispensable,  because  without 
them  it  is  impossible  to  judge  whether  the 
disease  really  diminishes  in  conseqeunce  of  the 
efforts  made. 

The  administration  of  quinine  to  all  children 
with  fever  or  splenic  enlargement  is  the  next 
step.  Major  Ross  advises  one  dose  every  day 
just  before  the  first  meal.  The  children  are  the 
principal  homes  of  the  parasites,  and  from 
them  their  elders  become  infected  through  the 
agency  of  the  cari-ying  Anophelines. 

In  regard  to  the  use  of  quinine  as  a  prophy- 
latic,  Major  Eoss  considers  that  in  very 
malarious  districts  all  white  men  may  take  the 
drug  in  this  way,  but  he  doubts  the  advisabiUty 
of  giving  it  to  healthy  natives. 

Of  the  various  prophylatic  measures,  he  is  of 
opinion  that  for  densely  populated  localities 
mosquito  reduction  will  probably  be  the  best 
and  cheapest  measure  in  the  end,  but  that 
quinine  is  more  useful  for  thin  populations. 
Again,  it  is  best  to  begin  by  doing  whatever 
may  be  done  most  cheaply.  It  is  absurd  to 
continue  forcing  quinine  down  the  throats  of 
everyone  in  a  village  which  is  really  infeofcd  by 
a  small  stagnant  po<-il  or  two,  but,  where  the 
source  of  infection  is  a  great  marsh  or  river, 
quinine  should  be  used.  An  interesting  point 
i.s  that,  to  reduce  malaria,  even  to  banish  it 
completely,  it  is  necessaiy  not  to  destroy  every 
mosquito  in  a  place,  but  simply  to  reduce  their 
numbers  below  a  given  figure.  Again,  quinine 
and  mosquito  reduction  can  sometimes  be  use- 
fully combined. 

The  screening  of  mission  hospitals  is  advo- 
cated, and  the  adoption  of  mosquito  boots. 

Major  Ross'  pamphlet  may  be  obtained  from 
the  Principnl  of  Livingstone  College,  Leyton, 
E.,  price  2d.,  and  he  is  shortly  issuing  a  book. 
"  The  Prevention  of  Malaria,"  to  be  published 
by  .John  Murray.  .\s  the  duties  of  many  nurses 
take  them  to  countries  in  which  malaria  is  pre- 
valent, they  should  make  a  point  of  learning  as 
much  as  possible  concerning  this  disease. 


July  23.  1010] 


Zbc  Britlsb  3ournal  of  IRurstna. 


68 


ttbc  daic  of  the  3nsanc, 

Bv  Egbert  Jones,  M.D.,  F.R.C.P.,  Loud., 
Resident  Physician  and  Superintendent  to  the 

Claybury   Asylum.  Lecturer  on  Mental 
Diseases,  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital,  London. 

I  feel  that  it  is  a  great  honour  to  be  called 
upon  to  address  the  luteruational  Congress  of 
Nurses,  and  it  is  becomiug,  in  my  opinion,  and 
consistent  with  modem  views,  that  this  Con- 
gress should  devote  a  special  sitting  to  the  care 
of  the  insane,  for  in  no  department  of  medicine 
has  progress,  during  the  Victorian  Era,  been 
more  active  and  real — indeed  revolutionary 
would  not  be  too  strong  a  teiin  to  use —  than  in 
the  treatment  of  insanity.  The  history  of  this 
improvement  has  been  the  history  of  nursing, 
and  it  would  be  no  exaggeration  to  state  that 
the  eontidenee  in  institutions  for  the  insane 
which  is  enjoyed  to-day  is  directly  due  to  a 
better  and  to  a  greater  knowledge  of  the  nurse's 
duties,  to  skill  in  applying  these,  and  to  the 
sympathy  and  disposition  to  treat  those  suffer- 
ing from  mental  infirmity  with  tenderness 
which  nurses  themselves  have  imparted  to 
their  work. 

The  gratitude  of  mankind  is  due  in  no  small 
degree  to  the  high  minded,  self-denying,  and 
philanthropic  devotion  of  Pinel,  who,  in  1792, 
was  the  originator  of  the  so-called  "  non- 
restraint  "  system  in  the  care  of  the  insane, 
and  France  will  ever  rank  as  the  first  country 
to  accept  and  advocate  the  enlightened  treat- 
ment which  is  the  boast  of  medical  psychology 
to-day.  It  was  the  great  Pinel  who  stimulated 
the  mind  of  his  receptive  pupil,  Esquirol,  whose 
classic  work  remains  even  to  this  day  an  appre- 
ciated text  book  and  a  tribute  to  the  teacher. 
It  was  Pinel  also  who,  by  his  personal  influence 
and  teaching,  animated  and  roused  Heinroth 
to  follow  his  lead  in  Germany,  where  the  work 
of  Grissinger  also  will  ever  be  honoured  and  his 
memory  perpetuated.  We  owe  much  also  to 
the  United  States  of  America  for  strenuous 
advocacy  of  the  cause  of  the  insane.  The  great 
names  of  Drs.  Rush,  Woodward,  and  Bell  (who 
issued  special  directions  for  the  guidance  of 
attendants  upon  the  insane),  of  Brigham,  Cur- 
wen,  Hawe,  and  Isaac  Piay — who"  himself  also 
issued  a  handbook  for  attendants  and  nurses — 
are  those  which  will  always  receive  universal 
acknowledgment :  and  no  less  honoured  is  the 
great  name  of  iliss  Dix,  who  consecrated  the 
best  years  of  her  life  to  the  cause  of  the  insane, 
and  to  whose  exertion''  and  self-denying  devo- 
tion some  of  the  best  institutions  for  the  men- 
tally afflicted  in  America  owe  their  origin.  The 
*  Read  at  the  Intern.itional  Congress  of  Nurses, 
London,  1909.^ 


roll  of  fame  iu  au  international  record  is  not 
complete  without  the  names  of  Guislain  in 
Belgium  and  Schroeder  van  der  Kolk  in  Hol- 
land, whilst  Italy  and  Spain  are  to-day  in  the 
forefront  with  scientific  investigators  into  the 
pathology  of  nervous  diseases  and  insanity. 

In  our  own  country,  simultaneously  with  the 
teaching  of  Pinel  in  France,  William  and 
Samuel  Tuke  at  York  were  advocating  the 
"  quality  of  being  human,"  and  urging  the  Uke 
sympathetic  personal  treatment  of  insanity.  Ifc 
is  interesting  to  note  that  the  transformation 
from  a  recital  of  prejudice,  suspicion,  supersti- 
tion, and  castigation  in  the  treatment  of  in- 
sanity to  the  considerate,  humane,  and  scientific 
treatment  of  to-day  is  a  record  of  only  a  little 
over  100  years.  Until  then  the  theoi-y  of  in- 
sanitj-  was  based  upon  demoniacal  possession, 
and  its  practice  was  strictly  in  accordance  with 
this  theory — a  practice  of  barbarous  in- 
humanity, and  such  treatment  was  naturally 
supported  by  the  full  authority  of  the  Church, 
which  encouraged  any  method  severe  enough 
to  exercise  the  Evil  One,  the  acknowledged 
cause  of  the  so-called  "  Devil's  sickness." 

It  is  satisfactory  to  note  that  the  treatment 
advocated  by  the  Tukes  at  York  received  sanc- 
tion and  support  at  the  Lincoln  Asylum  under 
Dr.  Charlesworth,  and  also  at  Hanwell  under 
Dr.  Conolly;  and  the  London  County  Council, 
which  is  to-day  charged  with  the  administration 
of  the  Hanwell  Asylum,  and  which  invites 
members  of  this  Congress  to  inspect  one  of 
its  most  modem  asylums  at  Claybury,  de- 
serves recognition  for  its  special  and  watch- 
ful care  of  the  insane  in  London,  a  care  which 
may  without  prejudice  be  described  as  the  con- 
quest of  ignorance,  superstition,  and  cruelty  by 
science  and  humanity,  and  one  strictly  uphold- 
ing the  teaching  of  Pinel  and  Tuke  in  main- 
taining and  enforcing  a  humane  and  sympathe- 
tic personal  attendance.  Probably  the  great 
initial  incentive  to,  and  the  mainspring  of,  the 
present  improved  nursing  in  our  asylums  for 
the  insane  dates  back  to  the  influence  and 
example  of  Florence  Nightingale.  It  was  she, 
of  endearing  and  affectionate  devotion — and 
may  she  long  live  to  see  her  work  extended — 
who  demonstrated  to  the  world  that  nursing 
was  essentially  woman's  work,  and  fortunately 
for  humanity  the  inspiration  aroused  by  her 
devotion  has  been  keenly  and  strenuously 
imitated  in  every  country  within  the  last  fifty 
years.  It  is  only  since  her  noble  efforts  to 
relieve  distress  that  any  serious  attempt  has 
been  made  to  educate  attendants  and  nurses  in 
our  hospitals  and  asylums.  When  Miss. 
Nightingale  went  toKaiserswerth,  in  Germany, 
in  1849,  to  extend  her  knowledge  of  nursing  the 


64 


^e  Biitisb  3ournal  of  IRursmo. 


[July  23,  1910 


sick  under  Pastor  Fliedner  and  a  Lutheran 
Sisterhood,  she  found  that  Dr.  Maximilian 
Jacobi  had  ah-eady  been  practising  and 
encouraging  an  intelligent  and  sympathetic 
personal  attendance  at  the  Mental  Hospitals 
in  Siegburg  for  a  period  of  ten  years,  and  her 
efforts  and  enthusiasm  have  imparted  to  our 
own  asylums  a  new  embodiment  of  the  spirit  of 
humanity  by  improved  nursing.  This  depar- 
ture was  first  accepted  and  carried  into  prac- 
tice by  Dr.  W.  F.  A.  Browne,  of 
the  Crichton  Eoyal'  Institute,  who  first 
systematically  lectured  to  nurses  on 
the  insane.  The  English  Lunacy  Com- 
missioners made  this  question  of  nui-sing 
in  asylums  a  special  subject  for  inquiry  and 
investigation,  and  in  their  Eeport  to  the  Lord 
Chancellor  in  1859  they  advocated  the 
engaging  of  competent  attendants  and  nurses 
of  good  character  and  of  superior  education, 
urging  as  a  paramount  duty  that  of  adopting 
every  possible' means  of  securing  the  zealous 
services  of  a  competent  staff  upon  all  who  were 
responsible  for  the  care  and  treatment  of  the 
insane.  Twenty  years  later,  in  1879,  the  Eng- 
lish Lunacy  Commissioners  further  pointed  out 
that  much  of  the  difficulty,  the  want  of  pro- 
gress, and  the  scandal  in  connection  with 
asylums  arose  from  an  insufficiency  of  wages 
given  to  the  nursing  staff. 

It  is  somewhat  surprising  that  although 
Florence  Nightingale's  example  and  precept 
had  been  before  the  world  since  1856,  yet  it 
took  a  whole  generation  for  the  idea  inculcated 
and  implanted  by  her  to  bear  fruit.  As  recently 
as  1880  it  is  affirmed  that  there  did  not  exist 
in  any  asylum  in  the  world  an  organised  school 
for  the  training  of  nurses  for  the  insane.  The 
plan  which  Miss  Nightingale  adopted  was  to 
make  the  hospital  a  school,  and  in 
giving  training  to  nurses  the  hospital  or 
the  institution  received  in  turn  its  own 
reward  of  trained  service.  The  whole  of 
her  scheme  may  be  summarised  as  "  train- 
ing and  teaching,"  and  the  value  of  this 
suggestion  was  appreciated  in  many  of  the  best 
general  hospitals,  which  commenced  to  train 
their  Staff  about  the  year  1876 — viz.,  twenty 
years  after  the  significant  lessons  of  the 
Crimean  War.  It  is  only  fair  to  some  of  the 
^ledical  Directors  of  Asylums  to  state  that  the 
advantages  of  the  Nightingale  system  were 
fully  realised  by  them,  and  individual  efforts  at 
reform  in  asylum  nursing  were  put  into  prac- 
tice at  several  asylums,  notably  in  Scotland, 
which-has  always  been  to  the  fore  in  the  care 
and  treatment  of  the  insane,  but  there  was  no 
united  and  genernl  effort — and  here  we  see  the 
supreme  advantage  of  organised  combination. 
(To  hr  continued.) 


She  Battle  of  tbc  Stan^ar^s. 

JUSTICE    DEMANDED. 

A  General  Court  of  Governors  of  St.  Bar- 
tholomew's Hospital  is  convened  for  July  28th, 
and  the  Defence  of  Nursing  Standards  Com- 
mittee has  addressed  an  appeal  to  the  Gover- 
nors to  use  their  influence  to  prevent  the  ap- 
pointment of  the  new  Matron  being  carried  into 
effect,  and  that  a  Public  Inquiry  be  held  into 
the  management  of  the  Nursing  Department. 

Every  unbiassed  person  naturally  concludes 
that  if  the  present  system  of  training  at  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital  cannot  train  an  effi- 
cient Matron  in  23  years,  a  new  system  should 
bo  inaugurated,  but  that  if  this  supposition  can 
be  amply  refuted — as  it  is  known  that  it  can 
be — it  is  the  duty  of  the  Governors  to  protect 
their  own  nurses  from  unmerited  condemnation 
unheard. 


AN   INSULT  TO  THE  DEAD. 

Miss  L.  L.  Dock  writes  plainly  in  the  Ameri- 
can Journal  of  Cursing  what  is  whispered 
throughout  the  nursing  world  at  home  and 
abroad,  though  we  are  aware  that  the  large 
majority  of  the  Election  Committee  did  not 
realise  the  wrong  which  was  being  done. 

"  While  nurses  of  all  countries  are  mouiTiing 
Miss  Stewart,  a  most  unheard  of  insult  to  her 
memory  in  the  shameless  attempt  to  wipe  out 
all  the  influence  of  her  life  work  has  been  the 
action  of  the  Election  Committee  in  selecting 
her  successor.  Briefly — for  the  news  Has  come 
after  our  pages  have  been  set — the  Election 
Committee  of  Bart's  has  chosen  an  Assistant 
Matron  from  the  London  Hospital,  a  woman 
who  has  never  had  a  Matron's  experience,  and 
one  who  is  evidently  meant  to  be  only  the  tool 
of  the  anti-Eegistration  element  in  the  Hos- 
pital's Committee,  and,  doubtless  also,  of  the 
element  who  are  willing  to  make  huge  profits 
for  hospitals  out  of  the  sweated  labour  of 
nurses.  The  London  Hospital  sends  out  its 
pupils  to  private  duty,  besides  running  a  large 
private  staff  for  its  own  profit,  and  it  is  the 
central  stronghold  of  anti-registration  and  of 
hostility  to  self-governing  organisations  among 
nurses.  Its  certificate,  moreover,  is  given  for 
one  year  less  than  Bart's,  and  the  women  who 
train  there  are  not  encouraged  to  think  for 
themselves.  It  is  well  known  that  those  of 
them  who  do,  even  when  engaged  in  work  of 
great  distinction,  meet  with  an  icy  reception 
if  they  vcnturr  vithin  the  doors.  The  details 
of  this  incident  are  such  as  to  make  one  feel 
certain  that  a  plot  has  been  preparing  before 
Miss  Stewart's  death;  for  the  knowledge  that 
she  was  doomed  by  an  incurable  disease  was 
general." 


Julv  23.  1910] 


Z\K  36ritiBb  3ournnI  of  IHursino. 


Z\K  nOatrons    Council   of  orcat 
^Britain  an^  3^clan^. 

It  was  a  very  liappy  party  which  left  Lon- 
don on  Saturdaj-  morning,  July  16th,  eii  roiitr 
for  Birmingham,  to  attend  the  quarterly 
meeting  of  the  Matrons'  Council,  including 
Mrs.  Bedford 
Fenwick,  Miss 
M.  Heather- 
Bigg,  Miss 
MoUett  (Hon. 
Seel,  IMrs. 
Walter  Speu- 
e  e  r  (Hon. 
T  re  a  surerl. 
Miss  Sidney  ■ 
Browne. 
R.E.C.,  Miss 
H.  L.  Pearse. 

Miss     :m  . 

B  r  e  a  y.  and 
others.  As 
special  car- 
riages had 
been  reserved 
for  t>he  mem- 
bers of  the 
Council,  they 
lunched  mer- 
rily as  the 
non-stop  train 
sped  on  its 
way  through 
the  rich  mid- 
land country. 
Arrived  at 
the  General 
Hospital.  Bir- 
m  i  n  g  h  a  m, 
they  were 
warmly  '  wel- 
comed by  the 
Matron,  Miss 
Musson,  and 
found  in  the 
beautiful 
Board  Room, 
kindly  placed 
at  their  dis- 
posal by  the 
Gove  mors, 
colleagues  not 
but  from  Wigan,  Leicester, 
Kiddemiinster,  Leamington 
Midland  centres.  Bowls 
pink  and  white  sweet  peas  gave 


Miss        MILDRED        HEATHER-BIGG. 


i'ltiit    of    the    M'ltr 


onlv      from 


Birmingham, 
Northampton, 
and       other 
of     roses     and 
the  room  a 
very  festive  appearance,  and  many  portraits  of 
celebrities  connected  with  the  hospital  hung  on 


its  walls,  the  most  noticeable  that  of  Dr.  vjohn 
Ash.  F.R.S..  Founder  of  the  Hospital,  and 
who  was  appointed  Physician  in  1779,  painted 
by  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds. 

The  BisiNESs  Meeting. 
Miss  Musson  took  the  chair  at  the  meeting 
of  the  Matrons'  Council.  The  minutes  of  the 
last  meeting  were  read  and  confirmed,  and  the 
correspon- 
dence dealt 
with.  Miss 
Mollett  re- 
ported over 
forty  letters 
of  regret  from 
members  who 
were  unable 
to  be  present, 
and  read  a 
letter  of  regret 
and  sympathy 
from  Miss 
Emily  Janes 
on  behalf  of 
the  Public 
Health  Sec- 
tional Com- 
mittee of  the 
N.  U.  W.  W., 
on  the  loss 
sustained  by 
the  Council 
by  the  death 
of  its  late 
President,  and 
from  the  Hon. 
Secretaries  of 
the  American 
Society  of 
Train  i  n  g 
S  c  hools  for 
Nurses,  and 
the  Nurses' 
Associated 
Alumnae,  ac- 
knowledging 
letters  of  con- 
dolence from 
the  Council  on 
the  death  of 
ilrs.  Hamp- 
ton Riobb. 
The^next 
business  was  the  election  of  a  President, 
and  the  report  of  the  Sub-Committee  ap- 
pointed to  deal  with  the  question  was  read. 

Mrs.  Bedford  Feuwick,  in  accordance  with_ 
the  recommendation  of  that  Committee,  pro- 
posed the  election  of  Miss  Heather-Bigg,  Ma- 
tron of  Charing  Cross  Hospital.       The  Sub- 


nn<f    Ireland. 


Zhc  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRursing, 


[July  23,  1910 


Committee  felt  thev  were  paying  Miss  Heatber- 
Bigg  a  compliment  in  inviting  her  to  succeed 
their  dear  founder,  Miss  Stewart,  and  they 
would  not  have  done  so  had  they  not  tested  her 
devotion  to  the  interests  of  the  Council  in  the 
past,  and  felt  sure  that  she  would  prove  a  loyal 
guide  and  support  in  the  future.  Miss  Heather- 
Bigg  was  full  of  spirit  and  charm,  and  had  all 
the  personal  qualities  most  needed  to  uphold 
the  position,  and  it  was  with  the  very  greatest 
pleasure  she  proposed  her  election  as  President. 

The  proposition  having  been  seconded,  it  was 
carried  by  acclamation, 

Miss  Musson  then  vacated  the  chair,  and 
Miss  Heather-Bigg  took  her  place,  and  thanked 
the  Council  most  heartily  for  the  honour  they 
had  done  her.  She  said  that  Miss  Stewart's 
brilliant  powers  had  made  her  an  ideal  Presi- 
dent, but  she  would  do  her  best  for  the  Council, 
and  endeavour  to  justify  their  choice  of  a  Presi- 
dent. , 

Miss  Haughton,  Matron  of  Guy's  Hospital, 
London,  and  Miss  Musson,  Matron  of  the 
General  Hospital,  Birmingham,  were  elected 
Vice-Presidents  by  acclamation. 

The  suggested  alterations  of  the  By-laws 
were  then  considered,  and  several  minor  altera- 
tions in  the  same  agreed  to. 

On  the  recommendation  of  the  Sub-Com- 
mittee it  was  agreed  that  the  President  should 
hold  office  for  a  tenn  of  three  years,  and  should 
not  be  eligible  for  re-election  for  a  further  term 
of  the  same  period. 

The  By-Law  governing  the  election  of  Vice- 
Presidents  was  also  altered,  and  is  now  to  the 
effect  that  the  Vico-Presidents  shall  not  exceed 
twelve  in  number,  of  whom  four  shall  retire 
annually,  but  shall  be  eligible  for  re-election. 

It  was  also  decided  that  the  Hon.  Secretary 
and  the  Hon.  Treasurer  shall  both  for  the 
future  retire  annually,  but  be  eligible  for  re- 
election. 

Applications  for  membership  were  then  con- 
sidered, and  the  following  ladies  were  elected : 
Miss  Maud  Pote  Hunt,  Matron,  St.  Bartholo- 
mew's Hospital,  Eochester,  Kent;  IMiss  Anne 
]McParlane,  Matron,  The  Infirmary  and  Chil- 
dren's Hospital,  Kidderminster;  Miss  Winmill, 
Matron,  The  Children's  Infirmary,  Carshalton, 
Surrey. 

Letters  of  resignation  were  received  from 
Miss  Deane,  Matron,  East  Suffolk  Hospital, 
Ipswich,  and  Miss  Lucy  Smith,  formerly  Ma- 
tron of  the  Piochdale  Fever  Hospital.  They 
were  received  with  regret. 

Miss'  Sidney  Browne,  R.R.C.,  Matron-in- 
Chief,  Territorial  Force  Nursing  Sei^vice,  was 
elected  to  represent  the  Council  at  the  forth- 
coming meeting  of  the  National  Union  of 
Women  Workers  at  Lincoln. 


Miss  Barton,  of  Chelsea  Infirmary,  was 
elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  on  the  Central  Regis- 
tration of  Nurses  Committee,  caused  by  the 
death  of  jNIiss  Isla  Stewart. 

The  Hon.  Secretary  gave  notice  tEat  the  re- 
vised by-laws  would  be  published  in  the  next 
Annual  Report. 

The  business  meeting  then  temiinated,  and 
tea  and  coffee  were  served,  the  Sisters 
and  nurses  being  untiring  in  their  efforts  to 
secure  the  comfort  of  the  guests. 

A  public  meeting  followed,  when  the  room, 
which  seated  over  150  persons,  was  crowded. 

M.   MOLLETT, 

Hon.  Secretary. 

Zbc  public  fIDceting. 

STATE  REGISTRATION  OF  TRAINED    NUflSES. 

At  tlio  public  meeting  which  followed  the  busi- 
ness nieetiug  of  the  Matrons'  Council,  Miss  JNIuseou 
presided,  and  said  how  extremely  glad  she  was  to 
welcome  those  present.  As  the  time  was  short  she 
at  once  asked  Mre.  Bedford  Fenwick  to  address  the 
meeting  on  the  subject  of  State  Registration  ot 
Nurses. 

Mrs.  Bedfoi'd  Fenwick  opened  her  address  by 
thanking  Miss  Mus«)n  for  so  kindly  arranging  the 
meeting.  It  was  tnenty  years  since  her  first  visit 
to  Birmingham  in ,  connection  with  the  movement 
for  State  Registration  of  Nurses,  and  it  had  passed 
in  a  flash,  ilany  people  expected  to  achieve  great 
reforms  the  day  after  to-monx)w,  and  were  ais- 
coui-aged  by  delay.  Tliis  was  not  the  history  of  the 
registration  movement.  It  was  encoui-aging  to 
nurses  who  tliought  that  legislation  for  the 
organisation  of  tlieir  profession  was  long  delayed  to 
remember  that  the  medical  profession  worked  and 
fought  hard  for  50  yeare  before  the  first  Me<rical 
Act  was  passed,  an<l  the  editor  of  the  newspaper 
which  voiced  the  demand  for  legislation  had  to 
fight  two  duels  and  had  his  house  burnt  down 
during  that  period. 

Some  people  were  apt  to  think  that  thex-e  had 
been  no  nursing  before  the  Crimean  War.  This  was 
not  so.  Tliere  had  always  been  noble  and  sym- 
pathetic women  ■v\ho  cared  for  humanity  at  large, 
including  the  sick.  From  the  Crimean  War  we  could 
date  the  genius  of  Florence  Nightingale,  whose 
work  for  sick  soldiers  was  an  incident;  it  was  the 
fact  that  she  founde<l  nureing  on  a  scientific  ba.iis 
which  would  keep  lier  name  illustrious  for  all  time. 
She  realised  that  medicine  and  nureing  were  inter- 
deiH'ndent,  and  that  nui-ses  must  bo  efficiently 
educate<l  to  keep  pace  with  the  progress  demanded 
from  tliem  by  niodical  scietice,  therefore  slie 
founded  the  Nightingale  School  for  Nui«es  in  con- 
nection with  St.  Tliomas's  Hospital,  and  laid  the 
foundations  of  the  pix>fession  of  musing. 

Thirty  years  jigo  the  condition  of  nui-sing  was 
relatively  as  good  as  that  of  medicine.  Lister  and 
Liutd  had  oidy  just  evolved  their  wonderful  sys- 
tem, which  demonstrated  cleanliness  as  the  Ixisis 
of  the  scienci'S  of  medicine  and  nursing.  But  with- 
in this  last  30  yeans  medicine    has    progressed  ;'0 


July  23,  1910] 


Z\K  Bdtisb  Journal  of  IRurstiuj. 


rapidly  that  it  was  imperative  that  a  suitable  edu- 
cation for  nurses  must  be  evolved.  If  so  much  was 
expecte<l  of  thoni  much  must  be  given  to  them. 

It  was  the  thirst  for  kno^vledge,  the  desire  of 
women  who  entered  our  hosi^tals  thirty  years  ago 
to  perfect  their  services  which  was  the  great  force 
beihind  the  evolution  of  the  training  schools.  Now 
the  throo  years'  standard  of  training  was 
general,  and  a  pupil  who  Iiad  worked  in  a  goo<l  lios- 
pital.  under  supervision  for  that  period,  and 
availed  liei'self  of  hor  opiwrtunities,  must  be  a 
skilful  nui^se  at  the  end  of  that  time.  But  standards 
rarie<l  greatly,  and  a  woman  desirous  of  qualifying 
herself  to  obtain  the  confidence  of  the  sick  and  the 
public  found  that  the  woi  k  and  standard  of  toach- 
iug  varied  so  much  in  the  different  hospitals  that 
it  was  largely  a  matter  of  chance  whether  she 
obtaine<l  a  goo<l  education.  Tliere  should  be  no 
element  of  chance  where  the  safety  of  sick  people 
was  concerned,  and  if  a  good  practical  standard 
were  require<l  by  a  legally  constituted  Central 
Board  such  great  inequalities  could  not  exist. 

Medical  practitioners  incorporated  in  their  Bill 
the  demand  for  an  educational  curriculum,  and 
that  evidence  must  be  given  of  having  attained  a 
minimum  standard  before  qualification — i.e.,  they 
must  give  evidence  of  sufficient  knowledge  before 
the  lives  of  the  jjcople  were  placed  in  their  hands. 
The  medical  faculty  now  demanded  extraordinary 
skill  from  their  nurses,  and  after  a  most  critical 
operation  the  surgeon  could  leave  the  patient  with 
confidence  in  the  charge  of  a  trained  nurse.  Those 
who  claimed  so  much  from  the  nui^se  must  see  that 
she  was  not  exi)ected  to  make  bricks  without  straw. 

Mrs.  Fenwick  then  showed  that  to  provide  justly 
for  nurses  from  the  educational  _standix>int  a  com- 
prehensive curriculum  must  be  defined,  and  every- 
thing xx)inted  to  co-operation  in  the  future  between 
groups  of  hospitals,  so  that  a  nui-se  during  her 
training  should  have  at  her  disposal  the  Ijest 
clinical  material  in  the  various  branches  of  ner 
I>rofession.  At  present  there  was  lack  of  organisa- 
tion in  this  respect,  because  it  could  only  be  per- 
fecte<l  from  a  centre.  What  registrationists  asked 
was  that  Parliament  should  realise  that  within  the 
last  half  century  nursing  had  arisen  as  a  profession 
for  women,  and  that  an  expert  Nursing  Board, 
having  State  authority,  should  evolve  an  educa- 
tional curriculum  which  every  nurse  would  have 
to  pass  thix>ugh,  and  to  give  evidence  of  having 
profited  by,  before  being  registered  by  the  State  as 
efficient. 

It  was  useless  to  contend,  as  was  sometimes  done, 
that  the  order  produced  by  uniformity  would 
stultify  progress.  It  was,  in  fact,  necessary  for 
progress  outside  the  schools  where  the  important 
work  of  nurses  was  carried  on,  and  where  the 
quality  of  a  nurse's  education  was  really  tested. 

Turning  to  the  economic  side,  Mrs.  Fenwick 
showed  that  when  once  members  of  a  profession 
were  qualified  it  was  generally  acknowledged  that 
they  had  some  sort  of  corporate  rights.  "What 
rights  had  trained  nurses  in  the  body  politic?  On 
all  sides  the  half  skilled  and  the  unskilled  com- 
peted with  them  on  equal  terms,  there  was  no  pro- 
tection for  their  skilled   work.     In  olden  days,  in 


connection  witli  various  Guilds  and  crafts,  appren- 
tices had  to  perfect  themselves  very  thoroughly, 
but,  when  they  had  done  so,  their  skill  was  pro- 
tected. 

It  was  not  proposed  to  make  the  Registration  of 
Nurses  compulsory ;  there  were  degrees  of  sickness 
and  feebleness,  and  it  would  be  arbitrary  to  say 
that  no  one  should  nurse  who  was  not  registered. 
The  registration  of  medical  practitioners  was  not 
compulsory,  but  the  moral  force  behind  the  Medi- 
cal Acts  gave  them  their  weight.  What  thoroughly 
trained  nurses  who  had  given  years  of  their  lives 
to  perfecting  their  work  desired  was  that  the 
State  should  give  them  a  protected  title — the  legal 
title  of  "  Registered  Xurse  " — if  they  were  worthy 
of  it.  They  wished  to  give  a  guarantee  to  the 
public  that  the  public  might  know  what  they  were 
paying  for,  and  they  had  a  right  to  go  to  the  Go- 
vernment, who  were  the  representatives  of  the 
people  who  were  the  State,  and  ask  for  this. 

Mrs.  Fenwick  then  dealt  with  the  question  of  the 
'■continuing  guarantee,"  and  the  objection  that 
you  ' '  cannot  register  character. ' '  The  finest  charac- 
terewere,she  said,  formed  by  personal  responsibility, 
and  this  was  difficult  to  estimate  without  tru,st. 
The  attitude  of  mind  which  concluded  that  unless 
under  supervision  a  nurse  would  fail  in  moral  recti- 
tude was  intolerable,  and  the  cry  that  character 
could  not  l>e  registered  was  a  catch  word.  A  sys- 
tem by  which  a  probationer  brought  evidence 
to  the  training  school  of  years  of  good  conduct, 
who,  for  a  term  of  three  or  four  years,  under  keen, 
trained  supervision  in  the  wards  and  Home,  con- 
tinued in  the  paths  of  right  doing,  placed  a  lifetime 
of  moral  rectitude  at  the  disposal  of  the  Central 
Registration  Authority.  Such  unimpeachable 
records  would  have  to  he  submitted  to  the  Board, 
and  to  anticipate  that  the  mere  fact  of  registering 
technical  qualifications  in  addition  would,  by  some 
mysterious  process,  leave  the  candidate  devoid  of 
all  moral  balance  was  absurd.  Character  would 
count  as  it  had  never  done  before  under  a  system  of 
central  and  unbiassed  professional  control. 

Nui-ses.  like  medical  pi'actitionei's,  were  the  ser- 
vants of  humanity ;  only  fine  women  could  make 
fine  nurses,  and  to  fulfil  her  destiny  a  nurse  must 
know  humanity  and  study  human  environment  in 
its  widest  sense,  and  thus  bring  herself  into  sym- 
pathy with  the  needs  of  her  kind.  Registration 
did  not  claim  to  make  perfect ;  its  aim  was  to  im- 
prove, and  to  inculcate  in  trained  nurses  a  sense 
of  professional  responsibility  in  which  the  honour 
of  their  profession  would  be  in  safe  keeping. 
The  Nubses'  Registration  Bill. 

Miss  Musson  then  called  upon  Miss  M.  Mollett, 
Hon.  Secretary  of  the  Matrons'  Council,  to  read 
and  explain  the  clauses  of  the  Nurses'  Registration 
Bill. 

Miss  Mollett  said  she  was  glad  to  have  something 
substantial  in  her  hands,  as  nothing  was  more  diffi- 
cult than  to  glean  after  Mrs.  Fenwick  had  har- 
vested. The  Bill  in  charge  of  the  Right  Hon.  R. 
C.  Munro  Ferguson,  M.P.,  P.C,  in  the  House  of 
Commons,  was  as  it  had  left  the  Central  Registra- 
tion Committee,  which  was  composed  of  delegates' 
from  eight  important  medical  and  nursing  societies 


68 


Zbc  Britf0l)  Journal  of  IRiirsfna, 


L-July  23,  1910 


which  she  enumerated.  She  said  that  the  Bill  was 
very  carefully  coustructed  to  meet  the  just  claims 
of  all  engaged  in  training  nurses,  but  primarily 
the  just  claims  of  those  who  were  to  be  trained,  to 
force  the  hands  of  bogus  trainers,  and  to  protect 
tho  public  from  shams  of  whose  mistakes  and  short- 
comings they  were  themselves  unable  to  judge.  She 
showed  that  the  Nurses'  Register  would  comprise 
a  General  Register,  and  also  Supplementary  Re- 
gist-ers  of  Male  and  :Meutal  Xurses,  that  piwisiou 
was  made  that  the  General  Council  for  the  Regis- 
tration of  Nurses  in  the  United  Kingdom,  when 
fully  constituted,  should  include  adequate  repre- 
sentation of  the  nurses  through  their  directly 
elected  representatives,  a  most  important  principle, 
as  nothing  could  ever  take  the  place  of  indivi- 
dual, personal  responsibility,  and  the  pride  of  the 
Nursing  Profession  in  its  own  thoroughness.  It 
was  this  which  would  make  or  mar  the  profession. 
'■  One  for  all  and  all  for  each  other  "  was  the 
motto  of  registrationists. 

It  was  necessary  to  provide  for  the  t-empoi-ary  re- 
presentation of  nurses  on  the  Governing  Body  be- 
cause it  was  eviHent  that  until  a  certain  number 
of  nurses  had  been  registered  there  was  not  an 
electorate  to  elect  their  direct  representatives, 
therefore  those  eoeieties  which  had  taken  a  front 
place  in  the  struggle  for  registration  and  certain 
Government  Departments,  and  societies  concerned 
with  nurses,  would  be  called  upon  to  appoint  nurses 
to  act  temporarily  in  the  place  of  the  direct  repre- 
sentatives. They  would  retire  as  soon  as  the  Lord 
President  of  the  Council  certified  that  the  forma- 
tion of  the  Register  was  sufficiently  advanced  to 
admit  of  the  election  of  such  representatives. 

Miss  Mollett  made  it  plain  that  during  the  three 
years'  term  of  grace  from  tlie  commencement  ot  the 
Act  no  applicants  for  admission  to  the  Register 
would  be  required  to  pass  an  examination,  and  the 
fee  would  be  only  £2  26.  for  registration,  after 
which  the  maximum  fee  for  both  examination  and 
registration  would  be  £o  os.— a  very  reasonable  one 
indeed  for  the  benefits  receive<l,  a  much  larger  sum 
being  paid  by  apprentices  and  pupils  in  many  other 
trades  and  professions.  In  conclusion  Miss  Mollett 
said  she  would  be  pleased  to  forward  a  copy  of  the 
Registration  Bill  to  any  applicant  on  receipt  of  3d. 
to  cover  the  cost  of  Bill  and  postage. 

An  interesting  discm^ion  followed,  in  which  Miss 
Musson,  Miss  Hannath,  Miss  Mary  Gardner,  Mi,«s 
Pell  Smith,  Mrs.  Walter  Spencei-,  and  othere  took 
part. 

Speaking  on  a  Central  Nursing  Examination, 
Mre.  AValter  Spencer  pointed  out  that  though  the 
standard  of  the  examination  would  no  doubt  be 
fixed  to  suit  the  average  nui-se,  it  would  be  a  mini- 
mum, not  a  maximum  standard.  Her  experience 
was  that  some  the  best  pi-actical  nuiscs  came  fix>ra 
liiwincial  hospitals,  where  they  had  greater  opiX)r- 
tunitiee  than  in  hospitals  with  me<lical  schools 
attached,  where  many  practical  details  were  per- 
formcKl  by  students. 

Miss  >fusson.  referring  to  the  difficulty  of  passing 
an  examination,  dreadetl  by  some  nurses,  said  that 
nui-ses  who  made  themselves  quite  ill  in  anticipa- 
tion of  their  hospital  examination  often  voluntarily 


entered  quite  clieertuUy  later  on  tor  the  examination 
of  the  Central  Midwives'  Board,  and  passed  it  with 
ei-edit.  She  thought  the  reason  was  tliat  they  were 
definitely  prepared  in  certain  subjects,  and  that 
it  a  syllabus  were  defined,  and  definite  prepara- 
tion given,  nurses  would  not  look  forward  with  such 
dread  to  their  examinations,  as  when  they  did  not 
know  quite  what  to  expect,  or  whether  the  ques- 
tions asked  would  be  more  on  medical  than  nursing 
subjects. 

Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  thought  it  might  be  taken 
for  granted  that  any  Central  Nursing  Council 
apix>iuted  would  move  slowly,  and  would  not 
attempt  to  impose  impossible  conditions,  and  that 
examinations  would  be  largely  practical.  The  object 
of  such  a  Council  would  be  to  help  to  provide  the 
very  best  nur.ses  for  the  sack,  in  every  class  of  Hos- 
pital, and  for  every  class  of  patient. 

The  meeting  concluded  with  a  cordial  vote  of 
thanks  to  Miss  Musson,  and  to  the  Governors  of  the 
Birmingham  General  Hospital,  propose<l  by  Miss 
Heather-Bigg,  for  their  courtesy  and  kindness  in 
lending  their  beautiful  Board-room  for  the  meet- 
ings. 

Amongst  those  present,  besides  the  ladies  already 
mentioned,  were  Miss  Macintyre,  Royal  Infirmary, 
AVigan :  Miss  A.  Smith,  Kingston  Union  Infirmary ; 
Miss  Gaved-WiUs,  AValsall  and  District  Hospital; 
Miss  HoUoway,  Victoria  Nursing  Institute,  Wal- 
sall ;  Miss  Richmond,  Women's  Hospital,  Spark- 
brook  ;  Miss  Mossop,  Homceopathic  Hospital,  Bir- 
mingham ;  Miss  Marriott,  Eye  Hospital,  Birming- 
ham; Miss  Fison  Clarke,  Children's  Hospital,  Bir- 
mingham ;  Miss  Chessington,  City  Hospital,  Lodge 
Road,  Birmingham  ;  Miss  Morrison,  City  Hospital, 
Little  Bromwich;  Miss  de  Chastelain,  Jaffray  Hos- 
pital, Erdington  :  Miss  Pell  Smith,  Home  Hospital, 
Leicester;  Miss  Bryan,  General  Hospital,  North- 
ampton ;  Miss  McFarlane,  the  Infirmary  and  Eye 
Hospital.  Kidderminster;  Miss  Parsons,  Guest 
Hospital.  Dudley;  !Miss  Rapson,  Warneford,  Leam- 
ington, and  South  Warwick  General  Hospital,  Leam- 
ington ;  Miss  G.  B.  Macvitie,  London;  Miss  Clara 
Lee.  Letchworth  ;  Miss  L.  Parmiter,  Ruddington ; 
Miss  AVarburton,  Private  Hospital,  Newhall  Street, 
Birmingham  ;  Miss  Carless,  Private  Hospital,  Corn- 
wall Street,  Birmingham;  Miss  Connell,  Eye  Infir- 
mary, Wolverhampon ;  Miss  Mary  Gardner,  Black- 
well  Sanatorium  ;  Miss  Flora  Gardner,  Heathcote 
Hospital,  Warwick,  and  others. 

Tlie  subject  of  Registration  had  pix)ved  so  en- 
giossing  that  a  very  short  time  remaine<l  before  the 
guests  had  to  catch  trains,  but  a  hasty  visit  was 
paid  to  the  fine  kitchen,  larder,  and  store-rooms, 
which  are  on  the  top  floor  of  the  livxpitnl.  which 
were  the  envy  of  many  Matrons,  and  a  glimpse  into 
the  wards  had  to  suffice.  Every  one  was  greatly 
impressed  with  the  courtesy  and  kindness  of  the 
nui-sing  staff.  an<l  the  exquisite  niMitness  of  their 
appearance  attestwl  to  the  high  standaixl  of  good 
order  which  is  evident  throughout  the  arrange- 
ments of  the  (General   Hospital,   Birmingham. 

The  meeting  was  in  every  way  most  successful, 
and  the  hope  was  exi)ressed  on  many  sides  that  in 
future  some  of  the  meetings  of  the  Matrons'  Coun- 
cil would  be  convened  in  provincial  centres. 

M.  B. 


July  23, 1910]         5f3c  mam  3om-nal  of  l^ursino. 


69 


IHursiUUjSiu  IRomc. 


TWO  VISITS   FROM   QUEEN    ELENA. 


The  first  was  a  solemn  affair.  Her  Majesty 
had  promised  to  come  and  pronounce  the 
School  which  bore  her  name  to  be  open.  She 
had  expressed  the  wish  that  as  httle  ceremony 
as  possible  should  be  observed,  so  only  the 
members  of  the  Committee  and  the  Hospital 
authorities  were  told  of  the  day  and  hour  fixed ; 
but  the  "  hospital  authorities  "  alone  made  up 
a  goodly  number,  as  in  Rome  there  is  one  Ad- 
ministration over  all  the  public  hospitals 
— gli  Ospedali  riuuiti. 

We  of  the  School  had  a  very  amusing  even- 
ing previous- 
ly, reciting 
the  Court 
curtesy,  the 
mistress  of 
the  c  e  r  e- 
monies  being 
Miss  Clay, 
Miss  Snell 
acting  Queen. 
Italian  girls 
are  naturally 
g  r  a  c  e  f  u  1, 
ho  w  e  V  e  r, 
and  the 
right  move- 
ments W'Cre 
quickly  ac- 
quired. 

Two  days 
before  se- 
veral lai-ge 
cases  arrived 
c  on  t  aining 
18  engravings 
in    pretty 

brown  frames,  and  a  charming  photo  of  her 
Majesty,  under  which  she  had  written  in  her 
clear,  graceful  handwriting,  "  Alia  Smola  Con- 
vitio  professiouale  '  Eegina  Elena  '  per  infer- 
miere. — Elena." 

The  engravings  were  all  EngUsb :  amongst 
them 'the  world-famed  picture  of  Luke  Fildes, 
"  The  Doctor,"  and  the  less  known,  but  also 
appropriate,  "  The  Good  Samaritan  "  (in  top 
hat  and  frock  coat)  of  W.  Small. 

There  likewise  arrived  a  cartload  of  magni- 
ficent plants,  pahns,  rhododendrons,  azaleas, 
etc.,  and  on  the  morning  of  her  visit  large 
baskets  of  lovely  cut  flowers. 

The  hour  chosen  was  ten,  as  being  the  one 
most  convenient  for  patients  and  nurses.  The 
Queen  had^  expressed  her  readiness  to  come  at 
nine  if  that  hour  had  been  thought  better. 


Princess  Doria  and  Madame  Maraini  met  her 
Majesty  outside,  and  accompanied  her,  the 
Hospital  authorities  following,  to  the  Convitto, 
where  the  night  staff,  with  Miss  Snell,  Miss 
Clay,  and  myself  awaited  her  in  the  entrance 
hall.  She  gave  her  hand  to  each  of  us,  speak- 
ing in  French,  and  receiving  a  bouquet  of  ex- 
quisite flowers — companion  bunch  to  one  Prin- 
cess Doria  presented  to  Miss  Snell — from  Sig- 
norina  di  Nicola,  our  youngest  probationer. 

The  sitting  rooms  were  first  visited,  and  in 
the  office  of  the  Direttrice,  her  Majesty  wrote 
her  name  in  a  little  book,  "  Liber  aegrotum 
amicorum  " — book  of  the  friends  of  the  sick. 

Next  the  con-idors  were  visited,  containing 
bedrooms  of  all  the  staff.     The  rooms  are  all 

ere  a  m  - 
coloured  with 
pale  green 
borders,  the 
furniture  all 
e  n  a  m  elled 
white,  bed- 
quilts  "  Bar- 
ker's"chintz, 
very  bright 
and  cheerful. 
The  variety 
of  taste  dis- 
played in  the 
individual  ar- 
r  a-ngements 
and  posses- 
sions was  of 
interest  to 
her  Majesty. 
She  often 
said,  "  C'est 
0  harm  ant ; 
comme  c'est 
jolie  cette 
petite  cham- 
bre,"  and  noticed  especially  a  water  colour 
sketch  done  by  the  grandfather  of  a  half  Dutch 
pupil  who  had  painted  war  pictures  in  King 
Emanuel's  time. 

In  Miss  Snell's  bedroom,  the  Queen  was 
charmed  with  its  harmonies,  but  looking  round, 
remarked,  "II  n'y  a  pas  de  fauteuil  confort- 
able."  This  happened  indeed  to  be  missing, 
the  right  article  not  having  been  obtainable. 

Finally,  Queen  Elena  walked  into  the 
kitchen,  and  straight  up  to  our  good-Arma,  ask- 
ing what  she  was  cooking,  and  looking  at  the 
cutlets  she  displayed.  In  recounting  the  in- 
cident Anna  wept  with  emotion  at  the  con.- 
descension  and  kindness  of  her  Queen.        . 

Shortly  after  a  note  came  asking  us  to  choose 
from  some  patterns  enclosed  the  green  which 
would  harmonise  with  Miss  Snell's  room.    This 


Turton  with    Night   Probationers. 


70 


TTbe  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRursmo. 


[July  23,  1910 


we  did,  and  a  most  ideal  armchair  soon  ap- 
peared, deefi  enough  to  rest  the  head,  the  right 
angle  to  rest  the  limbs,  and — pour  comble — 
with  a  cool  holland  cover  to  keep  its  green- 
ness undimmed  through  the  hot  summer 
months. 

After  visiting  the  Home,  her  ^Majesty  pro- 
ceeded to  the  wards.  Here  she  was  absolutely 
in  her  element,  bending  over  the  most  suffer- 
ing, saying  consoling  and  cheering  words ; 
caressing  the  children;  the  Queen  of  the  earth- 
quake terror  episodes  was  clearly  before  us. 
She  gave  her  hand  to  all  the  nurses  and  said  a 
few  words  in 
French  to  most  of 
them.  The  Mother 
Superior  had  been 
summoned.  The 
ward  nuns  mingled 
with  the  lay  Sis- 
ters and  nurses. 
The  Chief  cam« 
down  from  the 
operating  room  (he 
afterwards  escorted 
her  Majesty  to  his 
precincts  between 
two  operations). 
To  an  amputated 
arm  boy  she  offered 
the  best  artificial 
limb  he  could 
desire;  to  a  small 
"  Elena,"  who  had 
not  smiled  since 
her  legs  were 
placed  in  splints  at 
a  right  angle  a 
week  before,  (con- 
genital hip  luxa- 
tion) was  promised 
whatever  toy  that 
was  wished  for. 
The  child  was  too 
shy  to  answer,  but  ^'^"''' 

the  following  morning  (a  large  basket 
of  most  delightful  toys  arrived  the 
same  night)  Elena  at  last  smiled  radiantly 
when  a  Teddy  bear  and  a  doll  with  eyes  that 
opened  and  shut  were  placed  by  the  Night 
Sister  in  her  arms. 

A  few  days  later  mosquito  nets  of  a  pattern 
partly  designed  (modification  of  an  English 
one)  by  her  Majesty  arrived  for  several  beds. 
The  hospital  does  not  provide  them;  only 
pieces  of  gauze  are  given  to  those  unable  to  use 
fly  flickers.  This  pattern  is  most  practical,  and 
some  American  visitors  have  already  taken 
notes  of  it  to  reproduce  at  home. 

The  second    visit    was    quite     unexpected. 


Everyone  was  hard  at  work,  the  Home  Sister 
carrying  linen  from  the  ironing  room,  Miss 
Snell  over  in  the  wards,  I  in  the  kitchen  writing 
down  the  cook's  morning  expenditure.  A  pro- 
bationer ran  in  breathlessly,  "  La  Eegina  e  in 
Salone."  Dispatching  her  to  seek  Miss  Snell, 
I  went  at  once  to  the  Salone,  where  her  Ma- 
jesty was  standing,  showing  one  of  her  ladies 
(who  had  never  been  to  the  Convitto)  how  the 
room  was  arranged.  She  told  me  she  had 
come  in  for  a  few  minutes  only  as  she  had  an 
appointment  with  the  Professor  of  the  Ob- 
stetric Clinique.  But  she  wished  to  show  the 
Home  to  the  Cou- 
tessa  della  Trinita. 
She  herself,  in 
fact,  did  show- 
woman,  pointing 
out  the  Sisters' 
Salottena,  and  the 
little  class-room. 
It  was  only  9.30, 
and  our  "  pros  " 
going  on  duty  at  7 
have  orders  to 
leave  beds  to  air 
till  they  come  back 
for  lunch  or  ofi 
duty  hours. 

Her  Majesty, 
however,  is  known 
to  wish  to  see 
things  as  they 
function,  not 
dressed  up  for  in- 
spection, so  she 
will  not  have 
minded  being  ac- 
companied by  an 
Assistant  Matron 
with  cook's  book  in 
her  hand,  and  find- 
ing mattresses  ex- 
posed to  the  fresh 
air. 

Queen  Elena  told  us  she  had  heard  from  the 
Professor  how  pleased  he  was  with  the  progress 
made,  and  asked  if  we  were  also  satisfied,  add- 
ing, "  It  will  need  much  patience,  but  you  are 
sure  to  succeed,  and  will  find  the  right  pupils 
to  carry  on  the  work;  the  thing  is  too  much 
needed. ' '  This  gave  me  opportunity  for  saying 
}iliss  Snell  wished  our  probationers  to  be  called 
"  Nurse  "  when  on  duty,  avoiding  the  term 
"  Siguorina,"  as  the  Signorini  del  Policlinic  in 
white  overalls  and  flowers  at  the  waist,  had 
gained  a  reputation  which  it  would  be  well  for 
our  nurees  of  the  green. and  white  unifonii  to 
avoid,  and  her  Majesty  approved  the  idea. 

M.   A.   TURTON. 


July  -23,  1010] 


Zbc  Brlttsb  3ournal  of  H^nrsino, 


"  Xa  Soionantc." 

Wo  welcome  the  first  uuniuei"  of  La  Soig- 
nante,  the  organ  of  L'Association  des  an- 
ciennes  ilivcs  brcvetccs  dc  I'Ecole  des 
Infintiieres  dc  I'Assistance  Publique  (the 
Association  of  the  certificated  pupils 
of  the  Xursing  School  of  the  Assis- 
tance Publique),  whic-b.  has  reached  us,  in  a 
pretty  piuk  cover  lettered  in  mauve,  and  bear- 
ing a  picture  of  the  School,  and  its  nurses' 
badge,  in  the  same  colour.  It  is  to  be  pub- 
lished monthly,  and  to  be  written  by  members 
of  the  Association,  and  devoted  exclusively  to 
technical  and  professional  questions. 

On  the  first  page  appears  a  group  of  pupils 
of  the  School,  and  the  portrait  of  Allle.  Ger- 
maiue  Parra,  one  of  the  first  class  of  pupils, 
who  was  subsequently  placed  in  charge  of  a 
children's  pavilion,  at  Brevanues,  of  convales- 
cents from  infectious  complaints.  In  the  dis- 
charge of  her  duties  she  contracted  typhus, 
having  devotedly  nursed  a  child  suffering  from 
the  disease,  and,  in  spite  of  every  care,  suc- 
cumbed to  it,  to  the  sorrow  of  all  who  knew 
her.  Her  name  is  to  be  inscribed  on  the  walls 
of  the  School  as  a  testimony  to  the  devotion 
exhibited  by  pupils  of  the  School  from  the  first, 
and  as  an  example  to  generations  of  nurses  yet 
to  come. 

As  is  natural,  an  article  is  devoted  to  the 
affairs  of  the  Association,  and  to  the  place 
which  the  new  Journal  will  fill  in  keeping  its 
scattered  members  in  touch-  with  one  another, 
and  for  the  communication  of  their  professional 
experiences.  In  a  very  sympathetic  article  re- 
ference is  made  to  the  death  of  Miss  Isla 
Stewart,  whose  portrait  is  published.  Com- 
ment is  made  on  the  stupefaction  felt  by  every- 
one at  the  recent  appointment  of  Miss 
Stewart's  successor  from  a  School  which  is 
content  with  a  two  years'  tei-m  of  training, 
while  for  many  years  the  three  years'  standard 
has  been  in  force  at  St.  Bartholomew's.  Our 
contemporary  suggests  that  it  is  perhaps  neces- 
sary to  see  in  this  unjust  and  unchivalrous  con- 
demnation— for  it  hits  a  woman  who  can  no 
longer  defend  herself — the  retaliation  of  her 
adversaries  in  the  struggle  for  registration,  for 
a  State  Diploma  and  professional  control. 

Of  much  interest  is  the  constitution  of  the 
Association,  and  the  list  of  the  pupils  certifi- 
cated during  the  past  year  with  the  positions 
they  hold. 

The  journal  also  records  the  marriage  of  the 
President  of  the  Association,  Mile.  Laurenson,' 
who  is  now  Mme.  SaiTazin;  and  Mile.  Jehan- 
nin  and  Mile.  Amal  have  respectively  become 
Mme.  Pagnan  and  Mme.  Balmette.  We  wish 
La  Soignante  a  very  prosperous  future. 


appointments. 

Superintendent  of  XuuSe  Thainino  Schools. 
Bellevue  and  Allied  Hospitals,  New   York,    U.S.A. — MihS 

Clara  I).  Noyos  lui.s  Ihhii  apiwiiitcd  to  succootl  -UiSft 
Gootlrich  os  SuiK'niiteiuk'iit  ot  tlio  Niii't>e  Traiuing 
Schools  of  Bellevue  and  the  Allied  Hospitals,  >.en- 
York.  Miss  Noyes  is  a  graduate  of  the  Johns  Hop- 
kins Hospital,  Baltimore,  U.S.A.,  and  has  held 
positions  as  head  ot  training  schools  in  New  Eng- 
land, her  present  position  being  that  of  Superin- 
tendent ot  the  Nurse  Training  Sch<x)l  at  .St.  Luke's 
Ho«ipit«l,  New  Betlford,  Mass.  The  api)ointment  is 
regarded  as  an  excellent  one,  as  Miss  Noyes'  pro- 
fessional reputation  ranks  very  high. 

M.\TRONS. 
Isolation  Hospital,  Catherine  de  Barnes.  Solihull. — Miss 
Ada  Copeland  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She 
was  trained  at  the  Boro"  Infectious  Hospital,  Dar- 
lington, and  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Edinburgh,  and 
has  held  the  positions  of  Nurse  Matron,  Great  Ouse- 
burn  Rural  District  Isolation  Hospital,  1904-1907, 
and  Matron  of  the  Tamworth  Joint  Isolation  Hos- 
pital since  1907. 

Torbay  Hospital,  Torquay.  —Miss  Mary  F.  AVallace 
has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was  trained  at 
the  Royal  Devon  and  Exeter  Hospital,  and  has  held 
the  positions  of  Night  Superintendent  and  As- 
sistant Matron  at  the  Royal  Berkshire  Hospital, 
Reading. 

Assistant  Lady  Superintendent. 
Royal  infirmary,  Liverpool. — Miss  Jane  Ainslie  has 
been  appointed  Assistant  Lady  Superintendent 
and  Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  Royal  In- 
firmary for  Sick  Children,  Edinburgh;  and  at  the 
AVestern  Infirmary,  Glasgow  ;  and  has  held  the  posi- 
tions of  Outpatient  Sister,  Night  Superintendent, 
and  Assistant  Matron  at  the  Leith  Hospital. 
Sisters. 

Hospital    for    Epilepsy    and    Paralysis,    Maida     Vale,    W.— 

Miss  Agnes  F.  Hampton  has  been  appointed  Sister. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Sheffield, 
and  has  held  the  position  of  Sister  at  the  "West 
Ham  Hospital,  and  of  Night  Sister  at  St.  Mark's 
Hospital,  City  Road,  E.C. 

Royal  Infirmary,  Derby.  -Miss  Alice  Lister  has  been 
appointed  Sister  in  the  Massage  and  Electrical  De- 
partment. She  was  trained  at  the  Royal  Albert  Ed- 
ward Infirmary,  Wigan,  and  has  held  the  position  of 
Staff  Nurse  at'  the  National  Hospital,  W.C,  and 
has  for  a  short  time  been  Masseuse  at  the  Royal  In- 
firmary, Derby. 

Miss"  Mary  Holmes  has  aleo  been  appointed  Sister 
in  the  sanie  institution,  where  sJie  received  ner 
training,  and  has  since  been  a  member  of  the 
private  nui-siug  staff. 

General  Infirmary,  Macclesfleld. — Miss  C.  E.  Smith 
has  been  appointed  Sister.  She  was  trained  at  the 
Children's  Hospital,  Pendlebury,  and  has  held  the 
position  of  Sister  of  the  Children's  Ward  at  the 
Roval  Countv  Hospital,  Ryde,  and  ha6  also  been 
Staff  Nurse  at  the  Children's  Hospital,  Liverpool. 
Night  Superintendent. 

Royallnfirmary,  Derby.  -Miss  Evelyn  L.  Ward  has 
been  appointed  Night  Superintendent.  She  w,as 
trained  at  Addenbrooke's  Hospital,  Cambridge. 
and  has  held  the  position  of  Staff  Nurse  at  the 
Poplar   Hospital    for   Accidents,    of   Night  Sister, 


^be  Britisb  journal  of  IRursing. 


[July  23,  1910 


Outpatient  Sist€r,  and  Ward  Sister  at  Adden- 
brooke's  Hospital,  Cambridge;  and  of  Theatre 
Sister  and  temporary  Matron  at  Stamford  In- 
iirmary. 

SUPEEINIENDENT  JvUESE. 

Union  Infirmary,  Cannock. — Miss  Caroline  Woodward 
has  been  appointed  Superintendent  Nurse.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Poor  Law  Infirmary,  Birmingham, 
and  has  held  the  positions  of  Superintendent  Nurse 
at  the  Prestwich  Union,  and  at  the  Bakewell  Union. 

C'HAItGE    XrRSE. 

Fever  Hospital,  Birkenhead. — Miss  Edith  A.  Walker 
has  been  appointe<l  Charge  Nurse.  She  was  trained 
at  the  General  Infirmary,  Leeds  and  the  Fever 
Hospital,  Stockport,  and  has  held  the  position  of 
Assistant  Nurse  at  the  City  Hospital,  Grafton 
Street,  Liverpool,  and  at  Rosehill  Children's  Hos- 
pital, Torquay. 

School  Nurse. 
Education    Committee,    Mountain    Ash.—  Miss  Anne  E. 
Wood  has  been  appointed  School  Nurse.     She  was 
trained  at  the  London  Hospital,  E.,  and  has  been 
Sister  at  the  Fever  Hospital,  Plaistow,  and  Matron 
of  the  Isolation  Hcfspital,  Pontypridd. 
Secretary  Scperiniendent. 
Lincoln  County  Hospital.  — -Mr.   W.  H.   Moor,  of  the 
Westminster   Hospital,   has  been  appointed  Secre- 
tary Superintendent. 


QUEEN  ALEXANDRAS  IMPERIAL  MILITARY 
NURSING  SERVICE. 
Miss  J.  L.  Blakelv  to  be  StafE  Nurse  (provision- 
ally) (July  1st). 

QUEEr*  VICTORIAS  JUBILEE   INSTITUTE. 

Transftrs  and  Appoiniments. — Miss  Maude 
Weale,  as  Assistant  County  Superintendent  to 
Gloucestershire  County  Nursing  Association ;  Miss 
Florence  Hemming,  as  Assistant  Superintendent, 
to  Sheffield;  Miss  Florence  Packard,  as  Senior 
Nurse,  to  Bridgwater;  Miss  Mary  Stephenson,  to 
Brixton  ;  Miss  Emily  Kate  Rawlings,  to  Bath  ;  Miss 
Agnes  Park,  to  Beckington;  Miss  Margaret  Spald- 
ing, to  Rye ;  Miss  Miriam  Whiteman,  to  Grimsby ; 
Miss  Alice  Rhoda  Davies,  to  Llanegwad ;  Miss 
Frances  A.  Williams,  to  Gilfach. 


RESIGNATION. 
Miss  Kemp.  Matron  ot  the  Southwark  Union  In- 
firmary. East  Dul'nich.  has  tendere<l  her  resigna- 
tion and  the  post  is  now  advertised.  The  In- 
firmary contains  nearly  800  beds.  The  Guardians, 
who  are  wiser  than  to  set  an  age  limit  for 
applicants,  require  candi<late6  not  only  to  produce 
evidence  of  thorough  training,  but  of  their  com- 
petency to  iindertake  the  control  and  instruction  of 
the  nursing  staff,  of  having  had  practical  ex- 
perience of  household  management,  and  in  the 
duties  of  the  office  generally. 


THE  PASSING  BELL. 

Steell. — On  the  17th  inst.,  at  Anson  Road,  Vic- 
toria Park,"  Manchester,  Agnes  Dunlop,  the  dearly- 
loved  wife  of  Graham  Steell,  M.D.,  F.R.C.P. 

Mrs.  Graham  Steell,  before  her  marriage,  held 
the  position  of  Lady  Superintendent  of  the  Royal 
InfirlTiarv,   Man<bpster. 


IRursino  Ecbocs. 

During  the  visit  of  the 
King  and  Queen  to  Aldershot 
last  week  Queen  Mary,  ac- 
companied by  the  Duchess 
of  Connaught,  paid  a  visit 
to  the  Louise  Margaret  Hos- 
pital, an  institution  for  the 
wives  of  soldiers  and  their 
children.  They  were  re- 
ceived by  Major  Green,  the 
medical  officer  in  charge, 
and  by  the  Matron,  Miss 
Beesby,  Her  Majesty  spent  a  full  hour  in  the 
hospital,  and  displayed  a  deep  interest  in  the 
patients  and  the  provision  made  for  their  re- 
storation to  health.  A  visit  was  also  paid  to  the 
new  creche,  which  is  nearing  completion,  and 
will  supply  a  need  much  felt  at  Aldershot  by 
affording  the  means  of  attending  to  children  of 
soldiers  whose  wives  are  ill. 


The  King  and  Queen  also  visited  the  Con- 
naught  Hospital,  and  were  received  by  Sur- 
geon-General Sir  T.  J.  Gallwev  (Principal 
Medical  Officer),  Lieut. -Colonel  H.  M~  Sloggett 
(in  charge  of  the  Connaught  Hospital),  and 
Miss  A.  E.  Cox  (the  Matron). 


The  Council  of  Queen  Victoria's  Jubilee  In- 
stitute for  Nurses  at  a  recent  meeting  was  in 
favour  of  accepting  the  conditions  of  the  be- 
quest of  "  Bryn  Menai,"  the  house  in  North 
Wales  left  as  a  home  of  rest  or  convalescence 
for  nurses  attached  to  the  Institute.  The  sum 
of  £6,000  was  also  provided  by  the  late  Miss 
Harriet  Hughes  towards  the  maintenance  of 
the  home. 


Tlie  following  nursing  associations  have  been 
affiliated  since  May  last:— Chapel  End,  War- 
wickshire; Dunkinfield,  Lancashire;  Exeter, 
Devonshire  ;  Finsbury  Social  Workers'  Associa- 
tion, London;  Fitzwilliam,  Yorkshire;  Ling- 
field,  Surrey;  Ltmiley,  Co.  Durham;  Totting- 
ton,  Lancashire;  Wallsend-on-Tyne,  Northum- 
berland; Dunvant,  Glaniorganshire ;  Holywell, 
Flintshire ;  Llanegwad,  Carmarthenshire ; 
Mote,  Pembrokeshire;  Walwyn  Castle,  Pem- 
brokeshire. The  affiliation  of  associations,  to 
employ  Queen's  Nurses  in  connection  with 
County  Nursing  .\ssociations,  were  confirmed 
as  follows: — High  Wycombe,  to  the  Bucking- 
hamshire C.N.  .\Ksociation  :  Beckenham,  to  the 
Kent  C.N.  Association  ;  Brierley  Hill  and  Wed- 
nesbury  Maternity  Nurse,  to  the  Staffordshire 
C.N.  .\ssociation  ;  and  Hay  wards  Heath,  to  the 
Sussex  C.N.  .\ssociation. 


July  -23,  1010] 


II be  3Briti6b  3ournal  of  iRiircnng, 


The  Quarterly  Meeting  of  the  Poor  Law  In- 
fimiary  Matrons'  Association  was  held  by  kind 
invitation  of  Miss  Little  on  July  16th,  at  the 
Islington  Infimiary.  As  the  afternoon  was 
tine  the  Matrons  were  able  to  sit  out  in  the 
garden  under  the  shade  of  a  tree.  The  subject 
for  consideration  was  the  Poor  Law  Officers' 
Superannuation  Act,  on  which  an  interesting 
discussion  was  held.  Several  new  members 
have  recently  joined  the  Association,  which 
now  includes  almost  all  the  Matrons  of  the  In- 
firmaries which  are  recognised  by  the  Local 
Government  Board  as  Training  Schools  for 
Nurses  both  in  London  and  the  Provinces. 


Yet  another  list  of  nurses  and  nurse  training 
schools  is  to  be  published,  "  A  Nurses'  Year 
Book  and  Who's  Who,"  edited  by  Mrs.  David- 
son, editor  of  the  Empire  and  Imperial  Beview. 
It  seems  a  pity  when  there  are  already  three 
lists— the  Koirot  Membei-s  of  the  E.B.N. A.; 
the  Nursing  Directory,  pubHshed  by  the  Nurs- 
ing Press;  and  Burdett's  Directory — in  exist- 
ence, that  a  fourth  should  be  attempted,  as 
nurses  have  shown  conclusively  that  only  a 
Eegister  published  under  State  authority  will 
satisfy  them,  and  that  lists  not  so  authorised 
have  no  attraction  for  them.  The  work  of  bring- 
ing out  and  keeping  such  lists  up  to  date  is 
immense  and  practically  useless. 


A  sale  of  work  in  aid  of  the  restoration  fund 
of  the  chapel  of  St.  John's  House,  12,  Queen 
Square,  Bloomsbury,  was  held  at  the  House  on 
TBursday  last  week,  when  the  stalls  were  filled 
with  beautiful  and  useful  articles  at  very 
moderate  prices.  The  nurses  on  the  staff  have 
for  some  time  been  busy  in  making  and  col- 
lecting the  furnishing  of  their  stalls,  and  these 
were  so  well  stocked  that  it  seemed  a  pity  there 
was  only  one  short  day  in  which  to  dispose  of 
all  their  contents.  Beautiful  framed  photo- 
graphs, a  finely  carved  panel  from  Central 
Africa,  crosses  from  Ober-Ammergau,  dainty 
tea  cloths,  cosy  woollen  vests  for  tiny  babies, 
which  St.  -John's  House  nurses  are  adepts  at 
making,  and  gloves  in  black  velvet  with  tEe 
word  "  coal  "  outlined  across  them,  suggesting 
their  use  in  the  sick  room,  were  amongst  the 
articles  on  sale  at  the  stalls  over  which  Nurses 
Davis,  K.  Walker.  Collins,  and  others  presided. 
In  the  Hall  was  the  doll  stall,  where  perfomi- 
ing  Teddy  bears  and  other  mechanical  toys 
were  also  to  be  found,  and  a  well-stocked  sweet 
stall,  where  Nurse  Herley  and  Nurse  Henry 
did  a  brisk  trade. 

Miss  Laura  Baker  presided  over  a  most 
attractive  frosted  cake,  and  invited  the  visitors 


to  pay  twopence  and  guess  its  weight,  the  cake 
to  be  the  property  of  the  first  who  guessed 
nearest  to  the  correct  weight. 

The  sale  realised  over  £100  and  there  are  still 
some  articles  for  disposal. 

John  Bull's  articles  on  Nursing  Homes  have 
come  to  the  last  chapter,  "  at  any  rate  for  the 
present,"  and  few,  we  imagine,  will  have  read 
them  without  pausing  to  consider  how  scanda- 
lous is  the  condition  of  affairs.  The  articles 
end  with  "A  liemedy,"  as  follows: — "The 
remedy,  as  we  have  so  often  pointed  out,  is  to 
be  found  in  Registration — registration  of  both 
nurses  and  nursing  homes,  and  of  masseurs  and 
masseuses,  and  massage  establishments.  There 
is  now  before  Parliament  a  Bill  which  aims  at 
some,  at  least,  of  these  objects,"  and  then 
follows  the  constitution  of  the  Central  Council 
for  Eegistration  as  drafted  .in  the  Bill  before 
Parliament. 

■'  W'henever  the  Bill  comes  before  the  House 
(for  second  reading)  it  is  the  intention  of  our 
Editor  to  move  amendments  with  the  object 
of  extending  its  scope  to  massage  nurses,  and 
including  the  registration  of  the  homes  and  in- 
stitutions as  well  as  the  practitioners." 


We  heartily  welcome  the  interest  of  the 
^I.P.  editor  of  any  journal,  and  realise  the 
urgent  necessity  for  the  registration  of  nureing 
homes  as  well  as  of  nurses,  but  both  reforms 
cannot  be  incoi-porated  iii  one  Bill.  The 
scheme  was  suggested  in  the  first  Bill  of  the 
K.B.N. A.,  and  found  impracticable.  Get  the 
Nurses'  Act  in  force,  and  then  it  will  be  com- 
paratively easy  to  draft  a  Bill  for  the  registra- 
tion and  inspection  of  homes,  which  would  be 
most  effectively  carried  out  by  the  County 
Councils. 

Nurses  are  prepared,  as  the  medical  profes- 
sion does,  to  pay  for  the  organisation  of  their 
own  profession,  but  the  cost  of  carrying  out  a 
Eegistration  of  Homes  Act  must  be  borne  by 
the  rates,  and  not  by  registered  nurses  any 
more  than  by  registered  medical  practitioners. 
The  public  must  pay  for  its  own  protection  in 
nursing  homes,  as  it  does  in  other  matters  of 
health  and  hvgiene. 


Miss  E.  M.  Jones,  Lady  Superintendent  of 
the  Eoyal  Infirmary,  Liverpool,  whose  resigna- 
tion of  that  important  post  we  have  already 
chronicled,  has  been  appointed  Lady  Inspector 
for  Wales  and  the  W^estern  district  under  the 
Local  Government  Board,  to  assist  in  the  in- 
spection of  Poor  Law  Infirmaries,  and  to  visit 
committees  in  charge  of  boarded  out  children. 


74 


Zf)C  Britisb  Sonrnal  of  IRurslng. 


[July  23,  191C 


It  is  natural  that  she  should  sever  her  counec- 
tion  with  the  Royal  Infirmary  with  great 
regret,  but  she  is  looking  forward  with  much 
pleasure  to  her  new  work,  which  affords  such  a 
wide  field  of  usefulness. 

Amongst  the  latest  developments  in  connec- 
tion with  the  Nursing  School,  for  which  the 
curriculum  has  been  recently  revised,  is  that 
arrangements  have  been  made  to  afford  facili- 
ties to  the  certificated  nurses  for  leave  of 
absence  to  obtain  training  in  midwiferj-,  and 
the  theatre  service  has  been  increased,  and  now 
comprises  one  Sister,  two  certificated  assis- 
tants, and  three  staff  nurses  in  their  third  year 
of  training ;  a  certificated  nurse  now  assists  in 
the  X-Eay  Department  in  co-operation  with  an 
expert  electrician  under  a  medical  director,  and 
one  of  the  nurses  holding  the  certificate  of  the 
School,  and  also  of  the  Incoi-porated  Society  of 
Trained  Masseuses,  is  resident  for  the  massage 
of  in-patients,  and  also  assists  the  senior  non- 
resident masseuse  in  the  massage  of  out- 
patients. Arrangements  are  in  progress  for  the 
new  out-patient  department,  which  it  is  ex- 
pected will  be  opened  in  January  next. 

We  hope  Miss  Jones  has  many  years  of  con- 
genial and  useful  work  before  her,  and  con- 
gratulate the  Local  Government  Board  on 
having  secured  the  services  of  so  experienced 
an  officer  as  Lady  Inspector  for  Wales  and  the 
Western  District. 


iReflecttons. 


INTIMIDATION    OF    REGISTRATIONISTS. 

Sir  Henry  Burdett's  lay  nuVsing  paper 
slashes  out  last  week  with  its  proberbial 
savagery  au.l  lack  of  >eracity  into  the  article 
entitk-:!.  "  Thou  Shalt  do  No  Murder,"  by  the 
Hon.  Albinia  Brodrick  in  the  Fortnightly  Re- 
view. It,  in  fact,  accuses  this  lady  of  not 
v\riting  the  brilliant  article  "  which  appears 
over  Miss  Brodrick's  signature."  The  fact 
that  after  exposing  the  terrible  disorganisa- 
tion of  nursing  work.  Miss  Brodrick  advocates 
registration  and  control  by  a  Central  Board 
is,  of  course,  sufiicient  reason  for  this  attack 
upon  the  honour  of  the  writer  of  the  article. 
Happily,  we  may  safely  leave  Miss  Brodrick  to 
deal  with  the  writer  of  this  false  statement. 
She  is  no  respecter  of  persons,  and  the  mas- 
terly manner  in  which  she  can  annihilate  per- 
verters  of  the  truth  is  a  matter  of  history.  Miss 
Brodrick  will,  we  hope,  demand  an  ample 
apology  from  the  journal  in  question  for  its 
latest  tactics  in  intimidation.  It  is  time  the 
an  ti -registration  employers'  press  was 
thoroughly  exposed  so  that  the  public  should 
realise  the  ten-orism  to  which  nurses  are  sub- 
jected who  dare  to  demand  nursing  and  hos- 
jiitnl  reform. 


From  a  Boabd  Room  Mieroe. 
The  King  has  hooome  Patrou  of  St.  George's  How- 
pital,   and   has  permitted  the  new  children's  wing 
at  Yarmouth  Hospital  to  receive  the  name  of  King 
Kdward's  AVard. 


The  Queeu  has  become  Patroness-in-Chief  of  the 
Samaritan  Free  Hospital  for  Women,  Patroness  of 
the  Chelsea  Hosi^ital  for  Women,  and  has  con- 
tinued her  patronage  of  the  Victoria  Home  tor  In- 
valid Children  at  Margate. 


On  Thursday  in  last  week  His  Serene  Highness 
Prince  Francis  of  Teck  laid  the  foundation  stone 
of  the  Barnato-Joel  IMemorial  at  the  Middlesex 
Hospital.  The  memorial  is  to  be  built  and  endowed 
for  cancer  patients  and  concer  research,  with  funds 
bequeathed  by  the  late  Mr.  Henry  L.  Barnato  m 
memory  of  his  brother,  Jlr.  Barnett  L.  Barnato, 
and  his  nephew,  Mr.  Wcolf  Joel.  On  both  the  liret 
and  the  second  floor  provision  will  be  made  for 
wards  containing  20  beds,  as  well  as  for  Sisters'  and 
nurees'  bed-sitting-rooms.  The  Prince  gave  great 
satisfaction  by  the  announcement  that  her 
Majesty  the  Queen,  who  takes  gi-eat  interest  in 
the  hospital,  has  con.sented  to  open  the  new  block 
nest  year.  The  public  who  desire  to  know  how  the 
Special  Appeal  Fund  for  the  Hospital  is  pro- 
gressing have  only  to  walk  past  it  to  see  the  latest 
figures  on  the  great  board  outside. 


In  1913  the  Cliristian  World  will  be  celebrating 
the  centenary  of  the  birth  of  that  intrepid  ilis- 
sionary,  David  Livingstone,  and  as  he  was  a 
student  at  Charing  Cross  Hospital  the  authorities 
there  feel  that  if  would  l>e  a  fitting  memorial  of 
him  if  they  oould  restore  the  Hospital  to  a  full 
measure  of  usefulness.  They  are  pix>posing, 
therefore,  to  open  a  David  Livingstone  Centenaiy 
Jlillion  Shilling  Fund  in  order  that  they  may  he 
able  to  re-open  the  closed  wiii-ds  (containing  87 
beds)  for  the  relief  of  the  sick.  Livingstone  once 
wrote : — "  It  was  with  unfeigned  delight  I  became 
a  member  of  a  profession  which  is  pre-eminently 
devoted  to  practical  l)enevolence,  and  which,  with 
unwearied  energy,  piu-snes  from  age  to  age  its  en- 
deavours to  lessen  human  woe," 


The  Governors  of  the  Prince  of  Wales's  General 
Hospital,  Tottenham,  have  just  received  a  gift  of 
£2-50  from  an  anonymous  source.  This  makes  a 
total  of  £1,750  given  t<>  the  hospital  by  the  same 
person  during  the  last  three  years. 


In  order  to  raise  funds  for  providing  a  garden 
roof  for  St.  Mary's  \<>w  Hospital  for  Women  and 
Children  at  Plaistow,  a  village  fete  and  "  Pageante 
of  Playstowe  "  was  lukl  in  the  various  buildings 
and  grounds  of  St,  Mary's  Church  for  three  days 
last  week. 


Miss  E.  Bond,  of  Lancaster,  has  left  a  sum  of 
£10.000  to  build  a  sanatorium  near  I,^nca8ter.  for 
the  relief  and  cure  of  consumptives  in  that  town. 


July  23,  1910] 


Zbc  Biitisb  Journal  of  iRursino. 


75 


Lord  Balfour  of  Burleigh  prcsWinl  lost  week  at 
11,  Chamlos  Street,  W.,  over  tJio  annual  ineeting 
of  the  Queen  Alexandra  Sunatoriura  at  Davos 
Platz,  in  Switzerland.  The  object  of  the  institution 
is  to  pi\>vide  tr<.\itnient  for  tuberculosis  in  an 
Alpine  climate  for  ihi-sous  of  small  means  belong- 
ing to  the  Englitili-s[Kviking  nationalities  who  are 
unable  to  affoid  the  ordinary  expenses  in  the 
Davos  hotels. 

Lor<l  Balfour,  in  moving  the  adoption  of  tlie  re- 
port, said  its  keynote  was  in  the  sentence,  "  The 
Sanatorium  has  not  only  been  finished,  but  has 
been  opened  free  of  debt,  and  has  alreai'y  placed 
over  aix  months'  succ*'ssful  work  to  its  credit."  Ho 
oongnatulatod  Dr.  AVilliam  Ewart,  one  of  their  hon. 
secrettiries,  who  had  been  instrumental  in  intro- 
ducing to  them  a  geneix)us  donoi-  of  £25,000.  He 
and  the  doctor  shared  the  secret  as  to  who  the 
donor  was,  but  nothing  in  the  world  would  induce 
tliem  to  divulge  it. 


In  proposing  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  President, 
the  Rev.  D.  Harford  suggested  that  the  Council 
should  consider  the  question  of  providing  a  chai>el 
at  the  Sanatorium.  l>ut  the  President  thought  that 
a  laundry  was  «i  more  pressing  necessity,  as  ser- 
vices were  already  Ixnng  held  in  the  drawing- 
room.  The  chapel  might  possibly  be  provided  by 
a  private  effort,  and  he  suggested  that  a  small 
committee  might  be  formed  for  the  purpose. 

JLbc  (^bil^ren's  Sn'iatoilum, 
Ibolt.  IRortoik. 

The  Children's  Sanatorium  at  Holt,  Norfolk,  is 
one  of  the  few  sanatoria  for  consumptive  children 
in  the  country.  Though  it  only  accommotlates  '20 
childien  in  temporary  buildings  the  results  have 
been  so  encouraging  during  the  four  yeai-s  it  has 
been  in  existence  that  it  has  been  decided  to  in- 
crease the  numbers  from  20  to  40,  and  to  erect 
permanent  buildings,  which  it  is  estimated  will  cost 
£6,000.  Towards  the  sum  the  Council  of  King 
Edward's  Hospital  Fund  have  given  £500,  and  tlie 
Committee  is  appealing  to  the  public  for  the  rest. 
Any  money  given  to  this  object  will  be  well  spent. 
"Happiness,"  says  Di-.  Gillam  (the  visiting  medical 
oflScer)  is  such  an  essential  in  the  treatment  of 
children  in  any  illness."  They  are  happy  under 
Miss  Rumball's  care,  living  in  the  midst  of 
beautiful  scenery  and  breathing  magnificent  air. 

It  is  with  great  regret  we  record  the  death  of 
Xurse  Laura  Davies,  who,  since  the  opening  of  the 
Sanatorium,  has  discharged  her  duties  with  the 
greatest  devotion. 

The  following  is  the  time  table  of  the  daily 
routine. 

Routine. 
Time  Table. 

7  a.m. — Wash. 

7. .30  a.m. — Temperatures  and  pulses  taken. 

8  a.m. — Breakfast. 

9  a.m. — Get  up. 

9.45  a.m. — Milk.     Occasionally  fruit  or  sweets. 

10  a.m.  to  12  noon. — School,  which  includes  sing- 
ing lessons  and  drill. 


12.30  p.m. — Dinner. 

1  to  2  p.m.— Rest. 

2  to  4  p.m. — Play,  walk  or  drive. 

4  p.m. — Temperatures  and  pulses  taken. 

5  p.m. — Tea. 

6  p.m. — Prayers,  bath  and  bed. 

6.45  p.m. — Supper,  milk,  and  biscuits. 

7  p.m. — Silence  until  7  a.m. 

Compatible  with  necessary  treatment  every  effort 
is  made  to  ensure  the  continued  happiness  of  the 
children. 

Meals. 

Breakfast. — Bread  and  butter,  preserve  or  fresh 
fruit,  milk,  cocoa,  with  one  of  the  following  items, 
eggs,   fish,  porridge,  bacon,  boiled  or  fried. 

Dinner.— Roast  beef,  roast  and  boiled  mutton, 
soup  or  fish,  two  vegetables  and  pudding  (suet  and 
farinaceous),  stewed  fruit,  with  cream,  custard,  or 
junket. 

(The  meals  are  varied  as  much  as  possible.) 

Tea. — Milk  and  tea,  bread  and  butter,  jam,  cake, 
or  lettuce  and  cress  in  season. 

Each  child  drinks  at  least  two  pints  of  milk  a 
day.  They  are  encouraged  to  eat  as  much  as  pos- 
sible. Any  child  unable  to  take  its  food,  has  to 
take  extra  rest. 

They  are  weighed  once  a  week. 
General. 

The  elder  girls  wash  up  their  tea-things,  dust 
their  bedrooms  and  the  shelter.  The  children  live 
entirely  out  of  doors  when  weather  permits,  taking 
their  meals  and  even  having  scliool  in  the  open. 

The  children  wear  woollen  underclothing  and 
jerseys,  under  thick  serge  frocks  in  the  winter  and 
mittens.  They  wear  no  additional  clothing  out  of 
doors,  except  when  driving.  They  wear  washing 
pockets  and  use  paper  handkerchiefs,  given  out 
daily  when  the  soiled  one  has  to  be  given  up. 
Handkerchiefs  are  burned,  also  the  sputum  mixed 
with  sawdust. 

The  children  stay  in  bed  if  their  temperature  is 

over  100  degs. 

I 

Summer  Comfort. 


When  once  that  annual  function  of  discomfort, 
the  spring  cleaning,  is  over,  thrifty  housewives 
think  twice  about  ordering  a  fire  to  be  lighted; 
chimneys  have  been  swept,  and  they  know  that 
coal  dust  quickly  dims  the  spotlessness  of  clean 
chintzes.  But  warm  weather  does  not  always  co- 
incide with  spring  cleaning,  and  evenings  are  apt 
to  be  sometimes  chilly  at  all  seasons  of  the  year. 
For  this  reason  it  is  most  comfortable  to  have  a 
gas  fire  installed  in  bedrooms,  when,  in  a  few 
moments,  merely  by  turning  the  tap  and  applying 
a  match,  the  room  is  warm  and  ■  cosy.  Many 
people,  where  there  are  not  many  living  rooms,  use 
their  bedrooms  more  or  less  as  sitting-rooms  also, 
and  the  convenience  and  economy  and  saving  of 
domestic  labour  in  this  case  are  great.  For  District 
Nurses  and  women  workers,  who  are  out  a  great 
part  of  the  day,  a  gas  fire  is  a  great  convenience. 
The  Gas  Light  and  Coke  Co.,  Horseferry  Road, 
S.W.,  supply  the  necessary  stoves,  and  will  also 
install  them  for  a  small  rent  added  to  the  quarterly 
account.  %, 


76 


Zbc  Britisb  Journal  of  IRursincj. 


[July  23,  1910 


Xeoal  noatters. 

WHO  IS  RESPONSIBLE? 

Under  the  heading  '' Workhouse  Nurse's  Fatal 
Error,"  an  inquest  touching  the  death  of  an  infant 
at  the  Horncastle  "Workhouse,  was  reported  in  the 
press.  The  Xursery  Attendant,  who  bathed  the 
child,  placed  him  in  such  hot  water  that  the  child 
was  severel.v  scalded,  the  left  leg  being  raw,  and 
the  right  leg  blistered.  The  attendant  said  that 
she  felt  the  water  before  immersing  tlie  babv.  and 
did  not  think  it  was  too  hot. 

The  Coroner,  Mr.  H.  Sliarpley,  advised  the  jury 
that  they  might  return  a  verdict  tliat  the  child 
died  from  exhaustion  arising  from  the  scalds,  and 
that  "  although  it  was  not  a  «ise  act  on  the  nurse's 
part  in  placing  the  child  in  .so  hot  water,  yet  she 
did  it  inadvertently,  and  therefore  it  was  a  case 
of  accident."  The  jury  returned  a  verdict  accord- 
ingly. 

It  is  important  to  note  that  the  ''nurse  ''  was 
a  nursery  attendant,  not  a  trained  nurse,  and  also 
that  if  children  are  no^  to  be  scalded  to  death  as 
the  result  of  unwise  acts  on  the  part  of  their  un- 
qualified attendants,  someone  should  be  held  re- 
sponsible for  the  temperature  of  their  baths. 


COULD  NOT  FACE  THE  SIGHT. 

At  an  inquest  by  Mr.  John  Evans,  Coroner,  into 
the  death  of  a  lady  whose  body  was  found  hanging 
in  the  bathroom  of  Brynymor  Old  Mansion, 
Aberystw\i:h,  Nurse  Margaret  Hughes,  of  the 
Jlental  Nunses'  Co-operation.  49,  Norfolk  Square, 
London,  deposed  that  the  decea.sed  went  to  the 
bathioom.  Slic  followed  immediately  but  found  tlie 
door  locked.  She  waited  for  two  minutes  and  then 
heard  a  gurgling  .sound.  As  she  failed  to  force  the 
door  a  man  broke  the  bathroom  window  and 
obtained  access,  when  the  patient  was  found 
hanged  and  inanimate.  The  nurse  sent  for 
a  doctor  and  policeman,  but  no  one 
entered  the  room  till  the  constable  ar- 
rived. She  informed,  the  Coroner,  who  could 
not  understand  why  the  nurse  did  not  go  in 
once  the  room  had  been  opened,  that  she  was 
"  up-set,"  and  that  slie  "  could  not  face  the  sight." 

The  Coroner  said  he  did  not  wish  to  press  tlie 
matter,  but  it  was  rather  serious  if  experienced 
nurses  lost  their  nerve  just  wlien  they  were  really 
wanted. 

TliG  jury  ]-etiirn«l  a  verdict  of  suicide  while  of 
un.sound  mind. 

It  is  an  extraordinary  fact  that  pei-sons  who 
would  not  leave  a  patient  in  water  to  drown  until 
the  police  arrivo  will  leave  them  hanging  if  they 
attempt  suicide.  It  cannot  be  too  strongly  insisted 
that  death  by  strangidation  is  by  no  meaiis  always 
instantaneous,  and  that  efforts  at  resuscitation 
should  be  persevered  in  until  medical  help  arrives. 


AWARDS  AT  THE  JAPAN-BRITISH  EXHIBITION. 
Joyes'  Fliii<l  ha,j  iK^en  awarded  the  Grand  I'lix — 
the  highest  possible  award,  at  the  Japan-British 
Exhibition.  This  is  the  133rd  gold  medal  or  other 
award  which  this  famous  <lisinlocta'nt  has  secured  ou 
such  public  occasions. 


®utsi&e  the  (Bates. 


WOMEN. 

The  Great  Procession 
of  Women  to  Hyde 
Park  on  Saturday  nest, 
July  23rd,  is  to  be 
formed  in  two  sections, 
as  it  is  esijected  it  will 
considerably  exceed  the 
one  of  June  18th  in 
''^-"-  — ^~  .size,  and  no  larger  i)ro- 
cession  can  In-  al'Uiu.Ml  in  the  public  interest.  A 
contingent  of  mounted  ixjlice  will  head  each  pro- 
cession. The  nurses'  contingent  will  join  the  East 
Procession,  Group  C.  1,  on  the  Embankment  east 
of  "Waterloo  Bi-idge.  It  is  hoi)ed  that,  as  before,  all 
who  can  will  wear  indoor  uniform.  They  are  a-sked 
to  form  up  at  3  p.m.,  five  abreast.  A  start  will  he 
made  at  4  p.m.,  and  the  pix)cession  will  pass  by  way 
of  Northumberland  Avenue.  Pall  Mall,  St.  .James's 
Street,  and  Piccadilly,  to  Hyde  Park  Corner,  wheie 
it  will  enter  the  Park.  The  organiser  of  the  Nurses' 
Group  is  Miss  Buckley.  4,  Clement's  Inn,  AV.C. 


The  West  Procession,  which  will  be  headed  by 
the  General,  Mrs.  Drummond  (mounted),  will  form 
up  on  the  south  side  of  Holland  Park  and  stretch 
from  Notting  HiU  Gate  Station  to  Shepherd's  Bush 
Tube  Station,  and  will  march  straight  along  the 
Bayswater  Road  to  the  Marble  Arch,  where  it  will 
enter  the  jjark.  In  the  Park,  commencing  at  .5.30. 
speeches  will  be  made  from  40  platforms,  and 
simultaneously  from  all  the  platforms  the  Resolu- 
tion will  be  put  at  6.30. 


In  our  last  issue  the  majority  in  favour  of  the 
Second  Reading  of  Women's  Suffrage  Bill  was.  by 
a  printer's  error,  given  as  14-5.  The  majority  tor 
the  Second  Reading  was  109,  and  that  in  favour  of 
committing  the  Bill  to  a  Committee  of  the  whole 
House  14-5, 


The  Women's  Local  Government  Society  have 
Issued  a  leaflet,  ^ihich  has  been  newly  revised,  and 
which  supplies  infoimation  as  to  the  registration 
of  electors  of  local  government  lx>dies.  The  society 
l>oints  out  that  besides  the  imiJortance  of  '\\o 
women's  vote  in  local  elections  there  is  the  fact 
that  only  electore  oan  be  candidates  for  County 
and  Town  Councils. 


Speaking  in  the  discu.ssion  on  "  Women  and  the 
Fight  Against  Destitution  "  at  the  Japan-Britisii 
Exhibition  Congress,  Jlrs.  Sidney  \vebb  said  the 
fight  against  destitution  was  one  of  the  big  objects 
before  women  in  the  next  50  years.  Tlie  hoiK'ful 
note  which  had  resulted  from  the  inquiry  of  the 
Royal  Commission  was  the  realisation  that  destitu- 
tion sprung  from  certain  causes,  and  that  wo  had 
gradually  built  up  other  agencies  to  prevent  i>er- 
.sons  liecoming  destitute.  It  was  desirable  in  tlie  iu- 
teiest.s  of  the  prevention  of  destitution  that  all 
sickness  should  lx>  dt^idt  with  by  the  public  health 
autlioiity,  that  child  neglect  .should  be  prevent«>d  tiy 
tho  oduciation  authority,  and  that  the  feeble-miiide<I 
sliould  be  dealt  with  by  tlie  lUsyUims  authority. 


July  23,  1910] 


Zbc  "SBvitisb  3ournaI  of  IRursino. 


77 


■Booli  Of  tbe  lUcch. 


A  MARRIAGE  UNDER  THE    TERROR* 

As  may  Ik?  guess*-*!  liom  tlie  title,  this,  is  & 
romance  of  tlio  tiiiu'  ot  tlie  Revolution.  Tlie  horrors 
of  tliat  awful  period  are  painted  with  vivid  colour 
and  rrtilism.  but  also  with  delicacy  of  touch.  The 
int<.>r«'tit  of  tlie  book  is.  maintained  to  the  last 
chapter. 

rn<Ier  the  most  thrilling  circumstances  the  pix>ud 
young  aristocrat.  Aline  de  Eochambeau,  we<ls  Avith 
Citizen  Dangeau,  a  sucoe-^sful  lawyer,  an  ardent 
Ropublioan,  and  a  Deputy  under  the  Commune.  It 
goes  without  saying,  therefore,  that  their  love  story 
is  of  no  ordinary  character,  and  it  is  told  with  no 
oixlinary  skill. 

The  oonvent-bre<l  Aline  "had  been  a  week  in 
Paris,  but  as  yet  she  had  tasted  none  of  its  gaieties 
— for  gaieties  there  were  still,  even  in  these  cloud- 
ing days  when  the  wind  of  destiny  blew  up  the 
storm  of  Terror.''  She  is  on  a  visit  to  her  cousin, 
Mme.  de  Montargis,  when  the  storm  burets  upon 
their  house,  and  her  only  relative  in  the  city  is 
arrested  on  a  charge  of  conspiracy. 

"  Alone!  In  all  her  nineteen  years  she  had  never 
been  really  alone  before.  ,  .  .  "When  she  could 
controlhertrembling  thoughts  a  little,  she  began  to 
wonder  what  she  should  do.  She  shuddered  and 
looked  wildly  round. 

'•  A  very  fat  woman  was  coming  down  the  street, 
fatter  even  than  .Sister  Jcsephe,  she  considered, 
with  that  detachment  of  thought  which  is  so  often 
the  accompaniment  of  great  mental  distress.  Aline 
gazed  at  her  fascinated,  and  the  woman  returned 
the  look. 

•'  In  truth.  Mile,  de  Rochambeau,  with  her  rose- 
wreathed  hair,  her  fichu  trimmed  with  the  finest 
A'alenciennes  lace,  and  modish  white  silk  shoes,  was 
a  sufficiently  arresting  figure,  when  one  considered 
the  hour  and  the  place." 

This  rough  woman  consents  to  lodge  her  when  she 
finds  that  she  is  supplied  with  money,  and  as 
Citozenne  Roche,  an  embroideress,  she  lives  for 
months  in  daily  peril  of  discovery  and  of  the  awful 
embrace  of  Mme.  Guillotine.  Under  the  same  roof 
lo<lges  Dangeau.  and  at  first  his  chivalry  andthen 
his  love  is  aroused  at  the  spectacle  of  this  beautiful 
defenceless  girl  battling  with  poverty,  and  sur- 
rounded by  dangers  of  all  descriptions. 

At  her  inevitable  arrest  and  subsequent  trial 
Dangeau  plays  a  bold  stroke,  and  the  incident  is 
one  of  the  finest  in  the  book. 

"  Imagine,  then,  one  bruised,  tormented  human 
speck,  girl  in  ^ars,  gently  nurtured,  set  high  in 
face  of  a  packe<l  assembly,  every  upturned  face  in 
•which  looke<l  at  her  with  appraising  lust.  bloo<l- 
thirsty  cruelty,  or  inhuman  curiosity.  It  was  thus 
that  Dangeau,  after  months  of  absence,  saw  her 
again.     .     . 

"  He  swung  himself  on  the  platform  and  came 
forwar<l. 

"  '  Citizen  President,"  he  said,  quietly,  'I  claim 
to    represent    the    accused,    who    I    see    has    no 

counsel.     . ^_^^ 

*  By  P,.atricia  Wentworth.  (Andrew  Melrose,  3, 
York  Street,  Covent  Garden,  "W.C. 


•  Wiat  do  you  know  of  the  accused?.' 
'I  know  her  motive,  for  changing  her  name — 
ii  patriotic  one.  She  came  to  Paris,  she  witnessed 
the  corruption  and  vice  of  aristociiats,  and  sho 
determined  to  come  out  from  among  them  and 
throw  in  her  lot  with  the  ix?ople.' 

■•  Mademoiselle  turned  slowly  and  faced  him. 
Now  if  slie  si>oke,  if  she  demurred,  if  she  even 
looketl  a  contradiction  of  his  words,  they  were  both 
lost — both.     .     .     . 

"  '  I  vouch  for  her,  I  teH  you — I,  Jacques 
Dangeau.  Does  anyone  cast  a  slur  upon  my 
patriotism  ?  ' 

"  '  What  do  you  know  of  her,  and  liow  do  you 
know  it  ?  ' 

■'  '  Explain,  explain! ' 

"  '  Death,  death  to  the  aristocrat! ' 

"Dangeau  sent  his  voice  ringing  through  the 
hall: 

"  '  She  is  my  betrothed!  She  is  an  aristocrat  no 
longer,  but  the  daughter  of  the  Revolution.' 

'■  Again  Aline's  lips  moved,  but  instead  of  speak-  ' 
ing  she  put   both  hands  to  her  heart    and    6too<l 
pressing  them  there  silently. 

"  On  the  horns  of  a  terrible  dilemma  the  girl,  be- 
fore whose  eyes  rose  not  only  the  horroi-s  of  the 
guillotine,  but  dishonour  woi«e  than  death  at  the 
hands  of  the  sensual  Hebert,  has  no  choice  but  to 
submit  in  silence.  The  volatile  mob,  baulked  of 
their  victim,  demands  that  the  wedding  should  take 
place  on  the  instant.     ... 

"After  the  wedding  what  a  home-ooming! 
Dangeau  led  his  pale  bride  through  the  cheering, 
applauding  crowd,  which  followed  them  to  their 
vei-y  door." 

Pride  surging  in  the  girl's  heart  rises  above  the 
love  she  really  feels  for  him  and  makes  her  tell  him. 

"  '  We  can  never  be — never  be!  Oh!  don't  you 
understand?'  " 

The  story  by  no  means  ends  here,  and  we  can 
only  recommend  everyone  to  read  for  themselves 
this  book,  which  is  at  once  instructive  and  absorb- 
ing. For  the  benefit  of  those  who  are  unable  to 
obtain  this  privilege  we  would  say  that  after  in- 
describable torture  and  deadly  peril  Dangeau's  love 
and  heroism  are  rewardetl  with  his  heart's  desire. 

H.  H. 


COMING  EVENTS. 

July  22nd  to  30th.— fleeting  and  Conference  of 
the  British  Medical  Association,  at  the  University 
of  London,  Imperial  Institute  Buildings,  and  the 
Imperial  College  of  Science,  South  Kensington. 

July  23rd. — The  Women's  Social  and  Political 
Union.  Great  Demonstration  in  support  of  the 
Conciliation  Committee's  Suffrage  Bill.  Hyde  Park, 
London,  W. 

July  27th. — The  Union  of  Midwives'  Concert  and 
Sale  of  Work,  Cavendish  Rooms,  Mortimer  Street, 
London,  W.,  7  P.m. 

July  2Sth. — Meeting,  Central  Midwives'  Board, 
Caxton  House,  S.AV.,  2.45  p.m. 

July  2Sth. — Ladies'  Dinner,  Hotel  Cecil.  Re- 
ception, Lyceum  Club,  Piccadilly,  for  those  accoln- 
panying  the  members  B.M.A. 

.iugust  Srd. — Examination,  Central  Midwives' 
Board,  London  and  Province.?. 


78 


CTbe  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRursing, 


[July  23,  1910 


Xetters  to  tbe  EMtor. 

iB^^Bi  '^  Whilst  cordially  inviting  com- 
it— — 1||-^  munications  upon  all  subjects 
for  these,  columns,  we  wish  it 
to  be  distinctly  understood 
that  we  do  not  in  ant  wai 
hold  ourselves  responsible  for 
the  opinions  expressed  by  our 
correspondents. 


A   NURSES  'WHAT'S  WHAT." 
'To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 

Dear  Madam. — Tlie  so-called  "Reply''  by  the 
Hon.  Sydney  Holland  in  The  Nineteenth  Century 
and  After  to  your  article  in  the  previous  issue  on 
the  subject  of  State  Registration  of  Trained  Nurses 
is  not  likely  to  appeal  to  those  who  value  and  can 
recogni.se  common  sense.  Mr.  Holland  begins  by 
finding  fault  with  his  opponents  for  using  the  term 
"unreasonable"  in  connection  with  the  Anti- 
Registration  movement,  and  ends  by  accusing  those 
who  differ  from  himself  as  being  guilty  of  "irre- 
sponsible and  in  some  cases  spiteful  chatter.''  The 
old  and  dying  argument  that  an  Act  of  Parliament 
cannot  register  character  is  only  a  subterfuge. 
Does  the  London  Hospital  guarantee  a  nurse's 
character  for  all  time ;  that  she  will  never  become 
"  dotty  " — a  somewhat  wide  and  indefinite  term; 
that  she  will  never  be  the  victim  of  an  accident 
which  may  injure  the  brain  ? 

Pew  nurses  are  professionally  alive  in  old  age 
when  "  dottiness  "  (in  the  ordinary  sense  of  the 
term>   usually  begins  to  show  itself. 

INIr.  Holland  advocates  a  "  Who's  AVho  ?  "  for  the 
nursing  profession.  Debrett  and  Burke  are  most 
useful  and  proper  publications,  I  admit,  but  as  you 
say,  a  "What's  What?"  is  what  is  required  for 
the  nursing  profession,  not  a  "  Who's  Who?  "  and 
for  this  iiurpose  a  State  Register  is  required. 

There  are  few,  if  any,  nurses  who  desire  a  re- 
gister solely  for  the  purpose  of  putting  their  names 
on  it.  Most  nurses  desire  State  Registration  for 
the  ijurpose  of  securing  organisation  in  the  pro- 
fession, a  legal  status  which  will  secure  for  trained 
nurses  separation  and  di.stinction  from  quacks  and 
other  undesirables,  and  tlie  protection  and  efficient 
care  of  the  .sick.  Surely  Mr.  Holland  will  allow 
that  these  arc  laudable  objects. 

How  the  Anti-Registration  Prot&.st  came  to  be 
signed  by  nurses,  as  Mr.  Holland  states,  without 
any  organised  canvassing,  is  a  riddle  hard  to  road, 
and  in  connection  with  the  subject  of  canvassing  it 
would  be  interesting  to  know  how  much  canvassing 
has  been  done  recently  by  the  Anti-Registrationists 
ill  connection  with  a  certain  appointment  which 
hgs  called  down  unqualified  condemnation  and  con- 
tempt upon  hospital  governors  and  others  who 
know  best  what  tlieir  small  purposes  and  petty 
motives  arc  in  degrading  a  training  school  and 
attempting  by  so  doing  to  belittle  the  memory  of 
one  whose  name  will  l)e  held  in  honour  long  after 
their  names  liave  been  obliterated  by  the  merciful 
hand  of  time. 

Mr.  Holland  is  neither  a  nurse  nor  a  doctor,  yet 
it  ai)poars  tliat  lie  has  assumed  the  right  to  speak 


for  both.  At  the  present  day  it  is  quite  too  absurd 
that  he  should  speak  for  either.  If  there  are  those 
who  hold  that  he  has  a  right  to  do  so,  then,  I  say, 
he  is  only  one  individual — one  layman  against 
thousands  of  professional  persons. 

These  are,  in  a  way,  all  small  jioints — too  small 
some  will  say  for  notice — but  as  Mr.  Holland  has 
been  obliged  to  fall  back  on  small  points,  exceptions 
to  the  rule,  and  subterfuge,  he  must  be  met  on  his 
own  ground  that  some  of  the  fallacies  which  he 
employs  may  be  exposed. 

I  am,  yours  faithfully, 

E.  A.  Stevenson. 

The  Valle.v,  Trinity,  Brechin. 


THE  ASEPTIC  SENSE. 

To  the  Editor  of  thr  •■British  -Journal  of  Nursing." 
Dear  Madasi, — I  am  glad  to  note  that  your  cor- 
respondent. Miss  E.  M.  Dickson,  in  her  useful 
practical  hints  to  private  nurses,  published  in  your 
last  issue,  emphasises  the  necessity  for  keeping  a 
special  dress  for  wearing  when  travelling  to  a  case 
and  on  similar  occasions.  Too  often,  I  fear,  this 
is  not  done,  but  one  is  used  which  will  subsequently 
be  worn  in  the  patient's  room.  The  hint  that  a 
bedpan  should  be  kept  for  u.se  wrapped  up  in  a  towel, 
and  not  put  on  the  floor,  is  also  not  unnec-essaiy ; 
but  both  thes*?  ix>ints  go  to  prove  that  the  a.septic 
sense  is  still  very  rudimentary  in  some  nurses,  and 
that  its  development  should  be  a  matter  of  concern 
to  those  responsible  for  their  education.  If  this 
were  not  so,  would  it  be  possible  for  nurses  to  risk 
conveying  all  kinds  of  microbes  to  patients  for 
whom  they  honestly  desire  to  do  their  best  ?  What 
appears  to  me  most  necessary  is  to  inculcate  the 
principles  underlying  the  practice  of  aseiJsis,  not 
the  elaborate  precautious  and  routine  to  be 
observed  in  certain  circumstances,  as  is  often  done. 
If  principles  are  thoroughly  assimilated,  details 
may  be  left  to  take  care  of  themselves. 

As  head  of  a  private  nursing  institution,  I  find 
that  I  have  to  go  very  carefully  over  these  prin- 
ciples with  nurses  joining  the  staff,  as  the  know- 
ledge of  many  leaves  much  to  be  desired,  though 
the  staff  is  selected  from  nurses  holding  certificates, 
from  "  the  best  training  schools.'' 
I  am,  dear  Madam, 

Yoius  faithfully. 

Superintendent. 


1Rot(cc0. 


The  British  Journal  of  NnnsxNO  is  the  official 
organ  of  the  following  important  Nursing  socie.- 
ties :  —  A 

The  International  Council  of  Nurses. 

The  National  Council  of  Trained  Nurses  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland. 

The  Matrons'  Council  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland. 

The  Society  for  the  State  Registration  of 
Trained  Nurses. 

The  Registered  Nurses'  Society. 

The  School  Nurses'  League. 

OUR   PUZZLE  PRIZE. 
Rules    for  competing   for  the     Pictorial    Puzzle 
Prize  will  be  found  on  .\dvertisement  page  xii. 


July  23, 10101  -^i^Q  Biit(5b  3ournaI  of  mursiiuj  Supplement. 

The    Midwife. 


79 


Ibc  IRopl  riDatcvnttvi  Charit\>.        Events  in  the  ©bstetitc  iaorl&. 


The  annual  Staff  Tea  of  the  midwives  of  the 
Royal  Maternity  Charity  took  place  on-  Thursday 
last  at  the  Eustace  Miles  Restaurant,  W.C,  by  the 
kind"  invitation  of  Major  Killick  (Secretary  to  the 
Charity)  and  Mrs.  Killick.  Major  Killick  was  pre- 
vented by  indisposition  from  being  present,  and 
was  greatly  missed,  as  his  kindly  and  hospitable 
greetings,  and  api>rociative  words  to  the  mid- 
wives  on  the  staff,  in  whose  good  work  he  sincerely 
believes,  are  always  welcome  on  tliese'occasions. 

Mrs.  KiUick  received  the  guests,  who  then  took 
their  seats  at  small  tables  covered  with  bright  and 
dainty  cloths,  wliere  a  bountiful  tea  was  served  by 
deft  handed  waitresses  with  the  erect  and  con- 
fident -carriage  characteristic  of  the  Eustace  Miles 
Restaurant,  where  physical  exercises  are  part  of 
the  daily  routine.  On  each  table  were  baskets  of 
ripe  red  strawberries,  nestling  in  their  green  leaves, 
and  jugs  of  cream,  to  which  those  present  did  full 
justice. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  tea.  Dr.  Sunderland,  a 
member  of  the  medical  staff,  proposed  a  vote  of 
thanks  to  Major  and  Mrs.  Killick  for  their  hos- 
pitality, and  took  the  opjKjrtunity  of  thanking  the 
midwives  for  their  good  work  and  loyal  co-opera- 
tion and  for  maintaining  the  standard  of  excel- 
lence of  which  the  Charity  was  justly  proud.  This 
was  seconded  by  Dr.  Swan  and  carried  by  acclama- 
tion. 

After  some  excellent  music  and  recitations  by  Mr. 
Sivor  Levey  and  Mr.  Ivan  Borlyn,  who  were  intro- 
duced to  the  audience  by  Mrs.  Eustace  Miles,  there 
was  an  interesting  demonstration  of  some  of  the 
breatliing  and  other  exorcises  taught  at  the  school, 
descril)ed  by  Mr.  Eustace  Miles,  and  a  wonderfully 
clever  performance  with  clubs,  in  which  the  ■per- 
former  kept  in  uni.son  with  the  pianist .  A  feature  of 
the  breathing  eserciscs.as  taught  here,  is  that  while 
one  side  of  the  body  is  exercising  the  other  is  rest- 
ing, thereby  conserving  its  energy  and  avoiding 
unnecessary  waste.  Mr.  Miles  also  showed  some 
diagrams  which  illustrated  the  displacement 
of  the  various  organs  of  the  human  body 
under  certain  conditions,  and  for  which  he 
believes"  stretching  and  breathing  exerci-ses 
to  be  the  correct  solution.  He  instanced  the 
downward  pressure  on  the  abdominal  organs  in 
those  whose  occupations  are  sedentary,  with  the 
consequence  that  they  are  often  misplaced.  To 
those  whose  special  duty  it  is  to  care  for  the 
body,   the  demonstration   was  most   interesting. 

a  IRew  3n6pcctor  ot  fIDibwivcs. 

Miss  Barbara  M.  Cunningham,  M.B.,  B.Ch. 
Edin.,  D.P.H.  Cambridge,  and  L.M.  Rotunda  Hos- 
pital, Dublin,  has  been  appointed  Inspector  of  Mid- 
wives  for  Manchester  in  succession  to  Dr.  Margaret 
Merry  Smith.  Dr.  Cunningham  has  had  charge  of 
one  of  the  Dufferin  Hospitals  in  India,  and 
administrative  control  of  hospitals  at  Naginir  and 
Delhi. 


Dr.  W.  H.  Maidlow,  F.R.C.S.,  President  of  the 
\\c-st  Somerset  Branch  of  the  British  Medical  Asao 
ciaticn,  in  his  Presidential  Address,  of  which  an 
abstract  is  published  in  the  British  Medical 
■I'^'unal,   spoke  as  follows:  — 

The  chief  events  in  the  obstetric  world  which 
seem  to  me  worthy  of  mention  are ;  — 

1.  Removal  from  our.  hands  of  much  of  what  I 
call  lower-class  midwifery  by  the   "new  nurse.'' 

2.  The  birth-rate,  if  we  may  judge  by  statistics, 
seems  to  be  decidedly  falling,  and  I  feel  pretty  cer- 
tain this  is  not  due  to  sterility  or  late  marriages, 
but  rather  to  methods  of  prevention  and  abortions. 

3  With  the,  advent  of  the  "new  nurse"'  there 
has  been  a  diminution,  and  we  may  expect  a  still 
further  decrease,  of  methods  designed  to  kill  the 
child  and  an  increase  of  those  to  save  its  life  for 
the  State;  and  I  can  conceive  a  time  when  the 
doctor's  chief  work  will  be  to  do  Caesarean  section 
when  the  nurse  has  failed  with  forceps  or  version, 
with  or  without  our  help,  and  even  then  with 
proper  examination  and  improved  methods  of  rear- 
ing premature  children  this  might  be  avoided. 

4.  A  wordy  fight  has  been  often  waged  between 
those  who  wait  and  watch,  giving  no  chloroform 
till  the  very  end,  and  with  reluctance  apply  forceps, 
and  those  who,  rather  than  wait,  give  chloroform, 
dilate  the  cervix  if  it  is  dilatable,  and  very  readily 
deliver  the  child  and  make  a  good  job  of  the 
inevitably  torn  perineum.  Women  in  the  upper 
circles  fall  in  very  readily  with  the  last  plan,  of 
which  I  am  a  disciple,  but  I  have  a  disquieting 
suspicion  that  the  argument  from  saving  time  and 
distress  is  not  rather  biassed,  and  that  those 
attended  by  the  expectant  school  have  rather  lower 
post  mortem  morbidity. 

.5.  Scopolaraine-morphine  injection  seems  dis- 
tinctly useful  when  chloroform  is  contraindicated 
and  in  the  earlier  stages.  It  relieves  the  pain  and 
does  not  stop  labour,  is  a  useful  substitute  for 
opium  or  chloral  in  relieving  spasm  and  inducing 
sleep,  although  for  this  condition  I  think  a  steri 
lised  preparation  of  eucaine  applied  to  the  cervi> 
is  best. 


noibwives  in  3apan. 

Miss  Wald  writes  from  Japan  to  the  American 
■Journal  of  Nursing: — "We  went  to  the 
graduating  exercises  of  midwives  at  Dr.  SaikTs 
hospital.  Thirty-eight  women  completed  one  year's 
.study  which,  after  Government  examination,  per- 
mits the  practice  of  midwifeiy.  Tliese  exannna- 
tious  are  said  to  be  difficult.  Dr.  S^iiki  is  a 
graduate  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  and  a 
j>ost-giaduate  student  of  Johns  Hopkins.  Most  of 
these  women  returned  to  the  hospital  for  an 
additional  year  of  training  to  complete  the  course 
for  a  trained  nur.sc's  certificate.  I  addressed  thera, 
and  the  interpreter  then  made  an  elal>onate  si)e<>cli 
in  Japanese  purixjrting  to  be  my  impronnjtu  .o- 
marks.     The  room  where  we  had  the  exercises  was 


80 


Zbc  ffiritisb  3ournaI  of  Itturstng  Supplement.    [J.u'y  23,  loio 


matted  as  usual.,  tlie  stuckuts  sittiug  on  the  floor. 
On  the  wall  was  the  picture  of  uie  Empress  who/ 
1,200  years  ago,  nur.sed  the  lepere. 


Cbe  Cential  HDibwives'  S5oait>. 

A  Special  Meeting  of  the  Central  Midwives' 
Board  was  held  on  Tuesday,  July  19th,  at  Castou 
House,  when  the  charges  against  sixteen  midwives 
were  heard.  There  was  a  full  Board,  Sir  Francis 
Champneys  presiding. 

The  foliowing  is  the  result  of  the  hearing:  — 
Stbcck  off  the  Roll. 

Lottie  Bloomer  (1497),  "Walsall,  charged  with  fail- 
ing to  obtain  medical  assistance  for  patient  suffer- 
ing from  severe  rigor  and  abdominal  pain,  and 
also  with  attending  as  monthly  nurse  to  another 
woman  two  days  afterwards,  being  aware  that  the 
previous  patient  was  suffering  from  puerperal 
fever,  without  satisfactorily  disinfecting  herself. 
The  second  patient  died  from  infection. 

Ann  Briggs  (8^2),  West  Riding,  charged  with 
failing  to  obtain  medical  assistance  for  ruptured 
perinjeum,  and  when  patient's  temperature  was 
subsequently  raised.  The  midwife  said  she  should 
never  believe  that  a  small  wound  could  cause  a 
woman's'death.  The  Coroner  at  inquest  said  she 
was  a  dear  old  woman,  but  quite  incompetent. 

Ellen  Briggs  (18813),  charged  with  neglecting  to 
obtain  medical  assistance  for  inflamed  eyes. 

Sarah  CoUings  (6536),  Cornwall,  charged  with 
neglecting  to  obtain  medical  assistance  for  serious 
rupture  of  perinteum  and  post-partum  htemor- 
rhage.      Patient,  who  was  only  sixteen,  died. 

Mary  Denyer  (11625),  West  Sussex,  charged  with 
negligence  on  several  counts.  The  doctor's  evidence 
showed  culpable  neglect  of  the  cleanliness  of  the 
patient. 

Mary  Jane  Evans  (18-1.36),  Birmingham,  charged 
with  neglect  of  two  patients,  one  of  whom  died  of 
puerperal  fever.     Midwife  wished  to  resign. 

Sarah  Hook  (17184),  Kent,  uncleanly  and  neglect- 
ful. ■ 

Sarah  Jarvis  (20.349),  Kent.  Dirty  and  neglect- 
ful. Employed  a  neighbour  to  wash  and  swab 
patient,  who  subsequently  died  in  infirmary  of 
puerperal  fever. 

Susannah  Longney  (17041),  Gloucestershire. 
Charged  with  drunkenness  and  neglect. 

Mary  Stavely  (16283),  East  Riding.  Medi- 
cal officer  reported  that  after  repeated  warnings 
she  had  neglected  to  provide  herself  with  a  bag, 
etc.,  or  otherwise  keep  the  rules  of  the  Board. 
There  seemed  to  be  no  i^oeitive  evidence  that  she 
was  practising  as  a  midwife. 

Jane  Taylor  (12733).  Neglecting  to  summon 
medical  assistance  for  symptoms  of  puerperal  fever, 
and  for  attending  another  case  without  having 
satisfactorily  disinfected  herself. 

Isabella  Tinker  (506),  Kent.  Neglecto<l  to  obtain 
iiudical  assistance  in  a  case  of  delayed  laliour  with 
abnormal  presentation,  until  the  following  day  but 
one.  Patient  died  after  being  delivered  of  a  still- 
born diild. 

Rachel  Yates  (4.3.33),  Lancashire.  Neglect  to 
procure     me<lical     assistance,     first    in     excessive 


hsemorrhage,  second   for  offensive  lochia  and  high 
temperature.     Patient  died. 

Severely  Censured. 

Margaret  Aldred  (3201),  Lancashire.  Charged 
with  unnecessarily  making  five  internal  examina- 
tions, neglect  to  obtain  medical  assistance  for 
symptoms  of  puerperal  fever. 

Louisa  Thomas  (12733),  AVeyraouth.     Neglect  to 
report  inflammation  of  infants'  eyes. 
Cautioned. 

Christina  Shaw-  (5741).  Neglect  to  obtain  medi- 
cal assistance  for  dangerous  feebleness  of  infant. 

Mary  Warburton  (6-564),  Cheshire.  Charged  with 
attempting  to  remove  placenta  by  traction,  and 
not  obtaining  medical  assistance  for  severe  hsemor- 
rhage.      Patient  died. 

Mary  Ann  Byfield  (17159),  Co.  of  Southampton. 
Charged  with  drunkenness  and  neglect.  The  mid- 
wife attended  in  person. 


3nstructlon   of  Scbool   Cbilbren 
in  tbe  Care  an^  jfeeMng  of 
3ntantg. 

In  the  House  of  Commons  on  Tuesday  afternoon 
Dr.  Addison  introduced  a  Bill  providing  that  all 
children  attending  jjublic  elementary  schools  shall, 
each  week  during  school  term,  be  provided  with 
simple  instruction  in  hygiene  and  the  care  of 
health,  while  each  girl  of  the  age  of  12  years  or 
more  shall  be  adequately  instructed  in  the  care 
and  feeding  of  infants.  Every  year  in  this  country 
about  120,000  children  die  before  completing  12 
months  of  existence  as  the  result  of  improper  feed- 
ing, while  large  numbers  suffer  from  inadequate 
attention  and  maternal  ignorance.  "  I  was  talking 
with  Dr.  Addison  in  the  lobby,"  says  a 
Dally  News  correspondent,  regarding  the  measure. 
"The  death  rate,"  he  said,  "is  very  much  in- 
creased in  neighbourhoods  where  the  mothers  have 
to  go  out  to  work  and  can  only  nurse  their  oflf- 
spring  morning  and  evening.  The  infants,  between 
these  periods,  are  looked  after  by  older  children  of 
the  family  or  girls  hired  for  the  purpose.  Nearly 
one-fhird  of  the  infant  death  rate  is  due  to  various 
complaints  which   arise  from  improper  feeding." 

"  We  have,"  he  continued,,  "  no  opportunities 
for  teaching  mothers  of  the  present  day,  although 
good  work  is  being  done  in  some  places  by  volun- 
tary agencies.  I  consider  it  very  necessary,  in 
order  that  the  next  generation  of  mothers  should 
understand  how  to  feed  their  children  properly, 
that  instrtiction  sluuild  be  given  to  girls  at  an  age 
when  they  will  net  be  possessed  by  various  pre- 
judices. We  find  it  very  difficult  to  persuade  many 
women  of  thirty  years  of  ago  or  more  to  give  up 
feeding  their  childn-n  on  sop  and  other  deleterious 
substances.  Milk  is  the  only  proper  food  for  an 
infant,  and  I  am  persuaded  if  we  can  got  girls  to 
believe  this,  and  to  remember  even  this  only,  we 
shall  reduce  the  infant  death  rate  in  the  next 
generation  by  25  per  cent." 


The   Queen   has   become  patron  ot   the  City  of 
London  Lying-in  Hospital. 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 

[  MIHSIIKl  MECOMP 

EDITED  BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


No.  1,165. 


SATURDAY,     JULY     30,     1910 


EMtorial. 


PRISON       REFORM. 
"Force  is  no  Remedy." — John  Brigh'.. 

We  have  it  on  the  authority  of  Lord 
Jvimberley's  Commission  in  1878,  and  re- 
peated by  a  Departmental  Inquiry  Com- 
mittee in  1895,  that  our  present  methods 
of  carrying  out  the  penal  laws  not  only  fail 
to  reform  offenders,  but  produce  a  deterio- 
rating effect  upon  them  ;  and  the  late  Lord 
Justice  Mafhew  stated  that  our  existing 
system  of  penal  laws  is  a  hundred  years 
behind  the  times.  The  statement  of  the 
Home  Secretary  in  the  House  of  Commons 
last  week,  therefore,  that  it  is  proposed  to 
introduce  some  changes  in  the  treatment  of 
prisoners  at  once,  and  that  others  are  to  be 
the  subject  of  future  legislation,  is  welcome. 
Mr.  Churchill  submitted  that  the  first  real 
principle  which  should  guide  any  one  who 
•was  trying  to  establish  a  good  system  of 
prisons  was  to  prevent  as  many  people  as 
possible  getting  there  at  all.  There  was  an 
injun,-  to  the  individual  and  a  loss  to  the 
State  whenever  a  person  was  committed  to 
prison  for  the  first  time,  and  every  care, 
consistent  with  the  maintenance  of  law  and 
order,  must  be  constantly  taken  to  minimise 
the  number  of  persons  committed.  He  also 
expressed  the  opinion  that  no  boy  ought  to 
be  sent  to  prison  unless  he  was  incon'igible 
or  had  committed  some  serious  offence.  It 
shoidd.be  possible  to  discover  some  form  of 
disciplinary  detention  or  correction  for 
minor  offences  outside  the  prison.  No  youth 
ought  to  receive  any  sentence  which  had 
not  a  definite  curative  and  educative  char- 
acter. Next  year,  he  hoped  to  submit  to 
Parliament  more  detailed  and  definite  pro- 
posals when  public  opinion  had  concen- 
trated itself  on  the  subject. 

Another  point  mentioned  by  Mr.  Churchill 


was  that  forty  years  had  elapsed  since  the 
Education  Act  of  ]87tl  was  passed,  and  we 
now  had  a  class  of  men  in  our  prisons  who 
needed  brain  food  as  well  as  the  ordinary 
nourishment.  For  some  time  there  had 
been  occasional  lectures  given  in  prison, 
and  a  few  months  ago  the  Somerset  Light 
Infantiy  sent  their  band  to  Dartmoor  Prison 
to  play  to  the  convicts.  The  effect  produced 
on  those  poor  people  was  amazing,  and  their 
letters  for  montlis  afterwards  were  eloquent 
of  that  fact. 

Amongst  the  reforms  proposed  by  Mr. 
Churchill  is  that  four  lectures  or  concerts 
are  to  be  given  every  year  in  every  convict 
prison  in  the  country.  ^Vlso  that  passive 
resisters,  "  suffragettes,"  and  other  persons 
not  convicted  of  offences  involving  great 
violence  or  cruelty,  are  not  to  be  compelled 
to  wear  prison  clothing,  to  be  specialh' 
searched,  to  have  their  hair  cut  or  shaved, 
to  take  the  regular  prison  bath,  or  to  clean 
their  cells. 

Other  reforms  are  the  granting  of  time 
to  every  person  of  fixed  abode  in  which  to 
pay  any  fine  inflicted,  the  siispension  of  the 
whole  system  of  police  supervision,  and  the 
abolition  of  the  ticket-of- leave  system  except 
in  old  refractory  cases. 

The  whole  of  the  proposals  of  the 
Home  Secretary  are  in  the  direction  of  a 
more  enlightened  and  humane  treatment  of 
prisoners.  We  hope  that  before  he  intro- 
duces legislation  upon  the  subject  next  year 
he  may  also  take  into  consideration  the  fact 
that,  as  many  prisoners  are  feeble-minded 
and  mentalh'  unstable,  it  is  of  great  import- 
ance that  warders  and  wardresses  should  be 
trained  to  understand  and  manage  these 
conditions,  and  that  tlie  infirmaries  of  our 
prisons  should  be  staffed  by  fully-traine4 
nurses  on  the  staff  of  a  recognised  Prison 
Nursing  Service. 


82 


Cbc  Britieb  3oiu'naI  of  IRurslng.        [Jub  so,  loio 


flDe&tcal  fiDatters. 


THE  ASPECTS  OF   DISEASE. 

In  the  Lancet  of  July  IGth,  1910,  appears  a 
paper  by  Air.  Warrington  Haward,  F.R.C.S. 
Eng.,  Consulting  Surgeon  to  St.  George's  Hos- 
pital, which  was  read  by  him  before  the  St. 
George's  Hospital  Huuterian  Society  on  March 
lOth^a  paper  so  full  of  clinical  teaching  of  the 
most  practical  description  for  nurses  as  well  as 
for  the  doctors  to  whom  it  was  addressed,  that 
for  the  many  who  are  not  privileged  to  see  the 
Lancet  week  by  week  a  short  digest  of  its  most 
salient  nursing  points  may  prove  helpful. 

It  is  Florence  Nightingale  who  says,  "  the 
most  important  practical  lesson  that  can  be 
given  to  nurses  is  to  teach  them  what  to 
observe.  The  necessity  for  the  constant  exer- 
cise of  the  faculty  of  obsen^atiou  is  equally  as 
important  for  the  nurse  as  the  doctor,  while  her 
opportunities  of  doing  this  are  far  more 
numerous  than  his.  True,  he  has  many  instru- 
ments to  help  him  in  his  observations,  of  which 
nurses  only  know  the  names,  but  we  all  possess 
in  common  that  most  beautiful  and  delicate  of 
all  instnunents,  the  human  eye — an  instrument 
which  we  always  carry  with  us — the  use  and 
accuracy  of  which  can  be  greatly  improved  by 
care  and  practice." 

Take  first  the  face.  How  many  nurses  could 
describe  with  correctness  the  expression  of  a 
person  in  severe  pain?  Here  we  get  the  "  lips 
retracted,  the  teeth  clenched,  the  brow  con- 
tracted, the  nostrils  dilated  and  quivering,  the 
whole  body  restless  except  perhaps  one  limb 
or  one  set  of  muscles."  And  what  is  the  ex- 
pression of  the  same  patient  when  the  pain  is 
relieved?  Now,  the  "lengthened  face  ex- 
pands, the  head  is  held  erect,  the  frontal 
muscle  contracts,  smoothing  out  the  wrinkles 
of  the  brow  and  arching  the  eyebrows,  the  eye- 
lids are  raised  and  the  nostrils  and  angles  of 
the  mouth  relaxed.  In  children  prolonged  pain 
often  gives  rise  to  a  pathetic  expression  of  ap- 
peal (as  though  asking  for  help  or  relief),  and 
when  i-elief  comes  the  expression  of  joy  is  more 
marked  than  in  adults;  the  eyes  brighten,  the 
colour  rises,  and  the  corners  of  the  mouth  are 
retracted  to  the  extent  of  a  smije." 

Observe  the  face  of  the  infant  with  congenital 
(syphilis:  the  "shrivelled  a])pearance  of  old 
age,  the  dull  brown  complexion,  the  snuffling 
and  discharging  nose,  the  sore  lips,  and  later 
on  the  sunken  nose,  the  hazy  cornete,  and  the 
small  gj-oy  and  notched  teeth;  How  unmis- 
takable, too,  is  the  faeies  of  rickets:  the  pro- 
jecting forehead  ami  small  face,  the  flat  and 
persiiinng  head,  the  open  iontanelles,  the 
i.,,,r,,,;.i  ..xpression,  and  'the  manifest  objection 


to  being  handled."  ...  In  rickets,  too, 
"  the  child  lies  on  its  back  with  the  legs  crossed. 
and  the  thighs  flexed  upon  the  abdomen.  .  .  . 
Such  children  kick  off  the  bedclothes  at  night, 
and  one  sees,  on  looking  a  little  closer,  the 
"  beaded  ribs,  the  pigeon  breast,  the  prominent 
abdomen,  the  enlarged  wrists,  and  the  bowed 
legs.  Contrast  this  with  the  child  with  tuber- 
cular meningitis,  lying  curled  up  in  bed,  the 
head  buried  in  the  pillow,  the  face  flushed,  the 
skin  hot  and  dry,  the  knit  eyebrows,  the  in- 
tolerance of  light,  the  squint,  the  pulsating 
carotids,  the  irregular  breathing,  and  the  re- 
tracted abdomen.      .     .     . 

"  The  child  who  has  been  suffering  with  con- 
tinued diarrhoea,  and  from  whom  you  may 
detect  probably  the  smell  of  a  foul  motion,  lies 
i'l  a  dozing  condition,  alternating  with  occa- 
sional restlessness,  the  face  pale,  the  eyes 
sunken,  the  fontanelles  depressed,  the  lips  dry 
and  parched,  the  breathing  shallow  and  hur- 
ried. Here  the  expression  is  one  of  vacant  in- 
difference, whereas  that  of  the  child  with 
meningitis,  except  in  the  very  late  stage,  is 
that  of  irritability  and  hypersensitiveness  to 
light,  frowning,  shutting  the  eyes,  with  the  lips 
retracted  and  the  teeth  clenched. 

"  Then,  again,  the  aspect  of  the  child  with 
large  tonsils  and  'post-nasal  adenoid  growth, 
with  its  pinched  nostrils  and  open  mouth,  is 
uiniiistakable.  .  .  .  Note  also  the  expres- 
sion of  the  child  who  is  myopic,  the  contracted 
brow  and  eyelids,  and  the  stooping  posture  to 
bring  the  head  near  the  book  or  toy.  .  . 
The  deaf  child,  apparently  inattentive  and 
stupid,  with  raised  brow  and  head  held  upward 
and  forward,  has  another  and  equally  signifi- 
cant aspect. 

"  Chorea  is  a  disease  which  gives  a  peculiar 
facial  expression  to  the  affected  child  .  . 
an  irresponsible,  or,  in  severer  cases,  a  some- 
what imbecile  aspect,  with,  of  course,  the 
grimacing  and  jerJcy  movement  increased  if 
called  upon  to  speak  or  act.  And  how  striking 
is  the  aspect  of  the  child  with  croup  or  other 
laryngeal  obstruction-:  sitting  up  in  bed,  the 
head  thrown  hack,  the  face  suffused  and  per- 
s(iiring.  with  distressed  and  anxious  expression, 
the  lids  livid,  the  chest  heaving,  the  supra- 
clavicular and  intercostal  surfaces  receding 
with  inspiration,  the  sibilaiit  breathing,  the 
ringing  cough  and  the  hoarse  voice.     .     .     . 

.  .  .  "  The  idiot  is  usuall.v,  even  in  infancy, 
recognisable :  the  small  and  often  unnaturally 
shaped  head,  rolling  about  from  side  to  side, 
the  want  of  speculation,  of  recognition,  or  of 
appreciation  in  the  face,  the  vacant  smile,  the 
sloiibering  lips. 

"  By  observing  Ihc  naked  "child,  various  joint 


July  30,  1910] 


Cbc  Biitisb  3ournal  of  Tniusing. 


83 


diseases,  bone  aSections,  and  paralyses  may  be 
recognised;  for  instance,  early  hip  disease  pre- 
veut-s  the  complete  Hexion  of  the  thigh  upon 
the  pelvis,  while  the  sound  limb  is  flexed  and 
rotated  with  evident  pleasure;  the  stiff  neck 
and  avoidance  of  rotation  of  the  head  are  indi- 
cative of  cervical  spine  disease;  the  unmoved 
or  carefulh'  held  limb  may  point  to  epiphyseal 
or  periosteal  disease ;  the  inequality  of  mus- 
cular action  and  the  wasted  limb  may  reveal 
the  area  of  infantile  paralysis. 

"  Turning  now  from  children  to  adults,  we 
have,  of  course,  to  remember  that  the  expres- 
sion of  the  face  in  adults  is  less  reliable  than  in 
children,  because  of  their  powers  of  control  and 
even  of  deception.  Still  much  niay  be  learned 
by  careful  observation,  and  practice  will  enable 
you  to  detect  deception  and  exaggeration,  and 
to  make  allowances  for  sources  of  error.    .    .    . 

"  We  should,  most  of  us,  I  think,  recognise 
the  dyspeptic,  with  the  thin  pale  face  and  the 
red-tipped  nose;  the  albuminuric,  with  pale 
puffy  face  and  swollen  feet;  or  the  neurotic, 
with  furtive  glance,  quivering  eyelids,  blushing 
skin  and  intense  pose.  The  habitual  drunkard, 
too,  is  generally  recognisable  :  his  fat  form,  his 
bulgy  face,  his  bleary  eyes,  his  hypertrophied 
and  reddened  nose,  are  features  often  accen- 
tuated by  his  hesitating  and  undecided  manner 
and  the  smell  of  alcohol  about  him. 

'■  That  a  patient  is  suffering  from  haemor- 
rhage may  be  indicated  by  the  waxy  pallor 
of  the  face,  the  white  hps  and  conjunctivae. 
.  .  .  .  The  diagnosis  of  internal  cancer 
rnay  sometimes  be  assisted  by  the  sallow  com- 
plexion and  emaciated  face  of  the  sufferer." 
There  is  also  the  "  staining  of  jaundice,  the 
patchy  redness  of  hectic^  the  pigmentation  of 
Addison's  disease,  the  eruptions  of  the  exan- 
themata of  sj'philis  and  of  the  various  diseases 
of  tiio  skin,  which  may  he  mentioned  as  condi- 
tions, the  observation  of  which  may  at  once 
lead  to  a  diagnosis." 

Suggestive  of  pneumonia  are  the  "  dilated 
and  moving  nostrils,  the  distressed  and  dusky 
face,  the  dry  herpetic  lips,  the  dull  staring 
eyes,  and  the  rapid  respiratory  movements  ;  or 
the  venous  and  purple  face  and  swollen  lips  of 
chronic  heart  disease  ";  while  the  seriousness 
of  the  following  facial  aspect  will  appeal  to 
every  nurse  who  has  watched  beside  many 
deathbeds:  the  "sharp  nose,  hollow  and 
sunken  eyes,  cold  and  shrivelled  ears,  dry  and 
rough  .«kin,  and  green,  black,  livid,  or  lead- 
coloured  countenance."     ... 

"  Then  how  much  may  be  learned  from  the 
eye :  its  sensitiveness  or  insensibility  to  light, 
the  injected  ^or  pale  conjunctiva,  the  dilated. 


contracted,  irregular,  or  unequal  pupils;  and 
from  the  eyelids,  puffy,  or  shrunken,  or  para- 
lysed. Besides  the  protrusion  of  exophthalmic 
goitre,  one  may  see  the  globe  pushed  forward 
by  tumours  of  the  orbit  and  of  the  antrum. 
And  we  may  see  the  globe  sunken  into  the 
orbit  by  emaciati<m  or  by  rapid  loss  of  fluid. 

■■  The  wideniug  of  the  nostril,  due  to  the 
presence  of  polypi,  is  very  notatlc,  and  gives 
a  peculiar  character  to  the  face.  The  drawing 
of  the  mouth  to  one  side  and  the  open  eyelid 
may  uumistakabh"  indicate  paralysis  of  the 
facial  nerve ;  as  the  drooping  lid  and  outward 
divergence  of  the  globe  may  point  to  paralysis 
of  the  third  nerve. 

The  onset  of  tetanus  may  be  detected  by 
the  sardonic  expression  given  to  the  face  by  the 
contraction  of  the  muscles  of  the  mouth.    .    .    . 

"  The  swollen,  spongy,  purple,  and  bleeding 
gums  and  sallow  complexion  of  scurvy  are 
obvious  signs  of  the  disease,  and  may  help 
towards  the  interpretation  of  bruises  upon 
various  jiarts  of  the  body." 

Specially  interesting  and  instructive  as 
the  study  of  the  face  is,  there  is  much  to  be 
learned  by  the  observation  of  the  rest  of  the 
body.  "  The  carriage  and  gait  of  a  patient  will 
often  tell  you  much;  of  weakness  and  fatigue, 
of  paralysis,  of  joint  trouble,  of  abdominal 
tumour,  of  cerebral  disturbance.  As  the  hand 
is  given  you,  you  may  notice  the  clubbed  fingers 
of  chronic  dyspnoea,  the  enlarged  joints  of 
osteo-arthritis,  or  the  chalk-stones  of  gout.  On 
looking  at  the  chest  you  may  observe  the 
beaded  ribs  and  pigeon  breast  of  rickets,  the 
flattened  infra-clavicular  region  of  phthisis,  the 
barrel  chest  of  emphysema,  the  bulging  lower 
right  ribs  from  enlargement  of  the  liver.  The 
outline  of  the  abdomen  may  suggest  disease  of 
the  contained  viscera,  the  pregnant  uterus,  or 
the  distended  bladder;  and  the  enlarged  and 
tortuous  veins  on  the  surface  may  tell  of 
obstructed  vena  cava  or  iliac  vein. 

"  The  lower  limbs  may  give  evidence  by 
wasted  muscles  or  arrested  gi'owth,  of  paralysis 
or  joint  disease,  or,  by  the  nodulated  great  toe, 
of  the  gouty  diathesis,  or  by  the  puffy  and 
oedematous  ankles,  of  renal  disease,  or  by  the 
periosteal  thickening  of  the  shin,  of  syphilis. 

.  .  .  "  Fractured  ribs  may  be  suggested 
by  the  immobility  of  one  side  of  the  chest,  just) 
as  immobility  and  rigidity  of  abdominal  muscles 
may  indicate  injury  or  inflammation  of  the  sub- 
jacent viscera." 

The  writer  concludes  his  paper  with  an  apt 
quotation  from  Dr.  .Johnson,  and  we  cannot  do 
better  than  follow  his  example.  "  Wliat  is* 
obvious  i.s  not  always  known,  and  what  is 
known  is  not  always  present."  E.  F. 


84 


Z\K  JSritisb  3ournal  of  IRuisiiiG. 


[July  30,  1910 


CUniical  "Botes  on  Some  Common 
ailments. 


By  a.  Knvnett  Gordon,  M.B. 
NEPHRITIS. 

(Continiird  from  page  iJ.) 

In  the  last  paper  we  discussed  brieliy  the 
symptoms  of  an  acute  nephritis,  such  as  might 
be  caused  by  a  chill  or  the  poison  of  some  in- 
fectious fever;  to-day  we  will  take  the  more 
chronic  ailments  which  are  due  to  disease  of  the 
Sidneys. 

Pirstly,  we  must  realise  that  it  is  not  always 
a  case  of  "  kill  or  cure  "  with  an  acute 
nephritis ;  a  large  number  of  patients,  espe- 
cially children,  with  this  complaint  recover 
completely  after  a  somewhat  serious  illness, 
and  some  die  of  suppression  of  urine,  or  from 
accumulation  of  fluid  in  the  jjleura  or  peri- 
toneum, or  from  ursemia;  but  others  seem 
never  to  be  abl9  to  shake  off  the  disease,  and 
we  have  then  the  condition  known  as  chronic 
tubal  nephritis.  Sometimes,  however,  this 
comes  ou  insidiously  of  itself,  and  cannot  be 
traced  to  anj'  previous  acute  attack. 

Here,  as  in  the  acute  inflammation,  the  dis- 
ease mainly  attacks  the  cells  lining  the  tubules 
themselves;  consequently  we  have  pretty  much 
the  same  kind  of  symptoms,  but  they  are  not 
so.  acute,  and  the  patient,  though  feeling  ill,  is 
usually  able  to  be  about  his  business.  Thus  we 
have  in  the  urine  a  moderate  diminution  in  the 
quantity  passed,  and  less  urea  is  excreted  than 
in  health,  but  we  do  -not  get  blood 
except  in  very  small  quantities,  nor  does  the 
patient  die  straight  away  from  complete  sup- 
pression of  the  flow.  The  urine,  however,  con- 
tains a  large  quantity  of  albumen  and  many 
■casts  of  the  diseased  tubes  of  the  kidney. 

Inasmuch  as  there  is  a  diminution  in  the 
quantity  of  water  exci"eted,  some  of  it  will  be 
retained  in  the  tissues,  and  we  find  the  patient 
with  puffiness  of  the  eyelids  and  some  swelling 
of  tlie  feet,  especially  at  night  time.  Then  the 
retaining  of  the  nitrogenous  waste  matters  in 
the  system,  though  not  so  marked  as  to  give 
rise  to  urjemia,  causes  digestive  disturbances, 
such  as  vomiting  and  diarrhoea,  and  by  its 
action  on  the  nervous  system,  headaches  and 
occnsional  attacks  of  paroxysmal  difficulty  in 
breathing  resembling  those  seen  in  asthmatic 
subjects.  Wc  also  get  changes  in  the  lieart 
and  arteries  resembling  those  seen  in  the  more 
chronic  forms  of  kidney  disease,  to  be  described 
shoi-tly. 

It  is  very  doubtful  whether  recovei7  ever 
takes  place  from  this  form  of  nephritis  ;  usually 
the  sufferers  lead  the  life  of  invalids  for  a  year 
or  two  and  Ihcn  succumb  to  urtemia,  or  else 


fall  an  easy  prey  to  any  other  acute  illness 
which  they  may  ha^jpen  to  contract.  After 
death  the  kidneys  are  found  to  be  much  swollen 
and  paler  than  normal,  and  the  cells  lining  the 
tubes  have  mostly  broken  down  into  drojjs  of 
fat  and  granular  debris. 

We  come  now  to  a  very  chronic  fonn  of 
kidney  disease,  which  differs  in  several  ways 
from  those  previously  described,  and  it  is  worth 
while  to  spend  some  little  time  on  it,  on  account 
of  its  extreme  and  probably  increasing  preva- 
lence. It  is  known  scientifically  as  chronic 
interstitial  nejihritis,  or  granular  kidney,  and 
to  the  laity  as  chronic  Bright 's  disease,  though 
this  is  not  a  good  term,  for  it  may  be  applied  to 
any  disease  of  the  kidney  whatever. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  kidneys  in  interstitial 
nephritis  are  not  really  inflamed  at  all  in  the 
ordinary  sense  of  the  word,  but  are  affected  by 
a  chronic,  slowly  increasing  degeneration  of 
their  arteries,  which  is  itself  only  a  part  of  a 
disease  which  attacks  the  small  arteries  all  over 
the  body,  the  kidneys  feeling  it  the  most,  be- 
cause they  contain  more  small  arteries  for  their 
size  than  any  other  organ. 

The  first  stage  of  the  general  disease  is  known 
as  high  arterial  tension,  and  it  is  found  mainly 
amongst  men  who  live  in  towns,  are  occu])ied 
in  spasmodic  mental  work,  habitually  eat  more 
animal  food  than  is  good  for  them,  and  take 
little  or  no  physical  exercise;  often  they  take 
alcohol  t<3  continual  slight  excess,  though  this 
may  never  be  very  obvious. 

In  other  words,  it  is  a  disease  of  prosperity, 
or  rather  of  money  getting ;  the  literary  or  pro- 
fessional man,  whose  mental  work,  though 
hard,  is  more  or  less  even,  is  not  so  often 
attacked  as  the  business  man  whose  labour  con- 
sists of  anxious  moments,  periods  of  frenzied 
rushing  for  wealth  or  position,  alternating  with 
quiet  intervals  in  which  he  "  recuperates  "  with 
a  whiskey  and  soda.  When  he  gets  home  he 
habitually  "  does  himself  well  "  at  dinner. 

Let  us  now  see  how  these  various  causes 
combine  to  injure  his  arteries.  These  vessels, 
as  we  have  seen,  are  inider  the  control  of  the 
nervous  system  to  a  marked  degree,  and  as  the 
nerves  are  in  a  state  of  tension  the  arteries  are 
made  to  contract  instead  of  being  left  alone  as 
they  should  be.  Then  the  combination  of  a 
sedentary  life  witli  too  much  animal  food  means 
that  the  blood  is  kept  constantly  full  of  waste 
nitrogenous  matter,  all  of  which  has  to  be  ex- 
creted by  the  kidneys.  The  countryman  who 
habitually  devotu's  enormous  q\iantities  of  meat 
does  not  suffer  in  this  way  (tho\igh  he  may  get 
(t  dilated  stomachV  becaiise  his  exercise  enables 
him  to  get  rid  nf  his  waste  products  more 
effectuallv. 


July  30,  1910] 


ZlK  Biltlsb  3oucnal  of  Burstng, 


85 


So  the  arteries  are  overworked  and  become 
worn  out  before  their  time — older  in  fact  than 
the  man  himself.  Instead  of  remaining  elastic 
and  resjwnding  to  every  heart  beat,  they  are 
tired,  and  in  consequence  they  hinder  rather 
than  help  the  How  of  blood  through  themselves, 
so  the  lieart  has  to  work  harder,  and  a  higher 
pressure  of  blood  is  maintained  in  the  circula- 
tion than  fonnerly. 

The  next  stage  is  that  the  arteries  become 
converted  into  fibrous  tubes,  and  are  in  conse- 
quence rigid,  and  the  obstruction  in  the  small 
vessels  is  increased  still  further,  so  that  if  a 
finger  be  laidon  the  radial  arteryat  thewrist.the 
vessel  is  felt  to  be  full  between  the  beats  in- 
stead ol  relaxing  as  it  should,  and  in  advanced 
cases  thf  artery  feels  like  a  hard  cord.  This  is 
known  as  arterio-sclerosis. 

In  the  kidney  the  arteries  run  between  the 
secreting  tubes,  so  we  get  tliis  part  converted 
into  fibrous  tissue,  which  contracts,  and  so  pulls 
on  and  distorts  the  tubes  themselves,  though 
these  are  not  inflamed  as  in  the  diseases  we  have 
previously  discussed.  Consequently  there  will 
be  no  blood  and  no  great  amount  of  albumen 
in  the  urine,  and,  inasmuch  as  there  is  more 
blood  than  usual  (by  reason  of  the  increased 
pressvirtri  circulating  through  the  kidney,  more, 
and  not  less  urine  will  be  passed ;  indeed,  what 
usually  makes  the  patient  consult  a  doctor  is 
the  fact  that  he  has  to  get  up  at  night  and 
pass  water. 

Now  this  high  pressure — in  a  way — is  a  good 
thing  for  the  patient,  for  it  ensures  an  adequate 
— even  if  excessive — flow  of  blood  to  all  parts 
of  the  body;  but  it  means,  of  course,  that  the 
man  will  not  last  so  long,  nor  will  he  have 
much  reserve  force  in  his  circulation  to  enable 
him  to  meet  an  attack  of  any  acute  illness  or 
a  severe  accident.  Ultimately,  either  a  small 
artery — usually  in  the  brain — gives  way,  and 
the  patient  has  an  apoplexy,  or  the  heart  gives 
way,  the  tension  is  lowered,  and  the  circulation 
becomes  sluggish,  and  the  patient  succumbs 
either  to  valvular  disease  of  the  heart,  or  per- 
haps to  inflammation  of  some  internal  organ, 
against  which  the  weakened  heart  can  offer  but 
an  inadequate  resistance. 

Meanwhile  the  subjects  of  high  arterial  ten- 
sion are  prone  to  suffer  from  giddiness  and 
other  vague  disturbances  of  the  circulation  in 
the  brain,  digestive  ailments  such  as  gastritis 
and  diarrhoea;  failing  sight  from  blocking  of 
the  small  arteries  in  the  eyeball  is  not  un- 
common . 

In  the  kidneys  the  tubes  after  a  time  become 
so  distorted  that  the  work  of  filtration  is  inter- 
fered with,  and  we  got  some  of  the  urea  left  in 
the  circulation,  and  urtemia  results,  which 
ultimately  proves  fatal. 


Inasmuch  as  the  money  making  type  of  man 
is  becoming  more  and  more  common,  and  as 
the  competition  for  prosperity  increases,  dis- 
eases of  the  circulation  are  increasing  in  fre- 
quency, and  I  have  dwelt  thus  on  arterial  high 
tension,  with  its  succeeding  arterio-sclerosis,  as 
it  affords  the  explanation  of  many  ailments 
which  nurses — perliaps  more  in  private  than  in 
liospital  practice — have  to  deal  with. 

In  the  next  paper  we  will  discuss  the  treat- 
ment of  diseases  of  the  kidney  and  of  this  form 
of  arterial  degeneration. 


Zbc  Care  of  tbc  3n5ane.* 

By  Robert  Joxes,  M.D.,  F.E.C.P.,  Lond. 
Resident  Physician  and  Superintendent  to  the 

Claybury  Asylum,  Lecturer,  on  Mental 
Diseases,  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital,  London. 

{Concluded  from  page  64.) 
Surely  in  no  profession  is  such  a  imion — 
call  it  a  trade  union,  if  you  please — so  necessary 
as  in  that  of  nursing.  Has  not  the  legal  pro- 
'fession  its  trade  union?  Is  not  the  hamster's 
brief  marked  with  the  specific  fee  for  counsel, 
and  is  not  his  clerk  also  included  in  a  fixed  fee  ? 
Has  not  the  lower  rank  of  the  law  the  fee  of 
"  six  and  eightpence,"  and  has  not  the  medical 
consultant  his  two  guinea  fee,  or  "  two-thirds 
of  a  guinea  per  mile  ' '  ?  Have  not  the  clergy 
also  their  "  union  rate  "  for  marriage,  baptism, 
or  burial,  even  if  not  for  the  Sunday  sermon? 
Surely  the  nurse  is  entitled  to  her  proper  re- 
muneration and  fees?  In  whatever  profession 
or  occupation  we  may  be  engaged,  unless  we 
organise  ourselves  and  demand  our  rights  there 
is  no  one  else  who  will  fight  for  us  or  guard 
our  interests  !  I  cannot  sympathise  with  those 
who  think  that  nurses  and  doctors  should  re- 
main content  with  philanthropic  personal  ser- 
vices. Doctors  and  nurses,  like  other  people, 
must  live,  and  they  are  entitled  as  by  right  to 
wholesome  living  and  to  an  adequate  reward 
for  honest  service.  There  are  those  who  with 
soft  words  and  smooth  phrases  will  elevate  the 
nurse  and  doctor  to  an  altitude  superior  to 
common  mortals,  and  leave  them  there,  con- 
tent with  the  distinction  that  they  are  members 
of  a  noble  and  self-sacrificing  profession,  whose 
vows  are  to  continue  in  good  work  and  charity. 
In  every  profession,  not  excluding  the  Church, 
I  find  there  exists  the  motive  influence  of  a 
wholesome  self-interest,  and  I  do  not  see  why 
the  nurse,  while  she  is  gaining  her  livelihood 
and  helping  on  the  world's  work,  should  be  ex- 

*  R«ad  at  tlie  International  Congress  of  Nurses, 
London,  1909.  v. 


86 


Zhc  3Bi1tfsb  Journal  of  IRursfng, 


[July  30,  1910 


pected  to  display  more  unselfishness  or  practice 
^more  philanthropy  than  is  expected  of  the 
physician,  the  lawyer,  or  the  ecclesiastic.  Ifc 
is  the  advantages  of  combination  and  union 
that  I  see  in  the  proposal  for  the  Registration 

•of    Nurses,  and    if    such  a  scheme  by  proper 

-organisation  ensures  for  the  nurse  a  more 
adequate  return  for  her  services,  or  a  better 
marketable  value  for  her  labours,  or  if  such 
Eegistration  only  secures  a  higher  recognition 
and  appreciation  of  her  devotion  than  is  now 
current,  then  I  am  in  its  favour.  It  is  not  for 
self-amusement  or  entertainment  that  busy 
and  prominent  women  like  Mrs.  Bedford  Fen- 
wick,  Miss  Isla  Stewart,  Mrs.  Spencer,  and 
others  have  devoted  their  time  and  energies  in 
the  cause  of  Registration.  They  deem  it  essen- 
tial that  the  nurse  should  be  assured  of  such  a 
recognition  as  her  special  calling  or  employ- 
ment demands.  Possibly  this  digression  is  un- 
necessary, but  tl^e  mental  nurse,  like  the  hos- 
pital nurse,  has  also  a  career  beyond  her  insti- 
tution, and  her  services  are  more  valuable  to 
the  public  and  to  herself  when  it  can  be  certi- 
fied that  she  is  fully  qualified,  proficient,  and 
acknowledged.  It  is  not  beside  the  question, 
therefore,  to  reiterate  and  to  emphasise  the 
assertion  that  mental  nurses  must  be  trained, 
that  their  wages  must  not  only  be  adequate, 
but,  also  their  comforts  must  be  studied,  their 
future    insured    by    adequate    pensions    when 

■strength  is  failing  and  the  day  of  their  useful 
activity  is  drawing  to  a  close. 

I  have  heard  it  argued  by  members  of  Com- 
mittees of  public  asylums  that  the  systematic 
training  and  teachi;ig  of  nurses  should  be  dis- 

■  couraged,  because  it  only  results  in  their 
leaving  the  service  of  these  asylums  to  better 
themselves  immediately  upon  obtaining  the 
qualifying  certificates.  In  spite  of  such  an 
official  view,  I  venture  to  assert  that  all  the 
great  public  asylums  of  this  country  should  also 
be- training  schools  for  the  nurses  of  both  sexes, 
and  from  a  long  and  extensive  experience  I 
believe  that  at  those  asylums  in  which  such 
training  is  systematically  maintained  and  prac- 
tised not  only  is  a  higher  class  of  applicant 
obtained  for  the  service,  but  the  nurses,  in  con- 
sequence of  training  and  as  a  result  of  the 
teaching  imparted  to  them,  take  a  more 
enlightened  interest  in  their  duties,   and    the 

"especial  repugnance  to  these  duties  (a  very  real 
feeling  in  asylums)  is  more  readily  overcome, 
and  a  humane  sympathy  is  quickened  by  the 
knowledge  of  how  to  relieve  suffering,  which 
helps  to  "make  a  good  nurse  a  better  one,  and 
which  cannot  but  react  to  the  advantage  of  the 
patients  committed  to  her  care. 

There  is  no  doubt  in  my  mind  that  the  oppor- 


tvmities  for  training  with  a  view  to  higher  re- 
wards after  leaving  the  a.sylum  are  an  attrac- 
tion to  the  best  women,  who  are  ready  to  enter 
upon  a  self-imposed  education  so  as  to  qualify 
for  future  success  either  in  private  nursing  or 
in  filling  up  distinguished  official  posts.  So 
universally  acknowledged  and  appreciated  are 
these  opportunities  that  almost  every  public 
asylum  in  England,  Scotland,  and  Ireland  is 
also  a  special  training  school  for  obtaining  cer- 
tificates of  proficiency  in  mental  nursing. 

There  is  also  another  aspect  of  training  which 
deserves  recognition — viz.,  that  those  who  sup- 
port our  public  and  voluntarily  aided  hospitals 
and  asylums  are  entitled  to  consideration,  and 
that  those  of  the  nursing  staff  who  serve  within 
their  walls  should  be  of  service  to  those  who 
either  willingly  or  by  compulsion  supjiort  these 
institutions.  The  patrons  of  asylums  and  hos- 
pitals are  entitled  to  the  best  services  of  such 
staff  when  the  need  arises  for  their  experience 
outside. 

It  is,  therefore,  incumbent  upon  those  who 
serve  in  asylums  to  learn  their  business  within 
the  wards  and  to  render  themselves  as  efficient 
as  possible  in  the  work  for  which  they  draw 
their  pay. 

It  is  evident  that  this  training  tends  to  the 
diminution,  if  not  to  the  prevention,  of  mental 
disease,  by  educating  the  public  to  the  value  of 
mental  hygiene  and  by  directing  attention  to 
the  mental  aspects  of  bodily  illness.  This  train- 
ing also  tends  to  promote  the  public  good  by 
encouraging  early  and  skilled  treatment  of  the 
insane,  for  insanity  is  curable  in  the  inverse 
ratio  of  its  duration. 

It  is  sometimes  argued  that  the  establish- 
ment of  training  schools  for  nurses  in  connec- 
tion with  our  asylums  tends  to  weaken  the 
notion  that  the  asylum  exists  primarily  for  the 
benefit  of  the  patient.  The  fact  that  the 
asylum  is  also  a  school  for  the  training  of  nurses 
who  are  desirous  of  obtaining  higher  advance- 
ment should  convince  those  whose  interests  are 
those  of  the  asylum  only  that  the  trained  nurse 
is  obviously  better  qualified  to  render  service 
than  the  mitrained,  also  that  she  is  a  more 
effective  instrument  in  the  asylum  in  which  she 
is  trained,  and  that  her  possible  future  success 
stimulates  her  to  do  in  the  best  way  what  is 
expected  of  her,  she  herself  being  the  better 
for  having  been  taught. 

The  Medieo-rsychological  Association  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland  seriously  considered 
this  matter,  and  in  1885  brought  out  a  hnnd- 
book  for  the  guidance  and  instruction  of  nurses 
and  attendants,  of  which  a  new  edition  has  just 
appeared;  and  liio  wriEer  of  this  paper  has  by 
gracious   jicrmissidii  of  her  Royal  Highness    tho 


July  30,  1910] 


ZlK  Bi'itisb  3ournal  of  H^ursimj, 


Princess  Christian  dedicated  to  her  a  small  text 
book  for  the  study  of  mental  and  sick  nursing, 
for  which  an  introduction  was  kindly  written 
by  Sir  William  Collins,  whose  services  in  Par- 
liament and  in  educational  circles  are  so  highly 
and  widely  appreciated. 

A  certificate  is  granted  by  this  Association 
after  examination  and  upon  the  completion  of 
a  three  years'  curriculum  in  the  asylum,  and 
the  only  regret  felt  about  the  period  of  study 
is  that  hospitals  do  not  as  yet  reciprocate  the 
action  of  the  Association  in  considering  a  year 
spent  in  a  recognised  asylum  to  be  the  equiva- 
lent of  a  year  in  a  recognised  hospital.  Already 
a  number  of  niu-ses  of  both  sexes  hold  this 
certificate  for  proficiency  in  mental  nursing, 
and  a  Departmental  Committee  has  recom- 
mended the  inclusion  of  their  names  in  any 
Register  which  Parliament  may  sanction  for 
the  protection  of  hospital  nurses.  At  the  Clay- 
bury  Asylum  over  1,100  nurses  and  attendants 
have  received  training,  of  whom  about  400  hold 
the  Medico-Psychological  Certificate,  and  it  is 
a  satisfaction  to  know  that  the  institution  at 
Claybury  is  widely  acknowledged  as  an  active 
training  school.  Those  who  were  its  alumnse 
hold  the  important  posts  of  Matron  in  no  less 
than  seven  public  institutions  for  the  insane, 
of  which  five  are  in  the  County  of  London. 

It  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  sketch  briefly 
the  scheme  for  training  arranged  by  the 
Medico-Psychological  Association.  Every  nurse 
(male  and  female)  must  be  trained  in  a  recog- 
nised institution  for  the  insane  for  not  less  than 
12  months  before  she  is  permitted  to  present 
herself  for  the  primary  examination,  and  she 
must  have  attended  a  course  of  twelve  lectures 
with  demonstrations  on  "First  Aid,"  ban- 
daging, fractures,  dislocations,  asphyxia, 
poisons  and  antidotes,  emergencies,  and  be 
qualified  for  general  attendance  upon  the 
insane.  A  knowledge  of  bodily  structure  and 
functions  is  requisite,  and  candidates  must 
quaUfy  in  elementary  anatomy,  physiology, 
general  hygiene,  and  first  aid.  The  final 
examination  can  be  taken  after  the  completion 
of  three  years'  service  in  one  or  two  recognised 
institutions  for  the  care  of  the  insane,  and  the 
candidate  must  have  attended  systematic  lec- 
tures and  demonstrations  by  the  medical  staff 
for  two  years  after  the  primary  examination. 
Clinical  demonstrations  in  the  wards  must  have 
been  attended,  so  as  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of 
the  general  features  and  varieties  of  mental 
disorders  and  of  the  ordinary  requirements  of 
sick  nursing.  Candidates  must  show  a  com- 
petent knowledge  of  the  symptoms  and  bodily 
disorders,  of^sick  nursing  and  hygiene,  and  of 
mental  diseases  and  mental  nursing.    Both  the 


examinations  are  written  and  oral,  and  a  good 
character  is  essential  to  obtaining  the  certi- 
ficate. 

Perhaps  1  may  be  permitted  to  conclude  with 
the  following  extract  from  my  report  to  the 
Claybury  Committee  of  the  London  County 
Council : — "  Didactic  instruction  in  the  form  of 
lectures  and  demonstrations  to  the  staff  is 
given  by  nnself  and  medical  colleagues.  The 
fact  that  it  is  generally  known  that  members 
of  the  medical  staff  of  this  asylum  devote  them- 
selves to  preparing  attendants  and  nurses  for 
the  higher  qualifying  certificates — which  enable 
the  holders  to  obtain  better  executive  positions 
in  other  institutions  as  well  as  in  private 
nursing — help  us  to  get  a  more  ambitious  and 
a  better  class  of  staff.  The  work  of  an  asylum 
nurse  is  both  arduous  and  constant.  The 
absence  of  the  wider  field  of  usefulness,  implied 
in  private  nursing,  would  deter  many  of  the 
more  able,  refined,  and  educated,  from  apply- 
ing, and  why  should  those  qualities,  which  are 
deemed  necessary  standards  for  general  hos- 
pitals, be  denied  to  institutions  for  treating  the 
mind?  Desirable  candidates  for  the  position 
of  asylum  nurses — male  and  female —  are  not 
too  many,  and  a  better  class  of  applicants 
means  a  higher  moral  and  intellectual  standard, 
which  must  react  upon  the  patients  them- 
selves, as  they  receive  not  only  custodial  but 
also  curative  care,  and  are  by  day  and  night 
under  their  care.  My  experience  of  over  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  and  my  long  and  special 
interest  in  this  question,  convince  me  that 
efficient  nurses  are  a  substantial  auxiliary  and 
a  helpful  element  in  the  treatment  of  insanity. 
Training  improves  the  tact  of  the  person 
trained,  it  increases  skill,  and  gives  greater 
accuracy  to  reports  through  improved  observa- 
tion of  symptoms.  Training  also  is  a  broaden- 
ing and  elevating  effect  upon  attendants,  and  it 
develops  and  confirms  what  is  best  and 
strongest  in  a  woman's  nature — viz.,  tender- 
ness and  care  for  others." 


THE  K  NG  AND  QUEEN  AT  HASLAR. 

On  Saturday  last  the  King  and  Queen  visited 
Haslar  Hospital,  where  they  were  received  by 
Inspector-General  F.  D.  Gimlette,  and  went 
round  all  the  wards.  Their  visit  gave  great 
pleasure  to  the  patients,  and  the  kind  words 
spoken,  and  sympathy  shown  by  the  Queen  to 
many  of  them  were  greatly  appreciated. 
The  King  also  talked  for  some  time  with  a 
seaman  who  recently  had  a  leg  amputated,  and 
with  one  of  the  crew  of  the  Royal  Yacht.  Has, 
lar  Hospital  contains  beds  for  1,200  officers  and 
men,  but.  if  necessary,  these  can  be  consider- 
ablv  augmented. 


Zbc  Britisb  Journal  of  IRursing. 


[July  30,  1910 


Sbc  Defence  of  IRurstno   Stan* 
Mi-^5  (lonunittee. 

(The  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital  Three 
Years'  Certificate.) 


The  following  Petition  has  been  sent  by  the 
Above   Committee    to     the    majority    of   the 
Oovernors    of    St.     Bartholomew's    Hospital, 
E.G.:  — 
{To  the  Governors  of  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital.) 

Sir  or  JIadaji, — We  venture  once  again  to  bring 
to  your  notice  a  matter  we  believe  to  be  of  vital 
importance  to  the  welfare  of  St.  Bartholomew's 
Hospital  and  its  Xureing  School. 

A  Geneial  Court  of  Ciovernors  is  convened  for 
July  28th.  and  we  earnestly  appeal  to  you  to  be 
present.  Presumably  tlie  Election  of  Miss  Annie 
Mcintosh  as  Matron  and  Superintendent  of  Xui«.ing 
at  St.  Bartholomew's  Hosiiital  will  be  rejxyrted  to 
the  Court,  with  the  reasons  which  influenced  the 
Election  Committee  to  appoint  a  lady  as  head  of 
your  Xursing  School  who  liolds  the  London  Hos- 
pital curtificate  of  two  years'  training  only,  a  pro- 
fessional certificate  which  does  not  qualify  her  to  be 
apix)inted  as  a  Staff  Nurse  or  Sister  at  your  Hos- 
pital, where  from  the  year  1881  your  standard 
before  certification  has  been  a  term  of  three  years' 
training  in  the  wards. 

We  desire  especially  to  bring  to  your  notice  that 
this  retrograde  step  must  materially  damage  the 
future  success  of  your  Xursing  School,  and  that  of 
«veiy  nur.se  holding  its  certificate,  and  place  the 
Sistei-s  and  Xurses  in  the  Hospital  in  a  position  in 
%vhich  discipline  will  l)e  most  difficult  to  maintain. 

Under  these  circumstances  may  we  plead  with 
you,  as  a  Governor  of  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital, 
to  exert  your  utmost  influence  to  prevent  this 
appointment  being  carried  into  effect,  by  suppoi-t- 
ing  a  motion  that  the  Report  be  not  adopted,  and 
that  a  Public  Enquiry  be  held  into  the  management 
of  the  Xursing  Department. 
I  am,  Sir  or  Madam, 

Yours   faithfully, 

Ellen  Shuter, 

Hon.  Secretary. 


In  an  article  on  this  question,  whieh  ap- 
peared in  the  StanrJard  on  .July  lOth,  it  is 
stated  in  reporting  the  attitude  of  the  authori- 
ties of  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital  towards 
their  nurses  that  they  consider  "  the  present 
<X)ntroversy  is  an  unwarranted  interference  in 
matters  that  only  concern  the  administration 
and  the  medical  body  of  the  institution  I 

Coming  events,  indeed,  cast  their  shadows 
before  them. 

We  are  well  aware  that  the  London  Hospital 
restrictions  in  matters  nursinK  are  the  aini  of 
the  secretarial  ambition  at  "  l^art's,"  but  that 
half  a  do/en  men  may  do  a  wrong,  of  a 
j)eculiarly  cruel  and  injurious  nature,  I'alcu- 
lated  to  slander  the  dead,  and  aniouufing  to  a 


breach  of  faith  with  every  nurse  certificated  by 
the  hospital,  and  that  in  the  twentieth  cen- 
tury the  hundreds  of  women  so  affronted  are  to 
accept  such  injury  without  expressing  an 
opinion  on  their  own  affairs  cannot  be  conceded 
for  a  moment.  Such  a  suggestion  is  an  exhibi- 
tion of  the  intolerant  temper  animating  not  a 
few  of  our  hospital  managers  towards  trained 
nurses,  which  deserves  the  widest  publicity 
and  unhesitating  condemnation. 

The  few  men  who  have  done  this  wrong  in 
their  jealous  intolerance  of  an  honourable  body 
of  professional  women  workers  are  well  known, 
but  if  they  imagine  that  in  these  days  women 
will  submit  to  gross  injustice  without  a  very 
forcible  protest — well — they  have  umde  the 
mistake  of  a  lifetime,  as  events  may  prove. 


SUBSCRIPTIONS  TO   DATE. 


Brought    forward 
Certificated  Xurse 
Miss  Dalgish 
Miss  Webb 
Miss  Cullen 
Miss  Waind 
Miss  Smyth 
Miss  Gregory 
Miss  Le  Geyt 
Mrs.   W.  Heywood 
A  Sister 

Staff  Xurse 

f'.'e.  h'. 

A  Bart's  X'urse 

M.  O. 

F.  C. 

H.  R. 

M.  C. 

R.  X.   S.       .  . 

O    S. 

Staff  Pro. 


£ 

s. 

d. 

52 

14 

6 

1 

0 

0 

10 

6 

10 

0 

5 

0 

5 

0 

5 

0 

2 

6 

2 

6 

2 

6 

2 

6 

2 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

656 

1.3 

0 

a  inscful  ipantpblet. 

A  very  useful  pamphlet  containing  "  Sug- 
gestions for  Nursi.is  on  Some  Special  Points 
in  Connection  with  ^Nloral  and  Physical  Health" 
has  been  issued  for  pi'ivate  circulation,  and  can 
be  obtained  from  the  Central  Organiser  of  the 
Nurses'  Social  I'liion,  King<5ton.  Taunton, 
price  3d.,  postage  Id.  Nurses  and  midwives 
come  so  intinnitcly  into  touch  with  these  pro- 
blems that  the  |i.imphlet  should  be  of  much 
use  to  them.  It  is  written  primarily  f.ir  mu-ses 
enrolled  in  a  League  fonned  to  promote  a 
higher  moral  standard,  of  which  most  of  the 
members  are  district  nurses  working  in  rural 
areas,  but  it  has  also  a  wider  sphere  of  useful- 
ness. 


July  30,  lOlOJ 


Zbc  Brltisb  3ournal  of  IRurstng. 


89 


Z\K  1l\C0i3tc^c^  Biu'ees'  Socict\>. 

The  sixteenth  annual  meeting 
of  the  Registered  Nurses'  Society 
was  iield  at  the  office,  431, 
Oxford  Street,  W.,  on  Thursday, 
•luly  ilst.  Dr.  Bedford  Fenwick 
jiresided.  The  annual  report  and 
audited  accounts  were  adopted, 
both  of  which  proved  the  success- 
year's  work  of  the  Society.  The  hah^nco 
k  showed  that  tlO.OlS  had  been  earned 
bv  the  nursing  staff,  and  that  since  the  incep- 
tion of  the  Society  in  1894,  £101,226  2s.  had 
been  the  sum  paid  to  the  members — a  very 
satisfactory  result  of  co-operation. 

Sisters  Caroline  Spreadbury  and  Clara  IMan- 
ley  retire  in  rotation  from  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee, and  Sister  ^I.  Beardsley  automatically 
upon  her  marriage.  Sisters  A.  Butcher,  E. 
Thompson,  and  B.  Holland  were  elected  mem- 
bers to  replace  them. 

There  have  been  twenty-one  new  members 
elected  during  the  year,  aud  seventeen  resigna- 
tions, amongst  the  latter  ujion  their  mairiage 
Sisters  M.  Beardsley,  H.  Hopkins,  A.  Buxton, 
L.  E.  Euss,  and  E.  Ehodes. 

Sister  A.  Graham  has  been  appointed  Ma- 
tron of  the  Much  \\'enlock  Hospital ;  Sister  H. 
B.  Richards,  Lady  Health  Visitor,  iloumouth ; 
Sister  C.  A.  Lade,  Matron's  Assistant,  Leices- 
ter Infirmary;  and  Sister  E.  M.  Bickerdike, 
Sister,  at  !Mount  Vernon  Hospital. 

Very  satisfactory  reports  have  reached  the 
office  concerning  the  majority  of  the  nursing 
statlf,  both  from  medical  practitioners  and  pa- 
tients, and  the  Society  continues  to  increase  its 
circle  of  supporters,  but  it  becomes  more  and 
more  apparent  that  increased  demands  are  con- 
tinuously being  made  on  the  knowledge  and 
skill  of  private  nurses,  and  it  is  most  necessary 
for  them  to  acquire  one  or  more  specialities,  in 
addition  to  general  medical  and  surgical  work. 
Private  nurses  find  it  convenient  to  be  well 
trained  in  gynaecological,  infectious,  ophthal- 
mic, or  mental  nursing,  and  in  massage, 
with  a  wide  range  of  experience  they  can  be 
kept  In  constant  employment.  ^Medical  work 
is  now  so  highly  specialised  that  it  is 
necessary  for  nurses  {o  be  Very  efficiently 
trained  for  success  in  private  nursing. 

Both  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Fenwick  spoke  on  the  in- 
creased necessity  for  effective  co-operation 
amongst  private  nurses,  as  it  is  the  only  branch 
of  their  work  in  which  it  is  possible  to  make 
sufficient  income  from  which  to  save  for  old 
age,  and  in  consequence  it  is  the  one  which 
is  most  exf>loited. 

.\fter  cordial   votes   of  thanks  to  the  Hon. 


Officers  and  the  indefatigable  secretary,  Sister 
Cart  Wright,  tea  and  talk  were  the  order  of  the 
day.  __^ 

Iproei'css  oX  State  IRcoistvation. 

At  the  Annual  Representative  Meeting  of  the 
British  Medical  Association,  held  at  the  Guild- 
hall, Ix>ndon,  E.C.,  on  Monday,  the  following 
Resolution,  moved  by  Dr.  E.  W.  Goodall,  and 
seconded  by  Sir  Victor  Horsley,  was  carried 
nem.  con. 

"  That  thi.s  meeting  of  the  Representatives  of  the 
British  Medical  Association,  re-affirm*  its  opinion 
that  tlie  State  Regi.stration  ot  Trained  Nui-ses  is 
desirable,  and  approves  of  the  Bill  which  has  been 
recently  introdiicetl  by  the  Right  Hon.  R.  C. 
Munro  Ferguson  ;  and  that  a  copy  of  this  Resolution 
be  forwarded  to  the  Prime  Minister  and  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Local  Government  Board." 


Lord  Ampthill  has  a  "  Rejoinder  "  to  Mr. 
Sydney  Holland's  Registration  Reply  in  the 
Nineteenth  Century  and  After  for  August. 
Lord  Ampthill  is  so  well  informed  on  the  regis- 
tration question,  and  so  admirably  logical  in 
all  he  writes  and  says  on  the  subject,  that  his 
contribution  to  this  important  controversy  will 
be  invaluable  in  support  of  this  urgently  needed 
reform,  and  will,  we  feel  sure,  be  widely  r^ad 
and  approved  by  unbiassed  people. 


The  Bart's  scandal  has  evidently  given  an 
immense  impetus  to  the  public  interest  in 
nursing  questions  to  judge  from  the  press.  The 
Spectator,  .Julv  23rd,  has  an  admirable  article 
on  "Nurses.'*'  The  Pall  Mall  Ga:ctte  of 
2.3th  inst.  one  on  "  Nurses  and  Nurses,"  by 
Miss  Lucy  E.  Sherliker,  of  the  Royal  British 
Nui-ses'  Association,  which  presents  the  right 
of  the  pr^erly  qualified  to  registration  in  a 
very  clear  and  sensible  manner,  and  in  the 
Glasgou-  Herald  Miss  E.  A.  Stevenson  reviews 
the  registration  articles  which  have  already 
appeared  in  the  Xineteeiith  Century  and  After, 
concluding  as  follows:— "I  cannot  trespass 
further  on  your  space  in  criticism  of  ^Ir.  Hol- 
land's opinions.  Unwittingly,  no  doubt,  but 
none  the  less  surely,  he  has  weakened  the  party 
on  whose  side  he  is  fighting.  The  time  has 
long  gone  by  when  the  British  public  will  take 
without  question  the  opinions  of  a  layman  on 
subjects  whch  can  only  be  fully  and  fairly  dealt 
with  by  those  in  the  professions  to  which  they 
belong"!  .\s  the  chairaian  ol  a  large  hospital 
Mr.  Holland's  opinions  on  income  and  expendi-- 
ture  and  general  hospital  management  ^'e 
valuable,  but  when  he  wanders  Into  the  realms 
of  surgery  and  nursing  the  public  will  take  his 
views  guardedlv."  ^ 


90 


ZlK  Biltisb  3oiirnal  of  IRurstng, 


[July  30,  1910 


Ipractical   po(ntc>. 

Dr.  H.  Wolfeistan  Thomas 
A  Mosquito  describes    in     the    Lancet     a 

Proof  Steamer,  small  cargo  Iwat,  the  Vincvnt, 
despatched  by  the  Booth 
Steaiii-.liip  C'omikany  on  her  maiden  trip  to  tlie 
Amazon,  ivhich  is  designed  to  minimise  the  risk 
from  infection  «n<l  discomfort  from  anopheles  mos- 
quitoes which  often  fly  on  to  a  boat  which  has  to 
hug  the  shore,  and  cause  an  outbreak  of  malaria. 
The  screening  wa.s  carried  out  from  plans  by  Dr. 
Melville  Davidson,  the  medical  .superintendent  of 
the  company.  The  screening  of  the  ship  'is  so 
arranged  that  the  living  quarters  of  the  crew  and 
ofiBcei-s  are  piotected  from  mosquitoes.  Each  ixut- 
hole  is  provided  with  a  movable  screened  frame 
which  is  so  adapted  tliat  the  port-hole  can  l>e 
closed  and  screwed  down  without  withdrawing  the 
screen.  The  entrances  to  the  main  deck  are  pro- 
tected by  wire  gauze  .spiing  doors,  and  at  each  side 
of  the  ash-.shoot,  which  is  of  necessity  open  to  the 
ingress  of  mosquitoes,  extra  sets  of  .screened  acors 
aro  placed.  Tlie  dooi-s  and  port-holos  of  the  out- 
side bridge  deck  cabins  are  aho  screened;  the 
doctor's  quartere  and  the  hospital  are  situated 
further  aft,  and  are  thoivjughljr  screened. 

Tlie  interior  arrangements  permit  of  no  old- 
fashioned  water  reservoir  over  the  wash-basin  in  the 
cabins,  and  i-unning  water  is  supplied  everywhere. 
The  slops  from  the  basins  run  into  pipes  emptying 
directly  over  the  side.  This  arrangement  very  satis- 
factorily deprives  the  .stegomyia  larva>  of  breeding 
places  in  the  cabins.  The  ventilator  pipes  in  the 
cabins  and  along  the  alleyways  are  each  protected 
by  a  wire  gauze  screened  frame,  which  sliixs  into  a 
gixjoved  moulding  fixed  round  the  shaft,  and  is  kept 
ill  place  by  three  small  buttons.  The  screening  is 
composed  of  18  mesh  phosphor-bronze  wire,  a 
material  which  is  more  suitable  for  a  moist,  humi<l 
climate  than  brass  or  copper. 

An  ocean-going  mosquito-proof  steamer  also 
recentl.v  arrive<l  in  the  Mersey  from  the  Clyde, 
where  she  h.is  been  built  to  the  order  of  Messrs. 
John  Holt,  of  Liverpool,  after  whom  she  is  named. 

Profess/or  Major  Ronald  Ross's  recomniendations 
have  been  carried  out  by  the  owners  for  mosxiuito- 
piX)ofing  all  living  quarters.  Copper  gauze  fittinfffi 
are  provided  for  all  doors,  windows,  sirie-(>oi"ts,  skv- 
lights,  ventilators,  ami  passages,  to  prevent  the 
malaria-bearing  mosquito  entering. 


appointments 


Mr.  W.    Stuart-Low    consi- 
Syringing  the        ders    the  dangers  incurred  in 
Ear.  syringing  out  the    ear    in   the 

presence  of  a  clironic  dis- 
charge are  very  great  indeed.  All  watery  fluids 
encourage  bacterial  growth  and  enhance  what  is 
the  main  object  to  prevent  and  avoid.  Syringing 
is  alwa.vs'lialile  to  have  the  effect  of  driving  sepsis 
further  afield.  He  never  syringes  on  any  pretext, 
and  entirely  disa])provcs  of  syringing  the  ear  in 
an.v  wa.v  whatever  in  the  presence  of  a  discharge. 
Wiping  out  the  ear  with  twisted  wool  is  all  that  is 
neces-sary  and  advisable  to  entrust  to  the  patient. 


Lady  Superintendent  and  Matron. 
Royal  Infirmary,  Liverpool — Miss  Flora  T.  B. 
Cameron  has  U^i'ii  appointed  Lady  Superintendent 
and  Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  Western  In- 
firmary. Glasgow,  and  has  held  the  positions  of 
Night  Superintendent  and  Assi-stant  Matron  at  the 
Royal  Infirmary,  Bradford;  Matron  of  the 
Children's  Hospital,  Bradford ;  and  Lady  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Manchester  Children's  Hcspital, 
Pendlebury. 

ilATRONS. 
The  General  Hospital,  Weston-Super-Mare.  — Miss  E. 
(rraham  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  Gu.v's  Hospital,  S.E.,  and  has  held  the 
positions  of  Sister  at  the  Southwark  Infirmary, 
Sister-in-Charge  of  the  Outpatient  Department  at 
the  East  London  Hospital  for  Children,  and  As- 
sistant Matron  at  the  Royal  United  Hospital, 
Bath.  She  is  a  certified  midwife. 
•Sisters. 

Mount    Vernon    Hospital    for    Consumption,    Hampstead, — 

Miss  Elizabeth  ilaliel  Bickerdike  has  been  ap- 
pointed Sister.  She  was  trained  at  the  East  Lan- 
cashire Infirniar.v,  Blackburn,  and  subsequently  had 
exi)erience  of  infectious  work  at  the  Borough  Fever 
Hospital,  Croydon.  She  then  joined  the  Army 
Nursing  Service  and  subsequently  Queen  Alexan- 
dra's Imperial  Military  Nursing  Service.  Since 
November,  1906,  she  has  been  working  as  a  private 
nurse  in  connection  with  the  Registered  Nurses' 
Society. 

Princess  Alice  Memorial  Hospital,  Eastbourne. — MissS. 
Beiitham  has  been  appointed  Sister  of  ilale  and 
Children's  Wards.  She  was  trained  at  Kettering 
and  District  Gener.1l  Hospital,  and  has  been  Sister 
at  the  Stockton  and  Thornaby  Hospital,  and  had  ex- 
jierience  of  private  llUI^sing  at  St.  James's  Nurses' 
Home,  Liverpool. 

Devonshire  Hospital,  Bu«ton — Miss  Alice  Unsworth 
has  been  api)ointe<l  Sister.  She  w.as  trained  at  St. 
Helen's  Hospital,  Lanes,  and  Carlisle  Fever  Hos- 
pital, and  has  been  Staff  Nurse  at  the  City  Hospi- 
tal, Liverpool,  Staff  Nurse  and  Sister  at  the  Isola- 
tion Hospital,  Walla.sey,  and  Night  Superintendent 
at  the  Warrington  Infirmary,  Lancashire. 


QUEEN  VICTORIA'S  JUBILEE    INSTITUTE 
FOR     NURSES. 

(iENKKAl,  Si  rmiNTENDENT  IN  AUSTRALIA. 

Miss  Michie,  SuiK'rintcndent  of  the  Worcester 
City  and  County  Nursing  A.ssociation,  and  of  the 
Nursing  Institution.  Worcester,  lia^  been  appointed 
General  Sui>erinteiKlenfc  of  district  nureing  in 
Australia. 

Aliss  Michie,  who  is  a  Queen's  Nurse,  has  worked 
in  Worcester  for  the  last  seven  yeai-s,  and  was  for- 
merly Suijerintendent  of  the  Cornwall  County 
Nursing  Association. 

She  holds  the  ( '.M.B.  certificate,  received  her 
district  training  in  Liverpool,  and  afterwards- 
worked  as  Queen's  Nurse  at  Pembroke  Dock. 


July  30,  lOlOJ 


Cbc  Kiitisl)  3oiunal  of  iRursino. 


Mi*s  MicJiio  lioi>es  to  sail  on  September  ICtli,  aiul 
takes  with  her  tliogood  wishes  of  her  luaiiy  fnonds 
in  Kiigland. 


Traiiffirs  ami  Appointmi  nts. — Miss  Marfiaret 
Miliio,  to  Glosst)p,  as  Sviperiiitendeut ;  Miss  Mary 
Parkinson,  to  Willington;  Miss  Florence  FiiUer,  to 
Ktlensor;  Miss  Annie  Hewitt,  to  Bath;  iliss  Mary 
Hutson,  to  Dartmouth. 


PRESENTATION. 

At  the  weekly  meeting;  of  tlio  Marple  Bridge  Sick 
Xm-sing  Sot-iety  last  week.  Miss  AValker,  who  is 
shortly  to  relinquish  her  post  as  District  Kurse  on 
account  of  her  approaching  marriage,  was  pre- 
sented with  a  silver  tea  service,  a  purse  of  money, 
and  an  illuminated  address,  as  follows: — "To 
Nurse  Walker, — It  is  with  feelings  of  very  genuine 
regret  that  the  coiiimittee  of  the  Marple  Bridge 
Sick  Nursing  Swiety  have  heard  of  your  resigna- 
tion of  your  post  as  District  Nurse.  Since  you 
came  to  us  nearly  12  years  ago  your  unselfish  and 
earnest  devotion  to  your  duties  have  endeared  you 
to  us  all,  and  have  been  thCTUftans  of  bringing  un- 
told help  and  comfort  to  hundreds  of  troubled 
homes.  You  have  been  regarded  not  only  as  the 
nurse,  but  as  the  sympathetic  friend  of  all  in  sick- 
ness. We  congratulate  you  most  heartily  on  the 
occasion  of  yo<ir  approaching  marriage,  and  ask 
you  to  accept  the  accompanying  present  as  a  small 
token  of  our  sincere  appreciation  of  your  services, 
and  with  the  best  wishes  for  your  future  happiness 
of  every  member  of  the  Sick  Nursing  Society." 

The  teapot  bore  the  following  inscription :  — 
"  Presented  to  Nurse  Walker  on  her  marriage,  as 
a  token  of  esteem.  By  the  Committee  of  the  Mar- 
ple Bridge  Sick  Nursing  Society,  July  lEHh,  1910. "' 


MEDICO-PSYCHOLOGICAL    ASSOCIATION    OF 

GREAT  BRITAIN  AND   IRELAND. 
The  following  is  the  paper  set  at  the  Examination 
for  the  Nursing  Certificate  in  May  last:  — 

1.  State  the  position,  size  and  shape  of  the 
stomach.  What  are  the  symptoms  of  disorder  of 
the  stomach  ? 

2.  In  what  circumstances  would  you  consider  a 
loss  of  a  stone  in  weight  (a)  important,  (b)  unim- 
portant, as  a  sign  of  disease? 

3.  State  the  rules  for  bathing  insane  patients. 

4.  Wliat  is  the  fibula  ?  With  what  bones  is  it 
connected  ?    Describe  the  joints  so  formed. 

.5.  What  are  the  principal  differences  in  struc- 
ture between  arteries  and  veins?  W^lat  emergency 
treatment  would  you  adopt  in  the  case  of  severe 
venotis  bleeding  arising  from  (a)  ruptured  varicose 
vein  in  the  leg,  (b)  wound  in  the  neck? 

6.  Give  the  reasons  for  refusal  of  food  by  the 
insane. 

7.  What  bodily  changes  aro  frequently  observed 
in  severe  cases  of  melancholitf  ? 

8.  Describe  the  thorax  and  mention  its  contents, 
describing  generally  the  position  of  the  different 
organs  with  respect  to  one  another. 

9.  ^[ention  the  different  forms  of  insanity,  and 
describe  fully  any  case  you  have  yourself  observed. 

10.  Wha-t  precautions  would  you  take  when  in 
charge  of  a  patient  who  was  being  transferred  from 
one  Asvlum  to  another. 


IHursinfl  j£cl)0cs. 

.Miss  .\.  C  Lowe,  Secre- 
tary of  tlie  Queen  Victoria's 
Jubilee  Institute  for  Xurses, 
has  informed  Dr.  Holcroft 
that  so  lung  as  the  Hastings 
l,>istriet  Nursing  Association 
supplies  nurses  to  meet  the 
wants  of  llie  working  classes, 
and  the  necessitous  poor  are 
nursed  free  of  charge,  the 
Committee  of  the  Institute 
see  no  objection  to  its  pro- 
viding a  nurse  for  better  class  people 
wlio  are  not  in  a  position  to  pay 
a  private  nurse,  ou  payment  of  sums  at 
least  sufficient  to  defray  her  cost  while  so  work- 
ing. We  regret  that  the  Q.V.J. I.  should  sanc- 
tion the  regular  employment  of  its  nurses  for 
payment ;  in  our  view  this  should  only  be  done 
in  case  of  emergency. 

At  the  Annual  Eepreseutative  Meeting  of  the 
British  }iledical  Association  at  the  Guildhall  on 
}iIouday  last,  a  special  set  of  model  rules  for 
inclusion  in  the  rules  of  nprsihg  associations 
which  had  been  drawn  up,  was  fully  discussed. 
These  rules  have  already  been  approved  of  and 
adopted  by  the  Queen  Victoria's  Jubilee  Insti- 
tute for  Nurses,  and  the  terms  were  only  modi- 
fied in  minor  details.  The  most  important  of 
the  rules  as  passed  are  as  follows  :  — 

The  nurse,  when  requested  in  an  emergency, 
may  visit  and  render  first  aid  to  any  person  with- 
out awaiting  instructions  from  a  medical  practi- 
tioner. 

Should  the  advice  to  call  in  a  medical  practi- 
tioner be  not  acted  upon,  the  nurse  must  at  once 
leave  and  report  the  case  to  her  secretary,  and 
must  not  attend  again  except  in  case  of  fresh  emer- 
gency. 

Apart  from  her  duties  as  a  certified  midwife,  a 
nurse  must  on  no  account  prescribe  or  administer 
on  her  own  responsibility  such  drugs  for  her 
patients  as  should  only  be  prescribed  by  a  medical 
practitioner. 

A  nurse  shall  in  no  case  attempt  to  influence  a 
patient  in  the  choice  of  a  doctor  or  institution. 

.\  note  is  added  which  advises  that,  in  dis- 
trict nursing  associations,  all  the  medical  prac- 
titioners in  the  district  co-operate  with  the 
cominittee,  and  that  in  larger  or  cotmty  associa- 
tions, delegates  of  the  British  Medical  Associa- 
tion be  invited  to  serve  on  the  committee. 


Under  the  heading,  "  You  Would  Hardly 
Believe  It,"  in  the  Nineteenth  Century 
and  After,  Lady  Piggott  deals  with  'the 
care  of  the  national  health  in  Greater 
Britain  through  the  Colonial  Xursing  Associa* 
tion.    We  agree  with  her  that  it  is  difficult  now 


92 


Zfyc  Britisb  3ournal  of  iRurstno, 


[July  30,  1910 


for  those  living  at  home  iu'  easy  communica- 
tion with  nursing  centres,  to  realise  that  fifteen 
yeai's  ago,  in  many  of  our  Colonies,  no  nursing 
aid  whatever  was  obtainable,  while  in  others 
the  patients  had  to  travel  great  distances  to 
obtain  such  aid  as  the  Government  Hospital, 
if  such  existed,  could  afford. 


The  Colonial  Nursing  Association,  which 
owes  its  origin  to  Lady  Piggott's  initiative,  has 
done  a  most  useful  work  in  bringing  skilled 
nursing  within  the  reach  of  British  men 
and  %'s-omen  resident  in  Cro^^n  Colonies, 
who  are  willing  to  pay  for  their  services,  and 
in  removing  the  reproach  that  the«i-ast  majority 
of  English  people  rested  content,  and  made 
little  inquiry  as  to  what  befel  their  countrymen 
and  women  landing  daily  on  far-distant  shores. 

The  reasons  given  by  the  Matron  of  the 
Southwark  lufiiTnary,  IMiss  Isabel  Kemp,  for 
her  resignation  were  that  she  was  overworked, 
that  the  accommodation  for  the  nurses  was 
insufficient,  and  that  she  was  not  allowed  to 
select  her  o\\'n  staff.  At  a  recent  meeting  of 
the  Guardians  ]\Ir.  Osborn  urged  that  the  re- 
peated complaints  as  to  overcrowding  shoull 
be  resolutely  dealt  with.  He  had  been  to  the 
Infirmary  and  seen  the  conditions  for  himself 
and  was  emphatically  of  opinion  that  imme- 
diate stej)s  should  be  taken  with  respect  to  the 
whole  position.  The  Eev.  D.  Bryant  also 
pointed  out  that  while  there  was  no  scandal  the 
staff  were  undoubtedly  overworked,  and  there 
was  overcrowding.  Eventually'  it  was  agreed 
to  consider  the  matter  of  Miss  Kemp's  resigna- 
tion in  committee. 

The  Nurses'  National  Total  Abstinence 
League,  which  is  in  connection  with  the  Wo- 
men's Total  Abstinence  Union,  had  a  very 
active  year  of  work  during  1909,  and  is  able  to 
record  an  increase  of  114  new  members.  Many 
pleasant  meetings  have  been  held  in  hospitals, 
infirmaries,  and  private  houses  to  promote 
social  intercourse,  and  stimulate  interest  in  the 
subject  of  total  abstinence,  of  extending  the 
sphere  of  the  League,  and  increasing  its  mem- 
bership. The  Certified  Midwives  have  also 
n  Total  .\bstinence  League  federated  to 
the  above  Union,  of  which  Dr.  Annie  IMcCall 
is  President.  The  Midwives  and  Monthly 
"Nurses  have  now  different  badges  and  pledge 
cards,  and  the  nevt'  badges  are  greatlj"  appre- 
ciated. 


absolutely.  The  presidential  decree  was  pro- 
mulgated on  July  9th,  and  after  October  9th 
the  sale  will  be  a  thing  of  the  past.  Not  only 
will  the  old  familiar  bottle  be  interdicted,  but 
any  one  contravening  the  Act  will  be  heavily 
fined,  all  bottles  will  be  confiscated,  and  offen- 
ders will  be  liable,  further,  to  a  term  of  im- 
prisonment of  any  duration  from  eight  days  to 
three  months.  It  is  not  through  indift'erence  of 
the  State  that  the  infantile  mortality  in  France 
is  not  diminished. 


Most  alithorities  condemn  the  feeding  bottle 
with  tube  for  babies,  but  in  France  they  have 
gone  beyond  the  domain  of  condemnation — the 
('bninl>fv  riii'l  Sonnte  lifive  proliibH(><l  their  use 


Two  members  of  the  Board  of  Administra- 
tion of  the  public  hospitals  at  Lorient,  a  great 
seaport'  in  France,  have  resigned,  one  of  them, 
Mons.  Tanguy,  on  the  ground  that  "  everything 
is  going  badly  in  our  hospitals,  especially  the 
female  nurses."  It  is  assumed  that  the 
reason  for  the  scandals  which  are  alleged  to 
exist  is  that  lay  attendants  have  been  substi- 
tuted for  the  religious  Sisters,  but  the  probable 
reason  is  to  be  foinid  m  the  deficient  organisa- 
tion of  the  nursing.  If  the  members  of  the 
Boaj'd  of  Administration  visited  the  Nursing 
School  of  the  Assistance  Publiquc  at  the  Sal- 
petrlere  Hospital,  Paris,  or  those  under  the 
superintendence  of  Dr.  Hamilton  and  of  Miss 
Elston  at  Bordeaux,  they  would  realise  that 
lay  nursing  is  not- incompatible  with  excel- 
lence. The  pity  is  that  such  schools  are  so  few, 
but  they  are  training  a  succession  of  pupils, 
who  will  become  Superintendents  of  other  lay 
nursing  schools,  and  introduce  the  methods  and 
standards  of  excellence  which  they  have  learnt 
to  practise.  Some  of  the  certificated  pupils  of 
these  schools  are  already  doing  excellent 
pioneer  work.  

We  are  pleased  to  catch  glimpses  of  our 
American  friends  through  the  Avicrican  Journal 
of  Nursing.  Miss  Hibbard  writes  from  Havana  : 
"  We  had  a  very  serious  explosion  of  dynamite 
at  Pinar  del  Eio  on  May  18th.  The  news  of 
the  disaster  being  telegraphed  io  the  President, 
relief  was  organised  at  once  under  several 
groups,  the  Secretary  of  Sanitation  leaving 
Havana  with  eighteen  nurses  and  ten  doctors 
just  one  hour  and  a  half  after  the  news  came. 
The  nurses  under  Senorita  Margarita  Nunez 
and  Senorita  Alartini,  the  Superintendent  of 
the  Mercedes  Plospital,  are  doing  excellent 
work  9nd  have  been  on  duty  on  the  spot  since 
the  18th.  This  is  the  first  time  the  Cuban 
nurses  have  been  called  to  a  scene  of  national 
disaster,  and  I  do  feel  so  proud  of  them ;  all  1 
hear  is  praise  of  their  work  and  appreciation  of 
the  spirit  they  have  shown.  Tlie  nurses  went 
by  Government  order,  as  they  could  be 
mobilised  much  more  quickly  than  by  the  Red 
Cross." 


July  30,  1010] 


(Tbc  36r(ti6F)  3ouniaI  of  IRursduj. 


93 


a  IHcw  1Rcei^cntlal  Ibomc  for 

1HUV5C3. 


lu  oue  of  the  spacious  and  well  built  houses 
•ou  the  sunny  side,  and  at  the  quiet  end,  of  Nor- 
folk Square,  \V.,  Miss  Amy  Downey  has  just 
-opened  a  new  Kesidontial  Home  for  Nurses. 
Miss  Downey  is  an  exi)erienced  nurse  and  a 
certified  midwife,  and  is  the  late  Matron  of  the 
Mental  Xurses"  Co-oi)eration.  She  understands 
the  needs  of  nurses,  and  is  very  desirous  that 
at  44,  Norfolk  Square  they  shall  find  refine- 
ment, comfort,  and  congenial  society. 

The  liouse  impresses  one  at  first  sight  with 
its  cheerfulness,  freshness,  and  absence  of  any 
institutional  atmosphere.  One  ascends  the 
staircase  to  the  drawing-room  over  a  soft 
Axminster  caiiiet,  noting  in  passing  an  alcove 
furnished  with  chairs  and  a  table,  on  which  an 
ash  traj-  indicates  the  obvious  intention  of  this 
corner.  The  drawing-iX)oni  itself  is  quite 
changing,  square,  with  large  French  windows, 
opening  on  to  a  balcony  where  t-ea  can  be 
taken.  The  paper  in  this  room  is  of  a  soft  shade 
of  blue,  and  the  cai-pet  in  warm  shades  of 
golden  brown,  with  touches  of  pink  and  blue 
here  and  there.  It  is  most  comfortably  fur- 
nished, the  furniture  including  a  grand  piano, 
and  here  on  Sunday — from  3  to  6 — nui-ses  can 
receive  guests  of  either  sex,  tea  being  provided 
without  extra  charge,  a  unique  privilege  which 
"they  are  sure  to  appreciate.  Nearly  evei-y  room 
in  the  house  has  been  freshly  papered,  in 
excellent  taste.  Two  or  three  nurses  are  accom- 
modated in  most  of  the  bedrooms,  but  plenty 
•of  screens  are  provided  in  every  instance,  and 
there  are  a  few  single  rooms. 

The  dining-room  is  a  very  pleasant  room, 
connected  with  the  kitchen  by  a  service  lift; 
the  china  panti-y  is  stocked  with  dainty  china 
and  some  wonderfully  pretty  desert  plates  in 
Venetian  glass.  The  prevailing  note  of  the 
■crockery — and,  indeed,  of  the  whole  house — is 
green,  and  a  green  and  white  dinner  service 
finds  place  on  the  dresser  in  the  cheerful 
kitchen. 

Miss  Downey's  terms  are  most  moderate,  in- 
clusive charges  being  from  17s.  6d.  to  2os.  per 
■week,  or  4s.  6d.  by  the  day.  The  only  extras 
are  3d.  per  week  for  storage  of  boxes  in  a 
nurse's  absence,  3d.  per  week  contribution  to 
paper  fund,  and  2(1.  for  telephone  messages. 
Norfolk  Square  is  very  centrally  situated,  as  it 
is  close  to  Paddington  and  Praed  Street 
Station.-,,  and  about  five  minutes  from  Lan- 
caster Gate  Tube. 

\V^  think  that  any  nurse  visiting  the'  Home 
cannot  fail  to  be  impressed  with  its  advan- 
tages for  an  occasional  or  permanent  resident. 


IReflectlons. 


From  a  Boakd  Room  Mirror. 

Tho  Kijig  has  beoome  I'atron  of  University 
College  Hospital,  the  Middlesex  Hospital,  the  Koyal 
Hospital  for  Dis(»ases  of  the  Chest,  City  Road,  and 
the  Royal  Ear  Hospital,  Soho,  and  the  National 
Hospital  for  the  Paralysed  and  Epileptic.  His  Ma- 
jesty, while  giving  his  Patronage  to  the  Seamen's 
Hospital  Society  (the  Dreadnought),  has  intimated 
that  he  has  increased  the  Royal  subscription  to  100 
guineas  i)er  annum. 


His  Majesty  the  King  has  graciously  consented 
to  become  Patron  of  the  Royal  Sanitary  Institute. 
The  Institute  was  founded  in  1876,  and  it  is  carry- 
ing on  a  large  work  in  teaching  and  examining  in 
hygiene  and  sanitary  science,  both  in  the  Uiuted 
Kingdom  and  in  other  parts  of  the  Empire.  It 
maintains  in  London  a  permanent  Museum  of  Sani- 
tary Appliances,  open  free  to  the  public.  Its 
members  and  associates  number  nearly  4,000. 


As  the  result  principally  of  a  report  by  Sir  Ar- 
thur Downes  for  the  Local  Government  Board,  the 
Metropolitan  Asylums  Board  have  decided  to  make 
a  radical  alteration  in  their  hospital  system.  There 
is  now  frequently  a  large  number  of  unoccupied 
beds  in  the  fever  and  small-pox  hospitals,  which 
it  is  thought  might  be  beneficially  used  for  addi- 
tional classes  of  patients,  and  for  meeting  the 
growing  demands  on  the  children  and  imbeciles  de- 
partments. The  Managers  of  the  Asylums  Board 
have  therefore  decided  "  that  the  Local  Govern- 
ment Board  be  informed  that  the  Managers  are 
willing  to  arrange  for  the  reception,  tentatively,  of 
measles  and  other  approved  diseases  in  their  fever 
hospitals,  provided  the  Local  Government  Board 
can  empower  them  to  admit  selected  cases  from 
the  poorer  classes,  for  which  no  accommodation  is 
now  available."  The  latter  clause  was  due  to  the 
report  of  Dr.  H.  E.  C\\S,  the  medical  officer  of  the 
Board  for  general  i)uri)oses,  who  is  of  opinion  that 
there  is  adequate  accommodation  in  Metropolitan 
Workhouse  Infirmaries  for  paui)er  cases  of  measles. 
The  need  is  for  accommodation  for  cases  from  the 
l^oor  classes,  not  n<x-essarily  paupers.  Dr.  Cuff  is 
of  opinion  that  the  measures  of  disinfection  re- 
quired to  prevent  the  risk  of  the  interchange  of 
measles  and  whooping  in  the  same  hospital  with 
other  infectious  fevers  would  be  simi^le,  and  that 
the  only  alteration  necessary  in  the  internal  ar- 
rangements of  the  hospital  would  bo  to  allot  separ- 
ate receiving  rooms.  Dr.  J.  Kerr  is  quoted' by  Dr. 
Cuff  as  stating  that  the  isolation  of  measles  in 
hospital  can  be  more  than  justified,  as  a  means 
of  saving  the  lives  of  the  poor. 


The  Asylums  Board  also  adopted  a  recommenda- 
tion to  make  arrangements  for  the  reception  of 
cases  of  puerperal  fever  in  their  hospitals.  The 
weight  of  testimony  is  that  the  reception  of  these' 
cases  into  hospital  is  advantageous  to  tbe  patiehts 
and  removes  a  i>ossible  sonrce  of  danger  to  others. 
The  Park  Hospital  is  to  be  reserved  for  sick  and 
debilitated  children. 


94 


Cbe  Biitisb  3ournal  of  IRursinQ. 


[July  30,  1910 


A  new  infirmary,  erected  and  eqnipped  by  the 
Edmonton  Guardians  at  a  cost  of  between  £70,000 
and  £80,000  ivas  opened  by  Sir  William  Collins, 
M.P.,  on  Monday  last. 


Lady  Amptliill  has  notified  through  the  press  that 
in  spite  of  the  more  than  unfavourable  weather  on 
the  occasion  of  the  recent  fete  at  the  Bedford 
County  Hospital,  a  oheciue  for  £630  has  alre.a<iy 
been  fonvarded  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Hospital. 
Lady  Ampthill  wishes  it  to  t>e  known  how  sensibU> 
she  and  her  committ«e  are  of  the  splendid  and  sub- 
stantial help  they  received  from  all  over  the  county 
and  the  town,  and  particularly  fix)m  the  traaes- 
people,  to  whom  she  expresses  their  most  coraial 
thanks. 


The  Royal  Albert  Edward  Infirmary,  AVigan,  will 
receive  £1,1.50  from  tlie  estate  of  Miss  E.  A.  Robin- 
eon  Morris  towards  the  cost  of  the  erection  of  an 
operating  theatre,  and  anresthetic,  sterilising,  and 
surgeons'  room  in  connection. 


The  awards  at  the  Japan-British  Exhibition  have 
ju.st  been  published,  and  we  notice  that  Lemoo  and 
Oxo  have  again  obtained  the  highest  possible 
honour,  as  in  1908  and  1909,  viz.,  the  Grand  Prix. 
The  success  of  this  great  company  (the  largest  in 
the  world  devoted  solely  to  the  manufacture  of 
concentrated  beef  foods)  has  been  phenomenal  since 
its  formation  4.5  years  ago,  when  it  w-as  awarded 
a  gold  med'al  at  the  first  great  Paris  Exliibition  of 
1867  for  founding  a  new  industry.  Captain  Scott's 
ship,  the  Terra  jSiova,  carries  large  supplies  of  the 
company's  products  for  use  in  the  Antarctic.  In 
this  connection  our  readers  will  probably  remember 
Lieut.  Sir  E.  H.  >Shaokleton's  histoi-ic  cable  on  his 
return  to  New  Zealand  from  the  Antarctic,  that 
he  had  "  found  Oxo  excellent  in  sledge  journeys 
and  throughout  the  winter.'' 


OLecjal  fiDattere. 


COMPENSATION  TO  AN  .INSPECTOR  OF 
MIDWIVES 
Judgment  has  been  given  by  his  Honour  Judge 
Allen,  at  the  Nottingham  County  Court,  in  a  AVork- 
men's  Compensation  case  l)rought  against  the  Notts 
County  Council  by  Miss  Louise  Pauline  Lcssey,  an 
Inspector  of  Midwives.  Miss  Lessey  fell  down  in 
the  street  last  winter  when  on  the  way  to  the  Shire 
Hall  and  fractured  her  thigh,  with  the  result  that 
she  has  b<>conie  permanently  afflicted  with  hip 
disease.  Her  contention  was  that,  as  she  was  on 
the  way  to  the  Shire  Hall  to  see  if  there  were  any 
instructions  for  her  preparatory  to  going  to  Kim- 
Kerley,  she  was  following  her  employment  at  the 
time  of  the  accident. — Tlie  defen<'e  was  that  her 
case  did  not  come  within  the  meaning  of  the  Act, 
and  that  she  was  not  working  at  the  time  of  the 
accident. — tlis  Honour  held  that  Miss  licssey  was 
a  "  workman  ''  within  the  meaning  of  tlie  Act, 
and  tliat  her  employment  comniencfKl  at  the  time 
of  leaving  home.  The  accident,  therefore,  was  in- 
cidental to  lier  employment,  and  he  awarded  her 
compensation  at  the  rate  of  £1  per  week,  com- 
mencing April  1st  la.it,  with  costs. 


®ur  Jforeion  Xettcr. 

DISTRICT  NURSING    IN   AUSTRALASIA. 

As  you 
may  be 
aware,  a 
c  e  r  t  a  i  n 
amount 
of  anxiety 
was  aroused 
in  nursing 
c  i  r  c  1  es  in 
this  Com- 
mon w  e  a  1th 
when  it  became  known  that  her  Excellency 
the  Countess  of  Dudley  was  desirous  of  introducing 
a  scheme  of  district  nursing  on  national  linos  for 
the  benefit  of  the  peoi^le  of  this  country.  For  so 
many  years  nurses  and  doctors  here  have  worked  so 
unceasingly  to  organise  the  profession  of  nursing, 
and  have  through  tlie  State  Associations  done  such 
wonders  through  a  system  of  voluntary  registration 
to  raise  the  standards  aiid  maintain  a  high  moral 
tone  in  the  nursing  world  that  we  must  be  forgiven 
a  little  apprehension.  Those  of  ns  who  have  re- 
cently visited  England  have  been  astonished  to  find 
the  standard  for  district  nurses  so  insufficient 
— apart  from  that  demanded  for  Queen's  Nurses — 
and  should  very  strongly  object  to  any  system  which 
would  provide  «omen,  with  only  a  few  months' 
training  for  the  poor,  a«  the  village  and  cottage 
nurse  system  docs  in  England.  Now  our  fears  have 
been  set  at  rest. 

On  Monday,  June  l-jth,  Australia's  memorial 
to  King  Edward  VII.,  in  the  shape  of  a 
new  nursing  army,  was  explained  to  a  large 
and  representative  gathering  of  the  nursing  and 
medical  professions  at  Government  House,  Sydney, 
when  the  Governor-General.  Lord  Dudley,  outlined 
the  District  Nursing  Scheme,  which  is  generally 
acknowledged  to  be  an  excellent  one.  One  cannot 
help  contra.sting  the  consideration  given  to  the 
nursing  profession  here,  and  what  would  be  de 
r'lguexir  in  England.  Here  it  is  recognised  that  with- 
out the  help  and  ajiproval  of  trained  nurses  no^ 
scheme  could  be  thrust  upon  tliem — or  a  success.  In 
England  they  would  not  be  consulted  at  all.  A 
powerful  social  committee  would  be  formed.  They 
would  lay  down  rules  and  regulations,  define  profes- 
sional standards,  and  rates  of  pay,  and  as  we  say 
here,  the  nurses  miLilit  take  it  or  leave  it.  TI\e 
enfranchised  women  in  this  country  are  used  to 
having  a  say  about  their  ow-n  affeiirs,  and  under- 
stand the  value  of  professional  co-operation  and 
efficiency,  and  the  ri«ult  is  that  in  all  probability 
the  Bush  Nursing  S<lieme  will,  wdth  their  hearty 
approval,  be  a  grnml  success. 

On  the  i)latforin  a  I  Government  House  support- 
ing their  Excellencies,  were  Lady  Chelmsford,  Lord 
Plunkett,  Jlr.  Harold  Boulton,  and  Miss  Amy 
Hughes,  who  is  staying  at  Government  Hou.se,  Miss 
Garran  (Secretary  of  the  Australasian  Trained 
Nurses"  Association),  Dr.  Fiaschi  (President, 
A. T.N. A.),  Miss  M.fiahey,  Miss  Creeal,  .Miss- 
fiould,  Miss  Kendal  Davies,  Dr.  Jarvie  Hood,  Dr. 
Blackburn,   Dr.   Gillies,    and    a     number    of  otlier 


July  30,  1910J 


Z\K  3!Sr(ti5b  3oiirnal  of  IRursiiio. 


95 


prominent  merabers  of  the  Association,  besddes  re- 
presentatives of  nietronolitau  Nursing  Homes. 

THE  GOVERNOR-GENERALS  ADDRESS. 

The  Earl  of  Uiullfv,  Uovernor-tieneral,  ad- 
dressed the  gathering,  and  offered  to  the  nurses 
who  were  present  in  considerable  numbers  a  sincere 
and  hearty  welcome.  His  Excellency  added,  "  1 
may  say  at  once  that  both  Lady  Dudley  and  those 
who  are  aiding  her  in  lier  efforts  to  extend  the 
benefits  of  district  iiui-sing  in  Australia  recognise 
very  thoroughly  that  the  only  path  to  success  lies 
through  the  interest  and  assistance  of  the  trained 
nui'ses  in  this  country.  Tliey  represent  indiWdually 
and  collectively  the  essential  material  without 
which  no  scheme  of  this  kind  can  be  successfully 
inaugurated  and  built  up.  They  provide  forces 
which  we  arc  bouiul  to  enlist  on  our  side  if  we  are 
really  to  succeed  in  our  aims;  and  such  being  the 
case  it  is  very  necessary  that  we  should  take  the 
.«arlie«t  opix)rtunity  ot  explaining  to  the  meniljers 
of  so  important  a  Ixidy  as  the  Australasian  Trained 
Nurses'  Association  some  of  the  broad  outlines  of 
ihe  organisation  we  propose  to  set  up." 

Proceeding  to  deal  with  the  public  criticisms 
made  with  regard  to  the  scheme,  and  the  misappre- 
hensions which  have  arisen  as  to  the  precise  scope 
■  of  the  objects  which  Lady  Dudley  has  in  view,  his 
Excellency  s;iid  that  these  were  natural  because  any 
discussion  of  the  scheme  had  so  far,  of  necessity, 
been  carried  on  in  a  somewhat  vague  and  nebidous 
manner,  but  they  could  be  dispersed  by  knowledge 
and  explanation.  The  first  misapprehension  he  de- 
sired to  remove  was  that  Lady  Dudley's  projected 
scheme  might  menace,  or  overshadow,  the  existence 
of  nursing  associations  already  established  in  Aus- 
tralia. It  would  be  the  aim  of  the  promoters  of 
the  new  scheme  to  establish  close  and  friendly  re- 
lations with  those  associations,  to  create  uniting 
links  between  them  and  the  new  organisation,  to 
give  them  representation  upon  its  councils,  and  to 
draw  upon  them,  when  necessary,  for  assistance. 
The  aims  of  existing  associations  were  different 
from  those  of  the  new  one,  and  consequently, 
though  co-operation  was  desirable,  there  was  no 
reason  why  either  should  wish  to  predominate  in 
the  affairs  of  the  other.  To  take  the  A.T.X.A.  for 
instance,  compo.sed  almost  entirely  of  hospital 
and  private  nurses.  How  could  any  organisation, 
however  widespread,  such  as  Lady  Dudley  proposed 
to  set  up.  interfere  with  the  status  and  prosi>ects 
of  the  hospital  nurse?  They  must  look  to  the  hos- 
pital-trainetl  nurses  as  the  body  from  whom  the 
district  nurses  were  to  be  drawn.  EveryT\-here  hos- 
pital nurses  formed  the  constitutional  body  from 
■which  the  specialised  nurses  were  drawn,  and  the 
more,  therefore,  that  the  scope  and  extent  of 
si)ecialised  nursing  were  enlarged  the  more  employ- 
ment and  opportunities  were  provided  for  the 
nursing  profession   as  a  whole. 

Then  it  was  thought  in  some  quarters  that  any 
large  increase  in  the  number  of  district  nurses 
■would  injuriously  affect  the  prospects  and  employ- 
ment of  private  nursos.  There  was,  however,  no 
reason  for  any  such  ai)i>rehension.  as  the  promoters 
of  the  schen^e  aime<l  at  catering  for  the  needs  of 
.a   class    quite    different    tiom    that    which    usually 


employs  a  private  nui-se..  If  it  was  feared  that 
some  who  now  do  so  would,  for  reasons  of  economy, 
look  to  the  ministrations  of  district  nurses,  all  he 
could  say  on  that  jx>int  was  that  great  care 
would  be  taken  in  drafting  the  regulations 
of  the  Order  that  no  attempt  of  that  kind,  to  take 
a  base  advantage  of  the  services  of  its  nurses, 
could  possibly  succeed. 

In  regard  to  the  position  of  the  nurses,  the  work 
they  were  to  be  asked  to  perform  would  be  of  a 
very  arduous  character,  involving  hardship, 
fatigue,  and  conflict  with  difficulties  of  transit,  dis- 
tance, and  climate,  which  workers  in  cities  were 
never  called  upon  to  face.  That  would,  he  was  con- 
vinced, not  prevent  them  from  obtaining  the  ser- 
vices of  the  nurses  they  required,  but  it  would  be 
their  care  to  see  that  the  salarj-  offered  to  a  nurse 
who  consented  to  join  the  Order  was  in  every  way 
sufficient,  and  no  stone  would  be  left  unturned  to 
promote  her  health,  comfort,  and  happiness  in  the 
arduous  but  splendid  work  she  would  be  asked 
to  d«. 

Again  the  fear  had  been  expressed  that  Lady 
Dudley  intended  to  inundate  the  country  with 
'"cheap  and  inefficient  nurses."  This  could  not  t>e 
current  amongst  well-informc<l  i)eople,  but  for  the 
sake  of  others  he  might  say  it  was  intended  to 
employ  for  work  in  the  Bush  only  the  very  best  and 
most  efficient  nurses,  ladies  thoroughly  trained  in 
the  three  branches  of  nursing — medical  and  surgical 
nursing,  and  midwifery — holding  the  highest  cer- 
tificates of  efficiency.  Periodical  and  systematic  in- 
spection and  supervision  would  also  be  exercised. 

"  .Surely,  then,"  concluded,  his  Excellency,  "  we 
are  justified  in  appealing  not  only  to  the  general 
ptiblic  but  to  nurses  themselves  for  support  and 
assistance  in  our  endeavour  to  carry  even  into  the 
remotest  corners  of  this  country  the  comforting 
and  health-giving  ministrations  of  a  trained  nurse, 
and  to  .set  upon  district  nursing  generally  through- 
out Austiialia  a  seal  of  dignity  and  honour  which 
will  be  ■nortliy  of  its  great  traditions  and  ideals. 

Mr.  Harold  Boulton  explained  the  work  of  dis- 
trict nurses  in  Great  Britain  and  Canada,  and  said 
that  similar  work,  as  reqtiired  in  Australia,  was 
done  by  the  Victorian  Order  of  Nurses  in  Canada 
out  in  the  prairies,  amongst  the  Rockies,  in  the 
forests,  at  the  himber  camps  of  Vancouver,  and  the 
frozen  wastes  of  Labrador.  The  organisation  would 
be  controlled  by  a  central  committee,  on  which  local 
committees  wotild  be  represented.  Let  tis  hope 
many  expert  nurses  will  have  seats  on  such  com- 
mittees, as  they  have  with  such  immense  benefit 
in  the  Tnited  States  of  America. 

INIiss  .\my  Hughes  said  it  was  a  poor  district 
nurse  who  was  not  able  to  do  wonders  in  the  house 
with  nothing  at  all.  They  could  raise  the  standard 
of  living,  teach  the  lesson  of  citizenship  to  the 
people,  and  become  health  missioners  amongst  the 
poor. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  speeches,  tea  was  served 
on  the  corridor  verandah,  where  their  Excellencies 
chatted  with  their  guests,  and  we  all  realised  that 
the  first  .step  had  been  taken  in  a  spelndid  now- 
national  work  which  would  bring  the  very  highest 
nursing  skill  within  reach  of  those  who  greatly 
needed  it.     Onlv  those  who  have  lived  in  the  Bush 


96 


(Tbe  Britisb  ^ouvnal  of  IRuvsing. 


[July  30,  1910 


of  Australia  cau  realise  what  a  boon  the  right  sort 
of  nurse  would  be  in  isolated  places,  where  at  pre- 
sent there  is  no  chance  of  getting  any  help.  Num- 
bers of  lives  are  lost  where  good  nursing  would  save 
them,  and  all  who  have  lived  in  the  Bush  will  tell 
you  it  is  a  very  pleasant  place  until  illness  in  any 
form  comes.  Especially  terrible  is  it  in  cases  of 
confinement,  where  the  mother  of  the  family  has, 
perhaps,  no  one  to  depend  on  but  children,  whose 
ages  range  from  12  to  2. 

The  people  of  the  Bush  are,  as  a  rule,  very  fine 
people,  and  often  beneath  a  rough  exterior  have  in- 
stincts which  n^ould  be  a  credit  to  people  of  a  better 
class,  but  they  won't  stand  any  nonsense,  and  a 
nurse  who  gets  on  with  them  must  not  only  be  a 
very  acceptable  woman,  but  a  plucky  and  very  self- 
controlled  one.  We  mean  to  stand  firm 
for  nurses  of  the  very  best  stamp,  as  they  alone 
are  likely  to  be  successful. 

A  Pehipaietic  Australasian. 


©utsibe  tbe  (Bates. 


LADY     DUDLEY'S    SCHEME     OF     DISTRICT 
BUSH    NURSING. 

The  Austrahisiaa  Nursrs'  Journal,  in  referring 
to  this  scheme,  says: — •The  Council  and  membei-s 
of  the  Association  (A.T.X.A.)  will  not  only  be  in- 
terested ill  the  .scheme  in  a  general  way,  but  will 
wait  definite  a,ssiuanoes  that  the  standard  of  train- 
ing requiretl  of  district  nur.ws  in  Australia  shall  be 
that  of  the  A.T.N.A.  and  of  the  Royal  Victorian 
TrainedXurses' Association,  and  that  tlie nurses  snail 
first  complete  their  training  a,s  prescribed  by  these 
Associations,  and  obtain  registration  by  them  be- 
fore undergoing  the  supplementary  training  in  dis- 
trict work  necessary  for  those  who  are  to  go  out  as 
Bush  nurses.  "We  .shall  also  like  to  be  assured  that 
the  salary  to  be  paid  to  these  district  nur.ses  will  be 
equivalent  to  that  earned  by  the  ordinary  trained 
nurse  in  Austmalia." 

The  Council  of  the  Association  in  Sydney  has 
appointed  a  Sub-Committee  to  meet  Miss  Hughes 
and  thoroughly  discnss  the  question. 

We  warmly  congratulate  the  nurses'  profes- 
sional associations  in  Australia  that  they  aro 
evidently  determined  to  liave  no  lowering  of 
efficiency  and  salaries  for  the  nurses  of  tlie 
poor.  Nothing  has  been  more  disastrous  m 
England  than  the  affiliation  of  societies  em- 
ploying insufficiently  trained  nurses  with  the 
Queen  Victoria's  .Tubilee  Iii.stitute  for  Nur.ses.  Tho 
In.stitute  is  thus  made  re.sponsible  for  encouraging 
a  few  months'  training  for  the  nui-ses  of  the  rural 
poor,  and  condoning  the  miserable  pittance  i>aid  to 
them  in  wages.  The  system  is  quite  indefensible, 
and  we  are  glad  tx>  sec  that  the  A.T.N.A.  aro  alivo 
■  to  the  fact,  and  will  i)revent  any  such  educational 
and   economic  dcterioiiation   in   Australasia. 


The  Turkish  Government  has  informed  the  Swiss 
Federal  authorities  that  it  is  willing  to  acknow- 
ledge the  "  Red  Cross"  in  time  of  war  on  condi- 
tion that  the  "  Ro<l  Crescent  ",  receives  equal 
respect  from  tbe  Powers  which  signed  the  Geneva 
Convention. 


WOMEN. 

We  congratulate  the 
three  first  women  doc- 
tor,s  who  have  been 
granted  the  Diploma  in 
Public  Health  by  the 
Royal  College  of  Sur- 
geons. Tile  women  who 
are  the  fir.st  of  their  sex 
to  obtain  this  Diploma 
are  Miss  Helen  Noiia  Payne,  M.D.Lond.,  anaes- 
thetist to  the  New  Hospital  for  Women;  Mrs.  Alice 
M.  Van  Ingen,  M.D.Brussels,  who  has  held  im- 
portant medical  appointments  in  India;  and  Miss 
Hilda  Kate  Whittingliam,  M.B.Lond.,  demon- 
strator on  bacteriology  at  the  Middlesex  Hospital 
Research  Laboratories. 


Mr.  Burns's  Public  Health  (Health  Visitors)  Bill 
seeks  to  assimilate  the  law  in  the  provinces  with 
regard  to  public  health  visitors  to  that  which  ob- 
tains in  London.  It  proposes  to  enable  local 
authorities  to  apjioint  women  health  visitors  to 
visit  the  homes  of  the  jjoor  in  order  to  advise  them 
on  the  rearing  and  feeding  of  infants.  It  is  hoped 
by  this  means  to  diminish  infant  mortality  and 
tuberculosis  in  children. 


The  Demonstration'  in  Hyde  Park  on  Saturday 
afternoon  last,  in  supjiort  of  the  Woman  Suffrage 
Bill  of  the  Conciliation  Committee,  took  place  in 
perfect  weather,  and  the  entry  of  the  two  great 
processions  into  the  Park  was  most  picturesque  and 
impressive.  At  5.30  a  resolution  was  moved  and 
speeches  delivered  to  attentive  and  enthusiastic 
audiences  from  40  i)latforms,  and  at  6.30  the  bugle 
sounded  from  the  conning  tower  and  resolution' waa 
put  simultaneou.sly  and  carried.  It  was  as  follows: 
"That  this  meeting  rejoices  that  the  Woman 
Suffrage  Bill  has  passed  its  second  reading  by  lOif' 
votes,  a  majority  larger  than  that  accorded  to  th© 
Government  Veto  rotvolutions.  The  meeting  further 
calls  upon  the  Government  to  bow  to  the  will  of  tho 
people  as  expressed  by  their  elected  representa- 
tives in  tlie  House  ol  Commons,  and  to  provide  tho 
facilities  necessary  to  enable  tho  Bill  to  pass  into- 
law  during  the  present  session  of  Parliament." 


Many  nui-ses  listened  to  speeches  of  a  high  order 
from  the  platform  at  which  Dr.  Elora  Murray  pre- 
side<l,  and  where  the  R^?solution  was  pixiposed  by 
that  good  friend  of  the  cause,  Mr.  Mansell  Moullin, 
seconded  by  Dr.  Helen  Kra-ser,  and  sup|X)ito<l  by 
Mr.  Millies,  Mr.  Percy  Vaughan,  and  put  to  the 
meeting  by  Sir  Victor  Horeley. 


Tho  Central  Buioaii  for  tho  Employment  of 
AVoinon,  0,  Soiithaiii])ton  Street,  High  Holborn.  and 
tho  Workore'  Bookshop,  18a,  New  Oxford  Street, 
W.C,  have  removt^l  to  o.  Princes'  Street,  Caven- 
dish Square,  Oxford  Circus,  W.,  a  most  central 
and  convenient  situation,  which  should  result  in. 
an  increase  of  work  in  both  instances. 


Julj  30,  1910] 


^)C  Britisb  3ournal  of  1Hiui?iiuj. 


97 


BooF?  of  tbc  mec\{. 


ATONEMENT.* 

'■  1  bet  you  six  to  one  you  make  him  fall  Lead 
.■over  ears  in  love  with  you,  Sylvia,"  he  said. 

■'  Done  I  "  she  answered. 

A  foolish  challenge,  bringing  with  its  accept- 
ance fatal  results,  undying  consequences,  the  ruin 
of  many  lives. 

Sylvia  was  a  Colonial  born  and  bred,  and  had 
made  her  first  visit  to  Kngland  to  finish  her  educa- 
tion. She  was  going  back  to  her  home  at  Capo 
Town  after  an  absence  of  two  years.  She  was  very 
young,  not  quite  eighteen,  and  undeniably  pretty. 
Sylvia  went  her  ow  n  way,  and,  regardless  of  where 
it  led  her,  turned  down  the  first  attractive  by-way 
along  the  pleasure  i>ath  of  life.  Sho  never  kept 
straight  forward  for  any  appreciable  length  of 
time. 

Heiedity  was  no  doubt  to  a  great  extent  respon- 
sible for  this  light,  almost  wanton  nature,  for  her 
mother  had  a  "history  ''  and  had  dealt  her  hus- 
band the  cruellest  blow  of  all. 

Careless  Jack  FuUerton,  in  the  idleness  of  the 
hour,  on  board  the  outward  bound  liner,  little 
dreamt  of  the  unworthy  purpose  his  foolish  bet 
would  arouse  in  this  girl,  but  a  few  days  later  he 
asks  her  to  consider  the  bet  off.  "  It  wasn't  alto- 
gether a  nice  idea  for  me  to  put  into  your  mind ; 
leave  old  Stephen  alone,  and  confine  your  flirta- 
tion to  me."     .     .     . 

Looking  back  in  after  years  Stephen  Harborough 
could  not  fail  to  realise  that  she  had  courted  him 
persistently  and  determinedly  with  no  higher  aixn 
in  view  than  the  ile&truction  of  his  conceived  prin- 
ciples of  honour.  .She  was  fighting  the  inborn 
saint  in  the  man.  He  was  not  an  easy  conquest. 
He  had  no  wish  to  marry  her,  but  there  were  times 
when  he  considered  such  a  result  as  not  only  pos- 
sible but  probable.  All  the  time  she  conceals  from 
him  the  fact  that  she  is  engaged  to  Sydney  Ain- 
leigh,  the  owner  of  a  large  farm  some  miles  distant 
■  from  her  father's  home,  and  to  whom  she  has  given 
all'the  love  of  which  her  shallow  heart  is  capable. 
This  makes  her  intrigue  with  Harborough  in- 
cre<libly  bad,  and  it  is  not  until  she  comes  face  to 
face  with  the  consequence  of  her  sin  that  she 
appears  to  have  had  the  slightest  compunction. 

Xot  so  with  Harborough. 

"  The  change  in  his  manner  which  this  haunting 
remorse  of  conscience  brought  about  was  so  marked 
that  FuUerton  could  not  but  be  aware  that  something 
serious  had  hapijened  fo  trouble  his  friend's  peace  of 
mind.  He  had  endeavoured  to  make  ropaiation  to 
.Sylvia  so  far  as  possible  by  offering  her  marriage, 
and  was  staggered  by  the  news  that  she  was  en- 
gaged to  another  man.  His  engineering  work  takes 
him  shortly  after  to  a  distant  farm,  where  he  meets 
Naomi,  his  first  and  only  love,  and  then  the  man's 
sin  conies  home  to  him  n  Ith  renewed  force. 

"  He  had  not  intende<l  to  allow  hini-ielf  to  become 
interested  in  Xaomi.  but  some  nndefinable  attrac- 
tion drew  him  to  her,  some  charm  that  did  not  be- 


long to  her  be«uty,  but  added  to  it,  sm  the  sceut 
of  a  flower  will  entrance  -the  beauty  of  tho  fairest 
bloom.  She  was  the  kind  ol  woman  to  influence 
him  greatly.  Against  his  judgment  and  his  con- 
science he  asks  her  to  marry  him,  and  love  is  met  by 
love.  Hut  the  shadow  of  his  w  rong-doing  stands  l)e- 
tween  him  and  the  i>erfect  happiness  that  might 
have  been  his. 

■'  'VN'ould  you  give  yourself  to  me  supposing  you 
know  me  to  be  unworthy  of  the  gift?  " 

He  waited  in  the  heavy  stillness  for  her  answer, 
as  a  doometl  man  awaits  his  sentence.  He  knew 
before  -she  .six)ke  what  her  answer  would  be. 

■'  Xo,  1  coiddn't  do  that.  1  don't  think  I  could. 
You  wouldn't  expect  it  of  me.  .  .  ."  "  Stephen, 
there  isn't " 

She  raised  her  head  again  and  looketl  into  his 
face,  her  eyes  searching  his  in  the  darkness,  in- 
quiring and  vaguely  trouble<l. 

He  silence<l  the  anxious  question  before  it  was 
asked  with  his  lii».  After  that  evening  he  put 
away  all  idea  of  confessing  his  sin  to  Xaomi. 

The  ti-agedy  of  poor  Sylvia's  death — after  her 
lover  discovers  her  unfaithfulness — the  generous  act 
of  Jack  FuUerton  in  accepting  the  responsibility  of 
Harborongh's  sin,  are  told  w  ith  dramatic  force. 

'•  But  from  thencefon\ard  Harborough  knew  no 
peace.  His  every  wakeful  hour  was  laden  with  re- 
morse. In  this  agony  surely  he  might  hoi)e  to 
expiate  his  sin.  Conscience  is  a  severe  judge.  To 
such  a  nature  as  his  it  sjxike  with  a  loud  insistence 
that  refused  to  be  stilled."  Fnable  any  longer  to 
bear  the  burden  he  confesses  to  his  wife:  "  I  was 
.Sylvia  "SVentworth's  lover." 

Xaomi  recoiled  from  him  as  she  might  have  re- 
coiled from  something  horrible. 

And  in  the  five  long  years  of  their  separation 
Stephen  Harborough  makes  atonement  for  his  sin, 
and  at  the  end  can  say:  "Thank  God  for  the 
lonely  yeai-s,  the  long,  lonely  years  of  my  punish- 
ment. Oh,  Xaomi!  Oh,  my  wife!  God  bless  you 
for  your  love."  H.  H. 

VERSE. 

"  Dare  all  thou  cans't 
Be  all  thou  darest ;  that  will  keep  thy  brains  full. 
Have  thy  tools  ready,  (Jod  will  find  thee  work — 
Then  ui),  and  play  the  man." 

Charles  Kingslet. 

COMING  EVENTS. 

■July  Siifh. — The  King  and  Queen  visit  the  Lon- 
don Hospital,  E. 

Auijust  2nd. — Third  International  Congress  on 
School  Hy.giene  opens  in  Paris. 

AuQUst  Srd. — Examination,  Central  Midwives' 
Board,  at  the  Examination  Hall,  Victoria  Embank- 
ment, London,  W.C. 

WORD  FOR  THE  WEEK. 

"Prejudice  squints  when  it  looks,  and  lies  when 
it  talks." 


•  By  F.  E.  Mills  Young.   (John  Lane,  Ivondon  and 
New  York.^ 


"  The  Earth  is  for  thy  body,  and  the  Sky  is  for 
thy  Soul.  Be  thou  at  peace  witJi  that  which  tho'n 
hast  made  to  come  into  being." 

Carved  on  fhe  Sarcophagus  of  Seti  I. 


98 


Zhc  Britieb  journal  of  IRursing. 


[July  30,  1910 


Xetters  to  tbe  fiMtor. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  com- 
munications upon  all  subjects 
for  these  columns,  we  wish  it 
to  be  distinctly  understood 
that  we  do  not  in  ant  wat 
hold  ourselves  responsible  for 
the  opinions  expressed  by  our 
correspondents. 


WHO   IS  RESPONSIBLE  P 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 

Dear  Mada.m, — The  case  reported  by  you  of  the 
death  of  an  infant  owing  to  the  scalds  sustained  by 
being  .bathed  in  too  hot  water  by  a  nursery  atten- 
dant at  the  Horncastle  Workhouse,  and  the  de- 
cision of  the  Coroner  that  "  although  it  was  not 
a  wise  act  on  the  nurse's  iiart  in  placing  the  child 
in  so  hot  water,  yet  she  did  it  inadvertently,  and 
therefore  it  was  a  cftse  of  accident,"  seems  to  in- 
dicato  the  necessity  for  amending  the  Children's 
Act. 

The  clause  designed  for  the  protection  of  chil- 
dren from  scalding  runs  as  follows:  — 

"  If  any  person  over  the  age  of  sixteen  years 
who  has  the  custody,  charge,  or  care  of  any  child 
under  the  age  of  seven  years,  allows  that  child  to 
be  in  a  room  containing  an  open  firegrate  not 
sufficiently  protected  to  guard  against  the  risk  of 
the  child  being  burnt  or  scalded,  without  taking 
reasonable  precautions  against  that  risk,  and  by 
reason  therefore  the  child  is  killed  or  suffers  serious 
injury,  he  shall  on  summary  conviction  be  liable 
to  a  fine  not  exceeding  ten  pounds:- 

"Provided  that  this  section  shall  not,  nor  shall 
any  i)roceedings  taken  thereunder,  affect  any  lia- 
bility of  any  such  person  to  be  proceeded  against 
by  indictment  for  any  indictable  offence." 

If  a  kettle  l>oils  over  and  a  child  is  scalded  in 
the  absence  of  a  child's  parent  or  guardian,  it  may 
reasonably  be  argued  that  it  was  "  not  a  wise  act  " 
to  leave  the  kettle  unprotected,  but  "  it  was  a  case 
of  accident,"  yet  the  law  recognises  the  right  of 
the  helpless  child  to  protection,  and  authorises  the 
imposition  of  a  fine  of  £10  on  the  person  respon- 
sible. 

Surely  if  the  employee  of  a  Board  of  Guardians 
— a  public  authority  which  has  assumed  responsi- 
bility for  a  child — immerses  it  in  a  bath  of  such 
hot  water  as  to  cause  its  death,  a  similar  jienalty 
should  be  imposed.  The  unfortunate  infant  w'ould 
not  benefit,  but  the  punishment  might  impress  the 
need  for  taking  "  reasonable  precautions  "  in  the 
future.  If  a  definition  of  "reasonable  precau- 
tions "  is  asked  they  consist  in  testing  the  temper- 
ature of  the  water  with  a  thermometer  before  im- 
mersing the  infant.  Surely  helpless  children  in  the 
caro  of  the  -Stato  should  be  entitled  to  this  amount 
of  protection. 

I  am,  dear  Madam, 

Yours  faithfully, 

A    LOVBB  OF  CnlLDREN. 


BARBAROUS  CRUELTY  TO   PIT   PONIES. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  "British  Journal  of  Nursing."' 
Dear  Madam, — Many  are  the  barbarities  perpe- 
trated in  trade  and  encouraged — often  unknow- 
ingly— by  kindly  peoplCj  but  it  is  hard  to  conceive 
anything  more  distressing  than  the  fate  of  that 
poor  hopeless  slave  of  modern  civilisation,  the  pit 
pony,  the  treatment  of  which  is  a  crying  shame  to 
this  great  nation.  There  can  be  absolutely  no 
question  as  to  the  horrible  and  revolting  cruelty 
which  prevails  among  many  of  the  men  and  boys 
employed  in  our  coal  mines.  While  it  is  quite  true 
that  the  conditions  under  which  the  human  workers 
are  employed  are  far  from  what  they  might  be,  and 
in  some  cases  are,  I  believe,  very  bad,  those  of  the 
hapless  ponies  are  many  times  worse.  Besides  being 
forced  to  pass  their  lives  in  unnatural  surround- 
ings, covered  with  sores  and  bruises,  hardly  ever 
seeing  the  light  of  day,  tasting  a  blade  of  fresh 
grass,  or  breathing  a  whiff  of  pure  air,  they  are 
kicked  and  cuffed,  beaten  with  thick  strives  or  pick 
shafts,  and  deprived  of  food  and  water  for  long 
periods.  Barbarities  even  worse  Ihan  these  are  not 
unknown.  Such  is  the  exceeding  brutality  in  some 
mines  that  animals  have  had  their  sightdeliberately 
destroyed,  or  had  their  tongues  torn  out  by  the 
roots;  sometimes  they  have  been  fatally  wounded 
or  killed  outright  by  a  savage  blow.  All  this  may 
be  safely  and  emphatically  stated.  Those  of  your 
readers  who  wish  for  further  information  should 
write  to  Mr.  Francis  A.  Cox,  the  energetic  Secre- 
tary of  the  National  Equine  Defence  League,  27, 
Beaconsfield  Road,  New  Southgate,  who  has  issued 
several  excellent  leaflets  on  this  terrible  subject 
and  has  done  so  much  to  draw  attention  to  the 
sufferings  of  the  pit  pony. 

Yours  faithfully, 

Joseph  Collinson. 
London,  N. 

[At  the  Notts  Police  Court  last  Saturday  a  pitboy 
was  sentenced  to  two  months'  hard  labour  for 
twisting  a  pony's  tongue  till  he  wrenched  it  out  of 

his  mouth. — Ed.] 


(Comincnty  anC)  Replies. 

Private  Nttrse. — There  is  no  legal  method  of  de- 
taining a  non-criminal  inebriate  against  his  will, 
b.ut,  under  the  Inebriate?  Acts  a  person  who  signs 
a  "  llequost  for  KecL-ption  "  before  a  Justice  of 
the  Peace  can  be  detained  for  the  period  for  which 
he  signed. 


NOTICES. 

THE  SOCIETY   FOR   THE  STATE    REGISTRATION 
OF  TRAINED   NURSES 

Those  desirous  of  helping  on  the  important 
movement  of  this  Soriety  to  obtain  an  Act  pro- 
viding for  the  L(:4:il  Registration  of  Trained 
Nurses  can  obtain  all  information  concerning  the 
Society  and  its  work  from  the  Hon.  Secretary,  431, 
Oxford  Street,  London,  W. 

OUR   PUZZLE  PRIZE. 

Rules  for  competing  for  the  Pictorial  Puzzle 
Prize  will  be  found  on  Advertisement  page  xii. 


July  30, 1010]  ^\jQ  British  3ounial  of  iHursino  Supplement. 

The    Midwife. 


99 


z\K  ^I^l^\vivet?■  Biii. 


The  MuKviww'  (Xo.  2)  Bill,  introtluced  into  the 
House  of  I>or<ls  by  tlio  Lord  President  of  the 
Council,  Earl  Ucauchanip,  was  read  a  second  tinio 
in  that  Hons<?  last  week.  It  will  be  renienil)ere<l 
that  the  Jyord  Pr«>sident  asked  leave,  which  was 
granted,  to  withdraw  the  Bill  introduced  bv  Vis- 
count AVolverhsimpton.  In  the  Bill  now  inti-oduco<l 
the  arrangenient  ol  the  clausiw  is  the  same  as  in 
the  former  Bill,  but  tlie  wording  of  several  has 
been  nlterwl.  to  which  reference  will  be  made  later. 

In  moving  the  second  reading  of  the  Bill, 
lx)rd  Beaucliamii  pointed  out  that  it  amended  the 
Midwives'  Act  of  1902.  Since  it  was  pa^.sed  there 
had  been  a  considerable  decrease  in  deaths  from 
causes  likely  to  be  obviated  by  the  employment  of 
competent  midwives,  though  he  did  not  claim  that 
this  decrease  was  entirely  due  to  the  Act,  as  various 
other  tendencies  had  been  at  work  concurring  in 
the  same  result. 

His  Lordship  explained  that  the  first  clause  of 
the  Bill  altered  the  constitution  of  the  Central 
Jlidwives'  Board,  and  the  second  enabled  that 
constitution  to  be  revised  if  necessary. 

Clause  17  dealt  with  the  payment  of  medical 
practitioners  called  in  on  the  advice  of  midwives. 
Provisions  of  the  PrinciPxVL  Act  to  be  Repealed. 

The  Bill,  which  is  for  tlie  most  part  founded 
nix)n  the  Report  of  the  Departmental  Committee 
apiKjinted  to  consider  the  working  of  the  Midwives' 
Act,  1902,  will  have  the  effect  of  reix-aling  several 
of  the  provisions  of  that  Act,  henceforth  to  bo 
known  as.  the  Principal  Act.   These  are  : — 

(1)  The  first  iX)rtio)i  of  Section  3.  which  defines 
the  constitution  of  the  Central  Midwives'  Board 
(from  the  beginning  of  the  section  to  the  words 
"reappointment  for  a  like  period"). 

This  is  neccessary  on  account  of  the  reconstitu- 
tion  of  the  Central  itidwives'  Board,  which  is  to  bo 
increased  fioni  9  to  13  members  in  order  that  repre- 
sentation may  be  given  to  the  following  bodies  who 
were  previously  unrepresented.  (1)  The  Local 
Government  Board;  (2)  the  Association  of  Muni- 
cipal Corporations.;  (3)  the  Society  of  iledieal 
Ofiicers  of  Health  ;  (4)  the  British  Medical  Associa- 
t  ion . 

The  member  appointed  by  the  last-mentioned 
Association  must  lie  a  metlical  practitioner.  No 
special  qualification  is  prescribed  in  the  case  of  the 
membei-s  appointed  by  the  other  new  bodies.  The 
qualifications  of  the  memljers  appointed  by  the  In-' 
coi-poratod  Midwives'  Institute,  and  by  the  Royal 
British  Xur.ses'  Association,  have  been  altered,  and 
in  the  future  the  menilx-rs  appointed  by  these 
iKxlies  must  be  certified  midwives 

2.  llie  next  portion  of  the  Principal  Act  repealed 
occui-s  in  Section  5,  which  deals  with  "  fees  and  ex- 
)>cnses." 

In  case  th^rc  is  an  adverse  balance  again.st  the 


Central  Midwives'  Board  at  the  close  of  the 
financial  ye<ir,  such  balance,  with  tho  approval  of 
the  Privy  Council,  is  at  present  apportione<l  be- 
tween the  several  countie-s  and  county  Ix)roughs 
"  in  proi>ortion  to  tho  number  oj  midwives  wno 
have  given  notice  of  their  intention  to  practise  in 
those  areas  r<¥;iXK;tively."  That  provision  is  now 
to  be  repealed,  and  the  metho<l  by  which  tne 
balance  is  to  be  api)ortione<l  is  to  be  "  in  propoi- 
tion  to  the  i>opidation  of  tliose  counties  and  county 
Ijoronglis  according  to  the  returns  of  the  last  pub- 
li.shed  census  for  the  time  being." 

3.  The  whole  of  Section  9  of  the  Principal  Act, 
which  gives  County  Councils  authority  to  delegate 
their  powers  to  District  Councils  is  to  be  reiwaleil. 

4.  Section  10,  dt^aling  with  "  notification  to  prac- 
tice," provides  that  a  midwife  shall  give  notice  of 
her  intention  to  practice  to  the  Local  Supervising 
Authority,  "or  to  the  body  to  whom,  for  the  time 
being,  the  powers  and  duties  of  the  Local  Super- 
vising Authority  .shall  Iiave  been  delegated  under 
this  Act."  and  that  such  notice  shall  be  given 
within  forty-eight  hours  after  she  commences  to 
practice  to  the  Local  Supervising  Authority  ''  or 
delegated  body."  The  repeal  of  the  provisions 
above  quoted  are  consequential  upon  the  repeal  of 
Section  9. 

5.  In  Section  17  it  is  proposed  to  repeal  tlie  pro- 
vision:  "The  General  Medical  Council  shall  act  by 
the  Englisii  Brancli  Council,  which,  for  all  pur- 
poses of  this  Act.  .shall  occupy  the  place  of  the 
General  Medical  Council." 

The  new  Bill  provides  that  "  The  General 
Medical  Council  may,  for  the  purposes  of  .Section  3 
of  the  Principal  Act.  act  through  their  Executive 
Committee  instead  of  through  the  English  Branch 
Council." 

The  provisions  of  the  Principal  Act  which  will  Im? 
reix^aled  by  the  Lord  President's  Bill,  are  identical 
with  those  proi>osed  to  Ije  repealed  in  Lord  AVolver- 
hampton's  Bill. 

Differences  in  the  Bills  Ixtuodvced  by  Viscount 
Wolverhampton  and  Eahl  Beaucuamp. 

The  first  difference  between  the  two  Bills  occurs 
in  the  wording  of  Clause  3,  which  amends  Section  o 
of  the  Principal  Act  with  respect  to  finance,  as 
noted  above. 

The  next  occurs  in  Clause  S,  which  gave  the  Cen- 
tral Midwives'  Board  power  to  frame  rules  (b) 
"  authorising  the  local  supervising  authority  which 
takes  proceedings  against  a  midwife  either  before 
a  Court  of  Justice  or  the  Central  Midwives'  Board 
to  suspend  her  from  practice  until  th'e  case  has 
been  decided." 

The  Clause  now  runs  "  takes  proceedings  against 
a  midwife  before  a  Court  of  Justice,  or  reports  a 
case  jor  consideration  hy  the  Central  Midwives' 
Board,"     which  is  obviously  an  improvement. 

In  Clause  ll,  which  deals  with  "  Notification  <if 
Practice,"   a    woman   is   now  to   be    allowed   seven 


100 


Z\)c  Bi'itlsb  3oiirnal  of  IRursing  Supplement.  [Ju'y  so,  loio 


tlavs,  in&tead  of  48  hours,  in  which  to  notify 
Local  Supervising  Authorities  of  her  change  of 
address.  This  amendment  «  as  desired  hy  the  J[id- 
wives'  Institute.  The  maximum  penalty  for  failure 
to  notify  is  no«-  to  be  £2  instead  of  £5. 

In  Clause  12,  which  deals  with  "  Reciprocal 
Treatment  of  Midwives  certified  in  other  parts  of 
His  Majesty's  Dominions,"  there  are  some  minor 
verbal  alterations. 

The  Clause  in  which  the  present  Bill  deviates 
most  from  Lord  AVolverhampton's  Bill  is  Clause  17, 
which  provides  for  the  "  Payment  of  Fees  of  Medi- 
cal Practitioners  called  in  on  advice  of  Midwives." 

In  moving  the  second  reading  of  the  Bill,  Lord 
Beauchamp  pointed  out  that  the  evidence  taken 
before  the  Departmental  Committee  was  conclusive 
that  some  intervention  by  the  State  was  necessary 
to  assure  the  payment  of  the  fee  if  it  could  not  be 
obtained  from  the  patient  or  her  relations,  and  the 
Local  Government  Board  had  expressed  a  strong 
opinion  in  favour  of  putting  this  responsibility  on 
Boards  of  Guardians.  That  particular  provision  of 
the  Bill  was  subjected  to  severe  criticism  in  the 
original  form.  Th^e  prt-sent  Bill  contained  altera- 
tions which  he  hoped  would  be  a  considerable  im- 
provement. The  payment  of  fees  was  not  to  be  con- 
sidered a  ground  for  any  disqualification. 
New   Clause. 

The  Clause   now  runs  as  fojlows:  — 

17.  (1)  '•  Where  a  duly  qualified  medical  prac- 
titioner has  been  summoned  ui)on  the  advice  of  a 
certified  midwife  attending  a  woman  in  childbirth 
to  render  assistance  in  a  case  of  emergency  in  pur- 
suance of  any  rule  framed  by  the  Central  Midwives' 
Board,  he  shall,  on  complying  with  the  prescribed 
conditions,  be  entitled  to  recover  from  the  Board  of 
Guardians  of  the  Poor  Law  Union  in  which  the 
woman  reside<l  such  fee  in  respect  of  his  attend- 
ance  as  may  be   prescribed. 

2.  "  AVhere  any  such  fees  have  been  i>aid  by  a 
Board  of  Guardians  the  amount  thereof  may,  if  the 
Board  of  Guardians  think  fit,  be  recovered  sum- 
marily as  a  civil  debt  from  the  patient  or  person 
liable  to  provide  the  patient  with  medical  aid. 

3.  ''  Every  Board  of  Guardians  shall  in  each 
quarter  send  to  every  Loral  Supervising  Authority 
concerned  a  list  of  the  cases  within  the  area  of  the 
Authority  in  respect  of  which  fees  have  been  paid 
by  the  Board  of  Guardians  under  this  section. 

4.  "  The  lyocal  Government  Board  may  make 
regulations  with  respect  to  any  matter  which  un- 
der this  section  is  to  be  prescribed,  and  as  to  the 
manner  in  which  Boards  of  Guardians  are  to  carry 
out  their  powers  and  duties  under  this  section. 

o.  "The  payment  of  fee.s  by  Board.s  of 
Guardians  under  this  wotion  .shall  not  l>e  con- 
sidere<l  to  be  iwrocliial  relief,  alms,  or  charitable 
•  allowance  to  any  person,  nor  shall  any  p<'iison  by 
reason  thereof  be  deprived  of  any  right  or  privilege, 
or  be  subjected  to  any  disability  or  discpiahnca- 
tion." 

The  clause  as  it  stands  is  cei-tainly  an  improve- 
ment on  tliat  originally  i)roposed,  but  the  aversion 
of  the  re-six-ctablo  poor  to  any  dealings  with  the 
Poor  T/aw  is  .v>  i)r<)found  that  it  is  to  Ix-  regretted 
that  Boards  of  (iiiardians  are  still  made  re.si)onsible 
for  these  feivs  instead  of  the  Tx>oal  Supervising 
Authorities.       In    regard    to   the   omission    of   any 


reference  to  Ireland  in  the  Bill  the  Lord  President 
lX)inted  out  that  tJiis  Bill  was  an  amenuing 
measure,  and  it  was  therefore  unde,sirable  to  intrc- 
duce  any  new  principle.  Ix)rd  Ashljourne,  the  Mar- 
(|uis  of  Londonderry,  and  the  Earl  of  Mayo  were 
strongly  in  favour  of  the  introduction  of  some 
amendments  affecting  Ireland,  and  Lord  Clon- 
brook  intimated  that  in  Committee  he  would  move 
an  amendment  with  the  object  of  bringing  Ireland 
within  the  scope  of  the  Bill. 

Lord  Balfour  of  Burleigh  thought  the  amend- 
ments in  the  new  Bill  a  great  improvement,  and  was 
particularly  glad  to  see  that  the  Poor  Law  taint 
had  to  some  extent  been  removed. 

The  Committee  Stage. 

On  Tuesday  (July  26th),  the  House  of  l^ords  went 
into  Committee  on  the  Bill,  on  the  motion  of  Earl 
Beauchamp.  On  Clause  1  (Alteration  of  Constitu- 
tion of  Central  Midwives'  Board)  Lord  Amijthill 
moved  to  amend  sub-section  (c),  which  provides  for 
"two  certified  midwives  to  be  appointe^l,  one  by 
vhe  Incorporated  Midwives'  Institute,  and  one  by 
the  Royal  British  Nurses'  Association."  He  moved 
to  omit  ''certified  midwives",  in  order  to  insert 
"  persons,  one  a  midwife,"  the  effect  of  which  was 
to  give  two  representatives  to  the  ilidwives'  In- 
stitute— one  a  midwife — and  at  the  same  time  to 
present  to  them  their  option  to  appoint  a  medical 
representative. 

This  was  agreed  to,  and  Lord  Ampthill  then 
moved  another  amendment  to  the  sub-section  to 
give  the  Royal  British  Nurses'  Association  the 
option  of  appointing  a  representative  other  than 
a  certified  midwife. 

Lord  Lytton  supixirted.  He  said  there  was  no 
suggestion  tha-t  the  Association  would  not  appoint 
a  midwife,  but  they  wished  to  have  the  option. 

Earl  Beauchamp  opposed  the  amendment,  and 
said  that  out  of  a  Board  of  14,  appointed  to  deal 
with  midwives,  it  was  not  unreasonable  that  two 
of  the  members  should  be  midwives. 

The  amendment  was  carried  by  a  majority  of  six. 

Ijord  Lawrence  proposed  an  amendment  to  Clause 
7  providing  that  applications  l)y  certified  midwives 
to  have  their  names  kept  on  the  Roll  should  be 
sent  to  the  fxK-al  Supervising  Authority,  not  to 
the  Central    Mi<lwives'    Board. 

But  Earl  Beauchamp,  having  jjointed  out  the 
iu<onveuience  of  tne  procedure  when  the  C.M.B. 
kept  the  Roll,  the  amendment  was  withdrawn. 

Lord  Ampthill  then  moved  an  amendment  to 
give  a  discretionary  power  to  the  Local  Supervising 
Authorities  to  make  grants  in  aid  of  the  mainten- 
ance of  midwives;  hi'  thought  it  a  necessary  corol- 
lary to  the  Bill. 

Earl  Beauchamp  said  the  amendment  would  put 
a  large  burden  on  local  taxation.  It  would  pro- 
bably be  considere<l  a  breach  of  privilege  in  another 
place. 

Ijord  Ampthill  also  desired  to  make  the  Local 
.Supervising  Authority  responsible  for  the  fees  of 
medical  practitioners  called  in  on  the  advice  of 
midwiv(\s  instead  of  the  Guardians,  but  Piarl 
Beauchamp  said  this  raised  a  very  big  question, 
namely,  whether  free  medical  assistance  should  be 
given  to  women  in  childbirth  on  a  very  small  Bill. 
If  the  amendment  were  carried,  the  Bill  would  be 
dropped. 

The  amendment  was  negatived. 


No.  1,166. 


THE  m^^ 

WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 

iMK  mmsma  mwaoMB' 

EDITED  BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


SATURDAY,     AUGUST     6,     19X0. 


lEMtonal. 


INFANT  AND  CHILD   MORTALITY. 

The  Report  of  Dr.  Artliur  Xewsholme, 
Chief  iledical  Officer  1o  the  Local  Govern- 
ment Board,  on  Infant  and  Child  ^lortality, 
and  published  as  a  Parliamentarj-  Paper, 
deserves  careful  study  by  all  interested  in 
this  important  question.  In  his  introductory 
letter  to  the  President  of  the  Local  Govern- 
ment Board  the  writer  states  that  there  has 
been  a  widespread  awakening  to  the  im- 
portance of  child  mortality,  and  a  concentra- 
tion on  efforts  to  diminish  it  such  as  has 
never  previously  occurred.  He  attributes 
great  weight  to  the  Presidential  addresses 
given  by  ilr.  John  Burns  at  the  National 
Conferences  on  Infant  Mortality  in  I'.KKi 
and  1008,  and  says  that  sanitary  authori- 
ties and  their  officers  have  devoted  a  large 
proportion  of  their  time  and  energy  to  this 
supremeh"  important  matter.  The  Notifica- 
tion of  Births  Act  and  the  appointment  of 
health  visitors  have  also  had  influence 
beyond  the  districts  in  which  the  Act  has 
been  applied  and  health  visitors  have  been 
appointed  ;  for  the  public  conscience  has 
been  aroused  and  education,  moral  as  well 
as  mental,  has  rapidly  progressed. 

But  a  review  of  the  favourable  view  of  the 
question  is  not  the  object  of  the  lieport, 
wdiich  is  threefold  :  to  determine,  on  the 
basis  of  our  national  statistics,  whether 
reduction  of  infant  mortality  implies  any 
ixntoward  inlhience  on  the  health  of  snr- 
.  vivors  to  later  years ;  to  indicate  the  com- 
munities whicli  are  cliaracterised  by  a  con- 
tinuing high  rate  of  infant  mortality  ;  and 
to  assess,  so  far  as  is  possible,  the  relative 
value  of  the  different  factors  of  excessive 
infant  mortality. 

Dr.  Xewsiiolme  shows  that  the  unequal 
distribution  of  infant  mortality  indicates 
the   scope  ^ for   saving   life.     During  1908 


one-fifth  of  the  total  deaths  at  all  ages 
in  England  and  Wales  occurred  in  infants 
in  their  first  year  of  life.  The  object  of  his 
present  Report  is  to  stimulate  more  active 
sanitary  and  social  work,  the  most  helpful 
plan  he  considers  being  to  bring  into  relief 
the  terribly  inferior  position  occupied  by  a 
number  of  administrative  counties  and  by 
a  number  of  towns  in  respect'  to  mortalitj' 
during  the  first  five  years  of  life.  It  is  from 
this  standpoint  that  the  Iteport  has  been 
drawn  up. 

The  causes  and  factors  of  infant  mortalitj- 
are  dealt  with  in  Part  III.,  and  this  will  be 
the  most  interesting  section  to  nurses  and 
mid  wives. 

The  vital  superiority  of  women  is  eri- 
denced  from  birth  onwards,  for  male  infants 
suffer  from  a  higher  death-rate  than  female 
infants,  and  this  superiority  persists  through- 
out the  rest  of  life  except  from  the  ages  of 
5  to  l-j,  when  boys  and  girls  are  equal  in 
their  freedom  from  the  causes  of  death. 

In  connection  with  illegitimate  births, 
taking  the  average  for  England  and  Wales, 
the  death-rate  among  illegitimate  children 
is  twice  that  of  children  born  in  wedlock  ; 
and  it  is  significant  that  under  3  months  of 
age  the  prospect  of  death  is  108  j^er  cent, 
greater,  from'.";!  to  0  months  1:^6  per  cent, 
greater,  and  from  <j  to  12  months  72  per 
cent,  greater  among  illegitimate  children 
than  among  legitimate  infants. 

Dr.  Newsholiue  refers  to  the  unfortu- 
nate fact  that  in  this  country  stiU-births 
remain  unregistered,  but  a  step  in  the 
direction  of  reform  has  now  been  taken 
by  making  it  ol)ligatorj'  upon  midavives — 
wiio  probably  attend  aljout  one  half  of  tlie 
births  in  England  and  Wales — to  notify  all 
still-births,  and  by  imposing  a  similar 
obligation  on  all  persons  present  at  a  bircia 
in  districts  in  which  the  Notification  of 
Births  Act  has  been  adopted.    He  also  deals 


102 


Zhc  "Bvitish  3ournaI  ot  IRursing. 


[Aug.  6,  1910 


witli  the  quality  of  the  help  given  at  birth, 
the  age  of  both  j^arents.  especially  the 
mother,  poverty,  and  the  ignorance  or  feck- 
lessness  of  mothers,  as  factors  inilueucing 
the  death-rate. 

We  commend  the  Report  and  the  con- 
clusions embodied  therein  to  the  serious 
consideration  of  our  readers. 


fiPeMcal  fiPatterg. 

THE  ADDRESS  IN  MEDICINE  AT  THE  ANNUAL 
MEETING  OF  THE  BRITISH  MEDICAL  ASSO- 
CIATION. 

The  Domin.\nce  of  Etiology  in  Modern- 
Medicine. 

The  Address  in  Medicine  was  delivered  by  Dr. 
J.  Mitchell  Bruce,  F.R.C.P.,  Consulting  Phy- 
sician to  Charing  Gross  Hospital,  on  the  above 
subject. 

The  lecturer  spoke  of  the  dominant  position 
in  iledicine  whicti  the  doctrine  of  causation  had 
come  to  occupy  in  the  course  of  the  last  quar- 
ter of  a  century.  With  a  few  exceptions,  the 
advances  of  the  last  15  years  had  been  in  the 
field  of  etiology — the  discovery  of  the  essential 
causes  of  diseases,  such  as  the  spirochaetes  and 
the  trypanosomes ;  of  media  which  bring  them 
into  relation  to  man,  such  as  the  blood-sucliing 
insects  and  domestic  vermin;  of  new  methods 
of  investigating  infective  processes,  particularly 
in  the  blood. 

Medical  treatment  of  the  infectious  processes 
w'as  relatively  disappointing,  chiefly  because 
medicine  had  not  the  immense  advantage  of 
surgery  of  dealing  with  the  infection  in  advance 
of  its  action.  But  in  many  instances  successful 
resistance  could  be  offered  to  intruding  micro- 
organisms and  their  toxic  products.  Immunity 
could  be  established  by  introducing  or  develop- 
ing in  the  blood  an  anti-product.  The  dis- 
covery for  wliich  they  were  indebted  to  Pasteur 
and  Metchnikoff  arid  their  disciples  was,  after 
all,  but  a  scientific  confirmation  of  the  correct- 
ness of  well-established  observations,  i.e.,  the 
susceptibihty  of  some  persons  as  compared  with 
others  to  infection,  which  the  older  observers 
attributed  to  deUcacy  as  a  predisposing  cause. 
Now  the  same  thing  was  expressed  in  other 
terms.  They  now  said  that  all  persons  pos- 
sessed in  some  degree  a  provision  of  protection 
or  resistance  to  the  action  of  pathogenic  or- 
ganisms which  was  a  normal,  physiological 
safeguard  aga'ust  infection.  This  faculty  of  im- 
munity had  been  dpvelope4  by  the  blood  and 
tissues  in  the  struggle  for  existence,  and  was 
exercised"  when  provoked  by  the  presence  of 
infection,  but  it  was  defective  or  failed  in  many 
individuals  because  of  some  personal  circum- 


stance of  the  present  time,  or  of  some  remote 
tamily  or  racial  weakness.  The  second  point 
was  that  even  persons  with  good  resistance  who 
could  ordinarily  harbour  germs  in  their  tissues 
without  local  damage  or  constitutional  disturb- 
ance might,  under  changed  conditions,  lose 
their  power  of  resistance,  and  then  the  gemis 
which  had  been  lying  inactive  suddenly  mani- 
fested evidences  of  vitality,  with  resulting 
disease  in  their  host.  This  was  a  fact  of  the 
first  importance,  because  it  showed  there  might 
be  three  elements  in  the  causation  of  acute 
disease.  Firstly,  an  extrinsic  inllueuce,  the 
specific.  Secondly,  an  intrinsic  element,  the 
patient's  resistance  to  the  specific  infection; 
and  thii'dly,  there  might  be  incidental  or  con- 
comitant circumstances  not  essential  because 
not  alwaj"s  present,  but  which  occurring  inci- 
dentally, might  favour  the  essential  influence 
in  its  invasion  of  the  body,  or  by  lowering  re- 
sistance, might  contribute  indirectly  to  the 
production  of  the  disease. 

the  address  in  surgery. 
On  Malignant  Disease. 

Professor  Gilbert  Barling,  of  Biimiugham, 
who  delivered  the  Address  in  Surgery,  dealt 
with  the  question  of  cancer  and  its  cure,  and 
said  that  pathological  and  clinical  knowledge 
both  afforded  evidence  of  the  struggle  in  the 
human  subject  between  the  tissues  of  the  host 
and  the  parasite  cancer.  The  existence  of  this 
struggle  was  not  always  clearly  recognised ;  the 
tendency  was  to  assume  that  cancer  was  a  con- 
stantly progressive  disease,  neither  halting  nor 
wavering  in  its  course.  This  was  not  the  case. 
There  was  both  pathological  and  clinical  evi- 
dence that  the  tissues  did  resist,  that  the  strug- 
gle between  them  and  the  diseases  was  a  real 
one,  and  that  a  spontaneous  cure  was  occasion- 
ally effected.  Lymphatic  permeation  and 
fibrosis  afforded  evidence  of  this  struggle,  but 
unfortunately  while  the  reparative  process  was 
occurring  in  one  part  the  invading  epithelium 
was  thrusting  further  along  the  lymphatic,  so 
that  there  was  active  invasion  at  the  periphery, 
and  recession  and  recovery  at  the  proximal  part 
of  the  lymphatic  vessel. 

The  X-rays  had  a  real,  field  of  luseful- 
ness  in  relieving  pain  and  in  reducing 
the  activity  of  inoporablf'  growths,  but  he  had 
never  known  an  unequivocal  malignant  growth 
absolutely  disappear  under  the  influeneo  of  X- 
rays.  At  present  it  was^  necessary  to  rely  on 
operative  measures  as  the  great  remedy  for 
malignant  disease.  He  believed  it  to  be  ab- 
solutely true  tliat  if  all  malignant  growths 
could  be  excised  at  a  certain  stage  in  their  de- 
velopment all  could  be  cured. 


Avis.  6,    HM 


Z\K  i5iiti?b  3ournal  of  1IAur5ing. 


lo:j 


PLUGGING    NOSTRILS    WITH    COTTON    AS    PRO- 
TECTION AGAINST    DISEASES  CONTAGIOUS 
BY   INHALATION. 

Dr.  Hem-y  Albeit  writes  iu  the  Xuiacis' 
Journal  of  the  I'actjic  Coast  there  is 
httle  doubt  that  the  causative  agents 
of  most  iiifectious  diseases,  and  espe- 
cially those  that  are  highly  contagious,  enter 
the  system  by  being  inhaled,  and  invade  the 
tissues  primarily  tluough  the  mucous  mem- 
brane of  the  nose  or  other  portions  of  the 
respiratory  tract,  iiecont  investigations  have 
also  proved  that  a  person  who  has  never  had  a 
certain  disease  may  be  a  "carrier"  of  the 
genns  of  that  disease  otherwise  than  by  the 
long-recognised  modes  of  carrying  the  bacteria 
about  on  "hands,  clothing,  etc.  For  instance,  a 
person  exjiosed  to  diphtheria  may  have  his 
nasal  cavity  or  throat  infested  with  diphtheria 
bacilli  even  though  not  affected  by  the  disease, 
and  such  person  may  transmit  the  germs  to 
another  in  whom  the  disease  may  develop. 

The  peculiar  distribution  of  cases  of  epidemic 
cerebi'O-spinal  meningitis  and  poliomyelitis — 
viz.,  the  development  of  cases  in  different  por- 
tions of  a  locality  in  individuals  who  have  been 
in  no  way  associated  with  each  other,  while  at 
the  same  time  persons  directly  exjiosed  often 
remain  unaffected — suggests,  first  that  only  a  re- 
latively small  number  of  persons  are  susceptible 
to  infection  with  these  diseases,  and,  second, 
that  the  infective  agent  is  can-ied  about  in  the 
nasal  cavity  of  individuals  who  are  themselves 
not  susceptible  to  the  disease  but  in  whom  the 
germs  may  remain  and  multiph'  for  a  long 
time.  Such  indeed  has  been  proved  by  bac- 
teriologic  examinations  to  be  the  case  with  the 
meningococcus.  Association  with  a  susceptible 
individual  may  cause  the  transmission  of  the 
disease.  Inasmuch  as  drying  readily  destroys 
meningococci  as  well  as  other  bacteria,  or  at 
least  attenuates  their  Virulence,  it  is  much 
more  probable  that  cases  developing  at  long 
intervals  of  time  may  be  better  explained  by 
coming  from  the  nasal  or  buccal  discharges  of  a 
carrier  than  from  the  clothingof  apersonexposed'. 

It  would  seem,  therefore,  that  we  should 
make  a  special  effort  to  prevent  pathogenic 
germs  from  being  inhaled,  both  to  protect  ovn-- 
selves  frotn  such  genus  and  to  prevent  our 
becoming  a  "  carrier."  The  efficacy  of  cotton 
as  a  bacterial  filter  is  well  known.  That  it  i$ 
quite  as  efficacious  for  the  nasal  ca\'ity  as  for  a 
test-tube  may  be  demonstrated  b.y  simple  ex- 
periments. There  would  seem  little  reason 
why  physicians  and  those  nursing  patients  who 
have  diseases  which  are  contagious  l)y  inhala- 
tion should  not  protect  them.selves  and  others 
by  placing  a  piece  of  cotton  in  their  nostrils 
whil  •  ill  attendance  on  such  patient?. 


Z\K  1bistor\)  of  Civsarian  Section. 

Undoubtedly  the  operation  of  CiBsarLau  Sec- 
tion is  a  very  ancient  one,  but  theie  is  Httle  or 
no  record  of  its  performance  on  the  living  sub- 
ject in  the  early  ages,  though  Ovid's  references 
to  it  lead  to  the  inference  that  this  was  put 
into  practice  before  his  time.  He  sings  of  the 
wondrous  birth  of  .lEsculapius,  the  God  of 
Physic,  who  was  cut  out  of  the  womb  of  his 
mother,  Coronis,  who  for  her  infidelity  was 
destroyed  by  Apollo:  he  tells,  too,  how 
Bacchus,  the  God  of  Wine,  was  miraculously 
saved  after  the  death  of  his  mother,  Semele, 
who  was  overwhelmed  by  the  embrace  of 
Jupiter.  The  poetic  fancy,  which  threw  a  halo 
of  romance  round  the  birth  of  these  gods,  was 
probably  stimulated  by  the  knowledge  Ovid  had 
of  the  operation  as  practised  in  those  days. 
The  earliest  writers  on  medicine,  Hippocrates, 
Celsus,  and  others,  however,  make  no  mention 
of  the  subject.  The  Jewish  records  testify  to 
its  age,  but  the  date  of  its  fir^t  performance  is 
absolutely  conjectural;  it  is  generally  testified 
that  CEesarian  Section  was  at  first  only  per- 
formed after  the  death  of  the  mother  in  order 
to  save  the  life  of  the  child. 

In  that  j)art  of  the  Talmud  which  was  com- 
piled in  about  the  second  century  of  the  Chris- 
tian Era  there  are  three  passages  concerning 
the  operation,  Which  obviously  infer  that  not 
only  was  it  i^erfoi-med  on  the  dead  subject,  but 
also  in  cases  of  very  difficult  labour,  and,  fur- 
thermore, that  some  of  the  women  sun-ived. 
One  passage  lays  down  orders  as  to  the  disposal 
of  lamlis  cut  out  of  the  womb,  and  then  pro- 
ceeds to  discuss  the  right  of  a  child 
delivered  by  incision  from  his  mother,  if 
she  later  should  have  children,  "  per  viam  or- 
dinariam." 

Tradition  says  that  the  second -King  of  Rome 
made  a  law  that  no  female  should  be  buried 
undelivered;  the  child  was  first  to.be  removed 
by  incision.   -, 

The  earliest  account  of  the  operation  extant 
is  that  of  the  celebrated  Guy  de  Canliac  (1363 1. 
but  both  he  and  Pare,  who  also  mentions  it. 
speak  of  it  as  perfonned  on  the  dead  subject. 
The  first  well-credited  operation  was  performed 
in  1.500  by  -one  .Jacob  Nugee  on  his  own  wife, 
but  the  account  of  this  was  not  published  till 
80  years  after,  when  Rousset's  book  appeared. 
I"i81.  He  gave  instances  of  successful  opera- 
tions in  which  botli  mother  and  diild  were 
saved ;  it  was  larcjely  thi'ough  his  advocacy 
and  the  wfde  circulation  of  its  Latin  traslatioii 
by  Bauhine  that  Cnesarian  Section  began  to  be. 
practised     on     the    Continent.      The     strouL' 

Catlinl-       'v':-^      ''■•■•      '''  •     :!"-* '■■■—      r(      .1^ 


104 


Zbc  Bvitisb  Journal  of  IRursincj. 


[Aug.  6,  1910 


Ittus  was  indefensible  even  in  the  interests  of 
the  mother,  and  the  desire  of  devout  parents 
that  the  imborn  child  might  not  be  deprived  of 
admission  within  the  pale  of  tlie  Church  made 
the  operation  much  more  usual  in  Catholic 
countries  than  in  Protestant  England,  where 
the  operation  of  craniotomy  was  regarded  with 
less  disapprobation.  Kousset  first  used  the 
term  "  Caesarian  ";  he  thought  it  apt,  because 
Plmy  stated  that  the  first  of  the  Eomau  family 
of  Csesars  was  delivered  by  abdominal  section— 
•'a  matris  utero  ca?sus."  (Thus  Eousset 
makes  the  origin  of  the  name  Cajsar  the  verb 
csedere — to  cut.)  If  this  were  so,,  his  mother 
survived  the  operation.  Pliny  also  says  that 
Scipio  Africanus  and  ^Manlius  Torquato  were 
delivered  thus.  The  stories  of  all  the  remark- 
able men  whose  births  were  invested  in  this 
manner  with  romanc  and  celebrity  bv  his- 
torians, are  not.  well  authenticated'  Shake- 
speare speaks  of  Macbeth  "  from  his  mother's 
womb  untimely  ripped,"  and  there  was  a 
rumour. current  that  Edward  VI.  of  England 
was  "  Cfesar-like,  cut  out  of  his  mother,  Jane 
Seymour."  The  story  runs  that  Henry  YIII., 
on  being  informed  of  the  danger  to  mother  and 
child,  brutally  said:  "  Save  the  child,  by  all 
means,  for  I  shall  be  able  to  get  mothers 
enough."  He  was  probably  calumniated;  at 
any  rate,  it  is  certain  that  Jane  Seymour  lived 
twelve- days  after  delivery;  the  probable  cause 
of  her  death  was  puerperal  fever,  then  a 
common  scourge. 

Monsieur  Simon,  in  the  first  and  second 
volumes  of  the  Memoirs  of  the  Eoyal  Academy 
of  Surgery  in  Paris,  gives  an"  account  of 
seventy-four  successful  cases  of  Caesarian  Sec- 
tion; the  results  were  so  uniformly  good  that 
it  is  very  doubtful  whether  some  other  opera- 
tion is  not  meant — e.g.,  craniotomy.  The  hus- 
band .was  the  operator  on  several  occasions, 
and  a  wife  of  a  physician  of  Bruges  is  rejDorted 
to  have  been  delivered  thus  seven  times  !  This 
is,  of  course,  possible:  there  are  manv  well- 
authenticated  cases  of  repeated  Ctesarian  Sec- 
tion on  the  rame  woman.  In  the  early  part  of 
the  nineteenth  centm-y  a  German  patient  had 
four  operations,  but  in  those  pre-antiseptic  days 
it  was  highly  improbable.  Lepage  says  that 
not  a  single  case  operated  upon  in  Paris  be- 
tween 1700  and  1877  recovered;  and  in  the 
i-arly  part  of  the  nineteenth  century  about 
5.0  per  cent,  of  the  women  died. 
'  It  is  little  wonder  that  tlie  English  olistetri- 
cians  of  tbosp  days  spoke  of  it  as  a  last  re- 
source. Kamsbothani.  writing  of  it  in  1841, 
speaks  of  itas  "  a  dreadful  expedient,  appalling 
in  its  chnractiM-,  terrible  in  its  conseriufnees. " 
In  a  later  edition.  1867.  he  states  that  out  qf 
seventy  cases  in  tlie  British  Is]es.only  seven  or 


eight  were  successful  as  far  as  the  preservation 
of  the  mother  was  concerned.  It  is  interesting 
to  find  that  one  of  these  latter  was  performed 
by  an  illiterate  Irish  midwife,  Donally  by  name. 
Smellie  gives  an  account  of  the  operation,  as 
described  by  Mr.  Duncan  Stewart,  surgeon. 
The  woman  had  been  in  labour  twelve  days; 
the  child  was  thought  to  be  dead  after  the 
third  day.  Mary  Donally  was  called,  and  "  tried 
also  to  deliver  in  the  common  way;  and  her 
attempts  not  succeeding,  performed  the 
Caesarian  operation  by  cutting,  with  a  razor, 
first  the  containing  jjarts  of  the  abdomen  and 
then  the  uterus,  at  the  aperture  of  which  she 
took  out  the  child  and  secundines.  She  held 
the  lips  of  the  wound  together  with  her  hand 
till  one  went  a  mile  and  returned  with 'silk  and 
the  common  needles  which  tailors  use ;  with 
these  she  joined  the  h'ps  and  dressed  the  wound 
with  whites  of  eggs.  The  cure  was  completed 
with  salves  of  the  midwife's  own  compound- 
ing." A  Dr.  King,  of  Edinburgh,,  speaks  of 
seeing  the  woman  two  years  after,  when  he 
drew  out  the  needles  which  the  midwife  had 
left  to  keep  the  lips  of  the  wound  together." 
The  patient  was  reported  as  having  good 
health,  "  capable  of  doing  something  for  her 
family,  with  the  assistance  of  a  large  bandage, 
which  keeps  in   her  intestines." 

Besides  this  case  there  are  two  others  on 
record  in  which  niidwives  operated — one  in 
1838  in  Louisiana,  in  which  both  woman  and 
child  were  saved,  and  one  in  1881,  in  which 
the  mother  was  moribund,  the  child  was  saved. 
There  are  a'so  at  least  six  cases  of  very 
peculiar  interest  in  which  women  have  per- 
formed Caesarian  Sect'on  on  then-  ow-n  persons ; 
it  is  stated  that  five  survived.  One  can 
imagine  the  pitch  to  which  the  women  were 
brought  by  the  maddening  and  tearing  pa«ns  of 
difficult  labour  before  they  could  resort  tliem- 
selves  to  this  expedient  ?or  ending  their  agony. 
Other  cases  are  given  in  which  expectant 
mothers  have  been  gored  by  animals,  a  truly 
horrible  end  to  pregnancy. 

That  delivery  by  abdominal  incision  is  prac- 
tised among  some  uncivilised  peoples  is  well 
known.  In  Uganda,  the  abdomen  of  the 
woman  and  the  hands  of  the  practitioner  were 
washed  in  palm  wine  before  the  incision  was 
made.  In  pre-antiseptic  days,  and  before  the 
introduction  of  sutures  for  the  uterine  wound 
in  1760,  the  mortality  from  Ctesarian  Section 
WHS  n|)pallingly  high;  most  of  Ibe  women  suc- 
cumbed to  sepsis. 

Ramsbotham  insisted  that  no  sutures  were 
necessary  for  the  uterus,  but  that  two,  or  per- 
hajis  three,  were  required  for  the  abdominal 
parietes.  He  thought  the  most  important 
factor  in  the   operation  was   the  heat   of  the 


Auj;.  6.   1010" 


Cbc  Krltisb  3ournaI  of  llAursino, 


10.1 


rooiu  (80  deg.  Fahrenheit).  A  Dr.  .\itkeii 
thought  that  air  was  fatal  during  the  operation, 
and  suggested  performing  the  operation  while 
tlie  i>atient  was  imniersod  in  a  wann  bath  I 

Thanks  largely  to  the  improved  technique  of 
the  operation,  due  to  Sanger's  method  of 
suturing  the  uterus,  and  to  surgical  cleanliness, 
the  operation  of  to-day  has  lost  its  hoiTors; 
the  mortality  is  now  about  3  per  cent.,,  with  a 
foetal  mortahty  of  about  5  per  cent.,  and  the 
performance  of  Csesainan  Section  has  become 
more  frequent  owins;  to  its  comparative  safetv. 
"  M.  0.  H. 

H^ursino   of  tbc  3n0ane  in 
i5eniian\>. 

Bi-  Mis.s  ]Martha  Oesterlex. 
McDiber  of  the  German  Nurses'  Associaiion. 

When  we  look  back  on  the  conditions  of 
nursing  in  asylums  not  many  decades  ago, 
where  there  was  little  idea  of  ttie  possibility  of 
cure,  and  whei'e  it  was  thought  necessary  to 
use  brute  force  in  subduing  a  raving  patient, 
and  when  we  consider  times  still  further  back, 
when  the  wretched  lunatics  were  chained  as 
being  possessed  with  devils,  or  were  even 
burnt  or  beaten  to  death,  we  must  allow  that 
there  is  a  striking  contrast  between  such  con- 
ditions and  those  of  our  asylums  of  to-day,  with 
their  classification  of  mental  disease. 

And  yet  great  progress  in  this  direction  is 
still  uecessary.  We  must  win  over  educated 
women  to  nurse  in  asylums.  It  is  the  doctors 
who  have  developed  the  new  ideas  in  this 
branch  of  medicine  who  call  for  the  help  of 
thoughtful  women,  trained  in  the  care  of  the 
insane  ;  whereas  the  greater  number  of  asylum 
doctors  ai-e  probably  of  opinion  that  simple, 
good-natured,  robust  country  gi'rls  are  the 
women  best  fitted  for  nursing  the  mad. 

It  is  to  be  feared  that  our  modern  generation 
of  women,  who. are  often  physically  not  very 
resistant,  and  whose  nea"vous  systems  are  weak, 
will  no*  furnish  a  large  number  able  per- 
manently to  fulfil  that  exceedingly  difficult 
task.  But  more  often  tlian  one  would  expect, 
a  special  talent  and  pecuhar  interest  in  such 
.  patients  and  their  care  is  to  be  found. 

Of  the  members  of  the  GermanNurses'  Asso- 
ciation, numbering  over  2,000  Sisters,  38  were 
last  year  at  work  in  nerve  sanatoriums  and  24 
in  asylums.  !Most  of  them,  of  course,  fill  posts 
of  authority.  In  the  nerve  sanatoriums,  13  of 
them  are  Lady  Superintendents,  9  are  Head 
Sisters,;  in  the  asyhnnp,  10  work  as  Lady 
Superintendents,  11  as  Head  Sisters.  But 
these  figured  are   infinitely  small  when   com- 


pared to  the  large  number  of  Sisters  engaged 
in  the  nui-siug  of  the  bodily  sick. 

The  number,  too,  of  Sisters  belonging  to 
Church  and  Secular  Sisters'  Associations,  who 
work  in  as'ylums,  is  so  small  that  it  is  of  no 
account  when  we  consider  tlie  great  number  of 
nurses  who  are  necessary  for  this  branch  of 
nur.siug. 

A  person  intimately  acquainted  with  the  con- 
ditions estimates  the  number  of-lnsane  in  Ger- 
many to  be  at  least  120,000.  He  is  of  opinion 
that  at  least  7,.")00  women  nurses  are  needed, 
of  whom  not  the  thirtieth  part  belongs  to  the 
higher  social  classes. 

This  is  not  surprising  when  we  look  into 
asylum  corjditious. 

In  the  East  of  Germany  the  salary  begins 
with  226  marks  (.£11  6s.)  a  year,  the  highest 
salary  after  a  very  long  period  of  service  is  600 
marks  (£20).  with  the  prospect  of  a  pension. 

In  Saxony  the  salaries  amount'  from  300-600 
marks;  in  Baden  450.-730  marks;  as  a  rule 
there  is  a  prospect  of  a  pension  after  at  least 
ten  years'  service. 

In  consequence  of  our  legislation,  insurance 
is  everywhere  provided  for  in  case  of  illness  or 
accidents.  The  food  is  generally  indifferent. 
On  an  average  the  free  time  given  amounts  to 
forty  hours  a  week. 

In  the  West  the  conditions  are  in  every  way 
far  more  favourable  than  in  the  East. 

Eegular  instruction  is  given  in  47  institu- 
tions in  courses  of  25-30  hours;  in  22  institu- 
tions some  instruction  is  given  during  the 
doctor's  visits;  only  in  9  institutions  no  such 
instruction  is  given  at  all.  No  examination, 
however,  takes  place,  as  in  some  foreign  coun- 
tries, forming  a  definite  conclusion  t-o  the  instruc- 
tion besides  increasing  its  importance.  It  is 
anticipated  that  the  State  examination  of 
nurses  will  bring  about  the  material  and  social 
improvement  of  nursing  in  asylums. 

"The  position  of  the  few  educated  women  in 
asvliuns  is.  of'  course,  better.  They  receive 
420-720  marks;  Head  Sisters  from  800-1,200 
marks:  one  Baden  Government  institution 
pays  the  Lady  Superintendent,  who  has  filled 
her  post  there  for  twenty  years,  a  salary  of 
1,-500  marks,  and  Inter  on  she  will  have  a  con- 
siderable pension.  This  sum,  however,  must 
be  considered  entirely  exceptional. 

In  Government  asylums  thej-  receive  these 
salaries,  with  corresponding  pension  after  ten 
years  of  service ;  in  private  asylums  sometimes 
with  a  prospect  of  a  pension  after  fifteen  years 
and  a  bonus  of  500  marks  after  five  years.  ' 

111  the  Government  asylums  the  work  is,  a* 
a  iTjle,  well  regulated:  in  the  private  institu- 
tions the  work  is  often  incredibly  heavy. 


106 


Sbe  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRurstntj. 


,Aug.  6,  1910 


In  private  asylums  for  diseases  oi  the  nerves 
the  salaries  are  generally  from  50-100  marks  a 
month.  In  consequence,  the  greater  number 
of 'Sisters  work  in  such  asylums. 

If  the  material  conditions  of  asylum  nursing 
are  raised,  and  if  a  definite  curriculum  is  pro- 
vided for  this  ijranch  of  our  profession,  which 
would  naturally  i-aise  its  standard,  we  may 
expect  that  the  educated  woman  will  recognise 
what  a  great  field  of  work  is  open  to  her  among 
the  poorest  of  the  poor,  among  those  deprived 
of  their  mental  faculties.  In  these  days  the 
attempt  is  being  made  to  entirely  do  away  with 
the  padded  room,  a  reform  already  accom- 
plished in  some  instances,  and  therefore  much 
can  be  done  by  good  nursing  to  soothe  the 
alarming  states  of  excitement  by  rest  in  bed 
and  baths. 

We  must  now  earnestly  endeavour  to  arrange 
that  training  courses  in  the  nursing  of  those 
suffering  from  mental  and  nervous  diseases 
should  be  accessfble  to  some  of  the  Sisters,  as 
in  private  and  pnrisli  luu-sing  we  often  find  the 
need  of  knowledge  of  the  above  brancu  of  work. 
We  often  meet  with  cases  \Vho  at  the  time  do 
not  need  the  care  given  in  an  asylum,  and  we 
do  not  know  nearly  enough  how  to  treat  such 
patients,  in  order  not  only  to  prevent  their 
being  harmed,  but  also,  if  possible,  to  improve 
their  condition. 

As  long  as  our  general  course  of  training  in 
nursing  comprises  only  one  year,  it  would  be 
not  only  superfluous  but  foolish  to  expect  in 
that  one  year  instruction  worthy  of  the  name  in 
psychical  nursing.  In  future  a  general  training 
in  nursing  ought  to  be  demanded  as  the  founda- 
tion for  asylum  nursing,  and  a  special  training 
in  psychical  nursing,  with  an  examination, 
should  be  added  to  it. 

Shall  we  live  to  see  the  day  when  the  State 
will  have  enough  money  to  pay  such  debts  to 
civilisation?  It  would  probably  mean  a  chance 
of  recovery  for  many  thousands  who  now  vege- 
tate in  asylums  for  want  of  suitable  nursing ! 


THE  SOCIETY   FOR   THE'  STATE    REGISTRATION 
OF  TRAINED  NURSES. 

The  President    gratefully  acknowledges  the 
following    donations     to   the    Funds    of     the 
Society: — !Miss  Alice  Pretty  (late  Sister  Ken- 
ton,  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital),   41;     Miss 
,.E.  E.  Fowler,  10s.  6d. 


SPANISH   RED  CROSS. 

-Madame  Alexaiidrina  Wolf,  an  English  lady, 
iias  been  decorated  by  the  King  of  Spain  with 
I 'it'  Spanish  Ked  Cross  of  the  Military  Merit, 
in  recognition  of  her  heroic  and  charitable 
•  (forts  on  behalf  of  the  Spanish  troops  during 


ZTbe  <5cncral  Court  of  (Bovcrnovs, 
St.  Baitbolotnevv'5  Ibospital. 

"  Good  name  in  man  or  woman,  dear  my  lord,  Is 
the  immediate  jewel  of  their  soids." 

A  General  Court  of  Governors  was  held  at 
St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital  on  Thursday,  July 
'28th,  at  which  Lord  Sandhurst  presided.  The 
press  are  not  admitted  to  these  Courts,  as  they 
should  be,  so  we  are  unable  to  give  a  verbatim 
account  by  our  own  representative,  but  the 
following  information  has  been  obtained  from 
a  trustworthy  source  :  — 

The  M.\trox's  Appoint.ment. 

The  item  on  the  Agenda  of  greatest  interest 
was  to  report  the  appointment  by  the  Election 
Committee,  held  on  :\Iay  26th,  1910,  of  Miss 
Annie  ^Iclntosh  as  Matron  and  Superintendent 
of  Nursing. 

Dr.  Leonard  Dobson,  a  medical  practitioner ' 
who  received  his  professional  education  at  the 
hospital,  and   a    Governor  of   the    institution, 
thereupon  moved  the  following  llesolution  :  — 

"  That  this  Court  of  Governors  regrets  to 
learn  that  the  Election  Committee  has  ap- 
pointed as  Matron  of  this  hospital  a  lady  who 
has  not  received  a  certificate  of  three  years' 
training  as  a  nurse.  This  Court,  therefore,  is 
not  prepared  to  accept  the  report  of  the  said 
appointment,  and  would  prefer  to  refer  the 
matter  back  to  the  Election  Committee  for  its 
further  consideration." 

The  lines  on  which  Dr.  Dobson  supported  the 
Resolution  were  that  the  three  years'  standard 
of  training  was  the  standard  enforced  by  the 
Governors  for  their  own  nurses  for  nearh^  thirty 
years,  'and  that  that  period  is  the  shortest  in 
which  a  nurse  can  be  thoroughly  trained  for 
her  responsible  duties  (a  standard  laid  down  as 
long  ago  as  1892  by  a  Select  Committee  of  tlie 
House  of  Lords,  of  which  Lord  Sandhurst,  was 
Chairman),  that  it  was  most  inexpedient  to 
recognise  a  lowei-  standard  as  sufficient  quali- 
fication for  the  Superintendent  of  the  Nursing 
School,  and  that  under  the  regutetions  of 
the  hospital  the  ^Matron  now  appointed  would 
not  be  eligible  for  the  position  of  Sister  or  Staff 
Nurse ;  that  the  Matron  should  command  the 
professional  respect  of  the  nurses  whose  work 
it  was  her  duty  to  supervise:  that  the  candi- 
date with  the  highest  qiialifications  had  not 
been  chosen;  and  that  the  ago  limit  of  40  had 
just  excluded  several  distinguished  pupils  of 
the  Nursing  School  of  St.  Bartholomew's  Hos- 
pital. He  showed  that  the  nursing  staff  of  St. 
Bartholomew's  had  been  in  the  van  of  progress 
and  reform  in  connection  with  the  Indian  Army 
\',,,vin'_'    S,..-\ir...    t|,.,     \v,,.v    \.n--:i,L'    S.M-\i(v\ 


Aug.  0,   liilUj 


Cbc  36riti5l)  3ournal  of  H^ui-siiuj. 


lUT 


the  Territorial  Force  Xiirsing  Service,  and  that 
in  the  fomiation  of  the  last-mentioned  Service 
the  greatest  assistance  had  been  rendered  by 
the  late  Matron.  .Miss  Isla  Stewart,  to  the  Lady 
Muyorests,  at  that  time  Lady  Truscott,  in  its 
fomiation  for  the  City. 

Dr.  Dobson  pointed  out  that  when  the 
vacancy  of  Principal  ^Matron  to  No.  1  (City  of 
London)  Hospital,  caused  by  the  death  of  Miss 
Isla  Stewart,  had  to  Le  filled  that  it  would  have 
been  natural  to  appoint  her  successor  at  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital,  but  it  was  found  that 
the  lady  appointed  did  not  possess  the  qualifica- 
tion (a  three  years'  certificate  of  training)  re- 
quired of  Sisters  and  nurses  joining  the  Terri- 
torial Force  Xursin<;  Service.  Therefore,  the 
Mansion  House  Committee  went  outside  the 
City  for  the  Principal  Matron  of  the  City  Hos- 
pital, and  appointed  to  this  honourable  position 
one  of  the  late  iliss  Isla  Stewart's  most  dis- 
tinguished pupils,  ^Nliss  Cox-Davies,  a  gold 
medallist  of  the  -Tursing  School  of  St.  Bar- 
tholomew's, Matron  of  the  Eoyal  Free  Hos- 
pital, who  had  practical  experience  of  Army 
Nursing  during  the  South  African  War.  In 
moving  the  Resolution,  Dr.  Dobson  said  he 
spoke  practically  in  the  name  of  St.  Bartholo- 
mew's Hospital  nurses,  of  their  League, 
which  was  700  strong,  and  of  th'e  De- 
fence of  Nursing  Standards  Committee. 
He  spoke  also  of  the  affection  and  loyalty  of 
St.  Bartholomew's  nurses  for  their  Training 
School,  and  of  the  fact  that  they  had  raised 
a  large  sum  of  money  for  the  new  Nxirses' 
Home. 

Dr.  Dobson's  speech,  which  was  well 
received,  was  seconded  by  Mr.  A.  H.  Donald- 
son, M.E.C.S.,  who  also  received  his  medical 
education  at  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital. 

^Ir.  Donaldson  referred  to  the  two  years' 
certificate  of  training  held  by  the  lady  selected, 
and  asked  whether  letters  of  protest  had  not 
been  received  from  medical  men. 

Sir  Alfred  Cripps.  K.C.V.O.,  K.C., 
M.P.,  pointed  out  that  the  appointment 
was  a  .  slight  on  the  nursing  staff 
of  iihe  hospital :  that  the  age  limit 
was  absurd ;  that  the  whole  of  the  appFications 
had  never  been  referred  to  the  Election  Com- 
mittee, the  applications  having  been  previously 
sifted  by  a  sub-committee  of  six,  and  those  of 
six  candidates  only  referred  to  the  Election 
Committee,  so  that  they  had  had  only  a  limited 
opportunity  of  choice,  and  the  whole  thing  had 
not  been  fairly  put  before  them.  He  was  not 
speaking  in  opposition  to  the  Election  Com- 
mittee, but  appealed  to  them  to  let  itie  ques- 
tion be  reconsidered. 

Sir  Yesey  Strong  also  supported  the  Resolu- 
tion. 


Sir  Ernest  Flower  said'that  he  had  very  great 
doubt  whether  ,  the  Governors  reaUsed  the 
situation,  or  the  anger  which  had-beeu  aroused 
outside  by  this  appointment.  He  thought  it 
would  have  a  great  inlluence  on  contribntion- 
to  the  hospital. 

Sir  Henry  H.  Crawford  said  that  the  situation 
in  which  the  Governors  were  placed  was 
farcical.  .\11  the  nurses  were -required  to  havL- 
a  three  years'  certificate,  yet  the  ^Matron  wa- 
admitted  with  one  of  two  years'  training.  Hl 
appealed  for  a  reconsideration  of  the  matter. 

Lord  Sandhurst  said  that  it  was  not  in  the 
power  of  the  Governors  to  refer  the  matter  back 
to  the  Election  Committee,  which  had  full 
power  to  make  appointments,  and  its  decision 
was  final,  to  which  Sir  Henry  Crawford  repUed 
that  if  that  were  so  the  whole  discussion  was  a 
farce. 

One  Governor  spoke  in  support  of  the  aj  • 
pointment  in  what  has  been  described  as  a 
ranting  speech,  and  he  contended  that  the  ap- 
pointment was  the  business  of  the  Governors, 
that  the  opposition  had  been  got  up  by  women 
outside,  and  the  affairs  of  the  hospital  had  got 
into  the  press,  with  damage  to  the  institution. 
He  did  not  understand  what  the  talk  of  two  or 
three  years'  training  was  about,  and  contended 
that  experience  counted. 
Lord  Sandhurst  Defends  the  Appoixtmext. 

Lord  Sandhurst,  who  was  evidently  in  no 
judicial  frame  of  mind,  defended  the  appoint- 
ment from  the  chair.  He  said  that  no 
sooner  had  the  Election  Committee  got  off  their 
chairs  than  all  sorts  of  rumours  were  current. 
He  asserted  that  they  had  taken  great  trouble 
to  secure  the  best  candidate,  and  read  Miss 
ilclntosh's  certificate  of  two  years'  training 
and  one  year's  service,  whicli  was  hardly  cal- 
culated to  corroborate  this  statement.  He 
said  he  was  sorry  that  Sir  Alfred  Cripps 
considered  the  matter  had  not  been  fairly 
placed  before 'tiie  Election  Committee.  As  to 
the  age  limit  of  40,  they  could  not  be  blamed 
by  the  Governors  for  that,  as  the  Governors 
had  agreed  to  it  at  the  last  Court,  but  he  did 
not  say  from  whom  the  suggestion  arose. 

Lord  Sandhurst  then  proceeded  to  say  that 
he  was  going  to  tell  the  Governors  the  position 
straight.  The  whole  opposition  was  engineered 
and  worked  up  by  one  or  two  women  outside, 
associated  with  busybodies,  and  they  were  not 
going  to  stand  it.  The  action  of  these  people 
was  seen  everywhere.  Lord  Sandhurst  then 
referred  to  the  letters  which  he  had  received 
from  medical  men  protesting  against  the  Ma-' 
tron's  appointment,  called  for  by  Mr.  Donald- 
son. He  said  he  had  received  about  60,  but 
the  writers  were  not  Governors,  and  it  was  an 
impertinence  for  them  to  interfoje. 

In  speaking  of  the  action  of  the  nurses,  h.- 


108 


Cbe  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRursing. 


[Aug.  6,  1910 


alluded  to  ilrs.  Slmter  as  "that  woman." 
He  read  a  petition  from  the  nursing  staff  of  the 
hospital,  addressed  iu  most  respectful  terms  to 
the  Treasurer,  Almoners,  and  Governors,  and 
sent  to  them  by  registered  letter,  contradicting 
the  rumour  that  they  were  contented  with  the 
appointment* — a  document  which  was  signed 
by  226  Sisters  and  nurses  out  of  a  possible  250. 
With  the  remark  that  "  we  seem  to  have  been 
living  on  rumours  lately,  and  this  is  the  thin- 
nest of  the  lot,"  Lord  Sandhurst  threw 
it  contemptuously  on  the  table.  He  con- 
cluded by  saying :  "  We  are  not  going  to  stand 
this;  if  the  Eesolution  is  carried,  we  go,"  in- 
timating that  the  Eesolution  would  be  regarded 
by  him  as  a  vote  of  censure,  on  which  he  would 
resign  the  Treasurership  of  the  hospital. 

On  Lord  Sandhurst's  making  a  personal 
matter  of  the  Eesolution,  Dr.  Dobson  decided 
to  withdraw  it,  but  it  must  not  be  understood 
that  he  withdrew  the  opinions  therein  ex- 
pressed, which  we  are  sure  he  would  not  desire 
to  do  either  on  his  own  behalf  or  on  that  of 
the  nurses  for  whom  he  spoke. 

Pei-sonally,  we  consider,  the  only  fighting 
motto  to  be  "  never  withdraw,  never  resign," 
but  the  certificated  nurses  of  St.  Bartholo- 
)new's  have  every  reason  to  be  grateful  to  Dr. 
Dobson  and  Mr.  Donaldson  for  proposing  and 
seconding  the  Eesolution,  and  the  other  gentle- 
men mentioned  for  supporting  their  views — a 
thankless  task,  considering  the  attitude  of  re- 
sentment assumed  by  Lord  Sandhurst  against 
any  expression  of  opinion  whatever  upon  the 
part  of  some  500  past  or  present  nurses  of  the 
iKTspital  in  regard  to  their  professional  stan- 
dards. Apparently  he  expects  them  to  remain 
silent,  however  great  a  slur  is  cast  on  their 
pi'ofessional  efRciency,  however  gross  the  in- 
justice to  which  they  are  subjected. 

Lord  Sandhurst  assumes  that  the  matter  is 
now  closed.  By  this  assumption  he  proves 
that  he  has  altogether  failed  to  appreciate 
the  sense  of  outrage  which  his  high- 
handed action  has  aroused,  not  only  in  the 
minds  of  St.  Bartholomew's  nurees,  but 
throughout  the  mu-sing  world. 

Never  has  any  appointment  to  a  position  in 
the  nursing  woi-ld  aroused  such  a  deep  sense  of 
resentment  as  the  ruthless  betrayal  of  the  in- 
terests  of  the  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital 
Nur-sing  School  by  a  crafty  clique  of  anti- 
registration  enemies. 

Governors  Who  Do  Not  Goverk. 

The  claim  of  the  Treasurer,  Lord  Sandhurst, 
that  the"Election  Committee  is  irresponsible  of 
the  Governors  in  making  appointments  is  some- 

*  This  appparefl  in  nn  officiaUy  inspired  .state- 
ment in  the  Wcxfminster  Gazette  of  June  8th. 


what  borne  out  by  the  regulations  which  were 
adopted  in  1905,  when  the  Election  Committee 
was  instituted. 

This  Committee  of  thirty  persons  has  appar- 
ently full  power  to  appoint  and  discharge  the 
senior  officials,  including  the  Matron,  and 
therefore,  as  Sir  Henry  Homewood  Crawford 
13ointed  out,  the  discussion  of  such  appoint- 
ments by  the  Governors  is  a  farce. 

Ten  members  of  the  Election  Committee  can 
appoint  to  the  most  important  positions  in  the 
hospital,  and  any  senior  official  can  be  dis- 
missed and  ruined  upon  the  vote  of  fifteen  per- 
sons without  any  appeal  to  the  Governors  being 
possible,  while  dissenting  Governors  are  power- 
less to  grant  any  redress,  even  if  they  believe 
appointments  to  be  injurious  and  dismissals 
unjust. 

So  far  as  members  of  the  medical  staff  are 
concerned,  their  status  is  pi'otected  by  tlie 
powers  of  the  ]Medical  Board.  But  the  stan- 
dards of  the  Nursing  School  are  apparently  the 
sport  of  any  reactionary  cabal  within  the  Elec- 
tion Committee.  No  appointment  could  have 
been  made  which  would  have  been  more  bit- 
terly resented  by  past  and  present  members  of 
the  Nursing  School  than  that  which  the  Elec- 
tion Committee  have  made,  and  the  Governors 
would  be  well  ad^iSed  to  consider  whether  they 
are  justified  in  delegating  their  powers  to  a 
sub-committee.  For  whether  they  renounce 
these  powers  or  not  they  are  held  responsible 
for  the  appointment,  for  the  standard  of  the 
school,  and  the  well-being  of  the  nursing  staff. 

No  flagrant  injustice  is  ever  done  without 
injurious  consequences,  and  it  is  inevitable  that 
in  honour,  in  credit,  and  in  public  estimation 
St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital  will  suffer  for  the 
ci'uel  humiliation,  knowingly  inflicted  upon  the 
whole  Nursing  Staff. 

We  congratulate  the  500  members  of  the 
Nui-sing  Staff  of  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital 
past  and  present,  who  have  most  constitution- 
ally and  i-espectfully  placed  before  the  Com- 
mittees and  Governors  their  disapproval  of  the 
depreciation  of  their  term  of  training  and  certi- 
ficate, by  tne  appointment  of  a  lady  to  superin- 
tend their  work  who  holds  an  inferior  qualifica- 
tion from  a  school  in  which  the  professional 
ethics  are  diametrically  opposed  to  their  own. 

To  the  unselfish  and  courageous  women  who 
at  once  formed  the  Defence  of  Nursing  Stan- 
dards Committee,  and  especially  to  the  Hon. 
Secretary.  Mrs.  Shuter,  whose  public  spirited 
work  has  been  beyond  ail  praise,  this  .Tounial 
extends  its  hearty  congratulations.  Though 
the  extent  of  success  is  not  always  immediately 
apparent  all  worthy  and  honourable  deeds  con- 
tribute to  the  ultimate  good. 


All-',  n,  I'.tui 


?rbe  Brttteb  3ournal  of  lRuii5ing. 


100 


Wo  inav  roiniiul  St.  Bartliolomi.'\v's  Hospital 
Nurses  who  griovf  nt  the  slight  placed  upon 
the  splendid  work  of  their  late  ilatrou,  !Miss 
Isla  Stewart,  that  such  work  is  never  lost.  It 
stands  the  test  of  time,  and  will  be  appraised 
at  its  true  value,  in  days  to  come.  But  the 
k-sson  of  the  last  few  weeks  is  that  the  status, 
the  honour,  and  the  good  name  of  the  nursing 
profession  must  be  in  its  own  keeping,  and  that 
a  central  Governing  Body  is  as  essential  for  the 
nursing,  as  for  the  medical  profession.  , 

"  Good  name  in  man  or  w"oman,  dear  my 
lord.  Is  the  immediate  jewel  of  their  souls." 


IHuremo  IRcfonn  in  3talv. 


EXTR.\CTS  FROM  PKOSPECTOS  OF  ScUOL.\ 

CoNviTTO  Regina  Elena. 
The  interest  taken  by  the  Queen  of  Italy  in 
the  new  School  for  Nurses  in  Eome  is  shown 
in  the  following  letter :  — 

Translation  of  letter  sent  by  the  Minister  to 
Princess  Doria. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you  that  her 
Slajesty  the  Queen,  convinced  of  the  necessity 
of  reform  in  the  nursing  of  the  sick  in  our 
country,  has  received  with  greatest  satisfac- 
tion the  news  of  a  vigorous  action  in  establish- 
ing a  Training  School  for  Nurses,  which  can 
in  the  future  serve  as  model  to  other  towns  in 
the  peninsula. 

"  Our  august  Sovereign,  whilst  praising  the 
useful  initiative  of  this  Comitato,  adheres  wil- 
lingly, so  that  the  noble  idea  may  be  actuated 
under  her  auspices,  granting  her  protection 
(appoggio)  to  the  Institution,  and  expressing 
hopes  that  it  will  meet  the  favour  of  all  orders 
of  citizens,  and  assert  the  supreme  dutj"  of  pro- 
viding intelligent  nui^sing  for  those  who 
suffer. ' ' 

***** 

Extract-  from  prospectus  itself:  — 
' '  Those  countries  which  oSer  the  example 
of  thorough  training  of  nurses  prove  that  bed- 
side nursing  needs  especial  instruction  quite 
different  from  that  of  medical  students,  and 
that"  it  must  be  imparted  by  women  who  ai'e 
already  highly  trained. 

These  countries  offer  also  the  spectacle  of  a 
perfect  organisation  of  hospital  nursing. 
Amongst  the  principal  elements  is  an  almost 
military  discipline,  which,  with  a  rational  divi- 
sion of  work  or  responsibility,  confers  an  unques- 
tioned authority  on  those  who  have  attained 
the  higher  positions,  and  an  absolute  obedience 
from  those  who,  still  at  the  commencement  of 
tlieir  carefer,  aspire,  hj  acquiring  the  needful 
competency,  to  obtain  in  their  turn  the  posts 
of  high  responsibihty." 


tinitb  about  IRecjietration  tn  tbc 
'^rlnltc^  States. 

The  Nurses'   Examining   Buaiiu,  Distkict   of 
Columbia. 
My  Dear  Miss  Dock, 

I  am  afraid  I  can  help  you  very  little  as  to  the 
results  of  Registration.  It  is  still  too  soon  to  see 
much,  I  think. 

I  can  only  say  that  when  training  schools  have 
been  shown  that  there  was  something  lacking  in 
what  they  gave  their  pupils,  they  have  without  ex- 
ception tried  to  supply  the  needed  instruction, 
showing,  I  think,  that  they  recognised  the  justice  of 
the  demand,  and  also  showing  the  usefulness  of 
State  Registration,  as  without  such  regulation  the 
needed  change  would  probably  not  have  been  made. 

One  Superintendent  tells  me  that  she  finds  the 
idea  of  having  to  pass  a  State  examination,  that  is, 
undergo  the  same  test  that  graduates  of  all  other 
nurse  schools  in  the  same  locality  undergo,  has 
had  the  effect  of  making  her  pupil  nurses  take 
more  interest  in  work  and  studies,  with  the 
thought  that  there  was  more  to  be  gained  than 
merely  the  school  diploma. 

The  fact  that  to  enter  both  Army  and  Navy 
Nurse  Corps  it  is  necessary  to  be  a  Registered 
Nurse,  if  coming  from  a  Stat«  where  registration 
is  in  force,  and  that  this  requirement  is  one  of 
those  laid  down  by  the  Superintendent  of  these 
Corps  with  the  approval  of  the  Surgeons  General  of 
Army  and  Navy,  would  show  that  it  is  not  con- 
sidered altogether  a  failure  by  those  in  authority. 

I  enclose  a  newspaper  clipping  containing  the 
views  of  one  of  the  District  Commissioners,  who 
corresponds,  in  the  peculiar  form  of  government  of 
the  District  of  Columbia,  to  the  Governor  of  a 
State  and  the  Mayor  of  a  city  at  the  same  time. 

This  may  be  of  some  weight  as  showing  the  views 
of  one  more  in  authority. 

Yours  very  truly. 

Lilt  Kamlt. 
Commissioner  Macfarland  Cojiplimexts  Nurses' 
ExAMixiNG  Board. 

The  Nurses'  Examining  Board  of  the  District 
of  Columbia,  which  furnishes  oflBcial  certificates 
of  the  competency  of  trained  nurses,  has  proved  its 
worth,  according  to  Commissioner  Macfarland.  He 
said  so  after  he  had  read  the  second  annual  report 
of  the  Board. 

The  Nurses'  Examining  Board,  it  is  explained, 
was  created  by  an  act  of  Congress  prepared  under 
the  direction  of  Commissioner  Macfarland  and  re- 
commended by  the  Commissioners.  It  was  ap- 
proved February  6th.  1907,  and  the  Board  has  been 
in  active  operation  for  about  two  years.  Before 
the  passage  of  the  Act,  Commissioner  Macfarland 
explained,  there  was  no  official  examining 
board  for  trained  nurses,  and  there  were  no  official 
certificates  of  competency,  so  that  the  public  was 
without  official  information  as  to  the  efficiency  and 
trustivorthiness  of  nurses  applying  for  service.  The 
m:rscs  themselves  desired  this  state  of  affairs  to 
change  and  the  only  opposition  to  the  ]iropose<l 
legislation  was  from  untrained  nurses.  Proper 
provision  was  made  in  the  Act  to  safeguard  their 
interests  without  endangering  t|^so  of  the  public. 
From  "  Evening  Star,"  WttShingtort,  D.C. 


iri)c  jortti^I?  3oiu*nal  of  iRursing. 


■  Aiic.  6.   1010 


®ur  (Balnea  prise. 

We  havfi  ploasni-e  in  aiinonucing  that  Miss  Amy 
Summers,      Meathop       .Sanatorium.      Grange-over- 
Sauds.  has.  won  tlie  Guinea  Prize  for  July. 
Key  to  Fizzles  for  July. 
Xo.  1. — Papain. 

Papa  inn. 
Xo.  2. — \arico  Leg  Bandage. 

V.\-riclc-co«-  L-egg  (liat)band-Age. 
Xo.  3.— Glaxo. 

GL  axe-?ofl-. 
Xo.  4. — Emol-keleet. 

Eil-hole  key-L-Eat. 
Tlie   following  comijetitors  have  al&o  solved  tBe 
puzzles  correctly : — 

X.  A.  Fellow.s.  Birmingliam :  R.  Leigh.  Lvmp- 
stoue;  W.  Haviland,  London;  E.  M.  'Walker,  Put- 
ney ;r.  B.  Mathews,  London;  T.  Daly,  Dublin; 
S.  S.  Sherring,  Liverpool:  M.  Fleming.  St. 
Andrews;  L.  M.  Wilson,  Winsford ;  C.  Lind.sav, 
Edinburgh ;  A.  G.  Layton,  London  ;  V.  Xewham. 
Virginia  \\  ater ;  R.  L.  Wiseman,  Parsons  Green: 
C.  M.  McCarthy,  Wandsworth ;  C.  Parsons.  Kin- 
sale :    M.    Trew,    Coventry;    H.    E.    Ellis,    Miltord : 

E.  A.  Hood,  Ewell;  I.  Brbchner,  Ross;  A.  Grum- 
n.itt,  Clifton;  R.  Conway,  Aviemore ;  T.  Sutton, 
Leith:  A.  May,  Warwick;  E.'  L.  Little.  Belfast; 
M     Woodward,   Redhill;   E.   Burnett.    Pontypridd: 

F.  M.  .Shai-i),  Castle  Bromwich ;  M.  Foster,  Man- 
chester; K.  Lipton,  Loudon;  J.  M.  Jackson.  Guild- 
ford; L.  Waddington.  Leeds;  C.  Douglas.  .Stirling 

G.  Smart,  Cork;  E.  E.  Sills,  Oakham;  M.  Morley 
Brighton;  C.  Mutton,  Plymouth;  X.  Mostyn 
Swansea;  H.  Long,  Penrith;  B.  Long,  London  ;  E 
M.  Perry.  Chester;  F.  C.  Bennet.  Cardiff:  A.  M 
Shoesmith;  Durham;  H.  H.  Reeve,'  Hampstead 
M.  Burr,  Ehford ;  S.  Druce,  London;  E.  C.  Ragg 
Cnrragh;  A.  L.  Jary,  Fakenham :  E.  M.  Royds 
London,    C.    Denny,    Dublin;  ^K.    Ro&s,    Stirliucr 

E.  Macfarlane,  London;  M.  i^ay,  .Shef- 
field ;  C.  M.  Cave-Browne-Cave.  London  ;  F.  Shep- 
pard.  Tunbridge  Wells;  C.  B.  Manning.  Edin- 
burgh': F.  Dowd.  Dublin;  C.  Palethorpe.  Greenock; 
A.  W.  Winram.  Edinburgh  ;  C.  F.  Lloyd,  Rhyl ;  S. 
Mollison.  London;  P.  Trueman,  Halifax;  E. 
Dinnie,  Harrow;  C.  Murray,  Gla.sgow  ;  M.  G.  All- 
brett.  Wakefield;  E.  .Sharcman,  Handsworth ;  M. 
Bridge-s.  London  :  E.  Douglas,  Belfast :  C.  O'Brien, 
Longford:  M,  Morris,  Hertford;  K.  Ferguson, 
Pai.sley;  M.  Xorthwood.  X'ottingham ;  H.  Coljlij 
Attleborough ;  M.  Modlin,'  London;  E.  Si>encer, 
London;  C.  C.  D.  Che.shire,  AVoking ;  M.  Lester, 
Leicester:  E.  A.  Leeds.  London;  L.  C.  Cooi)er. 
Brighton:  K.  Foster,  Wicklow :  E.  Green.  Bexhill  ; 

F.  Dalton,  Portsmouth;  S.  Wright.  Lingfield ;  T. 
.Young.  Glasgow;  E.  Arnott.  Cork:  P.  C.  Dew- 
hurst,  Maybolo;  C.  Lacy,  Birmingham:  C.  Upton. 
I/oudon :  F.  T.  Prlkington,  Manchester:  A. 
Rostock,  X'orwich ;  F.  K.  Doiielan,  Wexford,  C. 
Sootf,  Aberdeen. 


Xeoal  flDatteio. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  a  sLurt  tiun-  d.^..  .Mis> 
Emily  Shuttleworth,  a  probationer  at  the  Hull 
Sanatorium,  brought  an  action  for  breach  of  pro- 
mise at  the  Manchester  Assizes  against  the  Me<:lical 
Superintendent,  Dr.  A.  G.  P.  Thomson,  but  the 
verdict  was  given  against  her.  The  cii-cumstances 
of  the  case,  as  published  in  the  press  at  the  time, 
were  too  impure  and  disgusting  for  publication  in 
these  columns,  but  they  revealed  great  laxity  in 
the  conduct  of  the  institution.  Miss  Shuttleworth 
since  applied  at  Manchester  City  Police  Court 
for  an  affiliation  order  against  the  doctor,  and 
after  hearing  all  the  evidence  the  Stipendiary 
Magistrate  stated  that  he  had  come  to  the  con- 
clusion, after  very  great  consideration,  that  the 
I)laintiff  had  made  out  her  case,  and  there  must 
be  an  order  against  the  defendant  for  five  shillings 
a  week  till  the  child  was  14  years  of  age,  and  he 
would  allow  20  guineas  costs. 

The  Hull  Corporation  Sanitary  Committee,  which 
apparently  took  no  notice  of  the  action  at  tiie  As- 
sizes, have  now  met  and  suspended  Dr.  Thomson 
from  his  office,  and  relieved  the  Matron  of  her 
duties  until  matters  of  administration  are  inquired 
into,  and  a  special  sub-committee  of  inquiry  was 
formed  to  thoroughly  investigate  the  Sanatorium 
administration.  AVe  are  glad  this  tardy  repara- 
tion is  proposed  in  the  interests  of  the  patients, 
who  invariably  suffer  when  discipline  is  lax.  In 
our  view  such  proceedings  should  have  been  in- 
stituted immediately  after  the  case  was  heard  at 
the  -A-ssizes.  The  whole  proceedings  point  to  tlie 
necessity  for  hospital  inspection  by  expert  inde- 
pendent authorities,  and  for  the  insjjection  of  tlie 
nursing  departments  by  trained  women  inspectors, 
a  plan  which  is  working  most  successfully  under 
the  Local  Government  Board. 


The  Rules  for  Prize  Puzzles  remain  tlie  same, 
and  will  bo  found  on  page  xii.  Comiietitors  must 
sign  initinK,  and  write  "  Prize  Puzzle  Coni- 
pi'Ution  "  on  the  envelope. 


Ipractical  points. 

Writing   in  the  Journal   of 
Subcutaneous        the    American    Medical    Asso- 
Purgatives.  rUifion,  Dr.  G.  L.  Rowntree, 

of  Baltimore,  describes  the 
various  effortvS  made  in  the  past  to  find  a  drug  wliich 
could  be  used  subcutaneously  as  a  purgative  with 
satisfactory  results.  The  one  described  has  au  almost 
unpronounceable  name — phenoltetrachlorphthalein. 
Itwastried  first  in  animal  experimentation, andatter 
it  was  pix)ved  that  the  injections  producetl  no  local 
irritation,  and  that  it  had  no  bad  systematic  effects, 
it  was  tried  \\\ion  a  number  of  patients  witli  en- 
couraging results  and  a  piy>mise  of  future  useful- 
ness. It  is  not  soluble  in  water  but  is  preparetl  in 
oil,  which  necessitates  the  administration  of  a 
rather  large  dose.  It  acts  slowly,  requiring  from 
18  to  24  hours  to  take  effect,  but  the  action  con- 
tinues over  a  pi'riod  of  from  five  to  eight  da>-s. 
There  is  no  atxlominal  distress  but  a  daily  soft 
evacuation  of  the  bowels.  It  would  seem  to  be  of 
value  for  cases  of  coma,  niark»Hl  g.istr<viiite.stinal 
irritability,  at  the  time  of  abdominal  o|>erations 
aiul  for  tlie  insane. 


AuL'.  C,   M'lii 


Z\K  36riti5b  3ountal  of  IHursino, 


111 


appointinentij. 


Matrons. 

The  Infirmary,  Harrogate — Miss  S.  .) .  Hortoii  lia^ 
bo^u  appointed  JIatroii.  She  \va.s  trainod  at  the 
West  London  Hospital.  Hamniei-smith,  and  tlie 
Roynl  Maternity  Hospital.  Edinburgh,  and  has 
been  Sister  at  the  Hospital  and  Disix^iisary. 
Newark,  and  for  the  last  tour  year.s  Lady  SniXM'in- 
tendent  of  the  same  institution.  She  is  a  ceitified 
midwife. 

Cottase  Hospital,  Ellham,  Kent. ■^Miss  F.  A.  Harris 
has  been  appointed  JLuron.  She  was  trained  at 
the  Newport  and  Monmoutlishire  Hospital,  and  has 
held  the  position  of  Staff  Nurse  at  the  Cottage 
Hospital,  Bromley,  Kent ;  Charge  Nurse  at  the 
Royal  Victoria  Hospital,  Bournemouth;  Sister  at 
the  General  Hospital,  Cheltenham:  and  Sister  at 
the   Newport  and   Monmouthshire  Hospital. 

Pontypridd  Urban  District  Council  Isolation  Hospital. 
— Miss  Annie  Hunt  has  been  apixiinted  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Infirmary,  "Walsall,  and 
snljsequently  held  the  positions  of  .Sister  at  the 
Bradford  Infirmary,  Midwifery  Sister  at  the  Fir 
Vale  Infirmary,  ShefiBeld,  Charge  Nurse  at  the 
Borough  Hospital,  Southampton,  and  at  the  Sana- 
torium, Burnley.  She  has  recently  held  the 
jKJsition  of  A.sKistant  Matron  to  the  City  Hospital, 
Walker  Gate.  Newcastlo-on-Tyue. 

.SlSTEliS. 

Royal  Westminster  Ophthalmic  Hospital. — Miss  Olive 
PoUett  has  been  appointed  Sister.  She  was  trained 
at  the  Poplar  Hospital  for  Accidents,  and  has  held 
the  positon  of  Staff  Nurse  at  the  Royal  London 
Ophthalmic  Hospital.  Sister  at  Fulham  Infirmary, 
and  at  the  Infants'  Hospital,  Vincent  Square ; 
Night  Sister  at  the  Royal  London  Ophthalmic  Hos- 
pital. City  Road;  and  Ward  Sister,  at  the  Royal 
Hospital  for  Diseases  of  the  Chest,  Citv  Road, 
EC. 

Fermanagh  County  Hospital,  Enniskillen. — Miss  Kath- 
leen W.  Harris  has  been  appointed  Theatre  Sister. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Hospital  for  Sick  Children, 
Great  Ormond  Street,  and,  at  the  Oldham  Infir- 
mary, and  has.  done  Night  Sister's  duly  at  the  Hor- 
ton  Infirmary.  Banbury.  She  has  also  had  ex- 
perience of  private  nursing. 

Night  .Sister. 

Union  Workhousei  Shaw  Heath,  Stockport — Miss  Ada 
Foster  has  been  appointed  Night  Sister.  She  was 
trained  and  has  held  the  position  of  Nurse  at  the 
Poor  Law  Hospital,  Stepping  Hill,  Hazel  Grove, 
Stockport. 


QUEEN   VICTORIAS  JUBILEE    INSTITUTE 
FOR     NURSES. 

Her  Majesty  Queen  Alexandra  has  been  graciously 
pleased  to  approve  the  appointment  of  the  follow- 
ing to  be  Queen's  Nurses:  — 

Enriland  and  WaJes. — Caroline  Amelia  Lee,  Lily 
Parker,  Ann  Watson  Bird.  Margaret  Cox.  Annie 
Elizabeth  Hewitt,  Dorothy  Kate  Bennett,  Ethel 
Coates,  Edith  Mary  Hall.  Mary  Stuart  Harrison, 
Maria  Catharina  Latenstein,  Mary  Elizabeth  Black- 
well,  Hannah  Jane  Hughes,  Betsy  Shnttleworth, 
Florence    Ellen    Dow.    Florence     Beatrice     Fidler, 


Mary  Adeline  Jenkins,  Gertrude  Louisa  Line, 
Isabel  Annie  Mainley,  Annie  Williams,  Constanre 
Kliza  Baigent,  .\nnie  Thome,  Jane  Woodyar.l, 
Ethel  Frances  Wood.  Ada  Mary  Barton-Tharle, 
Edith  ^lary  Berry,  Elizabeth  .\nnie  Milner,  Minnie 
Shepherd.  Alma  Helen  Packham,  Mary  Anne 
Powell.  Emily  Firth.  Jeanie  Main,  Violet  Fenton, 
Gwenllean  Morris,  Frances  Forster,  Ruth  Gould, 
Ethel  Pearson,  Bertha  Ashworth;  Maud  .Slater 
Brandreth,  Mary  Ann  Agnes  Norman,  Alice  Con- 
stance Viggars,  Agnes  Divine.  Clarice  Hopkins. 
Maud  Kramer,  Nona  Smyth  Mountford,  Elizabeth 
Richards.  Katharine  Candy.  Hester  Dickson,  Nelly 
Beardwell,  Elinor  Grace  Broadbent.  Marion 
McAlister,  Elizabeth  Prior,  Sarah  Ellen  Street 
Smith,  Miriam  Annie  Wliiteman,  Emily  Irving 
Cauty,  Rosa  Noble  Wilkinson,  Helen  Annie  Chitty. 
I'rsnla  Hughes,  Amy  Flora  Townshend,  Ethel 
Annie  Robinsoij,  Effie  Elizabeth  Bale,  Emily  Smales, 
Florence  May. 

Scofloiifl. — Annie  Jane  Barr.  Ada  Margaret 
Gordon.  Grace  Jack,  Marion  ^[acdougall,  Barbara 
MacKechnie,  Grace  Macnab  McNeill,  Mary  Martin, 
Margaret  Paton,  Annie  Ross,  Helena  Strath,  Bar^ 
bara   Jane  Tennant,   Jessie  Mclntyre. 

Irilavd. — Margaret  Aherne.  Nora  Josephine 
Condon,  Annie  Corcoran,  Annie  Campbell  Masters. 
Agnes  Maria  Neeson,  JIargaret  Mary  O'Dogerty, 
Mary  Cole.  Susan  Eveline  Kingston,  Maria 
Roulston  Smyth,  Ellen  Stanley. 

Transfers  and  Appointments. — Jliss  Annie  B. 
Edington.  to  Gloucester,  as  Staff  Midwife:  Miss 
Ellen  Corser.  to  Torquay;  Mi«s  Ethel  Bannister,  to 
Quedgely ;  Miss  Alice  Marian  Tilby.  to  Dunmow  ; 
Miss  Rhoda  Griggs,  to  Tipton  (Bloomfield  branch); 
Miss  Annie  Godfrey,  to  AVisbech :  Miss  Julia  Clai  k 
and  Miss  Elizal>eth  Longworth.  to  Darlaston  :  Miss 
Ethel  Wilson,  to  Leeds  (Hun.slet  Home). 


WEDDING  BELLS. 
The  engagement  is  announced  of  Major  J.  A. 
Burdon,  C.M.G..  Colonial  Secretary,  Barbados,  late 
Resident  of  the  Sokoto  Proyince,  Northern  Nigeria, 
to  Miss  Katharine  J.  Sutherland,  youngest 
daughter  of  the  late  Mr.  Robert"  Sutherland,  of 
Wray  Park.  Reigate,  and  formerly  a  Sister  of  St. 
George's  Hosi>ital. 


THE  PASSING  BELL. 
We  regret  to  record  the  death  of  Jliscs  Violoi 
Bosom  worth,  a  nui-se  at  the  Middlesbrough  In- 
firmary, through  a  distressing  accident.  The  nurse 
was  tidying  the  disi^ensary  when  she  dropped  a 
bottle  of  methylated  spirit.  The  bottle  broke  and 
the  vapom-  was  ignited  by  a  gas  jet,  and  the  flame 
.spread  and  set  fire  to  the  nurse's  clothes.  She  was 
wrapped  in  a  rug  by  other  nurses,  who  put  out  tne 
flames,  but  she  was  terribly  burnt  and.  died  tli.' 
same  night. 

Miss  Hastie.  . Superintendent  ui  liie  .Mtni.il 
Nurses'  C'o-oi>eration.  49,  Norfolk  Square,  W..  a^ks 
us  to  make  clear  that  Miss  Amy  Downey,  now  ot 
44,  Norfolk  .Square,  helped  in  the  management  of 
the  Home,  not  of  the  Co-operation,  which  is  p 
separate  business 


112 


^be  Brltisb  Journal  of  IRursino, 


[Aug.  6,  1910 


H^ursina  Ecboes. 

On  Saturday  last  the  King 
and  Queen  paid  a  visit  to  the 
Loudon  Hospital,  White- 
i-liapel,  E.,  and  as  it  was  the 
Hrst  opportunity  which  the 
people  of  London  have  had 
in  any  numbers  of  seeing 
their  Majesties  since  the 
death  of  the  late  King,  their 
visit  aroused  a  good  deal  of 
interest  to  the  crowds  which 
assembled  along  the  route, 
i'iie  Koyal  visitors  were  received  by  the  olficials 
of  the  hospital,  and  visited  some  of  the  wards, 
P'insen  and  X-ray  Departments,  and  the  Out- 
l)atient  Department. 

In  the  last-named  Department  the  nurses 
and  students  were  assembled,  and  the  Queen 
presented  their 'certificates  to  the  three  proba- 
tioners, who  took  the  highest  place  in  the  re- 
cent examination,  ^liss  McXab,  iliss  Derrick, 
and  Miss  Eeid.  We  hope  that  the  interest 
shown  by  her  Majesty  may  stimulate  the 
authorities  of  the  London  Hospital  to  increase 
llie  period  ol  training  for  their  probationers 
from  two  years  to  three,  so  as  to  bring  the  stan- 
dard into  confoi-mity  with  that  generally  ac- 
cepted throughout  the  kingdom — a  reform 
which  we  know  is  keenly  desired  by  many  Lon- 
don Hospital  nurses. 

The  King,  when  in  the.  Outpatient  De- 
partment, recalled  to  the  Secretary,  Mr. 
E.  W.  MoiTis,  his  last  meeting  with 
liim,  when,  as  Prince  of  Wales,  he  paid  a 
private  visit  to  the  Department,  sat  among  the 
students,  and  saw  for  himself  how  the  women 
were  treated  by  the  doctors,  as  an  allegation 
Iiad  been  made,  which  he  considered  worthy  of 
investigation,  that  the  women  outpatients  at 
the  London  Hospital  did  not  receive  the-respect 
to  which  their  sex  entitled  them.  He  was  satis- 
fied on  that  occasion  that  they  were  treated 
with  respect  and  delicacy. 


We  are  glad  that  his  Majesty  is  interesting 
liiniself  in  the  outpatient  depai-tments  of  hos- 
pitals, as  only  a  few  weeks  ago  we  heard  from 
a  nurse  who  took  up  a  refined  patient  for 
advice  to  the  London  Hospital  that  she  was 
i-equired  to  undress  before  twenty-three 
other  patients  without  any  screens  being 
provided,  and  it  was  reported  not  long 
since  that  a  woman  patient  fit  the  National 
Hospital,  on  entering  a  small  room  by  the 
direction  of  a  medical  man,  foimd  when  she 
opened  the  door  it  was  occupied  by  a  man 
destitute  of  clothing.  If  people  are  poor,  they 
are  still  entitled  to  consideration  and  delicacy 
in  their  treatment. 


In  these  days  the  art  of  advertising  an  in- 
stitution often  makes  its  success,  and  those  in- 
terested in  the  Army  and  Navy  Male  Nurses' 
Co-operation  were  wise  to  invite  the  inspection 
of  the  British  Medical  Association  of  47b,  Wel- 
beck  Sti-eet,  in  order  to  see  its  method.  When 
this  co-operation  of  male  nurses  was  first 
stai-ted,  we  hoped  it  would  soon  be  self-sup- 
porting as  well  managed  women  nurses'  co- 
operations are.  It  is,  therefore,  satisfactory  to 
note  that  the  staff  now  numbers  38,  and  that 
the  fees  paid  to  the  men,  which  were  only  £500 
the  first  year,  have  in  the  second  year's  work 
risen  to  £1,800,  and  that  the  element  of  charity 
in  its  management  is  no  longer  required. 


Mr.  Haldane  and  his  colleagues  at  the  War 
Office  are  specially  sympathetic  towards  the 
scheme,  as  they  consider  the  knowledge  that 
such  a  co-operation  exists  is  an  incentive  to 
men  in  the  Services  to^attain  a  high  standard  of 
proficiency  in  their  nursing  duties,  under  the 
highly-qualified  Sisters  of  Queen  Alexandra's 
Imperial  Military  Nursing  Service. 


We  regret  that  the  London  County  Council 
Education  Committee  failed  to  accede  to  the 
recommendation  of  the  Day  Schools  Sub-Com- 
mittee that  the  Birley  House  Open-Air  Schools 
be  continued  two  months  longer  until  Decem- 
ber 31st.  To  objections  made,  Air.  Hobson  said 
that  it  was  the  general  opinion  that  children 
attending  an  open-air  school  on  the  Yorkshire 
moors  derived  great  benefit  from  their  sojourn 
there,  and  surely  what  was  done  on  a  bleak 
Yorkshire  moor  could  be  done  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  London . 

Much  better  get  childi'en  out  of  stuffy 
schooh-ooms  into  the  open  all  the  year  round, 
if  possible. 


The  proposal  to  hold  a  Conference  on  Hospi- 
tal Diet  for  nurses  would  arouse  great  interest. 
There  are  still  many  institutions  where  the 
food  is  not  of  good  quality,  well  cooked,  or 
nicely  served,  and  with  all  the  modern  culinary 
appliances  surely  it  would  be  possible  to  perfect 
these  domestic  mattei's.  In  France  they  are 
far  ahead  of  us  so  far  as  cooking  and  serving 
is  concerned,  and  some  day,  no  doubt,  when 
Matrons  are  trained  for  their  duties,  and  not 
pitchforked  into  places  of  responsibility  b}' 
whim  and  favour,  a  course  of  domestic  manage- 
ment, including  a  knowledge  of  food  values, 
will  be  required  of  them  before  they  grndunte, 
as  Momo  Sisters  and  Housekeepers. 


Dr.  Hindshaw,  the  Aledical  Superintendent 
at     the      Hope      Hospitni.      Salford,     seen;6 


Aug.  t),    19Ur 


abe  Kiitisb  3ouinal  of  mm-siiuj. 


li:i 


alive  to  tlie  vtiliie  of  food  in  sickuess, 
aud  has  recoiuiueudod  to  the  Guardians 
the  adoption  of  a  uew  dietary  scale  for  the 
patients.  He  has  announced  that  he  believes 
in  cure  by  good  food  rather  than  by  drugs 
— good  or  bad — aud  it  is  witli  the  view  of  this 
principal  being  carried  into  practice  at  Hope 
Hospital  that  he  has  drawn  up  the  new  scale. 
A  calculation  of  the  union  officials  put  the  cost 
of  new  dietaries  at  .t  1,200  per  amium  above  the 
cost  of  the  patients'  meals  on  the  present  scale. 
The  Infirmary  Committee  are  naturally  ' '  stag- 
gered "  at  the  prospective  increase  in  cost. 

Dr.  A.  Renshaw,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Eoman 
Catholic  Congress  held  at  Leeds,  expressed  the 
extraordinary  opinion  that  a  strange  woman 
was  an  intruder  in  a  man's  sick  room,  and  had 
no  right  to  attend  upon  him.  The  cult  of 
Priapus  was  the  cause  of  the  present  unhappy 
state  of  unrest,  and  if  it  were  not  for  this 
heathenish  revival  things  would  be  different. 
A  sick  man  ought  to  he  nursed  bv  a  man,  and 
the  ministrations  of  medical  women  should  be 
restricted  to  their  own  sex.  He  knew  that 
women  preferred  to  be  attended  by  men,  and 
said  that  they  had  more  sympathy  and  kind- 
ness fi-om  them  than  from  their  bwn  sex.  He 
had,  he  asserted,  seen  things  that  made  him 
wonder  whj  women  were  so  hard  with  women. 
He  further  said  that  he  felt  con-vineed  that  the 
real  motive  at  the  bottom  of  making  post- 
mortem examinations,  in  which  the  naked  body 
was  handled  and  examined,  and  the  sick  nurs- 
ing of  men  by  strange  women,  was  heathen  in 
origin.  We  wonder  how  this  gentleman  (whose 
Church  teaches  him  to  reverence  the  human 
body  as  the  temple  of  the  Holy  Ghosf)  recon- 
ciles his  opinions  with  the  fact  that  some  of 
the  noblest  and  most  feminine  of  women  are  to 
be  found  in  the  ranlvs  of  the  medical  and  nurs- 
ing professions. 

In  the  Town  Hospital  of  Munich,  just  before 
midnight,  a  revolt  recently  broke  out  in 
the  ward  in  which  the  young  prostitutes  are, 
on  account  of  disease,  forcibly  detained.  At  a 
given,  signal,  some  of  the  patients  suddenly 
began  to  give  way  to  extreme  excesses.  Glasses, 
washing  basins,  windows,  and,  chairs  were 
smashed  and  the  water  turned  on  so  that  the 
ward  was  partly  flooded.  So  great  was  the 
disorder  that  the  police  had  to  be  called  in. 
Eight  of  the  ringleaders,  girls  of  16  and  17 
years  of  age,  were  arrested  and  taken  to  the 
police  station."  Comment  is  needless.  At 
what  age  did  these  girls,  hardly  more  than 
children,  become  prostitutes,  to  have  reached 
this  stage  at  16  and  17? 


iKctlecrtons. 


Fho.u  a  Uo\ni>  IJooM  Mikbob. 

The  King  lias  liet-onie  I'alron  of  the  British  Ucd 
Cross  Sijciety,  and  the  King  aud  Quetn  have  become 
patrons  of  the  Brompton  Hospital  for  Consump- 
tion.   ^ 

St.  Peter's  Hospital  for  Stone  and  other  Urinary 
Diseases,  Henrietta  Street,  Covent  Garden,  W.C., 
has  now  conipleteil  the  tiftioth  year  of  its  existence, 
and,  in  commemoration  of  its  jubilee,  tlie  Com- 
mittee are  endeavouring  to  raise  the  sum  of  £.j,000 
to  complete  the  equipment  of  the  building,  towards 
which  £2,800  have  already  been  i)romised.  Con- 
sidering the  great  amount  of  good  work  done  in 
relieving  and  curing  a  most  distressing  and  painful 
class  of  diseases,  and  the  excellent  results  obtained 
in  surgical  operations,  including  the  most  serious 
which  can  be  performed — i.e.,  prostatectomy — the 
amount  appealed  for  seems  a  very  modest  one,  and 
we  hope  it  will  speedily  be  raised.' 


Tlie  late  Mr.  John  Summers,  of  Stalybridge, 
Cheshire,  a  well-known  iroit  master,  has  beqneatlie<l 
£oOO  to  the  Stalybridge  Sick  Xursing  Society,  and 
left  £1,000  to  his  wife  and  son  upon  trust  to  use 
the  income  and  the  capital  for  the  purpose  of  pro- 
viding luxuries,  Christmas  treats,  summer  picnics, 
fruit,  flowers,  etc.,  for  the  patients  and  staff  ot  the 
District  Infirmary,  Ashton-undei-Lyne.  Ho  also 
left  £2.000  to  his  wife  and  son  to  use  the  income 
and  capital  for  sending  sick  and  needy  persons  in 
Stalybridge  and  Dukinfield  to  and  from  con- 
valescent homes,  and  to  provide  children  in  the 
same  boroughs  with  country  holidays  and  clothing. 


At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Sister  Dora  Con- 
valescent Hospital,  at  Milford,  a  very  satisfactoiy 
report  was  receivetl.  The  Chairman,  Captain 
W.  S.  B.  Levett,  in  moving  its  adoption,  said  it 
was  gratifying  to  find  they  could  again  present  a 
satisfactory  report  of  the  home.  It  was  27  yeai-^ 
since  the  hospital  was  starte<l,  and  under  the  abl'- 
administration  of  Miss  Ellis  they  found  it  at  tho 
end  of  that  period  working  up  to  the  fullest  extent 
of  its  capacity  for  usefulness  as  a  county  institu- 
tion. Almost  all  the  inmates  had  been  bioa'l- 
winnei-s;  therefore  the  benefits  of  this  charitable 
ir.stitution  had  been  far  more  widely  reaching  than 
mere  figures  could  show.  It  was  becoming  more 
and  more  evident  that  in  the  near  future  it  wonld 
be  impossible  to  maintain  hospitals  I>y  voluntary 
contributions,  not  only  because  of  financial  diffi- 
culties, but  because  of  the  increased  amount  of 
work  laid  on  private  institutions  by  the  State,  it 
is  pleasant  to  note  that  the  year's  work  ends  with 
a  small  balance  in  hand.  Mr.  Adams,  who  seconded 
the  101,  ''t.  spoke  of  the  valuable  sex-vices  rendered 
by  Miss  Ellis,  remarking  that,  in  fact,  she  managed 
this  institution. 

An  anonymous  donor  has  sent  to  the  B^n. 
treasurer  of  lA?ith  Hospital  £1.-500  to  endow  a  bed 
in  memory  of  Kin's  Edward,  a  fomi  of  memorial 
which  is  very  suitable. 


114 


^e  Bintisb  3ournaI  ot  IRiusino. 


[Aug.  6,  1910 


Zbc  T£>K>oh\tion  of  a  Ibot^pital. 

This  is  serious  and  not  serious.  Nothing  can  be 
houestlv  serious,  straight  through,  in  the  country 
where  I  live,  thank  Heaven.  Here  we  play  as  we 
work,  though  we  have  not  yet  learnt,  thanks  be, 
once  again,  to  work  at  playing.  Here,  too,  we 
know  how  to  laugh  and  cry  quite  naturally  in  two 
successive  moments,  and  how  to  ijass  off  lightly 
and  impersonally,  misfortunes  which  would  crush 
you  calmer  sister  islanders,  all  girt  about  with  a 
sense  of  your  conscious  self-importance.  AVe  are 
not  important,  and  we  know  it.  Neither  are  we 
self-conscious,  but  we  don't  know  it. 

My  apologies  to  you,  Mrs.  Editor,  now,  once  and 
for  all ;  a  continued  apology,  to  run  concurrently 
(like  two  sentences  of  imprisonment)  through  the 
whole  course  of  my  articles. 

I  live  in  Ireland. 

That  must  stand  as  a  paragraph  by  itself.  For 
that  at  once  explains,  and  condones  everything. 
Ireland,  like  charity,  covers  a  multitude  of.  sins, 
delightful  and  charming  sins.  That,  possibly  you 
have  heard  before.  Everyone  preaches  to  us  about 
our  sins.  We  let  them  preach,  because  we  are 
naturally  courteous.  But  when  they  are  gone, 
then  it  is  the  fun  begins.  If  they  could  only  see 
themselves  as  we  see  them  !  Dear  creatriires.  AVe 
are  a  remarkably  receptive  people. 

It  will  go  hardly  with  you,  I  take  it,  as  time 
goes  on,  to  believe  that  there  was,  or  ever  will 
be,  any  hosjjital  at  all.  Certainly  there  was  not. 
neither  is  there.  But  that  there  will  be,  in  the 
near  distant  future,  I  must  ask  you  to  take  for 
granted. 

In  the  meantime,  I  want  to  introduce  you,  firstly 
to  the  idea,  secondly  to  the  place,  and  thirdly  and 
all  through,  to  the  people.  For  the  idea,  it  is  as 
God  made  it.  For  the  place  and  the  people,  they 
too  are  from  the  moulds  in  which  He  pleases  to 
fashion  things  beautiful  and  rare  and  good.  Just 
how  good  you  can  never  know,  unless  you  be 
willing  to  come  and  dwell  among  them,  observantly, 
simply,  and  withal  very  humbly,  and  this  last  is 
perhaps  more  necessary  than  either  of  the  other 
two. 

If  you  are  a  "  pi'oper  "  person  in  any  sense  of 
the  word  such  as  makes  for  puffed  out  righteous- 
nes.s,  drop  this  article  like  a  hot  jiotato.  (Has 
potato  an  "e"?  Potatoe?  I  always  write  it  so 
in  my  imagination,  but  the  "  e  "  fades  away  on 
paper.  "  0  "  .for  a  finish  is  very  bald,  isn't  it? 
— but  the  "  e  "  looks  wrongly  too.)  Potatoes — you 
see  we  never  nse  them  singly  here,  but  in  heaps — 
in  potsful.  How  to  explain  all  there  is  to  explain, 
without  being  purely  didactic,  I  cannot  guess. 
"Use,"  for  instance,  means  "eat."  That's  one 
of  j'our  worst  points :  you  English  people  over 
there,  you  know  so  little.  Would  you  ever  have 
guessed  that  "use"  meant  "eat''?  Of  course 
you  wouMn't.  How  could  you  with  your  limited 
experience?  But  it  does.  Kindl.v  try  and  remem- 
ber it.     It  is  sure  to  occur  again. 

If  you  would  be  so  good  as  not  to  keep  inter- 
rupting like  this,  I  would  be  very  thankful  to  you. 
I  am  come  to  a  serious  bit.     And  whilst  1  think 


of  it,  never  put  down  anything  that  strikes  you  a* 
unusual  in  my  style  as  wrong. 

It  is  merely  our  Irish  turn  of  a  phrase.  Is  that 
clear?  A'ery  well  then.  This  is  the  seriousness 
that  is  on  it.  I  am  sorry  to  tell  you — No,  I'm  not. 
It's  only  like  saying  "Dear  Mr.  Bore, — AA'ill  you 
give  us  the  pleasure."  I  don't  regret  it  at  all;  I 
enjoy  telling  you  that- from  first  to  last  this  thing 
that  we  are  doing  and  the  way  more  especially  in 
which  we  are  doing  it,  is  an  outrage  on  British 
Feeling.  Propriety  would  blush.  I  often  hear  it 
blush — Poor  thing.  It  is  wonderful  how  long  Pro- 
priety keeps  its  youth — ah,  and  innocence.  1 
am  trying  very  hard  to  condense  into  some  one 
phrase  the  whole  essence  of  shock  which  shall  kill 
off  Airs.  Proper  and  leave  only  the  better  sort  of 
reader.  I  have  it  I  Here,  in  Kerry — Did  I  tell 
you  Kerry  before?  Never  mind,  you  would  have 
come  to  it  sooner  or  later,  and  it  is  not  of  the  least 
consequence  — the  geography  part,  with  the  lakes 
and  mountains  and  rivers  and  the  eternal,  awe- 
inspiring,  peace  commanding  sea  (see  ancient  Irish 
AISS.).  comes  in  due  sequence,  not  now.  Here, 
in  Kerry,  in  my  set,  v.-e  never  dress  for  dinner. 

Hush!  And  now,  if  Airs.  BofiSn  has  left  the 
room,  I  will  tell  you  the  reasons,  which  are  quite 
as  shocking  a^  the  fact,  perhaps  more  so.  (1)  AVo 
have  no  evening  dresses.  (2)  And  we  cannot 
afford  to  buy  them.  (3)  AA'e  have  our  dinners  a')out 
midday,  and  even  Royalty  has  ceased  to  mihold 
full  dress — ^how  did  low  necks  and  a  strap  ever 
come  to  be  called 'full  dress? — at  that  time  of 
day.  (4)  AVe  have  our  suppers  as  soon  as  we  get 
home  from  work,  about  half-past  six  to  seven,  and 
get  to  bed  as  soon  after  as  we  can  with  a  clear 
conscience,  and  if  not  without  it.  (5)  And  in  tlu- 
end  of  it  what's  the  good  bothering  after  thim 
things  at  all  ? 

I  just  give  it  you  as  a  sample.  It  is  a  very  good 
measure  of  our  life,  and  sunders  us  from  many 
kinds  of  bores  and  boredoms,  and  conventions  and 
unwholesom^euesses,  and  things  which  make 
against  health  of  mind  and  Ijody,  such  as  too  much 
talking,  which  leads  to  slander  and  to  exhaus- 
ton  of  mind,  too  much  eating  which  leads  to  exhaus- 
tion of  the  gastric  juices,  too  much  drinking,  which 
leads  to  things  untellable,  and  too  much  nerve- 
strain  which  leads  to  the  ruin  physical  and  moral 
of  the  next  generation  as  well  as  of  our  own. 

Then,  with  the  ground  cleared,  we  come  to  the 
Idea.  And  since  an  idea  presupposes  a  brain  and 
a  brain  a  lx)dy,  let  me  for  the  first  and  last  time 
tell  you  something  of  myself.  Only  as  a  necessary 
appanage  to  the  Idea,  because,  although  the  Idea 
was  never  mine,  but  came  to  me  from  that  glorious 
place  which  is  the  last  home  of  thought,  it  had  to 
take  shape  somehow  in  some  brain.  A  woman — 
middle-aged  and  unashamed.  Conscious  that 
middle  life  lias  brought  her  her  share  of  the  best 
fhings  that  life  has  to  give.  Peace,  such  as  youth 
can  never  know.  Experience,  born  in  pain  and 
failure,  now  blossoming  for  fruit.  Patience,  or  the 
makings  of  it.  A  keen  sense  of  conscious  enjoy- 
ment which  realises  its  powers  and  their  fulfilment. 
Aljove  and  beyond  all.  Love — not  the  selfishness 
a  deuj:,  bnt  that  spontaneous,  unmerited  love, 
which  she  can  but   receive    thankfully     and    with 


Aug.  6,  liUO 


Z\K  Britiob  3onrnal  of  H^ui-slno. 


115 


liumble  desire  to  give  something  in  retuiii,  how- 
ever poor,  for  so  iiiiich  riches,  so  generously 
lavished  upon  hor. 

It  all  came  about  so  naturally.  A  friend  was 
asked  who  asked  another  friend,  and  so,  after  an 
interval  of  six  years  of  training,  the  Kerry  which 
had  first  inspired  me,  caught  me  back  again  to  live 
with  her  for  ever,  if  it  please  God,  with  the  Idea 
already  sprung  to  birtli.  How  it  originally  came 
to  me.  I  do  not  know.  When  first  I  knew  it,  it  was 
already  a  certainty,  not  just  a  possibility,  but  one 
of  those  things  which  must  be,  because  it  had  to 
be.  A  hospital  for  Kerry,  for  one  corner  of  Kerry, 
becanae  of  the  children  haunted  by  tuberculosis, 
the  women  tortured  in  childbirth,  the  men  struck 
low  before  their  time.  Full-formed,  the  question 
lay  not  in  the  what,  or  the  why  of  the  Idea,  but 
only  in  the  How.  And  that  How  is  still  with  me, 
and  I  work  on  in  ^pit-e  of  it. 

I  took  a  great  deal  of  advice  from  a  great  many 
pt'ople,  of  different  kinds  and  schools  of  thinking. 
}kIost  of  the  people  wore  kindly,  as  one  is  apt  to 
be  to  some  poor  fool  tliat  knows  not  his  folly,  the 
length  of  it,  and  the  breadth  of  it.  Nearly  all 
smiled  benevolently  upon  me,  though  not  upon  the 
Idea,  which  seemed  to  them  a  thing  unlieard  of. 
"  Tut,  tut,  why  pioneer  down  in  remote  Kerry 
when  there  is  plenty  of  work  lying  nearer  to 
hand?"  Have  you  ever  pioneered  yourself?  Xo? 
Then  let  me  tell  you  what  it  is  like.  It  is  like 
being  a  Commander-in-chief  without  a  AVar  Office, 
a  telegraph  system,  or  an  advance  guard.  If  you 
fail,  you  fail  alone,  there  is  id  )ne  to  hold  you 
safe.  "  We  said  it  all  along,  i,ut  she  would  not 
be  advised.''  You  call  for  volunteers.  But  first 
you  must  give  yourself.  You  place  your  workers, 
but  you  must  learn  of  them  silently,  in  order  to 
control  them  in  those  ways  which  it  needs  a  life- 
time to  know.  You  must  be  the  brain  and  the 
courage  and  the  moderation,  the  help  and  the  cer- 
tainty of  your  tiny  army.  You  may  never  be  tired, 
or  impatient,  or  hopeless  or  doubting.  Mistakes, 
pointing  to  defeat,  must  be  met  unflinchingly, 
and  as  unflinchingly  rectified.  Defeat  itself,  for 
defeats  there  must  be,  must  be  fronted  with  a 
smiling  face,  a  sure  hand,  and  a  steady  brain. 
Panics  must  be  stemmed.  Justice  must  be  meted 
out.  Whoever  fails,  whatever  fails,  you  may  not 
fail. 

And  success?    "Well,  we  have  not  touched  it  yet. 

But,  it  is  all  worth  it.  Even  the  failures  and 
defeats  are  worth  while,  .\lways  and  always  the 
words  ringin  my  mind:  — 

"One  that  never  turned  his  back,    but  marched 
'  breast  forward, 

Xever  doubted  clouds  would  break. 
Xever  dreamed  though  right  were  .worsted  wrong 

would  triumph. 
Held,  we  fall  to  rise,  arc  baffled  to  fight  better. 

.Sleep  to  wake  '' 

Have  I  them  right?  It  is  seven  years  since  I 
read  them,  and  my  "  .\sfilando  "  lies  in  an  Oxford 
warehouse,  with  the  smell  of  the  stable  through  it. 

What  a  digression  I  •  Einsam  bin  ich  nicht 
alleine,"  fortunately.  Otherwise  there  would  be 
no  evolution  ^of  a  hospital  idea.  One  man  tried 
to  book  me  for  Manchester,  one  or  two  for  London, 


Achill,  Sligo,  Mayo,  India,  only  not  Kerry  and 
pioneering.  "  Tread  in  respectably-trodden,  ways  " 
was  the  burden  of  their  cry.  ''  Take  to  something 
else  and  give  up  a  luxury  like  a  hospital  for 
Kerry."  X  luxury.  Did  you  ever  need  to  be 
driven  eighteen  miles  with  a  fractured  thigh  ? 
Has  your  wife  bled  to  death  in  childbirth  for  want 
of  help?  Is  it  youT  child  that  goes  lame  for  life 
for   want  of  treatment?     A  luxury! 

There  was  amusement  and  fun  galore  to  be  in- 
dulged in  privately.  Oh,  fellow-women,  are  we  all, 
we  women,  the  fools  of  the  world?  .^nd,  if  not, 
how  comes  it  that  unfailingly  we  are  met  with  the 
calm  assurance  that  it  is  impossible  that  we  should 
have  considered  the  matter  from  a  commousense 
point  of  view  at  all?  Time  after  time,  I  have 
quietly  met  question  after  question,  varying  from 
whether  one  had  any  idea  of  cost,  to  the  gentle 
suggestion  that  if  there  were  an  operating  theatre 
a  supply  of  water  would  be  necessary,  or  from 
whether  I  had  any  plans  to  work  from,  to  the 
assurance  that  "  doon  there  it  is  necessary  to  tie 
on  the  slates."  And  at  the  end  it  has  suddenly 
struck  the  questioner  that  I  knew  what  I  wanted, 
that  I  had  my  plan,  that  I  had  not  sat  down  to 
build  my  tower  without  counting  the  cost,  that  I 
was  a  professed  nurse,  accustomed  to  theatre  work, 
that  even  damp-courses  were  not  a  thing  of 
mystery — that,  in  short,  one  was  a  woman  and  not 
a  court  jester,  nor  an  infant  in  arms.  Oh,  the 
scores  of  dear,  delightful  bogies  that  I  have  slain, 
the  windmills  against  which  I  have  tilted,  the 
scarecrows,  wagged  at  me  by  tlie  friendliest  of 
hands,  which  I  have  demolished.  The  sum  and 
the  summary  of  it  all  was  ''Don't."  But  I  did 
and  do. 

The  best  fun,  almost,  was  a  Board — one  of  the 
forty-seven  or  so  which  rule  our  hapless  country. 
It  was — no,  we  are  not  there  yet.  I  wrote  to  it 
about  some  land;  it  replied,  putting  me  off.  I 
asked  for  further  information  ;  it  referred  me  to 
a  Committee  of  quite  another  kind.  I  interviewed 
the  Committee's  representative  after  several 
ineffectual  attempts.  I  wrote  again  to  the  Board ; 
they  had  nothing  to  offer.  I  wrote  back  that  I 
happened  to  know  that  they  had,  as  I  knew  the 
district,  and  asked  for  details;  they  sent  maps. 
I  iiointcd  out  two  convenient  sites,  and  inquired 
price  and  other  possibilities.  My  letter  was 
■acknowledged."  I  wrote  that  I  would  like  to 
meet  that  Board  and  speak  to  it  face  to  face;  it 
replied  that  the  affair  was  not  sufficiently  ad-  ' 
vanced  and  the  Board  saw  no  advantage  in  an 
interview.  But  I  went,  all  the  same;  it  sits 
seldom,  and  you  have  to  make  the  most  of  it.  I 
sent  in  my  name,  was  received,  had  a  quarter  of 
an  hour's  friendly  talk  with  some  excellent  and 
business-like  and  sympathetic  men,  and  left,  with 
the  land,  so  to  speak,  up  my  sleeve. 

.So  it  was  all  settled.  No,  not  at  all.  Six  weeks 
later  I  had  a  letter.  The  Board  saw  dangers 
ahead — there  are  always  dangers  ahead  of  every 
scheme,  and  if  you  look  round  the  corner  often 
enough  every  house-dog  on  the  road  will  don  the 
features  of  a  wolf.  The  Board  could  not  advise— I 
never  asked  them  to.  By  the  time  I  reached  them 
I  was  already  full  to  bursting-point  with   advice, 


Ill 


trbc  Brttisb  Journal  of  IRiirslng.         [^"s  «  i^io 


and  had  no  room  for  any  more.  Already  I  felt 
Jike  the  honeeii  (that  is,  a  baby  pig)  of  one  of  my 
neighbours,  whioli  had  been  fed  until  one  entertained 
very  serious  doubts  as  to  whether  the  skin  had 
any  stretehing  power  left.  The  Board,  in  short,  re 
gretted.  Bad  cess  to  that  Board  !  Here  was  the 
end  of  the  idea  once  more.  .  I  have  spared  you  the 
account  of  the  six  months'  transaction  which  pre- 
ceded my  application  to  the  Board,  which  had 
already  once  ended  the  idea  in  one  direction.  Oh, 
that  I  had  been  a  dog,  that  I  might  lay  mv  head 
against  a  wall,  uplifted,  and  howl  and  howl  until 
I  was  quit  of  my  misery  by  sheer  force  of  giving 
expression  to  it. 

I  am  afraid  it  may  not  have  been  a  very  nice 
letter  that  I  wrote  to  that  Board.  It  is  long  off 
my  conscience  and  out  of  my  mind,  and  I  can  only 
judge  from  the  answer  before  me.  It  does  not 
somehow  look  to  me  as  if  my  letter  could  have 
expressed  any  appreciation  of  the  Board's  grand- 
fatherly  care  of  nie,  for  it  was  no  other  than  that 
which  had  dictated  theirs.-  I  almost  think,  from 
the  gently  sarcastic  tone,  that  I  may  have  hinted 
that  woman  and  foAl  were  not  in  the  same  column 
of  the  dictionary,  nor  absolutely  synonymous 
terms.  I  assure  you  its  answer  was  quite  reproach- 
ful. It  hadn't,  I  think,  meant  all  it  said,  and 
couldn't  understand  at  all  any  connection  between 
folly  and  the  feminine  mind— "and — I  must  go  my 
own  way;  they  would  adhere  to  their  bargain. 
It  is,  as  I  mentioned  before,  a  beautiful  Board. 
AYlien  we  say  that  in  Kerry  we  mean  something 
really  good.  At  the  same  time  it  made  me  feel 
like  a  bull-dog;  do  you  love  bull-dogs?  I  don't; 
their  expression  is  too  essentially  British.  I  had 
got  a  grip  at  last,  and  someone  had  been  trying 
to  choke  me  off,  but  had  fortunately  forgotten  the 
pepper,  and  I  was  still  holding  oh.  Heaven  send 
fhnt  if.  mir/ht   be  the  rioht  leg!  Erix. 

BERIBERI  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 
The  Surgeon-General  of  the  United  States  Public 
Health  and  Marine  Hosi»ital  Service  draws  atten- 
tion in  a  Memorandum  in  n  recent  issue  of  the 
Public  Health  Keports  to  the  experiments  de- 
scribed in  the  Lancet  which  led  Rrs.  Fraser  and 
Stanton  to  attribute  the  origin  of  beri-bori  to  a 
deficiency  of  i>hosi)horus  in  the  diet.  The  deficiency 
is  caused  by  the  removal,  in  the  process  of  milling, 
of  the  superficial  layers  of  the  rice-grain  in  which 
is  contained  the  highest  proportion  of  phosphorus. 
It  is  quite  possible  that  it  may  be  found  that, 
altogether  ajiart  from  a  preponderance  of  rice,  a 
dietary  might  be  constituted  in  a  public  institu- 
tion so  as  to  contain  an  insufficient  amount  of  the 
phosphorus  which  is  necessary  for  the  nutrition  of 
normal  nerve  tissue,  and  that  in  this  way  an  out- 
"  break  of  heri-beri  might  arise  among  the  inmates 
of  the  establishment.  The  dietaries  of  asylums, 
prisons,  and  the  like  are  often  nionotnnoris  and 
lacking  in  variety,  and  their  continued  use  for  iiro- 
tractcd  periods  may  lead  io  deterioration  of  health. 
T*^  istherefore  yirobable  that  careful  investigation 
of  re|)ortcd  beri-beri  cases  by  competent  experts 
may  add  1o  the  common  stock  of  knowledge  respcct- 


disinfection  HDcasures  in  lEn* 
tcric  JTcvcr. 


It  is  an  accepted  axiom  among  sanitarians  that 
the  health  conditions  of  a  district  may  be  fairly 
gauged  by  the  presence  or  absence  of  typhoid  fever. 
Sporadic  and  imported  cases  will  occur  from  time 
to  time  in  the  best  regulated  communities,  but  the 
average  number  of  notifications  over  a  period  of 
years  usually  indicate  whether  the  sanitary  ad- 
ministration of  the  di.strict  is  on  sound  lines.  The 
bacillus  typhosus  is  fortunately  easily  killed  by 
chemical  disinfectants,  whether  in  vitro  or  outside 
the  body,  and  the  leading  authorities  are  agreed  as 
to  the  precautions  to  be  adopted  in  its  presence. 

The  most  usual  cause  of  typhoid  epidemics  is  by 
polluted  food  or  water,  but  direct  infection  is  by 
no  means  rare,  especially  amongst  nurses  in  atten- 
dance on  cases. 

The  excreta  of  patients  is,  of  course,  highly  in- 
fectious, and  it  is  known  that  flies  will  carry  infec- 
tion on  their  legs  and  wings  from  excreta  to  articles 
of  food.  Urine  and  sputum  also  contain  the  bacil- 
lus, so  it  is  obvious  that  all  excretions  and  dis- 
charges from  typhoid  cases  must  be  thoroughly 
disinfected.  Dr.  F.  W.  Andrewes,  who  has  dealt 
with  this  subject  at  length  in  his  book,  "  Lessons 
in  Disinfection,"  suggests  that  when  the  discharges 
have  to  be  poured  away  dl>wn  a  water  closet  they 
should  be  intimately  mixed  with  Izal  or  other  dis- 
infectant of  such  strength  that  the  disinfectant 
forms  at  least  1  part  in  100  of  the  total  mixture, 
all  lumps  being  well  broken  up.  They  should  stand 
foi  some  hours  in  contact  with  this  disinfectant 
before  being  poured  away.  In  the  absence  of  a 
water  closet  system,  the  excreta  after  sufficient 
.soaking  in  the  disinfectant  should  be  deeply  buried 
in  the  groiind  at  some  spot  far  removed  from  any 
source  of  water  supply. 

Such  precautions  as  are  outlined  above  will  pre- 
vent any  widespread  infection,  but  tho.se  engaged 
in  the  actual  work  of  nursing  are  always  liable  to 
transfer  infection  by  their  hands  to  their  mouth. 
Dr.  Andrewes  writes  on  this  point:  "When  one 
considers  the  frequency  of  diarrhoea  in  typhoid 
fever,  and  the  commonness  with  which  the  bed- 
clothes and  linen  are  soiled  by  the  discharges,  it  is 
obvious  that  nothing  can  prevent  infection  of  the 
nurse's  hands,  and  sometimes  of  her  attire."  This 
being  so  it  is  of  essential  importance  that  the 
nuree  should  frequently  and  thoroughly  scrub  her 
hands  with  soap,  hot  water,  and  a  nail  brush,  pay- 
ing especial  attention  to  the  nails,  and  afterwards 
the  hands  should  be  rinsed  in  a  dilute  solution 
of  Izal  or  other  efficiont  disinfectant.  Considera- 
tions of  space  prevent  reference  here  to  the  internal 
use  of  antiseptics  for  the  prevention  of  infection 
in  eiiteric  fever,  but  a  paper  by  Dr.  A.  Kynvett 
Gordon,  formerly  ^fedical  Superintendent  of  the 
Mousall  Hospital  at  ^ranchestcr,  on  this  subject, 
has  been  published  by  Messrs.  Newton,  Chambers, 
and  Co..  Ltd..  of  Tliorncliffe,  near  Sheffield,  and 
will  be  forwarded  by  them  on  receipt  of  a  post- 
card. 


Aiil;.  C,    I'.Un 


Zhc  Britisf)  3ournaI  of  ittiu;?ino. 


ir 


©ut5i&c  the  6atct5. 


MEN. 

Miss  Mason,  the  first 
woman  inspector  in  any 
Government  De^iart- 

ment,  has  been  ))ro- 
iented,  on  her  retire- 
ment, with  her  portrait 
as  a  national  testi- 
monial, an<l  last  week 
"as  the  hostess  at  Mr. 
I  tlie  Fiilham  Eoad,  whore 
Miss  Mason  has  2-5  yoars' 
.'xperience  as  Chiet  Inspector  of  Poor-Law  Children, 
and  her  splendid  work  in  this  capacity  is  widely  re- 
cognise<i.  Her  tenn  of  service  began  when  Mr. 
Balfour  was  President  of  the  Local  Government 
Board,  and  she  has  worke<l  under  a  dozen  presi- 
dents, including  Mr.  John  Bums. 


Touching  on  the  question  of  the  "Vote."'  and 
the  economic  iX)Sition  of  nui-S€«,  Miss  Dock  writes: — 
"  The  vote  from  which  1  hojyed  so  much  for  you 
is  deferred,  evidently  in  a  manner  to  make  the 
heart  sick.  But.  of  course,  we  must  not,  and  can- 
not, despair;  only  it  is  really  a  hard  mountain  to 
move,  this  mountain  of  economic  and  legal  in- 
feriority of  position.  Added  to  it,  to  make  it  wor.se, 
this  silent,  undying  antagonism  between  higher 
spiritual  nobility  of  thought  and  purpose  :  and  dense, 
Ijrute.  selfish  determination  to  dominate  and  crush 
out  the  higher.  Well,  well!  I  fear  I  am  gloomy. 
You  nee<l  cheer  and  inspiration  from  without,  not 
gloom  and  bemoanings.  Love  and  loyalty  to  you 
all,  splendid  fight«rs  for  the  right." 


•Boo\\  of  tbe  "CUleeh. 


LETTERS  TO  MY  SON. 

There  are  mothers  and  mothers,  some  full  of  the 
love  and  wisdom  which  increase  with  increasing 
years,  and  some  who  never  seem  to  understand 
what  niotherhcxxl  means.  Nurses  and  niidwivos  meet 
with  all  kinds,  but  even  they  are  apt  to  forget  that 
motherhood  begins  long  before  they  are  called  into 
the  field  of  action,  and  that  mothers  have  hoi>ei, 
tears,  longings,  and.  anxieties  which,  unless  they  are 
oi  a  very  sympathetic  and  understaiidiug  nature, 
they  are  apt  to  overlook  altogether. 

For  this,  amongst  other  re>a90us,  they  should 
lead  ■■  Letters  to  My  Son."  written  by  an  anony- 
mous, expectant  mother,  and  published  by  Chapman 
and  Hall,  the  first  of  which  explains  why  they  were 
written : — 

■•  Little  .son,  these  letters  are  for  you,  so  that  if 
1  should  not  live  to  sec  you  grow  up,  if  I  should 
have  to  leave  you  before  ever  your  eyes  look  at 
me  or  your  voice  cry  to  nie,  you  .should  know  how 
much  I  loved  you,  and  you  would  be  able  to  come 
'o  them  for  the  comfort  I  would  hare  given  to  you 
t  I  had  lived.     .     . 

••  There  will  be  times,  both  as  a  boy  land  as  a  man, 
when  it  will  seem  as  if  an  end  had  come  to  every- 


thing, and  there  is  noi  one  ix>r,son  on  earth  who  can 
help.  It  will  not  be  true,  toi;  while  life  and  reason 
last  the  end  does  not  come.  But  when  it  happens, 
child  of  my  heart,  come  away  to  me  and  we  will 
talk  it  out  together.  We  will  be  foolish  together 
and  wise  together,  and  at  last  strong  together, 
because  when  I  was  in  the  world  it  seemed  as  il 
there  was  no  furnace  that  I  did  not  have  to  tread; 
and  even  though  it  blistered  and  seared,  yet  it 
taught  me  to  know  all  the  pain — and  all  the  joy — 
that  the  earth  holds.     ... 

■■  Oh,  little  thing;  if  your  mammy  has  to  leave 
you,  and  by  any  chance  gets  to  heaven,  they  won't 
keep  her  very  long.  She'll  always  be  leaning  out 
of  a  toi>*torey  window  trying  to  catch  sight  of  her 
baby  as  he  goes  out  for  his  walk,  or  else  forgetting 
to  do  her  singing  while  she  worries  about  his 
gaiters  being  long  enough  or  his  vests  warm 
enough.  Heaven  and  earth  will  have  changed 
places  then,  and  I  shall  be  on  the  wrong  side. 

■  But  I  shall  have  had  you  all  the  beautiful  time 
you  were  coming. 

■■  God  bless  you,  little  precious." 

And  so  for  this  son,  whom,  perchance,  she  may 
never  see,  the  mother-to-be  writes  her  letters, 
loving,  tender,  and  wise.  "On  a  Discovery" — the 
discovery  that  after  seven  long  years  the  gift  of 
motherhood  was  to  be  hers — •"  On  Fathers  and 
Mothers,"  "On  Anger,"  "On  Religion,"  "On  Re- 
specting the  Body,"  and  others,  twelve  in  all. 

This  is  how  she  writes  to  her  son :  — 

"  I  want  you  once  and  for  always  to  get  it  out  of 
jour  dear  little  head  that  Oliver  and  I  are  Grown- 
ups, with  capital  G's,  therefore  incapable  of  un- 
derstanding the  joys  and  pleasures  and  pains  ,that 
belong  to  you  as  a  child  and  a  boy.  Oh,  beloved, 
we  aren't  realty  old.'  although  Oliver  rides  a  horse 
without  a  groom  at  his  bridle,  and  I  haven't  worn 
pinafores  for  quite  a  long  time.  But  our  hearts 
ride  their  ponies  and  tear  their  pinafores  just  the 
same  as  ever,  believe  that."     And  again:  — 

"Oh.  little  thing,  as  you  lie  beneath  my  heart, 
I  would  think  great  and  tender  things,  that  you  in 
the  quietness  of  your  growing  time  may  grow  as 
great  and  loving  as  I  myself  would  like  to  be." 

So  she  pens  the  letters  to  her  baby,  this  mother 
whose  "  heart  goes  out  in  a  great  longing  to  live  "' 
because  there  are-  so  many  things  she  can  do  for 
husband  and  child  which  they  cannot  do  for  them- 
selves. 

It  is  the  glory  of  midwives  that  through  their 
agency  the  maternal  mortality  rate  has  been  appre- 
ciably reduced.  Yet  it  would  seem  that  many  ex- 
pectant mothers  are  haunted  by  the  fear  that  as 
the  new  life  which  they  desire  to  shield  and  guard 
comes  into  the  world,  their  own  will  go  otit,  and 
that  indeed  the  chances  are  about  even.  W-hat  is 
the  fact?  In  cases  attended  by  midwives  working 
in  connection  with  the  Queen  Victoria's  -Jubilee 
Institute,  the  m,iternal  mortality  is  something  less 
than  one  per  thousand.  Cannot  midwives  do 
something  to  lessen  this  fear  of  death  on  the  part 
of  expectant  mothers  by  proving  to  them  hoir 
great  is  the  ground  for  anticipating  life? 

P.  G.  Y. 


lis 


^be  HSiitisb  Journal  of  IRursing, 


[Aug.  6,  1010 


letter?  to  tbe  EMtov. 


Wkilsf  cordially  inviting  com- 
munications upon  all  subjectl 
/oT  these  columns,  we  uish  it 
to  be  distinctly  understood 
that  we  do  7iot  in  ant  wat 
hold  ourselves  responsible  jor 
the  opinions  expressed  by  our 
correspondents. 


THE   PERSONAL    POINT  OF  VIEW. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 

Deai!  Madam.— Ill  .speaking  of  R<?gi.sti«tiou  of 
Xui-ses  to  st'veral  matroii.'i  I  have  l>een  clisa])i>oiiited 
to  find  that  they  look  at  the  question  from  a  pnrely 
personal  point  of  vie«-,  and  .seldom  with  that  width 
of  vision  l)y  whioli  the  nui-sing  of  the  .sick  and 
Ijrofession  of  nni-ses  slionld  ]ye  approached.  The 
question  invariably  is:  "How  will  it  effect  small 
hospitals — or  fever,  or  special  hospitals — sncli  as 
mine?  "  Seldom,  "  How  will  it  effect  numing  and 
patients  as  a  whole?"  This  is  the  more  i^rsonal 
because  almost  invariably  these  matrons  are  trained 
and  certificated  general  nurses,  who.  wisely  in  their 
own  case,  lealissxl  the  importance  of  general  train- 
ing. Of  course,  I  know  "committees"  loom 
largely  in  the' matter,  and  as  nui-sing  has  been,  and 
is,  merely  a  domestic  incident  in  their  arrange- 
ments, and  as  under  the  voluntary  hospital  sys- 
tems .such  committees  ooncern  them.selves  primarily 
with  financial  as  apart  from  educational  questions, 
and  are  independent  of  any  real  responsibility  to 
Hie  nulling  profession  as  such,  each  one  is  fighting 
for  it.«  own  hand  without  any  system  of  co-operation, 
and  many  matrons  find  themselves  i^reventcd  from 
taking  any  part  in  furthering  professional  interests. 
I  was  conversing  with  a  very  keen  woman  of  busi- 
ness the  other  day  who  expressed  the  opinion  that 
the  selfish  isolation  of  voluntary  hospitals  meant 
tliat  sooiKT  or  later  they  would  be  placed  under 
control  and  supervision  of  a  central  authority,  and 
slie  considered  it  was  time  it  was  done,  and  that 
this  cut-throa+  financial  struggle  to  maintain  a 
■system  of  individualism  in  hospitals  was  stopi>ed. 
It  was  injurious  to  the  best  interests  of  the  patients 
and  nurses.  At  present  there  was  protection  tor 
iKuther.  Slie  advocated  a  Minister  and  Board  of 
Health,  under  whidi  department  the  health  of  the 
nation  could  l>e  conserved  and  medical  and  nursing 
education  be  adequately  provided  for  without  this 
everlasting  l)egging.  borrowing,  and  waste.  Tlie 
whole  question  of  national  efficiency  and  power  of 
competition  in  the  future  depends  ujxni  physical 
))urity,  and  at  present  the  forces 'fighting  for  .such 
efficiency  need  co-ordinating  so  that  tlie  ghastly 
depravity  existent  in  the  slum  home  shall  come 
under  such  laws  .as  will  stamp  it  out.  At  present  we 
go  on  m.innfactiiriiig  decadents,  the  hospitals  com- 
pete in  patching  th<Mii  up,  and  without  a  standard 
of  nursing  there  is  much  boggliilg  at  that. 

Hoping  you  can  find  space  for  this  letter  in  your 
valiinblo  Journal. 

Vi.Mi-^  Inily, 

A    MlDLAXIv   >[athon. 


"  WAIT  AND  SEE.  ' 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 
Dear  ^Iadam, — A  London  man  recently  said  to 
a  Bart's  muse:  "AVe  are  chuckling  at  the  London 
over  this  apijointnient — that  you  will'  have  to 
knuckle  under  to  a  Londoner."  Tliank  God  I  am 
out  c.\  it. 

Your-,  truly. 

OrxnAGKi). 
[Our  correspondent    wrote  man. — Ed.] 


dommenty  an^  TRcpIics. 

Miss  C.  T..  B i rn, i If iiham.— The  article,  "Thou 
Shalt  do  no  Murder,"  by  the  Hon.  Albinia 
Brodrick,  appeared  in  last  month's  Fortnightly 
Bevieir.  It  is  all  nonsense  that  such  an  article  is 
injurious  to  the  best  interests  of  nureiug,  or  an 
attack  on  the  nui-sing  pi-of ession .  The  i>eople  who 
injure  trained  nurses  are  those  who,  through 
monopolising  power  over  them,  and  their  earnings, 
do  all  in  their  power  to  prevent  nurses  helping 
themselves  to  improve  their  own  work.  We  have  a 
box  full  of  newspaixu-  cuttings  dealing  with  such 
cases  as  Jliss  Brodrick  reports.  Husiiing  up  abuses 
is  the  only  really  injurious  policy.  Read  the 
article  and  do  all  in  your  power  to  pievent  these 
"  uiurders."  The  Pklitor  will  be  grateful  lor 
cuttings  from  local  pai>ers  dealing  with  the  injuTy 
to  the  sick  through  ineflacient  nui-sing. 


IRoticcs. 

The  British  Journal  of  Nursing  is  the  official 
organ  of  the  following  important  Nursing  socie- 
ties :  — 

The  International  Council  of  Nurses. 

The  National  Council  of  Trained  Nurses  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland. 

The  Matrons'  Council  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland. 

The  Society  for  the  State  Registration  of 
Trained  Nurses. 

The  Registered  Nurses'   Society. 

The  School  Nurses'  League. 

THE  SOCIETY  FOR  THE  STATE  REGISTRATION 
OF  TRAINED  NURSES. 

Those  desirous  of  helping  on  the  important 
movement  of  this  Societ.v  to  obtain  an  Act  pro- 
viding for  the  Legal  Registration  of  Trained 
Nurses  can  obtain  all  information  concerning  the 
Society  and  its  work  from  the  Hon.  Secretary,  431, 
Oxford  Street.  Loudon,  W. 

An  application  form  for  these  who  wish  to  become 
members  of  the  Society  for  the  State  Registration 
of  Trained  Nurses  will  be  found  on  page  iv.  of  cover. 
It  will  soon  be  too  late  to  help  on  the  important 
work  of  this  Society.  No  habitual  reader  of  this 
journal  can,  we  feel  sure,  be  content  to  stand  aside 
and  let  others  found  the  future  Profes.sion  of 
Nursing.    Now  is  the  time  to  help. 

OUR  PUZZLE  prize:. 

Rules  for  competing  for  the  Pictorial  Puzzle 
Prize  will  be  found  on  Advertisement  page  xii. 


Aug.  G,  loioj  ^i5e  Briti9b  3ournal  of  iRursino  Supplement. 

The    Midwife. 


no 


^be  Central  fBXbwives'  a5oal*^. 

THE  MONTHLY   MEETING. 
A  meeting  of  tlio  Central  ^[idwives'  Board  was 
hold   at   the   Hoard   Uooni,    Caxton   House,    AVest- 
luinster,   on     Thursday,    July     28tli,    Sir     Francis 
C'hanipneys  presiding. 

Correspondence. 
A  letter  was  roorivod  from  the  Home  Secretary, 
conveying  the  thanks  of  the  King  for  the  Board,"s 
loyal  and  dutiful  resolution  of  sympathy  on  the 
occasion  of  the  lamented  death  of  his  late  Majesty 
King  Mwjud  the  Seventh  and  of  congratulation  on 
hit.  Majesty's  accession  to  the  throne. 

REroRT  OF  St.vndi.vg  Committee. 
A  letter  was  received  from  the  Clerk  of  the 
Council,  transmitting  the  copy  of  a  letter  addressed 
to  him  Ijy  the  lx>rd  ilayor  of  Mnuchester,  witli  a 
copy  of  a  resolution  passed  by  the  City  Council, 
suggesting  the  omission  of  the  words  '  'conducted 
for  profit  "  in  Clause  15  of  the  Midwives  Bill,  1910, 
as  introduced  into  the  House  of  Lords  by  Lord 
Wolverhampton. 

[Clause  15  provides  that  any  officer  appointed  by 
a  Ix)cal  Supervising  Authority  shall  have  power  at 
all  reas<inal)le  times  to  enter  any  premises  which 
ho  has  reason  to  believe  to  be  a  lying-in  homo,  in 
which  a  certified  midwife  is  employed  or  practises, 
or  in  which  a  woman  not  a  certified  midwife  prac- 
tises in  contravention  of  the  principal  Act.] 

It  was  agreed  to  reply  that  the  Board  observes 
that  the  suggested  amendment  has  been  carried 
out  in  the  Midwives  (No.  2)  Bill,  1910. 

A  letter  was  received  from  the  Medical  Officer  of 
Health  for  Leicester  as  .to  the  "covering"  by  a 
cortifitxl  midwife  of  Emma  Measom,  whose  name 
has  been  removed  from  the  Roll. 

The  Board  recommended  that  inquiries  should  be 
made  as  to  whether  Emma  Measom  has  ever  de- 
livered a  patient  by  hor.self  since  her  name  was 
removed  from  the  Roll,  or  whether  she  has  visited  ■ 
a   patient  unaccompanied  by  the  other  midwife. 

It  was  decided  to  reply  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Medical  Defence  Uniou,  and  to  another  from  a 
rogisteretl  medical  practitioner,  comiilaining  of 
advertisements  by  midwives,  that  the  midwives 
concerned  did  not  appear  to  have  infringed  any 
rule  of  the  Board. 

.V  letter  was  received  from  the  Clerk  of  the 
London  County  Council  as  to  a  charge  of  miscon- 
duct brought  by  a  certified  midwife  against  another 
certified  midwife  formerly   in  her  employment. 

The  Board  decided  to  request  the  Local  Super- 
vising Authority  for  the  County  of  London  to  trace 
the  midwife,  if  possible,  and,  if  she  can  be  com- 
municated with,  to  consider  whether  a  prima  facie 
case  of  misconduct  has  been  established  against  her. 
.V  letter  was  read  from  a  certified  midwife,  in- 
quiring as  to  the  necessity  of  notification  of  inten- 
tion to  practise  whore,  though  a  doctor  is  always 
engaged  for  a  case,  she  herself  habitually  delivers 
the  patient. 


The  Standing  Committee  recommended  "  that 
the  midwife  bo  informed  that  she  would  be-right  in 
notifying  the  Local  Supervising  Authority  under 
the  circumstances  mentioned,"  but  Mr.  Parker 
Young  objected.  The  midwife,  as  shown  in  her 
letter,  lived  in  a  doctor's  house,  and  acted  as  his 
assistant  in  midwifery.  He  moved  an  amendment 
that  the  midwife  be  informed  that  under  the  cir- 
cum.stances  it  is  unnecessary  for  her  to  notify,  a.s 
the  doctor  is  rcsponsil)le.     Miss  Paget  seconded. 

The  Chairman  objected  to  the  amendment,  on  the 
ground  that  it  would  be  undignified  of  the  Board 
to  give  an  opinion  which  might  land  the  midwife 
in  a  prosecution. 

Eventually  the  amendment  was  withdrawn,  an  I 
the  Board  decided  to  reply  that  "  inasmuch  as  the 
question  involves  points  of  law  the  Board  do  not 
consider  it  their  province  to  advise." 

-Y  letter  was  re<-eived  from  a  pupil  midwife  com- 
plaining that  the  approved  midwife  under  whose 
supervision  she  had  taken  her  cases  declined  to  sign 
the  necessary  certificat(>  in  respect  thereof.  It  was 
decided  to  refer  the  pupil  midwife  to  the  terms  of 
tlio  certificate,  as  given  in  Form  III.  in  the  schedule 
of  the  rules  of  the  Board,  and  in  jiarticular  to  the 
word.s,  "to  my  satisfaction." 

Applications  Respecting  Roll. 
The  applications  of  five  certified  midwives  for 
removal  of  their  names  from  the  Roll  were  granted. 
The  application  of  Emily  Catherine  Bligh  Hall, 
late  Xo.  13941,  for  the  restoration  of  her  name  to 
the  Roll,  after  removal  on  voluntary  application, 
was  granted. 

The  applications  of  fifty  midwives  for  certificates 
under  Rule  B2  were  granted. 

The  application  of  the  authorities  of  the  Oldham 
Union  Infirmary  for  its  recognition  as  a  training 
school  was  granted. 

The  applications  of  the  following  medical  practi- 
tioners for  approval  as  teachers  were  granted:  — 
Dr.  F.  R.  Cassidi,  Mr.  W.  G.  Copestake, 
M.R.C.S.E.,  Miss  H.  E.  E  M.  A.  Greene,  L.S.A.. 
Dr.  Robert  Laurie,  Dr.  F.  Chown,  D.P.H.,  Mr. 
F.  C.   Morgan,  M.R.C.S.,  Dr.  Henry  Robinson. 

Applications  for  approval  to  sign  Forms  III.  and 
IV.  from  the  following  midwives  were  granted:  — 
Marian  Ancott  (No.  23288),  Rose  Fremont  Grvlls 
(No.  6319),  Annie  Martha  Snook  (No.  29962).  ' 

The  Secretary  made  a  report  on  the  examination 
on  June  loth,  and  presented  the  analysis  of  train- 
ing, which  showed  the  i^ercentage  of  failures  from 
training  schools  to  be  13.7  per  cent.,  from  pupils 
under  private  tuition  24  per  cent. — total,  17.2  per 
cent. 

As  September  30th  is  the  last  day  on  which  appli- 
cations for  admission  to  the  Roll  under  Rule  B2 
can  be  considered,  it  was  agreed  to  hold  a  Standing 
Committee  on  that  day,  to  be  followet?  by  a  special 
meeting  of  the  Board,  dealing  only  wit>li  the  grant- 
ing of  such  applications.  The  next  regi:lar  meeting 
of  the  Board  will  be  held  on  October  6th. 


120 


?rbe  Bvitisb  3ournal  of  H^urstng  Supplement.    f-^"g-  6,  i9io 


PENAL  CASES. 

Special  meetings  ot  the  Central  Miclwiree.'  Board, 
under  the  provisions  of  Rule  D.5,  were  held  at  the 
Board  Room,  Caxton  House,  S.W.,  on  Wednesday, 
July  20th,  and  Thursday,  July  21st,  when  the  fol- 
lowing cases  were  considered. 

Ch.^hges  Dismissed. 

Those  which  occupied  most  time,  and  which  were 
legallv  defended,  were  (1)  the  case  of  Mary  Jane 
Barrett  (8233)  Xewport  (Mon.)  (L.O.S.  certificate). 
The  Board,  after  a  careful  investigation  of  the 
charges,  occupying  2i  hours,  considered  that  the 
allegations  as  to  not  explaining  that  a  case  was  one 
requiring  medical  assistance  were  not  proved,  and 
as  regarded  the  employment  of  uncertified  sub- 
stitutes, the  Board  was  satisfied  that  such  substi- 
tuttti  were  employed  as  pupils,  and  did  their  duty. 
Miss  Barrett  is  to  be  congratulated  that  she  was 
able  to  disprove  the  charges  preferred  against  her. 
Once  again  the  case  is  one  in  which  a  midwife  ap- 
peared in  person  before  the  Board  to  answer  the 
charges  against  her,  and  she  had  a  complete  answer. 
(2)  In  connection  with  charges  of  negligence  and 
misconduct  against  Elizabeth  Ann  Evans  (28623), 
Glamorgan  (C'.if.B.  Examination),  the  Board  also 
considered  the  indictment  not  proved.  (3)  In  the 
case  of  Mary  Anne  Goldsby  (11114),  Worcestershire, 
charged  with  negligence  and  misconduct,  the  Board 
did  not  consider  the  charges  proved. 

SiRrCK    OFF    THE   RoLL. 

The  following  certified  midwives  were  struck  off 
the   Roll   and  their  certificates   cancelled:  — 

Charlotte  Bates  (-1012),  Stoke-on-Trent,  charged 
with  not  advising  that  tlie  attendance  of  a  medical 
practitioner  was  required  in  the  case  of  an  infant 
suffering  from  inflammation   of  the   eyes. 

.\nne  Chivers  (20722)  Somerset,  charged  with  per- 
sistently neglecting  to  provide  herself  with  neces- 
sarv  appliances,  etc. 

Emma  Frost  (1586),  Beds,  charged  with  various 
offences  against  the  rules. 

Severely  Censured. 
Sarah  Harvey  (-dO.?.?),  Stoke-on-Trent,  charged 
with  negligence  and  misconduct  in  not  advising 
that-  a  registered  medical  practitioner  should  he 
called  in  in  a  case  of  inflammation  of  the  eyes,  and 
of  informing  the  mother  that  medical  advice  was 
unnecessary,  as  she  was  quite  capable  of  dealing 
with  the  case. 

Ellen  Potter  (20264).  Sheffield,  charge<l  with 
negligence  and  misconduct  in  not  advising  that 
medical  assistance  should  be  sent  for  in  a  case  of 
inflamed  eyes  in  an  infant  and  in  other  offences 
against  the  rtiles. 

Censured. 
Elizabeth  Jane  Haines  (20651),  S<>ii..r4Mt    rb.Trwd 
with  negligence  and  misconduct. 
Cautioned. 
.\nnie  Jane  Hewitt  (9612),  Salop  (L.O..S.  ccrti- 
iicate),  charged  with  negligence  and  misconduct  in 
not  advising  that  medical  advice  should   be  sum- 
moned when  a  patient  was  suffering  from  an  offen- 
sive and"bloody  discharge,  and  from  vomiting,  and 
»  ith  other  offences  against  the  rules. 

The  consideration  of  one  case  was  adjourned. 


tlbc  fIDiDwives  (IRo.  2)  Bill. 


The  -Midwives"  Bill  introduced  into  the  House 
of  Lord.s  by  the  Lord  President  of  the  Council,  Earl 
Beauchamp,  was  read  a  third  time  and  passed  on 
Monday  last.  It  now  goes  to  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, where  we  understand  that  opposition  will  be 
offered  to  Clause  17,  which  provides  that  Boards  of 
Guardians  shall  be  made  responsible  for  the  pay- 
ment of  fees  of  medical  practitioners  summoned  on 
the  advice  of  midwives. 


Z\K  XXnion  ot  nOi&\vivc». 


A  sale  of  work  and  eutertaininent  arranged  by 
the  Union  of  Midwives  in  aid  of  the  funds  of  the 
I'nion  were  held  at  the  Cavendish  Rooms,  Mortimer 
Street  last  week.  The  entertainment  commenced 
at  8  p.m..  and,  considering  the  time  of  year,  the 
house  filled  well.  Tlie  following  aitist&s  gave  tlieir 
services:  Miss  Tomes  (soprano).  Miss  Barton 
(piani"t),  Miss  Glynn  (harp).  Miss  D'Aicy,  and  Mr. 
Bristowe  (recitations).  Air.  Frank  Virgo  (liari- 
tone).  The  I'nion  is  founded  on  trade 
union  lines,  but  the  subscription  is  very  small. 
The  members  organised  the  sale  of  work  to  help  to 
defray  their  initial  expenses.  One  of  the  objects 
for  which  the  I'nion  was  formed  is  to  promote 
direct  representation  of  midwives  on  the  Central 
Midwives'  Board,  in.which  good  work  they  have  the 
hearty  sympathy  of  this  Journal. 

The  Union  was  only  founded  last  April,  but  it 
already  has  a  membership  of  400.  The  President 
is  Mrs.  Robinson,  and  the  Secretary,  Mrs.  Carn<".:ie 
Williams.     Its  address  is  33,  Strand,  W.C. 


Mi«.  Owens,  certified  midwife,  of  1  and  3,  Maiden 
Crescent.  KentiJi  Town,  was  recently  "At  Home" 
to  members  oi  the  Union  of  Midwives  and  their 
friends.  Among  the  guests  were:  Mi's.  Robinson 
(President  and  Founder  of  the  Union),  Mi-s.  Row- 
den.  Mrs.  Hailes,  and  Miss  Webb  (membei's  of  the 
Committee).  Despite  showery  and  gloomy  weather 
a  most  enjoyable  afternoon  was  .spent,  and  several 
new  members  joined  the  Union. 


Ibospital  Sun^a^  Jfun^  a\val•^5. 

The  Council  ot  the  Hospital  Sunday  Fund  i.as 
approved  of  the  tollowing  awards  for  tlie  year 
1910,  recommended  bj'  the  Committee  of  Distribu- 
tion:— British  Lying-in  Hospital,  ■  Endell  Street, 
!;124  lis.  8d.  :  City  of  London  Lying-in  Hospital, 
City  Road,  £200:  Claphani  Maternity  Hospital  and 
Disi)ensary.  t;38  lis.  8d.  ;  East  End  Alothers'  Home, 
fcS'i  Os.  lOd. ;  Geiu'irtl  Lying-in  Hospital,  Laml)et:i, 
£143  l-5s.  ;  Plaistow  .Maternity  H<»>pital,  £43  9< 
6d. ;  Queen  Charlotte's  Lying-in  Hospital,  Maryie- 
hone  Road,  £.50i) :  Home  for  Mothers  and  Bnlvi^. 
Woolwich,  .£62  5s.  lOd. 


THE 

WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 
EDITED  BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


No.  1,167. 


SATURDAY,     AUGUST     13,     1910. 


lEMtorial. 


THE   MEDICAL   INSPECTION   OF  SCHOOL 
CHILDREN. 

At  the  third  International  Congress  of 
School  Hygiene  Mrs.  Cloudesley  Brereton 
presented  a  most  interesting  paper  dealing 
with  the  medical  inspection  of  school 
children,  which,  as  she  pointed  out,  is  not 
only  a  new  subject  but  embodies  a  new 
ideal  as  to  education  as  a  whole — i.e.,  the 
idea  that  education  deals  with  bodies  as 
well  as  minds,  and  that  as  minds  cannot  be 
pent  to  school  to  be  taught  wliile  bodies 
stay  at  home  to  be  cared  for,  educational 
authorities  must  ofticiallyreeognise  the  body. 

The  following  points  were  insisted  on  by 
the  speaker  : 

1.  The  co-operation  of  the  mothers  of  the 
children  of  every  school  must  be  enlisted  ; 
they  must  learn  to  realise  that  medical 
inspection  is  not  designed  in  order  to  relieve 
them  of  responsibility,  but  to  help  them 
to  fullil  their  own  responsibilities,  and  that 
the  work  of  the  school  doctor  and  the  mother 
must  go  hand  in  hand,  or  much  of  the  ex- 
pense and  experience  of  medical  inspection 
will  be  useless.  It  would  be  worse  than 
useless  if  the  mother  thought  that  Ijecause 
the  child  was  medically  inspected  at  school 
that  the  laws  of  health  coitld  be  disregarded 
in  the  home. 

2.,  The  value  of  the  work  of  voluntary 
educated  social  workers  in  visiting  the 
homes  of  the  children  and  explaining  to 
the  mothers  the  worth  of  the  medical  advice 
given,  for  which  parents  in  a  higher  rank  of 
life  would  have  to  paj'  a  substantial  fee ; 
further  that  it  is  for  the  parents  to  give 
effect  to  this  advice,  or  the  treatment  pre- 
scribed by  the  doctor  will  be  uselesBS.  It 
must  be  brought  home  to  parents  that  the 
doctor  is  the  signpost  pointing  the  way, 
the  school  nurse  and  the, ladies'  committee 


guides  on  the  way,  but  that  the  real  passen- 
gers are  the  parents  and  children,  and  the 
destination  the  home ;  that,  in  fact,  the 
whole  crux  of  the  matter  rests  with  the 
mothers,  with  the  breeding  and  early  rear- 
ing of  children. 

3.  -Mrs.  Brereton  is  careful  to  point  out 
that  the  fact  of  fatherhood  is '  an  essential 
factor  in  the  problem,  and  any  system  of 
race  regeneration  which  ignores  it  is  bound 
to  be  one-sided.  But,  nevertheless,  it  is  true 
that  the  primary  responsibilitj-  in  the  home 
rests  largely  with  the  mother,  and  it  is  there- 
fore desirable  to  give  simple  lessons  as  to  the 
best  means  of  attaining  cleanliness,  cheap 
and  wholesome  methods  of  feeding,  the 
necessity  for  adecjuate  sleep,  clean  bedding, 
and  open  windows.  In  short,  the  sanitary 
conscience  of  the  home  must  be  aroused,  so 
that  less  and  less  shall  be  wrong  when  the 
children  shall  arrive  at  school  age. 

i.  A  point  referred  to  as  of  great  value 
in  maintaining  efficient  school  inspection 
is  that  the  scbool  nurse  should,  where  pos- 
sible, keep  a  record  for  the  doctor  of  those 
parents  who  did  not  accompany  their 
children  to  the  medical  inspection,  and 
subsequently  visit  them  in  their  homes, 
giving  precise  and  written  directions  as 
to  what  the  doctor's  orders  were,  and  in- 
structions as  to  how  and  when  they  should 
be  carried  out. 

Lectures  by  the  school  doctor  to  parents 
once  a  term,  on  actual  points  which  have 
come  under  his  notice,  are  also  spoken 
of  as  of  great  value,  and  the  instruction 
of  women  students  in  the  training.^ colleges 
in  the  ideas  and  ideals  of  medical  inspec- 
tion, and  the  interdependence  of  home  and 
school,  body  and  mind,  would,  she  believes,' 
be  of  great  inlluence  for  good  in  the  present 
generation. 

The  paper  is  a  most  thoughtful  survey  of 
the  whole  question.  •v 


122 


Zbc  Brltisb  Journal  of  IRursing. 


[Aug.  13,  1910 


flDcMcal  flDatters. 


THE   BRITISH   MEDICAL  ASSOCIATION. 

Kernels  of  the  Congress. 

Last  week  we  brieflj-  referred  to  the  Addresses 
in  ^ledieine  and  Surgery  delivered  at  the  meet- 
ing of  the  British  Medical  Association,  held  at 
the  Imperial  Institute.  It  is  obviously  impos- 
sible to  give  a  full  report  of  the  twentj'-one 
sections,  but  the  following  points  are  of  interest 
to  nurses. 

The  Effect  of  Foodstuffs  ox  Teeth. 

Professor  Sim  Wallace  spoke  on  the  effect  of 
different  kinds  of  foodstuff  on  the  teeth.  The 
disease  known  as  dental  caries,  he  said,  arose 
from  the  undue  lodgment  of  fennentable  carbo- 
hydrates in  more  or  less  immediate  contact  with 
tile  teeth.  The  soft  foodstuffs  which  little 
children  were  so  generally  compelled  to  con- 
sume did  not  clean  the  mouth,  but  left  if  sticky 
with  fermentable  carbo-hydrates.  There  were 
two  classes  of  foods — those  which  tended  to 
leave  these  carbo-hydrates  in  the  mouth  and 
thosewhiehbiTishedthemaway.  The  foods  which 
operated  in  the  latter  direction  were  those  of  a 
fibrous  nature  which  required  mastication.  But 
when  they  turned  to  the  foods  which  children 
were  compelled  to  live  upon  very  largely,  such 
as  milk,  porridge  and  milk,  sloppy  n^ilk  pud- 
dings, bread  soaked  in  milk,  potatoes  and 
gravy,  bread  and  jam,  they  realised  the  impos- 
sibility of  efficient  masticationbeing  carried  out. 

Changes  in  the  Nervous  System  as  the 
Result  of  Chronic  Alcoholism. 

Dr.  ]Mott,  who  read  a  paper  on  "  The  Histo- 
logical Changes  Occurring  in  the  Nervous 
Sj^tem  in  Certain  Cases  of  Chronic  Alcohol- 
ism," stated  that  -the  poisonous  effects  of 
alcohol  are  dependent  upon  the  dose,  but  still 
more  on  the  susceptibility  of  the  individual. 
He  further  discussed  the  transient  effects  upon 
the  stable,  healthy,  ner%-ous  system  of  occa- 
sional alcoholic  abuse,  and  the  permanent 
effects  of  its  continued  abuse.  Under  proper 
treatment,  and  when  alcohol  was  withdrawn, 
'the  tendency  was  for  the  symptoms  to  disap- 
jiear  and  for  the  patients  to  recover. 

EAniuM  IX  THE  Treatmext  of  Caxcer. 

Dr.  Tiouis  Wickhani,  of  Paris,  in  the  course 
"f  iin  address,  illustrated  with  lantern  slides, 
stated  that  the  chief  interest  of  radium  was  in 
its  ])Ower  of  selection.  It  aoted  as  a  caustic  of 
special  subtlety,  seeking  out  the  elements 
which  it  wished  to  dtstroy.  All  tissues  were 
not  suitable  ground  for  the  .selective  action  of 
radium,"  but  .some,  such  as  cancer,  offered  a 
specially  favourable  field.  Results  depended 
u[)on  great  experience  and  a  large  quantity  of 
radium,  and  in  the  gi'eat.majorjty  of  > 'i.;.^  ^ni-. 
gorv  should  be  associated  with  its  n- 


Tropical  Medicine. 

In  the  Section  on  Tropical  Medicine,  Lieut. - 
Col.  SirR.  Havelock  Charles,  K.C.Y.O.,  M.D., 
dealt  with  "  Special  Factors  Influencing  the 
Suitability  of  Europeans  for  Life  in  the 
Tropics."  The  special  characteristics  of  the 
tropics  were,  he  said,  long  continued  high  tem- 
perature, withgreat  diunial  variations,  and  para- 
sitic disease.  Once  a  person  had  had  a  severe 
illness  in  the  tropics,  a  prolonged  change  to 
Europe  was  essential.  The  best  kind  of  man 
to  go  to  the  tropics  was  the  average  Britisher, 
with  a  clear  head,  even  temper,  abstemious, 
and  not  over-intellectual,  and  the  best  asset  a 
working  man  in  the  tropics  could  have  was  a 
true  woman.  Persons  addicted  to  drugs  or 
drink  should  not  go  out ;  the  obese  were  heavily 
handicapped,  and  asthma  and  tuberculosis 
should  be  an  absolute  bar. 
Medical  Treatment  of  School  Children. 

Dr.  James  Kerr,  Medical  Officer  (Education 
Departmenf)  London  County  Council,  claimed 
that  medical  treatment  of  school  children  was 
the  inevitable  I'esult  of  general  medical  inspec- 
tion, though  the  medical  inspector  should  never 
treat  the  eases.  Ninety  to  ninety-five  per  cent, 
of  all  school  cases  could  be  included  in  the  fol- 
lowing groups: — (1)  Dental,  (2)  visual,  (3) 
aural  (including-  throat),  (4)  debilitated, 
anaemic,  and  strumous  children  (in  which  class 
medical  treatment  was  of  secondary  impor- 
tance to  hygienic  environment),  (5)  ringworm. 
For  the  great  majority  of  these  cases  neither 
hospitals  nor  private  doctors  offered  material 
help;  in  the  case  of  private  practitioners  pos- 
sibly because  tl>'  children  did  not  go  to  them : 
at  the  hospitals  they  were  simply  cases  to  be 
got  rid  of.  The  school  clinic  appeared  to  be 
the  only  complete  and  scientific  solution ;  it 
gave  every  doctor  his  chance,  and  reasonable 
reward,  saved  the  parents'  time  and  much 
annoyance,  relieved  the  hospitals,  and  gave 
relief  for  every  child  requiring  it.  The  way 
must  be  made  easy.,  The  London  County 
Council  was  acquiring  experience  from  its 
arrangements  with  hospitals  and  existing  in- 
stitutions. It  charged  the  pai'ents  'abotit  four 
shillings  a  case,  rernitting  a  certain  anio\uir  in 
destitute  cases. 

Defective  Eyesight  ix  Childrex. 

In  the  Section  of  Ophthalmology.  Mr.  N. 
Bishop  Harman  moved  the  following  resolu- 
tion:— "That  in  view  of  the  importance  of 
obtaining  continuity  of  treatment  of  defects  in 
vision  of  school  (>hildrou  throughout  the  period 
of  education,  and  of  projier  co-ordination  of 
medical  inspt^ction  and  treatment,  it  is  the 
opinion  of  the  Ophthnlmological  Section  of  tiie 
.\ssociation  that  the  orL'nnlsntinn  r.f  sohrvnl 
clinics  is  desirable." 


Aug.  13,  1910] 


Zbc  Brttisb  3ournal  of  IHursing, 


Clinical  IRotcc^  on  Sonic  (lommon 
ailments. 

Bv  A.  Knvveti  (n.iuioN.  .M.B.,  Cantab. 


NEPHRITIS. 

We  come  now  to  the  treatment  of  the  various 
affections  of  the  kidney  which  we  liave  dis- 
cussed, and  it  is  firstly  essential  to  remember 
tiiat  we  can  hardly  affect  the  kidneys  directly 
at  all ;  we  cannot  get  at  them  with  local  appli- 
cations, except  to  a  very  slight  extent,  and 
they  are  hardly  as  yet  amenable  to  surgical 
treatment  except  for  gross  lesions  such  as  a 
stone  or  an  abscess  in  their  interior. 

But  in  reality  there  are  few  ailments  in 
which  treatment  makes  so  much  difference  to 
the  comfort  of  the  patient,  and  the  meant? 
which  are  at  our  command  whereby  we  can 
regulate  the  amoinit  of  work  which  the 
damaged  kidneys  have  to  do  are  very 
numerous.  The  essential  point  is  that  we 
should  realise  what  we  are  doing  and  why  we 
do  it,  when  we  employ  any  of  them. 

We  can  treat  disease  of  the  kidneys  in  one 
or  more  of  several  ways.    Thus  it  is  possible  to 

(a)  Divert  part  of  the  work  of  the  kidneys  to 
otlier  organs. 

(h)  Diminish  the  amount  of  waste  matter  in 
the  blood,  so  that  there  is  less  work  for  the 
excretory  organs  to  do  as  a  M'hole. 

(c)  Stimulate  the  kidneys  to  renewed 
activity. 

(d)  Diminish  the  hannful  effect  which  the 
retained  urea  and  its  aUies  are  having  on  the 
system. 

We  will  now  discuss  each  of  these  methods 
in  defcail,  and  we  shall  then  be  in  a  position  to 
see  how  they  fit  in  in  the  treatment  of  the 
various  forms  of  disease  of  the  kidneys.  It  is 
often  desirable  to  relieve  the-  kidneys  of  as 
much  of  their  normal  duties  as  possible,  or,  in 
other  words,  to  throw  part  of  the  work  of  the 
excretion  of  water  and  nitrogenous  waste  ou  to 
otiier  organs,  and  in  practice  we  can  do  this 
fairly  successfully.  We  endeavour,  then,  to 
make  both  the  skin  and  the  bowels  perfonu 
more  than  their  normal  share  of  this  work. 

To  this  end  we  use,  for  the  skin,  applications 
which  increase  tlic  secretion  of  sweat,  or  we 
can  do  the  same  thing  by  the  use  of  drugs  in- 
ternally. We  can  nnploy  either  hot  baths,  hot' 
packs,  or  radient  heat  or  vapour  baths:  of 
these,  hot  baths  arc  the  easiest  to  administer, 
l>ut  their  effect-  is  not  vevy  great  except  in 
yotmg  children,  and  they  soon  lose  their  power 
over  the  skin  when  they  have  been  repeated  a 
frw  times.  The  temperature  must  bevaried  to 
suit  theMJonstituticii  of  the  patient,  but  from 


100  deg.  to  108  deg.  is  a  useful  limit,  and  the 
time  of  immersion  should  be  similarly  suited  to 
the  individual,  but  may  vary  from  ten  to 
twenty  minutes;  after  the  bath  the  patient 
should  be  wrapped  in  hot  blankets  and  put  to 
bed ;  a  wann  drink  often  increases  the  effect  of 
the  bath,  and  is  much  appreciated  by  the 
patient. 

Hot  packs  act  more  violently,  but  are  some- 
times not  well  borne  by  feeble  patients ;  the 
water  out  of  which  the  blanket  is  wrung  should 
be  at  a  temperature  of  120  deg.,  and  the  pack 
should  be  applied  for  from  ten  to  twenty 
minutes,  or,  generally  speaking,  until  beads  of 
perspiration  are  well  marked  on  the  forehead 
of  the  patient.  If  a  patient  feels  faint  while  in 
the  pack,  it  usually  suffices  to  lower  the  position 
of  his  head  and  to  give  a  waiTn  drink,  or  some- 
times a  little  cold  water;  dashing  cold  water 
on  the  head  is  also  useful,  but  it  is  best  not  to 
take  him  out  of  the  pack  until  perspiration  is 
well  established,  as  the  feeling  of  faintness 
appears  as  a  rule  just  when  perspiration  is 
beginning,  and  ceases  when  the  flow  is  in 
jirogress. 

Vapour  and  radient  heat  baths  are  more  con- 
venient, though  not  more  effectual  methods  for 
promoting  free  perspiration  ;  their  use  can  best 
be  learnt  by  studying  the  apparatus  itself. 

Apart  from  these  mechanical  methods,  per- 
spiration can  be  induced  by  the  administration 
of  certain  drugs  called  diaphoretics,  which  act 
by  relaxing  the  blood  vessels  in  the  skin  and 
stimulating  the  ner\-es  going  to  the  sweat 
glands.  Of  these  by  far  the  most  powerful  is 
pilocarpine,  which  is  given  by  hypodermic  in- 
jection, but  it  has  the  grave  disadvantage  that 
it  sometimes  produces  dangerous  collapse, 
especially  in  children :  other  drugs,  such  as 
acetate  of  ammonia,  spirit  of  nitrous  ethai',  and 
the  like,  are  quite  safe,  but  have  a  much 
slighter  effect :  they  can  usefully  be  combined 
with  hot  packs  oi-  baths. 

It  is  also  advisable  to  keep  the  bowels  well 
open,  preferably  by  saline  pui'gatives.  or  those 
like  jalap,  which  cause  watery  evacuations. 

Then  we  can  diminish  the  amount  of  nitro- 
genous waste  in  tlie  circulation,  and  the  easiest 
way  of  doing  this  is  obviouslj"  to  give  less 
nitrogenous  food,  and,  what  we  must  allow,  in 
such  a  fomi  as  to  be  easily  eliminated.  The 
best  food  for  this  |)urpose  undoubtedly  is  milk. 
and  we  give  this  for  as  long  as  it  can  be  borne, 
but  it  sometimes  requires'  supplementing,  and 
we  then  add  bread,  and  next  vegetable  proteids, 
such  as  rice,  sago,  etc.,  in  the  form  of  pud- 
dings, and  ultimately  proteids  derived-,fr<>ir 
seeds,  such  as  i.  n^  .t..  By  far  the  ni>  - 
harmful  food  iv  iiv  form,  .tnd  ■■> 


1-24 


^e  Britisb  3ournaI  of  IHursina. 


[Aug.  13,  1910 


fially  any  (;i  tla-  iiirat  t;\liart>,  all  ot  which 
are  most  initating  both  to  the  kidneys  and  to  the 
smaller  blood  vessels  throughout  the  body.  As 
a  matter  of  fact,  it  would  be  better  ii  every 
patientwhose  kidnej'S  are  weak, or  whose  arteries 
are  older  than  he  is  himself  would  become  a 
vegetarian,  but  these  diseases  e.xist  in  just  the 
class  of  men  who  would  as  soon  think  of  join- 
ing the  blue  ribbon  amiy,  though  that  or  any 
other  method  by  which  they  could  be  induced 
not  to  regard  alcohol  as  a  necessary  accompani- 
ment not  onlj'  to  each  meal,  but  whenever  thej" 
are  not  actuality  Ijuying  and  selling,  would  be 
good  for  their  health. 

In  practice,  the  dieting  of  these  people  is  a 
very  difKeult  matter,  but  the  principle  to  aim 
at  is  to  cut  down,  firstly,  the  total  quantity  of 
solid  food — they  always  overeat  themselves — 
and  then  the  proportion  of  nitrogenous  food 
which  their  diet  contains. 

(To  h<'  roncJiidcd.) 


H   Survevi  of  tbc  IRursina 
flDcntal  diseases. 


?f 


By  William  L.  Russell,  M.D.,         j 
Medical  Inspector  of  ihe  State  Commission 
in  Lunacy,  New  Yorh.  I 

No  bi'anch  of  medicine  or  nvu-sing  can/  be 
more,  important  and  dignified  than  that  wlpich 
has  to  do  with  mental  diseasesV  .To  minister 
to  a  mind  diseased  demands  al,!  that'3  ,Tiurse 
can  muster  of  skill,  fortitude,  and  delicacy. 
.\nd  yet,  of  all  branches  of  nursing,  none  has 
received  so  little  attention  from  the  leaders  in 
the  field  of  nursing,  and  from  the  benevolent 
suppoi-ters  of  inu-sing.  By  the  average  general 
nurse,  and  by  nurse  teachers  as  well,  mental 
disease  is  apparently  looked  upon  as  something 
quite  apart  from  those  interests  and  activities 
with  which  it  is  worth  their  while  to  concern 
themselves.  Few  articles  on  the  subject  have 
been  written  by  nur.ses,  and  it  is  entirely  ig- 
nored in  the  books  thej'  have  produced.  In- 
deed, it  is  safe  to  say  that  by  many  nurses  the 
care  of  insane  persons  is  regarded  as  a  work  for 
\vhich  the  qualifications  are  inferior  to  those 
needed  in  general  nursing,  and  to  a  large  pro- 
portion, probably  the  majority,  it  doe«  not  ap- 
pear to  be  nursing  at  all.  This  attitude,  how- 
ever, merely  reflects  that  of  society  in  general 
nhich,  mider  the  influence  of  traditional  views 
and  methods  and  the  lack  of  enlightened  guid- 
ance, has  not  yet  learned  to  demand  for  mental 
diseases  the  high  standards  of  medical  and 
nursing  attention  provided  for  other  fomis  of 
illness. 

*  Prf-oiitrd  to  till"  Iiitf riifitioiiiil  Congress  of 
NiirM-s,  Loii'l'iii.   I'"«i1 


The  Asylum  System. 
The  lack  of  intelligent  interest  in  '  mental 
disease,  which  prevails  so  generally,  may,  in 
part  at  least,  be  explained  by  a  glance  at  the 
history  of  the  care  of  the  insane.  A  century 
ago,  many  of  the  accepted  methods  of  treat- 
ment for  insane  ))ersons  were  cruel  and  stupid. 
Emancipation  from  chains,  dungeons,  whip- 
pings, and  gross  neglect  was  begun  by  Pinel  in 
France  and  Tuke  in  England  in  the  latter  part 
of  the  18th  ceutury,  but  has  scarcely  reached  its 
complete  fulfilment  even  now.  The  demand 
for  more  humane  provision  for  the  insane  led, 
however,  to'  the  development  of  what  is  known 
as  the  asylum  sj'stem,  by  which  institutions 
were  established  as  a  refuge  or  asylum  where 
at  least  himiane  care  might  be  received.  This 
system  grew  rather  slowly  in  this'countrj",  and 
as  late  as  1850,  only  20  of. the  230  public  in- 
stitutions for  the  insane  which  now  exist  had 
been  established. 

Valuable  as  the  asylum  system  has  been,  it 
has  not  contributed  much  to  the  dispelling  of 

'  popular  ignorance  concerning  mental  diseasti 
and  the  best  ways  of  dealing  with  them.  The 
institutions  are,  in  many  instances,  remote 
from  large  centres,  and  even  those  near  by  are, 
by  most  pei-sons,  knowii  only  to  be  shunned. 
No  yellow  journal  story  in  regard  to  them  is 
too  exaggerated  to  find  credence,  and  little 
regarding  the  true  nature  of  mental  diseases 
and  the  real  treatment  received  by  the  patients 
reaches  the  public.  Such  a  strange  alteration 
in  speech  and  behavio\n- is  produced  by  diseases 
which  affect  the  mind  .that  the  sufferers  are 
generall}-  looked  upon  with  wonder,  fear,  and 
pei-plexity.  Frequently  they  are  regarded  as 
subjects  for  ridicule.  To  be  afflicted  with 
mental  disease,  or  to  be  a  near  relative 
of  one  thus  aflflicted  is  considered 
a  disgrace  which  must  be  carefully  con- 
cealed if  possible.  The  more  obvious  forms 
lead,  therefore,  to  early  seclusion,  at  first  in 
the  home,  and,  when  management  there  be- 
comes too  difficult,  in  th*  asylum.  The  less 
pronounced  types  are  not  recognised  as  disease 
at'  all.  Thus  a  profound  ignorance  in  regard  to 
mental  diseases  and  their  proper  treatment  per- 
vades every  commiuiity.    From  this  ignorance 

•  neither  physicians  nor  nurses  are  cxem])t.  The 
public  has  not  yet  learned  to  expect  much  in 
the  way  of  knowledge  and  skill  in  these  diseases 
from  the  average  doctor  and  nurse,  who  have 
consequently  not.  been  brought  face  to  face  with 
any  great  obligations  in  regaitl  to  them.  The 
study  and  treatment  of  mental  diseases  have, 
in  fact,  been  extremely  specialised.  This  has 
been  necessary,  no  douljt,  and  .has  served  ft 
most  usful  pur]ioso.  .  Now-,  however,  a  wider 
diffusion  of  knowlc(li,'e  of  the  specialty  is  called 


All-'.  13,  1010 ; 


Cbc  36riti6b  3oiirnal  of  IHiutjiiuj. 


l-2o 


for,   and  is  needed  to  bring  about    tlie    better 

inaniigena-ut  of  the  w  hole  problem  of  insanity. 

The  Hospitalisation  of  Tni:  Asylums. 

To  physjciaus  and  nurses  who  are  brought 
into  elose  relations  with  persons  suffering  from 
mental  disease,  it  is  perfectly  plain  that  for 
their  proper  treatment  much  more  is  needed 
than  simply  provision  for  humane  care.  They 
see  the  cases  in  quite  a  different  light  than 
those  who  think  only  of  the  insane  as  a  class, 
or  in  terms  of  the  prevailing  ignorance.  Asy- 
lum physicians  have,  therefore,  always  striven 
to  emphasise  the  medical  character  of  the  cases, 
and  the  need  of  medical  and  nursing  supervision 
and  care.  As  a  result  of  their  efforts  the 
asylums  have  gradually  developed  more  and 
more  along  hospital  lines.  In  token  of  the 
soundness  of  this  tendency,  during  the  past  ten 
or  fifteen  years,  the  official  name  of  nearly  all 
the  institutions  in  the  country  has  been 
changed  from  asylum  to  hospital.  There  has, 
too,  been  a  change  in  much  more  than  the 
name.  The  suppressive  and  more  neglectful 
methods  of  the  past  are  giving  way  to  more 
rational  and  active  measures  of  treatment. 
Classification  with  a  view  to  specialisation  and 
concentration  in  the  treatment  of  the  different 
conditions  from  which  the  patients  suffer  is 
taking  the  place  of  more  haphazard  methods. 

For  the  reception  of  the  new  cases,  separate 
buildings  are  being  provided,  where  liberal  ar- 
rangements can  be  made  for  active  medical 
and  nursing  procedures  for  those  who  need 
them.  For  those  suffering  from  acute  physical 
diseases  and  surgical  conditions  special  hospi- 
tal provision  is  made.  The  buildings  or  wards 
used  for  this  pni-pose  are  arranged  and  organised 
as  general  hospital  wards.  A  well-equipped 
surgical  operating  room  and  all  the  appliances 
and  facilities  for  thorough  medical  and  nursing 
work  are  features  of  this  service.  Attending 
oculists  and  dentists,  and  a  corjis  of  consulting 
physicians  and  surgeons  assist  the  resident 
medical  staff  in  the  management  of  conditions 
requiring  knowledge  and  skill  in  the  various 
specialities.  For  the  infirm  and  feeble  in  mind 
and  body  from  chronic  disease,  infirmaries  are 
provided.  Many  of  these  cases  are  confined  to 
bed,  and  many  others  are  so  enfeebled  as  to  re- 
quire attention  and  assistance  in  every  detail 
of  their  lives.  It  is  doubtful  if  in  any  other 
kind  of  public  institutions,  chronic  bed  cases 
receive  as  good  care  as  they  do  in  the  best 
hospitals  for  the  insane.  Tuberculous  patients, 
of  whom  there  is  a  much  larger  proportion  than 
in  the  general  population,  are  segregated  and, 
in  many  institutions,  are  cared  for  in. buildings 
specially  designed  nnd  equipped  for  the  pur- 
pose.    Special  provision  is  also  made  for  the 


isolation  of  cases  of  acute  infectious'  diseases, 
which  are  not  of  infrequent  occurrence  in  the 
institutions.  Epileptics,  for  whom  special 
dietary  and  precautionary  measures  are  neces- 
sary ;  "the  restless  and  excitable  who  require 
skiflful  and  tactful  management,  and  the  suici- 
dal are  other  classes  for  whom  special  provision 
is  made.  The  l)est  administrative  methods 
provide  also  for  medical  and  nursing  super- 
vision in  the  care  of  all  classes  of  patients  in 
the  institutions. 

More  definite  classification  has  made  possible 
and  has  necessitated  more  specialisation,  and 
more  eltieient  organisation  to  this  end.  For  a 
number  of  years  progress  in  hospitalisation  of 
the  asylums  has  been  towards  bringing  to  the 
treatment  of  the  patients  the  diagnostic  and 
therapeutic  resources  of  modern  medicine  and 
surgery.  This  has  done  much  to  improve  the 
physical  treatment  of  the  cases  and  to  make 
available  for  systematic  study  and  for  teaching 
purix)ses  the  valuable  resources  of  the  institu- 
tions. At  present  the  tendency  is  to  focus  at- 
tention more  particularly  on  improving  the 
metliods  of  bringing  about  mental  readjust- 
ment and  restoration  to  nonnal  activities, 
which  is  the  special  work  that  the  hospitals  for 
the  insane  may  be  expected  to  do  better  than 
it  can  be  done   elsewhere. 

The  hospitalisation  of  the  asylums  is  a 
gradual  process,  and  may  be  seen  in  every  stage 
in  the  different  institutions  of  the  country.  The 
highest  development  is  to  be  found  only  in  the 
very  best,  and  in  all  there  is  room  for  improve- 
ment. It  is  hampered  by  the  weight  of  tradi- 
tional viev\-s  and  methods,  by  the  lack  of  har- 
mony between  the  needs  and  the  provision 
made,  and  by  the  great  accumulation  of  incura- 
bles. The  puriX)se  in  view  in  bringing  it  to  your 
attention  is  principally  to  give  you  some  insight 
into  the  present  condition  and  trend  of  asylum 
development  as  a  field  for  nursing  and  nurse 
teaching. 

The  Traixixc.  Schools  for  Nurses. 

To  the  hospitalisation  of  the  asylums  no- 
thing has  contributed  more  than  the  establish- 
ment of  the  training  schools  for  nurses.  The 
two  developments  have  gone  hand  in  hand,  the 
needs  of  the  one  being  provided  for  by  the 
other.  This  has  been  the  case  from  the  time 
the  fii-st  attempt  was  made  to  establish  a 
school,  as  may  be  learned  from  an  ex- 
tremely interesting  article  on  "  Nursing  Reform 
for  the  Insane,"  read  by  Dr.  Edward  Cowles 
at  the  International  Medical  Congress  in 
18H7.  The  schools  in  the  institutions 
for  the  insane  followed  in  the  ".wake 
of  the  world-wide  movement  for  better 
nursin''  of  the  sick,'  which  was  started  in  Y.uq- 


1-M 


Zhc  Biitisb  3oiirnal  of  iRiusina. 


land  audiit  nitv  years  ago.  The  iie-ed  ol  a  liigh 
grade  of  iiiedic-al  and  nursing  attention  tor 
mental  diseases  has,  however,  never  taken  deep 
rootin  the  public  mind  and  the  nursing  of  the 
cases  has  never  commanded  the  same  quality 
of  service  or  received  the  supjaort  from  the 
benevolent  that  have  been  bestowed  upon  other 
forms  of  illness.  The  Nightingale  movement 
brought  to  the  nursing  of  the  sick  in  general  a 
host  of  high-minded  intelligent  women  who 
looked  upon  the  work  as  a  vocation.  The  men- 
tally sick  did  not  come  within  the  scope  of  this 
movement  and  the  same  class  of  women  did 
not  feel  impelled  to  offer  to  care  f6r  them.  The 
foundation  in  knowledge  of  mental  diseases 
and  in  provision  and.  methods  in  caring  for  the 
cases  had,  perhaps,  at  that  time  scarcely  been 
laid.  The  work  of  Dorothea  L.  Dix  and  that 
of  Dr.  C'owles  were  probably  ni(ore  suitfd  to  the 
needs  of  the  situation.  The  consequence  has 
been,  however,  that  the  training  schools  for 
nurses  in  connection  with  the  institutions  for 
the  insane  have  developed  under  different  aus- 
pices and  from  different  material  than  the 
general  ho.spit»al  schools. 

The  training  schools  for  nurses  connected 
with  the  public  general  hospitals  were,  at  firet 
at  ]ea.st,  established  and  supported  by  private 
benevolence,  and  .some  of  them  are  still  de- 
tached organisations.  In  not  a  single  instance, 
so  far  as  I  am  aw^are,  has  a  similar  developmeist 
occurred  in  connection  with  a  public  institution 
for  the  insane.  In  the  spread  of  the  movement 
for  general  hospital  schools,  the  best  of  the 
graduates  of'the  parent  schools  were  employed 
to  establish  new  centres,  and  thus  the  move- 
ment spread  under  nurse  auspices.  The  schools 
in  connection  with  the  institutions  for  the  in- 
sane have,  on  the  other  hand,  developed  under 
medical  auspices,  and  are  the  outcome  of  a 
want  which  medical  superintendents  have  long 
felt  for  better  personal  service  to  tlie  patients 
by  the  attendants.  Dr.  Cowles  was  the  first 
to  show  what  could  be  accomplished  by  organi- 
sing a  school  on  general  lines,  and  by  hospi- 
talising the  methods  of  the  institution  to  meet 
its  needs,  and  others  followed  gladly  in  his  foot- 
steps. The  per,sonS  to  be, trained  were,  how- 
ever, only  the  attendants  alreacjy  .  employed, 
and  UQ  better  material  appeared.  Tlie  pliysi- 
cians  had  themselves  to  provide  the  'instrncTion 
lis  bi'st  they  eonjd,  and  to  this  (lay  tlie  grade  of 
inteUipence  needed  for  iiuildiug  up  an  efficient 
nurse  orgnnisation  for  teachi)|g-ana  supervision 
has  only  fXceptionally  been  nvailnble.  The 
schools  have,  however,  steadily  improved,  and 
with  their  hftspitalisati^m  the  facilities  for  the 
trnininf,'  of  nurses  have  l>eeuvaslOy  increased. 

/  "itchi'deii.) 


ZliC 


Jfirst   "Jgla 
Scholar.  ■ 


[Aug.  13,  11)10 

Stewart 


It  will  be  remembered  that  the  League  of 
St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital  Nurees  undertook 
the  responsibility  and  privilege  of  giving  the 
first  scholarship  of  £160,  and  of  selecting  the 
first  scholar  to  be  appointed,  in  connection  w'ith 
the  memorial  to  the  late  IMiss  Isla  Stewart, 
Matron  of  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital,  and 
Founder  and  fir.st  President  of  the  League. 
This  scholarship,  tenable  for  a  year,  at 
Teachers'  College.  Columbia  University,  New 
York,  has  now  been  offered  to  I\Iiss  yi.  S.  Eun- 
dle,  who  holds  the  certificate  of  St.  Bartholo- 
mew's Hospital,  and  forthepast  year  has  been 
Sister- House  keeper  at  tbe.Eoyal  Free  Hospital, 
W.C.,  where  she  has  been  entrusted  with  the 
entire  re-organisation  of  the  Housekeeping  De- 
partment. Miss  Kundle  has  accepted  the 
honour  and  will  leave  for  New  York  next 
month. 

The  course  for  nurses  at  Teachers'  College 
has  now  been  founded  for  eleven  years.  As  a 
result  of  a  paper  read  before  the  Alnerican 
Society  of  Stiperintendents  of  Training  Schools 
for  Nurses  by  the  late  !Mrs.  Hampton  Eobb,  a 
Committee  wAs  appointed' to  consider  the  train- 
ing of  teachers  of  nirrsing,  with  the  view  of 
bringing  about  greater  nniformity  in  method. 
Mrs.  Eobb,  who,  waft  made  chairman  of  this 
Committee,  visited  the  Dean  of  Teachei's*  Col- 
lege, asking  if  some  arrangement  could  be  made 
to  admit  graduate  nurses  desiring  to  prepare 
themselves  for  teaching  and  supervision  in 
training  schools  for  nurses.  Largely  owingf  to 
her  forcible  presentation  of  the  needs  of  nurs- 
ing education,  the  co-operation  of  the  College 
with  the  Superintendents'  Society  was  secured, 
and  the  course  estaldished. 

In  December,  101)0  Mm.  Helen  Hartley  .Jen- 
kins became  interested- in  the  course  through 
Miss  Wald,  Head  of  the  Nurses'  Settlement, 
New  York,  and  decided  to  endow  the  Department 
of  Hospital  Economics,  in  order  that  it  might 
enlarge  its  work,  carry  oh  its  important  func- 
tion of  nurses'  education  with  greater  effi- 
ciency, and  develop  in  new-  directions,  in  re- 
sponse to  the  "newer  needs  of  the  day.  It  is 
under  the  supervision  of  Miss  !M.  A.  Nutting, 
Professor  of  Institutional  .-\dmiTiistration, 
Columbia  University.        !  . 

Miss  Islrt  Stewart  t(X)k.akeen  interest  in  this 
course,  and'  desired  the- establishment  of  a 
similar  one  in  this  cnuntry-.  It  was  felt,  there- 
fore, that-  no  more-  suitable  memoj'ial  could  be 
estalilishod  to  her  memovy  than  to'  maintain 
an  "  Isla  Stewart  scholar"  at  Teachers'  Col- 
lege, Ni'wYork,'  niid  in  this  the  League  of  St. 
P.arthnlomew'sHospitalNurseshas  led  thewTiy, 


Aug.  13,  1010] 


Z\K  J6i'iti5b  Journal  of  IRursina. 


\-r, 


Zbc  6oo^  IHainc  of  Bart's  IRurscs. 


'■  But  the  cup  is  liioU.ii  ;  mid  all  the  Kiiij^'s 
boi'ses  and  all  tho  Kiiis^s  men  oatinot  mend  it. 
Thei'e — put  the  fair  !>i<le  outwards  on  the  mantol- 
piecip  and  tlie  won  ml  will   not  sliow." 

The  Virginians. 

It  is  a  pity  that  the  world  has  tor  the  most 
part  so  little  iiiiderstrtiiding  for  its  most  pre- 
cious iK)ssessions :  like  a  child  it  throws  away 
what  can  uever  he  replaced,  hreaks  what  cau 
never  be  restored. 

The  end  of  the  Bart's  protect  has  left  one 
with  a  feeling  of  bewilderment;  it  was  not  un- 
expected, but  it  is  as  if  all  one's  landmarks 
had  been  uprooted.  In  all  my  twenty-five 
years'  work  since  I  left  the  Hospital,  whenever 
I  met  with  petty  injustice,  or  tj'ranny,  narrow- 
ness, or  stupidity,  there  has  always  been  the  - 
finn  conviction  that  things  were  different  at 
Barfs.  Whatever  faults  Bart's  had,  and  it 
had  few  in  our  admiring  eyes,  it  was  loyal  and 
honourable,  broad-minded,  progressive,  and 
consistent — something  you  could  rely  on.  The 
pride,  the  clean  pride  in  one's  Alma  Mater,  vi-as 
joined  in  old  Bart's  nurses  to  a  passionate 
loyalty  that  had  the  most  fervent  faith  in  the 
loyalty  of  the  Hospital.  That  Bart's  shotdd  fail 
Bart's  was  a  thing  'not  to  be  imagined  for 
one  moment.  For  loyalty  is  a  reciprocal  virtue, 
and  trust  and  confidence  gained  through  de- 
cades are  a  valuable  asset  and  not  to  be  lightly 
thrown  on  one  side. 

But  that  confidence  has  been  betrayed,  and 
the  Bart's  authorities  have  been  disloyal,  and- 
have  acted  with  injustice  towards  their  nurs- 
ing staff.  It  is  easy  to  say  that  they  have  acted 
within  their  rights,  but  the  worst  injustice  and 
the  cniellest  wrongs  are  inflicted  under  the 
cloak  of  legal  riglit.  It  is  easj'  -to  say  that  no 
harm  has  been  done:  it  is  not  true.  Not  only 
has  the  standard  which  the  authorities  have 
themselves  planted  and  in  which  we  were 
trained  not  been  upiield,  but  deliberately  and 
to  the  whole  world  the  Governors  have  declared 
that  they  have  trained  within  the  last  twenty- 
five  years  no  woman  worthy  to  succeed  their 
late  ^latron.  They  have  declared  openly  to  the 
world  that  they  consider  her  life  a  failure',  her 
work  a  sham,  and  of  all  the  Matrons  she  has 
given  to  England  and  the  Colonies  not  one  is 
fit  to  hold  the  reins  after  her,  and  they  have 
turned,  to  a  hospital  whose  training  and  views 
are  notoriously  opposed  to  those  she.  held  for 
her  successor.  And  that. is  Bart's  loyalty.  If 
it  is  ignorance,  it  is  inexcusable  ignorance,  and 
if  it  is  siniply  overl'^aring  folly,  it  is  equally 
(nexcusable :  — 


•Who  steals   my    purse  steals  trash; 
'Twas    mine,    'tis    his,    rtnd    lias    been    slave    to 

tlioiisai\ds : 
But  lie  who  lilches  from  me  my  good  name 
Uohs  me  of  that  which  not  efiriches  him, 
And  leaves  me  poor  indeed." 

and  it  is  with  our  good  name  the  Governor.? 
have  tampered.  There  are  rights  in  this  world 
that  are  above  all  the  sheepskins  and  parch- 
ments lawyers  ever  spoilt. 

The  one  good  thing  about  the  matter  is,  that 
the  defeat  is  a  victory.  It  is  the  deathblow  of 
the  idea  that  the  training  of  the  nursing  pro- 
fession can  be  dealt  with  solely  as  part  of  the 
domestic  and  private  affairs  of  an  individual 
hospital,  and  that  the  nursing  staff  need  no 
guarantee  that  the  standard  of  efficiency  shall 
not  be  lowered  at  the  caprice  of  a  Committee. 
If  Bart's  was  strong  for  registration  before, 
it  will  be  solid  now. 

It  was  a  :MachiavelIiari  stroke  of 
poUcy  to  appeal  to  the  business  instinct" 
of  the  Governors  by  saying  that  the  40 
vears  of  age  limit  was  to  safeguard  the  interests 
of  the  Hospital  with  regard  to  pensions:  Of 
the  last  three  Bart's  Matrons,  whose  eona- 
bined  terms  of  otSce  extend  over  thirty  years, 
not  one  qualified  for  a  pension.  Heavy  must 
be  the  amount  the  Hospital  is  paying  its  past 
Matrons  in  pensions  I  Unfortunately  we  are  all 
perfectly  well  aware  why  the  forty  years'  limit 
really  was  fixed  upon. 

A  great  jwiut  has  been  made  in  some  quar- 
ters of  the  fact  that  physicians  and  surgeons 
have  at  times  been  appointed  to  other  hospi- 
tals than  those  to  which  their  own  medical 
schools  are  attached,  but  the  positions  are  not 
in  the  least  analogous.  The  teaching  at  the 
various  medical  schools  does  not  diff^"  ■"  " 
terially.  the  curriculum  is  bound  to 
same,  the  examination  is  a  central  on 
ther,  the  physician  or  surgeon  is  one  ■  : 
physicians  or  surgeons :  he  does  trot  stnt 
as  "the  only  medical  head.  But  the  herui  oi  a 
training  school  for  nurses  is  responsible  in  a 
most  marked  degree  for  those  under  her,  and 
it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  she  is  able  to 
make  or  mar  its  reputation.  A  Matron  who  is 
not  in  sympathy  with  her  nursing  staff  is  bound 
to  be  unsuccessful,  and  had  the  Election  Com- 
mittee searched  all  Britain  they  could  not  have 
chosen  a  Matron  from  a  hospital  that  has  more 
openly  and  uniformly  attacked  and  Repudiated 
the  principles  of  the  St.  Bartholomew's  nursing 
staff  and  its  late  :\Iatrnn.  They  have  in  their 
choice  shown  an  extraordinary  want  of  tact, 
not  to  use  a  harsher  tenn,  and  a  total  indjfft  r- 
?nce  to  the  feelings  of  their  nursing  staff." 

One  point  that  we  shall  always  bear  in  min  1 


Tib 


Sbe  Britisb  iournal  of  IRursing. 


[Aug.  13.  1910 


with  regard  to  this  election  is  the  kindness  and 
honesty  of  those  Governors  who  championed 
our  cause.  We  owe  them  a  debt  of  gratitude 
which  we  may  not  be  able  to  repay, 
but  which  we  shall  never  forget.  Their 
courteous  appreciation  of  the  principle  that  ani- 
mated our  protest  was  a  great  comfort  and 
satisfaction  to  us.  The  manner  in  which  Lord 
Sandhurst  received  our  protest  is  of  little  mo- 
ment. It  appears  to  have  been  expressive  of 
the  irritation  of  an  angry  man,  vexed  at  the 
strength  of  the  opposition  aroused  on  all  sides 
by  the  appointment. 

j\l.   MOLLETT. 

IProQrcss  of  State  IReGistration. 

N\irses  are  once  again  indebted  to  Lord 
Ampthill  for  his  advocacy  of  the  cause  of  State 
Registration,  in  a  convincing  "  Rejoinder  "  to 
Mr.  Sydney  Holland,  in  the  current  issue  of 
the  Nineteenth  Century  and  After.  Lord 
Ampthill  writes:  — 

■'It  is  not  much  use  arguing  with  Mr. 
Sydney  Holland,  but  he  camiot  be  allowed  to 
have  the  last  word  in  the  discussion  of  the  ques- 
tion of  State  Registration  of  Nurses,  for  which 
this  Review  has  afforded  a  useful  opportunity. 
Mr.  Sydney  Holland  began  by  announcing 
his  intention  of  '  stating  some  of  the  argu- 
ments '  against  State  Registration,  and  if  he 
had  carried  out  this  intention  it  would  be  easier 
to  frame  a  rejoinder.  There  is,  however,  very 
little  trace  of  argument  to  be  found  in  his 
article,  which  consists  entirely  of  that  species 
of  chaff  at  which  Mr.  Holland  is  an  adept,  but 
which  almost  precludes  serious  discussion. 
Take,  for  instance,  the  passage  in  which  he 
tries  to  make  fun  of  'Mrs.  Bedford  Fenvvick's 
.statement  that  '  the  want  of  organisation  has 
produced  a  marked  deterioration  in  the  quality 
of  women  presenting  themselves  for  training.' 
It  is  sureh'  quite  reasonable  to  argue  that  the 
higher  the  reputation  of  any  profession  or  voca- 
tion, the  better  will  be  the  class  of  persons  who 
seek  to  adopt  it,  and  that  those  who  are  able 
to  qualify  themselves  for  a  profession  which 
demands  training  and  ability  are  not  likely  to 
seek  employment  in  which  ability  and  training 
are  at  a  discount.  Mr.  Holland  says  that  Miss 
Florence  Nightingale  was  not  deterred  from 
becoming  a  nin-se  beea\ise  State  Registration 
did  not  exist  in  her  day,  and  from  this  feeble 
proposition  he  seeks  to  draw  the  conclusion 
that  Registration  is  unnecessary.  -Tust  as  well 
might  he  argue  that  the  ]\Iedical  Acts  were  un- 
desirable and  imneeessary  because  great  phy- 
■^icians  like  Hunter,  Jenner,  and  Bright  did 
without  them. 


"  Mr.  Holland  says  that  he  certainly  'does  not 
want  at  the  London  Hospital  any  woman  who 
cares  so  little  for  nursing  the  sick  that  she  is 
deterred  because  she  canno^  be  on  a  register.' 
It  would  be  equally  good  argument  to  say  that 
no  3"oung  man  ought  to  be  admitted  to  the 
Army  who  cares  so  little  for  fighting  that  he 
entertains  notions  of  military  refomi. 

'■  It  is  hardly  worth  while  to  pursue  Mr. 
Holland's  so-called  argument  any  further.  It 
is  easily  sunmied  up  in  the  catch-phrase  with 
which  he  has  contrived  to  satisfy  those  whom 
he  has  prejudiced  against  Registration.  That 
catch-phrase  is,  '  You  cannot  register  charac- 
ter.'  "  After  referring  to  the  registration  of 
other  professional  workers.  Lord  Ampthill 
writes: — "Mr.  Holland  knows  perfectly  well 
with  what  object  the  State  supervision  of 
all  these  professions  has  been  undertaken,  and 
he  ought  also  to  know  that  it  has  not  only 
raised  the  standard  of  those  professions  by 
enforcing  regular  standards  of  efficiency,  but 
also  proved  an  immense  and  invaluable  safe- 
guard to  the  public  at  large." 

Lord  Ampthill  concludes  his  article  as 
follows  :■—"  Finally,  the  readers  of  this 
Review  can  judge  for  themselves  which 
is  the  more  legitimate  method  of 
controversy :  to  charge  those  who  dis- 
agree with  you  with  '  prolonged  and  un- 
reasonable opposition,'  or  to  say  that  the  con- 
tentions of  your  opponents  are  '  irresponsible  ' 
and  ■  spiteful  chatter."" 


Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  will  be  in  Glasgow- 
next  week,  and  uix)n  the  invitation  of  Miss 
Wright,  Matron  of  Stobhill  Hospital,  will  give 
an  address  to  the  Nursing  Staff  on  the  Educa- 
tional and  Economic  Aspects  of  State  Regis- 
tration. 

Hn  Hssoctation  of  ZErainc^  IRurscs 
in  Cbtna. 


Miss  Maud  Truxtun  Henderson,  graduate  of 
the  Boston  City  Hospital,  writing  from  Wusih, 
Kiangsu,  to  the  American  Journal  of  Nursing, 
says: — 

"  I  am  writing  to  tell  you  of  the  step  taken 
by  the  trained  nurses  in  China  in  the  formation 
of  an  association. 

"  The  plans  for  an  association  have  long  been 
in  the  air,  and  now  it  has  been  formally  or- 
ganised. We  call  ourselves  the  Nurses'  Asso- 
ciation of  China,  hojiing  to  be.  before  too  long, 
the  Nurses'  Association  in  China.  We  have 
come  together  for  the  mutual  help  and  inspira- 
tion and  knowledge  that  can  come  to  us  through 
an  association :  and  with  the  deep  and  earnest 


Aug.  13,  1910] 


Cbc  Britisb  3onrnal  of  IRursinij. 


129 


purpose  of  strengthening  ourselves  for  a  great 
work,  a  large  opportunity  which  is  before  us 
presenting  many  comj)lex  and  difficult  pro- 
blems. Before  us  who  are  here  now,  and  be- 
fore the  many  recruits  from  the  homelands  to 
whom  we  are  waiting  to  extend  our  welcome, 
eager  that  we  may  share  together  the  great 
privilege,  the  great  responsibility,  noble  work 
has  been  done  by  the  pioneers  who  have  opened 
the  way,  opening  hospitals,  starting  training 
schools,  translating  boc>ks.  and  working  against 
odds  which  we  in  the  new  China  of  to-day  will 
scarcely  know.  But  after  all  there  has  been 
so  far  only  a  beginning,  and  there  will  be  pro- 
blems for  many  days  to  come.  There  are  only 
a  few  training  schools  that  require  a  standard 
and  deserve  the  name. 

"  It  is  only  recently  that  the  women  of  China 
have  been  ready  to  step  into  this  new  place  of 
service  and  discipline,  obedience,  and  trust. 
Even  now  only  a  very  few  are  coming  forward, 
but  the  leaven  of  a  now  public  opinion  that 
follows  close  upon  the  teaching  of  our  Master 
is  beginning  to  work. 

"  By  the  next  post  I  will  try  to  send  a  copy 
of  the  constitution  that  we  adopted.  You  will 
see  that  the  question  of  standard  has  been  espe- 
cially before  us.  We  want  from  the  beginning 
to  make  it  stand  for  something  to  be  a  mem- 
ber of  the  association ;  for  one  reason,  in  order 
that  a  better  class  of  women  will  be  attracted 
to  the  profession,  and  that  those  who  begin 
their  training  shall  have  a  definite  standard  to 
press  forward  to  :  another  stimulus  to  help  them 
face  the  dreaded  question  of  examinations  ;  and 
to  help  them  at  their  post  when  a  wavering 
will  would  suggest  to  them  to  give  up,  or  that 
a  half  training  would  do. 

"  We  have  our  plans,  too,  for  a  nursing 
Uterature.  We  are  all  busy  women  and  it  must 
be  a  step  at  a  time.  The  editors  of  the  China 
Medical  Journal,  the  organ  of  the  Medical  Mis- 
sionary Association  of  China  and  Korea,  has 
offered  us  space  for  a  nurses'  department.  We 
are  also  planning  for  a  nurses'  department  In 
some  of  the  Chinese  papers.  Our  constitution 
will  be  printed  simultaneously  in  Chinese  and 
in  English,  and  in  English  and  Chinese  papers. 
We  hope  that  we  may  arrange  exchanges  with 
the  home  papers. 

"  With  the  constitution  will  come  the  list  r»f 
the  first  officers  and  their  places  of  graduation. 
You  will  see  that  Mrs.  Hart,  of  Anking,  is  our 
first  president. 

"  We  are  most  anxious  to  get  into  close  touch 
with  the  associations  at  home  and  be  mutually 
helped. ' ' 

liCt  us  hope  by  1912  that  the  Nurses'  Asso- 
ciation of  China  will  be  ready  for  affiliation  with 
the  International  Council  of  Nurses. 


Zbc  Sbil*^  Uolumc  of  '*B  Ibistoi^ 
of  IRursina." 

The  chapters  on  the  history  of  English  Nurs- 
ing from  1875  to  date,  to  be  incorporated  in  the 
third  volume  of  "  A  History  of  Nursing,"  to  be 
edited  by  Miss  Nutting  and  Miss  Dock,  have 
been  entrusted  to  !Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  and 
Miss  M.  Breay.  It  is  essential  that  a  vast 
amount  of  information  should  be  compressed 
into  the  26,000  words  allotted  to  this  country. 
The  scope  of  the  new  volume  will  deal  as  far  as 
possible  with  the  evolution  oi  nursing  as  a  pro- 
fession, and  in  the  English  section  the  struggle 
for  sound  educational  facilities  and  registration 
by  the  nurses  of  the  United  Kingdom  has  never 
been  exceeded  in  its  persistence,  nor  have  more 
influential  influences  ever  been  brought  against 
any  class  of  workers  in  the  whole  passionate 
struggle  against  the  feudal  conditions  from 
which  the  men  of  this  counti-y  have  emanci- 
pated themselves.  The  sum  total  of  human 
suffering  to  women  in  the  evolution  of  scientific 
nursing  for  the  conniiunity,  all  under  the  de- 
lusive cloak  of  charity  conducted  by  men,  is  a 
story  worth  writing,  and  shall  be  truthfully 
told*.  Much  can  be  gathered  from  the  44 
volumes  of  this  .Journal,  but  the  personal  touch 
is  all  important.  Mrs.  Fenwick  will,  therefore, 
be  greatly  indebted  to  nursing  pioneers  for  ac- 
curate and  reliable  infonnation  upon  this  very 
important  question  if  sent  to  her  to  20,  Upper 
Wimpole  Street,  London,  W. 

The  third  volume  of  the  History  is  now  well 
under  way,  bringing  nursing  history  up  to  date. 
Miss  Dock  reports  that  the  chapters  on  Ger- 
many, France,  Holland,  Italy,  and  Cuba  are 
practically  done,  the  United  States  material 
gathered  together,  the  finished  chapters  are 
being  verified  in  the  countries  to  which  they 
belong,  and  the  text  is  going  to  be  wonderfully 
interesting.  Denmark,  India,  China,  and 
Japan  are  giving  their  "own  stories,"  and,  in 
]\Iiss  Dock's  opinion,  it  will  be  a  wonderful 
chapter  of  the  Woman's  Uprising  and  Forward 
Movement.  She  writes  :  "It  seems  to  me  the 
■  ^Mareeillaise  '  should  be  sung  and  shouted  to  it 
the  whole  wav  through." 


As  time  goes  on  the  first  two  volumes  of  "  A 
History  of  Nursing,"  written  by  Miss  Dock 
and  Miss  Nutting,  are  becoming  widely  known, 
and  finding  their  way  into  the  hands  of  nurses 
all  over  the  world.  So  long  as  they  know  Eng- 
lish all  is  well,  but  this  is  not  enough  for  Ger- 
many, with  her  thirst  for  knowledge,  patient*, 
and  accuracy,  and  she  will  soon  have  this  great 
work  published  in  her  own  expressive  language. 


IbO 


Cbe  36i1tisb  3ournal  of  IRursing. 


[Aug.  13,  1010 


Sister  Agnes  Karll  is  just  now  liiddt-u  away  in 
Switzerland  at  work  on  the  translation,  thereby 
doing  German  nurses  a  wonderful  service.  The 
great  firm  of  Dietrich  Eeimer,  of  Berlin,  is 
going  to  bring  it  out  at  its  own  expense,  the 
first  volume  this  year,  the  second  in  1911. 
Eeimer  has  invited  Sister  Agnes  to  add  copious 
foot-notes  about  German  nursing  history.  The 
policy  of  this  firm  in  publishing  is  never  to  ask 
but  one  question,   "  Is  the  book  needed'.'  " 


riDiss  H)ocft  to  tbc  TRescue. 


We  are  apt  to  think  that  because  matters  in 
the  United  States  are  more  breezy  than  at 
home,  nurses  have  no  prejudice  to  contend 
with,  but,  indeed,  they  have,  and  wherever 
women  are  self-supporting,  they  are  met  with 
economic  laws  which  attempt  to  depreciate  th'fe 
value  of  their  wor^i  or  to  exploit  their  labour. 

Though  American  men  as  a  rule  are  gener- 
ous to  a  fault  to  their  "  own  women,"  a 
minoritj'  is  to  be  found  scattered  through  the 
various  States  which  has  the  same  innate  con- 
tempt for  the  working  woman  as  prevails  in 
Europe. 

The  Nciv  York  Medical  JnurnaJ  has  given 
space  recently  to  an  article  by  a  Dr.  Potter, 
which  would  delight  the  heart  of  medical 
baronets,  and  the  autocrats  who  compose  the 
Central  Hospital  Council  for  London.  We 
know  all  the  miserable  prejudice  which  inspires 
this  article  by  heart,  so  will  not  waste  space  in 
quotes.  To  it  !Miss  Dock  replies,  and  as  all  that 
she  says  and  writes  is  a  valuable  and  heart- 
ening quantity  for  nurses,  we  have  pleasure  in 
reprinting  part  of  her  letter  "  to  set  straight 
.some  of  the  misdirected  turns  of  Dr.  Potter's 
thought."  ;\liss"Dock  squanders  the  enemy 
on  several  educational  inaccuracies,  and  then 
proceeds:  — 

State  Eegistration. 

Next,  1  should  like  to  make,  as  plainly  and 
explicitly  as  the  English  language  permits,  the 
declaration  that  the  major  part  of  Dr.  Potter's 
article  is  based  upon  notning  more  than  a 
cau.seless  fear.  Dr.  Potter  thinks  that  the 
modern  movement  toward  State  registration  of 
nurses,  with  the  necessary  accompaniment  of  a 
_, minimum  standard  of  training,  portends  a 
secret  flank  invasion  of  the  field  of  medical 
practice  by  nur.'ses.  Kfe'  sunnises  that  they 
have  their  e.yes  fixed  on  this  goal,  and  that  their 
ti-ains  are  being  laid.  He  sees  significaut 
straws,  showing  the  direction  of  the  wind,  in 
certain  ominous  phrrtses — "  the  practice  «f 
nursing,"  the  "  run-sing  profession."  And  he 
pcints    out    that      •,-  ine    has    said. 


autonomy  and  independence  mark  the  profes- 
sion as  against  the  calling  or  trade,  and  as. 
nurses  cannot  have  autonomy  or  independence 
in  the  sick  room,  therefore,  if  they  ask  for  any 
autonomy  or  independence  at  all  it  means  that 
they  are  not  going  to  keep  their  places  in  the 
sick  room.  I  am  quite  sure  that,  if  any  phy-' 
sician  offered  the  Medical  Journal  a  medical 
article  so  full  of  the  .traces  of  superstition  as 
this  one  about  nurses,  it  would  be  promptlj' 
declined.  Let  me,  from  my  personal  and  inti- 
mate knowledge  during  twenty-five  years  of 
nurses  and  nursing  affairs  both  at  home  and 
abroad,  and  as  one  who  has  taken  a  share  in  all 
the  organisation  work  of-  nurses,  try  to  explain 
to  Dr.  Potter  and  to  those  men  of  whom  he  is  a 
type,  what  nurses  really  do  want.  The  move- 
ment for  registration  is  not  a  shove 
forward  into  the  medical  sphere ;  it  is 
not  an  attempt  to  get  anything  new ; 
it  is  simply  and  solely  an  effort 
to  protect  a  standard  of  nursing  educa- 
tion which  we  have  attained  and  which  time 
has  shown  to  be  a  reasonable  minimum.  Few 
nurses  have  any  wish  to  be  doctors.  Those  who 
have,  can,  and  do,  study  medicine.  The  v:M>t 
majority,  however,  see  in  their  own  work  so 
full  and  ample  a  content  of  satisfaction,  in- 
terest, and  importance  that  I  can  say  positively 
they  not  only  have  no  wish  to  practise  medi- 
cine, either  openly  or  sun-eptitiously,  but  they 
have  a  very  definite  wish  not  to  practise  it.  In 
other  words,  compared  with  nursing,  medicine 
does  not  attract  them.  But  what  about  auto- 
nomy and  independence  ?  Nurses  do  claim  a 
human  and  democratic  right  to  the  same  share 
of  autonomy  and  independence  that  all  citizens 
of  a  free  country  may  claim.  Here  I  must  ask 
Dr.  Potter  to  discriminate.  Nurses  do  not  want 
this  autonomy  and  independence  in  the  sick 
room  or  in  the  hospital  ward  or  in  any  branch 
of  their  work  as  nurses.  On  the  contrary,  they 
delight  in  working  under  the  orders  of  a  medi- 
cal general  whose  leadership  calls  for  their 
every  capacity  to  be  put  forth  to  its  utmost.  It 
is  surprising  that  Dr.  Totter  does  not  realise 
how  impregnable  the  position  of  the  medical 
man  is  as  regards  the  nurse.  All  he  has  to  do, 
in  order  to  maintain  it,  is  to  fill  it  in  the  ethioil 
and  professional  dimensions.  •  But  the  nurse 
does  claim  autonomy  and  independence  in  her 
social  and  economic  relations  as  a  self-siipporl- 
ing  woman  and  as  a  meWlber  of  the  human 
family.  She  demands  them,  -and  she  asserts 
unflinchingly  that  the  subordination  due  to  the 
ine<lical  profession  in  tfi<?  practice  of  nursing 
does  not  apply  or  find  place  in  her  life  as  an 
individual.  When  medicaf  men  atten^pt  to 
control  the  educational  processes  of  the  nui-se, 
thui  iiidirectiv  gaining  control  of  her  livins;  con- 


All''.  13,  in 


tlf)c  Bvitfeb  3ouiii?.I  of  1Rni5(nn 


ilitions  luid  so  siiri-ly  winning  llit-  poWfi-  ot 
crushing  down  her  social  and  economic  status, 
thev  meet  with  iier  determined  resistance  and 
lier  fixed  refusal  to  aeicnowledge  their  right  to 
manage  and  control  her  own  affairs. 
Nursing  Economics. 

There  are  countries  where  the  status  of  nurs- 
ing now  is  just  what  it  would  be  here  if  Dr. 
Potter's  suggestions  could  be  earned  out,  for 
one  year  training,  clieaper  nurses,  more  ob- 
sequious nurses,  and  two  grades  of  nurses — one 
highly  trained  (evidently  for  the  rich),  the  other 
just  given  the  simple  elements,  openly  for  the 
patient  of  riioderate  means.  The  thing  exists, 
and  the  results  are  most  unsatisfactory,  .so 
much  so  that  foreis:n  governments  are  taking 
a  hand  in  bringing  up  standards  of  nursing  edu- 
cation to  approach  ours.  When  such  standards 
of  nursing  as  Dr  .Potter  advocates  are  in 
general  practice,  what  actually  happens  is  that 
patients  are  nursed  by  their  own  families  rather 
than  call  in  a  nurse :  patients  will  not  go  to 
jniblic  hospitals  imless  they  are  in  the  most 
dire  extremity;  doctors'  private  hospitals  are 
regarded  with  dread  :  physicians  themselves  are 
not  able  to  get  the  results  nor  (let  me  put  it 
frankly^  the  fees  they  get  here.  Finally,  but 
not  least  important,  there  is  in  these  other 
countries  a  wretched  proletariat  of  ignorant, 
half  taught,  incompetent  nurses  who  are  unable 
to  maintain  themselves  above  the  poverty  line, 
and  whose  only  prospect  in  old  age  or  sickness 
is  the  almshouse.  Now.  leaving  them  quite  out 
of  the  question  as  objects  of  pity,  I  ask  Dr. 
Potter  if  he  sees  any  advantage  to  society  in 
general  in  this  economic  degradation  of  nin-ses 
as  a  class  of  workers.  The  great  middle  class 
must  be  nursed  by  systems  that  do  not  under- 
pay the  nurse.  Such  systems  are  possible.  Be- 
sides, we  must  not  forget  that  the  superior 
quality  of  our  nurses  has  built  up  our  innumer- 
able comfortable  and  pleasant  little  general 
hospitals  where  middle  class  patients  go  wil- 
lingh^  on  charges  that  are  within  their 
means. 

Etfirs. 

Nurses  over  the  whole  country  are  beginning 
to  think  that  it  is  time  for  the  medical  profes- 
sion to  frame  some  ethical  principles  which 
shall  guide  medical  men  in  their  relations  to 
mu'Ses  as  irorhers.  and  which  shall  pronounce 
medical  traffic  for  profit  in  niirse  training  or 
nurse  sweating  a  scandal  and  disgi-ace  to  the 
science  of  medicine. 


practical   points. 

For  ;i  t;eneral  tonic  wIiok 
A  Salt  Bath.  tired  iiiid  run  <lo\vn,  says  tli.- 
yntioiKit  HosiiifaJ  Bccord.  A 
salt  liatli,  eitluT  lepid  or  cool,  each  day,  followed  liy 
brisk  rul)l)iiig,  is  csi>e<-ially  valuable.  For  weak  or 
poorly  developed  children,  when  faithfully  used  it 
has  given  excellent  results.  Many  of  the  less  in- 
telligent mothers  would  scorn  the  idea  of  an  or- 
dinary daily  batli  in  plain  water  as  a  curative 
agent  in  a  child  while  they  would  diligently  con- 
tinue to  give  a  bath  containing  salt  or  some  drug. 
This  is  a  point  which  nurses  among  the  poorer 
classes  will  do  well  to  remember. 


Creolin  in 
Erysipelas. 


Dr.  W.  B.  Taylor,  in  the 
MedirnV  Council  (U.S.A.),  re- 
ports the  rapid  and  succes.s- 
ful  treatment  of  erysipela-s  by 
painting  the  surface  with  pure  creolin,  waiting 
three  minutes,  and  %va.shing  off  with  pure  water. 
One  application  suffices.  His  explanation  is  that 
creolin,  being  a  saiwnified  coal-tar  creosote,,  dis- 
solve.s  the  sebaceous  matter  of  the  .skin,  thus 
I>enetrating  to  the  deei>er  layers  and  to  the  snj)er- 
ficial  lymph  vessels,  and  destroying  the  strepto- 
cocci in  their  remotest  habitat.  This  action  of 
creolin  is  worthy  of  attention,  as  it  may  be  ap- 
plied to  other  conditions  of  the  scalp. 

After  a  long  and  serious 
Warming  an  operation,  is  is  a  very  impor- 
Operation  Bed.  tant  matter  that  the  patient 
should  be  put  into  a  really 
warm  bed.  To  ensure  this,  says  the  Xursiuo 
Jouriifjl  i>f  Iii'lki,  is  an  easy  matter  where  a  large 
dressing  steriliser  is  at  hand.  Dressings  are  usually 
sterilised  the  day  before  the  oix>rations.  .««  that,  as 
a  rule,  the  steriliser  is  not  in  use  on  the  day  of 
operation.  Two  pairs  of  blankets  can  be  put  into 
the  steriliser,  which  5ho\dd  be  heated  to  just  below 
the  point  where  steam  conies  into  the  container. 
These  can  be  left  there  until  the  patient  is  ready 
to  be  taken  off  from  the  table,  when  one  pair  ought 
to  be  spread  under  and  the  other  over  the  patient. 
It  is  surprising  how  hot  blankets  can  be  made  in 
this  way,  and  how  long  they  retain  the  heat,  espe- 
cially if  a  cotton  quilt  is  put  on  the  top.  It  is 
mucii  more  satisfactory  than  hot  bottles,  as  every 
part  of  the  body  gets  the  warmth,  and  there  is  no 
danger  of  burning  the  patient. 


Mrs.  Shuter,  Hon.  Secretary  of  the  Defence 
of  Nursing  Standard?  Committee,  asks  us  to 
acknowlAlge  an  anonymous  donation  of  Ss., 
sent  to  herby  M.  L.  ^M.,  for  the  fund  raised  by 
the  Committee. 


THE  PASSING  BELL. 
Wf  greatly  regret  to  record  the  death  on  Thurs- 
day in  last  week  of  Miss  Jessie  Margaret  Duff.  Ma- 
tron of  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Dundee,  and  daughter 
of  the  late  Colonel  James  Duff,  Knockleith,  Aber- 
deenshire. Miss  Duff  was  traine<l  at  C%aring  Cross 
Hospital  and  was  api>ointed  Matron  of  the  Royal 
Infirmary.  Dundee,  14  years  ago.  During  he- 
term  of  office  the  Jfaternity  Hospital  and  the  Cairu 
Cancer  Pavilion  have  been  opened,  and  the  nursing 
staff  largely  increa.sed.  Her  death,  which  took- 
place  at  the  Infirmary,  will  be  deeply  •felt 
by  the  large  number  of  nurses  trained  under 
her  supervision,  who  regarded  her  with  the  warmest 
affection  and  esteem. 


i-6-2 


Zbc  Britisb  3ournaI  of  IRursing. 


[Aug.  13,  1910 


appointments. 


Ladt  Supehintendent. 
Maternity  Home,  Mahe,  Seychelles.^ — Miss  Alice  M. 
Beedie  has  been  appointed  Matron  and  Lady  Super- 
intendent of  the  above  Maternity  Home,  under 
Government.  She  was  trained  at  the  Withiugton 
Infirmary,  Manchester,  where  she  subsequently  held 
the  position  of  Sister ;  she  has  also  been  Sister  at 
Queen  Charlotte's  Hospital,  and  had  experience  of 
private  nursing  in  connection  with  the  Nurses'  Co- 
operation, 8,  New  Cavendish  Street,  W.  She  hae 
been  Matron  of  the  Accident  Hospital,  Somerton, 
Somerset,  and  Matron  and  Lady  Superintendent 
of  the  Aberdeen  Mat-ernity  Hospital.  She  is  a 
certified  midwife. 

Hatbohi. 

Mile  End  Infirmary,  Bancroft  Road,  N.E. . — ^Miss  Grace 
A.  Preston  has  lieen  appointed  Matron.  She  waa 
trained  at  the  Whitechapel  Infirmary,  where  she 
has  held  the  positions  of  Sister  in  the  maternity 
wards  and  of  Night  Superintendent.  She  has  also 
been  Lady  Superintendent  of  the  Union  Hospital, 
Newcastle-on-Tyne.  She  is  a  certified  midwife  and 
a  certified  masseuse. 

Cottage  Hospital,  Romford. — Miss  Gertrude  Pickman 
has  been  appointe<l  Matron.  She  was  trained  at 
•St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital,  London,  and  has  been 
.Sister  at  tlie  Royal  Hospital  for  Sick  Children, 
Edinburgh,  and  the  General  Hospital,  Birmingham. 
.She  has  done  holiday  duty  at  the  East  London  Hos- 
pital for  Children,  and  has  had  experience  in  in- 
stitutional honsekeeping 

-Assistant  Matron. 
City  Hospital  for  infectious  Diseases,  Walker  Gate,  New- 
castle-on-Tyne.— Miss  Eilleen  O'Kane  lias  been  ap- 
pointed Assistant  Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the 
Belfast  Infirmary  and  Fever  Ho.spitrtl,  and  has  been 
Charge  Nurse  at  the  City  Hospital,  Newcastle,  for 
nearly  four  years.  She  has  also  had  experience  of 
private   nursing. 

Sister, 
St.  Luke's  Hospital,  Hallfai. — Miss      Dora      Williams 
has  been  apix>int»'<l  Sister.    She  was  trained  at  the 
Bradford   I'liion    Hospital,  and  has  been   Sister  at 
the  Children's  Hospital  in  connection  with  the  same 
Union,  and    Night    Sister    at    the    Sculcoates  In- 
firmary, Hull.     She  is  also  a  certified  midwife. 
Ward  Sister. 
Shirley     Warren     Infirmary,    Southampton. — Miss  Annie 
Joni«   has   Ixh'ii   apjiointed   Ward    Sister.     She  was 
trained  at  the  Woolwich  Infirmary,  Phimstead,  and 
has  held  tlie  positions  of  Staff  Nurse   at  the  Cot- 
tage Hospital,  Enfield,  and  Staff  Nur.se  at  the  East 
Diihvich  Infirmary.     She  is  also  a  certified  midwife. 
Home  Sister, 
City   Hospital,  Newcastle-on-Tyne.    -Mi.ss    M,    \.    Cairns 
has  been  apjiointed  Home  Sister.     She  was  trained 
at  the  Greenwich  Infirmary,  where  she  held  .succes- 
sively the  positions  of  Head  Nurse,  Midwifery  Sis- 
ter,   and  temporary    .\K.sistant  Matron.        She    has 
also  had  experience  of  private  nursing. 
Night  Stperintendent. 
City  Hospital,  Newcastle-on-Tyne.  —Miss  E.   Wilcox   has 
''•■■II   Mpiioiiited   Niulit    Superintendent,        She  was 
■r;iini'ii    at    the    Parkhill    Hospital,    Liverpool;    the 


City  Hospital,  Fazakerley,  Liverpool ;  and  the 
Fulham  Infirmary,  Hammersmith, 
Night  Sister, 
Children's  Hospital,  Hull. — Miss  Amy  Foster  has  been 
appointed  Niglit  Sister.  She  was  trained  at  the 
Newport  and  Monmouthshire  County  Hospital,  and 
has  had  experience  of  private  nursing. 

Charge  Nurses. 

Cottage  Hospital,  Romford..— Miss  Mary  Thwaites  has 
been  appointed  Charge  Nurse.  She  was  trained  at 
the  Blacklmrn  -and  East  Lancashire  Infirmary,  and 
has  been  Sister  at  the  Victoria  Hospital,  Keighley. 

Kirkburton  Joint  Isolation  Hospital  Committee.  -Miss 
.\ldis  has  been  appointed  Charge  Nurse,  She  was 
trained  at  the  Hull  Sanatorium,  and  has  held  the 
position  of  Assistant  Nurse  at  the  Norwich  Isola- 
tion Hospital,  and  of  Sister  at  Normanton  and  Dis- 
trict Hospital. 

Btatv  Nttsbb. 

The  Children's  infirmary,  Carshalton. — Miss  Margaret 
McCiaith  lias  been  ai>iK>iiited  Staff  Nurse.  She  was 
ti-aine<l  at  the  Royal  Hospital  for  Sick  Children, 
Eklinburgh,  and  has  been  Staff  Nunse  at  the  Con- 
valescent Home,  Gullane,  in  connection  with  the 
Hospital. 

Scuola  Convitto  Regina  Elena,  Policlinico,  Rome.  — Miss 
Grace  C.  Kirk  has  been  apiiointed  Staff  Nui-se.  She 
was  trained  at  the  Stanley  Hospital,  Liverpool,  and 
tlie  Fever  Hospital,  Cork  Street,  Dublin,  and  is  a 
certified  midwife. 

Nurse 

Hemel   Hempstead   Union  Infirmary Miss    Ethel    May 

Teagiie  has  been  appointed  Nurse.  She  was  trained 
and  certificated  at  the  Bridgewater  Union  Hospital, 
where  as  probationer  and  Staff  Nurse  she  worked 
for  five  years.  She  has  also  been  Staff  Nurse  at  St. 
Giles's  Infirmary.  Camberwell,  S.E,,  and  is  a  cer- 
tified midwife. 


QUEEN  ALEXANDRA'S  NAVAL  NURSING  SERVICE 

Miss  Mabel  Bere,  who  was  traine<l  at  St.  Bar- 
tholomew's Hospital,  has  lieen  appointed  Sister  in 
Queen  .Alexandra's  Navy  Nureing  .Service,  and  is 
•stationed  at  Haslar.  She  has  held  the  position  of 
.Sist<'r  at  the  Children's  Infirmary,  Carshalton. 


QUEEN  VICTORIA'S  JUBILEE   INSTITUTE 
FOR     NURSES. 

Tniiixfrrii  and  .l/.;...;;i/m- (if.s,— Miss  Elizabeth 
Hirons,  to  Grantham,  as  Senior  Nurse;  Miss  Marv 
Cole,  to  Cliapel  End  ;  Miss  Norah  Farrant,  to  Chat- 
ham, as  Senior  Nurse;  Miss  Violet  Fenton,  to 
Higher  Sutton ;  Miss  Elizabeth  Milner  and  Miss 
Mabel  Ryder,  to  Huddersfield, 


THE   HOSPITAL  OF   ST.  JOHN    OF  JERUSALEM. 

.\ moil g^t  the  promotioM.s  and  ai>|x>iiit iiieiits  to  the 
Order  of  the  Hospital  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem  in 
England,  which  the  King  has  been  pleased  to  sanc- 
tion,  are  the  following:  — 

As  Liidji  of  ./i/.f/irc, — Her  Royal  Highness  Prin- 
cess Victoria  Patricia  Helena  Elizabeth  of  Con- 
naught, 

As  T.odips  of  Grnrr. — Her  Excellency  the  Countess 
Grey:  Edith,  Mrs.  Bland  Sutton;  Jessie,  Lady 
Trnscott. 


All.'.  13,  I'.HO 


Zbc  36iit(sb  3ournal  of  IRursino. 


133 


niuitjinfl  lecbocs. 

At  the  time  of  tlio  di-iitli 
of  tliL-  late  King  the  uieiii- 
bevs  of  the  Territorial  Foree 
Nursing  Service  subscribed 
for  a  cross  to  be  laid  on  his 
tomb,  and  it  has  been  found 
that  tliere  is  a  suri)lus  of  tOS. 
The  Queen  Mother  has  ex- 
pressed the  desire  that  this 
sum  shall  be  handed  over  to 
the  Trained  Nurses'  Annuity 
Fund  as  the  nucleus  of  a 
King  Edward  VII.  memorial  annuity,  to  be 
awardeil  to  a  disabled  nurse  who  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Territorial  Force  Nureing 
Service.  The  Council  of  the  Fund  have  issued 
an  appeal  for  funds  to  enable  them  to  found 
this  annuity.  To  endow  a  memorial  annuity  of 
10s.  a  week  in  pei7)etuity  the  sum  of  £'900  is 
required.  Further  details  may  be  obtained 
from  Dr.  Ogier  Ward,  Hon.  Secretary,  73, 
Cheapside.  We  are  asked  to  state  that  if  any 
members  of  the  Territorial  Nursing  Service 
have  not  already  subscribed  to  their  own 
special  fund,  the  Principal  ^Matrons,  or  Miss 
Sidney  Browne,  31a,  Mortimer  Street,  W., 
will  receive  subscriptions  till  the  end  of  this 
month. 

The  Cookery  and  Fooil  Exhibition,  promoted 
by  the  Universal  Cookery  and  Food  Associa- 
tion, will  this  year  be  held  from  November  1st 
to  November  5th  inclusive,  at  the  Royal  Hor- 
ticultural Hall,  Westminster,  S.W.  The  sec- 
tion of  chief  interest  to  nurses  is  Section  III.  in 
Group  B,  Invalid  Cookery,  in  which  Class  32 
is  a  special  class  open  only  to  trained  nurses. 
The  entrance  fee  is  Is.,  and  entries  must  be 
sent  in  before  October  15th.  The  dishes  in 
this  section  will  be  exhibited  on  November  3rd 
and  4th.  The  exhibits  are  to  comprise  an  in- 
valid tray  containing  a  dish  of  fish  or  meat,  a 
light  puddiTig,  jelly,  or  custard,  and  two 
beverages,  including  beef  tea  or  a  soup. 

Class  33,  invalid  trays,  including  the  same 
dishes  as  Class  32.  will  be  open  to  all  except 
trained  nurses,  and  in  Class  33a,  the  exhibits 
will  be  invalid  trays  containing  five  meatless 
dishes,  including  soup  and  a  beverage.  The 
dishes  in  Classes  33  and  33a  will  be  exhibited 
on  November  1st  and  November  2nd.  The 
prizes  to  be  awarded  in  these  classes  are  a  Gold 
Medal,  Silver  Medals,  T'.ronze  Medals,  Cookery 
Books,  and  certificates  of  merit. 

These  exhibitions  arc  not  commercial  specu- 
lations, but^are  intended  to  be  of  real  educa- 
tional value  to  the  community,  and  the  profits 
will  be  devoted  to  educational  and  charitable 
purposes,  and  for  the  benefit  of  the  Benevolent 


Fund    of    the    Association.      The    Exhibition 
UfHees  are  at  329,  Vauxhall  Bridge  Koad,  S.W. 


The  \'aledictory  Meeting  of  the  Nurses'  INIis- 
sionary  League,  when  nurses  will  be  distiiissed 
to  the  foreign  mission  field,  will  be  held  at 
University  Hall,  Gordon  Square,  W.C., on  Wed- 
nesday, Oct.  5th.  Two  members  of  the  League 
have  recently  left  for  work  abroad — Miss  E. 
I'hunbly  (St.  Baitholomew's  Hospital),  for 
South  Africa,  in  connection  with  the  Society 
for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel,  and  Miss 
McMinn  (Belfast  Infirmary),  for  Assiut,  U))per 
Egypt,  in  connection  with  the  American  Mis- 
sion. 


In  the  absence  of  the  Lord  ^layor  of  Brad- 
ford, the  Deputy  Lord  Mayor,  ^Nlr.  .James  Hill, 
last  week  presented  the  medals  and  certificates 
to  the  nurses  of  the  Bradford  Royal  Infirmary 
who  had  passed  the  recent  examinations.  'Mr. 
George  Priestman  presided.  The  report  of  the 
Examiners,  read  by  Dr.  Phillips,  stated  that 
every  one  of  the  twelve  nurees  examined  gained 
the  certificate  of  merit,  and  three  of  thein 
(Nurses  Hurdley,  Dowson,  and  Woodhouse) 
obtained  an  average  of  over  75  per  cent,  of 
marks.  Among  the  seniors  Nurse  ^lorgan,  last 
year's  silver  medallist,  won  the  gold  medal 
with  an  average  of  77.5,  Nunse  Gilbertson  being 
second  with  73.  Nurse  Stephenson  was  first 
amongst  the  juniors,  and  therefore  the  silver 
medallist,  with  an  average  of  79.25.  ilr.  Hill, 
after  presenting  the  medals  and  certificates, 
said  in  addressing  those  present  that  it  was 
very  gratifying  to  find  the  nurses  vi'orking  so 
hard  to  make  themselves  proficient. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Gillingham  Town  Coun- 
cil last  week,  on  the  minutes  of  the  Health 
Committee  being  presented.  Councillor  Tapp 
said  it  had  come  to  his  knowledge  that  on  July 
20th  a  child  had  broken  out  of  the  hospital  at 
10  o'clock  at  night,  and  made  its  way  home, 
arriving  there  at  10.20.  The  child  was  suffer- 
ing from  scarlet  fever,  and  it  was  a  very  wet 
and  cold  night.  He  would  like  to  know  whether 
this  matter  was  considered  in  the  report  of  the 
Medical  Otficer. 

The  ^Medical  Officer  said  the  nurse  came  to 
his  house  late  at  night,  but  failed  to  make  him 
hear,  as  he  had  no  night  bell.  She  .reported 
the  matter  next  morning. 

Councillor  Tapp  thought  it  a  shame  that  the 
Council  was  given  no  information  on  this  mat- 
ter. This  was  not  the  first  time  a  child  had 
broken  out  of  the  hospital. 

The  Medical  Officer  said  the  case  was  not  a 
severe  one,  and  there  was  only  one  other  child 
in  hospital.  The  boy  escaped  wljjle  the  nurse 
had  left  the  ward  to  have  a  bath.     Seeing  one 


(Tbc  Biitigb  3ournaI  of  IRursing. 


[Au^'.  13,  191U 


of  the  beds  vacant  oh  her  return,  sh^  roused 
the  Charge  Nurse  and  went  down  to  the  boy's 
home.  The  parents  refused  to  let  the  boy 
return  that  night,  but  he  did  so  next  day. 

Councillbr  Tilpp  said  it  was  no  explanation 
to  saj-,  as  had  been  urrred,  that  the  boy  was  a 
naughty  b6j^;  The  staff  should  be  able  to 
manage  a  boy  of  twelve.  There  was  great 
ufegleet  somewhere. 


IRctlccnons. 


Dr.  Anna  Hamilton,  in  La  Garde  Maladc 
HospitaUere  gives  an  interesting  account  of  the 
method  of  examination,  and  the  classification 
of  pupils,  in  the  nursing  school  of  the  Protes- 
tant Hospital,  Bordeaux,  both  in  practical 
work  and  theory  (the  latter  in  two  -sections). 
The  pupils  who  headed  the  list  at  the  last  ex- 
amination were  ]Mlle.  Bryant,  !Mlle.  C.  Mignot, 
and  Mile.  Larribau. 

In  the  same  jonrnal.  ^liss  Elston  describes  a 
\-isit  ^dlich  sho  paid  to  the  Civil  and  Military 
Hospital  of  filbeuf,  in  the  Seine-Inferieure,  in 
order  to  see  the  work  of  the  brave  band  of 
Bordeaux  nurses  to  whom  three  years  ago  the 
laicisation  of  this  hospital  vi"as  entrusted.  She 
was  met  at  the  station  by  theDirectrice,  ^Ille. 
Gonthier,  a  former  pupil,  and  -the  cheftaines 
who  were  assembled  in  the.hospi'tal,  bomluu'ded 
her  .with  questions  ■conceniinL'  tlifir  tnnrifr 
training  school.  ' 


From  a  Board  Room  Mireor. 
The  King  and  Qupeii  have  T5een  pleased  to  become 
Patrons    ot     Chariny;    Cross    Hospifal.     the     Royal 
Dentiil   Ho.spital  of   London,   and  the  Itahan   Hos- 
l)ital. 

Hi.s  Majesty  ha.s  also  granted  his  patronage  to 
the  Royal  Westminster  Ophthalmic  Ho.spitial.  and 
the  German  Hospital.  Dalston.  and  the  Queen  lias 
become  Patron  of  the  Royal  Ear  Hospital. 


TJie  King  has  intimated  his  intention  of  increas- 
ing his  yearly  subscription  to  King  Edward's  Hos- 
pital Fund  for  London  from  £-500  to  £1,000. 

The  Prince  of  W'alesjjtos  forwarded  a  subscrip- 
tion of  £100  to  the  .sailRTund. 


Tlie  following  gentlemen  have  accepted  the  in- 
vitation of  the  Lord  Mayor  (Sir  .John  Knill)  to  serve 
on  the  Mansion  House  Committee  for  providing  a 
memorial  in  London  of  the  late  King: — Tlie  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury,  the  Duke  of  Fife,  Lord 
Rothschild.  Lord  Iveagh,  Sir  Ernest  Cassel.  Sir 
.James  Gildea.  Sir  Tlioma*  Barlow  (President  of  the 
^?(iyal  College  of  Physicians^,  Mr.  H.  T.  Butlin 
(President  of  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons),  the 
Presidents  of  the  l^an  Society,  the  Royal  Academy, 
and  tlve  Chaml)er  of  Shipping,  the  Governor  and 
Deputy-Governor  of  the  Bank  of  England,  the  C''i"f 
Uabbi.  Sir  H.  Beerbohm  Tree,  and  most  of  the  Lon- 
don  Mavors. 


The  Connditin  Niir^c  for  -lul.v  ' 
voted  to  the  report  of  the  proc< 
Fourth  Aniuuil  ]\Ipeting  of  the  Oaii:i 
of  Superintendents  of  Training  S.'WSSte  for 
Nurses,  held  in  the  Residence  of  the  Hospital 
for  Sick  Children.  Toronto.  Miss  !-.  C.  lirent. 
President,  was  in  tlie  chair,  and  the  Address 
of  Welcome  was  given  by  Mr.  .John  Ross 
Robertson.  President  of  the  Hospital  Board. 
In  her  Presidential  .\'ddress,  ]\Iiss  Brent  re- 
ferred to  the  loss  sustained  i)y  the  nursing  pro- 
fession through  the  deaths  of  Mrs.  Hampton 
Robb,  Miss  Isla  Stewart,  and  their  own  effi- 
cient Secretary,  j\lrs.  House,  concerning  whose 
work  a  paper  was  read  at  a  later  stage  in  the 
proceediiigs  by  one  of  her  pu])ils,  'Miss  Eilgar. 

]^Iiss  .\iny  ])owney,  owner  of  the  new 
Nur.ses'  Residential  Home,  44,  Norfolk  Square. 
W.,  informs  us  that  the  position  recently  hehl 
by  her  at  the  Mental  Nurses'  Co-ojieration,  40, 
Norfolk  Square,  was  that  of  Matron,  the  Co- 
operation and  the  Home  being  under  the  same 
managerncnt.  She  is  prei>ared  to  substantiate 
this  statement,  and  lier  solicitor,  Mr.  W.  Gipps 
Kent,  of  11,  Gray's  ;lnn  Place,  has  informed 
the  solicitors  of  the  Sn])erinteiulent,  Miss 
Hastie,  that  lie  is  readv  to  acee])t  service  on 
her  behalf. 


-A  .scheme  is  favoured  in  Edinburgh,  and  it  is 
understood  may  be  .i.pproved  in  Glasgow  also,  for 
t  he  impiwement  of  Holyrood  Palace  as  a  memorial 
to  King  Edward  Vll.  It  is  hoi>ed  that  the  Palace 
may  be  rendered  suitable  for  occupation  by  the 
King  and  Queen  for  a  short  period  each  year. 


It  has  been  unanimously  resolved  that  in  memory 
of  tjie  late  King  Edward  VII.  steps  shall  be  taken 
to  raise  a  sufficient  sum  to  pay  off  the  debt  ujion 
the  "  King  Edward  VII.  Hospital  "'  at  AVindsor, 
to  endow  the  same,  and  to  erect  a.  statue  to  his  late 
Majesty  on  the  grounds  in  front  of  the  hospital. 


The  Spe<'ial  Correspondent  of  the  Times  writes 
that  Doctor  Tversen.  who  has  been  .successfully 
applying  JChrlich's  si)ecific  606  at  the  Knlinkin  Mos- 
pital  in  St,  Peter,vburg.  reix)rts  that  marvellous  re- 
sults have  followed  the  injection  of  the  same 
renu'dy  into  the  veins  of  patients  suffering  from  re- 
current typhoid,  a  dis»-ase  whicli  affects  many  wTj') 
recover  liom  cholera.  Of  .50  jMitients  so  treated  08 
)>er   cent,    have   completely    recovered. 


The  third  International  Congress  of  .Scluxil 
Hygiene  in  Paris  adopted  a  series  of  resolutions  re- 
lating to  the  instruction  of  teachers  in  hygiene, 
compulsory  physical  education  in  both  lx)vs'  and 
girls'  schooK,  and  graduated  lessons  in  mattei-s  of 
sex,  beginning  with  natural  history  and  leading  ui> 
to  c<impli'te  inMruction  for  advanced  ])iipils. 


Aug.  13,  1910] 


Z\K  36ritisb  3ournal  of  IHursmo. 


®ur  jforcifln  Xcttcr. 

A  HOLIDAY   IN   THE   LEBANON    MOUNTAINS. 

1  spent  my 
summer  holi- 
day      in       a 
sweet      littlo 
village  in  tlie 
Lebanon 
M  o  11  n  tains, 
ami    oh.  how 
I  enjoyid  it ! 
Two       whole 
months"  rest ! 
with     friends, 
!    ■  a      slicTt       dis- 
Two     members      of 


.  time 


I  stayed  part  at'  the 
whose  summer  residence 
tanoe  from  the  village, 
the  family,  father  and  son,  are  doctors,,  and  are 
greatly  beloved  by  all  the  native'  jiopulation,  to 
whom — twodaysof  the  week  during  the  three  months 
of  the  year  they  reside  at  their  mountain  home — 
they  give  their  services,  nover  accepting  any  pay- 
ment from  the  multitude  of  sick  folk,  who  come 
sometimes  at  most  iuoonrenient  hours,  to  claim 
their  care  and  skill.  AVe  were  a  big  house  party, 
and  every  day  made  delightful  picnics  under  the 
pine  trees,  or  took  long  walks  in  the  cool  of  the 
day  with  now  and  then  a  drive  down  to  Beyrout, 
and  every  day  brought  with  it  such  a  sense  of  rest, 
enjoyment,  and  renewed  vigour  to  each  one  of  us 
after  ten  months  of  hard  work  in  hospital.  We 
always  tried  to  keep  Sundays  lihe  we  used  to  spend 
them  in  England,  and  althoug'i  t'.iere  was  no  real 
church  in  the  little  village,  there  was  a  large  r<Kim 
arranged  as  nearly  like  one  as  possible,  and  one 
of  the  doctors  read  the  niorning  service  and  we 
sang  hymns,  and  whenever  there  was  a  clergyman 
of  our  party  we  had  a  sermon.  One  Sunday  morn- 
ing we  were  all  starting  out  to  walk  to  this  very 
primitive  church,  when  one  of  the  doctors  came 
to  me  and  said,  '"  Will  you  come  and  help  me  in- 
stead of  going  to  church  ;-■  A  small  boy  has  just 
arrived,  a  patient,  with  a  fractured  femur,  so  we 
must  set  to  work  and  do  our  best  for  him."'  Tlie 
little  boy  was  accompanied  by  his  mother  and 
several  other  rel.itions,  but  as  the  splint  had  to  be 
made  and  then  padded  we  sent  them  all  away,  only 
permitting  the  dijld's  mother  to  remain  with  him. 
An  orange-box  provided  us  witL  wood  for  the  splint, 
this  had  to  be  hewn  and  planed  into  sh.tjie,  and 
then  padded,  and  then  the  leg  was  set,  the  boy 
made  as  comforta+ilc  as  circumstances  would  per- 
mit, .and  then  put  on  a  stretcher  and  carried  very 
carefully  to  his  home.  The  doctor  and  I  both  ac- 
companied him  to  the  cottage  and  put  him  to  bed, 
telling  his  mother  on  no  account  to  disturb  the 
sjdint  and  to  keep  the  little  patient  absolutely  at 
rest.  To  all  our  injunctions  she  replied  "  Maloom 
ya  hakeem,  maloom,  ya  sittee  "  (Of  course,  doctor. 
or  course,  lady),  and  so  we  left  the  house,  promis- 
ing to  call  again  later  in  the  day. 

Towards  evening  we  n  iiit  to  have  a  look  at  the 
child,  when  to  our  dismay  we  saw  him  lying  on 
the  floor  playing  with  hi*  little  sister.  Tlie  splint 
was  off,  and-Xviien  w-e  asked  the  meaning  of.  all 
tl.U.  the  ..intli.r  <:iid.  ■■  Dachlakya  hakeem  "  <I  be- 


seech you,  doctor),  '•  (lon"t  be  angry ;  soon  after  we 
arrived  home  a^atherd  came  to  see  us,  iind  wo 
told  hiiii  all  alKiM  the  accident ;  he  said  the  splint 
must  be  taken  off  at  once  or  my  boy  would  become 
■mafloDge"  (paralysed),  so  we  took  it  off,  and  little 
Asa  rests  on  the  divan,  and  the  goatherd  is  coming 
every  day  to  rub  the  leg  with  oil,  not  liard  you 
know,  sir,  but  just  a  little  gentle  rub."'  All  our 
trouble  for  nothing!  The  doctor  said  he  would 
not  attend  the  case  any  more,  buti  used  to  climb 
the  hill  every  day  to  see  how  the  leg  went  on. 
I  was  curious  to  see  how  this  native  management 
of  the  case  would  answer.  To  me  it  was  so  interest- 
ing how  this  mountaineer,  a  goatherd,  should  know- 
that  massage  is  the  right  treatment — if  rightly 
nsed — for  fnictures.  Strangely  enough,  the  Wy 
did  far  better  than  we  expected,  or  than  some  of 
lis  hoped;  long  before  our  holidays  were  over  he  was 
hobbling  about  and  looking  very  well,  but  there  is 
a. shortening  of  about  two  inches  of  the  leg.  Well, 
we  did  what  we  coukl — we  could  do  no  more.  That 
is  the  difficulty  with  cases  nursed  «ut  of  hospital. 
And  nmv  -the  holidays  are  over  and  we  are  back 
at  work  again,  and  how  delicious  work  is  after  such 
a  good  rest,  in  .such  delightful  scenery,  and  the 
invigorating  air  of  the  mountains.  All  the  people, 
both  fellaheen  and  townsfolk,  seem  so  glad  we  are 
back  again,  and  every  day  numbers  of  patients, 
new  and  old,  come  for  relief,  or  just  to  give  us 
welcome  home  again.  This  morning  I  spied  Sultany 
and  !Melia  in  the  courtyard;  they  simply  came  to 
show  themselves,  not  for  medicine,  for  both  now 
enjoy  robust  health.  I  forget  if  1  told  you  alx)iit 
these  two  patients.  It  was  one  afternoon  in  the 
rainy  season,  that  our  late  Matron,  who  was  always 
■•  going  alx>ut  doing  good."  went  down  into  the 
slums  of  the  town  and  found  in  a  one-roomed  house 
built  of  tin  lioxes.  a  woman  and  her  little  two- 
year-old  girl,  lying  on  a  piece  of  old  matting  on 
the  earthern  floor  which  formed  their  bed.  In  this 
])art  of  the  town  there  are  a  good  many  of  these  tin 
iiiits;  they  are  made  from  the  big  tins 
w-hich  contain  petroleum,  which  the  natives 
term  "  gaz.'"  In  the  little  tin  shed  of  which  I  am 
writing  lay  Sultany  and  her  child ;  the  woman  had 
fallen  ill  from  malaria,  and  consequently  could  not 
do  any  work,  and  both  she  and  poor  little  Jfelia 
were  almost  dying  from  cold  and  starvation.  There 
wa?  no  furniture  whatever  in  tte  room,  and  under 
the  damp  matting  on  which  the  two  were  lying, 
huddled  together  trying  to  keep  each  other  warm, 
the  earth  worms  were  crawling  and  the  rain  was 
streaming  in  through  an  aperture  which  served 
for  the  door.  This  woman  had  once  been  beautiful, 
but  had  lost  the  sight  of  one  of  her  eyes,  the  lid  of 
which  was  always  close<l,  which  added  to  her  de- 
jected appearance.  She  seemed  to  have  lost  all 
hold  of  life,  and  only  wishe<l  to  die.  X  carriage 
was  hired  to  bring  these  two  patients  to-fhe  hos- 
pital, and  in  an  hour's  time  both  were  lying  be- 
tween the  blankets  in  clean,  warm  beds.  yieUa 
was  quite  equal  to  the  situation,  and  was  so  d(^ 
lighted  to  have  nice  clothes  and  plenty  of  good  fotuj. 
and  other  cliildren  to  play  with,,  and  she  very 
soon  became  the  pet  of  the  ward.  Her  mother  was 
much  more  difficult,  and  very  tiresome  at>out  food  of 
ev.Tv  kind,  and  about  m1!  tb"  .i;^  IjV^ies  tried  f  iiii- 


130 


^bc  Britisb  3ournal  of  iRursing. 


[Aug.  13. inio 


prove  her  condition.  Wliatever  she  took  of  either, 
she  declared  made  her  sick,  and  after  the  smallest 
quantities  of  even  liquid  food  she  would  always 
say:  "  I'm  going  to  be  sick."  She  really  was  a 
very  difficult  patient.  Nothing  would  induce  her  to 
acknowledge  that  .she  was  even  a  little  better  or 
that  her  circums.tances  were  improved  by  leaving 
her  little  tin  hut.  Sometimes  the  doctor  would  say, 
"  Isn't  it  better  here,  Sultauy,  than  out  in  your 
damp  shed."  To  which  she  would  reply  "  Naam  ya 
rhowwhager,  ahsan,  bass."  (Yes,  sir,  better,  but) — 
always  "  bass."  For  weeks  this  was  always  her 
answer  to  every  question.  "  Naam,  bass."  (Yes, 
but.)  So  at  last,  from  .sheer  fun  and  the  wish  to 
make  her  cheer  uj),  we  all  called  her  "  Sitt  Bass," 
i.e.,  "  Mrs.  But,"  and  finally  a  faint  sense  of 
humour,  long  dormant  in  Sultauy,  was  awakened, 
and  she  would  hesitate  before  she  added  the  final 
"  bass  "  to  each  response,  and  would  actually  smile. 
SiSTEH  Marie. 
(To   he  eo7it'inued.) 


©utsibe  tbe  (Bates. 


BUSH     NURSING    IN    AUSTRALIA. 

Mi.s.s  Amy  Hughes,  six'aking  at  a  meeting  con- 
vened under  the  auspices  of  the  National  Council 
of  Women  of  Victoria,  iu  support  of  Lady  Dudley's 
scheme  for  district  nursing,  in  the  Chapter  House 
of  St.  Paul's  Cathedral,  Melbourne,  at  which  Lady 
Gibson  Carmichael  presided,  and  the  Governor, 
the  Prime  Minist-er,  and  the  Lord  JIayor  were 
among.st  those  present,  .sjaid  that  Au.stralia  had  an 
advantage,  and  was  to  be  congratulated  upon  the 
excellent  organisation  of  the  nursing  profession 
and  the  relations  between  the  nur.s&s  and  medical 
men ;  .she  had  been  struck  with  admiration  and 
envy  at  the  way  iu  which  the  nurses  had  attained 
there  what  they  were  striving  forin  England.  Vic- 
toria had  the  honoui-  of  l)eing  the  first  country  to 
form  such  a  register  as  that  of  tlie  Royal  Victorian 
nui-se.s.  This  high  standard  would  help  the  di.v 
trict  nursing  scheme  very  much  in  providing  the 
right  material  for  the  work.  The  old-age  j^ension 
system  in  England  was  leading  to  many  old  people 
remaining  with  their  friends,  and  .such  cases  would 
find  much  l>enefit  from  di.strict  nui-ses.  Tlie  nur.ses 
would  help  the  locaf  hospitals  by  attending  oases 
outside,  which  now  had  to  be  kept  in  the  hospitals 
to  the  exclusion  of  more  deseiving  cases.  A  key- 
note of  success  in  England  had  been  the  si)ecial 
training  in  social  problems,  .such  as  sanitation  and 
hygiene,  so  that,  in  a  homely  way.  they  could  apply 
the  teachings  in  the  homes  they  visited.  She  dwelt 
al.so  on  the  imixutance  of  maternity  nui-sing  in 
saving  the  lives  of  mothers  and  children  in  places 
where  mortality  now  occurred  for  lack  of  know- 
ledge. It  was  said  the  sehenu.  would  cost  1 1,000,000. 
It  would  not  cost  anything  like  that,  and  was  a 
memorial  which  the  late  King  would  have  desired. 

The  following  resolution  was  adopted: — "That 
this  meeting  lf)oks  forward  with  confidence  to  the 
announcj^mont  very  shortl.v  of  the  ])lau  by  which 
Her  Excellency  the  C-ountess  of  Dudley  hopes  that 
the  benefits  of  district  nursing  will  be  exteu<led  as 
widely  as  possible  throughout  the  Conimonwealth. 
and  is  read.y  to  do  all  it  can  to  help  by  practical 
means  in  attaining  the  ol)ject  which  Her  Excellency 
has  so  much  at  heart." 


WOMEN. 

Lady  Laura  Kidding,, 
President  of  the  National 
Union  of  Women 

Workers  of  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland,  with  the 
Hon.  Treasurer,  Mrs. 
Rowland  Pix>theix),  and 
the  Editor  of  the  Occa- 
sional Paper,  Miss  E.  M. 
Eaton.  are  apixviling  for  increased  .supix>rt 
ol     this     useful     national    society.  They     state 

that  at  leasj  £900  is  needed,  that,  owing  to  the 
enormous  extension  of  the  work,  the  office  expenses 
have  necessarily  increased  in  the  last  two  years, 
and  that  there  must  of  necessity  be  a  further  in- 
crease as  the  N.I'.W.W.  grows  in  Committees,  in 
Branches,  and  in  importance;  that  the  office  is 
worked  on  the  most  economical  lines,  and  the 
Finance  Committee  feel  that  further  petty  econo- 
mies would  be  useless.  To  meet  the  present  deficit 
the  Executive  Committee  have  decided  to  ask  each 
member  of  their  Committee  to  give  or  collect 
two  guineas,  but  it  is  hoped  that  every  member 
of  the  National  I'ni<m  will  also  help — by  endeavour- 
ing to  find  new  members  who  will  subscribe  an- 
nually one  guinea ;  by  doubling  or  raising  their 
own  subscription ;  or  by  collecting  small  donations 
in  support  of  the  NiU.W.W. 


They  state  that  what  is  really  required  is  a 
reserve  fund,  from  which  the  quarterly  payments 
can  be  made  without  over-drawing  at  the  bank. 
Every  Association  worked  on  a  sound  financial  basis 
has  its  reserve  fund,  and  the  National  Union  of 
Women  Workers  is  too  important  a  society  to  dis- 
pense with  such  a  desirable  system  of  financial 
security.  An  increased  yearly  income  from  sub- 
scrijjtions  is  also  necessary  to  enable  the  work  of 
the  N.L^.W.AV.  to  develop  on  the  lines  which  are 
opening  out  to  it  an  extended  field  of  service  and 
of  influence. 

The  Isle  of  Wight  County  Education  Committee^ 
have  appointed  Miss  Florence  Jane  Monk.  B..\., 
Principal  of  the  Pupil  Teachers'  centre  at  Hay- 
wards  Heath,  Sussex,  as  Head  Teacher  of  the 
County  Secondary  School,  Newport.  The  Chair- 
man stated  that  the  successful  administration  un- 
der fornu'r  women  had  influenced  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cati<u\  to  alter  their  policy  of  opposition  to  such  ap- 
pointments. 

The  flower  -iellc'rs  of  Covent  Garden,  known  as 
the  Louis  Pennington  flower  girls,  have  lost  a  good 
friend  in  the  late  Vicar  of  St.  Clement  Danes 
Church  in  the  Strand,  the  Rev.  J.  H.  S.  Penning- 
tiui.  .\t  the  funeral  service  last  Saturday  they 
occupied  i)ews  which  were  specially  assigned  to 
them,  and  during  the  officiating  minister's  refer- 
ence to  the  deceased's  work  among  the  jioor.  many 
of  them  were  overcome  with  grief.  Tlie  poor  of 
the  neighbourhood  gathered  in  .such  numbers  as 
to  stop  traffic  in  the  Strand. 


Au".  13,  101' 


Zbc  Kntisb  3ournaI  of  IRursino, 


137 


Book  of  tbc  Meel?. 


RANCHER    CARTARET* 

This  is  aiiotlifr  Ciiiiadiaii  story.  It  is  told  in  a 
niaiiiuT  that  ooiiipfls  tlio  reader  to  cat.fli  tlie 
evident  enthusiasm  ot'  the  writer  for  his  subject, 
and  his  subject  is  almve  all — the  land — the  joy  of 
physical  output  in  spite  of  corresponding  discom- 
fort.    These  are  the  dominant  notes. 

■•  Tliere  was  in  C'artaict  a  spice  of  the  saving 
contempt  for  bodily  weariness  and  physical  pain, 
which  is  to  be  found  in  many  an  amateur  athlete 
such  as  he  had  been,  as  well  as  in  most  of  the 
small  ranchers  and  axemen  who  are  stubbornly 
driving  their  roads  and  clearings  farther  into  the 
wilderness  he  was  travelling  through.     .     .     . 

"He  had  set  out  for  Canada  on  what  he  had 
decided  should  be  neither  more  nor  less  than  a 
fishing  and  shooting  trip.  It  was  clear,  however, 
that  he  must  spend  at  least  a  week  or  two  with  his 
Canadian  relatives." 

From  a  letter  received  on  his  journey  he  learns 
of  his  brother's  financial  ruin  (involving  his  own) 
and  disgrace,  followed  by  his  suicide.  Feeling  that 
it  must  reflect  on  himself,  he  deterra-'nes  to  hide 
his  identity  under  an  assumed  name.  Inadvertently 
he  is  thrown  amongst  the  people  he  would  have 
wished  to  avoid — his  uncle  and  Clare  Cartaret,  his 
pousin.  Passing  as  a  stranger,  he  works  as  their 
hired  man,  using  his  s))arp  time  for  the  clearing  of 
the  ranch  he  has  purchased. 

Part  of  his  duties  consist  in  attending  his  cousin 
on  canoeing  and  fishing  expeditions,  and,  as  they 
are  both  possessed  of  more  than  average  attrac- 
tions, it  is  not  difficult  to  understand  that  they 
become  drawn  to  each  other.  She,  with  feminine 
intuition,  divines  that  there  is  a  history  attached 
to  their  hired  man. 

"  It  was  wonderfully  exhilarating.  The  lash  of 
the  cold  wind  and  whirling  spray  upon  his  cheeks 
set  his  blood  tingling.  Trees  and  rocks  flew  up 
faster  and  faster  towards  them,  the  craft  lurched 
and  plunged,  swung  in  the  eddies,  and  shot  between 
half  seen  masses  of  stone,  until  there  was  a  wild 
swoop  and  thud,  and  they  were  flying  out  again 
upon  a  slow  and -even  stream.  Then  Oare  laid 
down  her  paddle  with  a  little  soft  laugh. 
•  '  Oh,'  she  said,  '  that  was  splendid  !'  " 

Sydney  admitted  it,  but  he  was  afterwards  silent 
until  they  reached  the  lake.  Oare  had  showed  him 
a  new  phase  of  her  character,  and  it  was  one  that 
appealed  to  him.  ...  He  fancietl  she  rejoiced, 
as  he  did,  on  the  silence  and  dimness  of  the 
primeval  bush,  and  that  the  unchanging  song  of 
the  river  had  the  .same  cbnrm  for  her.  It  was- sig- 
nificantly clear  that  he  had  never, felt  it  quite  so 
deeply  as  he  did  then.  Some  of  the  little  word 
paintings  are  wonderfully  instructive,  and  the  diffi- 
culties and  uphill  work  of  a  small  rancher's  life 
are  set  forth  in  detail. 

"It  was  a  hot  morninL.',  and  the  heavy  stillness 
of  the  woods  was  emphasised  by  the  distant  sound 
of    falling  water,   when   Cartaret  stood  beneath   a 

'  By  Harold  Bindle^s.  (John  Long.  Limite<l. 
London.)        ^ 


cedar  listening  attentively.-  He  had  a  bundle  of  oat- 
hay  inono  hand  and  a  coil  ot  stout  roiH'  in  the  other, 
and  he  was  very  hot  just  then.  as.  well  a.-s  .somewh.it 
out  of  temper,  for  he  had  been  trailing  his  working 
oxen  through  the  bush  for  the  last  two  hours,  and 
was  as  far  as  ever  from  laying  hands  on  them. 
Cartaret  became  suddenly  intent,  as  the  faint  elfin 
tolling  of  a  bell  stole  out  of  the  scented  shadow. 
.  Then  a  pair  of  horns  rose  above  the  brake, 
and  holding  the  rope  carefully  behind  him  he  thrust 
forward  the  bundle  of  hay. 

"  '  Farragut,'  he  called  seductively.  '  Poor  old 
Farry  !     Come  along,  Tillicum!'" 

A  big  red-and-white  beast  raised  its  massy  head 
and  regarded  him  with  contemplative  eyes.  Then 
it  walked  through  the  thicket  with  an  ease  he 
envied,  and  while  the  bell  upon  its  neck  set  up  a 
mellow  tinkling,  moved  a  few  paces  forward  and 
stopped  again. 

9>-dney  remembered  he  had  left  his  breakfast 
cooking  at  least  two  hours  ago,  and  made  a  deter- 
mined effort  to  keep  his  temper,  and  spoke  again 
in  the  same  seductive  voice,  though  the  words  were 
different. 

"  '  You  villainous,  suspicious  old' beast,'  he  said. 
'  It  doesn't  matter  to  you  that  the  bottom  of  my 
frying-pan   is   probably  burning  out   by  now.'  " 

He  fancied  he  heard  a  peal  of  silvery  laughter, 
and  when  a  minute  later  he  crawled  out,  hot, 
savage,  and  scratched  all  over,  he  was  far  from 
pleased  to  see  Clare  and  Lucy  Brattan  standing 
upon  the  edge  of  the  rock. 

"  'Aren't  they  delightful'/^'  said  Lucy. 

■'  '  Xo,'  said  Cartaret  shortly.  '  If  you  had  been 
chasing  them  without  any  breakfast  half  the  morn- 
ing, I  don't  think  you  would  call  them  that 
either.'  " 

It  is  in  little  episodes  like  these  that  the  charm 
of  the  book  consists,  though  the  course  of  true  love 
between  Cartaret  and  Clare  is  sufficiently  in- 
teresting. H.   H. 


DOMINION   DAY. 

Awake,    my   country,     the     hour    is   great   with 
change  ! 
Under  this  gloom  which  yet  obscures  the  land 
From  ice-blue  strait  and  stern  Laureutian  range 
To   where    giant    peaks    our   'Western   bounds 
command, 
A  deep  voice  stirs,  vibrating  in  men's  ears 
As  if  their  own  hearts  throbbed  that  thunder 
forth. 
A  so\ind  wherein  who  hearkens  wisely  hears 
The  voice  of  the  desire  of  this  strong  Xorth — 
This  Xorth  whose  heart  of  fire 
Yet  knows  not  its  desire 
Clearly,  but  dreams,  and  niurniui-s  in  the  dream. 
The  hour  of  dreams  is  done.     Lo,  on  the  hills  the 
gleam  ! 
From  "  An  Ode  for  the  Canadian  Confrdrracy." 
By  Charles  p;  JJ.  Roberts. 


WORD    FOR  THE  WEEK. 

"  1  hate  to  .see  a   tiling  done  by  halves-;  if  it  be 
right,  do  it  bpldly  :  if  it  be  wrong,  leave  it  undone." 

Gilpin-. 


Zhc  :Bi1ti6b  Journal  or  IRursing. 


[Aug.  13,  1910 


Xettcrs  to  tbe  le&itor. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  com- 
munications upon  all  subject! 
for  these  columns,  we  wish  it 
to  be  distinctly  understooa 
thctt  we  do  not  in  ant  wai 
hold  ourselves  responsible  for 
the  opinions  expressed  by  our 
correspondents. 


HOW    ARE    THE    MIGHTY   FALLEN  I 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 

Df.ar  Madam, — The  report  of  the  General  Court 
of  Goveruors  at  St.  Bartholomew's  in  your  last  issue 
will  be  read  by  "  Bart's  ''  nurses  all  over  the  world 
with  deep  regret,  and  the  fact  that  the  "  Gover- 
nors do  not  govern  "  will  come  as  a  rude  shock  to 
most  of  us.  In  the  old  days  we  nurses  had  abso- 
lute faith  in  the  good  intentions  of  the  Governors, 
and  the  sooner  the  presojit  Election  Committee  is 
disbanded  the  better  for  the  reputation  of  the  Hos- 
pital. In  the  meantime  I,  for  one,  should  uot  care 
to  recommend  women  to  train  in  a  school  where  a 
high  standard  of  efficiency  and  loyal  devotion  to 
duty  appear  to  be  at  a  discount.  Already  I  know- 
some  first  class  probationers  trained  in  special  Scot- 
tish hospitals,  who  do  not  now  intend  to  complete 
their  adult  training  at  "  Bart's,"  and  have  re- 
cently arranged  to  go  elsewhere. 

".  Good  name  in  man   or  woman,  dear  my   lord, 
Is  the  immediate  jewel  of  their  souls."' 
Yours,  etc., 

Jtlia  Hurlstox, 

Cert.  St.  Bart's. 

Gullane.  X.B. 


LETTERS  TO  MY  SON 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 
Dkak  Madam, — I  have  read  with  the  greatest 
interest  ■•Inciters  to  my  Son"  reviewed  in  your 
last  issue,  and  I  should  like  to  thank  you  for 
directing  the  attention  of  your  readers  to  so  beau- 
tiful a  book.  We  midwives  arc  so  concerned — 
quite  rijihtly — with  practical  duties,  we  are  so  tired 
by  the  tinu>  we  have  discharged  them  faithfully, 
tiiat  we  are  apt  to  miss  the  pleasure  of  entering 
into  the  joy  of  the  mother  in  the  birtli  of  her 
child.  We  make  the  mother  comforta'ble.  give  her 
gruel  or  otlier  nourishment,  put  the  child  to  the 
breast,  darken  the  room,  give  instructions  for  the 
well-being  of  both,  ami  retire  with  a  satisfactory 
sense  of  iluty  well  fulfilled,  perhaps  to  rest,  more 
likely  ty  go  on  to  another  case  and  go  through  the 
same  round  once  again.  But  a  few  moments  .spent 
in  sharing  the  joy  of  the  mother  over  the  fulfilment 
of  the  hope  of  the  past  nine  months — .1  joy  so  keen 
that  she  "  remcniliers  no  more  the  anguish  " — is 
surely  time  well  spent.  Of  course  there  are  mothers 
and  mothers,  all  cliiUlren  are  not  wanted,  there  are 
mothers  without  the-  maternal  instinct,  as  there 
are  spinsters  to  whom  children  turn  as  naturally 
as  Howers  to  the  light.  But  mV  experience  loads 
me  to  believe  that  most  mothers  care  for  their 
chil<lr«<n  at  first,  even  if  the  feeling  docs  not  sur- 


vive the  period  of  dependence ;  in  the  poorest 
homes,  where  an  additional  child  means  additional 
anxiety  as  to  ways  and  means,  the  mothers  will  tell 
you,  as  they  fondle  the  downy  heads,  that  the 
babies  ''bring  the  love  with  them.'"  That  being 
so.  surely  it  is  our  duty  to  cherish  the  flame,  and 
sympathy  with  the  ipother  over  the  birth  of  her 
baby  is  the  surest  way  to  her  confidence  in  the 
future.  Let  me  advise  all  midwives  who  have  not 
done  so  already  to  read  "  Letters  to  my  Son  '"  ;  no- 
thing is  better  calculated  to  help  them  to  enter 
into  a  mother's  feelings. 

Yours  faithfully. 

C'krtifif.d   Midwife. 


(Coiniucnts  anO  TRcplles. 

Private  Xiirar. — The  colour  of  healthy  urine  may 
be  affected  liy  drugs  such  as  rhubarb  and  s;intonin, 
which  often  cause  a  reddish  tinge.  The  effect  of 
carlx)lic  acid,  when  absorbed,  in  turning  the  urine 
dark  green,  is  well  known.  It  is  obviously  im- 
portant that  nurses  whose  duty  it  is  to  observe  and 
report  symptoms  should  be  aware  of  the  effect  of 
drugs  on  the  excretions,  otherwise  they  may  fail  to 
give  the  necessary  information  to  the  medical  at- 
tendant, and  on  the  other  hand  may  be  unneces- 
sarily  alarmed. 

Nurse  Evans.  Hammersmith. — The  office  of  the 
Children's  Country  Holiday  Fund  is  at  18,  Bucking- 
ham Street.  Strand,  W.C.  The  children  sent  into 
the  country  through'  the  agency  of  the  Fund  must 
be  over  5  and  under  14  years  of  age.  Parents 
are  expected  to  pay  according  to  their  means. 


iMotices. 

The  British  Jocrn.vl  of  Nursing  is  the  official 
organ  of  the  following  important  Nursing  socie- 
ties :  — 

The  International  Council  of  Nurses. 

The  National  Council  of  Trained  Nurses  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland. 

The  Matrons'  Council  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland. 

The  Society  for  the  State  Registration  of 
Trained  Nurses. 

The  Registered   Nurses'   Society. 

The  School  Nurses'  League. 

As  their  official  organ  is  widely  read  by  the  mem- 
bers of  these  societies,  the  Editor  will  at  all 
times  be  pleased  to  find  space  for  items  of  news 
from  the  Secretaries  and  members. 


THE  SOCIETY   FOR  THE  STATE    REGISTRATION 
OF  TRAINED   NURSES. 

Those  dosiro\is  of  helping  on  the  imiiortant 
movement  of  this  Society  to  obtain  an  Act  pro- 
viding for  the  Legal  Registration  of  Trainc<l 
Nurses  can  obtain  all  information  concerning  the 
Society  and  its  work  from  the  Hon.  Secretary,  4.'M, 
Oxford  Street.  London,  W. 

The  British   .Ioirxai.  of  Nursing    may  bo   ob- 
tained at  431,  Oxford  Street,  London,  W. 
OUR  PUZZLE  PRIZE. 

Rules  for  competing  for  the  Pirtotril  Puzzle 
Prize  will  be  found  on  Advertisement  page  xii. 


Aug.  13,  191n 


BiititJb  3onrnal  of  iHuisinG  Supplement. 


130 


The    Midwife. 


Hn  iCmbarrassmcnt  of  IRicbes. 


A  lecture  delivered  by  Dr.  J.  Force  to  the  Ala- 
iiu'da  County  Nurses'  Association,  and  published 
in  tlie  XuTScn'  Jouriui'  vj  the  Pacific  Coast  is  of  so 
much  interest  to  midwives  and  nurses  tliat  we  re- 
print the  greater  part. 

In  the  early  morniui!;  hours  the  stork  steppinl  out 
into  the  veranda  and  looked  about  him.  Before  him 
spread  broad,  well-kept  lawns,  blooming  flowers, 
and  tine  old  trees.  He  glanced  back  into  the  house, 
which  he  had  hardly  noticed  the  night  before  when 
he  had  tapi)ed  on  an  upper  window.  He  .saw  oaken 
floors.  Oriental  rugs,  well-filled  oaken  book-ca.ses. 
and  comfortable  furniture.  "  It  is  evident,"  he 
said,  as  he  half  spread  his  wings,  "that  my  little 
cJiarge  will  receive  eveiy  attention.  This  is  the 
home  of  culture,  refinement,  and  wealth."  A  dis- 
quieting memory  came  to  him;  a  memory  of  a  hol- 
low-eyed, pale-faced  mother  into  whotse  waiting 
arms  he  had  delivered  his  buixlen.  All  that  a 
mother's  l«fve  could  give  would  be  as.sur€<l.  but — 
"  Oh,  Dr.  Stork,  before  you  go  have  you  any  direc- 
tions for  feeding  the  baljy.  The  mother  never  can 
nurse  it."  .iDr.  Stork  lowered  his  wings  and  facinl 
the  nurse.  Why  should  he  be  bothered  with  such 
matters?  Was  he  not  a  great  ob.stetrician  ?  Did 
he  not  glory  in  the  dark  nights  and  fierce  storms 
through  which  he  must  often  buffet  his  way?  Was 
he  not  always  careful  to  protect  the  baby's  eyes 
against  the  perils  of  the  journey?  Let  the  nurse 
attend  to  the  feeding.  That  was  only  a  minor  de- 
tail. "  Why.  nurse,"  he  demandetl.  "  are  you  not 
familiar  with  infant  feeding?"  "Yes.  doctor." 
she  replietl,  "  I  have  studied  percentage  feeding, 
and  know  all  about  making  formulte."  "  Ah.  that 
is  very  gratifying.  I  am  .sure  the  baby  will  thrive 
in  your  care.  Good  morning."  And  the  stork 
spread  his  wings  and  departed,  flying  a  little 
heavily,  for  it  had  l>een  a  wearying  night. 

The  nurse  began  the  feeding  of  the  newcomer 
with  the  calm  assurance  of  knowledge.  She  was 
beyond  reproach  in  her  care  of  gla.ssware  and 
utensils.  She  knew  that  human  milk  had  a  certain 
percentage  composition  and  reaction,  therefore 
cow's  milk  .should  be  moulded  to  that  percentage. 
What  could  be  simpler?  She  had  t>een  warned 
against  the  tough  ca.sein.  with  its  indigestible  curd 
appearing  in  the  stools  as  a  call  to  dilute  the  pro- 
teids.  She  knew  about  cereal  mixtures,  eon<lenseil 
milk,  and  proprietary  foods.  She  was  sure  that 
advertisements  always  told  the  truth,  for  were  not 
the  fat  babies  shown  in  the  pictures.  , 

She  aot  out  her  tables,  for  she  never  trusted  her 
memory  to  imixjrtant  things  like  figures,  and  Ik.- 
gan  on:— Fat,  1.00;  sugar,  .5.00;  proteid,  0.30.  At 
The  second  week  she  was  feeding:  Fat,  2.00;  .sugar. 
6.00;  proteid,  O.bO.  This  formula  furnished  0.4.57 
calories  per  gram,  and  slie  was  feeding  7.50  grams  of 
milk  a  day.  or  342. 75  calories.  But  the  Iwiby 
weighed  3,500  grams,  aiul  each  ten  of  these  grams 


wa-s  calling  loudly  for  a  calorie.  Well,  .she  was 
only  eigiit  calories  a  day  short,  and  higher  proteid 
would  upset  the  digestion,  .so  she  kept  to  the  table. 
The  child  gained  weight,  but  very  slowly.  At  six 
mouths  .she  was  fee<ling:  Fat.  4.T)0;  sugar.  7.00: 
proteid,  2.00  |x'r  cent.,  a  mixture  which  gave  0.741 
calories  per  gram.  The  baby  took  1.500  grams  a 
day.  or  1.011.5  calories.  His  weight  was  7.000 
gianis.  but  at  that  age  each  10  grams  only  wantetl 
0.9  calorie,  or  030  calories  in  all.  So  iie  was  getting 
400  calories  too  much,  and  Ijegan  to  .suddenly  gain 
weight  to  everyone's  joy. 

The  nurse  took  no  chances  with  summer  com- 
plaint. .She  dipped  the  top  milk  from  "certified  " 
bottles  with  a  .sterile  dipjier.  added  her  milk,  sugar, 
lime  water,  gruel,  or  whatever  .she  nee<le<l.  .Slowly  a 
small  cloud  grew  on  the  bright  '  horizon  of  her 
success.  The  baby  was  constii>ated.  Obedient  to 
her  conviction  .she  raised  the  fat.  This  did  not  re- 
lieve as  readily  as  she  had  expected,  but.  on  the 
contrary,  large  "curds"  began  to  api>ear.in  the 
stools.  She  again  reduced  the  pi'oteids,  and  again 
raise<l  the  fats.  The  con.st i |>at ion  .still  continued, 
and  she  added  magnesia  to  the  feedings.  The  con- 
vstipation  was  .slightly  relieved,  but  the  baby  began 
to  refuse  its  bottles,  to  cry  at  night,  to  fret  during 
the  day.  Tlie  urine  stained  the  napkin,  smelletl 
strongly  of  ammonia,  while  the  stools  grew  putty- 
like in  colour  and  con.sistence.  Worst  of  all  began 
a  .steady  loss  of  weight,  a  .swollen  look  at  the  wrists, 
little  knobs  on  the  breast  bone,  and  one  night 
vomiting,  diarrhoea,  fever,  and  prostration. 

Mi's.  .Stork  answered  the  telephone.     "  The  3oc- 
.  tor  has  gone  to  far  Cathay  with  Chinese  triplets, 
and  I  am  afraid  that  he  will  not  be  back  until  morn- 
ing.     Call  up  Dr.   Owl.     He  is  in  your  neighbour- 
hood, and  is  sure  to  be  awake." 

Dr.  Owl  sat  in  the  nursery  adjoining  the  bed- 
room. The  baby  had  fallen  into  a  fretful  sleep,  and 
the  mother  had  been  sent  to  her  room.  The  nurse 
came  in  and  showed  a  napkin.  The  thin  green 
stool  was  filled  with  yellowi.sh-white,  hard  lumps. 
"  This  is  what  I  spoke  of.  doctor."  .she  said.  "  either 
these  or  an  even  white  putty.  I  confess  that  I  am 
beaten."  Dr.  Owl  looked  at  her  thoughtfidly.  Here 
he  saw  was  a  careful  nur.se.  and  one  worth  instruct- 
ing. 

"  Were  .vou  ever  on  a  farm.  Miss  Jones?  "  he 
asked.  "  \\'hy,  .ves,  doctor,  I  have  a  cousin  who 
has  a  large  dairy  farm,  and  supplies  most  of  the 
certified  milk  that  is  used  in  this  town.  I  have 
often  visited  there.  He  has  a  beautiful,  clean 
place."  "  Do  you  know  anything  about  his  herd?'' 
"  It  is  mixed  Jersey  and  Holstein.  He  makes  the 
milk  run  a  constant  four  per  cent,  of  butter  f:it." 
"  Has  he  ever  told  you  that  he  has  trouble  getting 
the  Jersey  calves  to  do  well  on  Jersey  milk?  "  _"  I  " 
have  heard  that.  I  suppose  that  the  milk  of  a  cfiw 
specialise<l  for  butter  producing  is  too  rich  in  fat." 
"  Yet  knowing  that,  yon  have  been  feeding  five  per 
cent,  of  fat  to  that  poor  baby?  "     "  A^^ly,  I  never 


140 


Cbc  ffivitisb  3oiU'nal  of  IRursinG  Supplement. 


:  Ani;.  13,  1910 


thought   of   that,    aud  any    way  the  proteid  is  tu 
blame.     Jx)ok  at  all  the  curds."     "  Miss  Joues,  do 
you.  know  anything  about  soap  making;-'"     '■How- 
funny!     Grandmother  used  to  tell  atout  the  ashes 
and  fat'  in  the  leach  barrel,  I  think  she  called  it." 
"  Exactly.     Alkali  from  the  ashes  plus  acid  from 
the  fats  makes  soap.     Now  if  you  will  bring  some 
of   those   '  curds  '    to    my    office    to-morrow,   1   w  ill 
pour  strong   acid   on   thera,   and  you   will  see  the 
fat  drops  swim  out.     Or  shake  one  in  a  glass  with 
a  little  water,  and  see  what  fine  suds  you  can  make. 
Did  you  know   that   the   baby  had  scurvy;-'"      ■'  I 
was  beginning  to  think  so,   but  what  has  that  to 
do  with   the  soaps?"      "Why,   in    order   to    keep 
your  soap  factory  running  you  have  had   to  have 
some  alkaline 'salts  to  unite  with  all  that  fat  rich 
top  milk.    The  bone  nutrition  of  the  child  has  had 
to  pay  for  it.     That  is  all.     Those  are  not  curds  in 
the  stools.    They  are  soaps  from  excess  fat  feeding, 
and  those   putty-like  stools  are  another   evidence. 
Why   even  the  proprietary  food  people  are  begin- 
ning to   drop  this  talk  about  proteids,   and  claim 
that  their  products  will  '  modify  fats.'  Why  modify 
fat?     AVhy  not   re'duce   it .»  "      "But,  doctor,   the 
child  will   be   constipated."        "If   that  happens, 
skim   the  milk  and  feed   it  straight."     The  nurse 
jumped   to  her  feet.        "  IVliat !  "   she   exclaimed, 
"  feed  a  young  baby  on  whole  .cow's  milk  skimmed  ! 
Why,  a  baby's  stomach  isn't  like  a  calf's!     It  would 
have  awful   colic.      The  casein  would  go  into   one 
big  lump."     "  1  am   not  so  sure  about  that.  Miss 
Jones,  Heiibner  has  shown  that  if  rennet  and  milk 
are  placed  in  a  tube  and  the  motion  of  peristalsis 
is  imitated,    the    milk  will  coagulate   in   floccules. 
Czerny  and  Keller  have  shown  that  cow's  milk  pro- 
teid is  perfectly  digested  by  infants  if  the  fat   is 
not  in  excess,  and  that  it  is  the  excess  of  fat  that 
assists  in  the  formation  of   the  thick  curd  in   the 
stomach  and  curds  in  the  stools.     Try  some  liquid 
rennet  with  skimmed,  and  four  per  cent,  milk,  and 
see  for  yourself."      "But  a  child  cannot   thrive  on 
skimmed    milk   alone,    doctor."      "No,    and   a   cer- 
tain amount  of   fat  can  be  tolerated.       In   Paris, 
Budin,   in   his   great   milk   depots    fed   only    i)lain 
sterilised  cow's  milk;  but  foreign  milk  runs  3  per 
cent,  about,  and  -3. .5  .per  cent,  is  a  safe  upper  limit 
of  fat."  "Suppose  \ve  lower  the  fats  and  dilute  the 
proteids?  "      "Then  you  would  do   what  the   pro- 
prietary foods  accomplish.     Cut  down  the  inorganic 
salts  in  the  food  and  thus  make  the  fats  more  apt 
to  draw  on  the  body  tissues  in  order  to  saponify." 

In  answer  to  the  question,  "  Doctor,  how  do  you 
feed  infants?"  he  replied,  "Well,  that  is  rather 
a  large  order  to  fill,  becau.sc  babies  are  different. 
•  In  general,  however,  I  weigh  the  child  and  allow  a 
daily  quantity  of  :i  per  cent,  fat  milk  equal  to  1-7 
the  bodv  weight  up  to  three  months,  i  from  3  to 
•'  6  months^  and  then  1-0  to  1-10.  If  the  milk  is  4 
l)er  cent.,  dip  1>;  ounces  off  the  top  aiter  the  cream 
is  risen.  This  top  milk  contains  the  most  bacteria, 
so  in  getting  rid  of  it  you  are  doing  the  child  two 
tiood  turus.  Mix  up  the  remainder,  and  bottle  ac- 
cording to  the  number  of  feedings.  If  tlie  milk  is 
doubtful,  pasteurise.  It  nuiy  be  necessary  to  begin 
on  Nkimmrd  milk  and  grad\ially  add  wliole  milk 
until  a  tolerance  to  .•'>i  per  cent,  of  fat  :^  reached. 
If  vou  begin  with  skimmed  milk  at  birth,  .vou  onglit 
to  be  able  to  feed  whole  milk  at  one  month.  At 
siven  months  V"  '  —   '      "■  ■■■■•■'!  i.  ...i.,i.'    '     "  "Is 


this  a  new  idea,  doctor?  ''  "  No,  indeed,  it  is  very 
old.  aud  toigotten  ;  but  it  began  to  be  revived  m 
1008.  At  that  time  the  Federal  Government  pub- 
lished an  article  by  Schereschewsky,  and  several 
articles  came  out  in  the  medical  journals  on  the 
'  top  milk  fallacy.'  " 

vibc  flDi&wive9  (Mo,  2)  Bill. 

The  Midwives  (No.  2)  Bill,  as  introduced  by  the 
Lord  President  into  the  House  of  Lords,  provided 
seats  on  the  Central  Midwives'  Board  for  two  cer- 
tified midwives  in  Clause  I,  sub-section  (c),  which 
ran  "  Two  certified  midwives  to  be  appointed,  one 
by  the  Incorporated  Jlidwives'  Institute,  and  one 
by  the  Koyal  British  Nurses"  Ass<x'iation.  "  As 
amended  on  report,  sub-section  (c)  runs  "  Two  per- 
sons, one  a  certified  midwife  to  be  appointed  by  the 
Incorporated  Midwives'  Institute,"  and  the  repre- 
sentative of  the  Royal  British  Nurses'  Association 
is  included  with  other  "  persons  "  in  sub-section 
(d).  We  hope  that  when  the  Bill  is  before  the 
House  of  Commons  the  question  of  direct  repre- 
sentation of  midw  ives  on  their  governing  body  may 
receive  consideration. 

An  imjiortant  addition  to  the  Bill  is  in  Clause 
1"J,  which  i-efers  to  the  "  Reciprocal  treatment  of 
midwives  certified  in  other  parts  of  his  Majesty's 
dominions." 

A  new  sub-section  (!>)  now  provides  for  the  re- 
cognition of  Irish  midwives:  "  Any  "woman  who 
produces  to  the  Central  Midwives'  Board  satisfac- 
tory evidence  (b)  that'  she  is  qualified  to  be  ap- 
pointed as  a  midwife  by  a  Board  of  Guardians  in 
Ireland  under  any  regulations  of  the  Local  Govern- 
ment Board  for  Ireland  for  the  time  being  in  force, 
shall  on  pa.vment  of  the  .]ike  fee  as  is  payable  in 
ordinary  cases  l)e  entitled  to  be  certified  under  the 

])l'ilU-i|IMl    .Vet,"    I'tr. 


^bc  Central  fIDibwives'  36oarD. 


EXAMINATION   PAPER. 
The  following  are  the  questions  set  at  the  exami- 
nation   of   the   Central   Midwives'    Board    held    on 
August  .'h'd :  — 

1.  What  are  the  duties  of  the  midwife  to  the 
patient  according  to  the  Rules  of  the  Central  Mid- 
wives'  Board  ;■' 

2.  What  is  the  normal  period  of  pregnancy  ?  How 
would  you  estimate  the  date  of  confinement?  What 
are  the  signs  and  symptoms  of  beginning  labour, 
and  for  what  may  they  be  mistaken;-' 

.'1  What  are  the  causes  of  delay  in  the  second 
stage  of  labour,  and  how  woidd  .vou  treat  them;-' 

4.  What  is  nature's  method  of  checking  hwmor- 
rhage  from  the  placental  site  after  the  separation 

jof  the  placenta  ;■' 

How-  would  you  treat  post-partum  hiomorrhage 
('()  Before.  ('»>  After  the  expiilsion  of  the  placenta? 

5.  De-seribe  in  detail  .vour  treatment  of  a  patient 
during  the  first  three  days  after  a  normal  confine- 
ment. 

At  what  period  would  yon  allow  the  patient  to 
get  up,  and  wluit  circumstances  would  intiuence  you 
in  determining  this;- 

6.  What  are  the  causes  of  constipation  in  the 
infant,  mid  hmv  would  vou  tieat  the  condition? 


THE 

L 

WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 

ime:  Miiiism«i  eiecohb 

EDITED   RY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


SATURDAY,      AUGUST      20.      1910. 


jTlorcncc  Biohtinoalc,  ©.HD. 


THE     FOUNDRESS     OF     MODERN     TRAINED 
NURSING. 

The  passing  of  Florence  Nightingale 
deprives  nurses,  not  only  in  the  United 
Kingdom,  but  wherever  modern  nursing 
has  been  introduced,  of  the  foundress  of 
their  profession,  of  the  woman  of  genius,  of 
action,  of  wise  counsel,  whose  magnificent 
labours  in  relation  to  nui-sing  are  the 
heritage  of  humanity,  and  it  is  with  a  sense 
of  personal  bereavement  that  they  have 
learnt  of  the  quiet  emling  of  her  life  so 
fruitful  in  good  to  her  generation. 

The  name  and  fame  of  Florence  Nightin- 
gale are  associated  chiefly  in  the  public 
mind  with  Army  Nursing  Reform,  as  the 
result  of  her  splendid  efforts  during  the 
Crimean  War,  but  it  is  because  she  realised 
and  enforced  the  truth  that  nursing  is  not 
only  a  technical  handicraft  but  a  science 
that  we  owe  her  an  inestimable  debt.  She 
has  given  to  the  nursing  world  practical, 
tangible  laws ;  in  her  broad-minded  and 
unanswerable  works  on  nursing  and 
hygiene  she  has  laid  down  the  principles  of 
nursing  too  clearly  to  be  refuted ;  she  founded 
a  school  for  the  training  of  nurses  in  con- 
nection with  St.  Thomas's  Hospital,  with  the 
nation's  gift  to  her  of  £50,000,  and  led  the 
way  from  the  maze  of  good  intentions  to 
the.clear  path  of  practical  usefulness,  insti- 
tuting nursing  as  a  profession,  on  a  scien- 
tific basis,  peculiarly  adapted  for  women. 

It  is  rare  for  those  who  lay  foundations  to 
see  great  results  from  their  work,  but 
]iliss  Nightingale  has  lived  to  see  not 
only  v\rmy  nursing  initiated  on  a  sound 
foundation,  but  the  uprising  of  training 
schools  for  nurses  in  this  and  many  countries, 
the  inauguration  of  nursing  in  the  homes 


of  the  poor  in  whicli,  both  in  Liverpool 
when  inaugurated  by  Mr.  William  Rathbone, 
and  later  in  connection  with  Queen.Victoria's 
Jubilee  Institute  she  took  a  deep  interest ; 
the  improvement  of  nursing  in  workhouse 
infirmaries  had  her  sincere  sympathy 
and  support ;  the  training  school  at  the 
St.  ilarylebone  Infirmary  was  for  manj'  years 
in  touch  with  that  of  the  Nightingale  school 
at  St.  Thomas's  Hospital,  and  it  will  be  re- 
meml>ered  that  Agnes  Jones,  who  laid  down 
her  life  during  her  effort  to  introduce  trained 
nursing  at  the  Brownlow  Hill  Infirmary, 
Liverpool,  was  one  of  the  earliest  Nightin- 
gale probationers. 

As  all  the  world  knows,  Miss  Nightingale 
has  been  for  many  j'ears  a  confirmed  invalid, 
but  to  the  last  she  retained  her  deep  interest 
in  nursing,  and  to  her  sick  room  were  taken 
many  nursing  iiroblems  for  solution.  When 
we  consider  the  secret  of  her  success  we 
must  admit  that  fate  was  kind  to  her  in  giving 
her  position,  culture,  and  wealth.  But  these 
were  incidental  aids.  Her  work  was  perma- 
nently successful  because  of  the  period  of 
stern  preparation  which  preceded  it.  She 
spared  no  pains  to  make  herself  efficient, 
and  when  opi^ortunity  came  to  her  it  found 
her  equipped  -  and  ready.  She  demanded 
thoroughness  of  others,  but  she  imposed  it 
first  on  herself  ;  and  added  to  this  were 
a  clear  grasp  of  fundamental  principles, 
and  the  power  of  translating  them  into 
action.  Her  determination  enabled  her  to 
compel  circumstances  instead  of  being  com- 
pelled by  them  ;  her  genius  enabled  her  to 
surmount  difficulties  and  to  establish  order 
where  chaos  reigned,  so  that  she  stands  out 
to-day  as  the  most  notable,  as  well  as  the 
best  beloved,  personality  of  the  Crimean  War. 

To  her  bier  the  nurses  of  tHe  world  ljrii\g 
homage.  Time  will  but  add  lustre  to  her 
fame,  which  is  imperishabk. 


142 


ZTbc  Britlsb  3ournal  of  IRursing.        [^"s  20.  i9io 


FLORENCE     NIGHTINGALE,     O.M. 

By   Sir  John   Steele. 


All".  -20.  litlH; 


C;bc  Brltitjb  3oiu'nal  ot  IRurstno. 


113 


ti  Great  Ibcicinc 


The  story  oi  the  early  years  of  Miss  Nightin- 
gale is  one  whieh  has  been  ofttimes  told.  .\11 
tile  world  knows  that  she  was  born  in  the  tair 
city  of  Florence,  whose  name  she  bears,  that 
her  happy  youth,  which  was  passed  at  Embley 
Park,  in  Hampshire,  or  Lea  Hurst,  in  Derby- 
shire, was  that  of  an  ordinary  English 
girl,  though  even  in  her  eafly  days  her  strong 
individuality  asserted  itself,  and  the  stories 
told  of  .her  care  for  womided  animals,  and  her 
love  of  visiting  the  cottagers,  gave  an  indication 
of  the  bent  of  her  mind. 

Amongst      the      many  

notable  men    and  women 
of    her    time    for    whom 
Miss    Nightingale    had     i 
sincere   admiration    w  .  i v 
John   Stuart    :Mill,  Eli 
beth  Fry,  and  Dr.   El 
beth      Blackwell.        I 
latter    described    her 
"a  young  lady  at  hoi; 
chafing  under  the  restric- 
tions   that    crippled    her 
active   energy,"    and   )•►•- 
lates  that  walking  on  : ' 
lawn  at  Embley  Pari, 
front  of  the  drawing-roi>iii 
she  said,  "  Do  you  know 
what     I     always     ttv'': 
when  I  look  at  that  ' 
of  windows  ?    I  think  1 
I   should   turn   it    int. 
hospital  and  just    how     1 
should  place   the   beds. 
Throughout  her  life  Miss 
Nightingale  was  an  advo- 
cate of  thoroughness,  and 
her  advice  to  girls  who  de- 
sire to  qualify  themselves 
is  as  necessary  to-day  as 
when  it  was  written.    She 
wrote  :  — 

"  I  would  say  to  all  young  ladies  who  are 
called  to  any  particular  vocation,  qualify  your- 
selves for  it  as  a  man  does  for  his  work.  Don't 
thipk  you  can  understand  it  otherwise.  Sub- 
mit yourselves  to  the  rules  of  business  as  men 
do,  by  which  alone  .you  can  make  God's 
business  succeed,  for  He  has  never  said  that 
He  will  give  His  success  to  sketchy  and  un- 
finished work,"  and  again  in  the  introduction 
to  the  life  of  .\gnes  Jones,  she  wrote  :  — 

"  Three-fourths  of  the  whole  mischief  of 
women's  lives  arises  from  their  excepting  them- 
selves from  the  rules  of  training  considered 
necessarv  for  men." 


lu  accordance  with  her  convictions,  Miss. 
Nightingale  endeavoured  to  obtain  practical 
experience  in  nursing,  a  difficult  problem  in  the 
middle  of  the  last  i-entury,  both  because  of  the 
inevitable  opposition,  and  the  fact  that- 
training  in  this  country  was  practically  non- 
existent, while  the  conditions  under  which  ex- 
perience was  obtainable  in  the  hospitals  of  that 
time  were  both  hard  and  revolting.  She,  how- 
ever, succeeded  in  studying  nursing  conditions 
in  different  parts  of  the  United  Kingdom. 

Happily  for  Miss  Nightingale,  her  attention 

was  directed  by  ^Irs.  Fry  to  the  value    of  the 

training  given  in  the  in- 

stitutiou  at  Kaisersw-erth- 

on-the-Ehine,        founded 
by    Friederike    Fliedner, 
wife  of  the  pastor,    who- 
ably  seconded  her  efiorts, 
and  there  she  spent  some 
months,    and    aftenvards 
studied    the    methods    of 
the  Sisters  of  St.  Vincent 
de  Paul  in  Paris.    Later 
she    took    charge  of    the 
Home  for  Invalid  Gentle- 
women,   then   in    Harley 
Street,  W.,  and  lately  re- 
built on  a  larger  scale  in 
Lisson  Grove. 

It  was  while  she  was 
in  charge  of  this  Home 
that  war  was  declared  in 
the  Crimea,  and  later, 
owing  to  the  good  offices 
of  Sir  William  Russell, 
Times  coiTespondent,  the 
country  became  aware  of 
the  appalling  and  un- 
necessary suffering  and 
terrible  waste  of  life  of 
tlie  soldiers  who  had  won 
our  victories,  who  died 
with  wounds  so  neglected 
that  they  were  breeding  maggots,  and  of  fever 
un  tended. 

The  inadequacy  of  our  medical  arrangements 
was  the  more  emphasised,  as  the  French  and 
Russian  sick  and  wounded  were  attended  by 
Sisters  of  Charity,  and  it  is  noteworthy  at  th^ 
present  time  when  the  right  of  women  to  nurse 
men  has  been  challenged,  that  in  this  extremity 
"  ^lediciis,"  appealing  in  the  Times  for  nurses, 
wrote:  "Why  are  there  no  female  "nurses? 
Away  v.ith  this  nonsense  [rules  of  service] , 
there  must  be  female  nurses." 

This  was  recognised  by  Mr.  Sidney  Herbert, 
the  humane  Secretary  at  War,  and  by  Mi.«is 
Nightingale,  who  had  training,  experience,  and 


Early    Portrait. 


144 


Zbc  Biitisb  3ournal  of  iRurstna. 


[Au2.  20.  1910 


capacity,  auil  simultaneously  thej'  wrote  the 
-one  to  the  other,  ;\lr.  Herbert  asking  for  her 
services  and  promising  those  essentials  to  suc- 
cess,   a    free     hand     and        , 

strong  support,  and  Miss 
Nightingale  offering  her 
services  with  the  pro- 
viso that  obedience  to  her 
orders  should  be  rendered 
with  military  discipline. 

So  the  "  Lady  -  in  - 
Chief,"  as  Miss  Nightin- 
gale was  named,  left  for 
the  Crimea,  with  her 
little  band  of  nurees,  to 
wrestle  with  a  task  so 
Herculean  that  the  power 
of  man  had  failed  to 
compass  it.  Her 
triumph  is  a  matter  of 
history,  and  remains  a 
record  of  what  organisa- 
tion and  ti'ained  woman's 
wit,  united  with  genius, 
can  achieve,  although 
from  Lord  Stanmore'^ 
lite  of  INlr.  Sidney  Her- 
i)ert — always  her  firm  ally 
and  supporter — it  is  evi- 
deut  that  that  Statesman 
must  have  had  the  not 
unusual  experience  that 
genius  is  not  an  easy 
quality  to  work  with,  but 
the  genius  was  tbere 
triumphant :  for  the  saving  of  thousandsof  lives, 
and  the  comfort  and  solace  of  thousands  of 
adoring  sick  soldiers.  The 
qualities  which  could  suc- 
cessfully sumiount  the 
difficulties  of  nursing  in 
the  Crimea  did  not  make 
for  honied  words,  but  foe 
directness  of  speech  anil 
methods,  and  intolerance 
of  opposition. 

After  nearly  two  years' 
heroic  work  in  the  hospi- 
tals of  the  Crimea,  Miss 
Nightingale  quietly  re- 
turned home,  endeavour- 
ing to  avoid  a  ]>opular  de- 
monstration, but  public 
feeling  was  too  strong  to 
lie  denied  expression.  T}ie- 
commendation  of  her 
Soverefgn  was  immediately  and  warmly  in- 
stowed  u|)(in  her,  she  was  bidden  to  stay  at 
Balmoral,    and    presented    by    Queen  Yiotoria 


The  Royal  Red  Cross 


with  a  magnificent  jewel  designed  by  the  Prince 
Consort,  and  in  a  letter  to  the  Duke  of  Cam- 
bridge her  ^lajesty,  commenting  on  Miss 
Nightingale's  "  wonder- 
ful, clear,  and  compre- 
hensive head,"  wrote,  "  I 
wish  \\e  had  her  at  the 
War  Office." 

The  public  were  not  be- 
hindhand in  their  appre- 
ciation of  her  sendees, 
and  as  she  would  receive 
no  personal  gift,  on  the 
motion  of  the  Duke  of 
Cambridge,  at  a  public 
meeting  in  Loudon,  it 
was  agreed,  "  That  the 
noble  exertions  of  iliss 
Nightingale  and  her  asso- 
ciates in  the  hospital,  for 
the  sick  and  wounded  of 
the  British  forces,  de- 
mand the  grateful  recogni- 
tion of  the  British  people 
.  .  and  that  as  she 
has  expressed  her  unwil- 
lingness to  accept  any 
tribute  designed  for  her 
own  per-Bonal  advantage, 
funds  be  raised  to  enable 
her  to  establish  an  insti- 
tution for  the  training, 
sustenance,  and  protec- 
tion of  nurses  and  hospi- 
tal assistants." 
So  was  founded  the  Nightingale  Training 
School  in  connection  with  St.  Thomas's  Hospi- 
tal whiclvhas  been  fruitful 
in  good  work  iu  two  direc- 
tions, i.e.,  in  sending  out 
its  pupils  when  trained  to 
superintend  other  train- 
ing schools,  or  to  nurse  in 
other  institutions,  and  in 
-itimulating  tlie  authori- 
ties of  other  hosjiitals  to 
abolish  their  old  bad  sys- 
tems of  nursing,  and  to 
institute  training  seliools 
in  which  the  pupils  are 
taught  their  work  by  ex- 
perienced nurses.  The 
rules  for  the  training 
school  were  drawn  up  liy 
Miss  Nightingale,  and  she 
kept  in  close  touch  with 
its  work.  Tlif  plans  for  the  inauguration  <if 
nuiny  new  schemes  coimected  \\itii  nm-siii" 
were  suiimitted  to  her  keen  and  wise  criticism, 


The   Order   of    Merit 


Aug.  -20,  1011 1 ; 


Cbc  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRursmcj. 


14.J 


and  the  India  Office  eorstantly  consulted  her 
in  reference  to  the  well-being  of  the  Army  in 
India.  The  promotion  ot  sanitary  refomi  had 
always  her  warm  sympathy,  and  she  was  a 
keen  supporter  of  women's  suffrage.  Of  her 
reasons  for  desiring  the  suffrage  she  once 
wrote,  "  I  have  no  reasons.  It  seems  to  ine 
almost  self-evident  an  axiom  that  every 
householder  and  tnx-payer  should  have  a  voice 
in  the  expenditure  of  the  money  we  pay,  in- 
cluding, as  this  does,  interests  the  most  vital 
to  a  human  being." 

Amongst  the  honours  conferred  upon  Miss 
Nightingale  were  the  Royal  Red  Cross,  given 
her  by  Queen  Victoria   in  1883,   the  Order  of 


gold  casket  being  presented  by  her  to. the 
Queen  Victoria's  Jubilee  Institute  and  the  Hos 
pital  for  Invalid  Gentk-women. 

Miss  Nightingale  was  also  made  a  Lady  of 
Grace  of  the  Order  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem  by 
the  late  King,  and  our  present  Sovereign — im- 
mediately after  his  accession — sent  her  a 
gracious  message  of  congratulation  on  her 
ninetieth,  and  last,  birthday,  on  May  12th  of 
this  year. 

Of  her  writings  the  most  important  are 
"  Nursing  and  Organisation  in  the  Crimea  and 
at  Scutari,"  "  Royal  Commission  on  the  Sani- 
tary State  of  the  Army."  "  Female  Nursing; 
and  Organisation  in  the  British  Armv,"  "  Sani- 


Casket   presented   by   the    Corporation   of   the    City   of   London,   with   Copy 
of    Resolution    Granting    the    Hon.    Freedom   of   the   City. 


Merit  by  the  late  King  in  1907,  and  the 
Honorary  Freedom  of  the  City  of  London  by 
the  Corporation  of  the  City  in  1908.  The  cere- 
mony of  the  presentation  of  this  Freedoni  to 
Jliss  Nightingale  is  still  fresh  in  the  minds  of 
those  privileged  to  be  present.  Unfortunately, 
"  by  some  unexplained  omission,"  this 
Honorary  Freedom  was  not  conferred  upon  her 
when  she  could  be  present  to  participate  in  the 
welcome  which  awaited  her  at  the  hands  of  her 
fellow-countrymen  and  countrywomen,  or  be 
greeted  as  a  "  Free  Sister  "  of  the  City  of  Lon- 
don. Characteristically  Miss  Nightingale 
clcfted  to  have  the  resolution  granting  her  the 
Honorary  Freedom  of  the  City  enclosed  in  an 
oaken  casket,  the  100  gs.  usually  expended  on  a 


tary  Conditions  of  Hospitals  and  Hospital  Con- 
struction," "  Notes  on  Nursing,"  which  will 
always  remain  a  classic,  and  which  having  laid 
down  fundamental  principles  are  as  true  to-day 
as    the   day   on   which    they    were    penned — 

Sanitary  State  of  the  Aitny  in  India,"  "  Dis- 
trict Nursing  and  Workhouse  InfiiTnaiies,"  and 
"  Introductory  Notes  on  Lying-in'  Institu- 
tions," which  she  dedicated  to  the  "  Shade  of 
Socrates'  iSIother." 

Her  versatile  pen  dealt  with  many  questions, 
but  they  were  always  subsidiary  to  that  of 
nursing,  and  her  passion  for  sanitation  and 
fresh  air  unquestionably  originated  in  her  de- 
sire that  the  sick  should  have  the  benefit  of 
the  best  possible  surroundings. 


146 


^bc  Bittisb  Journal  of  iRiusing. 


[Aug.  20,  1910 


HOMAGE  TO  THE  ILLUSTRIOUS  DEAD 

Although  ]ilibb  Nightingale  passed  to  her  rest 
at  2  o'clock  on  Saturday,  at  her  home,  10, 
South  Street,  Park  Lane,  W.,  'the  announce- 
ment of  her  death  in  the  morning  papers  of 
!Moudaj"  was  the  first  general  intimation  of  the 
national  loss.  In  her  last  hours  she  was 
attended  by  Sir  Thomas  Barlow;  and  two 
nurses  from  the  Nursing  Sisters' 
Institution,  Devonshire  Square, 
E.G.,  founded  by  :Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Fry  in  1840,  had  the  honour  of 
nursing  her  at  the  last. 

The  King's  ;\Iess.\ge 

The  King  and.  Queen  at  once  ex- 
pressed their  symjiathy  with  the  re- 
latives of  ^liss  Nightingale,  who 
received  the  following  telegram 
from  his  Alajesty  :  — 

The  Queen  and  I  liave  received  witli 
deep  regret  the  sad  news  of  the  death 
of  Miss  Florenoe  Nightingale,  whose 
untiring  and  devoted  services  to  the 
British  soldiers  in  the  Crimea  will 
never  be  forgotten,  and  to  whose  strik- 
ing example  we  practically  owe  our 
present  splendid  organisation  of 
trained  nurses.  Please  accept  the  ex- 
pression of  oiu"  sincere  sympathy. 

George,  R.  &  I. 
The  Sy.mp.^thy  (if  the  Queex 
Mother. 

We  underijtand  that  Queen  Alex- 
andra is  to  be  represented  at  the 
funeral  service,  and  is  sending  a 
wreath. 

The  L.ast  Eestixg  Pl.\ce. 

There  was  a  strong  feeling  that 
the  highest  honour  bestowed  by 
this  country  on  its  illustrious  dead 
should  be  shown  to  Miss  Nightin- 
gale, and  the  Dean  of  Westminster 
has  voiced  that  wish  by  expressing 
to  her  relatives  his  desire  that  the 
burial  should  be  in  Westminster 
Abbey.  It  was  fitting  that  this  offer 
should  he  made,  but  Miss  Nightin- 
gale expressly  directed  in  her  will 
that  her  funeral  should  be  of  the 
quietest  possible  character,  and  it 
was,  therefore,  inevitable  that  her 
executors  should  feel  bound  to  de- 
cline the  honour.  In  death  as  in  life  her  will 
is  law.  It  has,  therefore,  been  decided  that 
she  shall  be  laid  to  rest  at  West  Wellow, 
Hampshire,  where  the  bodies  of  her  father  and 
mother"  lie,  and  where  the  funeral  will  take 
jilaee  on  Saturday  next,  August  20th.  A 
-Memorial    Service   will  be  held  in   St.    Paul's 


No.  10,  South  Street,  Park 

Lane,  W.,  where  Miss 

Nightingale  died. 


Cathedral  on  that  day  at  12  o'clock,  conducted 
by  Canon  Newbolt,  Canon  Alexander,  and 
other  dignitaries  of  the  Cathedral.  The  War 
Oifice  is  undertaking  the  arrangements.  Ad- 
mission will  be  by  ticket,  for  which  application 
should  be  made  in  writing  to  the  Secretary, 
War  Office  (Memorial  Service),  Eoom  109, 
War  Office,  Whitehall.  A  limited  number  of 
tickets  will  be  issued  for  the  choir 
and  choir  gallery,  for  which  appli- 
cation should  be  made  to  the  Secre- 
I      tary  at  the  Chapter  House. 

Under  the  auspices  of  the  Guild 
of  St.  Barnabas  for  Nurses  a  Re- 
quiem will  also  be  sung  at  St. 
Alban's,  Holborn,  on  Thursdav. 
August  2oth,  at  10  a.m. 

Some  Fl(ik.\l  Tributes. 
The  International  Council  of 
Nurses,  including  the  National 
Councils  of  Great  Britain  and  Ire- 
land, Genuany,  the  United  States, 
Holland,  Finland,  Denmark,  and 
Canada  are  sending  a  chaplet  of 
roses — favourite  flowers  of  Miss 
Nightingale's — on  a  laurel  leaf  foun- 
dation, the  roses  selected  being  the 
deep  crimson  Richmond  rose,  the 
Kaiseriu  Augusta,  creamj"  in  tint, 
and  the  pink  Mme.  Abel  Chateney. 

The  members  of  Queen  Alexan- 
dra's Imperial  Military  Nursing  Ser- 
vice, and  the  Territorial  Force  Nur- 
sing Service  arealsosending  flowers. 
We  are  asked  in  connection  with 
the  wreath  of  the  latter  Service  to 
say  that  subscript>ions  of  6d.  are  in- 
vited, and  can  be  sent  to  the  Ma- 
tron-in-Chief,  T.F.N.S.,  31a,  ]\Ior- 
timer  Street,  London,  W.  Anj'  sur- 
plus will  be  given  to  the  King  Ed- 
ward VII.  annuity  for  a  disabled 
trained  nurse  belonging  to  the  Ter- 
ritorial Force. 

The  :\Iatron  of  St.  Thomas's  Hos- 
pital and  the  Nursing  Staff  are  send- 
ing a  cross  having  a  white  founda- 
tion decorated  with  choice  white 
flowers  and  mauve  carnations,  and 
the  Home  Sister  of  the  Nightingale 
Home  and  the  Nightingale  proba- 
tioners a  white  wreath  with  a  fringe 
of  mauve  stacie  decorated  with  choice  flowers. 
The  Matron  of  Kiug's  College  Hospital  and 
the  Nursing  Staff  have  selected  a  large  stand- 
ing cross  composed  of  stephnnotis  and  ^ladonna 
and  other  lilies,  with  a  wreath  of  lilies  of  the 
valley  on  the  arms.  Many  beautiful  wreaths 
have  already  been  sent. 


Aug.  •->(),  lOlo; 


Cbe  British  3ourual  of  HAursincj. 


147 


The  name  of  Florence  Nightingale  is  lience- 
fortli  added  to  those  of  the  illustrious  dead,  but 
for  all  time  she  stands  before  the  world  a  gra- 
cious, heroic  figure  bearing  the  light  kindled 
by  knowledge,  by  faith,  by  love,  and  on  the 
trained  inirses  of  eaeii  sueceeding  generation  is 
imposed  the  duty  of  keeping  that  light  burning 
with  steady  persistency,  and  ever  increasing 
brightness. 


a   Surve\)  of   tbc  IWursinG   of 
flDcntal  diseases. 

By  Willi.\m  L.  Kussell,  M.D., 

Medical  Inspector  of  tlic  State  Coiiunissiun 

in  Lunacy,  New  York. 

[Continued  from  page  126.) 


The  Tk.\ixixg  Schools  for  Nurses. 

By  securing  additional  training  for  the 
best  of  the  graduates,  and  by  the  em- 
ployment of  specially  qualified  graduates 
of  geuei-al  hospital  schools  for  super- 
visory and  teaching  positions,  the  school  or- 
ganisations have  been  improved.  It  has, 
however,  been  difficult  to  obtain  both  the  sup- 
port and  the  material  for  the  higher  positions 
needed.  Still,  in  many  of  the  institutions,  the 
postiou  of  Superintendent  of  Nurses  commands 
a  good  salary.  In  New  York  State  it  is  $1,200 
(i240l,  and  there  is  also  a  position  of  Assistant 
Superintendent  at  $900  (£180).  Competent 
candidates  for  these  positions  are,  neverthe- 
less, very  scarce.  At  a  recent  examination  for 
the  positions,  not  one  of  the  first  lot  of  candi- 
dates met  the  requirements  even  for  admission 
to  the  examination.  On  a  second  trial,  after 
the  stated  requirements  had  been  slightly  re- 
duced, eight  were  admitted  of  whom  three 
passed.  Similar  difficulties  are  experienced  in 
other  States.  General  hospital  graduates,  who 
have  had  merely  an  incidental  or  short  ex- 
perience in  the  care  of  mental  cases,  cannot 
measure  up  to  the  full  requirements  of  these 
iwsitions,  which  can  be  satisfactorily  filled  only 
when  able  women  decide  to  specialise  in  the 
work,  and  are  willing  to  face  the  unquestionable 
difficulties  and  unpleasantness  which,  in  the 
present  stage  of  nursing  in  mental  diseases, 
must  in  most  places  be  met  in  preparing  them- 
selves for  it.  Those  who  will  accept  these 
tenns  will,  I  am  confident,  eventually  secure 
good  positions  and  find  an  extremely  useful 
and  interesting  field  of  work. 

In  New  York  State  at  least,  the  schools  have 
developed  sufficiently  to  be  able  to  secure  regis- 

*  Presented  to  the  International  Congress  of 
Nurses,  London.  1909. 


tration  by  the  State  Education  Department 
under  the  Nurse  Hegistration  Act.  The  regis- 
tration movement  has  also,  1  believe,  been  of 
assistance  to  the  schools  by  the  stimulating 
effect  and  by  bringing  to  their  support,  and  to 
the  supjvirt  of  the  better  nursing  ot  the  insane, 
the  sympathetic  intelligent  interest  of 
tiie  able  Ijody  of  nurses  who  act  as  ad- 
visors of  the  Education  Department  in 
executing  the  law.  The  pupil  nurses  of  these 
schools  receive  a  i)art  of  their  training  in 
general  hospitals.  Thus  far  no  arrangements 
have  been  made  for  an  exchange  of  pupil 
lun-ses  and,  owing  to  the  lack  of  private  support 
for  the  nursing  of  the  insane  and  for  the  State 
hospital  training  schools,  certain  difficulties 
relating  to  this  have  not  yet  been  overcome.  At 
one  of  the  New  York  State  hospitals,  King's 
Park,  a  post-graduate  course  for  general  hospi- 
tal graduates  has  been  organised  and  a  number 
have  availed  themselves  of  it.  A  demand  for 
such  courses  would  no  doubt  meet  with  a 
favourable  resj^onse  in  many  places.  Wher- 
ever there  is  a  well  organised  school  in  connec- 
tion with  a  well  hospitalised  institution  for  the 
insane,  atfiliation  between  it  and  a  general  hos- 
pital school  could  be  arranged  with  mutual  ad- 
vantage. This  is  much  to  be  desired  in  the 
interest  of  the  better  care  of  mental  cases  in 
the  homes  and  in  general  hospitals.  The  lack 
of  provision  and  the  ignorance  and  indifference 
which  result  in  such  large  numbers  of  insane 
personse  being  confined  in  gaols  and  lockups 
merely  for  safe  keeping  is  a  reproach  to  the 
medical  and  nureing  professions  alike.  The 
earliest  developments  for  the  proper  care  of 
insane  persons  in  this  country  occurred  in  con- 
nection with  general  hospitals,  and  these  hos- 
pitals, the  Pennsylvania  and  the  New  York, 
have  still  large  departments  for  this  class  of 
work.  And  yet,  at  the  department  for  general 
work  of  these  very  hospitals,  and  at  nearly  all 
other  general  hospitals,  no  matter  how  far  dis- 
tant they  may  be  from  a  special  institution  for 
the  insane,  no  obligation  is  felt  to  make  provi- 
sion for  even  the  temporary  care  of  mental 
cases.  Enough  has,  however,  already  been 
done  in  a  few  places  to  furnish  precedents,  and 
it  may  be  confidently  expected  that,  in  the  not 
distant  future,  every  general  hospital  manage- 
ment will  make  some  provision  for  these  cases. 
In  New  Y'ork  City,  a  special  institution  for  in- 
cipient mental  cases  is  planned  for  under  pri- 
vate endowment.  With  the  growing  interest 
in  such  cases  and  in  the  relation  of  mental 
states  to  disease  and  its  treatment,  more  ade- 
quate provision  than  at  present  prevails  is  sure 
to  be  made,  and  more  knowledge  and  skill  fn 
the  care  of  mental  cases  will  be  required  of 
nuiises. 


148 


llbc  British  3ournaI  of  IRurstng. 


TAun.  20,  1910 


^be  3mportancc  ot  Sleep. 

SIMPLE  METHODS  OF   PROMOTING    IT. 

Never  perhaps  has  the  value  and  necessity 
of  sleep  been  more  generally  and  fully  recog- 
nised than  in  these  days  when  so  many  people 
suffer  from  deprivation  of  what  is  in  truth 
"tired  Nature's  sweet  restorer."  Without  it 
body  and  brain  gradually  become  more  worn 
and  enfeebled,  more  prostrate  and  wretched, 
until  at  last  one  or  both  collapse  altogether  be- 
cause it  is  only  during  sleep  when  voluntary 
activities  cease,  that  the  flowing  blood  can  per- 
fectly perfonn  its  task,  washing  away  the  w'aste 
products  of  life  and  work  and  recuperating  all 
parts  of  the  body.  The  appositeness  of  Shake- 
speare's words,  "  Sore  labour's  bath,"  as  ap- 
plied to  sleep,  is  very  evident  when  we  remem- 
ber this,  and  his  further  description  of  it  as 
"  Great  Nature's  second  course,  chief  nourisher 
in  life's  feast  "  Is  a  reminder  that  assimilation 
of  the  new  sujjplies  of  nourishment  also  goes  on 
best  during  sleep,  when  the  organs  are  more  or 
less  quiescent  and  renewal  and  building  up  of 
the  wasted  tissues  can  proceed  unhampered.  In 
the  case  of  children  also  it  is  during  sleep  that 
growth  proceeds,  hence  the  necessity  of  ensur- 
ing sufficient  for  them,  and  this  under  the  best 
and  most  natural  conditions,  or  they  will  re- 
main short  and  stunted. 

Sleep,  in  fact,  with  the  perfect  mental  and 
physical  relaxation  which  it  should  bring,  is 
as  essential  to  life  and  health,  as  are  food  and 
drink,  and  rest  alone,  though  valuable  in  itself, 
is  insufficient. 

No  exact  law  can  be  laid  down  as  to  the 
amount  of  sleep  necessary  for  perfect  recupera- 
tion, as  this  depends  largely  on  temperament 
and  occupation.  "  Those  who  think  most," 
said  a  famous  physician,  "  who  do  most  brain- 
work,  need  most  sleep,  because  the  energies  of 
the  brain  have  then  to  be  recuperated,"  and, 
he  added,  "  time  '  saved  '  from  necessary 
sleep  is  infallibly  destructive  to  mind,  body, 
and  estate." 

On  an  average  from  six  to  eight  hours  out  of 
each  twenty-four  will  be  found  necessary  in 
order  to  keep  the  brain  and  body  of  adults 
healthily  active,  much  more,  of  course,  being 
requisite  for  children,  but  Nature  is  in  all  cases 
the  best  guide,  and  soon  gives  warning  of  the 
effects  of  starvation  in  this  matter,  headache, 
heavy,  wretched,  feeling  on  rising  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  other  unmistakable  symptoms  telling 
of  inconiplete  recuperation,  and  if  the  warning 
is  disregarded,  insomnia,  that  curse  of  modern 
life,  and  bringer  of  worse  ills,  will  be  the 
penalty — not   <''■■■    '^    hr-    li;.'htly     rr«i<ir>il.    n<;  ■ 


many  ca>es  ot  ueivnus  and  mental  breakdown 
prove. 

Those  suffering  from  any  tendency  to  sleep- 
lessness should  most  einphatically  take  every 
possible  means  of  arresting  it  at  first,  or  later 
it  will  be  difficult  to  deal  with.  Among  the 
details  that  should  be  considered  as  tending  to 
promote  healthful  sleep  are  these  :  a  cool,  well- 
ventilated  room,  the  window  dai-kened  in  sum- 
mer, especially  if  the  light  tends  to  wakeful- 
ness; a  moderately  firm  bed,  "springy"  if 
you  will,  but  not  of  the  downy  variety,  which  is 
enen-ating  and  heating,  tending  to  weak,  flabby 
muscles  and  preventing  free  respiration 
through  the  pores  of  the  skin,  not  in  any  way 
conducive  to  healthful  restorative  sleep ;  a  low 
pillow,  not  so  thick  and  soft  as  to  envelop  the 
head  and  face,  keeping  the  skin  hot  and 
wrinkled,  nor  so  high  as  to  strain  the  neck 
muscles,  forbidding  them  to  rest,  and  causing 
the  headache  with  which  many  people  wake 
in  the  morning ;  light  covering,  sufficient  to 
maintain  warmth,  but  not  enough  to  cause 
over-heating  of  the  body,  and,  of  course,  it 
need  hardly  be  said  that  none  of  the  garments 
worn  during  the  day  must  be  retained  for  night 
wear,  as,  being  already  impregnated  with  per- 
spiration and  gaseous  matters  given  off  by  the 
body,  these  require  airing  and  cannot  promote 
the  skin-respiration  that  is  one  of  the  essentials 
of  recuperative  sleep.  Habit  also  is  important, 
and  those  especially  who  have  any  tendency  to 
sleeplessness  will  be  wise  to  keep  to  a  regular 
hour  of  retirement,  remembering  that  sleep 
taken  before  midnight  when  the  circulation  is 
strong  is  more  restorative  than  that  in  the  early 
moniing  hours,  when  vitality  falls  and  the 
blood  flows  more  feebly." 

When  sleep  refuses  to  come  readily,  in  spite 
of  hygienic  inducements,  other  simple  matters 
may  be  considered  and  modified  or  tried.  Over- 
activity of  the  mind  and  brain  at  the  time  of 
retiring  is  a  frequent  cause,  due  to  study,  ex- 
citing reading,  lively  conversation,  or  other 
stimulating  occupation,  preceding  the  effort  to 
sleep,  and  in  this  case  a  short  walk  after  a 
light  supper  may  be  tried  (supplementing  regu- 
lar daily  exercise),  or  a  wann  footbath  or  a  hot 
water  bottle  in  bed,  either  tending  to  promote 
a  flow  of  blood  to  the  lower  extremities,  and 
to  lessen  the  flow*  to  the  brain  (which  has  been 
previously  increased  owing  to  activity  of  that 
organ),  pre-disposing  it  to  rest.  The  same 
treatment  is  useful  in  sleeplessness  arising 
from  cold  feet,  which  are  a  very  common  cause. 
Brushing  the  body  over  with  a  flesh  brush,  nib- 
bing with  a  rough  towel,  or  taking  a  warm  bath 
will  also  be  found  helpful  as  promoting  the 
general    circulntioii,    and    thus   preventing   an 


Aim.  -JO,  lino, 


(^bc  ^Bi'itisb  3ournal  of  H^iu-suuj. 


MO 


excessive  flow  ut  blcio.l  t6  the  brain.  Tlie  a\i- 
plication  of  cold  watui-  or  vinegar  and  water  to 
the  head  is  also  helptul,  the  hands  also  being 
sponged  if  they  are  hot  and  dry,  and  wake- 
fulness during  the  nigiit  may  often  be  remedied 
by  rising  and  taking  a  little  light  refreshment, 
e.g.,  a  biscuit  and  small  glass  of  milk,  which 
causes  a  flow  of  blood  to  the  digestive  organs, 
drawing  it  from  the  brain  and  thus  predispos- 
ing the  latter  to  rest.  For  the  same  reason  a 
light  supper  is  often  beneficial,  though,  of 
course,  a  heavy  meal  at  that  time  is  never 
good.  Pillows  filled  with  hops  have  been  found 
ettieaeious  in  some  instances,  both  for  ordinary 
insomnia  and  for  soothing  in  cases  of  delirium, 
and  everyone  probably  is  familiar  with  another 
old  remedy  for  sleeplessness,  that  of  repeating 
monotonous  poetry  or  counting  up  to  a  certain 
number  over  and  over  again,  all  of  which  may 
be  useful  at  times,  as  also  the  reading  of  a 
restful  book  before  trying  to  sleep,  or  in  very 
bad  cases  a  good-natured  friend  may  be  found 
who  will  read  something  monotonous  aloud. 

Deep  breathing  exercises  represent  a  newer 
.and  often  a  very  successful  means  of  promoting 
Tiealthy  sleep,  and  sufferers  from  insomnia  may 
be  strongly  recommended  to  persevere  with 
them  both  before  trying  to  sleep,  and  when 
wakefulness  occurs  during  the  night.  Air  must 
be  breathed  in  slowly  through  the  nostrils 
(mouth  closed!  and  the  lungs  filled  as  com- 
pletely as  can  be,  so  that  every  cell  is  inflated, 
which  requires  some  effort.  Then  the  lips  must 
be  opened  and  the  air  expelled  slowly  through 
the  mouth  until  as  much  as  possible  is  driven 
out. 

Half-a-dozen  or  more  such  breaths  may  be 
taken  at  an  open  window  just  before  getting 
into  bed,  the  body  being  well  protected  from 
the  chilly  night  air,  and  the  same  slow,  regular, 
deep  breathing  contimied  consciously  when  in 
bed.  the  body  lying  jierfectly  at  rest,  a  dead 
weight,  ever\-  muscle  relaxed,  no  strain  any- 
where, and  the  mind  completely  occupied  with 
the  thought  of  breathing  deeply.  The  quiet 
monotonous  conditions  thus  induced  are  alto- 
gether favourable  to  repose,  and  if  attention 
has  also  been  given  to  other  details  previously 
'mentioned,  sleeplessness  may  often  be  pre- 
vented without  dangerous  recourse  to  drugs. 
______^  B.  L.  Agn-ew. 

Mrs.  Shuter,  Hon.  Secretary  of  the  Defence 
of  Nursing  Standards  Committee,  asks  us  to 
acknowledge  the  following  donations:- — Miss 
Tilliers  i'I>ondon),  10s. :  and  Mrs.  ^McDonnell 
and  Miss  ^1.  A.  Lush  CLimoni,  British  East 
Africa),  2s.^6d.  each  for  the  funds  of  the  Com- 
Tnittee. 


cl?c  1Hiui?ine«  ot  HDnlc  paticnte. 


I  have  read  Dr.  Kenshaw's  remarks  on  nurses 
and  other  subjects,  as  reported  in  the  pr^ss ;  if 
he  is  inaccurately  i-eported  and  the  impression 
I  have  received  is  a  wrong  one,  1  ajwlogise, 
but  as  to  his  statements  regarding  the  nursing 
of  men  by  women  as  reported,  I  wish  to  make 
:i  tew  remarks.  First.  1  should" like;  i..>  make  .i 
personal  statement.  During  all  the  years  1 
was  actually  nursing,  1  have  never  once  been, 
even  faintly,  made  to  feel  bj'  anj-  single  male 
patient,  however  rough,  however  uncouth,  how- 
ever delirious,  that  my  ministrations  were  ob- 
jectionable to  him  on  account  of  my  sex. 
Never  once  have  I  met  with  the  faintest  taint 
of  that  pruriency  which  Dr.  Kenshaw  suggests 
underlies  the  nursing  of  men  by  women.  I 
have  certainly  been  knocked  dpwn  by  a  D.T. 
patient  who  was  abjectly  apologetic  and 
ashamed  when  he  recovered,  but  ot  that  vile 
lewdness  at  which  Dr.  Renshaw  hints,  I,  and 
thousands  I  am  sure  will  endorse  my  ex- 
perience, have  met  none.  For  the  honour  of 
the  male  sex  I  will  say  every  man  I  have  ever 
nursed,  however  inveterate  an  old  grumbler  he 
might  be,  has  accepted  my  nursing  of  him  in 
the  spirit  in  which  it  was  offered ;  he  was  sick, 
was  helpless,  and  required  assistance,  and  I 
gave  it  him ;  nor  did  I  stop  to  sit  down  and 
consider  and  think  out  whether  or  not  it  was 
exactly  agreeable  to  me ;  as  a  matter  of  fact,  I 
never  worried  about  the  question  at  all.  I  had, 
like  thousands  of  other  English  nurses,  a 
healthy  mind,  and  the  fact  that  my  patients 
were  sometimes  men  affected  me  not  at  all ; 
to  judge  by  the  patients'  demeanour  it  worried 
them  even  less. 

When  at  my  anatomy  lectures  I  was  shown 
bones  and  specimens  the  idea  that  they  were 
somebody's  dry  bones  and  "  putrid  flesh  " 
never  forced  itself  upon  my  feelings.  1  was 
simply  filled  with  wonder  and  interest  at  the 
beautiful  and  wonderful  mechanism  and  per- 
fection of  the  human  body,  and  tried  to  leam 
all  I  could,  that  my  work  might  be  more  care- 
fully and  perfectly  carried  out.  I  was,  as  are 
millions  of  others,  quite  capable  of  sufficient 
mental  detachment,  not  to  allow  morbid  emo- 
tionalism to  hinder  me  from  gaining  necessary 
knowledge.  I  do  not.  of  course,  say  that  all 
the  things  one  does  when  nursing  are^pleasant, 
but  they  are  necessary,  and  she  would  be  a 
poor  nurse  who  shirked  her  duty  because  it  was 
disagreeable. 

The  average  clean-minded  normal  hunlan 
being  is  not  hyper-sexual  at  all.  If  he  or  she 
were  so.  Dr.  Renshaw  would  be  quite  right.    It 


i.JO 


^e  Britlsb  journal  of  IRursino.       [Aug.  20, 1010 


would  be  impossible  not  only  lor  women  to 
nurse  men,  but  tor  male  doctors  to  attend  wo- 
men— I  had  almost  said  for  men  and  women 
to  have  ordinary  free  intercourse  with  one  an- 
other— but  luckily  it  is  not  so. 

A  surgeon  will  carry  out  a  delicate  operation 
on  a  woman  much  as  a  clever  carpenter  will 
do  a  special  ijiece  of  joinery,  whilst  the  average 
nurse  washes  a  male  patient  with  no  more 
emotion  than  if  he  were  a  locker. 

There  are,  of  course,  as  ever\-one  knows,  cer- 
tain male  cases  that  should  not  be  nursed  by 
women,  but  they  are,  as  everyone  in  the  pro- 
fession equally  well  knows,  not  nursed  by 
women;  there  are  sufficient  male  nurses  for 
such  cases.  There  are  also  some  women  who 
would  be  far  better  with  a  female  doctor.  But 
these  men  and  these  women  are  abnormalities, 
not  common,  and  should  be,  and  are,  as  a  rule, 
provided  for. 

The  classical  bestiahties  to  which  Dr.  Een- 
shaw  refers  in  connection  with  nursing  are  ab- 
solutely and  entirely  absent  from  the  mind  of 
every  decent  nurse  in  any  decent  training 
school.  Dr.  Eenshaw  can  indeed  know  little 
of  women,  and  I  sincerely  I'egret  his'  unfortu- 
nate experiences  with  nurses;  he  must  have 
met  a  curious  type.  He  trots  out  the  same 
dead  lame  old  stalking  horse  of  "  women  being 
hard  on  women."  It  is  sheer  nonsense — 
genei-alising  is  always  dangerous,  and  usually 
untrue,  especially  when  you  generalise  concern- 
ing a  whole  sex.  There  are  women  so  kind,  so 
generous,  so  just  to  women,  that  you  can  trust 
them  through  thick  and  thin,  and  there  are 
hard  and  bitter  women — granted — but  between 
the  best  and  the  worst  runs  a  whole  gamut  of 
kindly,  variable  human  beings,  not  perfect, 
thank  Heaven,  but  loyal  to  theii- own  sex,  and 
kind  and  true  to  one  another  in  trouble. 

In  "  Faust  "  Dr.  Eenshaw  will  doubtless 
remember,  it  is  the  devil,  Mephistopheles,  mas- 
querading as  a  professor,  who  gives  the  chuck- 
ling, brutal  advice  and  suggestive  hints  to  the 
would-be  young  medical  student,  not  God. 

If  a  nurse  be  jiure,  honoiu'able,  and  decent, 
remembering  that  the  poor  body  is  only  the 
casket  of  the  spirit  and  the  soul,  she  will  not 
go  far  wrong  if  she  follows  the  external  instinct 
in  her — that  bids  her  cherish,  tend,  and  care 
for  the  sick  and  wn>tched,  even  if  they  lie  men. 
€he  will  remember  that  there  is  nothing  higher 
than  the  duty  she  is  pledged  to  perform,  and 
that  no  good  and  noble  work  was  ever  per- 
formed hy  any  human  being  who  was  afraid 
to  wade  out  into  tlie  mud  to  help  another,  and 
wiio  was  jiorpelnally  looking  to  see  if  the  hem 
of  his  or  her  own  garment  remained  clean. 

M.    IMoi.LETT. 


IProgress  of  State  IRegistration. 

The  TT  ct'/.;  End  of  August  4th,  commenting 
on  ^Ir.  Sydney  Holland's  struggle  "  for  the  re- 
cognition of  a  nursing  standard,  which  the  great 
majority  of  the  members  of  tlie  medical  and 
nursing  professions  consider  inadequate," 
in  connection  with  the  Bart's  Matronship 
goes  on  to  say,  "  But  we  hope  that  when  next 
he  feels  disposed  to  state  that  the  more  im- 
portant of  the  official  medical  bodies  are  op- 
posed to  the  State  Registration  of  nurses,  he 
will  remember  that  at  the  Annual  Eepresenta- 
tive  Meeting  held  recently  at  the  Guildhall,  the 
following  resolution,  moved  by  Dr.  E.  \V. 
Goodall,  and  seconded  by  Sir  Victor  Horsley, 
was  earned  7iem  con."  The  resolution  pub- 
lished in  our  issue  of  .luly  30th  is  then  printed, 
and  the  paragraph  concludes  :  "  After  all,  time 
is  on  the  side  of  the  women." 


The  Birmingham  Daily  Gazette  devotes 
nearly  a  column  of  space  to  a  sympathetic 
article  on  the  registration  question,  giving  the 
views  of  a  Birmingham  Hospital  ^latron  on  the 
subject. 


In  Scotland  Miss  E.  A.  Stevenson  has  ably 
championed  the  Eegistration  cause  in  the  Glas- 
gow Herald,  in  which  she  has  crossed  swords 
with  Mr.  Holland.  No  unprejudiced  person 
who  has  followed  the  correspondence  can  doubt 
to  whom  the  victor's  palm  should  be  awarded. 


tTbe  Zvixtb  about  State  IRcgistra* 
tion  in  tbe  mnite^  States. 


LETTERS  TO   MISS  L.  L.   DOCK. 

Illinois. 
My  Dear  Miss  Dock, 

Yoiu'  lettfr  of  recent  date  at  luiiid. 

First,  yon  ask  nit>  for  some  points  demonst rating 
the  gain  that  reKistiation  for  nur.ses  lias  lieen  ui 
our  state.  I  will  jot  down  a  few  of  what  seem  to 
me  the  chief  points. 

Fii-st,  i.s  the  desire  of  .small  and  inadequate  train- 
ing schools  to  bring  their  coni-se  of  .study,  period  of 
training,  etc.,  up  to  the  requirements.  .Some  of 
even  the  very  iH>or  'ichool.s,  it  seemes  to  me.  hare 
quite  a  laudable  desire  to  really  jxissess  tlie  desired 
qualifications,  not  nioii'ly  to  seem  to  |>osse.ss  them 
It  is  i)erhaps  a  .satisfaction  to  the  Board  that  we 
m't  the  credit  by  these  schools  of  poor  grade  as 
being  the  cause  of  their  receiving  so  many  less  ap- 
pli<-ntions  for  entrance  this  past  fall. 

-Another  encouraging  result  is  tliat  nurses  gener- 
ally, it  seems  to  me,  arc  waking  up  to  the  necessity 
and  desirabilit.v  of  affiliating  themselves  with  various 
nursing  bodie-s — their  ahimnro,  the  State  Associa- 
tion, Suj)erintendpnts'  Society,  etc.  Last  might  be 
mentioned  the  growing  concern  of  tlie  nur.;(«   who 


Aug.  -20,  1910; 


Zbc  36riti5b  3oiirnaI  of  •Mnrsino. 


i.-.i 


hiivt  had  inadequate  training  to  supplement  it  so 
tliiit  tlieir  qualifications  shall  come  somewhere 
noiirly  up  to  a  reasonable  standard. 

Helen  Scott  H.\y. 
tiuperiiifendi'iit,  Illinois  Trainittg 
Schwil  jOT  Surses. 


Georgi.\. 

Sfittc  Btiaril  of  Kj-aminers  of  Surges  for  Georgia. 
Mv   Dear  Miss    Dock, 

Our  Examining  Board  has  been  in  existence  but 
barely  two  years.  AVe  have  not  yet  held  our  first 
examinations,  and,  though  we  have  registered  2.50 
nurses,  I  doubt  very  much  if  the  general  public  has 
been  benefited  by  the  law  in  any  way  as  yet.  This 
is  to  be  expected  when  you  c-onsider  the  dense  ignor- 
ance and  profound  indifforonce,  when  in  health, 
towards  the  profession  which  the  average  individual 
entertains — and  either  the  antagonistic  or  indiffer- 
ent attitude  assumetl  by  the  medical  profession.  We 
are  neither  discouraged  nor  impatient  for  results, 
knowing  it  to  be  merely  a  question  of  time  and  ad- 
vertising. We  are  placing  the  best  that  we  can 
offer  within  easy  reach — we  are  gradually  estal>- 
lishing  local  R.X.  registries  under  careful  super- 
vision of  the  members  of  the  State  Board,  and  we 
are  making  it  difficult  for  the  fraud  to  remain  un- 
detected. 

The  real  benefits  of  registration  are  found  in  the 
changes  that  are  taking  place  in  our  training 
schools.  The  pui^il  of  to-day — the  nurse  of  to- 
morrow— 'is  being  trained  and  taught  as  never  be- 
fore in  this  State !  Although  the  law  gives  us  no 
special  jurisdiction  of  schools,  we  have  our  inspec- 
tor who  yearly  goes  around  to  secure  reports  as  to 
the  amount  of  teaching  that  the  different  SK-hools 
are  giving — notifying  some  that  their  pupils  are 
hopelessly  ineligible,  pointing  out  to  others  what 
changes  and  impix>v<Mnents  should  be  made — and  to 
all.  preaching  the  a<lvantages  and  necessity  of 
affiliation.  This  method  of  helping  out  the  curricu- 
lum of  the  small  schools  has  been  already  started  in 
two  schools,  and  we  feel  sure  it  will  soon  be  gener- 
ally adopted.  On  every  side  we  hear  of  new  in- 
terest that  has  been  roused  on  the  part  of  Superin- 
tendents towards  improving  the  theoretical  train- 
ing— diet-teachers  are  being  employed  (some- 
thing before  unheard  of),  and  the  fear  of  the  State 
Board  examinations  is  ever  before  their  eyes.  We 
believe  we  will  eventually  bring  about  a  standard 
of  curricidum  and  that  in  this  will  rest  the  real 
blessing  that  registration  has  been  to  the  State.  I 
don't  believe  the  same  dreadful  conditions  exist  in 
England  as  here,  where  any  ignorant,  avaricious 
practitioner  is  able  to  rent  a  dilapidated  old  house, 
sec'ure  a  charter,  and  start  out  with  a  hospital  and 
a. training  school — sometimes  he  has  a  head  nurse 
in  charge  of  the  pupils,  but  more  frequently  he  acts 
in  that  capacity  himself,  and  at  the  end  of  two 
years  turns  out   his  pupils  with  diplomas. 

I  am  afraid  I  have  been  carried  away  by  my  en- 
thusiasm into  answering  you  at  too  great  length, 
but  perhaps  not  one  of  the  least  of  the  advantages 
that  our  registration  res))onsibility  has  been  is  that 
it  rouses  and  brings  to  the  surface  a  strong  pur- 
pose to  put  our  best  into  the  cause. 

E.    R.    Dexdt.    R.X., 

Secretary. 


appointments. 


Borough  Sanatoriufn,  Shrewsbury. — MlSS  J.  Mune 
Mitchell  has  been  apitomt^l  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Carlisle  Infirmary  and  the  B<'lvidere 
Fever  Hospital,  Glasgow,  and  has  held  the  positions 
of  Theatre  Sister  at  the  Carlisle  Infirmary,  Night 
Sister  at  Rotherham  Hospital  and  Dispensary,  and 
Sister,  with  charge  of  the  electrical  d©i)artment,  at 
Leith  General  Ho.spital. 

Nurse  Matrox. 

Rueberry  Sanatorium,  Osmotherley. — Mi.ss  B.  H. 
Wheriit  has  l)e<"n  apix>intt<l  Nurse-Matron.  She 
was  traine<l  at  Browiilow  Hill  Infirmary,  Liverpool, 
and  has  worked  as  a  Queen's  Nui-se  in  various  i«rts 
of  Lincolnshire. 

SlSTER.S. 

General  Hospital,  Kettering — Miss  Margaret  Myers 
has  Ix-en  apix»inte<l  Sister.  She  was  trained  at  the 
East  Lancashire  Infirmary,  Blackburn,  where  she 
has  held  the  position  of  Night  Si.ster.  .She  has  also 
been  SLster  at  the  Bradford  Eye  and  Ear  Hospital. 

Miss  Margaret  Barron  has  been  apjjointecl  .Sister. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Clayton  Hospital,  Wake- 
field, where  she  has  temponarily  held  the  position  of 
Sister. 

Workhouse  Infirmary,  Uxbridge  Union. — Miss  Rose 
Helen  Cooper  has  been  appointed  Sister.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Poplar  and  Stepney  Sick  Asylum, 
and  the  liast  End  Mothers'  Home,  and  has  held  the 
position  of  Sister  at  St.  John's  Infirmary,  Hamp- 
stead,  and  of  School  Nurse  in  connection  with  the 
Royal  Deaf  Schools,  Manchester. 

Children's  Hospital  and  Onion  Workhouse,  Bradford.— 
Miss  Hannah  Williams  has  been  appointed  Sister. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Union  Infirmary,  Ashton- 
under-Lyne,  and  has  been  Sister  at  the  Salford 
Tniou  Infirmary.  She  has  also  had  experience  of 
private  nursing. 

Jewish  Hospital,  Manchester.— Miss  Alice  Heyworth 
has  been  appointed  Sist«r.  She  was  trained  at  the 
District  Infirmary,  and  Children's  Hospital,  Ash- 
ton-under-Lyne,  "and  at  the  Royal  Eye  Hospital, 
Manchester. 

Night  Sister. 

Union  Workhouse,  Stockport.— ^liss  Vera  N.  S.  Jones 
has  been  appointed.  Night  Sister.  Slie  was  trained 
at  the  St.  Marylebone  Infirmary,  and  has  held  the 
I)osition  of  Charge  Nurse  under  the  Metro|>olitan 
Asylums'  Board. 

Superintendent   Nubse. 

Huddersfield  Infirmary.— Miss  L.  K.  Clarke  has  been 
apijointed  Superintendent  Nurse.  She  has  pre- 
viouslv  held  the  ijositions  of  Charge  Nurse  at  the 
Xencastle-on-Tyne  Union  Hospital,  Night  Superin- 
tendent at  the  Harton  Hospital,  Soutli .  Shields, 
Head  Night  Nurse  at  Stepney  Infirmary,  Superin- 
tendent Nurse  at  the  Basingstoke  Infirmary,  and 
Charge  Nurse  at  the  Infirmary,  Biggleswade.  She 
is  a  certified  midwife. 

School  Nurse. 

Borough  oi  Bury  St.  Edmund's. — Miss  Katharine  Far"-. 
ringilon  has  been  appointed  School  Nurse  and 
Health  Visitor.  She  was  trained  at  the  Royal 
Alexandra    Hospital,    Brighton,    and  the  Victoria 


152 


Zhc  Britieb  Journal  of  Taursing, 


Aug.  -20    1910 


Hospital,  Folkestone,  aiiil  lias  lielil  tlie  ijositiuiis  <jt 
nurse  at  the  Allt-vr-yn  (Infectious)  Hospital,  New- 
jiort,  Mon.  ;  Acting;  IWatron  of  the  I^oiulon  Skin 
riospital,  Fitzroy  hcjuare,  and  Night  Sister  at  the 
Knfield  Isolation  Hospital.  She  has  also  had  a 
■.  aried   experience  in   private    nursing. 

HOSI'TTM,    .SiXRETARY. 

West  London  Hospital,  Hammersmith. — ^(r.  Hazlerigg 
has  been  appointed  Secretary.  He  has  gained  ex- 
perience in  hospital  management  as  assistant  to 
-Mr.  E.  W.  Morris  at  the  London  Hospital. 


IRursinQ  Echoes. 


QUEEN  ALEXANDRAS  IMPERIAL  MILITARY 
NURSING   SERVICE. 

The  toUowing  ladies  have  received  ajipointmeiit- 
as  Staff  Xurse:— Miss  E.  M.  Collins,  Miss  G.  D. 
Morris.  Miss  J.  L.  Bentley,  Miss  M.  C.  Corbishley. 

Tnuisicrs  to  .Stations  Abroad. — Staff  Nurses. — 
r.i.ss  M.  A.  Cachemaille  and  Miss  M.  E.  Medforth, 
to  Egypt. 

I'roiiiotioiix. — The  undermentioned  Sister  to  be 
Matron  :  Miss  L.  E.  C.  Steen.  The  undermen- 
tioned Staff  Nurses  to  be  Sisters;  Miss  M.  J.  Hep- 
pie,  Miss  S.  Riohards,  Miss  M.  B.  Williams. 


QUEEN  VICTORIAS  JUBILEE   INSTITUTE 
FOR     NURSES. 

Trnisfi  I.S  ,i,nl  .l/,;,.,n,f,;iw,/.-.— Misi  Ada  CVuKhut 
to  Marpie  Bridge;  Miss  Helen  Noble,  to  Wolsing- 
ham ;  Miss  Louisa  Hogarth,  to  Lingfiekl ;  Miss 
Mattie  Koan,  to  Wisbech  ;  Miss  Gertrude  English, 
to  Sheffield. 


AMERICAN  SOCIETY  OF  SUPERINTENDENTS 
OF  TRAINING  SCHOOLS  FOR  NURSES 
Tile  following  <ifiicers  have  been  unanimously 
elected  for  the  ensuing  year; — President,  Miss 
Kiddle;  vice-presidents.  Miss '  Cioodrich,  Miss  F. 
Freese  ;  secretary.  Miss  McMillan;  treasurer,  Miss 
McKechnie;  councillors,  Miss  Nutting,  Miss 
l.aiider  Sutherland;  auditor,  iliss  Hay. 


PRESENTATr->NS. 

Tiio  towiispeople  of  Liskeaid  and  district  have 
pie6ente<l  to  Nni-se  Pearse  a  testimonial  in  recog- 
nition of  her  many  years'  services,  which  reached 
the  sum  of  £33  10s.  Cid. 

Miss  Tyrrell,  who  has  been  for  the  jiast  few 
yeai-s  one  of  the  district  nnr.se»>  iiiuh'r  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  the  Elgin  District  Nursing  Association,  has 
been  presented  with  a  purse  of  fvovereigns,  s<ib- 
scribed  to  by  the  residents  in  the  districts  of  New 
Elgin,  -Ashgrove,  and  Moycroft,  on  the  occasion  of 
her  forthcoming  marriage.  Miss  Tyrrell,  in 
acknewledging  the  gift  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  M«c- 
donald,  a'~ke<l  him  to  convey  to  the  subscrilx'i'S  her 
warmest  thanks,  and  said  that  her  «oik  in  Elgin 
had  been  very  happy — a  recollection  that  would 
ever  be  very  ple«.sant  and  dear  to  her. 

.Sister  M.  Anastasia  Qninn,  of  the  Order  of 
Mercy,- Mt.  Washington,  M<1.,  has  been  presented 
a  pin  by  the  (Jrand  Army  of  the  Republic,  in  recog- 
nition of  services  cheerfully  rendere<l  in  the  Doug- 
las Hospital,  WasliingtoD,  D.C.,  during  the  Civil 
War. 


.\t  tiif  (.Quarterly  Court  of 
Goveri'ars  of  the  Royal 
Han',jshire  Coun*y  Hospital, 
at  which  Mi.  J.  Charles 
\Vaiiier  (chairman  of  the 
Committee  of  ilanagement) 
presided,  Mr.  Henry  Nicol 
said  that  in  their  administra- 
tion there  was  no  friction, 
and  they  seldom  found  hos- 
pitals worked  without  fric- 
tion between  the  medical 
-taM  ni;  I  I'll  .■  .Matron  and  nurses,  or  the  medical 
staff  and  the  management,  but  here  they 
worked  extremely  hannoniouslj^  and  well,  and 
as  regarded  the  inside  work  of  the  hospital  he 
did  not  think  whatever  they  might  do  they 
would  make  any  great  improvement  on  it.  The 
Court  received  a  report  from  a  special  sub- 
committee, appointed  to  consider  the  system 
of  management  of  the  affairs  of  tiie  hospital, 
amended  and  approved  by  the  Committee  of 
.Management.  The  Connnittee  reported  that 
they  had  taken  evidence  from  the  Treasurer, 
the  ^latron  (Miss  Carpenter  Tunter),  and  the 
Honorary  Secretary,  and  others.  .\  number  of 
alterations  in  the  rules  were  proposed,  inchid- 
ing  the  substitution  of  an  Election  Committee 
for  the  present  Selection  Committee. 


The  Chainiian  explained  that  this  alteration 
was  proposed  as  the  Committee  "  thought  the 
work  would  be  better  in  the  hands  of  a  per- 
manent standing  committee.  It  would  remove 
an  invidious  distinction  which  sometimes  oc- 
rurred  imder  the  old  system  when  an  indivi- 
dual was  recommended  for  adoption,  and  was 
not  in  fact  elected  by  the  Court.  The  Election 
Committee  had  been  adopted  in  other  hospi- 
tals, and  for  these  reasons  the  Committee  re- 
commended, and  he  proposed,  that  an  Election 
Committee  be  constituted." 


Does  not  the  fact  that  the  Governors  have 
not  always  endorsed  the  choice  of  the  Selection 
Committee  indicate  to  them  the  wisdom  of 
keeping  the  final  decision  a^;  to  ap])ointments  in 
their  own  hands'.'  Whether  they  delegate  their 
powers  or  not  they  will  always  be  regarded  as 
responsible  for  appointments  made  in  their 
name,  and  even  if  t-he  ap])ointnient  is  injinious 
and  unjust  they  are  powerless  to  intervene  if 
they  make  an  Election  Committee  the  final 
authority.  We  hoj)e  that  before  October  •itlth, 
when  the  new  statutes  will  be  presented  for 
approval,  that  evidence  will  be  placed  before 
the  Governors  as  to  the  undesirabilitv  of  this 


Aug.  20,  IVIIO 


Ebe  JBvitisb  3ournal  of  IRiusuk^ 


l.J3 


s\"stom,  and  that  thev  will  study  a  concrete 
instance  iu  connection  with  the  recent  agpoiut- 
ment  to  the  Matronship  of  St.  Bartholomew's' 
Hospital. 


Mrs.  Dingwall  Fordyce  presided  at  the  An- 
nual Meeting  of  the  Maud  District  Xursing  As- 
sociation, and  prefaced  her  remarks  by  refei"- 
ring  to  the  death  of  his  Majesty  the  late  King 
Edward,  and  to  what  he  liad  done  for  the  sick 
and  suffering.  Shu  spoke  of  the  starting  of  the 
ilaud  Association,  iu  athliatiou  with  Queen 
A'ictoria's  .Jubilee  Institute,  six  yeare  ago,  and 
attributed  a  large  part  of  its  success  to  the  per- 
sonality and  the  popularity  of  their  first  nurse, 
Miss  Wilson.  .\s  the  benefit  of  the  nurse's 
services  came  to  be  realised,  the  only  limit  to 
her  work  was  what  lay  in  her  power  to  under- 
take. This  fact  was  becoming  so  apparent, 
that  the  ^laud  Association  was  beginning  to 
think  of  a  third  uursc  to  W'Ork  iu  Maud  and 
Auchnagatt  districts :  so  that  the  parishes  of 
New  and  Old  Deer  might  have  more  complete 
i>eiiefit   from  the  association. 


^Irs.  Burnett  Stuart,  of  Crichie,  in  moving 
"the  adoption  of  the  report,  said  that  the  nurses 
were  true  .social  factors :  she  often  heard  ap- 
preciations of  their  homely  ways  and  good  com- 
mon sense.  The  services  of  Niu-se  Owen,  who 
was  about  to  leave  them,  had,  she  said,  been 
prized  in  many  cases.  The  Secretary  read  the 
third  amiual  report  of  iliss  Guthrie  Wright's 
Memorial  Home  for  Queen's  Nui-ses.  to  which 
a  subsiaiption  is  sent  hy  the  Maud  Association, 
and  in  which  dining  the  year  there  have  been 
■"20  nurses  convalescing  after  illness,  and  '29 
using  the-  home  for  rest  and  holidays.  She  also 
read  an  extract  fi'om  the  annual  report  of  the 
Scottish  Council,  showing  the  many-sided  and 
Tiational  character  of  the  woi'k. 


Dr.  Tiioiiison,  sjieaking  at  a  recent  meeting 
■of  the  Belfast  Coi-)wration,  of  the  increased 
powers  which  the  Council  will  shortly  have  un- 
der the  Public  Health  .\mendment  Act,  by 
which  they  will  be  able  to  engage  nurses  to 
attend  the  sick  poor  in  their  own  homes,  said 
.that  a  great  many  children  never  received  a 
bath  from  their  birth  :  and  when  Corporatjon 
nurses  can  be  sent  to  houses  where  this  kind 
of  unsanitary  condition  prevails,  one  good  effect 
ought  to  be  the  lessons  in  cleanliness  which 
they  should  impart. 


.\  con-espondent  of  the  Irish  Xi  n.-.  \\i\ir>  :  — 
There  would  be  hostility  to  the  idea :  but  I 
think  some  moderate  scherne  could  be  arrived 
at  by  whicK  nurses,  in  cases  of  homes  where, 
in  the  course  of  their  attendance  on  children, 
they  had  fo\uid  that  the  little  ones  lived  in  a 


filthy  state,  should  be  sent  periodically  atter- 
wards  to  inspect,  and,  if  irecessary,  order,  un- 
der penalty,  a  bath  for  the  children.  It  is  as 
much  crue'lty  to  a  child  to  let  it  grow  up  un- 
washed as  to  starve  it :  for  the  ultimate  danger 
ot  decline  in  health,  and  of  death,  is  quite  as 
great.  There  are  inspectors  to  prevent  cruelty 
to  children ;  and  1  cannot  see  that  it  would 
cause  a  revolution  if  we  had  also  nurse-inspec- 
tors to  prevent  a  deadly  condition  of  dirtiness. 
The  mere  fear  of  the  disgrace  attaching  to  such 
an  exposure,  as  a  prosecution  would  eiitail. 
would  be  enough  to  induce  lazy  parents  to 
wash  their  children ;  and  1  believe  after  a 
year's  operation  of  the  bye-law  ^n  immense 
improvement  would  show  itself  in  the  infantile 
mortality  rate. 

At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  Ceylon  Nursing 
Association,  held  at  Colombo,  some  modifica- 
tions of  preliminai"y  plans  for  Nurses'  Quarters, 
proposed  by  the  Advisory  Committee,  were 
accepted.  The  Committee  recommended  that, 
in  lieu  of  separate  buildings  for  Maternity  and 
Surgical  Wards,  a  single  building  be  provided 
with  two  Maternity  and  two  General  Wards 
with  sterilising  room,  kitchen,  two  duty  rooms, 
with  bathrooms,  and  accommodation  for  or- 
derlies, ayahs,  and  private  servants.  In  view 
of  some  coiTespondence  in  explanation  of  why 
a  nurise  whose  services  have  been  specially 
booked  has  not  been  available  in  consequence 
of  her  being  employed  at  another  case  in  emer- 
gency, it  was  resolved  that  the  regulations  for 
the  employment  of  nurses  be  amended  so  as  to 
make  it  clear  that  a  nurse's  services  can  only 
be  previously  booked  on  the  distinct  under- 
standing that  the  services  of  that  special  nurse 
will  not  be  available  if,  in  the  opinion  of  the 
Matron,  she  should  not  be  removed  from  any 
other  serious  case  in  which  she  is  at  the  time 
employed. 

We  are  glad  to  note  that  the  Journal  of  the 
American  Medical  .\ssociation  advocates,  as 
w-e  have  so  often  done,  instrucfion  in  nursing 
as  part  of  medical  education.    It  says : 

"  -Attention  is  calletl  by  Denny  to  the  importance 
of  nursing  in  therapeutics,  because  ignorance  of 
uui-sing  renders  the  physician's  work  lees  effp^  -e 
He  says  that  pliysicians  need  to  have  personal  ex- 
l)erience  in  nursing  in  oi<ler  to  prescribe,  treatment 
intelligently.  His  plan  is  as  follows: — Experience 
in  nursing  eonkl  be  given  men  nietiical  students  ir 
•he  male  wards  of  a  hospital.  The  students  would 
i!o  the  nursing  in  the  w,Tr(ls,  under  very  careful  and 
close  sujiervision.  the  expense  of  the  supervision 
being  l>orne  liy  the  students'  fee''.  The  discipM^ie 
should  be  very  strict,  military  in  character,  an<l 
goo:!  conduct  and  go<Kl  work  in  the  wards  would 
be  essential  for  a  medi<al  degree.  As  few  patients 
as   i)os.sible  should  be  .isviiTn^]   to  .^ch   stiident.   so 


15+ 


Zbc  Brttisb  Journal  of  IRurstng. 


[Aug.  20,  1910- 


that  the  service  leiideied  would  lie  iiidividiial  and 
I)ersonal.  The  students  should  be  made  to  feel  that 
they  are  resixinsible  for  the  comfort  of  their 
patients.  A  nureing  service  of  at  least  a  montu, 
preferably  t«o  months,  should  be  required  of  each 
student.  A  part  of  the  service  should  include  night 
duty,  as  conditions  are  very  different  at  night  irom 
the  patient's  ix>int  of  view,  and  a  physician's  know- 
ledge of  sicknes-s  is  incomplete  unle.ss  he  has  spent  a 
number  of  nights  at  a  patient's  be<lside.  Combined 
with  the  experience  in  nur.sing  there  should  be  in- 
struction in  the  various  therapeutic  measures  which 
a  nui-se  carries  out.  It  could  probably  be  arranged 
that  most  of  the  students  should  do  their  nursing 
during  the  summer,  just  as  the  engineering 
students  have  their  "field  work"  at  that  time. 
During  his  nursing  .service  the  stiKlent  will  get 
closer  to  his  patients  than  he  ever  has  before  or 
ever  will  again.  Pictures  of  disease,  expressions, 
posture,  types  of  respiration,  knowledge  wbirli 
cannot  Ije  obtained  from  Ix)oks  or  lectures  become 
impressed  on  the  student's  mind  in  a  way  that 
years  of  clinics  would  not  do.  For  training  in  prac- 
tical therapeutice*  there  is  nothing  in  the  present 
couiBe  to  compare  with  it.  Students  will  become 
familiar  with  its  ap|)earance,  .smell,  taste,  mode  of 
administration,  and  action  of  drugs.  In  no  other 
way  can  the  student  so  well  learn  the  wealth  of 
simple  measures,  which,  in  'the  hands  of  an  in- 
telligent nur.se,  can  be  of  the  greate.st  comfort  ;  tor 
example,  moi.st  and  dry  heat,  cold  compresses,  loe 
bags,  packs,  batli-s,  rubbing,  counter-irritants,  etc. 
As  a  means  of  learning  practical  dietetics  tliis  ex- 
perience would  have  no  equal." 

THE  BART'S  APPOINTMENT. 
Miss  Cox  Davies,  President  of  the  League  of  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital  Nui'ses, .  gives  in  tlie  cur- 
rent issue  of  Leu  gun  A'eir.?,  a  resume  of  the  reasons 
which  made  hundreds  of  nurses  trained  at  St. 
Bartholomew's,  in  common  with  a  large  majority 
of  the  whole  nursing  profession  and  the  public, 
raise  tJieir  voices  in  wonder  and  sorrowful  protest 
as  soon  as  the  apix>iutment  to  the  Matronship 
became  known.  In  the  course  of  this  article  she 
writes: — "  I  would  like  also  to  refer  very  briefly  to 
a  statement  that  h.-is  l>een  widely  circulated,  both 
in  print  and  elsewhere,  that  the  'agitation'  was  con- 
fined entirely  to  a  few  outside  people,  principally 
'  disappointed  candidates  and  their  friends,'  and 
that  it  was  not  shared  by  the  present  nursing  staff, 
who  were  loyally  satisfied  with  the  ap]x>int- 
ment.  .  .  .  Tlie  fact  that  a  few  only  have  lieen 
able  to  do  the  work,  by  reason  of  tlxMi-  ind<'pendent 
]X>sition,  does  not  make  the  statenu'iit  true  that 
the  'agitation'  is  confined  to  them.  It  is  firo.ssly  un- 
true. The  agitation  is  general,  and  except  to  those 
who  deliberately  shut  their  eyes,  and  will  not  see, 
it  is  patent  to  the  whole  world  that  the  feeling 
aroused  by  this  appointment  is  widespread,  far- 
i-caching,  and  long  lasting.  The  ]X)sition  of  the 
present  nursing  staff  is  a  very  difficult  one.  Xo 
one  who"knows  the  Hospital  intimately  can  doubt 
lor  one  moment  that  their  feelings  are  as  deei)ly 
roused  as  it  is  ixjssible  for  those  of  any  bo<1y  of 
women  woikers  to  tw." 


IReflections. 

Fro.m  a  Board  Koom  Mirror. 

The  King  has  granted  his  patronage  to  St.  Bar- 
tholomew's Hospital,  and  the  Weymouth  Royal 
Hosp  ita  1 .  

The  memorial  to  King  Ech\aid  VII.,  which  seems 
to  find  most  favour  is  the  re-building  or  enlarge- 
ment of  hospitals.  The  Chichester  Infirmary  is  to 
t)e  reconstructed  at  a  cost  of  £20,000,  to  which 
Mr.  William  James  has  already  given  £10,000.  The 
Mayor  ot  Cambndge  suggests  that  the  Commemora- 
tion of  the  reign  of  the  late  King  .sliould  take  the 
form  of  doing  something  .substantial  to  place  the 
out-patients  and  children's  department  of  Adden- 
brooke's  Hospital  on  a  better  footing ;  it  has  been 
decided  to  add  a  new  wing,  to  l>e  called  the  King 
Edward  VII.  Wing,  to  the  Coventry  and  AVarwick- 
sliire  Hospital ;  and  a  county  memorial  for  "SVar- 
wickehire  is  to  be  a  hospital  for  the  in.structional 
treatment  of  consumptives.  Xewcastle-on-Tyne  is 
considering  a  Convalescent  home  in  connection 
with  the  Royal  Infirmary;  and  the  Chairman  of  the 
Royal  Hospital  for  Incurables,  Dublin  (Mr.  William 
Fry),  .suggests  the  erection  of  a  "'  King  Edward 
Memorial  Pivilion  "  of  100  l>eds  as  the  most  suit- 
able memorial  for  that  city. 

Mr.  Peter  Hubert  Desvignes.  M.R.CS.,  of  Wey- 
bridge,  has  bequeathed  £6,000  to  Guy's  Hospital, 
where  he  was  a  student  in  1853,  to  found,  endow, 
and  maintain  four  beds  and  four  cots  in  memory 
of  his  late  sister,  Caroline  Frances  Desvignes,  to 
lie  called  the  'Desvignes"  beds  or  cots.  He  also 
left  the  I'esidue  of  his  property,  which  it  is  ex- 
pected will  amount  to  over  £8,000,  to  Guy's  Hos- 
pital. 

The  Committee  for  the  removal  of  King's  College 
Hospital  to  South  London  have  received  a  cheque 
for  £'1,000  from  an  anonymous  donor  for  the  pur- 
pose of  naming  a  bed  (to  be  called  the  "  Inter 
Cruces  "  Bed)  in  the  new  hospital  at  Denmark  Hill. 

A  number  of  Nursing  Associations  benefit  by  the 
distribution  of  the  Hospital  Sunday  Fund.  The 
following  is  the  list  of  awards: — Belve<lere,  Abbev 
Wood,  £7  lis.  6d.  ;  Brixton,  £30  6s.;  Central  St. 
Pancras,  £22  14s.  6d. ;  Clielsea  and  Pimlico,  £22 
Us.  6d.  ;  East  Ix)ndon,  £189  Ts.  6d.  :  Hackney,  £22 
14s.  6d.  ;  Hammersmith,  £'.j3  Os.  6d, ;  Hampstead, 
£22  14s.  6d.  ;  Isleworth,  £15  3s.;  Kensington,  £53 
Os.  6d.;  Kilburn,  £7  lis.  6d.  ;  Kingston,  £30  6s.; 
London  District,  £310  lis.  6d.  :  Metropolitan 
(Bloom.shury),  £22  14s.  6d.  ;  North  London,  £60 
12s.  ;  Paddington  and  Marvlehone.  £37  17s,  6d.  ; 
Peckham,  £15  3s.  6d. ;  Plaistow,  £1.36  7s.;  Plais- 
tow  (Maternity),  £174  4s.  6d.  ;  Hotherhithe,  £15 
3s.  ;  St.  Olave's  (Bennondsev),  £30  6s.  ;  Shoreditch, 
£45  98.  6d.  ;  Sick  Room  Helps  Society.  £22  14s.  ; 
Silvertown.  £22  14s.;  South  London  (Battersea), 
£•53;  Southwark,  £37  17s.  6d.  ;  .>v>ntli  Wimbledon, 
£4.5  9s.  6d. ;  Tottenham.  £7  lis.  6d.  ;  Westminster, 
£30  6s.;  Woolwich.  £30  6s. 

Mr.  Frank  Brown.  J. P.,  has  been  api)ointed 
President  of  the  Stockton  and  Tliornaby  Surgical 
Hospital. 


Aug.  -20,  101(>: 


Z\)C  Britisb  Journal  of  IRursiiio, 


155 


generally  coiisicUiiil 
nibblin";  at  sometliiii' 


®ur  Jfoicion  llcttcr. 

HOLIDAY  IN   THE  LEBANON   MOUNTAINS. 
(C'liulutliil    fr.,m    li'KJ<    ^■'"■'> 

The     ques- 
tion of   feed- 
ing    Sultany 
was  still    far 
from       easy ; 
she  had  only 
a    bird's   aji- 
petite,  I  \tas 
alx)ut  to  say. 
but  I  believe 
this    is    now 
«  ry  good  one,  as  birds  are 
ist  of  the  day,  and  Sultany 
had  practically  no  appetite  at  all.     She  was  in  such 
a  state  of  emaciation  that  the  doctor  said  he  must 
try  some  other   means   than    those   hitherto   used. 
So  far  all  medicines  had  failed  to  stop  the  nausea 
or  induce  an  appetite.      He  decided  to  try  liquor 
arseniciilis  only,  and  no  other  me<licine  was  given  ; 
to  half  a  tumbler  of  water,  equal   to  about  5  iv. 
were  added  minims  x.  of  arsenicalis,  the  glas*  was 
placed  near  Sultany's  bed,  and  she  supposed  it  con- 
tained   water     only.      "  Now,"    said    the    doctor, 
"  whenever   you    feel    sick   just  ask  Sister  to  give 
you  a  t«aspoonful  of  the  water  in  that  glass;    it  is 
a  special  cure  for  your  sickness." 

Teaspoouful  doses  were  given  about  every  hour, 
ra.   s.    being  taken    in   twenty- four  hours,    and   at 
last  the  patient  ceased  to  con.  .... .n  of  nausea  and 

began  to  exliibit  some  slight  interest  in  her  food. 
This  was  to  the  good,  and  we  were  truly  thank- 
ful, but  there  was  much  to  do  for  her  yet. 
Massage  was  prescribed  for  her,  three-quarter  hour 
to  be  given  morning  and  evening,  and  this  ""  Mrs. 
But  ''  actually  admitted  she  enjoyetl,  "  but," 
alas!  there  was  always  .that  everlasting  "bass," 
until  one  almost  lost  patience  with  her!  "Bass, 
what?"  I. asked,  and  the  reply  was,  "  Massage  very 
nice,  dear  lady,  bass  I  want  to  be" — sick,  she  was 
going  to  say,  but  added — "  Bass,  I  don't  tnow  what 
I  do  want."  There  was  nothing  for  it  but  to  per- 
severe with  the  massage  and  continue  the  homceo- 
pathic  doses  of  liquor  arsenicalis;  the  reward  was 
sure  to  come,  and  sure  enough  it  did ;  after  a 
month  of  this  treatment  we  noticed  a  great  im- 
provement. Sultany  took  food  eagerly,  three  good 
meals  a  day,  and  in  addition  to  this  two  quarts 
of  milk  or  leben  and  two  hours'  massage  with  olive 
oil.  .She  was  putting  on  weight  at  the  rate  of  4  lb. 
a  week,  her  face  grew  rounder  and  rosier  every 
'day,  and  one  evening  when  I  took  little  Melia  to 
say  "Good-night"  to  her  mother,  the  child  re- 
marked, "  Immy  queteer  shellaby  "■  (my  mother  is 
very  pretty),  and  I  heard  the  other  women  and 
children  in  the  ward  remark,  "  Sahieh.  Sultany 
shellaby  alkate "  (it  is  true,  Sultany  is  really 
pretty  now).  Another  month  of  this  treatment  was 
given,  our  patient  growing  happier  and  more  con- 
tented as  her  strength  increased.  She  still  went 
by  the  name  of  "  Sitt  Bass,"  and  I  am  afraid  she 
always  will  till  the  very  end  of  the  chapter.  After 
ten  weeks  invhospital  both  she  and  her  child  were 


in  roliust  health,  aiil  the  day  .arrived  when  the 
doctor  pron()Un<ed  tliem  far. too  well  to  be  inmates 
of  a  hospitiil.  What  a  day  it  was  I  The  rains  had 
ceasetl,  the  sun  shone  brilliantly,  the  sweet  scent 
of  spring  was  everywhere.  Tears  and  smiles 
blended  in  .Sultany's  eyes;  she  was  full  of  gratitude 
at  last.  We  wondered  if  she  would  still  "but" 
us  before  her  hnal  leave-taking.  .She  and  Melia 
had  quite  a  trousseau  to  lake  to  the  new  home 
that  had  been  provided  for  them,  for  e-ach  nurse 
found  she  had  somelhing  she  couUl  spare,  and  so 
it  came  about  that  both  mother  and  child  were, 
well  provided  with  warm  underclothing,  stockings, 
Ix>otis,  a  nice  dress,  and  a  mandilla.  Sultany  made 
her  adieux  to  us  all,  thanking  each  nurse  in  turn, 
.she  and  little  Melia  kissing  our  hands,  and  raising 
them  to  their  foreheads  in  Oriental  fashion,  vowing 
by  the  life  of  the  Prophet  they  would  never  forget 
us;  then  came  interminable  good-byes  to  all  the 
women  and  children  patients,  and  still  she  lingered. 
"■Well,  Sultany,"  said  I,  •■  niushmab.sout*:'" 
(aren't  you  happy?)  "haven't  you  all  you  re- 
quire— good  health,  nice  clothes,  a  dear  little  home 
to  go  to — what  else  can  we  do  for  you?'' 
"  Queteer  mabsoutine,  anna  wa  Melia,  ya  sittee," 
she  replied  (very  happy,  Melia  and  I,  lady),  and — ■ 
would  you  believe  it?— then  came  the  inevitable 
"bass  !"  Oh,  Sultany,"  I  exclaimed,  "is  it  still 
'  bass?  '  "What  else  can  you  want?  "  She  smiled 
and  said,  "Bass,  ya  sittee,  ma  fee  jacquetta  " 
(but,  lady,  I  haven't  a  jacket).  It  was  too  bad, 
after  aU  that  had  been  done,  but  away  sped  a  kind- 
hearted  little  nurse  and  soon  came  back  with  a  nice 
thick  jacket.  "  Sister,  the  cold  weather  has  almost 
gone ;  1  can  do  without  this,  and  I  think  it  will  just 
fit  her."  'ihe.^aid.  and  so  it  did;  and  in  this  complete 
"  rig  out  "  Sultany  and  Melia,  again  smiling  their 
thanks,   left  the   ward. 

To  this  day  she  goes  by  the  name  of  "  Sitt  Bass." 
Sister  M.vrie. 


AN   ENTERPRISING  COMPANY. 

C'onsumere  of  gas  in  the  district  of  the  Gas  Light 
and  Coke  Company,  among  whom  are  many  pro- 
prietor's of  nursing  homes,  will  be  glad  to  not<?  that 
in  the  speech  of  the  (governor  (Mr.  Corbet  AA'oo<l- 
aU),  at  the  meeting  of  the  shareholders  on  the  -Dth 
instant,  it  was  foreshadowed  that  there  would  be 
a  further  reduction  in  the  price  of  gas  at  the  end 
of  this  year,  making  the  seventh  reduction  in 
eight  years. 

This  continuous  decrease  in  the  price  charged  by 
the  Gas  Light  Company  is  very  welcome  alike  to 
the  consumers,  who  benefit  to  the  extent  of  nearly 
£100,000  a  year  by  every  reduction  of  Id.  per  1.000 
cubic  feet ;  to  the  shareholders,  whose  dividend  can 
only  rise  as  the  price  falls;  and  to  the  employees, 
whose  share  of  the  proHts  also  varies  inveiisely  with 
the  price  of  gas. 

The  only  people  not  pleased  are  the  electricians, 
as  every  reduction  in  the  price  of  gas  further  in- 
creasesthe  already  suli.stantial  difference  in  cost 
between  electricity  an<l  gas. 

Owing  to  the  enterpri-ie  of  this  company  a  Twd- 
room  fire  is  now  a  po.ssibility  to  many  to  whom  it 
was  formerlv  an  unattainable  luxury. 


i.:.G 


^bc  36iitisb  3onrnal  of  If^ursino. 


[Aug.  -20,  1910 


®ut9ibe  tbe  (Bates. 


WOMEN. 

The  Women's  Imperial 
Health  A.ssociatiou  ot 
Gieat  Britain  (3,  Prince's 
Street.  Hanover  Square), 
ot  H-hich  Muriel  Vis- 
countess Helmsley  is 
Piesident,  are  com- 
mencing a  crusade  on 
Saturday  next  on  behalf 
of  the  health  of  the  nation,  and  are  sending  out 
their  first  caravan,  "  The  Aurora,"  from  which  lec- 
tures and  demon6tra,tions  on  health,  illustrated  by 
biograph  pictures  and  view.s,  will  l>e  delivered  by 
comi)etent  lecturer  in  the  towns  and  villages  ot 
England.  It  is  hoi>ed  in  the  course  ot  time  to  ex- 
tend the  sphere  of  opei-ations  by  equipping 
additional  caravans.  This  is  essentially  a  Women'.s 
Association, and  it  is  to  the  women  that  the  lectures 
will  chiefly  appeal.  It  is  desired  to  deal  with  the 
health  question  a{,  its  very  foundation,  and  to 
teach  the  mothers  of  England  how  to  rear  and 
nurture  their  children,  that  they  may  become 
strong  and  healthy  citizens.  Tlie  young  girls  will 
l>e  .sixK;ially  appealed  to,  that  they  may  the  Ijetter 
fulfil  the  duties  which  matrimony  entails.  No  ad- 
mission^ fees  are  charged  to  the  lectures,  and  no 
collections  are  made.  The  Association  have  no 
fads,  no  "axes  to  grind."  They  are  not  "anti" 
anything  nor  "pro"  anybody.  Pamphlets  and 
leaflets  will  be  freely  distributed  from  the  caravan. 
.Saturday's  ceremony,  which  will  be  very  pic- 
turesque, will  oonsiist  of  a  brief  exposition  of  the 
woik  and  aims  of  the  Association  and  the  display 
ot  a  few  typical  biograph  films.  The  caravan  will 
l)e  christened  "  The  Aurora  "  (signifying  "  tlir 
dawn  of  a  new  era  ")  with  a  flask  of  pure  water. 
Miss  Lena  Ashwell,  who  has  kindly  undertaken  tlic 
task  of  performing  the  inauguration  ceremony  and 
of  sending  the  caravan  off  on  its  mission,  is  the 
wife  of  Dr.  H.  J.  H.  Simson,  a  member  of  the 
Executive  Council.  Immediately  after  the  ceremony 
the  caravan  will  proceed  up  the  Thames  Valley  en 
I'oute  for  liatli. 


Mrs.  May  Wright  Sewall,  Founder  and  Hon. 
Piesident  of  the  International  Council  of  AVonien, 
has  just  concluded  tlie  history  of  the  Third  Quiii- 
queiiuinm  ot  the  Council,  during  which  time  .siie 
was  the  President,  and  which  had  it.s  happy  climax 
in  IJerlin  in  1904.  The  work  is  being  brought  out 
l)y  the  Plimpton  Press  in  two  volumes,  price  1  dol. 
50  cents  ((>s.  3d.)  a  set.  They  may  lie  obtained 
from  ^Irs.  May  Wright  Sewall.  Meadowyld  Cot- 
tage, Eliot,  York  County,  Maine,  I'.S.A.  The 
'  fii-st  volume  is  a  oomplote  record  of  all  meetings 
held  under  her  administration,  arranged  so  as  to 
be  ot  iH'rmanent  value  to  the  hi.stoiy  of  tiie  i>eiio<l. 
It  contains  a  doulile  inde.x,  one  of  [K-i'sons  an<l  one 
of  subjects.  The  tornier  includes  over  3.50  names, 
and  is  a  register  of  the  active  council  workers  in 
19  countries,  .so  carefully  arranged  that  tlie  work 
of  esich  participant  in  the  Council  movement  can 
be  read  as  a  continuous  story  ot  the  Council  record 


ot  auv  individual.  The  .second  index  enables  tlie- 
reader  to  .study  every  subject,  and  the  progressive 
development  ot  each  department  of  the  work  of  the 
Council  The  .second  volume  contains  the  reports 
and  addresses  made  by  the  most  prominent  and  dis- 
tinguished Council  workem  at  the  Berlin  Quin- 
quennial, and  gives  a  bird '.s-eye- view  of  the  work 
which  the  women  ot  the  world  have  undertaken  tor 
its  .social,  civil,  and  ethical  benefit. 

Nur.ses  who  came  under  the  spell  of  Mrs.  Sewall's 
wonderful  personality  as  a  guest  of  the  Mati-ons' 
Council  at  its  Banquet  during  the  London  Congress 
in  1899.  and  again  at  its  Conference  next  day.  when 
she  spoke  most  elocjuently  on  "The  International 
Idea,"  will  be  .such  that  this  book  is  eminently 
worth  reading. 


Boo{?  of  tbe  mcc\\. 


EARLY  VICTORIAN— A    VILLAGE    CHRONICLE* 

The  title  alone  of  this  volume  is  seductive,  and 
gives  a  foretaste  of  the  charming  sketches  within 
it.s  covers,  of  the  days  wlien  that  good,  wise,  resolute 
little  Queen  went  riding  of  an  afternoon  with  Lord 
Melbourne,  when  the  s:age  coach  was  in  a  vigorous 
old  age;  when  Islington  was  a  country  suburb; 
when  policemen  were  called  "  peelers  "  ;  when 
young  ladies  bought  and  wore  on  each  side  of  the 
face  three  little  curls,  and  daily  ironed  them  out 
upon  the  kitchen  table. 

Basset  had  a  muoh  too  large  Norman  church, 
which  the  piet.y  of  a  Cliatelaine  of  Basset  Manor 
had  "  improved  "  with  two  galleries.  On  the  green 
were  the  disused  stocks,  and  a  large  slimy  pond, 
which  the.  village  always  drank,  and  never  rnn- 
nected  with  the  tyx)hus.  which  by  some  special  dis- 
pensation of  Providence  was  not  always  epidemic. 
Looking  on  to  the  green  were  some  charmingly  pic- 
turesque thatched  cottages,  with  roses  creeping  up 
them,  and  within  too  often  nameless  vice  and 
disease — -the  fruits  of  overcrowding. 

Squire  Harry  never  opened  a  book,  and  (uily 
skimmed  a  newspaper ;  honestly  pitied  any  be- 
nighted person  who  spoke,  any  language  but  l;is 
own,  and  had  been  taught  by  his  mother  th:it 
English  would  be  the  mother-tongue  of  heaven. 

When  in  one  of  the  aforesaid  cottages,  a  man  lay 
dying  of  typhus,  the  Squire  put  a  couple  of  bottles 
of  port  into  the  deep  pockets  of  his  riding  coat,  it 
pleased  the  sufferer  far  more  than  if  he  h.id  rebuilt 
the  cottage.  He  went  a  wooing  to  Clayton  Hall 
"  with  some  ver.v  thin  excuse  almnt  the  character  of 
a  hoitsemaid,  and  PoUie  came  out  to  the  door,  with 
the  curls  shading  a  very  becoming  blush,  gave,  his 
horse  some  sugar,  and  heard  something  in  spite  of 
the  curls  that  Harry  bent  over  to  say  in  her 
eai-s."' 

Finally  there  was  a  wedding  with  the  bells  ring- 
ing, the  bride  with  her  face  blooming  and  glowing 
under  a  beaver  bonnet,  tlie  cobs  dancing  to  be 
off — .shoes,  rice,  cheers — and  Harry  and  Pollie  had 
driven — into  futurity.  The  Parson  was  a  straight 
shot,  and  had  a  military  liLstory  U^fore  his  clerical. 

•   By  G.  S.  Talleiityre.     (Smith,  Elder,  London  ) 


All-'.  -JO,  I'.nn 


Zbc  ffiritieb  3outnal  of  IRin-smo. 


157 


Hnriy  coulil  ifspcot  him  with  silf-n-iux-t.  Ho  wns 
a  tf  lilmtf  not  Iroiii  conviction  "  if  one  ha<l  one's 
<lut.T  an<l  a  drciiMi,  (ini'  luul  euongh  for  life."  The 
<lreiim  was  Pollie.  AVlicn  slie  snng  "  I'd  he  a  But- 
terdy  "  in  the  draw  ing-i<K»iii,  he  used  to  take  np 
u  most  awkward  iK>sition  on  a  chair  just  hehind  her, 
with  his  htrj^e  red  hand  on  his  knees,  and  his  eyes 
looking  into  space.  In  Peter  GTa"nt's  c<Kle  of  duty 
it  was  written  large  that  tlie  seldoniness  of  his  ser- 
vices should  be  compensated  by  their  length.  So 
all  that  can  he  put  into  the  Order  for  Morning 
Prayer  he  put  there." 

Dear  old  Dr.  Benet,  and  his  wife,  are  quite  the 
most  charming  of  all  these  delij;htful  characters. 

He  was  of  an  age  which  made  quite  sure  fhat  to 
be  charitable  is  inevitably  to  do  good,  and  asked  no 
fees  from  the  poor  on  principle.  At  lialf-past  nine 
the  Doctor  locked  up  the  surgery  door,  and  went 
into  the  kitchen  to  tell  his  wife  of  some  invalid 
who  would  like  one  of  her  puddings.  ^Irs.  Benet 
herself  buttoned  hor  husband's  short  round  figure 
into  his  driving  coat,  and  put  his  great  neckcloth 
the  proper  amount  of  times  round  his  neck,  gave 
him  a  sound  smack  on  the  shoulder  instead  of  a 
kiss,  and  came  down  the  flagge<l  path  to  see  him 
start  off  in  the  gig. 

Very  pathetic  is  the  description  of  a  rival  setting 
up  in  the  little  village. 

"  Jeanie  poured  out  a  tornado  of  angry  words 
against  the  deserters,  ami  the  cliaracter  and  con- 
duct of  Dr.  Mark.  Her  old  man  looked  ill  and 
sunken,  and  her  heart  wns  hot  within  her."' 

We  have  no  s{>ace  to  talk  of  Miss  Pilkington  in 
her  genteel  cottage,  who  was  really  glad  her  sister 
would  not  live  with  Iier.  but  sorry  she  was  glad. 

But  these  extracts  are  only  small  samples  out  of 
a  fund  of  deli£;htful  reading. 

H.   H. 


letters  to  the  l£^itor. 


Conilno  Events. 

Itiijust  20th.  —  Memorial  Service  for  Miss 
Florence  Nightingale,  O.M.,  St.  Paul's  Cathedral, 
12  noon.    Funeral  .Service  at  West  Wei  low  .  Hants. 

Au<iii.tt  J')fli. — A  Requiem  will  be  sung  at  St. 
Alban's  Holt)orn,  on  behalf  of  Miss  Florence 
Nightingale.  The  Service  is  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Guild  of  St.  Barnabas  for  Nurses. 


August  ^rt/7i .^Inauguration  of  the  first  Cara- 
van of  the  Women's  Imperial  Health  Association  of 
Great  Britain.  Botanic  Gardens,  Regent's  Park, 
N.W.     12.30  p.m. 

Spi)ti'm1}er  l.'<t. — Garden  Party  in  the  Grounds  of 
the  Infirmary,  Kingston-on-Thames,  by  invita- 
'tion  of  the  Matron. 

Srptcmhrr  'ith-lOth. — Congress  of  the  Royal 
Sanitary  Institute,  Brighton. 

i^eptember  lOth-l.'ith. — Second  International 
Congress  on  Occupational  Diseases. 

WORD    FOR  THE  WEEK. 

The  more  you  spend  on  architects,  the  less  you 
will  want  to  spend  on  governors  of  gaols.  The  more 
you  spend  on  road  and  drainage  surveyors,  the  less 
you  will  spend  on  policemen. 

Mr.    .John    Buuns. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  com- 
munications upon  all  subjects 
far  these  columns,  we  wish  it 
to  be  distinctly  understooa 
that  we  do  not  in  ant  w.\7 
hold  ourselves  responsible  for 
the  opinions  expressed  by  out 
correspondents. 


THE  ST.  BARTHOLOMEW'S  HOSPITAL 
APPOINTMENT. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 
De.ar  .M.\dam.— .•>}  the  (pianoily  mooting  of  the 
St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital  Governors,  which  has 
been  agitating  the  minds  of  all  inside,  and  keenly 
and  anxiously  waited  for  by  many  hundreds  in  t"he 
nursing  world  inside,  is  over,  and,  we  are  toH, 
without  much  ado. 

Well  is  it  for  tho<>e  nurses  who  have  learnt  the 
le&son  of  self-reliance,  for.  contrary  to  all  reason, 
those  have  failed  them  who,  by  reason  of  their 
ixjsition,  shoTild  stand  shoulder  to  shoulder,  recog- 
nising the  splendid  work  done  by  the  women  of  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital,  and  giving  them  a  just 
recognition  to  continue  on  the  same  lines. 

Miss  Isla  Stewart  for  Ijetween  20  and  30  years 
devoted  her  life  to  the  training  of  women  to  be- 
come nurses.  By  the  great  influence  of  her  per- 
sonal character  she  was  able  to  instil  into  the 
minds  of  hundreds  the  absolute  self-sacrifice  and 
fearless  courage  in  face  of  all  dangers  insei>arable 
from  a  nui-se  who  conscientiously  fulfils  her  duty. 

Necessarily  the  training  under  Miss  Stewart  was 
a  severe  one.  for,  ,so  to  speak,  she  made  no  soft 
betl  for  nurses — work  and  duty  first,  whatever  tlie 
co.st  might  be.  and  honour  to  one's  hospital  and 
training  school  were  her  maxims. 

Tlie  pei-sonal  influence  of  the  Matron  of  any  big 
London  hospital  is  a  first  consideration,  but  if  t"he 
present  selected  candidate  takes  up  her  duties,  tuis, 
one  of  the  chief  factors  in  the  training  of  her 
nurses,  must  for  some  years  to  come  remain  :n 
abeyance.  It  is  not  possible  for  her  to  exercise 
moral  influence  when  all  around  her  will  feel  that 
she  has  accepted  a  position  under  criticism  and 
disapproval,  and' one  that  should  have  been  given 
to  another.  If  she  has  a  feeling  of  loyalty  to  her 
own  hospital  she  will  uudei-stand  what  we  Bart's 
nurses  are  feeling  now,  and  Lord  Sandhurst's 
.statement  that  there  the  matter  ends  will  prove  a 
very  incorrect  summing  np. 

.St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital,  being  one  of  the 
first  training  schools  of  the  world,  its  work  spreads 
far  and  wide,  and  into  all  countries.  It  is  there- 
fore urgent  in  the  interests  of  the  public,  the  nurs- 
ing and  medical  professions,  that  its  standanl 
should  be  maintained  and  carried  fonvard  'always  in 
the  first  rank,  and  this  could  best  have  l)€en  done 
by  one  who  has  learnt  lu-r  work  directly  under  Miss 
Isla  Stewart,  and  had  the  advantage  ■of  her  justly  . 
famous  example  to  guide  her.  -» 

.\pi>arently.  however,  a  woman's  life  work,  how- 
over   good,   counts   for   nothing  nn<ler   the   present 


158 


(Tbc  36i'itisb  journal  of  TiUusing. 


fAuK.  L'O,  1910 


regime   at   St.    BartholomeH's.       Not     a     very    in- 
spiring influence  for  its  nursing  staff. 
Youre  faithfully, 

Florence  GAKu.tiT, 

An  Old  Bart's  Nurse. 
[This  letter  was  unavoidably  held  over  last  week. 
—Ed.] 

rc/  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  .Journal  of  Nursing.'' 

De.\r  M.\n.\M, — All  who  have  been  inteiested  ai 
the  circumstances  which  led  to  the  appointment  of 
a  Matron  at  St.  Bartholomew's  who  has  not  had 
a  three  year.s'  coni.se  of  training,  will  admit,  I  am 
sure,  that  this  act  of  ignorance  and  prejvidice  on 
the  part  of  tho-.se  resjKjnsible  for  it  has  achieved 
what  they  never  meant  or  expected — namely,  it  has 
given  a  great  imiJetus  to  the  can.se  of  State  Regis- 
tiatiou.  and  no  doubt  ha.s  brought  it,  in  spite  of 
continued   hostility,'    considerably    nearer. 

In  this  case,  if  we  cannot  call  it  a  blessing  in  cFis- 
guise.  undisguised  blessings  will  result  from  it.  No. 
1. — "  Tlie  Defence  of  Nursing  Standards  Com- 
mittee." The  following  .story  is  another  illustration 
— if  any  more  wer^  needed — of  the  urgent  necessity 
for  the  organisation  of  the  nursing  i>rofe66ion : — 

A  little  boy,  aged  11,  had  undergone  an  operation 
for  appendicitis;  he  api>eared  to  recover  nicely  from 
the  operation.  After  a  while  various  unfavourable 
.symptoms  ax5i)eared.  The  nurse  in  charge  told  the 
poor,  distracted  mother  that  "  mortification  had 
set  in,  and  that  the  chil(}  would  soon  be  gone"  F! ! 
and  began  to  busy  herself  in  clearing  away  the  siok- 
loom. requisites  in  a  way  that  is  only  done  after  the 
patient  has  i>as.sed  away.  Tlie  doctor  had  ordered 
morphine ;  .she  administered  more  than  was 
ordered,  which  naturally  so  angered  him  that  he 
sent  her  away.  It  transpired  afterwards  that  the 
ti-ouble  and  contiu\ied  rise  of  temi>erature  were 
largely  due  to  such  serious  neglect  of  the  bowels 
that  stoppage  occuried.  When  that  mischief  was 
overcome  the  child  began  to  recover. 

It  seems  to  me  tliat  we  might  get  on  faster  «ith 
this  great  reform — State  Registration  for  Nurses — 
if  the  public,  especially  those  person.s — and  there 
must  be  very  many — who  have  suffered  from  the 
aii.'ciety  and  tiouble  of  an  incomi>etent  unise, 
would  cxv-operate  with  us  and  form  tliemselves  into 
a  league  and  deman<l  for  their  own  safeguard  this 
most  imiwrtant  measure.  A  .society  for  the  protec- 
tion of  the  pul)lic  against  the  cruelties  of  the 
counterfeit  "nurse"  is  urgently  ueedod! 

'i\niy  does  not  a  deputation  of  ine'i  and  women 
a^nong  the  laity  wait  u)x>n  the  Prime  Minit^ter  aud 
demand   legislation? 

I  remain. 

Yours  tndy. 

BK.vTnicE  Kent. 


THE  CHURCH  OF  ENGLAND  MISSION  TO 
HOP-PICKERS. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Sursing." 
'M\D\M. — May  I,  by  your  usual  idndm'sSj  appwil 
to  yi>ur  many  readers  and  e.speoially  to  those  who 
ri'side  or  have  property  in  the  great  Metropolis, 
for  their  ail  \-\  the  work  of  the  Churoh  of  England 


Mission  to  Hop-Pickers  of  ministering  s<K:'iany  and 
spiritually  to  the  many  thousands  of  men,  woniei:_ 
aud  children,  for  the  most  part  hailing  from  Lon- 
don, who  are  our  temjxirary  pari.shiouers  for  three 
weeks  or  a  month  during  September,  for  the  hop- 
picking. 

Our  work  on  their  behalf  dates  from  187",  and 
has  gradually  grown  from  the  employment  of  three- 
or  four  evangelists  to  over  one  hundred  and  fifty, 
embracing  elergj-,  lay  evangelists,  trained  nurses, 
and  lady  workers. 

Our  temporary  hospitals  are  of  the  greatest  value- 
and  many  hundreds  of  patients  yearly  testif.v  to 
their  need. 

Pea  and  coffee  stalls  and  barrows  minister  to  the 
bodily  comfort  of  the  pickers,  and  marquees  and 
tents  are  used  for  services,  Sunday  schools.  Bands 
of  Hope,  and  social  work,  open  air  lantern  ser- 
vices attracting  large  numbers  of  the  people.  But 
although  many  of  our  workers  only  accept  board 
and  lodging,  our  expenditure  last  year  was  £3-S4, 
the  parishes  we  were  engaged  in  numbering  thirty, 
and  the  immigrant  hop-pickers  ministertnl  to  fifty 
thousand. 

I  therefore  hope  I  may  oontiifently  claim  from 
.your  readers  their  support  of  this  valuable  social 
and  spiritual  work.  Subscriptions  and  donations 
forwarded  to  me  will  be  thankfully  acknowledged, 
and  also  sound  illustrated  literature,  and  old  linen 
for  bandages,  the  supply  of  which  is  never  equal 
to  the  demand. 

I  am.  Madam,  gratefully  yours. 
Fh.\ncis  6.  OLiPH.\Nr, 
Rector  of  Tesfon,  Maidstone. 
Hon.  Sec.  of  the  C.  of  E.  Mi.ision 
to  Hop-Pickers. 

P.S. — Parcels  to  Wateringburv  Station. 


IRotices. 

The  British  Journal  of  Norsing  is  the  official 
organ  of  the  following  important  Nursing  socie- 
ties :  — 

The  International  Council  of  Nurses. 

The  National  Council  of  Trained  Nurses  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland. 

The  Matrons'  Council  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland. 

The  Society  for  the  State  Registration  cf 
Trained  Nurses. 

The  Registered   Nurses'   Society. 

The  School  Nurses'   League. 

As  their  official  organ  is  widely  read  by  the  mem- 
bers of  these  societies,  the  Editor  will  at  all 
times  be 'pleased  to  find  space  for  items  of  news, 
from  the  Secretaries  and  members. 


CONTRIBUTIONS. 
The  Editor  will  at  all  times  l)e  pleased  to  consider 
articles  of   a  suitable   nature   for   insertion   in   this- 
Journal  -  those   on    practical   nursing   are   specially- 
invited. 

OUR  PUZZLE  PRIZE. 
Rules   for   competing  for  the     Pictorial    Puzzle- 
Prize  will  be  found  on  Advertisement  page  xii. 


Aug.  20,  loio;  ^|ic  Britiijb  3oiunal  of  iRursmo  Supplement. 


The    Midwife. 


ZThc  Central  fn^i^ wives'  Boar^. 


AUGUST     EXAMINATION. 


List  of  Sdccessful  C  andidates. 

At  the  esaminatiuii  ot  tlie  C<?ntial  Midwives' 
Bt>ard,  held  in  London  on  August  3id,  1910.  the 
number  of  candulat*^  fsanunwl  was  321,  of  wliom 
"Jlio  passed  the  examiiifi'S.  The  iHMcentage  of 
lailnres  nas  17.4. 

London. 

Britisli  Ln'tiKj-iu  Hiisiiit(il.~H.  G.  Ajiuau,  E.  M. 
.\lawirthy,  A.  Pratt.  H.  .1.  Whatley. 

City  of  London  Li/imj-'in  Hospital. — 'V.  M.  Bar- 
nard, L.  V.  Baxter.  E.  M.  Buchanan,  B.  JM.  Cor- 
nell, E.  iM.  U ravelins.  E.  C.  Kruger,  E.  A.  J. 
.\Jack,  C.  Potts.  E.  E.  Rolierts,  E.  Whatley. 

('ijpham  Maternity  Hospital.— M.  3.  McCor- 
uiitk,  E.  A.  C.  Quare,  E.  C,  AVilsou. 

East  End  Mothers'  Home. — F.  N.  Gumpertz,  C. 
U.  Johnson.  M.  A.  Lifford,  E.  L.  Sweet-Esoott. 

General  Lyimi-in  Hospital. — A.  E.  Armstrong, 
E  Bavnes,  A.  E.  Bishop.  .J.  V.  Blake,  E.L.Booker, 
G  M.  Bi-ake,  M.  E.  Burnett,  M.  Bverley,  E.  M. 
Cann,  R.  A.  Daly,  L.  Edwards,  E.  JEUani,  A.  M. 
GiUitt,  E.  Grimwood,  I.  S.  Henderson,  A.  E. 
Holmes,  E.  H.  Islip.  H.  E.  Keys,  B.  Low,  A.  K.  G. 
Macdonald,  B.  F.  Marks,  L.  Martvr,  M.  Masou,  A. 
E.  Matthews,  A.  E.  Muir,  E.  Oliver,  M.  C. 
Ommanney,  M.  E.  Packer,  L.  A.  B.  Pegg,  F.  M. 
Hayner,  S.  Simmonds.  E,  Smith,  S.  Thomson,  L.  51. 
Webb,  M.  A.  Wellington,  S.  Lumholtz. 

Guy's    Institution. — M.  L.  Bishop,  M.  Bouvier, 

A.  H,  F.  Mayoock,  L.  E.  .Sergeant. 

Greenuich  Union  Infirmary. — G.  E.  Webster. 

Kensinfjton  Union  Infirmary. — M.  A.   B.  Hart. 

London  Hospital. — M.  A.  M.  Burn,  L.  J.  Camp- 
ling. C.  C.   Founds,   E.   C.  James,   L.   L.   Phillips, 

B.  Rai)er,  D.  Sharp,  V,  M.  Thompson. 
Middtescx  Hospital.— E.   M.  Andrew,   L.  Cheet- 

hani.  E.  M.  Wiglesworth. 

New  Hospital  for  Women. — M.  L.  Dawson,  M.  S. 
Tyers. 

Queen  Charlotte's  Hospital. — F.  A.  Akehursit-,  E. 
Ash.  M.  Ash  worth,  D.  E.  Baker,  F.  Buxton,  F.  S. 
Collins,  E.  S.  Daniels,  E.  M.  Duckworth,  Marv 
Duddinji,  M.  H.  Edwards,  E.  Field,  W.  Har«>ui-t, 
A.  .1.  Honour,  W.  M.  Hunt,  J,  H.  Johnson.  E.  M. 
Kidd.  L.  A.  Littlov,  M.  H.  Mumford,  C.  F.  Osborn, 
M.  Stuai-t,  M.  B.  Tyler,  M.  E.  A.  Wailes,  L. 
Willey.  E.  J.  Wright. 

Salvation  .irmy  Maternity  Hospital. — A.  G.  M. 
Bischoff.  E.  M.  Davi.s.  C.  Hiley,  E.  H.  Jones,  A.  M. 
Kimpton,  L.  Mnller.  E.  A.  Shingles,  A.  E. 
Thackor. 

Provinces  and  Wales. 

.ilder.ihot.  Loui.<!e  Mnnjaret  Hospital. — M,  E. 
Broadl)ent,  E.  E.  Rendell. 

Birkenhead  Matirnitij  Hospital. — N.  Cameron. 

Birmingham  Maternity  Hospital. — E.  M.  Spicer. 

Brighton  and  Hove  Hospital  for  Women. — A.  E. 
Barnes,    L.    C.    M.    Cole,    G.    L.    Dngdall,    A,    R. 


Houghton,   M;   A.   Martin,   E.   C.   Reardeu,   D,    A. 
Swan,  A,  F,  Walmsley,  A,  M,  Williams. 

Bristol  Uoyal  Infirmary. — E.  M.  Hines,  E. 
Smith,  F.  Stewart. 

Cardiff  Q.V.J.y.l.—yi.  E.  Xichokou. 

Chiitham  Military  Families  Hospital. — J.  C. 
Campbell. 

Devon  and  Cornwall  Training  Schools. — M.  E. 
Bakes,   A.   E.   Heley,   O.   B.   OUver. 

Edmonton  Union  Infirmary. — L.  W^ittams. 

Essex  County  Cottage  Xursing  Society. — N.  S. 
Canham,  M.  A.  Yapp. 

Hull  Lying-in  Charity. — E.  Bancroft,  C.  M. 
Davenport. 

Liverpool  Workhouse  Hospital. — J.  A.  Begley,  L. 
Jones, 

Manchester  St.  Mary's  Hospitals. — D.  Forshaw. 

yottinijliam  Maternity  Hospital. — M.  E.  Beas- 
ley,  E.  R.  Wain. 

Plaistow  Maternity  Charity. — A.  E.  Aslmiore, 
M.  E.  Barnes.  C.  Blundell,  V,  L.  BurroT\-s,  E.  G. 
Cannell.  E.  A.  Clewlev.  O.  E.  Ellen.  E.  Gardner, 
E.  S.  Hendley,  H.  Hewitt,  K.  E.  lies,  M.  C. 
Jeakes,  F.  E.  Liddle,  E.  A.  Longman,  E.  Marlev, 
C,  E.  MitcheU,  I.  W.  Y.  Moir,  E.  Newmarch,  E. 
Parkinson,  E.  Perry,  A.  L.  PhUlips,  F.  Roberts,  M. 
K.  Self,  S,  A.  Thomas,  E.  Wharton,  X.  Wherrett, 
G.  S.  H.  Woods,  A.  Willatt. 

Portsmouth,  Military  Families'  Hospital. — R.  A. 
Houghton. 

Sheffield,  -Jessop  Hospital.— K.  H.  Street. 

Woolwich  Home  for  Mothers  and  Babies. — R.  E. 
Rolls. 

Scotland. 

Dundee  Maternity  Hospital. — J.  A.  Archibald, 
J.   Eraser. 

Edinburgh  Boyal  Maternity  Hospital.— X.  I. 
Baird.  I.  W.  L.  Mowat,  M.  J.  Nisl)et,  E.  Uusworth. 

Glasgow  Matcrjiity  Hospital. — J.  Campbell,  C. 
M.  JI.  Nicholson. 

Glasgow,  Western  District  Hospital. — G.  V. 
Winter. 

Ireland . 

Dublin,  Rotunda  Hospital. — M.  E.  Kemp,  C.  L 
Smith,  A,  E,  White. 

Dublin.  Coombe  Hospital. — W.  Mnrtagli. 

Dublin.  National  Maternity  Hospital.— H.  T. 
McLinton. 

India. 

Bomlmy,  Bni  Motlibni  Hospital.— E.  A.  Meade. 
Private  Tcition. 

E.  A.  Arnold.  M.  P.  Beck,  E.  V.  Blower.  A.  Bon- 
ham.  K.  Bowei^,  B.  M.  Brooks.  A.  M.  Brunt.  L. 
Campling,  E.  M.  Carline.  C.  A.  Cheeseman,  M. 
Clarke,  E.  A.  Cluhb,  A.  Cook,  E.  E.  Cook,  F.  Craw- 
shaw.  E.  B.  Davis,  Z.  R.  Davis,  E.  A,  Der'bv.shire, 
M.  :M.  Dickson,  E.  Drewett,  B.  E,  Dyson,  M.  R. 
Elxlen,  F,  M.  Farndon,  C.  t^odson,  G.  Grafton,  M. 
Hallett.  E.  I.  M.  Hatnlyn.  L.  E.  Harman.  M. 
Hughes.  M.  Inkei-sole.  .\.  .Jackson.  B.  J.  .Tones.  .^» 
W.  Jones.  H.  M.  King.  M.  E.  King.  K.  Laursen.  F. 
Lee,  X.  K.  Le  Moine.  A.  J.  Lewis,  A.  M.  B. 
McArdle.   E.    McComb,   J.   Martin.   R.    B.    Martin. 


160 


?rbc  ffivitisb  3ournal  of  IRurstng  Supplentent. 


[Aus.  20,  1910 


E.  Midgley,  E.  A.  A.  Moon,  M.  Mulreaii,  B.  Xelsoii, 
E.  Xe«°bokl,  F.  A.  Xihell,  E.  J.  Paget,  E.  A.  Par- 
fsons,  A.  Pilbeain,  M.  S.  Pooock,  E.  Rhys-Jones,  F. 
Riches,  J.  Ross,  E.  Roth,  N.  Seabrook,  M.  M. 
Smith,  A.  J.  K.  Sproat,  N.  F.  V.  T. 
Stewart.  E.  J.  Sutton,  R.  A.  Taylor,  B.  J. 
Tennant,  S.  Thorne,  F.  Thumwood,  L.  Tomley,  E. 
Tuinbull,  E.  E.  Varmlell,  E.  E.  Vinefi,  A.  Wallace, 
W.  M.  Walton,  S,  Warwick,  C.  J.  Williams,  C.  M. 
Willmott,  E.  Wood,  S.  H.  F.  Woodage,  M.  Wright. 


JLwo  lauubual  Cases. 

A  correspondent  of  the  American  Journal  oj 
Nursing  describes  two  cases  of  haemorrhage  in  the 
newborn,  of  which  she  writes :— Having  had  two 
such  cases  within  six  months,  and  being  unable  to 
fully  understand  the  cause,  I  would  like  to  hear 
if  i  am  the  only  unfortunate  to  have  such  experi- 
ences and  so  similar. 

My  first  case  was  on  April  3rd,  1909,  normal 
labour,  baby  girl,  8  pounds,  delivered  at  10  p.on. 
Saturday,  "During  the  night  the  babe  slept  well ; 
cried  occasionally,  Sunday,  all  night;  Sunday 
night  a  little  nfo're  wakeful,  urinated  and  passed 
meconium  shortly  after  birth,  and  took  the  breast. 
Monday,  early  in  the  morning,  the  babe  was  more 
restless,  cried  as  though  in  pain.  This  continued 
until  9  a,m.,  when  she  be^an  to  cry  harder  and 
passed  a  stool  which  was  a  dark  hrown.  She  had 
two  movements  within  one-half  hour,  and  I  noticed 
instead  of  a  dark  brown  it  was  more  of  a  reddish. 
Not  feeling  that  all  was  well  I  telephoned  for  the 
doctor  as  he  had  not  made  his  morning  call.  By 
this  time  she  had  another  and  it  was  quite  a  decided 
red.  By  the  time  doctor  arrived  it  was  very  evident 
that  the  little  one  was  having  hseinorrhage.  This 
continued  for  twelve  hours,  the  intervals  between 
the  movements  varying  from  twenty  minutes  to 
one-half  hour,  the  little  one  crying  sharply  with 
each  discharge.  Sometimes  the  stool  was  of  a  thick 
substance  and  later  clots.  The  doctor  ordered  alum 
injections,  but  these  proved  too  severe,  after  two 
treatments,  causing  so  much  distress.  For  medi- 
cation she  had  sodium  chloride,  gtt.  X,  every  two 
hours,  Wyeth's  infant  anodine,  1  pellet  every  hour, 
and  atropine  gtt,  1,  of  1-100.  every  two  hours,  A 
consultation  was  held,  and  there  seemed  nothing 
but  death  for  the  little  one.  Her  body  was  very 
yellow  and  her  face  pinched,  every  indication  of 
shock  and  exbau.stion.  After  twelve  hours,  the 
movements  became  less  frequent  and  gradually  be- 
came normal,  and  the  baby  is  now  perfectly  well 
and  has  never  had  another  attack. 

Case  No.  2.  October  "ind,  1909.— Normal  labour, 
baby  girl,  7  pounds.  Babe  very  red,  especially 
head  and  face,  at  liirth.  Slept  fairly  well  fir.st 
night,  cried  out  a  few  times,  l)nt  no  more  than 
usnal.  Meconium  at  l)irth,  but  none  during  the 
night  or  in  the  morninK.  About  11  o'clock  the 
next  morning  she  vomited  a  brown  mucus  dis- 
charge, seemed  relieved,  and  1  placed  her  in  the 
crib.  She  remained  quiet  until  shortly  after  noon, 
when  she  vomited  again,  of  the  same  nature,  I 
notice<l  she  w'as  .straining,  I  coriied  her  away 
from  the  mother  and  saw  such  a  sight!     Her  entire 


clothing  and  back  up  to  her  neck  were  saturated 
with  that  peculiar  reddish  brown  discharge  with  a 
pungent  odour.  I  asked  someone  to  telephone  for 
the  doctor  at  once.  He  was  the  same  physician 
who  had  charge  of  the  other  case,  and  we  began 
the  same  treatment.  The  little  one  was  so  weak 
after  this  that  I  removed  her  clothing  and  wrapped 
her  up.  She  cried  constantly,  and  though  she  only 
had  two  more  slight  hsemorrhages  she  gradually 
grew  weaker,  and  at  6  i^.m.  passed  away.  It 
seemed  so  dreadful  to  have  that  precious  little  soul 
in  such  misery,  and  the  iioor  mother!  These  two 
cases  at  the  time  were  the  first  the  doctor  had  ever 
experienced,  and  he  has  been  practising  a  number 
of  years.  Since  then,  however,  he  has  had  another 
similar,  the  child  vomiting  instead  of  passing  blood 
throu^i  the   bowel. 

Our  text-books  tell  us  that  hiemorrhage  is  often 
the  cause  of  infant  mortality,  but  it  certainly 
seems  strange  to  have  such  a  condition  in  an 
apparently  perfect  babe.  How  we  do  want  the 
little  ones  to  be  well,  how  unhappy  is  a  case  when 
one  thing  goes  wrong,  how  much  pleasure  when 
the  mother    and    babe  are  well  ! 


Zbc  nDi^wiv)e9'  Btll  anb  3risb 
noi&wives. 


At  a  Charter  Meeting  of  the  Board  of  Governors 
of  the  Rotunda  Hospital,  Dublin,  it  was  unani- 
mously resolved :  — 

"  That  the  warm  thanks  of  the  Board  be  for- 
warded to  the  Right  Hon.  Lord  Clonbrock  and  the 
other  Peers  who  so  kindly  assisted,  for  the  splendid 
work  they  have  done  on  behalf  of  Irish  raidwives, 
in  obtaining  the  insertion  in  the  Midwives  Bill  of 
a  clause  entitling  properly  certified  Irish  midwives 
to  registration  and  certification  under  the  Mid- 
wives  Act,  1902,  when  the  Bill  becomes  law.  The 
Board  appreciate  to  the  full  the  kind  interest 
shown  and  trouble  taken  by  their  lordships  in  the 
matter,  and  wish  to  record  their  sense  of  indebted- 
ness to  them." 

It  was  also  resolved  : — "  That  the  sincere  thanks 
of  the  Governors  be  given  to  Mr.  Charles  1,. 
Matheson,  K.C,  for  his  kind  and  successful  exer- 
tion in  obtaining  such  substantial  concessions  for 
Irish  midwives  in  the  Act  of  Parliament  passed  last 
Session," 


Tile  CJovernors  of  the  Rotunda  Hospital  have 
taken  an  active  part  in  pi'omoting  the  inclu.sion  of 
Ireland  m  the  lienefits  of  the  Midwives'  Act,  and  in 
a  recent  letter  to  the  7ri.</i  Times  the  Master,  Dr, 
Tweedy,  jwinted  out  statistics  showing  that  (5,3 
woiiien  per  1,000  die  in  pregnancy  and  child-birth 
ill  Ireland  comiwinnl  with  4.81  per  1.000  in  Eng- 
land, and  2  iM'r  1.000  in  the  Irish  Matcinity  Hos- 
pitals, In  Ireland  once  a  midwife  has  obtained  her 
hospital  certificate  the  institution  which  certifies 
liiT  has  no  power  to  infltience  hor  fiituro  conduct. 
She  may  be  "  profligate,  dirty,  dishonest,  -or 
di  iinkoii  ;  sepsis  may  follow  her  in  epidemics,  and 
yet  there  is  no  |>ower  at  present  available  in  Ireland 
to  itrovent  her  practising." 


THE 

wJii 

WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 

TME  ll£IIISIM€  MECOMP 

EDITED  BY  MRS  BEDFORD  FENWICK 


No.  1,169. 


SATURDAY,     AUGUST     27,     1910. 


j£bitorial. 


THE    NATIONAL    HEALTH. 

On  all  sides  there  is  an  awakening  on  the 
subject  of  the  importance  of  maintaining 
and  improving  the  standard  of  the  national 
health.  The  words  physical  deterioration, 
national  efficiency,  the  falling  birth-rate, 
infant  mortality,  infant  consultations, 
ifothers  and  Babies'  Welcomes,  medical  in- 
spection of  school  children,  and  so  forth,  are 
constantly  heard  ;  caravans  from  which  war 
is  waged  against  tuberculosis  are  already 
■doing  good  work  in  Ireland,  and,  as  we 
report  in  another  column,  the  first  caravan 
of  the  Women's  Imperial  Health  Association 
is  now  touring  this  countrj'  on  a  mission  of 
sanitation. 

And,  indeed,  a  greater  knowledge  of  the 
laws  of  health  are  necessary  if  we  are  to 
maintain  our  place  amongst  the  nations. 
What  thoughtful  person  can  regard  without 
alarm  the  undersized,  weaklj-,  undisciplined 
boys  and  girls  who  throng  the  streets  of  our 
large  cities — boys  to  whom  we  must  look  in 
the  future  to  be  the  defenders  of  our  country ; 
girls  who  will  bear  and  bring  up  the  future 
generation.  What  education  have  they  had 
to  assist  them  to  perform  those  duties  ade- 
quately ?  Visit  the  homes  and  see  the  sur- 
roundings in  which  they  have  grown  to 
manhood  and  womanhood.  What  hope  have 
'  things  gracious  and  pure  of  flourishing  in 
the  one  room  tenement,  which  is  all  many 
families  can  afford  ?  Here  and  there,  despite 
every  disadvantage,  tlie  pure  white  llower 
lifts  its  face  to  the  sun,  but  many  more  are 
besmirched  and  stained  owing  to  the  preva- 
lent conditions  of  11  le  in  the  slums.  These 
must  be  purified  before  a  race  which  is 
strong  and  clean,  morally  and  physically, 
can  be  bred  in  them. 


The  Board  of  Superintendence  of  the 
Dublin  Hospitals  have  recently  in  their 
annual  report,  condemned  the  dispensary 
system  as  inefficient,  because  they  rightly 
consider  it  a  fundamental  mistake  to  rely 
exclusively  on  medicine,  when  the  remedy 
needed  is  food,  sanitation  or  hygiene.  The 
Board  say  "  the  c|uestion  is  one  which  is  of 
great  importance  to  the  State.  We  refer 
to  it  hoping  that  it  may  strike  the  attention 
of  the  public  as  it  does  ours,  and  that  the 
funds  necessarj-  to  establish  a  better  order 
of  things  may  be  forthcoming." 

What  nurse  who  has  worked  in  the  out- 
patient department  of  a  great  hospital  has 
not  been  inexpressibly  saddened,  as  the 
futility  of  hoping  for  a  cure  by  giving 
bottles  of  medicine  to  patients  who  are 
systematically  underfed,  and  who  need 
healthy  homes,  pure  air,  and  nourishing 
food,  is  borne  in  upon  her?  "But,"  says 
someone  who  has  never  known  what  it  is  to 
be  without  food,  fuel,  or  even  home,  "  the 
independence  of  the  poor  must  not  be  under- 
mined." 

Truly  there  is  not  great  danger.  The 
independence  of  the  hard-working  poor 
is  the  very  last  thing  they  part  with  ;  they 
have  shown  not  a  few  times  that  if  they  have 
to  choose  between  independence  and  starva- 
tion they  deliberately  choose  the  latter.  But 
is  anyone  justified  in  putting  before  them 
so  terrible  an  alternative  ?  Surely  it  is 
possible  to  ensure  to  the  toilers  in  our 
cities — at  rates  which  it  is  possible  for  them 
to  pay — good  food,  fresh  air,  and  general 
conditions  of  life  in  which  they  may  rear 
their  children  in  "temperance,  soberness, 
and  chastity." 

If  we  paid  as  much  attention    to  race-  • 
culture   as   to    horse-breeding   the    nation 
would  be  better  housed. 


162 


Zhc  35r(t(6b  3ournaI  of  IRursmo. 


[Aug. 


1910 


nDct)tcal  fIDattcrs. 


TREATMENT  OF  SMALL-POX   IN   RED   LIGHT 
AND   IN   THE  DARK. 

Dr.  C.  H.  Wiirtzeu,  of  Copenhageu,  writes  iu 
part  on  the  above  subject  in  the  British  Medical 
Journal : 

Finsen  in  his  pioneering  works  from  1893 
lays  down  his  method  for  the  treatment  of 
small-pox  by  exclusion  of  the  chemical  rays  of 
daylight,  and  in  January  and  February,  1894, 
a  slight  small-pox  epidemic  gave  Feilberg  the 
opportunity  of  using  it  in  my  country.  The 
method  has  later  been  used  in  the  Oresunds- 
hospital  on  every  occasion. 

As  is  known,  one  tries  to  carry  through  the 
method  generally  b^'  arranging  a  red  room. 
This  is  done  either  by  covering  all  windows 
with  several  layers  of  red  stuff  (bookbinder- 
shirting,  flannel,  blankets,  and  the  Ukej,  or  by 
furnishing  the  windows  w'ith  red  glass  or  by 
combining  both  proceedings.  If  the  stuff  is 
closely  woven,  the  layers  not  too  few,  and  if 
the  hangings  fit  closely  to  all  sides,  all  demands 
will  be  fulfilled;  but  in  this  case  little  light 
passes,  and  in  consequence  the  room  will  be 
rather  dark.  The  strongly  subdued  light  is, 
however,  more  often  a  comfort  to  the  patients 
at  the  beginning  of  the  illness. 

Still  better,  one  might  advance  another  step 
by  carrying  on  treatment  in  the  dark.  This 
idea  is  far  from  being  new.  From  1867  and 
1871  we  have  reports  on  cases  of  small-pox 
treated  in  the  dark  (Black,  Waters.  Barlowl. 
Finsen  based  his  opinion  of  the  special  inflam- 
matory qualities  of  the  chemical  rays  invariola 
on  the  fact  that  the  most  numerous  and  the 
deepest  scars  are  generally  found  on  the  face 
and  hands — that  is,  on  the  parts  most  acces- 
sible to  light^ — and  treatment  in  the  dark  only 
differs  from  treatment  in  red  light  by  the  fact 
that  all  other  rays  are  excluded  as  well  as  the 
chemical.  No  objection  can  be  made  against 
treatment  in  the  dark  based  on  the  idea  that 
there  is  any  positive  advantage  in  the  use  of 
red  light,  either  in  its  influence  on  the  eruption 
or  on  the  general  condition. 

Finsen  pointed  out  that  some  people  seem 
to  have  an  aversion  to  red  light,  and  added  : 
"  I  wish,  moreover,  to  draw  attention  to  the 
fact  that  now  when  the  method  (that  is,  the 
red  light)  has  everywhere  stood  the  test,  it 
ought  to  he  the  doctor's  first  duty,  as  soon  as 
he  has-  diagnosed  small-pox,  to  see  that  the 
windows  of  the  sick  room  are  covered,  and  that 
there  is  a  light.  Seeing  that  the  treatment 
may  be  so  easily  aiTanged,  itis  really  indefen- 
sible to  expose  the  patients  to  daylight  until 


they  can  be  exposed  to  red  light  in  the  hos- 
pital. This  indication,  which  specially  con- 
cerns the  early  time,  can  be  prolonged  during 
the  whole  period,  that  is,  until  the  vesicles  dr\' 
up,  etc.,  and  it  may  be  taken  for  granted  that 
patients  who  have  had  a  severe  attack,  and 
especially  those  whose  eyes  are  affected,  will 
not  feel  this  treatment  as  particularly 
rigorous." 

It  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  draw  attention 
to  certain  conditions  which  must  always  be 
present  if  the  treatment  is  not  to  disappoint 
exjiectations. 

In  the  first  place,  the  an-angements  ought 
not  to  be  limited  to  the  sick  room,  but  account 
should  be  taken  also  of  the  adjoining  rooms, 
passages,  etc.,  so  that  no  great  quantity  of  in- 
jurious daylight  should  be  throw-n  on  the 
patient  in  opening  the  door  of  the  sick  room. 
All  sources  of  artificial  light  must  be  covered 
with  red  lamp-glasses,  such  as  photographers 
use,  and  when  doctors  and  nurses  in  their 
rounds  think  it  necessary  to  use  ordinary  light, 
it  ought  only  to  come  from  a  stearine  candle, 
of  which  the  flame  contains  so  few  chemical 
rays  that  no  hann  is  done  if  used  only  for  a 
short  time.  It  therefore  follows  as  a  matter  of 
course  that  even  for  a  short  time,  and  in  order 
to  see  the  exantTiem  better,  daylight  ought  not 
to  be  admitted  freely. 

Finally,  there  is  the  question  as  to  how  the 
red  light  affects  the  patients — apart  from  their 
illness — and  the  staff  generally.  Nothing  is 
known  of  its  remote  effects,  but  the  reaction 
to  it  seems  to  be  somewhat  different.  Some 
do  not  seem  to  be  appreciably  influenced,  while- 
others  find  it  rather  unpleasant  in  the  long  run,, 
and  some  get  an  absolute  aversion  to  it.  It 
often  produces  a  feeling  of  heaviness  and  head- 
ache, and  it  is  always  found  exhausting  and 
tiring  for  reading.  Naturally  the  red  light  pro- 
duces a  strong  sensitiveness  in  the  retina  to 
ordinary  daylight.  This  hypersensitiveness  is 
very  troublesome  and  confusing  to  the  mu'ses, 
who  of  course  are  obliged  to  go  backwards  anrt 
forwards  between  tlie  red  room  and  the  day- 
light. To  mitigate  these  drawbacks — and  in  a 
red  room  the  hglit  on  bright  days  is  very  in- 
tense— coloured  spectacles  may  be  used  with 
advantage.  Green  and  blue  glass  each  in  their 
own  way  considerably  modify  the  light  and 
produce  different  shades,  of  which  some  will 
prefer  one,  others  another;  and  with  smoked 
glasses  a  chiaroscuro  is  obtained,  which  gives 
great  relief.  Contrary  to  what  might  be  ex- 
pected, neither  the  blue,  the  green,  nor  the 
smoked  glass,  provided  they  are  not  very  dark, 
cause  any  considerable  weakening  of  the  light 
in  a  red  room. 


Auc.  27,  low 


Cbc  36iiti0b  3ournal  of  IHursino. 


163 


CliiiKal  IHotcc^  on  Some  Common 
Hilments. 

By  a.  Knyvett  Gordon,  M.B.,  Cantab. 


NEPHRITIS. 
[Concludtd  from   page  12J:.) 

The  kidueys  themselves  can  be  stimulated 
to  a  certain  extent  either  by  local  applications 
bo  the  loins  or  by  drugs.  Of  the  former,  hof 
fomentations  applied  just  over  the  site  of  the 
kidnej"6  are  often  comforting,  and  it  is  possibJe 
that  they  may  sometimes  increase  the  excretion 
of  urine  to  a  slight  extent.  A  rather  more 
powerful  method  is  the  old-fashioned  practice 
of  dry  or  wet  cupping,  whereby  glasses,  out  of 
which  the  air  has  been  driven  by  holding  them 
over  the  flame  of  a  spirit  lamp,  are  placed  on 
the  loins;  in  "  wet  cupping  "  the  skin  is  first 
scarified  with  knives,  so  that  a  small  quantity 
of  blood  is  abstracted  when  the  glasses  ai'e  in 
position.  Cupping  acts  by  detennining  an  in- 
creased flow  of  blood  to  the  kidneys  under- 
neath the  site  of  apjilication. 

But  the  kidneys  can  be  acted  upon  more 
effectually  by  certain  drugs  which  are  known  as 
diuretics,  because  they  increase  the  quantity 
of  urine  passed.  Of  these  the  most  powerful 
are  some  derivatives  of  caffein  and  theobro- 
mine, the  alkaloids  obtained  from  coffee  and 
cocoa  respectively;  indeed,  a  strong  cup  of 
coffee  will  often  of  itself  cause  the  kidneys  to 
act  more  freely.  Nitrate,  acetate,  and  citrate 
of  potash  are  also  diuretics.  Probably  all  these 
act  on  the  nerves  which  control  the  flow  of 
blood  through  the  capillaries  generally,  causing 
the  vessels  to  dilate,  and  thus  determining  an 
increased  flow  of  blood  through  the  kidneys. 
DigitaUs  also  acts  as  a  diuretic,  but  in  a  dif- 
ferent way — namely,  by  increasing  the  power 
of  the  force  of  the  heat,  so  that  more  blood  is 
pumped  into  the  smaller  vessels.  In  practice 
the  caffein  derivatives  are  used  in  emergency" 
when  a  very  great  flow  is  wanted  at  once,  and 
the  potash  salts,  which  may  be  taken  daily  for 
some  time,  when  a  more  prolonged  action  is 
required,  ilost  of  the  quack  medicines  for  tlie 
"  l>ack  and  kidneys  "  contain  nitrate  of  potash, 
which  has  the  merit  of  being  both  harmless  and 
cheap. 

In  attempting  to  diminish  the  effect  of  urea 
on  the  system  we  should  obviously  try  first  to 
get  rid  of  the  waste  matter  itself  in  one  or 
more  of  the  ways  mentioned  above,  but,  apart 
from  this,  we  have  to  relieve  headache,  arrest 
convulsions,  assuage  the  difficulty  in  breathing, 
and  so  on  which  are  caused  by  the  urea  that 
cannot  be  at  bqce  excreted.  For  this  purpose 
morphia  is  probably  the  most  useful  drug  that 


we  possess,  but  it  is  a  two-edged  weapon,  and. 
requires  considerable  care  and  skill  for  its  ad- 
ministration; still  ite  effect  is  often  almost 
magical. 

In  children,  however,  we  cannot  use  morphia 
with  safety,  and  sedatives,  such  as  bromide  of 
potassium  or  chloral  hydrate  must  be  employed 
instead;  inhalations  of  chloroform  are  some- 
times necessary  to  check  the  convulsions. 

Having  seen  the  weapons  which  we  have  at 
our  command,  we  will  now  discuss  tlie  way  in 
which  they  are  used  in  the  treatment  of  each 
of  our  selected  diseases. 

In  acute  nephritis,  the  main  indication  is  to 
take  the  work  off  the  kidueys  as  far  as  possible, 
so  we  give  baths,  packs,  and  so  on,  with  pur- 
gatives. Then  the  diet  should  consist  of  milk 
alone  for  as  long  as  it  can  be  borne,  and  then 
it  should  contain  as  little  nitrogen  as  possible, 
and  that  in  a  vegetable  fonn — e.g.,  bread,  milk 
puddings,  and  so  forth.  Absolute  rest  in  bed 
is  essential,  at  all  events  as  long  as  blood  is 
being  passed  in  the  urine.  If  suppression 
occurs,  we  must  redouble  our  efforts  to  make 
the  skin  act,  and  we  may  try  cupping  in  addi- 
tion, though  I  cannot  say  personally  that  I 
have  ever  seen  it  do  much  good.  Any  stimula- 
tion of  the  kidneys  by  diuretics  is  not  only 
useless  but  harmful ;  it  is  rest  they  want,  not 
the  whip.  In  convalescence,  we  treat  the 
anaemia  with  iron. 

In  the  subacute  tubular  nephritis,  we  act  on 
the  skin  as  before,  but  (especially  in  the  more 
chronic  cases)  we  have  to  think  also  of  the 
dropsy,  and  it  is  often  necessary  to  stimulate 
the  kidneys  a  little  with  diuretics  or  remove 
the  fluid  by  tapping,  and,  if  ursemia  supervenes,- 
to  give  morphia  as  well.  The  nitrogen  in  the 
diet  has  to  be  kept  low,  but  when  the  patient 
is  about  his  work  we  must  obviously  allow  him 
a  more  plentiful  diet  than  if  he  were  confined 
to  bed;  but  we  must  forbid  meat,  though  fish 
and  .sometimes  fowl  may  be  allowed. 

In  patients  suft'ering  from  a  contracted 
granular  kidney,  in  addition  to  treating  uraemie 
symptoms  when  they  appear,  we  have  to  think 
of  the  condition  of  the  general  circulation.  The 
first  point  is  to  keep  the  blood  pressure  at  the 
level  which  is  the  best  for  the  man's  own  re- 
quirements. If  his  tension  gets  too  high,  there 
is  a  risk  of  apoplexy  from  the  giving  way  of  a 
small  vessel  in  the  iDrain,  and  in  practice  many 
patients  do  succumb  to  this  complication ;  on 
the  other  hand,  if  we  lower  it  too  much  by  in- 
judicious treatment,  or.  if  it  fails  from  weaken- 
ing of  the  heart's  action,  the  kidneys  do  not 
receive  a  sufficient  supply  of  blood,  and  a 
diminished  excretion  of  water  occurs,  and 
dropsy  is  the  result  and  probably  uraemia  also. 


164 


^bc  ;J6itci5b  3oiirnal  of  IRursino, 


:Aug.  27,  1910 


So  it  does  not  do  to  regard  a  high  blood  pres- 
sure as  a  thing  to  be  forthwith  reduced,  and  it 
is  necessary  to  keep  a  happy  mean,  which,  in- 
cidentally, is  by  no  means  an  easy  task  for  the 
physician — in  fact,  skill  in  this  particular 
matter  has  made  the  reputation  of  more  than 
one  consultant. 

It  is  a  fairly  easy  matter  to  act  on  the  blood 
pressure  in  either  direction  if  we  want  to.  The 
tension  can  be  reduced  very  rapidly  by  nitrite 
of  amyl  inhalations,  but  their  effect  is  only 
transitory,  and  a  more  lasting  action  can"  be 
obtained  bj'  nitro-glycerine,  which  may  be 
given  in  chocolate  tablets,  or,  in  emergency,  in- 
jected under  the  skin.  Still  more  pemianent 
is  the  effect  of  iodide  of  potassium  in  small 
■doses,  and  this  is  for  most  patients  the  most 
useful  drug  we  possess. 

The  tension  can  be  increased  by  any  heart 
tonic,  but  especially  by  digitalis,  which  also 
constricts  the  small  arteries,  and  -thus  has  a 
double  effect. 

But  the  main  point  in  the  treatment  of  cases 
of  high  arterial  tension  .is  to  consider  each  indi- 
vidual, and  so  to  regulate  his  life,  by  the 
avoidance  of  worry  and  scramble,  and  by  the 
use  of  a  dietary  from  which  meat  and  alcohol 
are  alinost,  if  not  quite,  excluded.  It  is 
generally  a  case  of  "  your  money  or  your  life," 
and  the  patient  cannot  have  it  both  ways. 

A  MYSTERIOUS  DISEASE. 

A  mysterious  disease,  which  advances  with 
frightful  rapidity,  has  broken  out  in  a  lunatic 
asylum  at  Valiadolid.  Death  in  some  cases 
ensues  within  a  few  minutes  of  the  fnrst  symp- 
toms appearing.  The  post-mortem  examina- 
.tion  of  the  victims  failed  altogether  to  reveal 
the  cause  of  death.  The  only  external  sign  is 
a  red  spot  resembling  that  caused  by  a  sting  on 
the  face  or  neck,  and  it  is  believed  that  the  out- 
break is  caused  by  the  bite  of  an  infected 
insect. 

THE  TYPHOID  FLY. 

In  typhoid  prophylaxis,  says  the  Dietetic  and 
Hygienic  Gazette,  it  is  essential  to  keep  flies 
away  from  the  sick  room.  The  vomitus  and 
the  excreta  of  the  typhoid  sufferer  are  disin- 
fected by  admixture  with  :  fonnaldehyde  ( l'2i 
per  cent,  solution,  two  ounces  to  one  gallon  of 
water)  for  one  hour;  or  half  an  ounce  of  lime 
chloride  in  a  gallon  of  water  for  one  hoiu-.  The 
patient's  sputum  is  burned  or  disinfected  by 
means  of  a  1-.500  bichloride  .solution.  The 
nurse's  hands  are  washed  after  every  minis- 
tration and  then  dipped  inbichloride  (1-1,000). 
The  patient  has  individual  utensils.  The  bed- 
clothes, towels,  apparel,  etc.,  are  disinfected. 


f  lorcncc  ll^iobtinoalc,  ©.flD. 

THE  MEMORIAL  SERVICE  AT   ST.  PAUL'S. 

The  Memorial  Service  for  Miss  Florence 
Nightingale  at  St.  Paul's  Cathedral  on  Satur- 
day last  will  be  an  abiding  memory  with  those 
who  were  privileged  to  be  present.  The  sei'i'ice 
was  remarkable  not  only  for  its  simple  dignity, 
and  for  the  exquisite  music,  but  for  the  unique 
congregation  assembled  to  honour  the  memory 
of  a  great  and  good  woman,  and  to  thank  God 
for  her  life. 

The  scats  in  the  choir  and  choir  gallery,  the 
space  beneath  the  Dome,  and  the  transepts 
were  filled  with  ticket  holders,  but  far  away, 
right  down  the  nave,  extended  the  great  con- 
f  I't'gation,  those  who  were  not  wearing  unifoiTn 
being  almost  universally  in  mourning. 

The  band  of  the  Coldstream  Guards  filled  the 
space  immediately  below  the  chancel  gates  the 
scarlet  unifonns,  laced  with  gold,  or  having 
black  and  white  facings,  making  a  vivid 
splash  of  colour,  the  only  reminder  of  the 
occasion  being  that  the  drums  were  mufiBed  in 
crepe. 

Directly  in  front  of  the  chancel  gates  were 
the  chairs  and  fald  stools  provided  for  the  re- 
presentatives of  the  King  (Major-General  J.  S. 
Ewart,  A.D.C.  General);  the  Queen  (Lord 
Wenlock);  the  Queen  :\Iother  (Col.  H.  Streat- 
field);  the  Duke  of  Couuaught  (Captain  T.  R. 
Bulkeley);  and  Princess  Christian  (Major  J. 
E.  B.  Martin);  the  chair  for  the  King's  repre- 
sentative being  in  the  centre,  and  sUghtly  in 
front  of  the  other  four. 

The  City  of  London  (of  which  Miss  Nightin- 
gak',  v.'as  a  "  Free  Sister  ")  was  officially  repre- 
sented by  Sir  James  Eitchie  (Acting  Lord 
Mayor),  wearing  his  robes  of  black  and  gold, 
and  attended  by  the  City  ^Marshal,  and  the 
Swordbearer  and  Macebearer,  Sir  Vezey  Strong 
and  Mr.  Sheriff  Slazenger,  in  scarlet  robes, 
accompanied  Sir  James  Ritchie,  and  a  number 
of  Common  Councilmen  were  present  in  their 
mazarine  robes.  The  Acting  Lord  ]\Iayor  and 
the  other  City  representatives  were  met  by  the 
Cathedral  clergy  at  the  West  Door,  and  con- 
ducted in  silence  to  their  seats  in  the  choir. 

The  Prime  Minister,  the  Earl  of  Crewe, 
K.G.  (Lord  Privy  Seal),  Mr.  R.  B.  Haldane 
(Secretary  of  State  for  War),  Lord  Morley  of 
Blackburn  (Secretary  of  State  for  India),  were 
also  represented.  Mr.  John  Burns  (President 
of  the  ].,ocal  Government  Board)  attended 
the  service,  and  the  .\merican  Ambassador  (Mr. 
Whitelaw  Reid)  and  ]\Irs.  Whitelaw  Heid  were 
jiresent.  The  Archbishop  of  Canterbury 
was  represented  by  the  Rev.  J.  V.  Maemillan, 
and  the  Hon.  Maude  Laurence,  Chief  Woman 


Aug.  27, 1910]        ^c  Britisb  .lonrnal  of  IRuismg. 


165 


luspector  of  tlie   Boaixl   of  Education,   repre- 
Bented  that  Depaitiiu'iit. 

liunit'diutely  uuder  the  pulpit  were  Miss 
E.  Becher,  R.R.C,  Matrou-iu-Chief, 
y.A.l.M.X.S.,  and  -Miss  McCarthy,  R.K.C., 
Principal  Matron,  Miss  Sidnev  Browue. 
K.K.C.,  Matrou-iu-Chief,  T.FA'.S.,  aud 
other  Matrons,  Sistei"s,  and  Nurses  of  the 
Army  Xui-siug  Service  Reserve  or  the  Terri- 
torial Force  Nursing  Service.  The  grey  uni- 
foniis  and  scarlet  capes  of  the  Services  with 
which  Miss  Nightingale  was  so  closely  indenti- 
fied,  aud  the  dark  blue  of  the  sister  Ser\-ice, 
were  very  picturesque,  aud  behind  them,  aud 
extending  uuder  the  Dome,  were  a  number 
of  Chelsea  peusiouers  in  their  quaint  scarlet 
uniform,  all  wearing  Crimean  medals.  Other 
Crimea  veterans  attended  independently 
to  testify  their  devotion  to  the  "  Lady  with  the 
Lamp,"  aud  the  greater  part  of  the  space  be- 
neath the  Dome  was  tilled  with  officers  in 
uniform  and  Matrons,  Sisters,  aud  nurses  in 
the  uniforms  of  a  large  number  of  London  and 
j)rovincial  hospitals,  including  the  ^Matron  and 
a  large  contingent  from  St.  Thomas's  Hospital. 
A  number  of  nurses,  notably  those  of  St.  Bar- 
tholomew's Hospital,  were  in  indoor  uniform. 

The  Queen  Victoria's  -Jubilee  Institute  was 
represented  by  the  Hon.  Secretaries,  Miss  A. 
M.  Peterkin  (acting  General  Superintendent), 
and  the  Secretary. 

There  were  also  present  Surgeon-General  W. 
L.  Gubbins,  Director-General,  Amiy  Medical 
Service,  Staff  Surgeon  G.  F.  Dean,  R.N.,  and 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Sir  R.  H.  Charles,  repre- 
senting the  India  Office.  The  Chaplain  General 
to  the  Forces,  and  the  Wesleyans  and  Presby- 
terians also  sent  representatives.  Mr.  T.souneto 
Sano.  representing  the  Red  Cross  Society  of 
•Japan,  and  Mr.  Ichzo  Sano  also  attended  the 
service. 

Most  of  the  ticket  holders  took  their  places  in 
the  Cathedral  long  before  12  o'clock,  the  hour 
fixed  for  the  service,  but  the  period  of  waiting, 
during  which  the  Guards'  Band,  conducted  by 
Lieut.  Mackenzie  Rogan.  played  a  selection  of 
music,  passed  quickly.  First  Handel's  Largo 
broke  the  silence,  followed  by  "  Judex,"  from 
Gounod's  '  Mors  et  Vita,"  and  the  "  Sanctus," 
'  from  the  "  Messe  Solouelle  "  of  the  same  great 
composer. 

Then  as  the  choir  and  clergy  (Canon  New- 
bolt,  Canon  Alexander,  and  the  Minor  Canons) 
entered  the  choir,  the  ojx'uing  bars  of  Chopin's 
Funeral  March  were  played  on  the  organ  by 
Sir  George  Martin,  followed  by  one  of  Miss 
Nightingale's  favourite  hymns,  "  The  Son  of 
God  goes  forth  to  war,"  which  sounded  excep- 
tionally fine  led  by  the  choir  of  men's  voices. 
The  Psalms  selected  were  Psalms  v.,  xxiii.,  and 


xxvii.,  and  the  lesson  taken  from  the  fifteenth 
chapter  of  the  First  Epistle  to  the  Corinthians, 
which  is  the  one  read  in  the  Order  for  the  Burial 
of  the  Dead,  was  read  by  Canon  Newbolt  from 
the  Chancel  Gate. 

Then  followed  the  Dead"  March  in  Saul, 
played  by  the  Guards'  Baud,  and  at  the  first 
roll'  of  the  drums  the  vast  congregation  rose  to 
tii^ir  feet  and  remained  standing  till  the  last 
faint  echo  died  away  in  the  silence,  and  then 
the  men's  voices  were  heard  once  more  as  they 
chanted  the  beautiful  Liturgy  of  St.  Chrysos- 
tom  to  the  Kiefi  Chant,  with  its  plaintive  re- 
frain :  "Give  rest,  O  Christ,  to  Thy  servant 
with  Thy  Saints,  where  sorrow  and  pain  are  no 
more,  neither  sighing  but  life  everlasting." 

Then  followed  prayers  from  the  Burial  Ser- 
vice, the  first  of  these  being  adapted  to  include 
the  thanksgiving:  "We  give  Thee  hearty 
thanks  for  that  it  hath  pleased  Thee  to  deliver 
Thy  servant  Florence  out  of  the  miseries  of  this 
sinful  world." 

The  last  hymn  was,  "  The  King  of  Love  my 
Shepherd  is,"  another  great  favourite  with 
Miss  Nightingale,  and  then  followed  the  Bene- 
diction. 

The  representatives  of  the  King  and  the 
Royal  Family,  followed  by  Mr.  and  :\Irs.  "U'hite- 
law  Reid.  and  the  Civic  Procession,  were  then 
conducted  by  the  Cathedral  dignitaries  to  the 
West  Dooi-j  the  congregation  standing, 
Gounod's  grand  "  Marche  Solemnelle  "  being 
played  at  the  same  time  by  the  Band. 

So  ended  a  memorial  service  fitly  designed  by 
its  impressive  and  simple  dignity  in  honour  of 
one  whose  funeral  was  by  her  own  direction 
devoid  of  pomp  and  circumstance,  but  who 
would  have  recognised  as  fitting  that  the  repre- 
sentative of  the  Crown  she  served  so  faith- 
fully, the  nurses  and  the  soldiers  who  owed 
so  much  to  her,  and  the  public  who  loved  her, 
as  few  women  have  ever  been  loved,  should 
with  one  accord  unite  in  prayer  and  hymn,  and 
thank  God  for  her  noble  life. 

THE  JOURNEY  THROUGH   LONDON, 

The  removal  of  the  body  from  South  Street, 
Park  Lane,  W.,  to  Waterloo  Station  was  well 
timed  on  Saturday  morning,  for  it  took  place 
just  when  large  crowds  of  people  were  wending 
their  way  to  St.  Paul's. 

The  okk  casket,  which  bore  the  simple  in- 
scription : 

FlOKENCE  NiGHTING.iLE. 

Bom  Mav  12th,  1820. 
Died  Augtist  13th,  1910. 

was  covered  with  a  pure  white  Indian 
shawl,  such  as  Miss  Nightingale  often  wore.. 
On  it  were  laid  a  number  of  beautiful  wreaths. 
Bv  the  side  of  the  driver  of  the  open  hearse  was 


166 


ZTbe  Bi'itisb  3ournal  of  iRursing.        [Aug.- 27, 1910 


a  replica  of  the  lamp  used  by  ^liss  Xightiugale 
in  the  Crimea  (sent  by  the  Army  and  Xavy 
Male  Nurses'  Co-opera tionj,  earned  out  in  red 
and  whit«  flowers,  the  handle  being  foiTued  of 
UUes  of  the  valley.  At  the  rear  of  the  hearse 
was  the  beautiful  upright  cross  sent  by  the 
Matrons  and  Nursing  Staffs  of  the  principal 
London  hospitals. 

The  mourners,  who  followed  in  thr6e 
coaches,  included  Dr.  S.  Shore  Nightingale, 
Mr.  Yaughan  Nash,  private  secretary  to  the 
Prime  Minister,  and  a  relative  of  Miss  Nightin- 


the  Coldstream,  Grenadier,  and  Scots  Guards, 
under  the  command  of  a  colour-eergeant, 
bore  the  casket  on  their  shoulders  to  the 
train  in  waiting.  The  casket  still  draped 
in  its  white  pall,  was  placed  in  the  special 
coach  bearing  only  the  cross  sent  by  the  Queen 
Mother,  of  mauve  orchids  fringed  with  whit* 
roses  and  UUes,  and  the  chaplet  of  crimson 
sword  lilies  sent  by  members  of  the  family.  So 
the  second  stage  of  the  journey  began  as  the 
train,  with  its  precious  burden,  moved  quietly 
out  of  the  station  on  the  journey  to  Eomsey. 


East   Wellow   Church,   Hampshire,  showing  the   Nightingale  Tomb  to  the  right  of  the  porch. 


gale,  Mr.  L.  Shore  Nightingale,  and  other  near 
relatives,  as  well  as  the  Commissionaire  who 
served  Miss  Nightingale  for  many  years.  As 
the  pnx;ession  passed  Buckingham  Palace  the 
guard  turned  out  as  the  hearse  passed  by,  and 
presented  arms,  and  again  at  the  Barracks  in 
Birdcage  Walk  a  similar  mark  of  respect  was 
shown,  and  so  the  procession  passed  on  over 
Westminster  Bridge,  past  St.  Thomas's  Hospi- 
tal, where  all  the  blinds  were  drawn,  and  the 
Union  .Jack  drooped  at  half  mast,  to  Water- 
loo    Station     where     eight     Guardsmen     of 


AT  ROMSEY  AND  EAST  WELLOW. 

At  Konisej-  rain  was  falling  when  the  special 
train  arrived  at  the  station,  outside  wliich  a 
number  of  the  townspeople  were  waiting.  A 
pathetic  incident  was  the  presence  in  the 
station  of  a  fonner  porter,  now  bUnd,  who  had 
known  Miss  Nightingale  at  Embley,  and 
bogged  to  be  led  on  to  the  platform,  to  hear  the 
f(¥>tstej)s  of  the  bearers  "  bringing  her  home." 

The  little  procession  passed  through  the 
town  to  the  tolling  of  the  bell  of  the  grand  old 
Xornian  .\bbev  which  Miss   Nightingale    loved 


Aug.  27. 1910]        ^f5c  36r(t(5b  3ournal  of  IRursino. 


167 


well,  over  the  river  Test,  aud  along  tlie 
road  to  East  Wellow,  past  verdant  woods,  sweet 
scented  grass,  and  hedgerows  wreathed  in 
houeysuekle,  till  it  came  to  the  gates  of  Em- 
bley  Park,  where,  by  permission  of  the  present 
owner,  it  left  the  main  road  and  en- 
tered the  park,  passing  close  to  the 
house  where  the  windows  were  closely 
shrouded.  On  leaving  the  park  gates  the  pro- 
cession once  more  wended  its  way  along  the 
Wellow  Road  near  the  cottage  of  the  shepherd 
whose  collie  dog  was  ^liss  Nightingale's  first 


.John  Kneller,  a  Crimean  veteran,  who  seryed 
in  the  trenches  before  Sevastopol  and  lost  an 
eye  there.  He  was  three  mouths  in  the  hospital 
at  Scutari,  where  the  vision  of  Miss  Nightingale 
on  her  night  rounds  was  a  familiar  one  to  him. 
The  casket  was  placed  in  the  chapcel  just 
in  front  of  the  Embley  Park  pew.  On  the  altar 
was  the  large  Maltese  cross  of  orchids  and 
roses  sent  by  Nightingale  nurses,  and  at  the 
foot  of  the  coffin  was  placed  a  wreath  from 
"  Sidney  Herbert,  Earl  of  Pembroke."  The 
wreaths  sent  by  the  Grand  Priory  of  the  Order 


The  Path  to  the  Church  Porch  Bordered  with  Wreaths. 


patient,  till  it  came  to  East  Wellow  Church, 
where  the  body  was  received  at  the  lych  gate 
by  the  Vicar,  the  Piev.  S.  M.  Watson,  and  the 
Eev.  T.  S.  Gardiner,  a  chaplain  to  the  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury,  and  a  personal  friend  of 
Miss  Nightingale. 

The  coffin,  which  was  carried  on  the  shoul- 
ders of  the  Guardsmen  to  the  church,  was  pre- 
ceded by  six  old  tenants  and  workmen  on  the 
estate  who  knew  ^liss  Nightingale  in  days  gone 
by,  and,  followed  by  the  mourners,  passed  into 
the  church,  in  the  porch  of  which  stood  Private 


of  St.  John  of  -Jerusalem  in  England,  and  her 
Royal  Highness  Princess  Frederica,  were 
placed  at  the  altar  rails. 

That  portion  of  the  simple  service  which  took 
place  in  the  church  was  soon  over,  and  then 
the  Guards  shouldered  their  burden  for  the  last 
time,  and,  preceded  by  the  clergy,  carried  it 
down  the  path  bordered  with  magnificent 
wreaths  to  the  graveside,  where  the  entrance  to 
the  vault  was  lined  with  laurels  and  choice* 
flowers.  The  committal  sentences  were  spoken 
in  a  downpour  of  rain,  and  then  the  mortal  re- 


168 


Ztbe  Britieb  3ournaI  of  IRursing. 


[Aug.  -27,  1910 


mains  of  Florence  Nightingale  were  hidden 
from  view,  and  slowlj-  and  reverently,  when  the 
mourners  had  withdrawn,  the  public  bade  fare- 
well to  one  of  England's  greatest  heroines. 

There  could  be  no  greater  contrast  between 
the  burial  place  which  the  nation  desired  to 
place  at  the  disposal  of  ^Miss  Nightingale,  and 
that  which  she  herself  selected  in  the  quiet 
country  churchyard  of  East  Wellow,  in  Hamp- 
shire, near  to  the  stately  home  where  much  of 
her  girlhood  was  spent,  the  home  where  she 
dreamed  of  turning  the  drawing-room  into  a 
model  hospital,  and  planned  where  she  would 
place  the  beds ;  the  home  to  which  she  paid  a 
last  visit  some  five  and  twenty  years  ago,  be- 
fore the  property  passed  into  the  hands  of 
strangei-s.  A  more  secluded  spot  could  scarcely 
be  found  than  East  Wellow,  and  one  imagines 
Graj-'s  description  true  of  its  people  : 

"  Far  from  the  madding  crowd's  ignoble  strife, 
Their  so]>eT  wishes  never  learned  to  stray ; 
Along  the  cool  sequestered  vale  of  life 
They  kept  the  even  tenor  of  their  way." 
and  perchance    a    "  mute    inglorious  Milton  " 
rests  in    the    churchyard    up    to   the    present 
scarcely    known   beyonil    its  own   immediate 
neighbourhood,    but     now    suddenly     become 
famous  throughout  the  civilised  world,  as  the 
last   resting  place  of  one   who   has  been  the 
means  of  saving  more  lives,  of  bringing  comfort 
and  solace  to  a  greater  number  of  the  sick  and 
dying  than  many  of  its  aiiiiies  have  slain. 

It  is  well  that  the  shrine  of  the  Foundress  of 
^Modern  Nursing  should  be  in  so  remote  a  spot. 
It  can  never  become  a  place  visited  by  the  sight 
seer  and  the  curious,  but  must  always  be  the 
ilecca  of  devout  pilgrims,  hke  the  grave  of 
Charles  Kingsley,  at  Eversley,  where  there  is 
no  need  to  point  the  way  to  strangers,  for  it  is 
indicated  by  the  tiny  pa.th  in  the  turf  trodden 
bare  by  hundreds  of  reverent  feet. 


The  little  church  of  East  Wellow,  holding 
perhaps  100  all  told,  was  filled  from  end  to  end 
on  Sunday  morning  with  a  village  congregation. 
The  hymns  sung  were  "The  King  of  Love," 
"  Days  and  Moments  quickly  flying,"  "Lead 
Kindly  Light,"  and  "On  the  Resurrection 
]\Ioming,"  and  the  Vicar,  the  Rev.  S.  M.  Wat- 
son, preached  on  the  parable  of  the  Good 
Samaritan,  which  so  appropriately  formed  tlie 
Gospel  for  the  day.  Nothing  could  be  simpler 
than  the  arrangements  of  this  little  thirteentli 
century  church.  Oaken  pillars,  with  a 
cross,  beam,  serve  to  support  the  roof  of  the 
tiny  south  aisle,  and  oaken  beams  also  give 
support  to  the  main  open  roof.  One  imagines 
the  congregation  must  have  altered  but  little 
in     character    since    the    davs  when    Florence 


Nightingale  sat  in  the  Embley  House  pew'  in 
the  chancel  and  worshipped  there.  On  Sun- 
day through  the  sunlit  latticed  windows  on  the 
south  side  one  saw  little  but  the  wealth  of 
lovely  flowers  which  hid  the  monument  over 
the  Nightingale  vault,  and  covered  the  ground 
for  far  around,  tributes  from  princes  and 
jjeasants,  stat-esmen,  and  members  of  the  pro- 
fession she  founded,  to  the  genius  of  the  great 
woman,  who  lay  at  rest  in  the  vault, 
where  her  father  and  mother  are  also  buried. 
Conspicuous  amongst  them  was  the  standing 
cross,  sent  by  the  nurses  of  the  London  hos- 
pitals, and  the  model  of  the  lantern,  which  she 
used  in  the  Crimea,  the  laurels  and  roses  of 
the  International  Council  of  Nurses,  and  the 
American  Federation  of  Nurses,  while  on  the 
monument  gleamed  the  Red  Cross,  symbol  of 
iliss  Nightingale's  work  of  mercy.  The  Queen 
Mother's  cross  of  orchids,  roses,  and  lilies  was 
in  a  place  of  honour,  and  the  beautiful  Maltese 
cross  sent  by  the  Nightingale  nurses  was  one 
of  the  most  conspicuous  emblems. 


It  is  remarkable  how  many  of  our  most  dis- 
tinguished heroes  and  heroines  have  grown  to 
manhood  and  womanhood  in  the  quiet  of  the 
countryside  amongst  "  the  mountains  whicli 
bring  peace,"  or  the  lovely  and  quiet  valleys 
with  which  this  country  abounds,  and  yet, 
after  all,  it  is  not  so  strange,  for  something  of 
the  strength  and  spaciousness,  aye,  and  the 
loneliness  of  their  surroundings,  seems  to  be 
incoi-porated  with  their  nature,  to  have  infused 
into  it  the  quietness  and  confidence  which  is 
their  strength,  and  though  the  countryside 
gives  them  to  the  great  cities  or  the  Empire  for 
a  space,  where  they  live  gallant  lives,  do  noble 
deeds,  and  win  honour  and  renown,  their  affec- 
tions throughout  life  are  given  to  the  places 
where  their  early  years  were  spent,  and,  their 
task  finished,  they  instinctively  and  gladly 
return  to  lay  their  tired  heads  in  the  lap  of 
[Mother  Nature,  who  in  life  understands  so  well 
how  to  comfort,  strengthen,  and  restore  her 
children  who  when  weary  turn  to  her  for  re- 
freshment, and  who  gladly  receives  them  once 
'  again  when  ' '  Death  the  Consoler,  laying  his 
hand  upon  many  a  heart,  has  stilled  it  for  ever 
and  ever." 

So  it  was  with  Florence  Nightingale ;  so  it 
was  with  Isla  Stewart,  one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished pupils  sent  forth  to  the  world  by  tha 
training  school  which  she  founded.  The  one 
rests  in  a  little  village  churcliyard  in  Hamp- 
shire, the  other  on  the  quiet  hillside  at  Moflat 
imtil  that  day  when  everyone  shall  "  receive 
the  things  done  in  his  lx>dy,  according  to  that 
he  hath  done,  whether  it  be  good  or  bad." 


Aug.  27,  1910] 


^U  ffiiitisb  3ournaI  of  iHiirsing. 


100 


MEMORIAL  SERVICES. 
.\t  (.iiiy's  Hospital  on  Fiiclny  evening  last 
week  a  nieniorial  serviee  for  Miss  Nightingali' 
was  held,  the  service  used  being  the  same  as 
that  at  St.  Paul's  Cathedral  on  Saturday.  The 
preacher  was  the  Rev.  E.  F.  Kiissell,  Chap- 
lain of  the  Guild  of  St.  Barnabas,  who  spoke  of 
the  unspoiled  simplicity  of  Miss  Nightingale's 
life,  and  of  the  way  in  which  she  had  demon- 
strated that  the  most  brilliant  intellect,  and 
the  greatest  talents  could  be  u.sefully  utilised 
for  the  service  of  the  sick.    Until  Miss  Xightin- 


nors,  the  Matron,  Miss  Hamilton,  and  many 
nurses  and  patients  were  p'l-esent. 

Canon  Newbolt,  preaching  at  St.  Paul's 
Cathedral  on  Sunday  afternoon,  said  that  those 
who  remembered  the  dark  days  of  the  Crimean 
tragedy,  those  to  whom  Florence  Nightingale 
was  but  a  name,  those  who,  day  by  day,  had 
cause  to  thank  her  foresight  and  practical  wis- 
dom for  the  tender  alleviation  of  suffering  on 
many  a  bed  of  sickness,  the  great  aniiy  of 
nurses  who  proudly  owned  her  as  their  chief, 
on  whom  the  mantle  of  her  devotion  and  skill 


The   Nightingale  Tomb   on   Saturday   Evening,  August 


gale  led  the  way,  nursing  had  not  been  re- 
garded as  an  occupation  for  gentlewomen,  and 
those  who  practised  it  had  been  mainly  drawn 
from  a  lower  rank.  We  now  knew  that  it 
affords  scope  for  the  best  of  all  ranks. 


On  Saturday,  at  two  o'clock,  a  memorial  ser- 
vice was  held  in  the  chapel  of  St.  Thomas's 
Hospital,  intended  for  the  nurses  who  were  un- 
able to  be  present  at  St.  Paul's  Cathedral,  the 
order  of  service  and  the  hymns  sung  being  the 
same.  The  service  was  conducted  by  the  Chap- 
lain, the  Rev.  A.  0.  Hayes,  and  several  Gover- 


had  fallen,  those  who  were  only  dimly  con- 
scious that  a  great  heroine  had  left  the  earth — 
all  these  and  many  more  were  represented  at 
the  service  on  Saturday  to  thank  God  for  a 
splendid  memory,  a  nol)le  example,  and  a  tradi- 
tion of  inspiration.  .  .  With  the  heart  of  a 
heroine,  the  brain  of  a  genius,  the  strength  of 
a  martyr,  Florence  Nightingale  met  the  horrors 
of  Scutari  and  conquered,  and  made  it  pos- 
sible that,  for  after  generations,  the  Red  Cross 
of  skilled  benevolence  should  float  over  the  ant- 
bulances  and  hospitals  of  those  who  should  be 
called  upon  to  draw  the  sword  in  the  great 
assize  of  nations  known  as  war. 


170 


Zbc  Britlsb  journal  of  IRurstno. 


[Aug.  27,  1910 


SOME  FLORAL  TRIBUTES. 

The  floral  tributes  included  a  beautiful  cross 
of  orchids  from  her  Majesty  Queen  Alexandra, 
to  which  was  attached  the  following  inscription 
in  her  Majesty's  own  writing: 
To  Miss  Florence  Nightingale, — 
In  grateful  memory  of  the  greatest  benefac- 
tress  to  suffering  humanity,  by  founding  the 


From  the  Army  Council :  "  In  Memoriam." 
A  cushion  of  white  blossoms  with  the  initial 
"  B  "  in  blue  flowers :  "  With  heartfelt  regrets 
of  the  survivors  of  the  Balaclava  Light  Brigade 
Charge.  To  our  benefactress  and  friend  of 
nearly  60  years. — T.  H.  Roberts. " 

A  large  wreath  from  the  officers,  N.C.O.'s, 
and  men  of  the  Royal  Army  Medical  Corps : 


The    Ohaplet    sent    by    the    International   Council  of  Nurses 


Military  Nursing  Service  in  the  year  18.33  by 
her  own  individual  exertions  and  heroism. 
From  Alexandra. 

From  the  American    .\nibnssndor  and  Mrs. 
Whitelaw  Eeid,  a  wreath  of  white  oreliids. 

A  wreath    from    Princfss  Frederica  :      "In 
deepest  sympathy." 


' '  A  tribute  of  profound  admiration  and  re- 
spect." 

A  scarlet  Maltese  cross  from  Queen  Alexan- 
dra's Imperial  Military  Nursing  Service:  "  In 
reverent  and  affectionate  memory." 

Three  wreaths  from  the  Matron  and  nurses, 
troiu  till'  present  patients,  and  from  the  domes- 


Au- 


inioj 


Cbc  36riti6b  3ournal  of  IRursino. 


171 


tic  staff  o(^  the  Hospital  for  luvalid  Gentle- 
women, 19,  Lissou  (.Jrove.  Miss  Nightingale 
was  head  of  tiiis  institution  when  it  was  m 
Hailey  Street,  before  she  went  to  the  Crimea. 
A  large  cross  from  the  Nurses  and  Council 
of  St.  John's  House  :  "  In  gratitude  for  her  life 
and  services  and  for  her  kindness  to  the  nurses 
of  St.  Joiui's  House  who  worked  under  her  at 
Scutari." 

A  beautiful  standing  cross  in  white  Howers  : 
'■  With  grateful  appreciation  for  a  noble  exam- 
ple. From  the  Matrons  and  Nursing  Staffs  of 
the  Hospitals:  St.  Bartholomew's,  Charing 
Cross,  Guy's,  St.  George's,  King's  College,  the 
London,  St.  [Mary's,  Middlesex,  Royal  Free, 
University,  Westminster. 

A  chaplet  of  laurel  and  roses  from  '  The  In- 
ternational Council  of  Nurses,  in  the  name  of 
■25,000  members  of  the  afiiliated  National  Coun- 
cils of  Nurses  in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland, 
Canada,  the  L'nited  States  of  America,  Ger- 
many, Denmark,  Holland,  and  Finland.  Witli 
homage  to  the  honoured  memory  of  the  Foun- 
dress of  Modern  Trained  Nursing.  (Hon.  Presi- 
dent. Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick;  President,  Sister 
Agues  Karll,  who  is  also  the  President  of  the 
Gennan  Nurses'  Association)." 

A  chaplet  of  laurel  and  roses  from  the  Ameri- 
can Federation  of  Nurees. 

A  large  wreath,  with  "  The  homage  of  the 
Red  Cross  Society." 

From  Queen  Victoria's  Jubilee  Nurses:  "  In 
reverence   and  gratitude." 

From  the  Mistress  and  Staff  of  Girton  Col- 
lege. 

From  the  ^Master  and  Brethren  of  the 
Florence  Nightingale  Lodge,  No.  706,  of  the 
Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons. 

A  wreath,  "  In  loving  memory,"  from  Tem- 
perance Grillage  (an  old  servant,  wife  of  Peter 
Grillage,  w'hom  ^liss  Nightingale  brought  back 
as  a  little  friendless  boy  from  the  Crimea  and 
took  into  her  service). 

A  cross  and  chaplet  of  laurel  and  roses  from 
the  London  Hospital :  "  With  deep  veneration 
and  affectionate  gratitude." 

Wreaths  were  also  sent  by  the  Tasmanian 
Nurses'  Association,  the  Scottish  ilatrons' 
Council,  the  League  of  St.  Bartholomew's  Hos- 
pital Nurses,  the  Leicester'InfinTiary  Nurses' 
League,  the  Metropolitan  Nursing  Association, 
the  officers  and  members  of  the  Midwives'  In- 
stitute and  Trained  Nurses'  Club,  the  Institu- 
tion of  Nursing  Sisters,  Devonshire  Square,  the 
Lady  Superintendents,  Matrons,  and  Nurses  of 
Liveq>ool  Queen  Victoria  Nursing  Association, 
and  manv  others. 


to  Romsej-  (about  4  miles  distant)  in  a  little 
under  three  hours.  It  is  also  easily  accessible 
from  Salisbury  and  Southampton.  As  they 
will  wish  to  know  where  to  stay,  we  may 
say  that  they  will  find  comfortable  quarter 
at  the  White  Horse  Hotel,  in  Romsey,  a  few 
minutes  walk  from  the  glorious  Abbey. 

Romsej',  besides  claiming  the  honour  of  be- 
ing the  home  of  Florence  Nightingale,  is  the 
birthplace  of  the  great  Lord  Palmerston,  whose 
ancestral  estate  (JJroadlands)  adjoins  the  town, 
and  also  Embley  Park.  Lord  Palmerston  and 
his  wife  are  both  buried  in  Westminster  Abbey, 
so  the  little  town  of  Romsey,  of  some  4,000  in- 
habitants, had  already  sent  forth  into  the  world 
one  found  worthy  of  the  greatest  distinction 
which  can  be  conferred  on  the  nation's  dead — 
sepulture  in  Westminster  Abbey — before  that 
honour  was  offered  to  and  refused  by  the  Exe- 
cutors of  Miss  Nightingale  on  her  behalf. 


Of  Romsey  and  its  wonderful  old  Abbey, 
dating  back  1,000  years,  its  lovely  river,  the 
Test,  famed  for  its  salmon  and  trout  fishing, 
and  of  the  beautiful  countrj-  surrounding  the 
town  there  is  not  space  to  speak  now,  but 
those  who  wish  to  paj"  a  visit  to  Wellow  could 
not  do  better  than  make  Romsey  their  head- 
quarters for  as  long  as  possible.  They  will  find 
much  to  interest  and  please  them. 


Those  who.make  a  pilgrimage  to  East  Wel- 
low can  travel  bv  the  Ij.S.W.R.  from  Waterloo 


Messages  of  sympathj'  have  been  received 
from  the  Government  of  Turkey  through  the 
Foreign  Office ;  fi-om  the  Japanese  Amiy  Medi- 
cal Corj^s ;  from  the  Red  Cross  Society  of 
Japan :  and  from  the  Grand  Duchess  Louise 
of  Baden. 

Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick,  Hon.  President  of  the 
International  Council  of  Nurses,  has  received 
the  following  cable  from  Baroness  iMamier- 
heim.  President  of  the  National  Council  of 
Nurses  in  Finland,  and  ilatron  of  the  Surgical 
Hospital,  Helsingfors :  "  Please  accept  expres- 
sions of  deep  sympathy  in  immense  loss  which 
not  England  only,  but  the  whole  nursing  world, 
has  suffered  by  death  of  Miss  Nightingale. — 
Association  of  Nurses,  Finland.  ^lannerheim, 
President." 

COMMENTS  IN   THE  MEDICAL  JOURNALS. 

The  British  Medical  .Jovrsal. 
The  Britisli  Medical  Journal  says:  — 
"  Miss  Nightingale's  work  is  frequently 
described  as  if  she  had  done  it  single-lranded, 
but  she,  of  course,  received  splendid  assistance 
from  her  nurses  and  would  have  been  the  last 
to  deny  them  their  share  of  honour.  It  is  to  her, 
however,  that  all  credit  is  naturally  given,  sincft 
here  was  the  task  of  inspiration,  organisation 
and  administration,  and  of  "finding  a  way  round 


172 


ZTbe  British  3ournal  of  IRursing. 


[Aug. 


1910 


a  thousand  and  one  difficulties.  Among  tliein 
was  not,  as  has  been  sometimes  stated,  any 
opposition  from  the  medical  staff.  Its  membere 
re-cognised  from  the  first  her  real  knowledge 
and  great  abilities,  and  she  in  her  turn  fully 
appreciated  their  labours."  Throughout  her 
evidence  at  the  subsequent  commission  of 
enquiry  she  steadfastly  laid  the  blame  for  the 
breakdown  wiiieh  had  arisen  on  the  shoulders 
of  the  War  Office  itself." 

The  L.\ncet. 
The  Lancet  says: — "By  her  initiative,  by 
her  achievements,  by  her  example,  Florence 
Nightingale  will  stand  for  all  time  as  the 
pioneer  of  skilled  and  scientific  nursing;  no 
less  will  her  kindness  of  heart  and  tenderness 
of  touch,  sympathy  of  soul  and  desire  to  serve 
the  sick  and  afflicted  pass  into  the  region  of 
history.  The  primal  qualities,  without  which 
no  woman  is  a  nurse — be  her  uniform  and 
training  what  they  may — were  as  fully  de- 
veloped in  her  as  her  powers  of  organisation 
and  her  ability  to  think  largely.  Susceptibility 
to  the  soiTows  of  others  and  capability  to  nurse 
the  sick  and  suffering  we.  have  in  abundance, 
and  there  is  not  a  day  nor  an  hour  in  which 
many  j)atients  do  not  feel  that  they  have  been 
bountifully  blessed  in  the  nursing  administra- 
tion placed  at  their  disposal ;  but  the  career 
and  personahty  of  Florence  Nightingale  are  so 
important,  because  in  her,  the  apostle  of 
scientific  nursing,  it  was  j)roved  that  such 
niu'sing  does  not  consist  in  the  exhibition  of 
lovable  or  dutiful  characteristics,  needful 
though  these  are,  but  requires  the  recognition 
of  the  futility  of  any  struggle  against  disease 
which  is  not  based  upon  a  knowledge  of  'the 
physical  causes  which  underlie  disease,  and  a 
recognition  of  the  hopelessness  of  remedies  not 
directed  to  the  removal  of  such  causes.  With 
the  advance  of  medical  and  surgical  knowledge 
the  art'  of  nursing  has  become  more  compli- 
cated. Newer  and  better  methods  have  re- 
])laeed  the  old,  and  a  higher  measiu'c  of  general 
and  technical  education  is  required  from 
women  who  contemplate  entry  into  the  ranks 
of  trained  nurses.  But  the  underlying  prin- 
ciples are  the  same  as  those  which  guided 
Florence  Nightingale  in  her  splendidly  success- 
ful efforts  to  elevate  the  profession  of  nursing 
into  an  organised  and  scientific  calling. 
Not  the  least  of  Florence  Nightingale's  achieve- 
ments was  that  of  awakening  the  official  mind 
to  the  necessity  in  medical  things  of  seekmg, 
accepting,  and  acting  upon  the  opinions  and 
recomrnendations  of  sanitary  ajid  medical  ex- 
perts. She  showed  in  a  way  that  it  was  im- 
possible not  to  understand  the  value  of  trained 
and  enlightened  special  knowledge. 


Ipiactical  ipoints. 


A  Surgical  Tap 

Lever. 
(Registered). 


SOME   NEW  APPLIANCES. 
We  have  pleasure  in  directing  the  attention  of 
our  readers  to  some  new  appliances  recentlj-  brought 
out    by    Messrs.    Down    Bros.,    Ltd.,    St.    Thomas's 
Street,  S.E. 

This  ingenious  contrivance, 
suggested  by  Mr.  James 
Shaw,  M.B.,  IBelt'ast,  will  sup- 
ply a  want  that  must  fre- 
quently arise  in  operating  or 
dressing  wounds  in  private  houses,  or  in  cottage 
hospitals  and  nursing  homes,  where  the  water 
supply  is  delivered  through  ordinary  screw  taps. 
This  admirable  little  instrument  immediately  con- 
verts such  a  tap  into  one  suitable  for  a  surgeon's 
use.  The  invention  consists  of  a  lever  attache<i  to  a 
,  ^^^^  revolving    disc,    sur- 

■*  ^^'^^ rounded   by   a  ring; 

this  ring  having 
four  large  notches 
in  its  lower  etlge  to 
fit  over  the  limbs  of 
the  ordinary  screw- 
tap,   and  a  series  of 

Cv small  notches  round 

_jyhoTv^  its    upper    edge,    in 

any  of  which  tlie 
lever  first  men- 
tioned will  engage, 
so  as  to  carry  the 
ring,  and  conse- 
quently the  tap 
handle,  round  with  it  at  practically  any  point  of  its 
circumference.  The  fitting  shoul<J  be'  adjuste<l  to 
the  tap,  which  is  quickly  and  accurately  done  by 
screwing  home  the  four  screws  place<l  between  tlie 
large  notches  that  take  the  tap  "wings,"  and  the 
tap  can  then  be  opened  or  closed  at  pleasure  by  a 
push  from  the  operator's  elbow.  A  spring  under 
the  lever  releases  it  from  its  notch  when  the  pres- 
sure is  withdrawn  in  readiness  to  engage  in  another 
notch,  and  thus  either  unscrew  the  tap  further  to 
increase  the  flow,  or,  in  the  opposite  sense,  close  the 
tap,  as  preferred. 


The  following  descriptio»  of 
A  New  Face  this     useful      face     screen     is 

Screen.  given  by  Mr.   Wm.   Ibbotson. 

M.R.C.S.  :  "Theo/Ccompanyinff 
drawing  represents  a  shield  for  the  mouth  and  nose 
which  Messrs.  Down  Bix>s.  have  made  for  me.  It  is 
very  simple  in  construction,  Ijeing  extremely  light 
and  consisting  of  a  framework  of  plnt<xl  copper 
upon  which  a  layer  of  batiste  is  stretched.  At  the 
upper  end  are  two  curvxxl  wire  oar  pioc«\<.  In  the 
alternative  model  these  latter  are  repkicoil  by  loops 
made  of  <'lnstic,  which  are  more  convenient  for 
nurses.  The  whole  shield  is  steiilisahlo  to  any  ox- 
tent,  and  can  1m>  u,s<m1  for  \\w  following  purjxises — 
viz,  (1)  Kxaniination  of  moufli,  nose,  larynx,  etc. 
(2)  For  all  operations,  especially  tliose  on  the 
mouth,  nos«\  and  larynx,  such  as  removal  of  ton- 
sils   and     a<lonoi<ls,    tracheotomy,     etc.        (3)    For 


Aiif 


10101 


Zhc  Bvitisb  Joiunal  of  1Riu?4n:< 


173 


ciianging  traclKH>t<>iiiy  fiilK«  in  (lii>IitluMia.  Tlioio 
is  no  doubt  that  (kx'toif.  jiiul  niirsi*  nm  gr<vnt  I'isJi 
of  infection  whon  t'sfiniining  flnfl  oix-rating  on 
many  parts  of  tho  IkkIv,  and  this  sliioUl  not  only 
protects  tlieiu  to  a  very  largo  extent,  bnt  «lso 
protects  the  patient  from  any  secretion  or  breath 


from  the  mouth  or  nose  of  the  doctor  or  nui'se. 
It  is.  quite  comtortable  and  can  be  worn  for 
hours  witiiout  any  inconvenience.  I  lioi>e  that  thi.>~ 
little  shield  will  supply  a  mncli-ne<?<1ed  want,  and  I 
shall  be  glad  to  rec<?ive  any  criticisms." 


A  New 

Thermometer  Case. 

(Registered.) 


m 


.Mr.F.  AV.  Morton  Pal- 
lu.'r.  >[.B., writes:— "I 
"  i^h  to  draw  the  atten- 
tion of  the  medical  pro- 
fession to  a  new  ^ 
thermometer  case,  which  Messre.  Down^ 
Bros,  have  made  for  me.  This  case  is 
divided  into  two  chambers,  which  are  separa- 
ted by  a  perforated  partition.  The  smaller 
chamber  screws  on  to  the  larger,  and  is  made 
to  contain  a  small  jxntion  of  a  formalin  tab- 
let. The  formaldehyde  vai^our  liberated  from 
this  tablet  jxasses  up  through  the  perfora- 
tions into  the  large  chamber,  in  which  the 
thermometer  is  carried.  The  advantages  of 
an  antiseptic  thermometer  case  are  obvious, 
and  this  case  contains  no  8uid,  which  would 
leak  into  the  pocket.  It  is  only  i  inch 
longer  than  the  ordinary  oase,  and  is  sold 
by  ilessrs.  Down  Bros,  at  the  moderate  price 
of  2s.  6d."  j=| 

We  feel  sure  that  thii  case  will  commend  I  I 
itself  to  mant-  nurses,  and  that  it  is  likely  to  I  I 
be  a  great  favourite  with  them,  as  it  so  easily  1  I 
and  effectively  provides  for  the  disinfection  vJ 
of  the  thermometer  contained  in  it,  besides  being 
most  moderate  in  price. 


RESIGNATION. 

At  the  eighteenth  annual  meeting  of  the  Surrey 
Convalescent  Home.  East  Blatchington.  Soaford, 
at  which  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence  presided,  the  Com- 
mittee reported  with  regret  that  "  Tliey  are  losing 
the  .services  of  their  valued  and  very  competent 
Mati-on.  Miss  Xapper.  who  has  been  in  charge  since 
the  establishment  of  the  Home,  and  who  has  shown 
such  whole-heai-tfKl  devotion  to  the  work.  Unfor- 
tunately, she  now  fe<>ls  her  duties  too  onerous  for 
her  to  contiflue  in  offic<'.  and  she  is  therefore  retir- 
ing at  the  end  of  September." 


Hppointments. 

I.UIY     Si  PKKlNTENnKNT. 

Manchester  Children's  Hospital.  Pendlebury.— Miss 
Ktliel  Nicholson  has  been  appointed  Uidy  Sui^erin- 
tendent.  She  hoUk  the  certihcates  of  the 
Cliildren's  Hospital,  I'endlebury.  and  St.  Bar- 
tholomew's Hospital,  lyondon,  and  has  been  Night 
.Sister  at  the  Kast  Ix)ntlon  Hospital  for  Children, 
Shadwell.  and  Matron's  Office  Sister  at  St.  Bar- 
tholomew's Hospital,  and  now  holds  the  position  of 
Sui>erintendent  ot  the  Xui-ses'  Home  in  the  same 
institution.  -Miss  Nicholson  wa.s  one  of  those  who 
had  the  privilege  of  nursing  the  late  Miss  Isla 
Stewart  during  the  last  hours  of  her  life. 
Matron. 
The  New  Infirmary,  Wandsworth  union. -Miss  Constance 
E.  Todd  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  Guy's  Hospital,  and  holds  the  certifi- 
cates of  the  Central  Midwives'  Board,  and  of  the 
Incorporated  Society  of  Trained  Mas.seuses.  Miss 
Todd  has  been  Sister  at  the  Ciover.nment  Hospital, 
Cairo.  Housekeeping  Pupil  at  Brompton  Hospital, 
and  Home  Sister  at  the  Middlesex  Hospital. 

Cottage  Hospital,  Bingley. — Miss  .Jeannie  Robertson 
has  been  appointed  Matron.  .She  was  trained  at 
the  Bethnal  Green  Infirmary,  Loudon,  where  she 
has  held  the  positions  of  Sister,  Xight  Superin- 
tendent, and  Home  Sister.  She  has  also  been 
Deputy  Mation  at  the  Keighley  and  Bingley  Joint 
Hospital,  and  Sister-in-Charge  of  the  Keighley  and 
Bingley  Joint  Sanatorium. 

Sister. 

Victoria  Hospital,  Keighley, — Miss  M.  Devereux  has 
been  appointed  Sister  of  the  "Women  and  Children's 
Wards.  She  was  trained  at  St.  Bartholomew's 
Hospital,  and  previous  to  her  general  training  was 
at  the  Oxford  Eye  Hospital,  the  Alexandra  Hospi- 
tal for  Children,  London,  and  the  Royal  Hospital 
for  Chest  Diseases,  City  Road. 

Miss  Muriel  Payne  has  been  api>ointed  Sister  of 
the  Male  Ward  in  the  same  hospital.  She  was 
trained   at  St.   Bartholomew's  Hospital. 

SfPEHTXTEXDENT   XCRSE. 

Huddersfield  Workhouse  Infirmary. — Miss  L.  K.  Clarke 
ha^  been  appointed  Superintendent  Xurse  at  the 
Huddersfield  Workhouse  Infirmary,  Crosland  Moor, 
Huddersfield.     . 

Lady  S.4nit.\rt  Ixspector. 

Borough  of  IMarylebone. — Miss  Nina  C.  Stokes  has 
been  appointed  Lady  Sanitary  Inspector  and 
Health  Visitor.  .She  was  trained  at  St.  Bar- 
tholomew's Hospital,  London,  and  holds  the  cer- 
tificate of  the  Sanitary  Inspectons'  Examination 
Board.  .She  has  held  the  ]x>sitions  of  Sistei'  at  the 
Royal  Hospital  for  Sick  Children,  E<linburgh,  Xight 
.Sister  at  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Bristol,  and  of 
Healtli  Visitor  in  Willes<len,  Croydonj  and  Ken- 
sington.    She  is  also  a  c«'i"tified  midwife.  - 

QUEEN  VICTORIA'S  JUBILEE    INSTITUTE 

Transfers  mid  .li'i"'iiif incuts. — Miss  Elizabeth 
Mackenzie,  to  Buckinghamshire  County  X'ursing 
Association,  as  County  Superintendent,  perman-' 
ently ;  Miss  Mary  Gladwin,  to  Fitzwilliam ;  Miss 
Edith  Birch  and  Miss  Margaret  Ballance,  to 
Xdrthampton ;  Miss  Constance  Baigent,  to  Tor- 
quay. 


174 


She  Bvitisb  3ournaI  of  IRurstncj. 


[Aug. 


1910 


■MurstnQ  Ecbocs. 

The  Keport  of  the  Nightin- 
gale Fuud  shows  that  forty- 
two  nurses  completed  their 
training  and  received  certifi- 
cates during  lastyear.  Twelve 
were  retained  in  the  service 
of  the  hospital,  six  as  Ward 
Sisters,  and  six  as  Senior 
Staff  or  Charge  Nurses.  A 
number  of  first  appointments 
were  obtained  during  the 
year.  Three  were  appointed 
^Iatrou8  to  other  hospitals,  one  a  Sister 
in  the  Koyal  Navy  Nursing  Service, 
seven  Sisters  in  hospitals  and  infirmaries,  one 
a. Night  Sister,  three  joined  Queen  Victoria's 
Jubilee  Institute,  and  two  the  Military  Nursing 
Service  as  nurses. 

An  infonnal  meeting  of  Territorial  nurses  was 
held  at  Chelsea  Infirmary  on  the  evening  of 
August  17th,  when  ^liss  Barton,  Principal  Ma- 
tron of  No.  3  Hospital,  gave  a  short  account  of 
her  experiences  during  an  enjoyable  week's 
training  at  a  military  hospital.  Special  points 
of  difference  were  pointed  out  between  the  Sis- 
ters' and  nurses'  work  in  civil  and  military  hos- 
pitals. Tenitorial  nurses  were  advised  as  far 
as  possible,  to  study  technical  militai-y  temis, 
and  to  become  familiar  with  the  relative  ranks 
in  the  Royal  Army  Medical  Corps,  as  these  are 
at  first  very  puzzling  to  the  civilian.  The  sug- 
gestion was  put  forward  whether  it  might  be 
possible  to  eSect  temporary  interchange  of  Sis- 
ters between  military  and  civil  hospitals,  a  Sis- 
ter in  a  military  hospital  exchanging  for  a 
period  of  three  months  with  a  Territorial  Sister 
in  acivil  hospital.  Such  an  aiTangement  might 
be  of  mutual  benefit,  and  would  enable  the 
Territorial  Sister  to  become  familiar  with  the 
routine  of  a  militaiy  hospital. 

Miss  Sidney  Browne,  E.R.C.,  who  was  pre- 
sent, gave  some  delightful  reminiscences  of  her 
experiences  during  the  South  African  war.  She 
explained  the  benefits  and  pleasures  of  nursing 
under  canvas,  even  under  such  adverse  circum- 
stances a.s  downpours  of  rain  or  the  invasion  of 
her  tent  by  a  swarm  of  bees.  She  spoke  warmly 
in  prai.se  of  the  work  of  nursing  orderlies,  and 
gave  many  words  of  advice  and  encouragement 
to  the  nurses. 

The  Rev.  H.  G.  Roberts,  preaching  at  Carver 
Street  Chapel,  Sheffield,  on  Sunday  evening, 
said  that  nurses  richly  deser\'ed  every  legiti- 
mate recognition.  Tiiey  were  a  race  of  women 
that  they  might  well  be  proud  of.  No  other 
class  of  women  were   more   devoted  to   tlicir 


work,  more  self-sacrificing,  more  ready  to  run 
risks  and  suffer  inconvenience.  They  mani- 
fested a  heroism  that  could  scarcely  be  paral- 
leled in  any  other  line  or  profession.  In  time 
of  war  or  plague,  they  stood  bravely  by  their 
posts,  while  others  escaped  for  their  lives. 

They  rejoiced  in  the  devotion  of  their  nurses, 
and  in  the  hospitals  and  convalescent  homes  of 
their  city.  There  were  alxiut  500  deaths  from 
consumption  in  Sheffield  every  year,  and  there 
were  probably  at  least  2,000  persons  suffering 
from  that  disease  in  an  infectious  form.  Two- 
thirds  of  these  were  males  over  15  years  of  age. 
They  rejoiced  in  the  efforts  made  at  Common- 
side  Sanatorium  to  fight  this  scourge.  Christian 
charity  could  find  no  work  more  worthy  of  its 
zeal  than  in  arresting  that  wastag'e  of  life  in 
their  midst. 

Lady  Wolverton,  who  is  just  now  on  the  West 
Coast  of  Scotland,  opened  a  two  days'  bazaar 
at  Fort-  William,  on  Thursday  last  week,  in  aid 
of  the  Lochaber  branch  of  the  Queen  Victoria 
Nurees'  Institute,  and  Lochiel,  w-ho  presided, 
paid  a  tribute  to  the  work  done  by  the  Queen's 
nurses  in  the  Highlands,  where  the  population 
is  so  scattered,  and  doctors  few  and  far  be- 
tween. Much  dependence,  he  said,  had  to  be 
placed  on  the  services  of  the  district  nurees, 
and  he  therefore  trusted  the  object  of  the 
bazaar  would  be  accomplished. 


At  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Bangor  (Co. 
Down)  District  Nursing  Society,  held  at  the 
Dufferin  Memorial  ]\Iinor  Hall  last  week,  at 
which  the  Rev.  .J.  L.  Peacocke  presided  in  the 
unavoidable  absence  of  the  President,  Lady 
Dufferin,  the  Secretary,  Miss  Connor,  reported 
that  223  cases  had  been  nursed  during  the  year,^ 
and  that  7,331  visits  had  been  paid  by  the 
district  nurses. 

Lady  Helen  Munro  Ferguson  spoke  with  her 
usual  charm,  and  described  the  organisation  of 
the  Red  Cross  scheme  in  England  and  Scotland 
in  connection  with  the  Territorial  Army,  and 
advocated  its  extension  to  Ireland.  She  defined 
Red  Cross  work  as  the  civilian  assistance  given 
by  the  nation  to  its  sick  and  wounded  soldiers 
in  time  of  war.  Perhaps  some  might  think 
that  such  an  organisation  could  have  vei-y  little 
to  do  with  the  Nurses'  Association,  under 
whose  auspices  they  were  met,  but  the  effect 
of  such  an  organisation  would  be  to  give  its 
members  a  knowledge  of  first  aid  and 
elementary  nursing,  and  in  that  way  alone  it 
was  bound  to  be  a  great  benefit  to  the  nation 
as  well  as  of  great  assistance  to  the  defensive 
or  Territorial  Army. 

On  the  present  necessity  for  the  scheme  she 


Aug.  27.  1910] 


Zhc  Bi"it(5b  3oiu*naI  of  IRurstno. 


175 


would  not  dwell.  The  conditions  of  warfare 
in  the  present  day  rendered  it  imperative,  for 
the  large  size  of  anuies,  and  the  destructive 
effects  of  modern  weapons  led  to  such  enor- 
mous casualties,  that  it  was  a  most  difficult 
undertaking  to  cope  with  them  quickly  and 
satisfactorily.  Were  the  Regular  Amiy  engaged 
in  a  big  campaign  its  medical  department  could 
not  meet  all  the  demands  that  would  be 
made  on  it,  as  the  South  African  War  showed, 
and  the  same  remark  applied  to  the  Territorial 
Medical  Service  should  there  be  an  inva.^ion  of 
this  country,  and  one  or  more  battles  fought. 

There  were,  of  course,  ihose  who  held  that 
Government  should  have  ready  in  peace  time 
sufficient  medical  aid  to  be  equal  to  any  emer- 
gency, but  a  little  reflection  showed  that  this 
view  was  an  unreasonable  one,  as  such  a  policy 
would  mean  a  very  heavy  annual  outlay  for 
personnel  and  stores,  with,  of  course,  additional 
taxation.  For  these  reasons  only  sufficient 
personnel  and  material  were  provided  to  meet 
the  wants  of  the  Regular  Army  in  peace  or  in 
any  of  the  smaller  wars  that  the  Empire  was 
engaged  in  from  time  to  time. 

Forthcoming  as  civilian  aid  undoubtedly 
would  be  in  the  case  of  a  prolonged  campaign 
or  attempted  invasion,  it  was  important  to  re- 
member that  civilian  aid  must  be  given  through 
a  definite  and  proper  chann.  I,  and  receive  the 
sanction  of  the  naval  and  military  authorities, 
for,  were  it  furnished  in  a  haphazard  way,  it 
might  be  a  source  of  great  danger,  as  under  the 
guise  of  it  spies  might  gain  access  to  an  army 
and  defeat  a  general's  best  laid  plans,  a  pos- 
sibility which  would  far  outweigh  any  humani- 
tarian advantages.  It  was  this  fact  that  led 
the  military  authorities  for  so  long  to  look 
askance  on  civilian  aid,  and  often  to  reject  it, 
so  that  the  sick  and  wounded  in  warfare  for- 
merly underwent  many  privations  and  much 
increased  suffering  which  might  have  been  pre- 
vented by  such  aid. 

To  Henri  Dunant,  of  Geneva,  was  due  the 
solution  of  the  difficulty.  Saddened  by  the  ter- 
rible sufferings  of  the  wounded  after  the  battle 
of  Solferino  in  1859,  where  for  days  they  lay 
untended,  and  convinced  of  the  absolute  neces- 
sity for  civiUan  aid  in  dealing  with  the  casual- 
ties of  modern  warfare,  he  pressed  the  matter 
unceasingly  on  the  Governments  of  civilised 
nations,  and  eventually  had  the  satisfaction  of 
seeing  his  effca-ts  crowned  with  success.  At 
an  international  conference  held  at  Geneva  in 
1863  a  series  of  recommendations  were  drawn 
up,  and  at  a  second  conference  those  recom- 
mendations were  agreed  to  by  twelve 
nations,  and  embodied  in  what  was  known  as 
the  Geneva  Convention  ;  in  186.5  Great  Britain 
agreed  to  it,  and  the  last  nation  to  do  so  was 


Japan  in  1887.  In  1906  the  British  Red  Cross 
Society  was  founded,  and  replaced  the  National 
Aid  Society  and  the  British  Red  Cross  Council, 
and  earned  on  work,  not  only  in  the  United 
Kingdom,  but  throughout  the  Empire  by 
count\'  committees  and  branches. 


The  Dowager  Marchioness  of  Dufierin  and 
Ava,  and  the  President  of  the  Ulster'  Branch 
of  the  Irish  Nurses'  Association,  Lady  Her- 
mione  Blackwood,  were  at  home  on  Wednes- 
day in  last  week  to  the  meznbers  of  the  above 
Association.  The  weather  was  perfect,  and 
the  members  greatly  enjoyed  the  afternoon, 
and  appreciated  the  hospitality  of  their  kind 
hostesses. 

league  Ittews. 

THE  ROYAL  SOUTH  HANTS  NURSES'  LEAGUE. 

A  meeting  of  the  General  Council  of  the 
Royal  South  Hants  Nurses'  League  was  last 
week  held  in  the  Staff  Probationers'  Sitting- 
room  in  the  Hospital.  Many  letters  of  apology 
were  I'ead  from  those  who  were  unable  to  be 
present.  Both  the  Secretary  and  Treasurer 
presented  satisfactory  reports.  The  Honorary 
Officers  and  all  the  members  of  the  Executive 
Committee  were  re-elected.  The  Bye-laws 
were  considered,  and  certain  minor  alterations 
agreed  upon.  It-  was  also  decided  that  mem- 
bers of  the  nursing  profession  not  holding  the 
hospital  certificate  might  be  elected  to 
honorai-y  membership  at  the  discretion  of  the 
Council.  It  was  decided  that  the  partici- 
pation of  the  League  in  a  public  memorial 
to  Miss  Isla  Stewart  should  be  considered  at 
a  later  date,  when  a  definite  proposition  was 
before  the  Council.  After  other  business  had 
been  transacted,  a  very  pleasant  social  gather- 
ing was  held. 

K.  WlXTERSCALE, 

Hon.  Sec.  R.S.H.  N.  League. 


IReflections. 


From  a  Board  Room  Mirror. 
The     Qtieen    has    become    patix)n    of    the    Royal 
Xatioual  Hospital  for  Consumption  and  Diseases  of 
the  Chest,  Tentnor. 


The  Council  of  the  Hospital  Saturday  Fund  have 
fixed  as  the  date  of  their  thirty-seventh  annual 
collection  October  loth,  awl  committees  have  now- 
been  formed  in  most  of  the  metropolitan  districts. 
The  receipts  from  the  industrial  establishments, 
etc.^ — the  result  of  a  weekly  or  other  periodical  col- 
lection— are  so  far  nearly  £1,900  ahead  of  the  cor- 
responding perio<l  of  last  year.  The  fund  for  1909 
amounted  to  £30,002. 


176 


Zbe  Britieb  3ournal  of  TRursing. 


[Aug.  27,  1910 


®utst&e  tbc  (Bates. 

WOMEN. 
THE  AVO-MKXS  IMPERIAL  HEALTH  ASSOCIA- 

TIOX  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN. 
Motto:    "  The  pou-cr  of  the  Eiiuj  is  in  the  health  of 

his  People." 
Ceremony  of  iN.tUGCRATioN  of  the  First  Caravan. 
Ill  spit-e  of  the  fact 
that  the  memorial  ser- 
vice of  Miss  Florence 
-Nightingale  at  St.  Paul's 
Cathedral  drew  many 
people  away,  nho  had 
intended  to  be  i^resent,  a 
representative  gathering 
of  a  very  fair  number  of 
people  were  present  at  this  very  interesting  cere- 
mony, at  the  Botanic  Gardens,  Regent's  Park,  on 
Saturday,  August  I'Oth.  Prior  to  the  actual  bap- 
tism of  the  Caravan  by  Miss  Lena  Ashwell,  the 
audience  assembled  in  one  of  the  club  rooms  to  lis- 
ten to  a  speech  iivide  by  the  Chairman  of  the  Asso- 
ciation, Dr.  R.  Murray  Leslie.  [X.B. — He  tells  us 
not  to  omit  the  "  R."  as  there  is  another  Dr.  Mur- 
ray Leslie.]  He  explained  in  a  few  words  the  aims 
and  objects  of  the  Caravan  tour. 

The  main  object,  he  said,- of  this  original  tour, 
which  owes  its  initiative  largely  to  the  energy  of 
the  organising  Secretary,  Mr.  Ernest  Schofield,  is 
to  interest  the  people  of  the  towns  and  villages  of 
rural  England,  more  particularly  the.  women  and 
girls,  in  the  immense  importance  of  personal  and 
domestic  hygiene.  The  importance  of  such  ques- 
tions as  the  re{luction  of  infanit  mortality;  the  pre- 
vention of  consumption,  and  the  necessity  of  girls 
acquiring  before  marriage  such  knowledge  as  will 
best  fit  them  to  fulfil  the  duties  which  will  neces- 
sarily fall  to  them  as  the  future  mothers  of  the 
race,  are  points  wliich  will  be  specially  emphasised. 

The  speaker  referred  to  the  sister  Association  in 
Ireland,  which  has  done  such  splendid  work  since 
it  was  founded.  Statistics  showed  that  last  year 
there  were  -386  fewer  victims  of  tuberculosis  than 
in  the  year  previously;  also  that  there  had  been 
a  satisfactory  decrease  in  infant  mortality. 

"  We  propose,"  said  the  speaker.  "  to  carry  on 
our  work  by  two  principal  methods:  — 

"  1.  By  means  of  popidar  lectures. 

"  2.  By    distribution    of    suitable    literature. 

"As  regards  our  lectures,  our  watchwords  are 
to  be — Simplicity,  accuracy,  practical  usefulness, 
and  interest." 

Tlie  Association  is  to  l)e  oongratulatetl  in  having 
obtained  the  services  of  the  two  gentlenu^n  who  will 
man  the  C«ravan — Mr,  Roger  Pocock.  founder  of 
the  Ix>gion  of  Frontier.smen,  who  is  not  only  con- 
versant with  the  hygienic  nee<ls  of  the  community, 
but  nn  nuthor  of  distinction,  and  Mr,  Fife  .Scott, 
hygienic  expert. 

Dr,  Murray  Leslie,  who  spoke  in  a  very  breezy, 
optimistic  tone,  .said  that  the  Insalth  command- 
ments of  the  As"^ociation  had  tjcen  cha ractorise<l  by 
a  leading  dnily  j)n|>er  as  "  counsels  of  i)erfection  " 
which  it  wouhl  be  very  difficultto  carry  out.  Ho 
himself  thought  that  obcflicnco  to  thos«^  precepts 
would  involve  no  difficultv. 


Incidentally  it  is  hoj>ed  to  found  local  bi'ancKes  of 
the  As.sociation.  to  institute  boys'  and  girls'  health 
guilds,  and  to  sti'engthen  the  hands  ot  all  exLstiug 
local  Health  Associations,  A  tribute  of  resi)ect  was 
paid  by  the  speaker  to  the  magnificent  work  of 
iliss  Florence  Nightingale,  and  he  aptly  suggested 
that  the  next  Caravan,  which  he  hoped  would  be 
manned  by  women,  .should  Ije  called  after  her, 

A  short  demonstiation  of  the  work  of  the 
Caravan,  by  magic  lantern  and  biograph  pictures, 
followed.  T.'iis  apparatus  is  part  of  the  equipment 
of  the  Caravan,  and  will  be  used,  probably  for  the 
firet  time,  as  an  educational  medium.  A  district 
nui'se  washing  and  dressing  a  baby,  shown  by 
biograph  pictures,  caused  great  amusement  and 
interest. 

All  this  time  of  preliminary  proceedings  the 
Caravan  was  patiently  standing  in  the  beautiful 
gardens  waiting  to  be  christened  1  And  how  gay  it 
looked  in  its  new  paint — scarlet  and  blue — and 
freshness,  and  garlanded  with  flowei's.  And  alcove 
all  how  hygienic,  embodying  a  lecture  in  itself — n<v 
less  than  four  windows  lje.sides  sky-light  ventilation. 
The  two  fine  horses  looked  as  if  they  well  under- 
stood the  honour  of  their  position.  Then  Mi.ss  Lena 
Ashwell,  in  a  few  suitable  words  of  hope  and  en- 
couragement, dashed  the  bottle  of  water  against 
the  Caravan  and  gave  it  the  appropriate  name  of 
"  Aurora,"  The  I'nion  Jack  was  run  up  to  the 
mast-head,  and  the  memorable  event  terminated. 
By  the  hospitalit.v  of  the  Association  light  refresh- 
ments were  .serve<l,  immediately  afterwards.  The 
Caravan  was  to  leave  at  4  p,m,,  and  the  firet  lecture 
of  the  tour  will  be  given  at  the  Town  Hall,  Maiden- 
head, on  Wednesday  next  at  8  p,m. 

The  only  contretemps  to  the  highly  interesting 
meeting  was  the  legrettable  absence  of  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Association — Muriel  Viscountess 
Helmeley,  B,  K, 

Derses. 

TWILIGHT, 
I  looked  away  o'er  misty  vale  and  hill, 
O'er  silent  field  and  forest,   rock  and  dell ; 
Night's  misty  .spirit  held  my  soul  in  thrall, 
A  shadowy  presence  filled  the  azure  void, 
A  solemn  quietude  pervaded  all, 
.\ik1    there    was — rest — • 

Rest   in  the  eventide. 
And   not  one  pinion  clove  the  dreaming  air. 
And  not  one  footfall  from  the  street  uprose ! 
The  amorous  radiance  trembled  everywliere. 
And  never  a  sound  disturbed  the  mute  repose. 
The  sad  earth  turned  her  wan  face  to  the  night 
To  woo  the  rest  which  garish  day  denied. 
The  rapt  effulgence,    sleeinng  white  and  calm. 
The  slumbrous  presence  clasping  earth  and  skies 
Fell  on  my  troubles  like  a  healing  balm. 
Or  the  soul-shadowings  of  te-arful  eyes. 
The  billowy  surge  of  sorrow  ceased  to  roll : 
Upon  my  cheeks  the  scalding  grief-drops  dried  ; 
A  holy  thrill  of  peace  enwrapt  my  soul, 
.\nd  there  was  rest — 

R<>;t  at  the  eventide. 

By  George  Heath. 


Aug.  27,  1910] 


Cbc  Brittsb  3ournaI  of  •Mursing. 


177 


asoof^  of  tbc  mcc\\. 


FRATERNITY* 
They  who  road  with  dolight  ■  The  Man  of  Pro- 
perty "  aud  ■•The  Country  House"  will  not  be 
•disappointed  with  Mr.  Galsworthy's  "  Fraternity."' 
As  the  title  indicat-es,  it  is  of  a  Socialistic  tendency, 
and  is  a  rare  collection  of  wonderfully  delineat-ed 
characters  woven  into  an  elusive  and  rather  dis- 
turbing history.  The  majority  of  these  people  feel 
that  "  something  must  be  done  "  for  their  fellow- 
men,  but  the  attempt  to  accomplish  this  something 
leads  to  many  complications.  Read  superficif.lly,  it 
might  appear  that  would-be  disciples  of  Fraternity 
would  do  well  to  follow  some  less  unpopular  cult, 
but  underneath  there  is  the  insistent  appeal  for 
the  strong  to  help  the  weak,  and  to  the  fortunate 
to  succour  the  dow  ntro<lden,  and  this  in  spite  of 
apparent  failure,  and  the  gibe  of  those  who  are 
passing  content<'dly  along  on  the  other  side.  The 
description  of  Hugh's  infant's  funeral  is  verv  true 
-to  life. 

"  Following  out  the  instinct  planted  so  deeply 
in  human  nature  for  treating  with  the  utmost  care 
and  at  great  expense  when  dead,  those  who,  when 
alive,  have  been  served  with  careless  parsimony, 
there  started  from  the  door  of  No.  1,  Hound  Street, 
a  funeral  procession  of  three  four-wheeled  cabs. 

"  In  the  first  cab  Silence  was  presiding,  with  the 
•scent  of  lilies  over  him  who  in  his  short  life  had 
made  so  little  noise ;  the  small  grey  shadow  that 
had  crept  so  quietly  into  being,  and  taking  his 
chance  when  he  was  not  noticed  had  crept-  so 
quietly  otit  again.  Never  had  he  felt  so  restful,  so 
much  at  home,  as  in  that  little  common  coflBn, 
washed  as  he  was  to  an  unnatural  whiteness,  and 
wrapped  in  his  mother's  only  spare  sheet.  Away 
from  all  the  strife  of  men  he  was  journeying  to  a 
greater  peace.  His  little  aloe-plant  had  ilowered ; 
and  between  the  open  windows  of  the  only  carriage 
he  had  ever  been  inside  the  wind  stirred  the  fronds 
of  fern  and  the  flowers  of  his  funeral  wrtoth.  Thus 
he  was  going  from  that  world  where  all  men  were 
his  brothers." 

What  could  exceed  the  skill  with  wtich  the  fol- 
lowing passage  is  written:  — 

■'  Three  persons  traversed  the  long  winding  road 
leading  from  Wormwood  Scrubbs  to  Kensington. 
They  preserve<l  silence  not  because  there  was  no- 
thing in  their  hearts  to  be  expressed,  but  because 
there  was  t-oo  much.  They  walkcxl  in  the  giraffe- 
like formation  peculiar  to  the  lower  classes,  Hughs 
in  front,  Mrs.  Hughs  to  the  left  a  foot  or  two  be- 
Tiind,  and  a  yard  behind  her  to  the  left  again  her 
son  Stanley.  ...  In  their  three  minds  so  dif- 
ferently fashioned,  a  verb  was  dumbly  and  with 
varying  emotion  being  conjugated: 

"  I've  been  in  prison." 

'■  You're  been  in  prison." 

"He's  been  in  prison." 

Beneath  the  seeming  acquiescence  of  a  man  sub- 
ject to  domination  from  his  birth  up,  those  four 
words  covered  in  Hughs  such  a  whirlpool  of  surging 
sensation,  such  ferocity  of  bitterness,  and  madness, 

*  By  John  Galsworthy.  CWilliam  Heinemann, 
London.) 


and    <lefiance,     that     no    ont-pouring    oould     have 
appreciably  relieved  it-s  course." 

The  little  model  who  exercised  such  a  strong  fas- 
cination over  the  fastidious  Hilary  is  portrayed 
as  following  :  — - 

"  He  found  her  standing  in  the  middle  of  his 
study,  not  daring,  as  it  seemed,  to  go  near  the 
furniture.  She  was  resting  a  foot,  very  patient, 
very  still,  in  an  old  brown  skirt,  an  ill-shaped 
blouse,  and  a  blue  green  tam-o'-shanter  cap.  Hilary 
turned  up  the  light.  He  saw  a  round  little  face, 
with  broad  cheek  bones,  flower  blue  eyes,  short 
lamp  black  lashes,  and  slightly  parted  lips.  It  was 
difficult  to  judge  of  her  figure  in  those  old  clothes, 
but  she  was  neither  short  nor  tall;  her  neck  was 
white  and  well  set  on;  her  hair  pale  brown  and 
abundant." 

This  girl's  dog-like  devotion  gradually  domi- 
nates him. 

"  So  it  was  with  Hilary  in  that  special  web  where- 
in his  spirit  struggled,  sunrise  unto  sunset,  and  by 
moonlight  afterwards." 

Anyone  who  has  not  already  read  this  book 
should  make  a  point  of  doing  so.  The  exquisite 
language,  subtle  description,  and  admirable  senti- 
ment cannot  fail  to  leave  their  mark. 

H.  H. 

COMING  EVENTS. 

September  1st. — Garden  Party  in  the  Grounds  of 
the  Infirmary,  Kingston-on-Thames,  by  invita- 
tion of  the  Matron. 

Congress  of  the  Royal  Saxitaey  Institute,  Rot.vl 

P.wiLiON,  Brighton. 

Principal  Events. 

September  5th. — Reception  of  Members  and  De- 
legates by  the  Worshipful  the  Mayor.     1  p.m. 

Opening  of  the  Health  Exhibition  in  the  Dome 
by  the  Worshipful  the  Mayor.     3  p.m. 

Inaugural  Address  to  the  Congress  by  the  Hon. 
Sir  John  A.  Cockburn,  K.C.M.G.,  M.D.     8  p.m. 

September  6th. — Conference,  10  a.m. 

Lecture  to  the  Congress  by  Dr.  Arthur  News- 
holme,  F.R.C.P.  (Principal  Medical  Officer  to  the 
Local  Government  Board),  '"  The  National  Import- 
ance of  Child  Mortality."     8  p.m. 

September  7th. — Conferences  on  Hygiene  of 
Childhood  and  Sanitary  Inspectors.     10  a.m. 

Conversazione  and  Reception  at  the  invitation  of 
the  Worshipful  the  Mayor.    8  p.m. 

September  Sth. — Conference  of  Medical  Officers 
of  Health  and  Women  oti  Hygiene.     10  a.m. 

Septetnber  9th. — Conference,  10  a.m. 

Popular  Lecture  by  Dr.  Alex.  Hill,  M.D., 
F.R.C.S.,  J.P.,  on  "  The  Bricks  with  which  the 
Body  is  Built"'  (Illustrated  by  Lantern  Slides). 
8  p.m. 

Octnhi  r  JO</i. ^Territorial  Force  Nursing  Service, 
Oity  and  County  of  London.  Reception  at  the 
Mansion  House  by  invitation  of  the  Lady  Mayoress 
and  the  Members  of  the  Executive  Committee. 
8— 10.;«)  p.m. 


WORD    FOR  THE  WEEK. 
"  One's  capacity    is   infinite    as   one's   being 
and  one  cannot  be  filled  but  by  Infinity."' 

Cener.\l  Gordon. 


Zhc  Britisb  Journal  of  IRursing. 


[Aug.  27,  1910 


Xetters  to  tbe  EDitor. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  com- 
munications upon  all  subjects 
/or  these  columns,  we  wish  it 
to  be  distinctly  understooa 
that  we  do  not  in  ant  wai 
hold  ourselves  responsible  for 
the  opinions  expressed  by  our 
correspondents. 


OUR  GUINEA  PRIZE. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  "British  Journal  o]  Nursing." 
Dear  Madam, — It  was  with  pleasure  I  heard  that 
the  Puzzle  Prize  had  been  awarded  to  uie,  and  beg 
to  acknowledge  the  cheque  for  £1  Is.  with  manv 
tiianks. 

Youi-s  truly, 

A.  Simmers. 
II  eat  hop  Home, 

AVestmoi'land  Sanatorium, 
Grange-orer-^uds. 


ABSOLUTE     ELECTION     COMMITTEES 

To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 
Dkah  ^Iadam. — I  udtice  in  your  last  issue  th.it 
the  (iiivernors  of  the  Royal  Hants  County  Hos- 
pital. Wincliester,  propose  to  substitute  an  Elec- 
tion Committee  for  n  Selection  Committee,  in  con- 
nection with  any  appointments  which  may  be  made 
in  that  institution,  the  reason  given  by  the  Chair- 
man- being  that  "  it  would  remove  an  invidious 
distinction  which  .sometimes  occurred  under  the 
old  system,  when  an  individual  was  recommendetl 
for  adoption  and  was  not  in  fact  elected  by  the 
Court."  In  view  of  the  present-day  tendency  to 
make  an  Election  Cf)mmittee  the  supreme  and  final 
authority  in  regard  to  important  apijointments  I 
should  like  to  draw  attention  to  one  or  two  pointis 
which  seem  to  me  important.  (1)  To  err  is 
human.  Even  the  judgment  of  a  learned  judge  is 
not  infallible,  and  our  British  system  of  justice 
provides  for  such  a  contingency.  An  aggrieved 
litigant  can  appeal  from  a  Ci)unty  Court  to  the 
High  Courts,  and  from  the  High  Courts  to  the 
House  of  I/ords,  and  the  judgment  of  the  liigher 
Court  not  infrequently  reverses  that  given  in  the 
lower.  The  riglit  of  appeal  is  therefore  most  im- 
portant and  highly  prized.  (2)  Tlie  enactment  of 
new  laws  is  safeguarded  in  the  same  way.  A  Bill 
must  be  submitted  and  passed  by  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, the  House  of  Lords,  and  must  then  receive 
the  Royal  As,sent  before  it  becomes  law,  and  is 
idaced  on  the  Statute  Book.  Here  again  the 
liberties  of  the  jx^ple  are  protected  against  hasty 
.legislation  which  might  afterwards  prove  un- 
desirable or  unjust.  (^^)  .\gain,  what  is  the  jiroce- 
dure  when  the  appointments  to  higher  posts 
tinder  the  Ix)cal  Government  Board  in  po<n- 
law  infirmaries,  or  under  the  ^Ictro])olitan  Asylums 
Board  are"  made?  A  Sub-Committee,  or  Standing 
Connnittee,  first  goes  through  the  applications  and 
recommends  the  claims  of  the  most  eligible  camli- 
dates  to  tlie  consideration  of  the  Guardians  of  the 
I'nion  concerned,  or  to  the  Jletropolitan  Asyhims 
Biiai-d.        The   hic:hpr   nntbority  then    proceeds   to 


make  the  appointment  subject  to  the  approval  of 
tht:  Local  Government  Board,  and  it  is  only  when 
that  approval  is  given  that  the  appointment  is  con- 
firmed. Every  care  therefore  is  taken  in  making  it, 
i.iut,  once  made,  the  candidate  appointed  has  se- 
curity of  tenure.  He,  or  she,  can  only  be  dismissed 
by  the  Local  Government  Board,  and  he  has  the 
right  to  ask  for  a  public  enquiry  by  an  official  of 
that  Board  before  such  dismissal  is  carried  into 
effect.  The  interests  of  all  concerned  are  thus  safe- 
guarded. 

But  what  happens  when  a  Board  of  Hospital 
Go\eruors  deputes  certain  of  its  duties  to  an  Elec- 
tion Committee,  and  makes  its  decisions  final?'  The 
Governors  may  rejiudiate  responsibility  for  the  ap- 
pointments made  in  their  name,  and  place  this  on 
their  subordinate  committee,  but  the  responsibility 
nevertheless  still  remains  theirs.  Nineteen  cen- 
turies ago,  in  a  Jewish  Court  of  Justice,  the  pre- 
siding judge  disclaimed  responsibility  for  the  sen- 
tence of  capital  punishment,  which  he  reluctantly 
passed  on  a  Divine  victim  in  response  to  popular 
clamour,  and  the  insidious  whisper,  "  If  thou  let 
this  man  go  thou  art  not  Csesar's  friend."  What 
availed  Pilate's  ceremonial  act  of  washing  his 
hands  in  public,  typifying  that  he  repudiated  the 
responsibility  which  was  his,  and  which  at  the 
time  was  accepted  by  the  Jewish  mob  ?  To-day  the 
world  holds  Pontius  Pilate  -esponsible  for  that  judi- 
cial  murder. 

My  point  is,  Madam,  that  the  supreme  authority 
is  the  authority  upon  whom  responsibility  falls, 
and  no  amount  of  repudiation  can  absolve  it  from 
that  responsibility. 

Therefore  if  an  Election  Committee  weakly  yields 
to  pressure  or  makes  a  mistake  in  the  heat  of 
controversy,  I  hold  that  no  Governing  Body  has  a 
right  to  say,  in  effect,  "  Yes,  a  mistake  has  been 
made,  but  we  have  no  power  to  rectify  it :  we  have 
delegated  our  powers  to  the  Election  Committee.'' 
Xo  body  of  persons  has  a  right  to  make  a  gift  of 
things  which  do  not  belong  to  it,  and  the  powers 
of  Governors  are  a  trust  not  absolute. 

Whether  or  not  trustees  depute  their  duties  to 
others    they   are   responsible  in   fact   and   in   law. 

I  hope,  therefore,  that  before  the  Governors 
of  the  Royal  Hants  County  Hospital  nominally 
renounce  their  obligations  they  will  consider  this 
matter  further. 

I  am.  Madam, 

Yours  faithfully. 
Cert.  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital. 

IMotices. 


CONTRIBUTIONS. 

The  Editor  will  at  all  times  be  please<l  to  consider 
articles  of  a  suitable  nature  for  insertion  in  this 
Journal — those  on  practical  nursing  are  specially 
invited. 

.\dvertisements  and  business  communications 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Manager,  British 
Journal  of  Nursing,  11,  .idam  Street,  Strand, 
W.C. 

OUR   PUZZLE  PRIZE. 

Rules  for  competing  for  the  Pictorial  Puzzle 
Prize  will  be  found  on  Advertisement  page  xii. 


Aug.  27, 1910]  ^|)c  Bi'lttsh  3oui-nal  of  itAiu-sino  Supplement. 

The    Midwife. 


179 


Schools  of  n^^l^\vifel•\>• 

THE  MIDDLESEX   HOSPITAL. 

Oue  of  the  latest  schools  of  midwifery  is  that 
in  connection  with  the  Middlesex  Hospital, 
where  Maternity  Wards  have  recently  been 
added.  Very  fret;h  and  dainty  they  look  with 
their  walls  tiled  in  a  soft  shade  of  blue.  One 
ward  contains  six  and  the  other  four  beds, 
cots  for  the  infants  being  in  every  case  elung 
at  the  foot  of  the  beds.  In  our  view,  small 
wards  of  this  description  are  the  most  suitable 
form  for  maternity  cases,  both  from  the  point 
of  view  of  quiet  for  mothers  and  infants  at  a 
time  when  quiet  is  imperatively  necessary,  and 
because  in  the  event  of  anxiety  arising  as  to 
the  progress  of  a  case  the  possibilities  of  in- 
fection are  minimised,  although,  happily,  at 
the  present  day  a  nomial  puerperium  is  the 
rule   almost  without   t-xeeption. 

The  ^laternity  Wards  at  the  Middlesex  Hos- 
pital are  provided  with  bath  rooms  where 
patients  can  be  bathed  and  clothed  in  clean 
clothes  before  being  passed  on  to  the  con- 
venient labour  ward,  which  is  like  a  small 
operating  theatre,  and  provided  with  every 
appliance  and  instiument  likely  to  be  needed. 
The  patient  is  ordinarily  removed  to  the  general 
wards  at  the  conclusion  of  the  labour,  but  if 
the  case  has  been  a  severe  one,  and  to  move  her 
is  inexpedient,  she  can  rest  comfortably  in  bed 
in  this  ward  until  it  can  be  safely  undertaken. 
Mention  must  be  made  of  the  bath  room  with 
its  convenient  china  baths  for  the  babies,  and 
hot  water  rails  on  which  to  dry  and  warm  the 
towels.  There  are  also  lockers  for  the  patients' 
clothes,  and  a  linen  closet  for  the  supplies  of 
the  Sister-in-eharge,  who  is  immaculately 
neat,  in  white  from  head  to  foot. 

In  regard  to  the  training  school,  pupils  are 
received  for  a  period  of  four  montlis,  and  pre- 
pared for  the  examination  of  the  Central  Mid- 
wives'  Board,  for  a  fee  of  2.5  guineas.  They 
supplement  their  work  in  the  wards  with  ex- 
perience in  the  district  in  charge  of  an  outside 
midwife,  and  they  have  the  advantage  of  resi- 
dence in  the  hospital,  washing  being  provided, 
an  unusual  concession  ms  midwifery  pupils  as 
a  nile  pay  their  own  laundry  expenses,  which 
movmt  up  to  a  considerable  sum  in  the  course 
of  training.  Hesidenee  in  a  hospital,  where 
there  is  a  night  and  day  staff,  also  ensures  that 
meals  are  easily  obtainable  at  any  hour,  which 
is  a  great  convenience  when  the  irregidarity  of 
a  midwife's  work  is  considered. 


Lectures  and  tutorial  classes  are  given  both 
by  the  physicians  connected  with  the  depart- 
ment and  by  midwives,  and,  to  judge  from  the 
residts  obtained  at  the  examinations  of  the 
Centi-al  Midwives'  Board,  the  teaching 
must  be  excellent,  as  out  of  38  candidates  sent 
up  37  passed  the  examination,  and  the  38th 
passed  on  a  second  attempt,  which  is  a  record 
to  be  proud  of.  Nurses  are  received  for  train- 
ing from  other  hospitals,  pupils  with  previous 
general  training  being  naturally  preferred,  and 
they  are  permitted  to  wear  their  own  unifomi 
while  in  residence.  Applications  for  vacancies 
should  be  made  to  the  ^latron  of  the  hospital, 
^liss  Lloyd-Still. 

Nothing  is  more  significant  of  the  beneficent 
effect  of  Lord  Lister's  discoveries  than  the  re- 
opening of  wards  in  general  hospitals  once 
more,  as  is  becoming  increasingly  usual,  for 
maternity  cases.  Previous  to  the  application 
of  the  principles  of  antisepsis,  and  asepsis  in 
-the  treatment  of  patients,  it  will  be  remem- 
bered that  the  maternal  morbidity  from  puer- 
peral sepsis,  conveyed  by  entirely  preventable 
means,  was  so  appalling  that  the  entire  closing 
both  of  maternity  wards  in  general  hospitals, 
and  of  lying-in  hospitals  also,  was  at  one  time 
seriously  considered.  That  it  should  be  found 
possible  and  advantageous  to  open  such  wards 
once  again  is  a  triumph  for  the  exponent  of 
surgical  cleanliness,  and  the  lesson  which 
nurses  and  midwives  have  to  bear  constantly 
in  mind  is  that  to  relax  vigilance  in  the  slightest 
degree  is  to  expose  the  patient  to  peril.  The 
first  essentials  for  a  maternity  nurse  or  midwife 
are  intelligence  and  absolute  conscientiousness 
in  carrying  out  apparently  trivial  and  often 
wearisome  details. of  aseptic  te<!hnique. 

Nurses  should  certainly  avail  themselves 
whenever  possible  of  the  increasing  facilities 
offered  them  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  mid- 
wifery and  obstetric  nursing,  so  that  they  may 
become  conversant  with  the  three  great 
branches  of  their  profession,  medical,  surgical, 
and  obstetric  nursino;.  The  medical  pixjfession 
insists,  in  its  ovm  case,  on  its  members  being 
qualified  in  all  three  branches,  and  the  uursins; 
profession  should  follow  along  the  same  lines. 
Does  there  not  seem  something  almost  un- 
natural in  a  nurse  who  can  faultlessly  prepare 
everything  for  a  big  operation,  but  is  absolutely 
ignorant  of  the  way  to  hold  a  new  born  infant", 
safely  and  comfortably?  No  nurse  should  be 
content  till  she  has  obtained  obstetric  training' 
either  in  her  own  school  or  elsewhere. 


180         ^i5e  iBiitisb  3ournal  of  IRursing  Supplement,  [-'^u 


g.  27,  1910 


TRIlbi?  (Iert(fie&  flDilk  Sometimes 
jfails  as  a  ifoob  for  3nfants. 

Dr.  .Judson  A.  Hulse,  of  Akron,  Ohio,  writing  in 
The  Dietetic  and  Hygienic  Gazette,  says: — "  From 
a  theoretical  standpoint  certified  milk  should  be, 
next  to  maternal  nursing,  the  beet  food  obtainable 
for  infants  and  young  children.  Practically  it 
sometimes  fails  and  this  failure  is  due  to  a  number 
of  reasons,  chief  of  which  is  the  fact  that  it  is  often 
low  in  the  percentage  of  fat. 

It  is  now  the  weight  of  opinion  among  pediatrists 
that  the  tough  curd  of  cow's  milk  is  softened  and 
rendere<l  digestible  by  the  presence  of  fat  in  tlie 
shape  of  cream.  Buttermilk,  skim-milk,  or  any 
other  fat-iree  milk  no  longer  occupies  a  place  in  the 
dietary  of  a  healthy  or  unhealthy  infant.  The 
Walker-Gordon  lalx>iiatories  have  long  since  demon- 
stnatetl  the  absolute  necessity  of  increa.sing  the 
amount  of  fat  whenever  the  amount  of  proteids  are 
raised.  Attempts  to  raise  the  proteids  without  a 
corresponding  increase  in  the  pi^oportion  of  fats 
have  proved  disastrous  to  the  infant's  digestion. 

Dr.  Joseph  Winters,  of  Cornell  University,  has 
ably  shown  that  from  a  physical  standiwint  alone 
fat-fiee  milk  and  milk  low-  in  fat  are  apt  to  be  in- 
digestible when  given  to  an  infant.  As  he  states: 
"  The  pyloric  orifice  of  an  infant  is  no  larger  than 
the  average  small  probe,"  hence  the  tough  curd 
cannot  pass  through  it,  consequently  it  remains  in 
the  stomach  until  putrefactive  changes  occur,  re- 
sulting in  violent  attacks  of  indigestion  or  giiaver 
disorders. 

Certified  milk  is  often  low  in  fat  for  this  reason: 
From  the  press  and  pulpit,  through  health  boards 
and  the  variou.s  anti-tubercular  leagues  and  kindred 
organisations,  as  well  as  the  medical  profession,  the 
public  has  learned  of  the  dangere  and  ravages  of 
tuberculosis.  Infection  from  tubercular  milk  hai 
claimed  its  share  of  attention,  and  the  work  of 
education  has  reached  the  farmer  in  tJie  remote 
rural  districts,  making  him  wary  of  the  Jersey- 
bred  cattle  of  his  herd,  since  he  knows  that  tliey 
are  especially  susceptible  to  tubercular  infection. 
Tlie  writer  ])ei-&onally  knows  certified  milk  pro- 
ducers who  have  eliminated  the  Jer,sey-bred  cattle 
from  their  herds  before  submitting  their  cattle  to 
the  tuberculin  test  because  of  this  fear,  and  he 
knows  of  othcre  who  have  refused  to  add  Jei-seys 
to  the  herd  for  the  same  rea.son. 

Since  cows  of  this  bree<1  more  than  any  other 
contribute  to  high  fat  percentages,  the  result  of 
their  elimination  from  the  herd  is  a  milk  low  in  fat, 
relatively  high  in  proteids,  and  therefore  a  milk 
not  only  constii>ating,  and  the  cau.-ic  of  iK)or 
nutrition,  but,  further,  capable  of  producing  acute 
ga6tix)-enteric  di,'^>rdci-s  of  a  grave  or  fatal  nature 
in  the  strongest  infants. 

Another  objection  to  certifiwl  milk  as  a  f<xKl  for 
infants  is  the  fact  that  it  is  twenty-four  hours  oUl 
when  delivcre<l  to  the  consumer,  and  when  kept  lor 
use  another  twenty-four  houre,  or  forly-<>ight  hours 
in  all,  is  then  too  old  for  the  infant's  use. 

The  writer  is  not  unmindful  of  the  fact  that  the 
foregoing  statement  is  contrary  to  popular  opinion. 


He  is  aware,  too,  that  certified  milk  is  taken  aboard 
sea-faring  vessels  in  long  voyages,  and  fed  to  in- 
fants weeks  afterward  without  apparent  harm,  but 
he  feels,  nevertheless,  that  there  are  chemical  and 
pioteolytic  changes  taking  place  in  such  milk  which, 
while  hard  to  demonstrate  by  laboratory  methods, 
are  yet  capable  of  rendering  it,  even  wfien  kept 
under  ideal  conditions,  le.ss  fit  as  a  food  for  infants 
than  i^erhaps  less  clean  milk  used  within  the  fir.st 
twelve  hours  of  its  production,  if  we  are  to  measure 
results  by  the  infant's  freedom  from  gastro-enteric 
disturbances,  but  more  especially  by  its  normal 
giiowth,  progressive  gain  in  weight  and  general 
well-being. 


^be  Central  fllMbwives'  Boar&. 


The  next  examination  of  the  Central  Midwives' 
Board  will  be  held  on  October  2-lth,  in  London,  at 
the  Examination  Hall,  Victoria  Enil>ankment, 
W.C. ;  in  Birmingham,  Bristol,  Leeds,  and  Man- 
chaster,  at  their  respective  Universities;  and  at 
Newcastle-on-Tyne  at  the  University  of  Durham 
College  of  Medicine. 


AMienever  Irish  midwives  are  included  and 
recognised  in  the  Midwives'  Act,  we  hope 
they  will  be  required  to  pass  a  central  ex- 
amination and  answer  the  same  questions  as  those 
set  for  candidates  in  England  and  Wales.  Any 
other  course  would  manifestly  be  unfair  to  English 
midwives,  and  further,  the  institution  of  a  central 
examination  and  the  maintenance  of  a  uniform 
standard  is  the  most  important  and  useful  work 
carried  out  under  the  Act. 


^blrst  fever  in  3nfants. 

Mviller  reports  in  the  Journal  of  the  American 
Medical  Association  that  fever  developed  in 
some  infants  who  were  resisting  a  change 
of  diet,  and  whom  he  was  trying  to 
accustom  to  the  bottle  or  the  breast  b.v 
.starving  them  to  it.  He  describes  two  cases  in  de- 
tail, calling  attention  to  the  reciprocal  relations 
between  the  weight  and  the  temperature ;  whenever 
the  weight  showed  that  the  children  were  suffering 
from  insufficient  intake  of  fluids,  the  temperature 
rose,  while  it  declined  again  when  tea  was  given. 
He  is  inclined  to  regard  this  thir.st  fever  as  the 
dirc<'t  result  of  the  concentration  of  the  body  juices, 
an  alimentary,  or  rather  negative  alimentary  fever, 
analogous  to  the  "  salt  fever  ''  observed  in  infants. 
These  experiences  suggest  that  the  custom  of  com- 
pelling a  change  of  food  by  starving  the  children  to 
it  may  have  serious  consequences;  and  al.so  that 
salt  fever  may  occur  without  any  lesion  of  the  in- 
testines. Possibly  the  reduced  elimination  of  water 
tluoufjh  lungs  aiul  skin  may  be  partly  responsible 
for  the  higher  temperature.  ^liillor  refers  to  Cran- 
dell's  report  in  1889  of  similar  cases  of  fever 
in"  which  the  temperature  rose  during  abstention 
from  fluids.  It  was  first  called  "starvation  fever," 
but  Miiller  prefers  the  term  "  thirst  fever." 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 
EDITED  BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


No.  1,170. 


SATURDAY,     SEPT     3,     1910. 


lEMtortal. 


THE       HOLIDAYS. 

To  every  one,  even  the  most  strenuons 
worker,  comes  a  time  when  it  is  not  only 
desirable  but  necessarj-  to  take  some  rest 
and  recreation,  if  work  is  to  be  efficiently 
continued,  and  to  no  one  does  the  holiday 
season  appeal  more,  and  bj'  none  is  it  more 
needed,  than  by  the  trained  nurse.  Wli ether 
she  works  in  hospital,  in  asylums,  is  engaged 
in  district  nursing,  or  in  one  of  the  manj- 
other  branches  now  opening  iip  to  her  in 
all  directions,  the  claims  upon  her  arc 
exacting,  the  demands  upon  her  physical, 
mental,  and  moral  force  incessant.  There 
is  the  daily  routine,  necessitating  the 
punctiial  and  exact  performance  of  duty. 
Hospital  nurses  "  work  by  the  clock," 
each  hour  brings  its  special  task,  wliich 
mnst  be  done  to  time,  for  to  let  it  slide  in 
the  hope  of  overtaking  it  later  on  is  to  intro- 
duce confusion  into  a  machine  which  is  per- 
fectly adjusted  for  its  special  purpose,  and 
which  only  works  smoothly  when  its 
mechanism  is  evenly  regulated.  So  as  the 
jiurse  moves  up  and  down  the  ward  evolving 
order  by  the  magic  of  her  touch,  attending 
to  patients  so  tiiat  freshness  and  comfort 
follow  in  her  train,  speaking  a  kindly  and 
encouraging  word  as  she  methodicall.y 
washes  the  helpless  and  makes  beds  with 
the  swiftness  and  precision  only  attainable 
in  a  hospital,  all  the  time  her  brain  is  at 
attention.  Her  sense  of  the  need  for  haste 
must  not  communicate  itself  to  her  patient ; 
for  the  time  being  he  must  be  made  to  feel 
that  his  welfare  is  tlie  one  important  thing, 
but  for  the  nurse,  under  the  outer  calm  is 
always  the  sense  of  urgency,  the  "  next 
thing  "  compelling  attention  if  it  is  to  be 
fitted  in  with  the  day's  work. 

A  life  of  routine  has  many  charms-it 


supports  while  it  insists,  it  enables  the 
greatest  amount  of  work  to  be  accomplished 
in  the  least  possilde  time,  but  none  the  less 
does  the  worker  tend  to  become  merely  a 
depressed  machine  if  she  never  escapes  its 
clutches,  and  this  is  especially  true  of  the 
nurse  whose  life  has  two  aspects — on  the 
one  side  she  is  in  the  grip  of  the  relentless 
machine  of  routine  ;  on  the  other  she  must 
always  keep  her  sympathies  warm  and 
glowing,  and  her  human,  sensitive  side 
turned  towards  the  sick.  For  the  sick  are  hu- 
man and  very  sensitive  also,  and  a  machine, 
however  perfectly  developed,  is  a  poor  sub- 
stitute for  the  living,  pulsating  human  being; 
although  hidden  under  the  humanity,  the 
perfect  machine  must  be  there.  It  is  the 
combination  of  the  two,  in  the  right  propor- 
tions, which  produces  the  ideal  nurse. 

The  ideal  nurse  must  be  always  at  her 
best,  and  the  time  comes  when  she  herself 
needs  consideration,  the  constant  demands 
upon  her  of  daj'  and  night  work,  the  giving 
out  of  her  own  vital  force  to  those  whose 
vitality  is  low.  all  has  told  upon  her,  the 
machinery  shows  signs  of  flagging,  her  work 
needs  more  ell'ort  than  usual.  Every  nurse, 
every  hard  worker,  indeed,  knows  the  feel- 
ing well.  She  needs  a  holidaj-,  she  has 
earned  it,  and  she  will  enjoy  it  as  only  the 
hard  worker  can.  Not  to  work  by  the  clock, 
"to  go  where  one  likes,  do  what  one  likes,  as 
one  likes,  and  when  one  likes,  to  relax  the 
constant  tension,  these  are  the  joys  which 
reward  a  year  of  busy  thought  for  others. 
And  the  object  of  a  holidaj — whatever  form 
it  may  take  as  individual  taste  directs — is 
the  same  :  to  set  the  machine  in  perfect 
order  once  more,  and  to  renew  vitality,  so 
that  the  worker  may  take  up  her  life's  task 
with  renewed  energy,  glad  that  there  is  a^ 
niche  in  the  world,  where  she  has  the 
riglit  to  work. 


182 


in^c  Britisb  journal  of  IRuismg, 


LSept.  3,  1910 


riDeOical  HDatters. 


PRECAUTIONS  AGAINST  CHOLERA. 
The  Local  Goveiument  Board  has  issued  a 
circular  to  port  sauitarv  authorities  aud  certain 
riparian  sanitary  authorities,  signed  Ijy  ^Ir.  H. 
C.  Monro,  secretary,  and  dated  August  19th, 
1910,  as  follows  : — "'I  am  directed  to  call  your 
attention  to  the  fact  4:hat  cholera  is  again 
seriously  epidemic  in  Eussia,  particularly  in  the 
St.  Petersburg  district  aud  at  Cronstadt  and 
other  Russian  ports.  The  sanitary  authorities 
of  British  ports  trading  with  Eussia  should 
be  on  their  guard  against  the  importa- 
tion of  cholera  into  their  districts  by  vessels 
coming  from  places  where  the  disease  has  ap- 
peared or  is  likely  to  appear.  In  this  connec- 
tion it  is  essential  that  the  medical 
officers  of  health  of  such  British  jjorts 
should  endeavour  to  keep  themselves  infonned 
as  to  the  spi-fead  of  the  present  outbreak  of 
cholera,  and  especially  as  to  the  continuance  of 
the  disease  in  ports  where  it  now  exists  and  its 
appearance  in  other  ports  not  yet  known  to  be 
affected  bj-  it.  The  statement  which  the  Board 
issues  weekly  to  the  medical  officers  of  health 
of  port  and  i-iparian  sanitary  authorities,  and 
which  contains  information  as  to  such  cholera 
occurrences  as  have  come  under  the  Board '^ 
notice,  will  be  of  assistance  in  this  direc-tion. 
I  am  to  remind  you  that  on  September  9th, 
1907,  the  Board  issued  a  revised  General  Order 
relating  to  cholera,  yellow  fever,  and  plague 
on  ships  arriving  from  foreign  ports.  The 
Board  relies  on  the  port  and  riparian  sanitary 
authorities  taking  all  necessary  steps  under 
that  Order  to  prevent  the  introduction  of 
cholera  into  this  countrj\  Special  atten- 
tion should  be  paid  to  ships  bringing 
aliens  from  Eussia  to  British  ports."  The 
Local  Govenunent  Board  for  Scotland  has  also 
issued  a  circular  regarding  cholera.  The  neces- 
sity for  readiness  and  vigilance  is  pointed  out. 
Special  precautions  should  be  observed  with 
regard  to  vessels  coming  from  North  Eussian 
and  Black  Sea  ports.  Probably  never  be- 
fore, says  the  British  Medical  Journfd, 
have  such  full,  careful,  and  elaborate  means 
been  taken  for  meeting  a  possible  outbreak  of 
cholera  in  Scotland,  th:  Dittmnr  has  recently 
been  visiting  all  the  medical  officers  of  health 
and  nuiking  arrangements  against  possible  con- 
tingencies. The  various  ports  in  the  Firth  of 
Forth  are  of  course  danger  zones,  carrying  on 
as  they  do  much  trade  with  Eussian  Baltic 
ports.  It  is  not  always  the  important  ports 
that  are  the  most  dangerous  points.  On  the 
contrary,  it  is  often  some  insignificant  jiort  that 
!•?  the  inlet  for  danger. 


DISINFECTION   OF  THE  SURGEONS  HANDS 
BEFORE  OPERATING. 

The  Berlin  corresjjondent  of  the  Lancet  re- 
poi-ts  that  opinion  with  respect  to  the  most  effi- 
cacious mode  of  disinfecting  the  skin  for  sur- 
gical jJurposes  is  undergoing  a  remarkable  alter- 
ation. Washing  and  brushing,  which  have 
hitherto  fomied  a  principal  feature  in  the  opera- 
tion room,  will  soon  be  a  thing  of  the  past  here. 
The  painting  of  the  field  of  operation  with 
tincture  of  iodine,  devised  by  Dr.  Grossich,  has 
more  and  more  replaced  the  modes  of  disinfec- 
tion fonnerly  in  use.  Dr.  Schumburg  of  Stras- 
burg,  a  staff-surgeon  of  the  army,  has  recently 
warned  surgeons  against  reliance  on  washing 
their  hands  with  soap  and  water.  He  has  found 
by  bacteriological  research  that  brushing  the 
hands  with  soap  and  hot  water 'does  not  destroy 
the  germs,  even  when  continued  for  1.5  or  20 
minutes,  but  that  washing  with  200  grammes 
of  absolute  alcohol  destroys  99  per  cent,  of  the 
germs.  Instead  of  a  brush,  a  piece  of  gauze 
moistened  with  the  alcohol  is  used.  Accord- 
ing to  him  the  soap  softens  the  skin  and  the 
capsules  of  the  bacteria  so  that  the  latter  stick 
to  the  skin  and  cannot  be  removed  by  the 
brush.  The  alcohol,  on  the  contrary,  hardens 
the  skin  and  the  capsules  of  the  bacteria  so 
that  the  adhesion  between  them  decreases,  the 
result  being  that  the  bacteria  can  be  easily  re- 
moved from  the  skin  by  a  piece  of  gauze.  Pre- 
liminary washing  with  soap  and  water  is  to  be- 
avoided  because  the  alcohol  becomes  diluted 
and  the  skin  damaged.  By  order  of  the  Army 
]\Iedical  Department  the  new  method  has  been 
tried  in  the  larger  military  hospitals  and  th'- 
reports  are  very  favourable. 

AN  OUTBREAK  OF  SHOTTED  FEVER. 

The  outlH-f.ik  of  s]>ottfd  fever  in  Leicester- 
shire still,  it  is  reported,  causes  grave  anxiety, 
and  very  strenuous  efforts  are  being  made  to 
stamp  it  out.  The  Local  Government  Board 
have  sent  down  a  special  medical .  inspector, 
who  is  making  extensive  inquiries  with  a  view 
to  discovering  the  cause  of  the  outbreak,  and 
he  is  actively  co-operating  with  the  medical 
officers  of  health  and  the  medical  men  in  the 
affected   area. 

Attempts  are  being  made  to  reassure  the  in- 
habitants of  the  district  i?o  as  to  minimise  the 
loss  which  has  fallen  upon  the  shopkeepers  and 
tradesmen  of  (he  eleven  infected  places;  but 
those  living  in  the  neighbourhood  are  taking 
the  precaution  of  keejjing  away  from  them  as 
much  as  possible.  In  some  cases  shopkeepers 
complain  that  owing  to  the  mysterious  natm-e 
of  the  disease  they  have  lost  all  their  best  cus- 
tomers, as  they  are  afraid  to  consume  pro- 
visions which  have  been  stored  in  the  affected 
area. 


Sept.  3,  lOlo; 


Zbe  asrltlsb  3ournal  of  iHursing, 


ls:3 


a   Survcv  of   tbc   IIAiu'^ino   of 
flDcntal  Diseases. 


Bv  William  L.  Kussell,  M.D., 
Medical  Inspector  of  the  State  Commission 
in  humicy.  New  Yorli. 
{Concluded  from  page  147.) 
The  Personal  Cake  of  Mental  Cases. 
In  this  final  analysis,  the  success  of  any 
system  of  treatment  of  disease  depends  ujwn 
the  character  of  attention  given  to  each  indi- 
vidual case.  This  is  conspicuously  so  in  the 
treatment  of  mental  disease,  which  is  largely 
a  nureing  problem.  Through  the  efforts  of  the 
physicians,  the  medical  needs  of  the  cases  have 
been  emphasised  and  provided  for  with  in- 
creasing elftciency,  and  the  nursing  has  been 
greatly  improved.  Training  schools  have  been 
established  and  placed  on  a  creditable  and 
promising '  footing.  It  is  time  now  for  the 
nurses  to  take  a  more  definite  and  active  part 
in  pointing  the  way  and  shaping  the  plans  for 
a  still  higher  standard  of  personal  care  of  the 
insane  than  has  yet  been  possible.  To  be  con- 
vinced of  the  need  and  the  opportunities  for 
improvement,  one  does  not  have  to  believe 
fully  the  uewspaj)er  accounts  of  abuses.  A 
little  knowledge  of  the  history  of  the  care  of 
the  insane  and  the  prevailing  views  and  igno- 
rance, with  the  conspicuous  absence  of  any 
strong  popular  movement  for  better  personal 
service,  such  as  the  Nightingale  movement 
hrought  to  the  sick  in  general,  is  sufficient. 
^<>me  insight  into  the  situation  from  the  stand- 
[i'>int  of  a  patient  may  be  obtained  from  a  most 
interesting  and  instructive  book  entitled  "  A 
Mind  that  Found  Itself."  the  author  of  which, 
Mr.Chfford  W.  Beers,  recovered  from  an  attack 
of  mental  disease  after  successive  periods  of 
treatment  in  three  different  institutions, each  of 
which  represents  a  type.  It  is  surely  time  for 
the  luirsing  profession  to  take  up  the  evident 
needs  of  mental  cases  from  the  nursing  stand- 
point, just  as  for  years  physicians  have  been 
wrestling  with  them  from  the  medical  stand- 
point. The  nursing  of  mental  diseases  should 
now  become  a  distinct  nursing  problem. 

Those  who  wish  to  be  of  real  service  must, 
however,  first  obtain  an  intelligent  insight  into 
what  they  are  dealing  with,  and  practical  know- 
ledge of  the  needs  of  the  cases.  To  many,  in- 
sanity signifies  a  single  disorder.  Those  who 
- -e  the  cases  thus  classed  know,  however,  that 
•iiey  represent  a  great  variety  of  conditions, 
which  differ  in  their  characteristics,  origin,  and 
outcome,    and   in  the  requirements  for    their 

*  Presented  to  the  International  Congress  of 
Xurses,  London,^1909. 


management.  Some  of  them  are  due  to  gross 
organic  changes  in  the  brain,-  such  as  tumours 
and  haemorrhages;  others  are  manifesta- 
tions of  the  effects  of  toxic  substances  such  as 
alcoholj  opium,  or  the  products  of  bacteria: 
others  are  associated  with  such  familiar  forms 
of  nervous  disease  as  chorea,  epilepsy,  hysteria, 
and  neurasthenia ;  others  still  are  the  outcome 
of  inherited  or  acquired  constitutional  states 
which  render  the  subjects  peculiarlirsusceptible 
to  the  upsetting  influences  of  incidental 
physical  disturbances  and  of  personal  mental 
experiences  which  present  difficulties  in  adjust- 
ment. Every  nurse  is  famiUar  with  acute 
delirium,  and  looks  upon  it  as  a  feature  of  the 
physical  disorder  which  she  is  engaged  in  deal- 
ing with.  This  is,  however,  merely  a  point  of 
view.  If  the  delirium  should  dominate  the 
cHnical  picture  to  the  exclusion  of  the  accepted 
evidence  of  a  recognised  type  of  physical  dis- 
ease, the  case  would  be  regarded  as  one  of 
mental  disease,  and,  if  protracted,  would  pro- 
bably be  transferred  to  an  institution  for  the 
insane.  Many  of  the  cases  admitted  to  these 
institutions  are  in  a  state  of  delirium  either  as 
an  essential  feature  of  the  disease,  or  as  an 
episode  in  a  more  fundamental  disturbance. 
Other  cases  show  a  special  type  of  physical  and 
mental  over-activity,  spoken  of  as  maniacal  ex- 
citement. Others  are  overcome  with  a  pro- 
found depression  of  spirits  and  of  physical 
inadequacy.  In  still  others  the  mental  disease 
consists  in  a  thinking  disorder  which  leads  to 
misinterpretations  and  false  ideas  concerning 
the  experiences  and  ordinary  affairs  of  life. . 
often  without  much  or  any  physical  evidences 
of  disease.  In  many  there  is  a  general  mental 
enfeeblement,  often  accompanied  by  pro- 
nounced physical  changes  due  to  old  age  or  to 
organic  disease.  In  conservative  tabulations 
of  the  mental  disorders  from  which  the  cases 
admitted  are  suffering,  which  are  published  in 
the  annual  reports  of  the  hospitals  for  the  in- 
sane, between  20'and  30  forms  are  mentioned. 
From  the  medical  and  nursing  standpoints  a 
reference  to  the  insane  as  a  class  means  no 
more  than  would  a  reference  to  the  sick  as  a 
class. 

The  extent  to  which  the  knowledge  and  re- 
sources of  the  well-trained  general  nurse  are 
required  in  the  care  of  mental  cases  can  be  only 
partiaDy  demonstrated  by  reference  to  a  few 
facts  relating  to  the  work  in  the  institutions 
for  the  insane.  That  a  large  proportion  of  the 
patients  admitted  are  extremely  ill  is  shown  by 
the  high  death-rate,  which  is  four  or  five  times 
that  of  the  general  population,  and  by  the  fact  - 
that  nearly  half  of  the  deatlw  ,-w...u.-  .liiri.uj  rli.-- 
fir.«t  vear  •>f  residence. 


184 


ZTbc  Britisb  3ournaI  of  IRursing. 


[Sept.  3,  1910 


Dr.  Piussell  here  gave  a  table  showing  the 
variety  of  physical  diseases  which  occur  in  hos- 
pitals for  the  insane,  requiring  medical,  surgical 
and  obstetric  treatment  and  nursing,  and  con- 
tinues :  — 

Measures  relating  to  disorders  of  the  diges- 
tive tract  and  nutrition,  to  circulatory  distur- 
bances, and  to  functional  nervous  disordere  are 
especially  applicable.  In  the  management  of 
the  dietary,  the  nurse  for  mental  cases  should 
be  an  expert.  Not  only  will  the  more  common 
occasions  for  ability  in  this  direction  be  met 
with,  but  all  sorts  of  vagaries  and  positive  re- 
fusal of  food  must  be  managed.  In  the  care  of 
all  acute  cases  and  of  epileptics,  and  of  cases 
of  general  paralysis,  dietetic  considerations  be- 
come extremely  important.  Hydrotherapeutic 
procedures  are  emplo3-ed  in  great  variety  in  the 
nursing  of  mental  cases,  from  the  neutral  tub 
in  which  an  excited  or  delirious  patient  may  be 
kept  continuously  for  days  or  weeks  to  the 
simple  sprays  and  packs.  Rubbing  and  mas- 
sage and  electricity  are  used  extensively,  and 
the  nurse  should  be  able  to  employ  them 
effectively  and  judiciously. 

In  the  application  of  all  nursing  measures  in 
these  cases,  the  question  of-mental  readjust- 
ment and  restoration  to  normal  activities  must 
be  ever  in  the  mind  of  the  nurse.  The  special 
measui'es  employed  in  dealing  with  these  are 
judicious  mental  management,  combined 
physical  and  mental  exercises,  and  means  of 
recreation  and  pleasure.  The  proper  mental 
management  of  the  ca.ses  can  only  be  learned 
as  a  result  of  insight  into  their  character  and 
of  practice.  Th-=^  nui^se  must  know  what  may 
ordinarily  be  expected  from  a  case.  A  cheer- 
ful, wholesome  outlook  on  life  in  the  nurse  her- 
self is  quite  essential.  She  must  be  sure  of  her 
self-control  under  aggravating  circumstances, 
and  find  a  constant  pleasure  in  healthy  activi- 
ties with  and  for  others.  She  must  leam  when 
and  how  to  wse  repressive  measures,  and  to 
what  extent  it  is  best  to  permit  even  morbid 
activities  to  have  their  swing.  She  must  know- 
how  and  w'hen  to  use  assertion,  suggestion,  and 
example  in  dealing  with  morbid  ideas,  and  when 
to  leave  the  patients  to  their  own  thoughts. 
Ijittle  can,  however,  be  said  on  this  subject 
that  will  explain  the  requirements. 

^luch  importance  is  attached  to  the  use  of 
combined  exercises.  Among  the  simplest  are 
marching  to  music,  calisthenics,  dancing,  in- 
teresting walks,  and  simple,  often  childish, 
games. 

"Social  Service  for  Mental  Cases. 

A  few  years  ago,  under  the  auspices  of  the 
State  Charities  .Vid  .\Rsociation,  a  movement 
was  stnrte.l   in    Xr.w  V<.H:   !i(nt,.   f.,,-  t)i.>   nft-T- 


care  of  patients  discharged  recovered  from  the 
State  hospitals  lor  the  insane.  The  work  has 
been  carried  on  with  exceptional  etiiciency  in 
New  York  City,  where  it  has  been  extended  so 
as  to  include  attention  to  incipient  mental  cases 
who  ap_ply  for  treatment  at  Bellevue  Hospital. 
The  value  of  this  method  of  seeking  to  prevent 
the  onset  or  recurrence  of  mental  disease  has 
been  clearly  shown,  and  its  further  application 
seems  certain.  This  should  open  to  nurses  an 
important  and  interesting  field  of  work,  in 
vvliich  a  working  knowledge  of  mental  diseases 
would  be  extremely  useful.  A  somewhat  similar 
work  has  been  earned  on  in  jMassachusetts  for 
many  years,  and  nurses  are  constantly 
employed  to  visit  the  patients  in  homes  where 
they  are  boarded  by  the  State,  or  in  their  own 
homes. 

A  great  deal  more  might  be  said  on  the  sub- 
jects touched  on  in  this  paper.  I  fear,  how- 
ever, that  I  have  already  tried  you  patience. 
yiy  purpose  has  been  to  bring  to  your  attention 
some  facts  and  considerations  relating  to  the 
whole  field  of  nursing  in  mental  diseases  with 
a  view  to  exciting  interest,  and  possibly  sug- 
gesting openings  for  helpful  and  profitable  ser- 
vice. I  should  like  to  emphasise  the  following 
practical  points:  — 

1.  That,  though  a  great  deal  of  splendid  work 
is  done  by  the  attendants  and  nurses  in  the 
hospitals  for  the  insane,  nurse  leadens  are 
needed  for  dealing  more  efficiently  with  the 
care  of  the  insane  as  a  distinct  nursing  problem 
and  for  the  better  organisation  of  nurse  train- 
ing for  the  work. 

2.  That,  for  humanitarian  reasons,  and  for 
the  earlier  treatment  of  mental  cases,  provision 
for  at  least  temporary  care  should  be  made  at 
the  general  hospitals. 

3.  That  jihysicians  and  nui-ses  in  general 
should  be  better  informed  in  regard  to  the 
nature  and  causes  of  mental  diseases,  and  to 
the  proper  methods  of  dealing  with  them.  This 
wo\ild  render  them  more  efficient  in  dealing 
with  the  cases  in  the  homes,  and  would  enable 
them  to  lead  in  measures  for  earlier  attention 
and  prevention,  which  must  be  looked  to  if  the 
rising  tide  of  mental  disease  in  this  counti-y  is 
to  be  cheeked. 

To  accomplish  what  is  needed  will  require 
co-operation  and  many  workers.  The  nurees 
cannot  cultivate  the  field  uninvited  and  alone. 
The  need  exists,  however,  and  is  daily  be- 
coming more  plainly  seen  and  felt.  So  far  as 
it  relates  to  nursing,  the  nurses  of  America 
may,  I  am  sure,  be  depended  upon  to  find  a 
way. 

The  same  may,  we  feel  sure,  be  said  of  the 
nm-;i-;  of  the  United  Kingdom. 


Sept.  3,  1910J 


Cbc  Britisb  3ournal  of  HAursiiuj, 


IHursct?  atj  Ibcnltb  niMt?3ioncr« 

THE  CORRECTION   OF  AN   INJURIOUS  HABIT. 

It  is  a  curious  tliiiij:  liiat  so  many  uurses 
pass  tlirough  the  whole  of  their  training  with- 
out receiving  any  real  instruction,  and  very 
often  without  any  knowledge  concerning  the 
bad  habit  of  masturbation  (excitement  of  the 
generative  organs)  practised  by  .so  many 
children.  Like  so  many  other  injurious  habits,  it 
is  only  when  practised  to  such  excess  as  to  affect 
the  general  health  and  become  almost  a 
disease,  that  either  a  doctor  is  consulted  or  a 
trained  nurse  called  in. 

This  being  so,  even  some  medical  practi- 
tioneiv  say  that  it  is  not  nearly  so  prevalent  as 
is  supjKjsed;  but  I  have  reason  to  believe  that 
it  is  an  exceedingly  common  practice  among 
boys  of  all  ages  from  the  wee  babe  who  is  only 
old  enough  to  control  its  little  hands  to  others 
of  every  age.  Nor  is  it  confined  entirely  to 
hoys — little  girls,  big  girls,  as  well  as  adults, 
-uecumb  to  it  with  disastrous  results  morally 
ind  physically  unless  it  is  checked  in  the  early 
-tages. 

As  trained  nurses  are  becoming  year  by  year 
greater  factors  in  the  sphere  of  preventive 
medicine,  it  seems  that  here  is  a  very  important 
point  concerning  the  national  health  which 
should  no  longer  be  ignored,  and  every  nurse 
should  arm  herself  to  combat  what  is  becoming 
a  national  evil.  She  should  be  so  well  prepared 
that  whenever  opportunity'  occui's  she  can  warn 
the  mothers  of  children  and  children's  nurses  of 
the  seriousness  of  this  habit  and  the  necessity 
if  checking  it  before  it  has  obtained  too  strong 

hold. 

So  little  notice  has  hitherto  been  taken  of 
■  iiat  many  people  now  consider  the  small 
■ause  which,  creates  so  much  harm  that  so  far 
as  I  am  aware  there  is  no  literature  dealing 
with  the  subject ;  a  passing  reference  here  and 
there,  and  certain  little  tracts  written  espe- 
cially for  boys  and  young  men,  but  nothing 
further. 

Very  often  the  prinuiry  cause  of  the  habit  is 
-  .me  slight  irritation  aiound  the  genitals;  in 
I'Oys  it  may  be  the  result  of  a  long  foreskin 
and  the  need  of  circumcision,  want  of  cleanli- 
ness, amusement,  or  itroper  occupation.  In 
little  girls  thread  worms  are  often  the  original 
cause.  As  it  is  somewhat  difficult  to  ascertain 
if  a  child  has  eontract'd  this  habit  (for.  lik? 
most  evil  things, it  is  i)raetisedby stealth — when 
at  stool  and  in  bed),  a  very  careful  watch  must 
n-  kept,  so  that  as  far  as  possible  conclusive 
■videncc  is  obtained.  I  hope  no  one  would. ask 
a  child  if  he  does  nasty  things,  and  so  put  bad 
seed  into  a  pure  child's  mind. 


But  should  the  child  be  discovered  with  its 
nightdress  up  and  its  hands  between  its  thighs, 
at  once  measures  should  be  taken  to  check  it ; 
if  the  child  is  very  young  a  smart  tap  upon  the 
hands,  remarking  at  the  same  time,  "  Naughty, 
naughty,"  in  the  severest  tone  possible,  may 
often  be  sufficient  to  nip  the  trouble  in  the  bud : 
but  should  it  be  persisted  in,  then  it  would  be 
wise  in  the  case  of  a  boy  to  consult  a  doctor. 
The  usual  signs  which  accompany  this  bad 
habit  are  general  irritability,  puffiness  and 
darkness  about  the  eyes,  swollen  genitals, 
constant  wriggling,  wetting  the  bed,  great  de- 
sire to  be  left  alone,  and,  when  the  habit  is  of 
long  standing  or  very  acute,  albumen  and 
blood  may  be  found  in  the  urine. 

How  can  it  be  prevented  or  overcome?  In 
the  first  instance,  before  the  habit  is  well  estab- 
lished, gentle  measures  with  simple  explana- 
tions of  the  wickedness  of  it,  and  that  it  will 
lead  to  very  serious  ill-health,  may  be  quite 
sufficient  to  stop  it ;  in  other  cases  corporal 
punishment  may  be  necessary.  But  should  the 
habit  be  well  established  before  it  is  discovered, 
additional  means  must  be  used,  always,  of 
course,- appealing  to  the  reason  and  best  in- 
stincts of  the  child,  with  explanations  of  the 
very  serious  consequences  which  will  surely 
follow  the  continuance  of  the  trouble.  The  diet 
should  be  carefully  supervised,  all  animal  and 
richly  spiced  foods,  etc..  strictly  avoided;  egg.r. 
fowl,  fish,  and  an  abundance  of  milk  shoidd  be 
given.  The  general  health  must  be  improved 
by  every  hygienic  measure  possible,  such  as 
daily  warm  baths  before  going  to  bed  and  a  col  1 
sponge  in  the  morning. 

In  the  case  of  sensitive,  nervous  children  tlc- 
inomiug  sponge  must  be  reduced  to  cold 
gradually,  and  the  child  should  be  allowed  to 
stand  in  warm  water  until  the  cold  water  no 
longer  frightens  or  upsets  him. 

There  must  be  plenty  of  interesting  occupa- 
tion and  amusement  found  for  him,  with  :i 
constant  change  of  both,  so  that  the  child  does 
not  get  bored  or  thrown  upon  his  own  resources. 
Physical  exercises,  walks,  outdoor  games,  and 
as  much  fresh  air  indoors  day  and  night  as  pos- 
sible, so. that  he  is  thoroughly  tired  out  every 
night,  and  when  put  to  bed  sleep  comes  on  at 
once.  No  unhealthy  excitement  or  games 
should  be  allowed;  tickling  and  such  like  fun 
absolutely  prohibited. 

In  very  severe  cases  it  is  sometimes  "tieees- 
sary  to  restrain  the  child  during  the  night  by 
means  of  soft  straps  on  wrists  and  ankles, 
allowing  sufficient  movement  to  turn  from  side 
to  side ;  the  child  should  not  be  allowed  to  lie*- 
upon  the  bade,  as  this  increases  the  desire. 

No  tight  clothing 'should  be  worn,  and  boys 


186 


Zbc  Britisb  3ournaI  of  iRurstng. 


[Sept.  3,  1910 


should  always  sleep  in  pjjamas  and  girls  in 
sleeping  suits  or  very  long  nightgowns. 
■  It  is  only  in  very  severe  cases  that  the  ser- 
vices of  a  trained  nurse  are  requisitioned,  and 
before  undertaking  such  a  case  she  should  con- 
sider it  well  in  all  its  bearings,  as  these  cases, 
being  of  long  standing,  are  not  curable  in  a  few- 
weeks,  and  on  no  account  should  there  be  a 
change  of  nurse ;  therefore  they  should  not  be 
lightly  undertaken. 

It  will  mean  incessant  vigilance  on  the  part 
of  the  nurse  for  two,  three,  or  more  months; 
the  child  must  on  no  account  be  left  alone  for 
a  single  instant,  or  the  care  of  weeks  may  be 
undone.  .Under  these  circumstances  only  those 
who  really  love  and  sympathise  with  children 
should  undertake  such  cases. 

The  nurse  should  also  be  fond  of  fun,  full  of 
resource  in  regard  to  games,  etc.,  but  withal 
firm,  and  even  severe,  when  necessary. 

The  decisioi?  made  and  the  case  undertaken, 
then  all  the  resource,  energy,  and  determina- 
tion of  the  nurse  must  be  concentrated  upon  a- 
complete  cure;  it  can  be  and  has  been  done, 
and  it  is  well  worth  the. doing. 

How  well  repaid  a  nurse  feels  when  a  patient 
who  has  been  given  over  to  death  by  the  doctor 
has,  through  God's  blessing  upon  her  skill  and 
ear«,  been  restored  to  health.  But  how  much 
greater  the  satisfaction  would  be  to  so  care  for 
and  strengthen  a  weak  character  who  has  fallen 
a  victim  to  a  bad  habit,  the  nature  of  which  he 
scarcely  understands;  to  encourage,  help,  and 
at  last  know  that  a  child,  or'it  may  be  even  an 
adult,  has  been  brought  through  the  abyss  and 
is  once  more  safe  on  the  path  of  virtue  and 
purity,  with  physical  health  restored  and  moral 
sense  straightened  and  strengthened '?  For  this 
habit  is  as  depraving  as  either  drink  or  drug 
taking;  even  more  so,  in  fact.  The  victims  o1 
either  drink  or  drugs  are  generally  selfish  (hap- 
pily) in  their  had  habits,  but  the  victims  of 
masturbation  are  by  no  means  content  with 
their  own  depravity,  but  very  often  induce 
others  to  share  with  them  their  bad  ways. 

So  serious  is  this  considered  that  if  it  is 
known  that  a  child  practices  this  bad  habit  all 
public  schools  will  be  closed  to  it,  as  it  not 
<->nly  saps  all  the  manhood  of  the  boy  and 
womanhood  of  the  girl,  but  it  spreads  like  a 
canker  among  the  others. 

I  feel  quite  certain  that  many  will  say  it  is 
not  nearly  so  prevalent  or  so  bad  as  I  have 
depicted  it.  I  only  ask  nurses  who  are  in- 
terested in  the  moral  as  well  as  the  physical 
well-being  of  the  nation  to  watch  more  care- 
fully their  small  i)atients  after  putting  them  to 
bed  at  night,  and  to  ask  mothers  if  they  havo 
pver  seen  their  cliiMrrii  "  playiiii,'  \\i)li  fhein- 


selves, "  as  this  is  the  common  phrase;  and  to 
search  for  cases  as  they  pass  through  their  dis- 
tricts and  wards  day  by  day ;  then  I  think  they 
will  quickly  learn  that  the  reality  is  indeed  as 
black  as  it  is  painted. 

And  if  this  paper  is  the  means  of  saving  but 
one  child  from  a  polluted  and  degenerate  life 
it  \\ill  have  accomplished  its  work. 

Mary  Burr. 

ttbe  IRursc  as  a  Social  lllllorker.-- 


By  Miss  H.  L.  Pearse, 

Superintendent  of  School  Nurses  vndrr  the 

London  County  Council. 

The  positions  open  to  trained  nurses  as 
workers  for  the  good  of  the  community  increase 
constantly,  and  this  is  bound  to  be  so  as  the 
effect  of  systematic  training  on  character  is 
more  fully  realised.  Work  of  any  kind,  to  be 
worth  having,  needs  certain  qualities  :  it  must 
first  be  conscientious,  then  skilful,  well  thought 
out,  intelUgent,  and  adapted  to  the  needs  of 
the  people  for  whom  it  is  done.  To  work  well, 
therefore,  requires  special  training,  as  one  fully 
understands  when  one  remembers  the  days 
when  one  began  work  in  a  hospital.  How  im- 
possible it  seemed  to  get  the  required  amount 
done  in  the  given  time !  And  yet,  after  being 
subjected  to  the  routine  and  discipline  of  a 
ward,  everything  seemed  to  fit  into  its  place, 
and  one  could  achieve  what  before  seemed  im- 
possible. 

The  woman  who  has  undergone  such  a  train- 
ing comes  out  of  hospital  a  very  useful  in- 
strument for  many  purposes,  and  has  a  peculiar 
aptitude  for  social  work,  and  is  increasingly 
employed  in  many  ways.  I  have  not  time  to 
do  more  than  mention  the  many,  and  enter 
into  a  few  details  as  to  my  own  particular 
branch. 

Nurses  are  more  and  more  appointed  as 
health  workere,  nurses  in  factories,  sanitary  in- 
spectors, in  which  capacity  they  are  peculiarly 
useful,  as  members  of  care  committees,  as  in- 
spectors for  infant  life  protection,  and  last,  but 
not  least.  School  Nursing.  In  this  work  of 
infant  life  protection  they  have  to  visit  and 
inspect  homes  of  women  who  vnidcrtake  to  look 
after  a  "  nurse  "  child.  Details  of  accommo- 
dation are  gone  into,  and  advice  is  given  to 
])arcnts  on  questions  of  healthy  conditions  and 
feeding  for  infants. 

The  idea  that  every  woman  has  instinctively 
a  knowledge  of  how  to  feed  and  bring  up  an 
infant  is  becoming  exploded  at  last,  and  nurses 

*  Rejul  at  the  Nursinp;  Conference,  Japan-British 

Kxliiliition,   T-omlnn,   1010. 


Sept.  a,  1910]         ^j;e  356vltt8b  3ournal  of  Ittiueing. 


18"; 


are  being  employed  to  instruct  parents  on  this 
question  with  very  giKxl  results;  the  work  is 
so  new  that  I  cannot  give  you  much  informa- 
tion as  to  results. 

Let  me  now  f;ieak  of  my  own  work  with 
School  Nursing.  The  lioarj  of  Education  has 
laid  it  down  that  medical  inspection  of  school 
children  is  to  be  carried  out  all  over  the  king- 
dom. Medical  men  have  therefore  been  ap- 
pointed, and  with  them  their  competent 
assistants,  the  School  Nurses;  but  the  School 
Nurse  had  been  started  in  Ix)ndon  before 
medical  inspection  became  compulsory.  The 
Queen  Victoria  Juhilet'  Institute  used  to  visit 
some  schools  here  and  there  and  inspect  the 
children  for  cleanliness,  attending  to  small 
accidents,  such  as  cuts  and  bruises;  but  there 
was  no  attempt  to  deal  with  the  problem  as  a 
whole,  and  to  provide  attention  systematically 
for  all  schools,  until  the  London  County 
Council  took  the  matter  up  and  appointed  a 
few  nurses  to  go  round  and  report  on  the 
present  state  of  things.  Since  then  the 
number  of  nurses  has  steadily  increased  as  the 
need  for  them  was  felt,  and  a  large  increase 
was  made  when  it  was  decided  to  let  the  school 
doctor  be  assisted  by  a  nurse.  Most  neces- 
sary, indeed,  she  has  proved;  for  she  weighs 
and  measures  the  children,  questions  the 
parents  as  to  previous  illnesses,  tests  the  eye- 
sight, and  reports  on  the  child's  condition  as 
to  cleanliness  and  clothes  to  the  doctor. 

All  parents  are  urged  to  come  up  to  see  the 
loctor,  but  many  fail  to  come,  partly  through 
-lackness  and  partly  because  many  a  woman 
has  to  work  to  keep  the  home  together,  and  is 
tlierefore  frequently  out  all  day. 

If  the  parents  do  not  come  up,  the  nurse  has 
to  dehver  treatment  cards  at  the  home,  and,  if 
possible,  see  the  mother  and  explain  the 
doctor's  advice  and  get  her  to  act  upon  it. 

If  "  cleanliness  is  next  to  godliness,"  then 
the  School  Nurse  must  add  considerably  to  the 
general  sum  of  godliness,  as  she  carries  on  a 
continuous  crusade  against  dirt.  I  will  not 
horrify  you  by  dwelling  on  the  very  dirty,  and 
even  verminous,  condition  in  which  a  large 
number  of  people  livi' ;  it  has  been  a  great 
difficulty  to  know  how  to  deal  with  them,  and 
up  till  last  year,  when  the  Children's  Act  was 
passed,  no  effective  method  of  dealing  with  the 
children  and  their  clothes  had  been  found. 
This  Bill  gave  the  Education  Authority  power 
to  examine  every  child  in  school,  and  it  further 
stated  that  it  was  allowable,  where  the  parent 
had  not  cleansed  the  child,  to  remove  it  from 
the  school  and  thoroughly  bath  it  and  steam 
the  clothes. 

A   bathing  ^place  is   necessary  to  carry  out 


this  scheme,  and  there  are  at  present  three  at 
the  schools  in  charge  of  nurses,  who  are  respon- 
sible in  regard  to  the  safety  of  the  children  in 
their  going  to  and  from  the  school,  and  who 
keep  a  careful  record  of  all  children  attending 
the  station  ;  they  also  see  that  the  woman  who 
baths  the  children  does  so  in  a  proper  manner. 
The  value  of  the  School  Nurse's  work  to  the 
community  cannot,  it  seems  to  me,  be  over- 
estimated; it  extends  from  a  curative  into  a 
preventive  sphere,  and  assuredly  the  latter  is 
the  more  universally  important.  The  need  for 
it  is  very  great,  for  it  is  deplorable  to  find  how 
many  children  ai-e  in  school  with  one  defect 
or  another. 

There  is  one  branch  of  this  work  which  1 
ought  to  mention,  and  that  is  the  large  number 
of  eases  reported  to  the  National  Society  for 
the  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to  Children.  Where 
any  nurse  finds  a  case  of  wilful,  neglect  by 
which  the  child's  health  of  body  or  mind  is 
endangered,  it  is  at  once  reported  for  the 
Society  to  deal  with,  and  although  often  it  is 
a  case  where  no  action  can  be  taken,  the  visit 
of  the  officer  to  the  home  does  much  good.  By 
means  of  the  nurses'  work  it  is  being  gradually 
impressed  on  the  parents  that  they  have  a  duty 
to  their  children,  which  they  are  bound  to 
carry  out  to  the  best  of  their  ability.  A  man 
once  said  to  me:  "'  The  girl  is  mine!  I  will 
do  what  I  like  with  her,"  and  he  seemed  much 
surprised  when  I  said:  "  She  is  only  yours  as 
long  as  you  do  well  by  her." 

I  will  conclude  by  giving  you  some  idea  of 
the  importance  of  all  this  activity  to  the  com- 
munity at  lai-ge.  First,  we  hope'  for  a  much 
greater  general  attention  to  the  care  of  the 
body  in  health :  to  prevent  its  getting  ill,  in- 
stead of  spending  all  our  energies  upon  it  when 
ill.  Then,  for  greater  cleanliness  and,  as  a 
result,  less  preventable  disease.  Who  can  esti- 
mate the  disease  spread  by  vermin  of  all  kinds, 
among  the  most  jnischievous  being  fleas,  with 
their  amazing  jumps  from  one  person  to 
another.  Just  for  one  moment  think  of  the 
educating  influence  of  these  nurses,  who  have 
themselves  learnt  the  lessons  of  patient,  self- 
sacrificing  work.  .\s  they  visit  these  poor 
people  in  their  apologies  for  homes,  they  learn 
to  be  vers"  sympathetic,  and,  understanding 
their  difficulties,  to  help  them  out  of  them. 
How  often  I  have  wished,  when  I  he&r  shai-p 
criticism  of  the  thriftless  ways  of  the  poor, 
that  more  trouble  were  taken  to  understand  the 
mental  condition  which  is  bound  to  result  from 
the  constant,  depressing  struggle  for  bare 
existence,  and  I  am  thankful  that  nurses  ar» 
constantly'  doing  their  best  to  Ughten  this 
depression  and  lessen  their  burdens. 


188 


ITbe  Brittsb  Sournal  of  iRiuetm^. 


[Sept.  3,  1910 


Ifloi-ence  IHitjbtingale,  ®.flD. 

iliss  Nightingale's  executors  aud  relations 
find  themselves  unable  to  acknowledge  in- 
dividually, as  they  would  wish,  all  the  letters 
and  flowers  received.  They  hope  that  the 
senders  will  accept  their  best"  thanks,  and  will 
understand  that  they  appreciate  very  deeply 
the  feelings  of  respect  and  affection  "for  Miss 
Nightingale,  of  which  these  are  the  tok&ns. 


Already  various  suggestions  as  to  the  form 
■which  a  national  memorial  to  Miss  Nightingale 
shall  take  are  being  made.  A  public  monu- 
ment, the  restoration  of  East  Wellow 
church,  and  the  beautifying  of  the  churchyard; 
the  establishment  of  a  system  of  Eegistration 
combined  with  pensions"  for  nurses ;  and  the 
endowment  of  certified  midwives  for  poor 
manufacturing  districts,  and  in  country 
parishes  (proposed  by  Lady  McLaren)  are  some 
of  the  propositions  already  put  forward.  A 
correspondent  writes:  "Why  should  not  the 
Prime  Minister,  when  Parliament  reassembles, 
be  invited  to  give  facilities  to  the  Women  ".s 
Suffrage  Bill  as  a  tribute  to  the  memory  of 
the  great  woman  whose  services  to  the  State 
are  universally  recogAised  as  unique,  who 
throughout  her  life  desired  the  extension  of 
the  Parliamentary  franchise  to  women,  but 
who  died  on  a  political  equality  w4th  criminals, 
lunatics,  and  paupers?  " 


Mr.  J.  G.  Wainwright  writes  in  the  Times  : 
"  As  Treasurer  of  St.  Thomas's  Hospital,  I 
have  been  approached  by  a  large  number  of 
old  Nightingale  nurees  and  others  interested  in 
nursing,  urging  me  to  undertake  the  duty  of 
organising  a  fund  to  the  honour  of  Miss  Night- 
ingale. Provided  that  the  fund  is  raised  to 
serve  _  as  the  '  Nurses'  ^Memorial  '  to  Miss 
Nightingale  I  shall,  in  spite  of  the  numerous 
claims  on  my  time,  be  happy  to  undertake  this 
work,  and  to  receive  contributions  from 
nurses  and  ot.hers  connected  with  nursing  to 
!)  fund  to  be  called  the  '  Nurses'  Memorial  to 
Miss  Nightingale.' 

"I  am  taking  steps  to  form  a  committee  as 
widfly  representative  as  possible  of  the  nin-sing 
interest,  for  such  a  memorial  will  not  be  con- 
find  to  Nightingale  nurses,  and  should  secure 
the  assistance  of  all  nurses  wherever  trained, 
and  of  all  interested  in  Miss  Nightingale's 
work  for  nurses.  The  actual  form  of  tlie 
memorial  can  only  be  settled  by  the  contri- 
butors-themselves.  A  meeting  "will  be  held 
for  the  purpose  of  considering  and  deciding 
this  important  question  as  soon  as  promises  or 
contributions  have  been  received  from  a  suffi- 
ciriit  number,  but  there  seems  to  be  an  almost 


unanimous  feeling  existent  that  the  best  way 
of  honouring  so  dear  a  memory  as  that  we 
treasure  for  our  late  chief  is  the  foundation  of 
a  fund  for  the  assistance  of  '  trained  nurses.'  " 

The  Requiem  for  Miss  Florence  Nightingak 
at  St.  Albau's,  Holborn,  on  Thursday  in  last 
week  was  largely  attended  by  nurses,  mem- 
bers of  the  Guild  of  St.  Barnabas,  at  whose 
instance  the  sei-vice  was  held.  Its  special 
object  was  emphasised  by  the  emblems  at- 
tached to  the  rails  on  either  side  the  chancel 
gates,  in  which  the  letters  "  F.  N."  appeared 
in  white  immortelles  surrounded  by  wreaths  of 
laurel  and  oak  leaves  tied  with  violet  ribbons. 

The  Order  of  the  Service,  specially  printed 
for  the  occasion,  included  the  Dies  Irse  and 
the  hymns  "  Lead,  Kindly  Light,"  "  And  now, 
O  Father,  mindful  of  the  love,"  aud  "  The 
King  of  Love."  On  a  slip  inset  in  the  Service 
was  the  facsimile  of  part  of  a  letter  written  in 
pencil  by  Miss  Nightingale  to  the  Guild  on 
the  occasion  of  its  '25th  Anniversary  in  1901, 
witii  a  brief  notice  of  her  life  and  work,  signed 
E.  F.  E.,  in  which  occurs  this  sentence :  "  She 
found  the  'sen-ice  of  the  sick' — with  some 
noble  exceptions — in  the  dust,  and  she  has 
raised  it  in  dignity  until  the  w-orld  has  come  to 
recognise  in  that-  service,  not  only  a  career  of 
purity  and  honovu',  but  as  the  opportunity  for 
the  exercise  of  every  gift  of  the  most  refined 
and  most  accomplished    Vv'omanhood." 


Iproercss  of  State  IRcGistration. 

Discussing  "  The  Evolution  of  the  Nurse  " 
in  the  last  fifty  years,  in  reference  to  the  work 
of  ^Miss  Nightingale,  the  British  Medical  Jour- 
nal says  that  the  net  outcome  of  the  changes 
that  have  taken  place  since  "Notes onNursing" 
was  "written  is  "  highly  satisfactory  in  some 
respects,  but  almost  equally  unsatisfactory  in 
othere.  Nursing  is  now  a  definite  occupation, 
competing  for  recruits  almost  on  precisely  the 
same  footing  as  other  occupations  for  women. 
It  is  attracting  a  much  smaller  proportion  of 
ladies  than  was  the  case  some  years  ago,  and 
the  heads  of  some  great  institutions  are  re- 
ported to  be  finding  a  difficulty  in  securing  pro- 
bationers of  the  kind  they  would  desire.  In 
the  hospitals  the  nursing  is  perfect  from  a 
technical  point  of  view,  but  there  is  also  in 
most  of  them  some  lack  of  the  kind  of  spirit 
commonly  associated  with  the  name  of 
mn-se. 

"  The  lines  on  which  those  (nursing)  scliools 
are  conducted  vary,  and  the  final  result  is  that 
the  nui-ses  placed  at  the  disposition  of  the 
pulilic  and  of  mcdicn'  men  differ  as  greatlv  in 


Sept.  3,  1910] 


^bc  Bdtisb  3ournal  of  Ittursiiuj. 


180 


the  extent  of  their  knowledge  as  in  point  of 
education  and  social  position.  It  is  this  mix- 
ture of  class  which  makes  it  so  ditiicult  lor  the 
public  to  determine  for  itself  how  it  should 
treat  the  nurees  who  inter  their  houses,  and  it 
is  the  same  mixture  of  class,  or  rather,  absence 
of  an  assured  position  in  the  social  grade, 
which  leads  many  nurses  to  create  difficulties 
of  sundry  kinds. 

■■  Owing  to  the  same  cause,  and  the  multi- 
plicity of  schools,  it  is  quite  impossible  for  any 
medical  man,  except  after  considerable  experi- 
ence of  a  nurse's  actual  work,  to  feel  ceriain 
of  her  capabilities,  and  the  extent  of  assistance 
which  he  will  receive  from  her.  In  that  fact 
we  have '  the  main  reason  why  the  British 
Medical  Association  has  joined  hands  with  the 
leadens  of  the  nursing  world  in  calling  tor 
registration  of  nurses  and  the  establishment  of 
a  Central  Nursing  Council." 

Over  the  signature  of  "  H.  H.  ilunro,"  a 
letter  recently  appeared  in  the  Birmingham 
Daily  Gazette  refening  to  the  interview  of  a 
representative  of  that  paper  with  the  Hon. 
Sydney  Holland.  "  With  the  defence  made 
by  Mr.  Holland  against  imaginary  attacks  on 
himself  and  the  London  Hospital,"  the  writer 
says  he  has  nothing  to  do  bej'ond  saying  that 
these  attacks  are  not  made  in  the  article  pub- 
lished by  our  contemporary  on  the  11th  ult., 
to  which  reference  has  already  been  made. 

But  in  regard  to  the  definite  statement  made 
by  Mr.  Holland,  "  Registration  could  not  be 
taken  as  a  guarantee  of  technical  fitness,"  the 
writer  desires  to  know  "  Why  not?  "  and 
points  out  that  the  Medical  Acts  provide  for 
the  qualification  and  registration  of  medical 
men,  and  those  Acts  have  not  "lulled  the 
public  into  a  false  sense  of  security."  The 
writer  continues:  "We  hear  a  man  spoken 
of  as  a  '  registered  medical  practitioner,'  and 
the  public  knows  that  he  can  be  trusted,  and 
trusts  him.  The  General  Medical  Council  has 
disciplinary  powers  to  remove  practitioners 
from  the  register  for  infamous  professional 
conduct. 

"The  Nurses'  Registration  Bill  makes  exactly 
similar  proposals  with  regard  to  nurses,  male 
and  female ;  nurses  are  a  necessary  corollary 
to  the  medical  profession.  How  will  the  public 
be  '  lulled  into  a  false  sense  of  security  '  when 
a  nurse  can  call  herself — or  himself — a  '  re- 
gistered nurse'?  Leave  the  adjective  out, 
and  Mr.  Holland  has  given  a  fine  argument  in 
favour  of  the  Bill. 

"When  otherprofessions  have  charters  organi- 
sing and  equalising  their  training  and  qualifi- 
cations, why-  should  this  be  refused  to  the 
nursing  profession?" 


practical  points. 

We  have  pleasure  in  draw- 
Macdonald's  ing  attention  to  Macdonald's 

Steriliser.  Steam   Steriliser,    for   which  a 

iniiiiit  has  been  applied, 
and  which  is  niaiiufactin-ed  solely  by  the  Medical 
Supply  Association,  "228,  Gray's  Inn  Road,  W.C. 
The  Steriliser,  which  was  on  view  at  the  recent 
Medical  Exhibition  at  the  Imperial  Institute,  com- 
mended itself  by  its  merits,  and  as  a  cheap,  simple, 
and  efficient  means  of  sterilising  and  drying  dress- 
ings. It  is  constructed  with  an  outer  and  inner 
chamber,  with  a  space  between,  and  is  fitted  with  a 
special  lid,  in  which  is  enclosed  a  vacuum.  It  can 
be  used  either  over  a  fire  or  a  gas  burner.  The 
Steriliser  is  made  of  polished  copper,  tinned  or 
nickel-plated  inside,  with  nickel-plated  copper 
drum,  and  spare  drums  are  obtainable.     A  Steri- 


liser the  internal  dinifn^ioiis  of  wbuli  are  6J  in. 
deep  and  61  in.  diameter,  complete  with  drum, 
costs  £2  17s.  6d.  Larger  sizes  cost  £4,  £7  10s., 
and  £8  15s.  respectively,  or  slightly  more  if  nickel- 
plated.  Two  nickel-plated  drums  are  supplied  with 
the  larger  sizes. 

The  novel  principle  applied  to  the  Steriliser  is 
that  the  principle  of  steam  condensing  at  the 
coolest  part  exposed  is  made  use  of  to  dry  the 
dressings.  All  condensation  takes  place  in  the 
outer  chamber,  the  inside  of  the  lid  being  pre- 
vented from  cooling  by  the  vacuous  space.  There- 
fore, after  the  steriliser  has  been  cooled,  the  dress- 
ings or  other  contents  may  be  removed  an(J  will  be 
found  perfectly  dry  and  in  the  most  suitable  con- 
dition for  use,  and  this  without  any  high  pressure 
apparatus  whatever. 

When  it  is  desired  to  use  the  Steriliser,  a  small 
quantity  of  water  (one  to  three  pints)  according  to 
the  size  of  the  Steriliser,  is  poured  into  the  space 
between  the  cylinders;  the  dressings,  loose  or  in 
canisters,  are  placed  in  the  inner  chamber,  the  lid 


190 


^be  Britisb  Journal  of  Ti^urslng. 


[Sept.  3,  191U 


fixed,  the  tap  on  the  lid  opened,  and  the  Steriliser 
placed  on  the  fire  or  Kas  ring.  Sterilisation  is  con- 
tinued for  half  an  hour  after  steam  has  begun  to 
issue  vigorously  from  the  escape  tap.  The  tap  is 
then  closed  and  the  apparatus  set  aside  to  cool. 

It  is  claimed  that  the  efficiency  of  the  Steriliser, 
which  has  been  repeatedly  tested  bacteriologically, 
is  as  great  as  that  of  the  most  expen- 
sive steriliser  produced.  Anthnax  spores  in 
dressings  were  killed  in  10  to  1.5  minutes, 
mesentericus  spores,  which  resisted  boiling 
for  20  minutes,  wwo  destroyed  in  10  to  25 
minutes,  and  streptococci,  staphylococci  and  typhoid 
bacilli  were  killed  in  .3  to  .5  minutes. 

The  Steriliser  should  meet  a  real  need  and  have 
a   very  useful  and  successful  future. 


A    correspondent    writes   in 

Nursing  Cholera,  the  Australasian  Nurses' 
■Jijurnal:  It  may  be  of  in- 
terest to  nurses  to  know  something  of  the  pre- 
cautions taken  t,o  guard  against  cholera  and 
dysentery  when  nursing  in  countries  where  these 
diseases  are  prevalent. 

In  Hankow  about  two  years  ago  there  was  an 
epidemic  of  cholera,  and  during  that  time  I  was 
nursing  a  confinement  in  the  house  of  a  doctor  who 
is  one  of  the  greatest  authorities  in  the  Far  East 
on  the  prevention  of  cholera  and  dysentery.  The 
chief  sources  of  infection  are  water  and  flies. 

Water,  for  drinking  is  boiled  and  put  in  bottles, 
which  have  been  boiled,  or  disinfected  with  a 
solution  of  iodine,  and  afterwards  neutralised  by 
sulphate  of  soda ;  and  before  drinking  the  water, 
although  it  was  boiled,  it  was  sterilised  with 
Evans'  sterilising  tablets,  which  are  preparations 
of  iodine  and  sulphate  of  soda. 

A  good  many  cases  of  dysentery  were  proved  to 
have  been  contractid  through  the  bath  water,  and 
as  it  was  impossible  to  boil  large  quantities  of  both 
hot  and  cold  water  for  baths,  all  water  used  either 
for  baths  or  washing  patients  was  always  dis- 
inf^ted  by  iodine,  1  dram  to  three  gallons  of 
water,  left  for  from  five  to  ten  minutes,  and  then 
neutralised  by  sulphate  of  soda  1  dram,  followed 
by  Cyllin  1  dram.  Water  for  cleaning  teeth  was 
treated  the  same  way. 

The  precautions  taken  with  regard  to  foods  are 
as  follow  :  — Eat  no  cold  meat,  no  raw  salads,  no 
fruit,  no  unboiled  milk,  and  never  use  Chinese 
ice. 

Fruit  is  particularly  easily  infected  by  the 
cholera  germ. 

Uncooked  vegetables  are  never  safe,  because  of 
the  way  the  Chinese  fertilise  the  ground. 

Cold  meat  may  be   infected  by   a  stray  fly. 

Chines©  ice  is  coIle<ted  in  winter  from  the 
dirtiest  jmols  that  can  lie  imagined,  and  stored 
in  ice  houses  until   the  summer. 

AH  fofjd  was  carefully  covered  as  soon  as  cooked, 
and  every  precaution  was  taken  to  prevent  flies 
touching   anything. 

No  butcher's  meat  was  eaten  during  the  sum- 
mer: only  chickens  and  ))igeon8  that  were  killixl 
in   the  house  and  ccxiked   at  once. 

Milk  was  stcrilisccl  in  mumII  bottles,  an<l  brought 


to  the  table  without  being  opened.  In  most  houses 
I  always  sterilised  the  milk  myself. 

All  crockery  was  put  into  an  electric  oven  after 
being  washed. 

The  doctor  for  whom  I  nursed  has  proved  that 
it  is  possible  to  live  in  one  of  the  worst  climates 
in  China  through  the  hottest  part  of  the  year,  in 
the  midst  of  Chinese  dying  by  the  hundreds  from 
cholera,  and  yet  remain  immune  by  taking  the 
precautions  I  have  mentioned. 


®ur  Guinea  prise 

We   have   pleasure   in   announcing  that   Miss  E. 
Shareman,  The  Infirmary,  East  Hill,  Wandsworth, 
S.W.,  has  won  the  Guinea  Prize  for  August. 
Key   to    Puzzles   for   August. 
No.  1. — Southall's  Accouchement  Sheets. 

S(outh)-awls  a-oouch-men-T  S-heat-s. 
No.  2. — Lysol. 

L-eye-sole. 
No.  .3.— Weiford's  Asses'  Milk. 

Well-fords  asses  mill-K. 
No.  4. — Maison  Sykes-Josephine. 

MA-suu  Sikes  Joseph-eye-N.E. 


The  following  competitors  have  also  solved  the 
puzzles  correctly  : — M.  Vant,  London;  A.  G.  Lay- 
ton,  Jjondon;  B.  Sheard,  Chislehurst;  C.  Honey- 
bone,  Harapstead ;  D.  Thompson,  Clapton;  E. 
Macfarlane,  London;  J.  Cook,  Portland;  E.  Din- 
nie,  Harrow  ;  tt.  H.  Johns,  Balhani ;  F.  Sheppard, 
Tunbridge  Wells;  C.  Wright,  London;  G.  Hanson, 
Maidstone;  A.  Maddock,  Shrewsbury;  M.  A.  Bul- 
lock, Peckham ;  S.  S.  Sherring,  West  Derby, 
Liverpool;  E.  M.  Walker,  Putney  Hilt;  F.  Ma'c- 
donald,  Glasgow;  M.  Dempster,  Ealing;  S.  A. 
Villiers,  Hither  Green  :  M.  W.  Burke,  PI  a  is  tow  ;  A. 
M.  Shoosmith.  Durham:  M.  G.  Allbutt.  Wakefiefd  ; 
G.  Evans,  Cardiff;  E.  S.  Sills.  a«ikham  ;  C.  C.  D. 
Cheshire,  Woking;  G.  M.  Tliomjison,  Clapham 
Common  ;  H.  E.  Ellis,  Milford.  .Stafford  ;  A.  Grum- 
mitt,  Clifton,  Biggleswade;  L.  M.  Wilson,  Win.s- 
ford ;  A.  L.  Joy,  Sydtmham ;  W.  Hairlnnd.  South 
Kensington ;  —  des  Forges,  Wimbledon ;  R.  Con- 
way, Aviemore,  Strathsjx'y,  N.B.  ;  G.  Smart,  Cork; 
E.  Douglas,  Belfast;  S.  Arthur,  Slough;  H.  C. 
Miller,  liondon  ;  A.  S.  Morriss,  Hastings:  E.  J. 
Marehall,  Margate;  H.  Iveng,  Penrith;  F.  M. 
Sharp,  CasfU'  Bromwich ;  N.  A.  Fellows,  Pklgl>as- 
ton,  Birmingham:  M.  Jones,  York;  H.  Easton,  In- 
verness; D.  Vickery,  Bournemouth;  M.  Innis. 
Hastings;  M.  Lord,  Buiton-on-Trent ;  E.  A.  H<xxl, 
Ewoll;  D.  E.  C^ordon.  Timperley ;  E.  F.  Whatham, 
Barnsloy ;  L.  C.  Cooper,  Streatham  ;  M.  L.  Years 
ley,  Bath  ;  G.  Petei-s,  Northampton  :  C.  Fleming. 
Dublin;  D.  Enright,  Rotherham  :  V.  Newham, 
Virginia  Wator :  A.  Guinane,  Limerick;  R.  L. 
Wiseman,  Parsons  Green;  K.  Walker,  London;  M. 
N()rthwoo<l,  Nottingham  ;  E.  Dowd.  Dublin. 

The  Rules  for  Prize  Puzzles  remain  the  same, 
and  will  be  found  on  page  xii.  Comi)etitors  must 
sign  initials,  and  write  "Prize  Puzzle  Com- 
petition "  on  the  envelope;  several  comi)etitors  lost 
their  cliatire  of  the  prize  by  this  omission. 


Sept.  3,  1010 


Zbc  aSvltisb  Journal  of  itAiusing. 


101 


HppointmcntC'. 


MvntoN. 

Hospital  lor   Women   and   Children,  Leeds Miss    M.     V. 

Liiidell  lias  been  ai)ii(iint<Hl  Matron.  She  was 
traineU  at  St.  Thomas'  Hospital,  London,  and  has 
held  tlu'  position  of  .\<si^tant  Matron  at  the  Mater- 
nity   Hospital,     Uirniiii_;l\am. 

Livingstone  Cottage  Hospital. — Miss  Eleanor  I.ea 
has  l>een  appointed  Matron.  She  was  traine<l  at 
the  North  Staffordshire  Infirmary  and  Eye  Hospi- 
tal, Stoke-on-Trent,  and  has  held  the  position  of 
Charj^e  Xnrse  at  the  Eastern  District  Ho.spital. 
Glasgow,  and  has  been  Sister  at  the  Royal  Hos- 
pital, Portsmouth,  Niiiht  Sister  at  the  West  Hani 
and  East  London  Hospital,  Stratford,  and  Assis- 
tant Matron   at   the  Royal  Hospital,   Portsmouth. 

Cottage    Hospital,    Simon's    Town,    Cape    Colony.  — Miss 
Amy  E.  I^overidge  has  l>een  apix>inte<l  Matron.    She 
was  tmiiied  at   Bagthorije  Infirmary.   Nottingham, 
the  Isle  of  Tliaiiet  Fever  Hospital,  Rani.sgat«,  and 
has  held  the  position  of  Firet  Assistant  Nui-se  at  the 
Park  Fever  Hospital  and  the  Small-ix)x  Slii[>s,  Dart- 
ford,  under  the  Metropolitan  Asylums'  Board.     She 
lias  done  private  nursing  in  England.  France,  and 
South    Africa,    and    has   been    Staff    Nur,s«    at    the 
Cottage     Hospital,    .Simon's    Town,    Cape    Colony, 
■South  -Vfrica.     She  is  also  a  certified  midwife. 
AssisT.\NT   Matbon. 
St.  Marylebone  Infirmary,  Notting  Hill,  W. — Miss    Annie 
'  Eislnvick    has    Wen    ap\x)iiite<i     Second     Assistant 
Matron  and  Home  Sister.      She  was  trained  at  tli« 
St.  Marylelwne  Infirmary,  where  she  lias  also  held 
various  jxeitions  of  res|X)n.sibiIity. 
Home  ."^istek. 

Belvidere  City  Hospital,  ciasgow. — Miss  Grace  Mitchell 
Fairley  has  been  apixnnted  Home  Sister.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Swansea  General  and  Eye  Hospital, 
and  has  held  the  positions  of  Matron  of  the 
Isolation  Hospital,  Swansea,  and  of  Night  Sister 
at  the  Oldham  Infirmary.  She  has  also  had 
experience  of  private  uui-sing. 

Night  .Sister. 

St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital,  Rochester. — ^liss  Ger- 
trude E.  Scott  has  been  appointed  Night  Sister. 
She  was  trained  at  the  County  Hospital,  Durham, 
and  has  held  the  positions  of  'V\'ard  Sister  and 
Night  .Sister  at  the  Infirmary,  Fratton,  Portsmouth, 
Staff  Nurse  at  the  Military  Isolation  Hospital, 
Aldershot,  Staff  Nurse  at  the  National  Hospital, 
Queen  Square,  London,  Sister  at  the  Hospital  for 
Epilepsy  and  Paralysis,  Maida  Vale,  W'.,  and  Ward 
Sister  and  Massage  Sister  at  the  Cancer  Hospital, 
Brompton. 

XUBSES. 

Oldham    Union    Inflrmary Miss  Emily  Rawnsley  has 

been  appointed  Charge  Nurse.  She  was  trained  at 
the  Union  Infirmary,  Eccleshall,  Bierlow,  Sheffield, 
where  she  has  held  the  position  of  temi>orary 
Charge  Nurse. 

Miss  Mary  Ellen  Lear  has  been  appointed  Cliarge 
Nurse.  She  was  trained  at  the  Aston  Union  Infir- 
mary, whero  she  has  held  the  position  of  Staff 
Nurse ;  she  has  also  been  Staff  Nurse  at  the 
Children's  Hospital,  Carshalton. 

Miss  J.  Sumner  has  been  appointed  Staff  Nurse. 
She  was  trained  at   the  Union  Infirmary,    Leeds. 


CHANGES  AT  ST.  BARTHOLOMEWS  HOSPITAL 
i'lie  I. inline  .Viir.<  <'liri)iii<lcs  a  numlier  of  changes 
in  the  nursing  staff  of  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital. 
Sister  Paget  (Miss  Shrives),  Sister  Hope(Miss  Skill- 
man),  and  Sister  Lucas  (Miss  M.  Sleigh)  have  re- 
signed, and  are  leaving  the  hospital  before  the 
end  of  the  year.  Sister  .\bernethy  (Miss  Jackson) 
is  leaving  to  be  married.  Sister  Casualty  tMiss 
A.  M.  J.  .Stewart)  and  Sister  Harley  (Mi.ss  H. 
Parker)  have  left  to  be  marrie<l,  and  Sister  Mary 
(Miss  Madden)  is  taking  up  work  elsewhere.  Miss 
Nicholson.  Superintendent  of  the  Nurses'  Home. 
as  we  re[)orted  last  week,  is  leaving  on  her  ap- 
l)()iiitment  as  JLatron  of  the  Manchester  Children's 
Hospital,  Pendlebury.  Miss  Nuttall  has  been 
appointed  Sister  Casualty,  Miss  Paterson  Sister 
Mary,  and  Miss  Latham  temporarily  Sister  Presi- 
dent. 

Miss  Lowe  and  Miss  Pemberton  have  been  ap- 
pointed Night  Superintendents. 

LECTURES    TO    NURSES    ON    TROPICAL 
SUBJECTS. 
Two  courses  are  given   annually  at    the  London 
School  of  Tropical  Medicine,   Royal  Albert  Docks, 
E.,  beginning  respectively  about  October  1.5th  and 
February  1.5th.     Each  course  consists  of  10  lectures. 
The  fee  for  the  course  is  £2  2s.,  including  the  ex- 
amination.     X   certificate,    signed   by   all  the  lec- 
turers, will  be  given  to  the  successful  candidates. 
Syll.abus. 

1.  Dr.  Duncan:  Personal  Hygiene  in  the  Tropics, 
outfit,  clothing,  exercise,  food,  alcohol,  baths,  etc. 

2.  Dr.  Dunc.in :  Enteric  Fever  and  Dysentery. 

3.  Dr.  Duncan :    Cliolera  and  Heat  Stroke. 

4.  Mr.  Cautlie :  Abscess  of  Liver,  sjjecial  surgi- 
cal requirements  in  the  Tropics,  care  of  intruments, 
etc. 

.5.  Dr.  Sandwith:    Plague  and  Beri-beri. 

6.  Dr.  Sandwith:  Dengue,  Sleeping  Sickness, 
and  Blackwat«r   Fever. 

7.  Dr.  McLeod :  Leprosy,  Skin  Diseases,  Prickly 
Heat,  Boils,  Ulcers,  Dhobie  Itch,  etc. 

8.  Dr.  Daniels:    Malaria  and  Mosquitoes. 

9.  Dr.  Daniels:  Yellow  Fever,  Filariasis,  Sprue 
and  Hill  Diarrhcea. 

10.  Dr.  Leiper :  Intestinal  Worms,  Treatment  (f 
Patients  preliminary  to  vermifuges,  examination  jf 
fieces  for  the  worms,  etc. 

Further  particulars  may  be  obtained  on  appli- 
cation to  the  Matron  at  the  Albert  Dock  Hospital, 
Connaught  Road,  Albert  Dock,  Xondon,  E. 


THE  PASSING  BELL. 
The  circumstances  of  the  death  of  Lady  Marjorie 
Erskine,  daughter  of  the  Earl  and  Qountess  of 
Buchan,  on  a  lonely  mountain  side  near  Inverness, 
are  especially  tragic.  Lady  Marjorie,  who  was  at 
one  time  a  probationer  at  the  Hospital  for  Sick 
Children,  Great  Orniond  Street,  apparently  frac- 
tured her  ankle  in  the  course  of  a  walk,  and  dieil. 
from  exjwsure  and  lack  of  the  assistance  she  v^as 
unable  to  summon.  Her  body  was  only  found 
nearly  a  month  after  the  accident  by  a  man 
searcliing  for  white  heather.  Much  sympathy  is 
felt    with  her   bereaved   parents.^ 


192 


Cbc  Britisb  3onrnaI  of  IRursmg.  t^ept.  3, 1910 


IRursinfl  JEcboes. 

We  learn  from  iliss  Good- 
hue, Hon.  Secretary  to  the 
Territorial  Force  Nursing 
Service  for  the  City  and 
County  of  London,  that 
many  of  the  nurses  of  this 
iranch  of  the  Service  who 
are  invited  by  the  Lady 
^Mayoress  to  a  jMansion 
House  Reception  on  October 
loth  —  notified  in  our 
columns  last  week — are  un- 
certain whether  they  should  attend  in  uniform 
or  evening  dress.  We  are  asked  to  state, 
therefore,  that  indoor  unifomi  is  correct,  and 
would  be  preferred. 


Miss  Donaldson,  Matron  of  the  Mount  Ver- 
non Sanatorium,  Xorthwood,  writing  in  the 
current  issue  of  Wings  on  "  The  Nursing  Pro- 
fession  and  the  Drink  Problem,"  says: — "  The 
nursing  profession  to-day  is  face  to  face  with 
the  greatest  social  problem  of  the  age — the 
drinking  habits  of  England.  Nurses,  in  their 
varied  ranks,  penetrate  into  coraers  and  creeks 
of  the  social  stream  which  have,  up  till  now, 
been  unexplored  by  refoiTners.  It  behoves 
every  member  of  the  profession,  therefore,  to 
settle  with  herself  the  side  of  the  drink  ques- 
tion on  which  she  is  prepared  to  expend  her 
energy  and  influence.  Before  everything  else, 
her  own  pereonal  conviction  is  essential.  The 
backbone  of  resolute  action  is  conviction;  it 
is  conviction  alone  which  enables  a  man,  when 
others  are  sinking  in  the  sands  of  expediency, 
to  stand  upon  the  rock.  To  a  nurse  trained  to 
be  an  accurate  obsener  of  facts,  with  the  one 
simple  desire  to  arrive  at  and  know  the  truth 
about  her  patients,  conviction  on  this  great 
question  will  not  tarry.  No  matter  where  her 
work  takes  her,  she  will  have  eyes  to  see  what 
others  may  miss,  and  ears  to  hear  what  others 
hear  not;  and  with  such  material  at  hand,  and 
with  so  many  of  the  greatest  scientists  of  our 
age,  eager  and  able  to  translate  the  significance 
of  the  tacts  she  has  gathered,  conviction  that 
her  attitude  mvist  be  one  of  complete  antago- 
nism to  the  drink  traffic  will  be  ovei-whelming. 
We  can  almost  hear  her  cry  aloud,  '  We  speak 
that   we  do  know,    and  testify  that  we  have 


.\t  a  meeting  of  the  Southwark  Guardians, 
when  the  Infirmary  Committee  reconmiended 
that  an  annchair,  a  table,  and  twenty  small 
ciiairs  should  be  re-covered  with  best  I'ed 
mirocco,     ]Mi      Cornell     enquired    why    best 


morocco  leather?  He  was  prepared  to  say  that 
even  the  Metropolitan  Asylums'  Board  never 
aspired  to  best  morocco.  Mr.  Cornell  also 
had  a  pertinent  remark  to  make  about  the 
further  proposition  that  a  couch,  two  easy 
chairs,  four  small  chairs,  and  a  hassock  in  the 
Matron's  room  should  be  re-covered  at  a  cost 
of  £7  10s.  He  said  that  the  new  Matron  had 
not  yet  been  appointed,  and  it  was  rather  early 
to  say  how  her  furniture  should  be  upholstered. 
The  pattern  had,  however,  been  chosen,  and, 
having  seen  it,  he  was  of  opinion  that  if  she 
was  a  self-respecting  lady,  she  would  put  the 
furniture  outside  the  door.  Why  not  let  the 
incoming  ^latron  select  the  material  herself- 
when  she  may  have  to  live  with  the  furniture 
for  the  whole  of  her  working  davs  ? 


At  an  inquest  recently  held  on  a  little  boy 
who  died  in  the  Southvrark  Union  Infirmary, 
the  mother  asserted  that  a  girl  of  ten  dressed 
and  fed  her  baby.  Asked  by  the  Coroner  what 
the  nurses  were"  doing,  she  replied  that  they 
"  seemed  to  be  always  cleaning  brass  work. 
A  woman  from  the  kitchen  takes  the  bread  and 
milk,  or  bread  and  butter,  round,  and  leaves 
it  on  the  beds,  and  my  little  baby  had  to  eat 
his  with  his  fingers  when  the  little  girl  did  not 
feed  him." 

"An  appreciative  Teacher"  writes  in  the 
Schoolmistress  of  the  School  Nurse  :- — "  Being 
a  mistress  of  one  of  the  poorest  schools  in  a 
large  city,  I  should  like  to  give  a  few  ideas  as 
to  the  ultimate  good  done  by  the  School  Nurse. 
She  is  a  '  new  institution,'  if  I  may  so  call  her, 
and  a  most  necessary  one.  Before  having  her, 
sometimes,  I  felt  it  impossible  to  eradicate  or 
even  to  help  to  cleanse  the  poor,  dirty  mites 
with  whom  I  am  daily  in  contact.  The  staff  and 
myself  were  never  ceasing  in  our  endeavours  to 
make  the  children  more  wholesome  and 
cleanly.  By  daily  lessons,  by  showing  the  dif- 
ference between  cleanliness  and  dirt,  by  mend- 
ing torn  clothing,  providing  the  girls  with  hair 
ribbons  and  combs,  and  doing  all  that  lay  in 
our  power,  still  we  did  not  get  the  effect  we 
wished.  All  our  influence  was  lost,  mainly  be- 
cause we  could  not  get  at  the  root  of  the  whole 
matter.  We  could  not  touch  the  parents  and 
the  homes,  so  all  our  efforts  were  only  tem- 
porary, as  home  surroundings  undid  all  that 
could  be  done. 

"  !Many  abuses  I  have  personally  received 
from  the  parents  for  my  so-called  '  inter- 
ference,' which  was  really  an  act  of  goodwill. 
I  was  almost  in  despair  at  my  school  ever  being 
in  a  healthier  and  more  cleanly  state  when  our 
education  authorities  established  the  '  School 
Nurse.' 


Sept:  3,  1010] 


Cbc  Jfintisb  3oiirnal  of  IRursina. 


I'.i3 


She  came,  aiul  I  fouuil  she  was  most 
■willing  and  anxious  to  help,  and  realised  fully 
all  the  difficulties  aiiead  with  such  a  class  of 
parents.  These  pc'iijc  need  careful  handling 
and  great  diplomacy.  At  the  first,  her  visits 
were  much  resented,  ;ind  every  opposition  given 
to  her  in  her  worii.  Now,  however,  with  a 
courteous,  yet  finn  manner,  kindly  ways,  enter- 
ing into  the  mother's  confidence  so  far,  and 
altogether  making  tin-  parants  feel  she  is  not 
only  the  '  nurse  '  iiut  '  friend  '  too,  if  they  will 
only  accept  her  as  siuch,  the  general  attitude 
and  opinion  of  her  is  altogether  changed,  and 
the  work  is  made  so  much  more  easy  and 
pleasant,  and  the  ciiildren  all  the  brighter  and 
happier  both  in  the  school  and  the  home.  Why, 
only  the  other  day,  I  had  a  message,  '  Would 
I  ask  the  nurse  to  caH'?'  This  is  only  one  of 
the  many  messages.  t)f  course,  there  are  still 
a  few  obstuiate  ones,  who  cannot  or  will  not 
see  that  it  is  only  their  children's  welfare  that 
is  thought  of;  but  this  one  does  not  feel  when 
they  can  see  the  result  of  their  labours  so  fidly 
manifested.  We  must  recognise,  too,  that  this 
nurses'  work  means  more  than  skill  from  a 
medical  side  only ;  it  means  a  love  for  poor 
struggling  humanity.  It  is  easy  and  pleasant 
working  in  clean  homes  and  with  all  necessaries 
at  hand,  but  it  is  a  ilitferent  thing  going  into 
■desolate,  filthy,  and  lost  homes,  where  one  is 
exposed  to  all  sorts  of  dangers.  Truly,;  it  can 
b'^  said,  that  a  nurse's  heart  must  be  in  her 
work  to  enable  her  to  live  her  life  in  such  an 
environment.  1  should  like  to  add  my  high 
testimony  as  to  the  value  and  esteem  of  those 
women  who  will  devote  their  lives  to  such 
work.  It  certainly  is  not  the  "  high  salary  ' 
which  prompts  them  to  choose  this  sphere  of 
labour.  Long  may  they  prosper  and  continue 
to  be  the  helper  of  both  teachers  and  children. " 


The  West  Cumberland  Infirmary,  White- 
haven, has  made  great  progress  in  the  last  few 
years  under  the  able  administration  of  the 
present  ^Matron,  ^liss  Evens,  who  has  seen 
the  complete  re-organisation  of  the  institution. 
The  latest  addition  is  a  Ladies'  Linen  League, 
v\-hich  is  now  in  full  working  order,  and  pro- 
mises to  be  a  great  success,  and  will  be  of 
great  assistance  to  the  hospital.  Lady  Lons- 
dale is  the  President,  with  various  ladies  in 
Whitehaven  and  the  wide  country  district 
sened  by  the  hospital  as  vice-presidents  and 
associates.  The  Hon.  Secretary  and  Treasurer 
is  Miss  Mary  C.  Fair. 


Excellency  the  Governor,"  which  was  pro- 
duced tiiere  for  three  nights  last  week  under 
his  direction.  Tiie  play  was  good,  and  was 
thoroughly   enjoyed  by  the  nurses. 

At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  Tiree  Nursing 
Association  Lady  Frances  Balfour  was  unani- 
mously appointed  President  in  the  place  of  the 
late  Lady  \'ictoria  Catnpbell.  On  the  motion 
of  the  Rev.  D.  Macpherson,  seconded  by  Mr. 
Macdonald.  it  was  resolved  to  send  a  motion  of 
condolence  to  the  Duke  and  Duchess  of  Argyll. 
The  following  resolution  was  also  adopted — 

The  .Association  wish  to  put  on  record  the  great 
los4  sustained  liy  the  Nursing  .Association  by  the 
death  of  Lady  Victoria  Campbell,  who  for  so  many 
years  did  so  much  for  the  As-^ioc-iation  by  her  wise 
counsel  and  energetic  efforts,  and  who  has  left  be- 
hind her  such  a  noble  record  of  wise  and  self-deny- 
ing efforts  for  the  poor  and  suffering  in  every 
sphere  of  life. 

Lady  Victoria  Campbell  was  a  Vice-President 
of  the"  Society  for  the  State  Registration  of 
Trained  Nurses,  and  a  strong  supporter  of 
thorough  training  for  nurses  provided  for  th.3 
poor  as  well  as  tTiose  supplied  to  the  rich. 


Through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  .\lfred  Wareing, 
a  number  of  the  members  of  the  Nursing  Staff 
of  Stobhill  "Hospital,  Glasgow,  were  invited  to 
the  Rovaltv  Theatre   Glasgow,   to  see   "  His 


Miss  Estelle  Reel,  in  an  article  in  an  Ameri- 
can contemporary,  says:  "The  educated  In- 
dian girl  looks  for  a  higher  type  of  manhood 
in  a  husband  than  satisfied  her  mother.  If 
she  does  not  find  her  ideal,  she  is  perfectly 
capable  of  earning  her  own  living.  You  may 
find  in  her  any  one  of  various  traits  that  fit 
her  for  special  work.  She  makes  a  superb 
nurse.  Hospitals,  which  have  trained  Indian 
girls,  are  making  constant  effort  to  enlist  others 
of  the  race.  She  has  infinite  patience,  for- 
bearance, generally  a  magnificent  physique, 
and  no  trace  of  the  "  nerves  "  which  so  often 
cause  a  breakdown  among  over-eivihsed  races. 
An  Indian  girl  can  go  through  the  most  trying 
surgical  case  with  a  stoical  calm  that  is  extra- 
ordinary. She  never  gets  flun-ied,  anxious,  or 
worried',  and.  she  obeys  the  physicians  as  a 
soldier  does  his  commander.  In  caring  for 
cases  of  severe  illness  she  seems  to  live  on 
some  strange  reserve  force  and  is  a  tender  as 
well  as  a  painstaking  nurse.  Indian  girls  make 
splendid  needlewomen.  They  inherit  the  skill 
their  grandmothers  put  into  bead  wprk  or  bas- 
ket making.  They  have  excellent  taste  and  an 
intuitive  idea  of  good  colouring.  .  You  find 
among  them  good  musicians;  they  excel  as 
teachers  of  their  own  people,  and  many  have 
achieved  a  high  place  as  w-orkers  in  the  arts- 
and  crafts.  .\s  often  as  possible  art  is  tau^it 
in  the  schools  by  an  Indian  woman,  with  a 
high  regard  for  all  that  is  best  in  native  handi- 
work." » 


194 


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[Sept.  3,  191U 


^Dc  Ibospital  Moiltt. 

ST.     THOMAS"     HOSPITAL. 

St.  Thomas'  Hospital,  which  is  of  permanent 
interest  to  nurses  as  the  hospital  chosen  by 
INIiss  Nightingale  as  the  training  ground  of  the 
Nightingale  probationers  and  the  establishment 
of  the  Nightingale  Home,  has  an  interesting 
history.  The  original  building,  dedicated  to  St. 
Thomas  a  Becket,  stood  for  six  centuries  on 
the  site  now  occupied  by  London  Bridge  Sta- 
tion, where  it  provided  board  and  lodging  for 
the  night,  and  treatment  and  care  in  the  event 
of  illness,  for  poor  pilgrims  on  their  way  to 
Canterbury.  Dr.  F.  M.  Sandwith  in  a  Gresham 


incorporated  by  charter  the  Lord  Mayor  and 
Corporation  of  the  City  in  succession  as  per- 
petual governors  of  the  Eoyal  Hospitals,  and 
St.  Thomas  was  re-named,  tjiis  time  its  dedica- 
tion being  to  St.  Thomas  the  Apostle,  and  the 
King  liberally  endowed  it. 

The  hospital  was  furnished  by  benevolent 
citizens,  their  gifts  including  straw  mattresses, 
feather  beds,  sheets,  blankets,  linen,  and 
clothes  for  the  inmates  who  were  at  that  time 
chiefJy  wounded  soldiers  home  from  the  wars 
in  France,  as  well  as  the  halt,  the  blind,  and 
the  maimed. 

Eligibility  for  the  office  of  governor  was  after- 
wards extended  to  men  of  rank  and  respecta- 


ST.    THOMAS'    HOSPITAL,     LONDON. 


lecture,  showed  that  its  revenues  were  seized 
by  Henry  VIH.  in  1538,  at  which  date 
it  made  up  forty  beds,  and  its  staff  con- 
sisted of  a  Master  and  Brethren  and  three 
lay  Sisters. 

A  few  years  later  the  citizens  of  London  pur- 
chased from  the  Crown  some  of  its  landed 
estates,  and  in  15.51  they  purchased  from  Ed- 
w^ard  VL  the  manor  of  South wark,  including 
the  site  of  the  hospital,  which  was  then  en- 
larged to  accommodate'300  beds,  and  re-opened 
a  year  later  as  "the  King's  Hospital."  The 
wards  were  named  Isaac,  Jacob,  Job,  Tobiah, 
Noah,  .Jonah.  King,  Abraham,  Lazarus,  and 
Susannah.    Just  before  his  death  Edward  VL 


bility  outside  the  City  of  London.  On  election, 
the  governors  were  expected  to  give  a  liberal 
donation,  but  it  was  understood  that  money 
alone  would  not  procure  a  Governor's  staff, 
which  was  dependent  on  recommendations  of 
public  virtue. 

According  to  Mr.  Benjamin  Golding,  the 
governors  possessed  the  power  of  inflicting 
punishments,  and  a  whipping-post  and  stocks 
were  erected  at  the  hospital.  Immoral  women, 
on  their  discharge  cured,  were  also  jirivately 
whipped  and  admonished  to  live  a  different  life. 
One  imagines  it  must  have  required  some 
courage  to  enter  the  hospital  for  treatment  in 
those  da  vs. 


Sept.  3,  lOliT 


?Xbc  Britieb  3ournal  of  IRursino. 


195 


TRcflcctions. 


From  a  Board  Room  Mirroh. 
The  King   has    giimtiHl     his    patroimge     tn  tho 
Miller  General  Ho&i>it:il  for  South-east  London.    - 

The  King  has  appointed  Colonel  Sir  H.  Perrott 
Secretary-General  of  the  Order  of  St.  John  of 
Jerusalem  in  England,  in  place  of  Colonel  Sir  H 
Jekyll,  who  has  hciii  promoted  to  Chancellor. 
His  Majesty  has  appointed  Mr.  AV.  R.  Edwards 
Secretarv  of  the  Order. 


Lord  Cland  Hamilton.  Al.P.,  the  High  Steward  of 
the  Boroiigli.  la.st  ."Saturday  opene<l  at  Yanuonth 
the  King  J">lward  Children's  Ward,  which  has  been 
adde<l  to  the  H<Kpital  in  that  town  as  a  memorial 
to  his  late  M«j«>sty.  The  foundation-stone  was  laid 
by  King  E<lward  when  he  was  Prince  of  AVales, 
23  rears  ago. 


.\s  a  memorial  to  King  Edward  VIL  Dr.  J.  H. 
Bartlet,  President  and  Consulting  Physician  ot  the 
East  Suffolk  Hospital  at  Ipswich,  has  forwarde<l  to 
the  Committee  of  Management  a  cheque  for  i'1.000 
in  endowment  of  a  bo<l. 


The  treasurer  of  tho  Bristol  General  Hospital  has 
received  from  Mrs.  AVilliam  Proctor  Baker  a  cheque 
for  £.5,000  a  portion  of  a  promised  gift  of  £10,000, 
to  provide  a  new  ward  to  be  dedicated  to  the 
memory  of  her  late  husband,  who  was  chairman  of 
the  institution,  and  under  who-o  guidance  the  lios- 
pital  made  marked  progress,  -iv.  Baker  was  once 
I.iOrd  ^[ayor  of  Bristol.  Mrs.  Baker  has  also  made 
a  gift  of  £10,000  to  the  Sanatorium  for  Consump- 
tives at  AVinsley,  near  Bath,  £8,000  to  clear  off  a 
mort-gage  on  the  building,  and  the  remaining 
£2,000  to  provide  additional  accommodation  for 
the  staff  and  increase  the  number  of  beds  for 
patients. 


On  the  23rd  ult.  The  Allan  A.  Ryan  Home  Hos- 
pital for  Consumption,  Pigeon  House  Road,  Dub- 
lin, was  opened  by  his  Excellency  Lord  Aberdeen. 
This  Hospital  is  due  to  the  generosity  of  an 
American-Irishman,  who  offered  to  Lady  Aberdeen 
the  necessary  funds  to  start  and  equip  it.  It  is  for 
the  more  advanced  oases  of  tuberculosis.  It  is 
a  real  "  Home  "  Hospital,  being  most  tastefully 
and  comfortably  furnished.  Nothing  seems  to 
have  been  forgotten  that  could  in  any  way  con- 
duce to  the  welfare  of  the  poor  people  suffering 
from  this  depressing  illness.  Lord  Lonsdale  has 
given  four  shelters  for  those  who  are  able  to  take 
advantage  of  them.  The  whole  place  is  very  up- 
to-date,  and  should  prove  an  immense  boon  to  the 
City  of  Dublin,  as  except  the  I'nion  Infirmaries, 
it  has  no  Hospital  for  the  treatment  of  advanced 
cases  of  tuberculosis. 


The  following  night  a  most  successful  ball  was 
held  in  the  Rotunda  Ballroom  in  aid  of  the  funds 
of  the  Women's  National  Health  Association  for 
Ireland.  If'  was  very  largely  attended,  a  great 
number  of  visitors  who  were  over  for  the  Horse 
Show    being  present. 


Qut5t&c  the  agates- 

WOMEN. 

A  very  interesting 
Conference  on  lufantil© 
Mortality  was  held  last 
week  in  Dublin  un- 
der the  auspices  of 
the  Diiblin  Branch  of 
the  Women's  National 
Health  A.ssociation  of 
Ireland  under  the  pre- 
sidency of  the  Countess  of  Aberdeen,  President 
of  the" --Vssociation,  and  many  int€re.sting  meetings 
took  place. 

Lady  Aberdeen  said  that,  though  the  infantile 
death-rate  in  Ireland  was  considerably  lower  than 
in  England  or  Scotland,  yet  in  the  towns  the  death- 
rate  was  high.  In  England  the  average  infantile 
death-rate  was  126  per  1,000,  in  Scotland  116,  and 
in  Ireland  92,  but  it  was  considerably  higher  in 
the  large  cities,  being  141  per  1,000  in  the  first 
year  of  life  in  Dublin,  in  BeJfast  1.39,  and  in  Cork 
126.  The  medical  profession  considered  that  the 
rate  from  unpreventable  causes  should  not  exceed 
40  per  1,000. 

The  Corporation  of  Dublin  had  just  adopted  the 
Notification  of  Births  Act,  and  were  now  consider- 
ing a  scheme  to  make  this  Act  effective  through 
their  Health  Visitors,  aided  by  voluntary  workers. 
The  Association  desired  to  put  itself  at  the  disposi- 
tion of  the  public  authorities  in  this  matter,  so 
that  it  might  prepare  to  train  voluntary  workers, 
who  would  be  ready  to  act  under  the  official  health 
visitors  and  medical  officers  in  this  all  important 
work  of  visiting  the  mothers  as  soon  as  possible 
after  the  birth  of  the  children,  and  voluntary 
workers  were  needed,  prepared  to  act  under  orders. 
The  Conference  was  reported  at  length  in  the 
Irish  Times,  and  our  account  is  compiled  from  this 
and  other  sources  of  information  in  Ireland. 
Mrs.  Bf.rtr.\nd  Russell. 
The  Hon.  Mrs.  Bertrand  Russell,  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  St.  Pancras  School  for  Mothers, 
then  addressed  the  meeting,  and  said  that  the  ques- 
tion of  the  health  of  infants  was  brought  into  pro- 
minence at  the  time  of  the  South  African  War, 
when  from  40-60  per  cent,  of  the  young  men  who 
wished  to  become  soldiers  were  rejected  on  accoiint 
of  their  health.  The  Commission  concerned  with 
this  question  found  that  the  key  to  the  situation 
was  the  delicacy  of  infants  and  the  deficient  know- 
ledge of  the  mothers.  The  motliers  in  this  country 
ha<f  not  proper  education  for  their  duties.  Unlike 
men,  women  did  not  get  technical  training.  Most 
women,  rich  or  poor,  entered  on  the  .«acred  duties 
of  motherhood  with  practically  no  sorfof  prepara- 
tion. That  did  not  matter  so  much  in  the  case  of 
women  who  were  well  off,  and  who  could  employ 
tho  services  of  a  highly  scientific  nurse,  and  who 
could  engage  a  skilled  doctor  when  the  child  was 
sick.  In  the  case  of  poor  women,  who  could  not 
employ  skilled  assistance,  the  neglect  of  that  editca- 
tion  was  found  to  have  had  a  very  bad  effect  on  the 
health  of  the  children.  Tho  infantile  mortality 
rate  was  as  high  as  it  was  70  years  ago.  Moreover, 
wherever  the  death-rate  was  high,  the  damage  rate 


196 


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[Sept.  3,  1910 


was  also  found  to  be  liigb,  and  wherever  a  child 
died  the  other  brothers  and  sisters  often  grew  up 
weak,  and  were  found  to  be  unable  to  take  part 
in  the  struggle  of  life,  and  to  fill,  in  later  life,  the 
hospitals,  asylums,  and  prisons;  for  a  great  deal 
of  wickedness  was,  no  doubt,  caused  through  their 
not  being  able  to  take  care  of  their  health.  It 
would  he  thought  that  there  would  now  be  a  school, 
and  she  ventured  to  say  that  if  women  had  their 
proper  jjolitical  position  that  would  long  ago  have 
been  taken  up.  The  speaker  then  gave  an  interest- 
ing account  of  the  St.  Pancras  School  for  Mothers. 

L.\DV  Plunket. 

The  next  speaker  was  Lady  Plunket,  who  said 
she  was  very  pleased  to  have  the  opportunity  of 
placing  before  the  Association  the  methods  New 
Zealand  had  adopted  to  fight  against  the  appalling 
and  unnecessary  death-rate  amongst  infants,  of  th'.' 
means  which  were  being  taken  to  build  up  the  con- 
stitutions of  those  babies,  who  for  different  reasons 
had  been  deprived  of  their  projier  rights  to  nature's 
food — those  ill-fed  weaklings  who  were  supposed  to 
have  been  born  with  unhealthy  hereditary  tenden- 
cies, and  who  seemed  on  the  verge  of  death,  but 
who,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  struggled  on  to  maturity 
and  swelled  the  crowd  of  the.  unfit,  filling  the  hos- 
pitals and  charitable  institutions.  The  pioneer  in 
the  defence  of  the  infants  in  Xew  Zealand  was  Dr. 
Truby  King,  an  eminent  nerve  specialist.  Dr. 
King  threw  himself  enthusiastically  into  the  fray, 
and  by  means  of  lectures,  speeches,  newspaper 
articles,  pamphlets  scattered  broadcast,  he  brought 
before  the  i)eople  of  the  Dominion  that  the  percen- 
tage of  infant  mortality  in  Xew  Zealand  (as  in  ali 
civilised  countries)  was  absolutely  undefendable, 
and  could,  with  comparative  ea-se,  be  enormously 
reduced.  He  brought  before  his  hearers  and  readers 
the  now  well  known  and  admitted  fact  that  nearly 
every  bab.v  was  born  liealthy  and  normal,  that  the 
deterioration,  so  constantly  observed  during  the 
first  months  of  life,  was  simply  due  to  incorrect 
feeding,  gross  ignorance,  want  of  fresh  air,  unsuit- 
able clothing,  neglect,  and  dirt,  and  the  pre- 
dominant cause  of  mortalit.v  amongst  infants  could, 
in  practically  all  cases,  be  traced  to  digestive 
troubles. 

The  First  B.\tti,f.. 
•  The  first  battle  he  had  to  fight  was  to  persuade 
mothers  that  a  life  had  been  pla<i'd  in  their  hands, 
and  that  it  wa>  in  their  power  to  cripple  or  to  do 
justice  to  it  ;  that  they  had  no  right  to  hving  a 
cliild  into  the  world,  and  then  intentionally  or 
through  want  of  forethought  to  de])rive  it  of  its 
birthright,  Nature's  food.  AViiere  artificial  feedini; 
was  absolutely  necessary  Dr.  King  pointed  out  that 
the  only  reasonable  substitute  for  maternal  food 
was  cow's  milk,  accuratclv  modified  to  give  a  com- 
position a,"!  nearly  as  possible  identical  with  that  of 
mother's  milk.  The  greatest  difficulty  he  and  th.' 
Society  .that  was  founded  had  had  to  face  was  the 
universal  notion  that  a  "'  mother's  instinct  "  woiild 
teach  her  how  to  rear  her  child,  and  that  fallacious 
idea  had  hastened  the  death  of  many  millions  of 
habies.  Dr.  King  stimmarised  tliis  fallacy  in  these 
word*:  — 

"  Instinct  becomes  weaker  and  weaker  as  civilisw 


tiou  increases,  being  replaced  in  mankind  by  the 
higher  power  of  understanding  and  reasoning.  The 
maternal  instinct  is  not  even  a  sufficient  guide  for 
the  mother  who  uurses  her  baby,  and  it  is  no  guide 
at  all  to  those  who  resort  to  bottle-feeding." 

Infants'  HosPiT.\r,. 

After  a  short  time  Dr.  King,  backed  up  by  his 
friends,  succeeded  in  starting  a  small  hospital  for 
babies,  which  was  now  known  far  be.vond  the  shores 
of  New  Zealand  as  the  Karitani  Infant's  Hospital. 
Percentage  feeding,  modified  cow's  milk,  fresh  air, 
and  constant  attention  had  taken  the  place  of 
patent  foods,  milk  and  barley  water,  bread  and 
milk  and  tea — a  most  popular  diet.  The  curtained 
cots  and  the  binders  had  no  place;  the  babies  slept 
practically  all  day  and  all  night  in  the  open  air, 
quite  regardless  of  the  thermometer  registering 
several  degrees  of  frost.  The  results  had  beeii 
wonderful.  In  the  first  two  years  about  100  babies 
i^ere  admitted  at  the  last  gasp,  four  of  whom  only 
died.  The  hospital  soon  became  overcrowded,  and 
as  many  cases  could  be  treated  at  their  own  homes, 
one  of  the  nurses  was  sent  out  to  attend  and  to 
advise  the  mothers. 

B-\istF.s'    Nurses. 

Shortly  after  this  a  i)ublic  meeting  was  held  in 
Wellington  to  establish  a  similar  babies'  nurse  to 
work  in  that  city.  It  was  on  this  occasion  she 
(Lady  Plunket)  had  the  privilege  of  meeting  Dr. 
Truby  King,  and,  hearing  him  lecture,  she  was 
deeply  interested  and  truly  horrified  to  realise  all 
the  crimes  she  had  committed  quite  unwittingly  in 
he  own  nursery  on  her  own  children.  Like  many 
others  who  heard  Dr.  King,  she  felt  she  must  help 
him  in  his  great  crusade.  After  much  considera- 
tion they  decided  that  to  make  any  distinct  effect 
on  the  infant  death-rate  mothers  of  all  classes  must 
bo  educated,  and  that  the  simplest  plan  would  be 
to  train  hospital  and  maternity  nurses  at  the  Kara- 
tani  Hospital,  and  then  place  them  all  over  the 
country  as  teachers  and  friends  to  the  mothers  and 
babies,  supplanting  the  neighbour,  with  her  very 
well  meant,  but  so  frequently  disastrous,  adviep. 
Position  of  the  Nurses. 

In  planning  the  campaign  two  most  important 
questions  arose.  The  first  was  how  to  make  certain 
that  the  nurse  would  be  welcoine<l  by  the  mothei-s. 
This  possible  difficulty  was  avoided  by  one  of  tlu' 
few  rules  for  the  nurses  being  that  no  Plunket 
nurse  should  undertake  a  case  unless  invited  to  do 
so  by  the  mother.  The  st>cond  question  was  whether 
some  doctors  might  not  view  the  nurses'  work  as 
an  interference  or  a  slight  u|>on  themselves. 
Accordingly  the  rule  was  made  that  no  Plunket 
nurse  was  to  visit  a  case  which  a  doctor  was 
attending  unless  sent  for  by  him,  and  that  she  must 
carry  out  his  orders  implicitly,  even  when  thev 
appeared  to  contradict  her  Karatani  training.  In 
such  cases  the  nurses  were  expectixl  to  use  great 
tact  The.v  always  found  that  between  the  nurse's 
special  knowledge  regarding  infant  fcediiig  and  the 
doctor's  general  knowledge  of  health  a  satisfactory 
treatment  was  arrived  at.  Having  formnlatefl 
their  general  scheme  and  rules,  they  had  to  con- 
sider w.iys  and  means.  It  was  never  their  intention 
that  the  Society  should  be  a  charity.  Its  objects  l>eing 


1 


Sept.  3,  1010 


4be  36riti5b  3ournaI  of  IHursino. 


107 


niaiiilr  ol  an  educational  charactoi'. aiul  just  a&  iiiucli 
required  by  the  well-to-do  as  the  huiublcst  motber. 
But  they  recoguisi'd  that  to  insure  the  nurses  bein,; 
generally  taken  advantage  of  they  must  give  their 
services  free.  It  wa;..  therefore,  decided  that  the 
necessary  funds  shoTiM  be  collected  mainly  by  mem- 
berships of  5s.  a  year,  and  that  the  Government 
should  be  asked  for  State  help,  which  was  grantecL 
the  Government  giving;  )>ound  for  ix)und  collecte<l 
up  to  a  certain  figure. 

How    .\    XURSE    IS    EST.\BLISHED. 

A  large  meeting  was  held  in  Auckland ;  the 
movement  and  the  scheme  were  explained,  and  suf- 
Jicient  funds  were  promised.  X  Committee,  mainly 
of  ladies,  and  an  Advisory  Board,  chietly  of  doctors, 
were  constituted.  A  suitable  and  fully  qualified 
nurse  was  then  chosun.  and  sent  down  to  Karitani 
for  her  three  months'  training.  At  the  end  of  her 
■course  she  had  to  pass  a  very  stiff  examination 
upon  the  general  care  of  infants,  and  particularly 
upon  the  percentage  and  caloric  nature  of  all  sorts 
of  foods  intended  for  them.  She  had  to  write  out 
prescriptions  to  meet  the  caloric  needs  of  different 
babies,  and  had  to  be  capable  of  calculating  the 
percentage  of  proteid,  fat.  carbohydrates  in  mix- 
tures made  with  whole  milk,  skimmed  milk,  and 
all  patent  footls.  gruels,  etc.  Having  satisfied  the 
authorities,  she  returned  to  Auckland,  where  she 
was  provided  with  an  office  to  meet  the  mothers 
and  weigh  the  babies,  a  telephone,  bicycle,  and  the 
freedom  of  the  elettric  trams.  A  leading  dairy 
there  gave  the  Society  and  nurse  every  possible 
facility  for  carrying  out  all  the  necessary  milk  pre- 
scriptions. -\^t  present  there  are  two  Plunket 
nurses  in  Auckland  hard  at  work,  and  two  women 
in  the  dairy  fully  occupied  preparing  fiie  prescrip- 
tions and  despatching  them  in  carts  to  be  delivered 
at  the  doors  of  the  different  cases.  The  first  year 
the  .Auckland  nurse  attended  -500  babies,  one  death 
recorde<l,  and  that  was  meningitis.  There  are  at 
present  14  Plunket  nurses  in  Xew  Zealand,  each 
nurse  probably  attending  an  average  of  3-50  babies. 
In  no  less  than  21  newspapers  in  Xew  Zealand  a 
i-olumn  entitled  "Our  Babies"'  is  published  every 
Saturday  evening.  This  article  is  edited  by  Mrs. 
Trviby  King,  who  works  as  hard  as  her  husband  in 
this  life-saving  movement.  Such  was  the  work 
which  the  Society  for  the  Health  of  Women  and 
Children  was  engaged  upon  in  Xew  Zealand.  It 
had  saved  many  hundred  infants',  lives:  it  had 
relieved  much  suffering  and  anxiety;  above  all,  it 
had  impressed  upon  the  parents  of  the  coming 
generation  that  the  whole  life  of  their  children 
must  invariably  be  affected  by  the  wise  or  foolish 
treatment  they  received  during  the  first  eighteen 
months  of  their  existence. 

Miss  M.  ilcXcill,  Hon.  Secretary,  then  gave  an 
interesting  report  of  the  work  carried  on  by  the 
Pasteurised  Milk  Depot  and  Infant  Mortality  Com- 
mittee in  Dublin,  and  .Sir  John  Byers  sent  an  ac- 
count of  the  Babies'  Club  in  Divis  Street,  Belfast, 
the    first  opened    in    Ireland. 

Dr.  Stafford,  Local  Oovernment  Board  Inspector, 
in  moving  a  vote  of  tlianks,  said  that  municipal 
and  domestic  cleanlin*-^  was  the  beginning  and 
-end  of  the  whole  matt-r. 


X>oo\\  of  tbc  mcch. 


THE  DOCTOR  S  LASS.* 

This  is  a  long,  clo^<ly-written  Ijook,  but  not  one 
line  too  long.  One  grudges  each  page  as  it  is 
turne<l.  .\ny  student  of  Mr.  George  Meredith 
will  at  once  recognise  the  school  in  which  the 
author  learnt  his  i>eculiar  style:  but  its  affectations 
in  no  way  <letract  from  its  charm,  and  are  han<lle<l 
in  a  manner  that  would  not  disgrace  the  great 
master  himself.     Here  is  a  specimen: — 

■■  Her  tears  .  .  .  Aye!  her  toars  were  drops 
of  holy  water  even  when  they  asperged  passion  and 
lay  on  angered  lashes.  And  her  name!  Tliat 
brief  monosyllable  of  mere  domestic  utility,  like  a 
milk-jug  with  not  even  a  blue  border  round  it;  a 
title  to  be  liste<l  with  kitchen  necessities — how 
dear  it  became  in  usage. 

"Jane     .     .     .     Jane     .... 

"  Say  it  over  softly  a  numljer  of  times  and  see 
how  beautiful  it  can  Ijecome.  -\s  prim  as  a  kitchen 
clock ;  as  brief  as  an  oyster  that  slips  down, 
vinegary,  in  one  syllable ;  as  cool  as  crockery ;  a 
little  demure  it  may  be,  like  mu.slin — but,  oh!  so 
charming  when  it  rustles  and  is  stirretl  by  girlish 
animation,  aud  it  becomes  wayward  and  alive. 

■■  And  when  it  is  associate<l  by  a  hundred  ties 
with  beggar-my-neighbour  and  dominoes,  and  gar- 
dening, and  drives,  aud  long  walks,  aud  good- 
nights  and  good-mornings,  and  shau'ts  and  don't 
cares,  and  do  you  love  me's  .  .  .  then  . 
then  w  hat  a  name  I  A  name  so  dear  that  the 
Doctor  cannot  dismiss  it :  cannot  find  in  his  waver- 
ing heart  to  buy  a  box  for  it  aud  send  it  away  to 
school,  packed  up  with  grammars  and  tears  and  a 
new  cake.' 

The  Doctor,  still  a  young  man,  had  adopted  tlie 
motherless  child  of  a  woman  who,  in  former  years, 
had  jilted  him  for  another  lover.  The  memory  of 
his  illustrious  predecessor,  Dr.  Dendy,  still  held 
sway  in  the  minds  of  the  simple  Xorthumbriau 
villagers,  and  they  yield  scant  confidence  to  more 
modern  science. 

"  AVhen  aud  Doctor  looked  at  ye,"  says  legend, 
"you  knowed  very  well  summut  would  'a  to  gie 
way.  Lawks!  but  he  could  sec  summut  down  your 
throat  wi'  yon  eye,  you  may  depend." 

"  If  Doctor  iiobbut  shook  his  head,"  says  testi- 
mony. ■'  it  was  owere*!  wi'  ye.  Yau  (one)  shake 
was  eneaf." 

•'Aye.''  corrolK>rati^  the  canier :  'he  just  gied 
yan  wag  of  his  head  at  I)ottom  o'  Tom  .Johnston's 
stairs  and  Tom  was  dead  by  two  next  morning.  As 
bigandstronga  man  as  onybody  mud  wish  to  see." 

Still,  in  spite  of  all.  he  wins  his  way,  and  his  little 
ward  grows  into  a  beautiful  and  wayward  girl,  with 
the  result  that  she  becomes  the  very  c.entre  of  his 
t>eing.  Tlie  blow  falls  when  she  asks  his  sanction 
for  her  engagement  to  a  pompous  young  clergyman. 

"  Berkeley  was  coming  to  morrow  to  see  him.  to 
scar  the  final  brand  into  his  shrinking  flesh.  Ber- 
keley had  offered  to  break  the  news  himself,  .Jan^ 
had  said ;  but  she  had  wi.-hed  to  have  the  j<%  of 

*  Bv  Edward  C.  Booth.     (Grant  Richards,  Lon- 


198 


Zbe  Britisb  3ournaI  of  THurslng, 


[Sept.  3,  1910 


telling  dear  humphy  just  in  her  own  sweet  way. 
Thereat  she  kissed  him  passionately  three  times, 
and  fell  suddenly  a  weeping  over  him  with  her 
face  against  his,  telling  him  he  was  the  dearest 
humphy  in  the  world,  and  he  must  i^romise  to  lore 
Berkeley." 

"If  it  is  your  happiness,  Jane,''  he  told  her, 
"  you  must  surely  know  there  can  be  no  one  in  the 
world  more  glad  than  I." 

That  was  the  last  and  best  he  could  do.  He 
kissed  her  and  turned  to  the  lamp." 

"We  are  delighted  therefore  at  the  close  of  the 
book  to  hear  her  .-iay :  "  Hviniphy,  after  all  there  is 
no  one  I  care  for  like  you.  .  .  .  You  can 
never  be  too  old  for  me.  If  you  care  for  me  now 
that  Berkeley  has  oast  me  aside  ...  I  think 
this  is  what  I  prayed  for  last  night,  humphy." 

He  drew  her  hands  and  pres.sed  them  to  his 
breast . 

"  God  bless  you." 

We  could  quote  many  an  amusing  passage  from 
the  old  Viciar's  infatuation  for  his  numerous 
nephews  and  his  garden  to  the  corai)lete  submerg- 
ing of  his  parochial  duties. 

"  They  admire  (without  walking  on  it)  the  velvet 
texture  of  the  green  lawn  that  the  Vicar  nurses 
like  a  child,  with  Chinese  umbrellas  to  keep  the 
sun  f  I'om  its  tender  places  at-  mid-day,  and  waters 
by  countless  buckets  at  nights,  with  the  assistance 
of  his  maids.  It  is  the  lawn  that  so  astonished  the 
,Vrchl)i.shop  when  he  came  ten  years  ago  to  con- 
.secrate  the  pitch  pine  pews." 

The  said  lawn,  his  own  creation,  being  in  a 
.'iatl  state  when  he  first  came  to  the  living,  so  that 
he  ssiid  of  his  prwloces-sor :  "Poor  fellow,  he's  dead 
and  gone;  but  he  didn't  seem  to  have  the  slighte.st 
vocation  for  a  vicar." 

"  The  Doctor's  Lass"  is  a  masterpiece. 

H.  H. 


Xettcrs  to  tbc  leoitor. 


domiiui  lEvcnts. 


ConCbess  of  the  Royal  Saniuky  Institute,  Royal 

Pavii.ion,  BmuiiTON.  Sei'tember  .5th — 10th. 

Prihripal  Events. 

Seytemher  Sfh. — Reception  of  Members  and  De- 
legates by  the  Worshipful  the  Mayor.     1  p.m. 

Opening  of  the  Health  Exhibition  in  the  Dome 
by  the  AVorshipful  the  Mayor.     3  p.m. 

Inaugural  .\ddress  to  the  Congress  by  the  Hon. 
Sir  John  A.  Cockburn,  K.C.M.G.,  M.D.     8  p.m. 

l^eplembcr  6th. — Conference,  10  a.m. 

Lecture  to  the  Congress  by  Dr.  Arthur  News- 
holme,  F.H.C.P.,  '•  The  National  Importance  of 
Child   Mortality."     8  p.m. 

Srjitemlxr  7th. — Conference.     10  a.m. 

Conversazione  and  Reception  at  the  invitation  pf 
the  Worshipful  the  Jtayor.    8  p.m. 

Sr])temhi'r  Sth. — Conference.     10  a.m. 

SepfcmbcT  9th. — Conference,  10  a.m. 

Closing  Meeting,  1.30  \>.n\. 

(tarden    Party,  3.30   p.m. 

Popular  Lecture  by  Dr.  Alex.  Hill,  M.D., 
F.R.C.S.,  J. P.,  on  "  The  Bricks  with  which  the 
I3<Hly  is  Built."     8  p.m. 

S^eptcmber  10th. — Excursions. 


^  n'hilst  cordially  inviting  com- 
munications upon  all  subjecti- 
/or  these  columns,  we  wish  it 
to  be  distinctly  understooct 
that  u-e  do  not  in  ant  wat 
hold  ourselves  responsible  for 
the  opinions  expressed  by  our 
correspondents. 


THE     FIRST     CARAVAN     OF    THE     WOMEN  S 

IMPERIAL     HEALTH     ASSOCIATION. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  "British  -Journal  of  yursintj." 

Dear  Madaai. — I  road  with  great  interest  your 
account  of  the  ceremony  of  inauguration  of  the 
first  caravan  despatched  on  tour  by  the  Women's 
Imperial  Health  Association  of  Great  Britain, 
and  feel  sure  that  every  trained  nurse  will  wish 
it  well  on  its  mission.  The  maintenance  of  health 
is  one  of  the  most  important  problems  for  the  in- 
dividual, and  for  the  uation,  which  is,  it  is  to  be 
feared,  for  the  most  part  in  gross  darkness,  in 
spite  of  the  fact  that  all  children  now  come  under 
the   influence  of   the   Board   of   Education. 

Even  that  Department  is  only  learning  slowly 
that  to  cultivate  the  brains  of  the  children  in  the 
schools  throughout  the  country,  and  to  ignore  the 
physical  necessities  of  their  growing  bodies  is 
both  futile  and  cruel,  and  that  time  is  well  spent 
in  instruction  in  si;ch  subjects  as  will  help  boys 
and  girls  to  discharge  the  duties  of  every  day 
life,  and  to  be  good  husbands  and  wives  when  they 
grow  to  adult  life.  .Surely  it  is  not  too  much  to 
ask  that  domestic  economy  should  be  one  of  the 
subjects  in  which  every  girl  is  instructed.  To 
know  how  to  cook  and  sew,  how  to  wash  and  dress 
a  baliy,  what  it  shoidd  and  should  not  be  fed 
upon,  the  necessity  for  a  pure  milk  supply,  and 
for  strict  cleanliness  of  all  vessels  with  which  it 
comes  in  contact,  will  be  of  more  value  to  a  girl 
in  her  future  life  than  a  smattering  of  subjects, 
probably  forgotten   as  soon  as  she  leaves  school. 

AVe  exclaim  at  the  dense  ignorance  of  motliers. 
yet  at  whose  door  should  we  lay  that  ignorance  ;- 
Most  mothers  are  painfully  anxious  to  do  their 
best  for  their  children,  witness  the  success  of 
'•  Schools  for  Mothers  "  when  started.  But  such 
schools  are  poor  makeshifts  at  best.  The  know- 
ledge imparted  there  ought  to  have  been  acquired 
before  girls  become  mothers  at  all,  not  at  the  ex- 
jieiise  of  their  first  born,  as  many  a  tiny  grave 
bears  witness.  It  is  our  system  of  education  which 
is  at  fault,  a  fact  wliich.  I  am  glad  to  note,  the 
l.^>ndoii  CnuTity  Council  is  beginning  to  apjireliend, 
ami  the  instruction  now  given  in  its  schools  in 
practical  catering  and  cooking  for  working  class 
families  should  do  something  towards  improving 
the  >t;niiiiia   of  tlie  nation. 

I  am.  Dear  JIadam. 

Ifours  faithfully, 
District  Ntrse. 


OUR  PUZZLE  PRIZE. 
Rules    for  competing   for  the     Pictorial    I'uz/.le 
Priee  will  be  found  on  Advertisement  page  xii. 


Sept.  3.  I'.Mn    ^ |,^^  Bdtisl)  3011111.11  of  iRursiiuj  Supplement 

The    Midwife. 


190 


©pbthalmia  iMeonatorum  as  a 
Cause  oi  BUnDness. 


Miss  Caroline  t'lmaiit  van  Blarconi,  graduate 
of  the  Johns  Hojiidiis  Hospital,  Baltimore, 
U.S.A.,  writing  in  the  American  Journal  of 
Nursing  on  Ophtiiiilniia  Neonatorum,  says  in 
part  :  — 

During  a  recent  visit  to  one  of  the  large 
State  schools  for  the  blind,  I  was  much  at- 
tracted by  a  beautiful  Httle  girl  who  was 
groping  her  way  through  the  kindergarten 
room,  halls,  anil  donnitorj'  with  her  sightless 
companions.  I  made  some  enquiry  as  to 
her  history,  and  the  cause  of  her  being  in 
that  school,  and  learned  that  she  was  the  only 
child  of  a  young  widow  who,  when  she  lost  her 
husband,  undertook  to  support  and  educate 
this  child  after  she  became  blind,  struggling  at 
the  same  time  to  resign  herself  to  what  she 
considered  one  of  the  inevitable  decrees  of  fate. 

It  was  the  old  sad  story.  The  child's  eyes 
became  red  and  swollen  during  early  infancy, 
and  the  mother  was  told  that  "  all  babies  have 
sore  eyes,"  that  "  cold  in  the  eyes  was 
natural,"  etc.  The  eyes  grew  rapidly  worse, 
corneal  involveinont  took  place  and  total 
bUndness,  which  might  have  been  prevented, 
was  the  result.  The  mother's  counsellors 
assured  her  that  this  was  the  will  of  God,  and 
must  be  accepted. 

Now,  however,  this  mother  knows  the  truth, 
and  realises  that  her  infant  lost  her  sight  as  a 
result  of  a  preventable,  curable,  infectious 
disease — ophthalmia  neonatorum,  and  as  she 
looks  into  the  sightless  eyes  of  this  innocent 
sufferer,  she  appreciates  the  full  force  of  the 
words. 

Of  all  sad  words  of  tongue  or  pen, 

The  saddest  are  these  :    "It  might  have  been  !  " 
In  this  case  the  single  sin  of  omission  resulted 
in  the  saddening  of  two  lives. 

That  is  one  ease  of  blindness  from  ophthal- 
mia neonatonmi,  and  there  are  in  the  United 
States  of  America  nione,  at  a  conservative 
estimate,  bet\\een  six  and  seven  thousand 
persons  totally  blind  from  the  same  ca\ise. 
Seven  thousand  persons  handicapped,  blighted, 
deprived  of  the  keen  joy  which  comes  through 
visual  perceptions — blind  as  a  result  of  ignor- 
nace  and  neglect. 

This  disease,  leaving'  darkness  in  its  wake, 
is  not  confined  to  any  locality  or  country,  but 
is  a  world-wide  placue.  Quoting  from  T>r. 
Julien  Gehrung, 


"  According  to  the  Eoyal  Commission  for 
the  Blind,  the  statistics  demonstrated  that  ip 
71.99  per  cent,  of  all  who  became  blind  in  the 
first  v-ear  of  life  it  was  caused  by  ophthalmia 
neonatorum,  e.g.,  of  10,00U  childi-en  under  five 
years  of  age,  428  were  blind  as  a  result  of  this 
form  of  conjunctivitis.  Ophthalmia  neona- 
torum claims  26  per  cent,  of  the  blind  in  Swit- 
zerland, and  in  the  United  Kingdom  7,000 
persons  have  lost  their  sight  from  the  same 
cause.  ilagnus,  of  Breslan,  says  that  fully 
one-third  of  the  blind  in  institutions  are  blind 
from  ophthalmia  neonatorum,  while  Bourdeau 
forcibly  exclaims  that  purulent  ophthalmia 
neonatorum  is  alone  responsible  for  nearly 
one-third  of  ail  blindness,  and'  that  it  has 
placed  in  the  care  of  Europe  about  100,000 
victims.  This  is  equivalent  to  100  regiments. 
In  the  last  Republican  parade  there  were 
72,000  men  and  it  took  more  than  five  hours 
for  this  parade  to  pass  a  given  point.  Now 
add  28,000  men  to  this  number,  and  v'ou  will 
get  an  idea  of  the  army  of  blind  in  Europe." 

Since  from  60  per  cent,  to  80  per  cent,  of  the 
cases  of  ophthalmia  neonatorum  are  caused  by 
the  micrococcus  goiorrhoca.  isolated  by  Neisser 
in  1879,  the  ultimate  cause  of  this  disease  is 
frequently  to  be  found  in  the  social  diseases, 
though  inflammation  of  the  eyes  of  the  new- 
born may  be  caused  by  the  Koch-Weeks  bacil- 
lus, Klebs-LoefSer  bacillus.  B.  coli  comtminis, 
sfrepfococcus.  staphylococcus  pyogenes  alhus 
and  aureus,  micrococcus  luteus,  etc. 
'  The  immediate  cause  is  usually  the  intro- 
duction of  infective  material  into  the  eyes  of 
infants  at  the  time  of  birth.  I  say  usually, 
sinc^i  Stephenson  reports  90  cases  in  which 
children  were  born  with  ophthalmia  neona- 
torum well  developed,  and  children  have  been 
bom  with  eyes  partially  destroyed,  demon- 
strating prenatal  infection,  while  one  case,  re-' 
ported  by  Feis,  was  horn  with  corns  destroyed 
and  irides  prolapsed. 

Commonly,  howevt-r,  the  infection  occurs  at 
birth,  and  the  disease  runs  a  rapid  course, 
fatal  to  sight,  unless  prompt  and  efficient  treat- 
ment is  given. 

In  1881,  Prof.  Crede,  of  Leipsie,  Director  of 
the  ^Maternity  Hospital  connected  with  the 
University,  conferred  upon  all  future  genera- 
tions a  service  the  value  of  which  can  never 
be  estimated.  He  announced  that  the  instil- " 
lation  of  silver  nitrate  solution  into  the  ey^s 
of  all  new-born  infants  would  prevent  ophthal- 
mia neonatorum.     Thii.k  of  what  that  me.nns! 


200 


^bc  Britisb  3ouvnal  ot  IRurstng  Supplement.  L^ept.  3, 1910 


If  only  a  simple  remedy  be  employed  skilfully 
at  the  right  time,  hundreds  of  thousands, 
even  millions,  of  babies  may  come  into  their 
just  inheritance  of  God-given  sight,  instead  of 
being  blind  for  life. 

How  incredible  does  it  seem  that  in  spite  of 
this  discovery  nearly  thirty  years  ago,  44  per 
cent,  of  the  children  admitted  to  one  school 
last  year  were  victims  of  ophthalmia  neona- 
toi-um. 

What  a  paradox  in  this  age  of  preventive 
medicine ! 

Prof.  Crede  outlined  his  treatment  as  fol- 
lows :  Immediately  after  birth  the  child's  eyes 
should  be  wiped  with  clean  swabs  or  wipes  wet 
with  boric  acid  solution,  stroking  from  the 
nose  outward,  followed  by  a  single  drop  of  a 
2  per  cent,  solution  of  silver  nitrate,  dropped 
into  each  eye  from  the  end  of  a  glass  rod,  |  in. 
in  diameter. 

There  is  a  reason  for  each  detail — the  silver 
solution  is  practically  a  specific  in  this  disease, 
a  glass  rod  may  be  easily  and  satisfactorily 
sterilised,  and  but  a  single  drop  may  be 
dropped  at  a  time  from,  the  end,  while  the 
diameter  stipulated  gives  a  drop  of  fluid  of 
the  desired  size.  It  is  required  that  the  solu- 
tion be  dropped  into  ihc  eye,  thus  insuring  its 
contact  with  the  delicate  conjunctival  mem- 
liranes,  which  are  fertile  soil  for  the  infecting 
organisms.  So  important  is  the  technic  of 
applj'ing  this  treatment  that,  in  the  opinion  of 
Dr.  Edgar,  when  ophthalmia  neonatonun  de- 
velops after  the  use  of  nitrate  of  silver  at  birth, 
it  is  due  either  to  a  secondary  infection  or  to 
the  fact  that  the  solution  does  not  really  bathe 
tlie  mucous  membrane,  but  remains  upon  the 
lashes. 

■  If  the  disease  develop,  the  clinical  picture 
is  characteristic,  and  the  disease  is  compara- 
tively easily  I'ecognised  on  the  second  or  third 
day  after  infection  takes  place.  Billard's  sign, 
a  narrow  transverse  line  in  the  centre  of  the 
lid,  is  an  early  symptom.  Subsequently,  the 
lids  become  red  and  puffy,  and  a  slimy  liquid 
oozes  out,  and,  as  the  disease  progresses,  a 
purulent  discharge  is  emitted  from  between 
their  margins.  If  treatment  is  begun  early,  be- 
fore corneal  involvement  takes  place,  the  eyes 
may  be  saved,  but  too  much  stress  cannot  be 
laid  upon  the  imperative  necessity  for  prompt 
action.  The  infection  is  virulent  and  pro- 
gresses with  such  rapidity  that  each  hour  fif 
delay  increases  the  danger  of  nltimate  blindness. 

Otd_v  nil  nplithalmologist  should  be  en- 
trusted with  such  a  case. 

The  remedial  treatment  varies,  b\it  usually 
involves  the  employment  of  jrrigntions  or  drops 
at  frequent  intervals,  sometimes  every  fifteen 
minutes,  day  and   night,  for  weeks.       .\k  the 


prescribed  treatment  must  necessarily  be 
executed  with  skill,  it  is  obvious  that  hospi- 
tal care  is  desirable  for  patients  suffering  from 
ophthalmia  neonatorum. 

Too  much  cannot  be  said  relative  to  the 
importance  of  thorough  work  and  gentle  mani- 
pulations in  executing  the  details  of  the  pre- 
scribed treatment.  Whatever  the  medicament 
may  be,  it  should  actually  reach  the  conjunc- 
tiva; at  each  c>peration.  Solutions  should  be 
luke-warm  and  either  dropped  from  a  blunt 
dropper  or  applied  with  absorbent  cotton,  and 
the  greatest  care  taken  that  not  even  the 
slightest  abrasion  of  the  mucous  membrane  or 
bruising  of  surrounding  tissues  result,  thus 
more  than  defeating  the  purpose  of  the  treat- 
ment. Infective  material,  gaining  entrance 
thi'ough  an  abrasion  of  the  conjunctivae,  may 
bring  about  the  utter  destruction  of  an  eye. 
The  danger  to  the  nurse  herself  in  irrigating 
gonori-hoeal  ej'es  is  worthy  of  mention,  since 
the  fluid  may  spurt  into  her  own  eyes  if  other 
than  the  gentlest  stream  be  used.  Large 
j)rotective  spectacles  are  sometimes  worn  by 
the  nurse  to  avoid  this  danger. 

The  use  of  a  silver  solution  in  the  eyes  at 
birth  may  give  a  false  sense  of  security,  for 
secondary  infections  may  and  do  occur,  with 
results  quite  as -disastrous  as  those  following 
infection  at  the  time  of  birth.  If  the  child  has 
been  surrounded  by  infective  material  during 
delivery,  it  follows  that  the  bath  water  in 
which  it  is  immersed,  its  clothes,  the  nurse's 
hands  and  apron,  and  the  infant's  own  hands 
and  nails  may  be  the  means  of  reinfecting  its 
eves. 


We  understand  that  at  the  Thirty-sixth  Annual 
Congress  of  the  Inoorporat+>d  Sanitary  Association 
of  Scotland,  which  is  l)eing  liekl  in  Elgin  thiswitk. 
a  resolution  is  to  Ix"  proposed  as  to  the  advi'i-ihilitv 
of  a  Midwives'  Bill  for  Scotland.  It  is  evident  that 
if  the  niidwives  in  J'^ugland  and  Ireland  liave  legal 
status  those  in  Scotland  cannot  he  left  InOiind. 
Moreover,  in  the  interests  of  the  lying-in  mothers 
it  is  essential  that  evidence  of  having  attained  a 
definite  standard  of  knowledge  should  he  requinKl 
of  the  women  in  Scotland  assuming  the  responsihle 
duties  of  a  midwife  even  if  it  is  "'strictly  limited 
to  such  knowledge  as  it  would  Iw  dangeixtus  for  a 
midwife  to  lack,"'  as  is  the  case  in  this  country. 

The  oh.ject  to  he  ainietl  at  is  umlouhtedly  that  the 
services  of  a  medical  practitioner,  or  a  certified  nud- 
wifo.  should  he  ohtniuahle  hy  every  woman  in  her 
hour  of  need.  Not  only  is  it  inhuman  and  un- 
worthy of  «  civilised  nation  that  any  woman  sliould 
he  unahle  to  ohtain  .skilled  assistance  in  child- 
hirth,  hut  from  the  national  point  of  view  it  is  very 
short-sighted  policy.  The  lo.ss  of  life  and  the  (K-r- 
manent  invali'iism  of  many  niothei's  owing  to 
ignorant  and  luiskilled  attendance  in  lal>our.  and 
during  the  lying-in  period,  are  largely  jinveut- 
ahle,   and  ought  to  he  prevented. 


No.  1,171. 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 
EDITED   BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


SATURDAY,     SEPT     10,     1910. 


3n  loviuo  flOcniorv. 


THE   FLORENCE   NIGHTINGALE   COLLEGE     OF 

NURSES. 

A  STATUE  OF   THE   LADY  WITH   THE   LAMP. 


Various  suggestions  have  been  made  for 
the  erection  of  some  permanent  national 
memorial  to  ^liss  Florence  Nightingale.  It 
appears  to  us,  therefore,  t^  be  advisable 
that  the  Nursing  profession,  which  to  a 
large  extent  she  created,  and  in  connection 
with  which  she  will  l^e  for  ever  remembered, 
should  express  its  views  with  regard  to 
some  suitable  commemoration  of  her  com- 
manding personality  and  genius. 

There  should  be  two  distinct  memor- 
ials to  this  very  noble  Lady.  One 
should  perpetuate  to  all  time  the  memor\^ 
of  her  glorious  services  to  humanity; 
the  other  should  indicate  to  posterity 
the  profound  reverence  and  affection  felt 
for  her  by  the  trained  nurses  of  the  present 
day.  It  would,  therefore,  be  right  that  the 
expense  of  fotinding  the  former  memorial 
shoidd  be  borne  by  the  public  at  large  ; 
while  the  cost  of  the  latter  should  be  pro- 
vided by  the  subscriptions  of  the  Trained 
Nurses  of  the  British  Empire. 

It  must  never  be  forgotten  that  Miss 
Nightingale  by  her  writings,  as  well  as  by 
her  practical  work  in  the  Crimea,  and  by 
her  subsequent  estal)lishment  of  the  Train- 
ing School  for  Nurses  at  St.  Thomas'  Hos- 
pital, was  the  creator  af  modern  trained 
nursing.  She  placed  the  education  and 
work  of  the  Nurse,  for  the  first  time,  on  a 
scientific  basis.  It  may  fairly  be  argued, 
therefore,  that  the  most  logical  national 
memorial  to  her  meniorj-  sliould  be  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  College  of  Nurses,  which 
would  develop  ami  extend  the  system  she 
founded,  bej'ond  the  ordinary  hospital 
training  which  has  hitherto  been  the  limit 


cf  professional  education,  and  thus  provide 
for  Nurses  the  same  advanced  and  syste- 
matic professional  teaching  which  a  Cni- 
versity  provides  for  the  general  scholar. 
Such  a  College  would  certainly  fill  several 
gaps  which  at  present  exist  in  the  Nursing 
curriculum.  It  could,  for  example,  institute 
a  preliminarj-  examination  in  general  educa- 
tional subjects,  aud  thus  save  individual 
Hospitals  the  necessity  of  testing  the  general 
knowledge  of  their  applicants  for  training 
— a  condition  which,  in  too  many  instances, 
is  now  taken  on  truat.  Such  a  College 
could,  moreover,  provide  instruction  in 
the  preliminary  scientific  courees  and  prac- 
tical nursing  technique  which  the  smaller 
hospitals  at  present  are  unable  to  give  to 
their  pupils  ;  and  certainly  it  could  or- 
ganise a  system  of  post-graduate  education 
which  no  hospital  at  present  affords,  but 
which,  in  the  future,  must  undoubtedly 
be  obtainable  by  those  who  desire  to 
qualify  themselves  as  hospital  ;\Iatrons 
and  Superintendents  of  a  Nursing 
School,  or  of  new  branches  of  social  reform 
and  preventive  nursing  as  required  by  pro- 
gressive sociological  conditions. 

But  such  a  College  of  Nurses  as  we  have 
long  advocated  would  require  at  least 
£50,000  for  iis  establishment  and  proper 
endowment,  and  as  it  is  an  educational 
scheme  of  such  vast  possibilities  for  the 
benefit  of  the  whole  community,  onlv  the 
public  at  large  can  u'ndertake  its  foundation. 

In  this  connection,  it  is  interesting 
to  note  that  the  first  Isia  Stewart 
Scholar  has  been  compelled  to  go  to 
New  York  in  order  to  obtain  the  full 
post-gi-aduate  instruction  in  hospital  and. 
nursing  school  administration  considered 
desirable,  and  for  which"  there  are  no  facili- 
ties at  present  in  Europe. 

The  other  suggestion  w]ych  we  woidd 
advance,  is  that  the  Nui-ses  of  the  British 


202 


Zbc  Britisb  Journal  of  IHursincj. 


[Sept.  10,  1910 


Empire  should  combine  to  erect  a  personal 
Memorial  for  themselves  to  Miss  Nightin- 
gale ;  and  this  should  take  a  concrete  public 
form,  and  not,  as  some  have  ab-eady  sug- 
gested, some  object  of  benevolence  or  charity 
for  individual  nurses.  In  this  connection 
■we  nurses  long  to  give  and  not  to  take,  and 
in  this  belief,  vre  would  suggest  trained 
Nurses  would  most  appropriately  express 
their  homage  and  their  ardent  admiration 
for  her  memory  by  subscribing  to  erect  a 
statue  of  Miss  Nightingale.  This  statue 
should  imdoubtedly  be  prominently  placed 
in  the  Metropolis  of  the  Empire,  either,  for 
instance,  in  Westminster  Abbey,  or,  better 
still,  on  the  vacant  pedestal  in  Trafalgar 
Square,  whicn,  by  a  curious  coincidence 
stands  in  the  shadow  of  the  House  of  the 
Royal  College  of  Physicians,  the  most  ancient 
corporation  of  the  great  profession  with 
■whom  Miss  Nightingale  worked  so  loyally, 
and  to  forward  whose  work  she  has  done 
such  incalculable  seifice. 


HDcMcal  flDattcrs. 


FLIES  AS  CARRIERS  OF  DISEASE. 

The  Ajnerican  Journal  of  Nursing  appeals  to 
nurses  to  fight  the  dirty  little  house  fly.  Flies 
have  been  proven  to  be  the  carriers  ou  their 
hairy  legs  and  in  their  bodies  of  the  bacilli  of 
typhoid,  cholera,  tuberculosis,  and  certain 
fonns  of  diarrhoea.  Under  certain  conditions 
they  may  aid  in  spreading  small-pox,  plague, 
trichoma,  septicaemia,  erysipelas,  and  leprosy, 
and  play  an  important  part  in  the  mortality  of 
bottle-fed  babies.  They  breed  by  preference  in 
horse  manure,  to  a  limited  extent  in  cow 
manure^  and  in  miscellaneous  filth.  One  fly 
nia\-  deposit  one  hundred  and  twenty  eggs; 
the  young  maggots  hatch  in  less  than  twenty- 
four  hours,  completing  their  growth  in  from 
five  to  seven  days.  The  life  circle  is  complete 
in  from  ten  to  fourteen  days,  and  there  may  be 
ten  or  twelve  generations  in  a  season.  Twelve 
hundred  tlie.s  may  be  bred  from  one  pound  of 
manure.  Fly  specks  have  been  found  to  con- 
tain the  bacilli  of  cholera.  Flies  usually  breed 
within  from  three  to  five  hundred  feet  of  the 
place  where  they  are  abundant.  They  do  not 
breed  in  the  dark. 

Garbage  and  refuse  receptacles  should  be 
tight  and  closely  covered.  Manure  pits  should 
be  screened  and  emptied  at  least  once  a  week, 
or  the  manure  kept  in  dark,  closely  covered 
concrete   pits.     The  old  fashioned    privy  box- 


should  be  abolished  when  possible.  It  may  be 
screened  and  used  as  an  earth  closet.  We  havi 
seen  this  easily  done  by  using  the  ashes  from 
the  kitchen  stove  in  sufficient  quantity  to  keep 
the  pit  dry  and  the  contents  covered ;  this  also 
controls  the  odour  that  makes  so  many  country 
yards  ofiensive. 

In  the  crusade  against  the  common  house-fly 
nurses  will  play  an  imi>ort.ant  part — preaching 
the  gospel  of  screens  and  cleanliness,  showing 
the  ignorant  and  careless  how  to  clean  up  *'h'^ 
breeding  places  if  near  at  hand,  and  how  to  pro- 
tect the  food,  the  baby,  and  the  house  from 
the  invasion  of  those  disease-carrying  littls 
legs  and  bodies. 

SPOTTED  FEVER. 
Dr.  Eegiuald  Farrer.  who  is  investigating 
the  outbreak  of  spotted  fever  on  behalf  of  tb? 
Local  Government  Board,  has  not  yet  col- 
lected sufficient  data  on  which  to  base  his  offi- 
cial report,  but  states  that  about  three-quar- 
ters of  the  cases  are  of  the  type  generally 
known  as  infantile  paralysis,  a  mild  form  of 
the  complaint  occurring  in  young  children.  He 
deprecates  the  use  of  the  term  "  spotted 
fever  "  in  reference  to  the  outbreak,  since  very 
few,  if  any,  of  the  affected  persons  have  shown 
any  rash,  and  says  it  will  be  impossible  with- 
out careful  and  bacteriological  research  to 
identify  the  organism  which  is  at  the  bottom 
of  the  outbreak.  Dr.  Farrer  points  out  that 
the  disease  is  always  preseut  in  a  sporadi:; 
form  in  the  country,  occasionally  assumin? 
greater  prevalence  and  seveinty,  a  circum- 
stance not  yet  thoroughly  understood,  and  he 
expresses  the  opinion  that,  in  view  of  the 
special  liability  of  young  children  to  the  in- 
fection, schools  should  be  closed  for  the  pre- 
sent. But  the  risks  of  general  infection  are  so 
slight  that  it  is  neither  necessary  nor  desirable^ 
to  interfere  with  the  ordinary  btisiuess  and 
pleasure  of  the  neighbourhood. 


PARASITE  OR  CELL. 
Medical  science  has  spent  many  years  and 
much  labour  in  the  vain  effort  to  discover  a 
parasite  of  cancer.  Even  recently  -it  has  been 
feared  that  cancer  patients  were  a  menace  to 
their  neighbours,  and  that  the  houses  of  cancer 
victims  should  be  burned.  But  the  experi- 
mental study  of  tumours  has  greatly  strength- 
ened the  view  that  cancer  is  not  a  contagious 
disease,  that  its  exciting  cause  cannot  be  a 
readily  transmissible  parasite,  and  that  the 
long-looked-for  cancer  parasite  is  the  cancer 
cell.  The  field  of  research  has,  therefore,  been 
narrowly  defined,  and  it  is  not  likely  that  the 
enthusiastic  .search  for  a  specific  cancer  para- 
site will  soon  again  assume  the  dominant  posi- 
tion it  once  occupied. 


Sept.  10, 1910]         j^[3c  asritisb  3ournal  of  •n^uiaiiuj. 


203 


(lUiucal  IRotcs?  on  Some  Common 
ailments. 

By  a.  Knvvett  Gordon,  M.B. 


APPENDICITIS. 

We  now  come  lo  a  disease  which  has  ol  late 
years  excited  no  Httle  attention,  partly  because 
so  much  has  been  written  about  it — as  befits 
a  comparatively  new  disease — in  medica'  litera- 
ture, but  mainly  on  account  of  its  supposed 
increasing  prevalency  and  the  success  which 
has  attended  its  surgical  treatment. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  it  is  very  doubtful 
whether  the  disease  has  really  increased  in  fre- 
quency at  all,  if  we  remember  that  formerly 
the  site  of  the  trouble  was  never  seen  at  all, 
because  the  patient's  abdomen  was  not  opened 
either  before  or  after  death,  and  the  illness 
was  generally  thought  to  be  due  to  inflamma- 
tion of  the  bowels,  and  in  the  fatal  cases  death 
was  usually  caused  by  peritonitis.  It  is  pos- 
sible, however,  that  the  modem  habit — of 
American  origin — of  bolting  the  food,  especially 
in  the  middle  of  the  day,  may  be  responsible 
for  a  slight  real  increase  in  the  frequency  of 
this  malady. 

Appendicitis,  as  its  name  implies,  is  an  in- 
tiammatiou  of  the  veiTnifoiTQ  appendix,  which 
is  a  little  blind  ended  tube  leading  out  of  the 
caecum,  which  is  the  pouch  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  large  intestine.  In  the  vast 
majority  of  people  this  tube  points  upwards, 
not  downwards,  and  its  calibre  is  only  that  of 
a  small  quill  or  less,  so  that  the  old  idea  of 
appendicitis  being  due  to  cherry  stones  falling 
into  the  tube  and  blocking  it  up  is  no  longer 
tenable,  especially  as  the  cherry  stones  were 
generally  found  on  examination  to  be  simply 
hard  masses  of  dried  faeces. 

It  is  now  considered  probable  that  in  the 
greater  number  of  cases  the  inflammation  is 
caused  by  an  organism  called  the  bacillus  coli. 
which  exists  in  large  numbers  inside  in  the 
contents  of  the  intestine.  There  it  is  harmless, 
but  when  it  enters  the  substance  of  the  bowel 
it  does  a  great  deal  of  harm,  and  the  theory  is 
that  in  appendicitis  the  hning  membrane  of  the 
appendix  becomes  irritated  or  scratched  by 
some  offending  article  of  diet,  and  the  B.  Coli 
thus  gains  access  to  its  interior. 

The  appendix  then  becomes  inflamed  and 
the  B.  Coli  grow,  multiply,  and  produce  toxins 
or  poisonous  bodies,  which  find  their  way  into 
the  blood  stream  and  give  rise  to  the  general 
illness  wi^h  which  the  patient  is  attacked. 
The  results  of  the  inflammation  of  the 
appendix  itself  are  worth  studying  in  detail, 
because  thev  afford  the  clue  to  the  otherwise 


rather  pei-plexing  train  of  symptoms  which 
occur  in  the  course  of  the  disease.  In  reality 
the  process  is  easily  intelligible  if  we  remembeV 
where  the  appendix  is  situated,  and  also  what 
happens  in   inflanmiation  generally. 

With  regard  to  the  anatomy  of  the  appendix, 
the  important  point  is  to  remember  that  it  is 
covered — though  not  always  completely — 
with  peritoneum,  the  thin  membrane  that  in- 
vests the  greater  part  of  the  rest  of  the  in- 
testines, so  that  when  it  is  attacked  by  in- 
flammation the  trouble  is  not  confined  to  the 
appendix  itself,  but  very  soon  spreads  to  sur- 
rounding peritoneum,  or,  in  other  words,  every 
attack  of  appendicitis  is  one  of — real  or 
potential — ^peritonitis  also. 

The  process  of  inflammation  is  essentially 
the  same  whatever  part  of  the  body  is  attacked, 
but  it  varies  very  much  in  intensity  not  only 
in  the  apjiendices  of  different  people,  but  in 
different  attacks  of  inflammation  of  the  same 
appendix.  Thus  it  may  be  so  slight  as  to 
cause  little  more  than  a  slight  reddening  and 
swelling  of  the  appendix,  which  passes  off  in 
a  few  days^  or,  on  the  other  hand,  it  may  be 
of  a  gangrenous  type  and  be  fatal  in  a  few- 
hours. 

Putting  the  anatomical  and  pathological 
factors  together,  we  can  see  that  what  happens 
is  that  the  appendix  first  becomes  swollen,  and 
the  organisms  grow  and  multiply  in  its  sub- 
stance, and  the  process  then  either  goes  on 
to  the  formation  of  matter  (pus)  or  it  does  not. 
In  the  latter  case  the  inflammation  subsides 
in  due  course,  and  except  for  the  fact  that 
some  adhesions  are  formed  between  the  peri- 
toneum over  the  appendix  and  that  covering 
other  coils  of  intestine  or  the  abdominal  wall 
no  great  harm  is  done.  But  if  matter  foniis, 
what  happens  to  the  patient  depends  mainly 
on  the  rapidity  of  the  process.  Sometimes 
perforation  of  the  appendix  occurs  very 
quickly,  and  the  abscess  thus  bursts  into  the 
general  peritoneal  cavity,  and  the  patient  dies 
unless  the  surgical  treatment  is  very  prompt 
and  skilful,  but,  as  a  rule,  before  much  pus 
has  foiTned  the  inflamed  peritoneum  has  had 
time  to  adhere  to  the  abdominal  wall  or  to  coils 
of  intestine,  and  the  site  of  the  disease  is  shut 
off  from  the  general  cavity,  and  ^  localised 
abscess  results.  Then  the  pus,  if  it  is  not 
evacuated  by  the  surgeon,  bursts  into  the 
bowel,  or  sometimes  externally  if  the  banier 
of  adhesions  is  adequately  firm,  or  if  the  pre's- 
sure  is  too  great  the  protecting  dam  may  give 
way  and  an  avalanche  of  pus  descend  into  the 
peritoneal  cavity,  with  a  rapidly  fatal  ternxina- 
tion  for  the  patient.  We  Jyire,  then,  three 
stages    in    appendicitis — the    first,    in    which 


204 


Z\)C  Britisb  3ournal  of  TRurslng. 


[Sept.  lU,  1910 


there  is  an  inflamed  appendix  with  no  adhe- 
sions at  all;  a  second,  in  which  the  adhesions 
are  being  formed,  but  are  soft  and  easily  torn; 
and  a  third,  in  which  they  have  become  a  firm 
protecting  wall. 

Once  appendicitis,  always  appendicitis,  for 
the  disease,  so  long  as  the  appendix  is  there, 
is  very  prone  to  recur  again  and  again. 

So  much  for  the  pathology  of  the  condition. 
When  we  come  to  the  patient,  however,  we 
are  met  with  the  difficulty  that  the  symptoms 
do  not  altogether  correspond  to  these  stages, 
and  it  is  in  practice  often  very  difficult  to  say 
what  is  happening  inside  at  the  site  of  the 
disease. 

At  the  onset,  the  patient  will  be  found  to 
have  pain  in  the  right  side  of  the  abdomen, 
with  some  tenderness  on  pressure  over  the 
appendix,  and<  there  will  also  be  some  rigidity 
of  the  muscle  of  the  abdominal  wall  in  the 
same  situation;  later  on,  if  the  inflammatory 
mass  is  fairly  large,  it  may  be  felt  by  gentle 
handling  or  by  examination  by  the  rectum, 
though  it  is  not  usually  possible  to  tell  whether 
pus  is  present  or  not  by  local  palpation. 
Owing  to  the  formation  and  absorption  of 
poisonous  products,  there  will  be  headache, 
shivering,  and  a  rise  of  temperature ;  some- 
times, though  not  always,  the  presence  of  pus 
may  be  suggested  by  the  occurrence  of  rigors, 
with  rapidly  fluctuating  temperature.  Usually 
there  is  vomiting  and  constipation,  though  in 
some   cases  diarrhcea  occurs. 

What  we  want  to  know  in  any  given  case 
is  what  sort  of  resistance  the  patient  is  making 
to  the  disease,  and  here  the  best  guide  is  the 
condition  of  the  pulse,  for  as  long  as  this  is 
fairly  slow  and  strong  we  may  usually  conclude 
that  the  resistance  is  adequate ;  sometimes 
help  may  also  be  obtained  by  counting  the 
number  of  white  blood  corpuscles  in  a  drop 
of  blood  obtained  from  a  finger  prick.  If  these 
are  more  numerous  than  normal  it  signifies 
that  the  resistance  is  fairly  good,  and  if  they 
are  in  great  excess,  that  pus  is  being  fonned, 
which  is  probably  fairly  well  shut  off,  though 
it  does  not  do  to  dogmatise  too  much  from  this 
sign.  When  general  peritonitis  occurs, 
there  will  usually  be  prostration,  general 
abdominal  pain  and  vomiting,  with  a  quick, 
small  pulse  and  grneral  abdominal  distension. 

Coming  now  to  the  treatment  of  the  disease, 
it  is  obvious  that  surgical  methods  must  be 
in  ou'r  minds  from  the  firet,  but  it  is  most  im- 
portant to  remember  that  they  must  be  applied 
with  discrimination.  If  \ve  see  a  case  at  the 
onset,  or,  let  \is  say,  within  the  first  forty- 
f-ight  hours  in  the  average  casf,  most  authori- 
ties are  now  agreed  tliat  the  abdomen  should 
lie  opnned  and  the  appi-ndix  removed.     This  is 


advisable  for  two  reasons — firstly,  because  in 
any  given  case  we  do  not  know  that  the 
appendix  is  not  going  to  perforate,  or  that  the 
pus  is  not  going  to  burst  later  on  into  some 
undesirable  place ;  also,  even  if  a  first  attack 
subsides,  it  will  almost  certainly  be  fol- 
lowed by  another,  and  this  may  take 
place  where  surgical  treatment  is  not  at 
once  available. 

Similarly,  later  on,  when  pus  has  been 
fonned  and  the  signs  point  to  the  existence  of 
a  fairly  tough  barrier  of  adhesions  round  it,  it 
is  also  agreed  that  operation  should  be  per- 
formed for  the  opening  of  the  abscess,  though 
not  necessarily  at  that  time  for  the  removal 
of  the  appendix ;  on  this  latter  point  opinions 
differ,  some  surgeons  preferring  to  remove  the 
offending  member  when  the  patient  is  up  and 
about  and  in  good  health. 

But  in  the  intermediate  stage,  when  the 
adhesions  are  soft  and  the  peritoneum  angry 
and  inflamed,  it  is  undoubtedly  best  to  wait 
and  watch ;  if  signs  of  perforation  occur,  opera- 
tion must  be  performed  as  an  alternative  to 
the  certain  death  of  the  patient ;  but  if  pus 
forms  and  becomes  shut  off,  the  outlook  for 
the  patient  is  very  much  better  if  the  abscess 
be  then  opened  than  with  a  laparotomy  when 
the  adhesions  are  so  soft  that  infection  of  the 
general  peritoneal  cavity  is  almost  certain  to 
result  from  the  inevitable  handling  to  which 
the  parts  are  subjected.  If  the  attack  sub- 
sides without  suppuration,  the  appendix  can 
subsequently  be  removed  in  a  quiet  intei^x'al 
with  a  very  slight  risk  indeed. 

Consequently  we  treat  a  patient  in  the  inter- 
mediate stage  by  complete  rest,  fluid  diet,  and 
ice  bags,  or  possibh-  warm  fomentations  to  the 
abdomen,  and  we  deal  with  the  constipation 
by  gentle  enemata.  If  the  pain  is  very 
severe,  we  relieve  it  preferably  by  phenacetin 
or  some  allied  drug,  for  it  must  be  remembered 
that  opium  may  so  mask  the  symptoms  that 
we  may  fail  to  detect  the  occurrence  of  a  sub- 
sequent perforation :  it  has  also  the  disadvan- 
tage of  increasing  abdominal  distension  when 
it  exists.  The  niu-sing  of  these  "  intermediate  " 
cases  must  be  conducted  with  a  cat-like  vi'atch- 
fulness  for  any  change  in  the  aspect  of  the 
patient,  or  rise  in  the  pulse  rate  or  diminishing 
mobility  of  the  abdominal  wall,  any  one  of 
which  signs  demand  the  presence  of  a  svu-geon 
forthwith.  Fortimately  the  reproach  that  cases 
of  appendicitis  are  divided  by  the  physicians 
into  those  that  me  not  bad  enough  for  surgery 
and  those  that  are  too  bad  is  fast  dying  away, 
and  nowadays  most  cases  are  rightly  considered 
to  be  surgical  from  the  first  and,  indeed,  until 
the  offending  ai)pondix  and  the  patient  have 
parted  conipany  altogether. 


Sept.  10, 1910]     ^f5e  Britisb  iournal  of  IRurslno. 


20.-; 


^bc  Jfirst  33la  Stewart  Scbolav. 

Tiio  portrait  which  we  present  of  Miss  M.  S. 
Kuudle,  the  first  "  Isla  Stewart  "  scholar, 
must  be  of  interest  to  every  nurse,  especially 
to  those  trained  at  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital, 
as  we  all  realise  lur  appointment  as  such,  to  be 
an  important  link  in  the  chain  of  thorough  and 
efficient  nursing  education.  Thoroughness  and 
etHciency  have  for  the  past  thirty  years  been 
the  aim  of  nursing  administration  at  "  Bart's," 
and  are  inseparably  associated  with  the  work 
of  our  dear  Isla  Stewart,  herself  so  practically 
perfect  and  sympathetic  in  attendance  on  the 
sick. 

Miss  Rundle  warmly  appreciates  the  honour 
the  League  has  conferred 
upon  her,  in  selecting  her 
as  its  representative 
scholar,  and  we  learn  that 
she  maj-  expect  a  very 
cordial  welcome  from  Pro- 
fessor Adelaide  Nutting,  of 
Teachers'  College,  Colum- 
bia University,  New  York, 
and  the  American  Nursing 
World  at  large. 

!Miss  Rundle  will  re- 
side at  Whittier  Hall,  in 
connection  with  Teachers' 
College,  which  is  a  very 
handsome  building.  Every 
room  is  outside  and  ^-n- 
tirely  light,  and  the  ar- 
rangement is  such  that 
they  may  be  rented  singly 
or  in  suites  of  two  or  three. 
The  arrangements  are  most  comfortable. 
There  is  a  complete  elevator  system,  and 
shower,  needle,  and  tub  baths.  The  public 
parlours  and  reception  rooms  are  on  the  main 
tloor.  and  there  are  also  small  parlours  on  each 
of  the  sleeping  flooi's.  The  main  dining-rooms 
and  restaurant  are  on  the  top  floor,  and  com- 
mand wide  outlooks  over  the  city  and  the 
North  and  East  Rivers.  A  House  Mother  is  in 
residence,  who  is  accessible  to  the  students  at 
all  times,  who  apparently  have  a  most  delight- 
ful time.  Miss  Rundle  will  leave  Loudon  for 
Liverpool  on  Wednesday,  14th  inst.,  and  will 
cross  the  Atlantic  on  the  Baltic,  which  sails 
on, the  17th  inst,  arriving  in  Ne\j-  York  on  vhe 
•25th  September,  just  in  time  for  the  opening 
of  the  autumn  session  at  Teachers'  College. 
Miss  Rundle  starts  from  England  w.ith  the 
heartiest  good  wishes  from  all  her  League 
colleagues,  on  her  honourable  educational  mis- 
sion, which  we  hope  may  bear  fruit  a  thousand- 
fold at  home  and  abroad  in  the  near  future. 


Miss   M.   S 
The    First    Isla 


Sbc  iHur^c  a 3  IPatriot. 

THE   ESTABLISHMENT  OF  A  MILITARY  NURSING 
SERVICE  IN    FRANCE. 
Bv  Miss  C.  Elstun. 
Directrici      Ecole     dcs     Gardcs-Maladt-'i      d( 
VHopital  dii  Tondu,  Bordeaux,  France. 
A  iittle  while  ago  I  was  listening  to  a  descrijj- 
tiou  of  some    recently    discovered  caves  near 
Bordeaux.     The    work    of   studying    the    pre- 
historic   drawings    and   unearthing    the    flints 
ofltered  many  difficulties.    It  struck  me  forcibly 
that  if  instead  of  the  word  "  caves  "  I  put  the 
word  "  nursing  "  I  was  face  to  face  with  the 
obstacle  in  the  way  of  nursing  reform  in  France 
to-day. 

Individual  efforts  have 
opened  up  different 
branches  of  nursing,  Dut 
there  yet  remains  to  be 
found  some  great  intel- 
lectual sunlight  to  trans- 
form the  aspect  of  nursing 
in  general;  someone  with 
sutKcient  energy  and 
means  to  scrape  away  the 
superficial  deposit  of  re- 
cent years  (not  to  say  the 
whitewash),  and  to  clear 
away  centuries  of  dust 
which  hide  away  treasures 
said  to  be  non-existent  in 
France. 

iNlihtary  nursing  has 
just  aroused  public  in- 
terest in  that  country, 
and  I  propose  giving 
you  a  short  sketch  of  the  movement,  pointing' 
out  the  facts  which  strike  an  English  observer 
For  some  few  years  the  staff  of  the  greater 
number  of  military  hospitals  has  been  entirelv 
composed  of  inen.  The  departments  previously 
managed  by  women  little  by  little  gave  less 
satisfaction  in  men's  hands.  Moreover,  sur- 
gical nursing  is  now  a  science  exacting  an 
attention  to  detail  which  the  soldier-nuree,  by 
calling  a  blacksmith,  bookbinder,  bank  clerk, 
etc.,  fails  to  appreciate.  A  soldier  who  serves 
his  two  years  in  a  hospital  is  looked  upon  as  a 
lucky  feilow  having  nothing  to  do,  •  and  getting 
oft  fatigue  duty  as  a  matter  of  course.— the  poor 
patients  being  "  uue  quantite  negligeable." 

At  last  the  War  Office  could  no  longer  re- 
main indifferent  to  the  many  complaints  of 
neglect  notified  either  directly  to  headquarters 
or  indirectly  from  private  sources. 

*  Presented  to  the  International  Congress  of 
Nurses.  liOndon,  1909.  ». 


.    RUNDLE, 
Stewart    Schol 


206 


Cbe  ISrUisb  Souvnal  ot  IRurslng. 


[Sept.  10,  1910 


During  1907  the  Minister  of  War,  Monsieur 
Etienne,  aided  by  Monsieur  Cheron,  the  Under- 
Secretary  of  State,  so  well  known  for  his  sur- 
prise visits  to  ban-acks  and  hospitals,  made 
personal  investigations. 

The  Cachicee,  the  Army  medical  paper, 
voiced  many  of  the  complaints,  and  suggested 
as  a  remedy  that  skilled  nursing  should  be  pro- 
vided for  the  soldiers. 

At  the  end  of  the  year  a  notice  was  published 
that  a  competitive  examination  for  the  admis- 
sion of  nurses  to  the  Army  nursing  staff  would 
be  held  on  February  ISth'^  1908,  at  the  Yal  de 
Grace,  Paris;  candidates  to  send  in  their  appli 
cations  on  or  before  -January  1.5th,  1908.  All 
candidates  were  to  be  of  French  nationality,- 
between  21  and  25  years  of  age,  holders  of  a 
nursing  certificate  from  a  training  school  recog- 
nised by  Government,  a  birth  certificate,  and 
a  copj'  of  the  "  easier  judiciaire  "  were  to  be 
produced  in  every  case.  ■  The  written  and  viva 
voce  examinations  were  to  include  surgical  and 
medical  nursing,  dispensing,  bandaging,  appli- 
cation of  splints,  and  a  knowledge  of  drugs 
and  instruments. 

The  successful  candidates  were  to  be  ad- 
mitted on  probation  for  one  year,  with  a  salary 
of  ,t32  with  board  and  £14  in  lieu  of  lodging- 
At  the  end  of  the  first  year  they  would  be 
either  dismissed  or  appointed  to  the  regular 
staff  as  third  class  nurses  with  a  salary  of  £41 
13s.  7d. ;  the  third  jear  as  second  class  nurses 
at  £4.5  16s. ;  and  the  next,  or  fourth  year,  as 
first  class  nurses  at  £50,  with,  whatever  the 
rank,  £14  in  lieu  of  lodging. 

A  fortnight  was  too  short  a  notice  for 
numbeiis  of  candidates  to  obtain  the  necessary 
papers,  so  the  Wav  Office  decided  to  keep  the 
list  open  until  March  loth,  postponing  the 
examination  until  April  1st.  At  the  same  time 
the  clause  making  women  of  over  25  years  of 
age  ineligible  was  struck  out. 

The  examination  proved  to  be  very  popular. 

The  War  Office  received  421  applications,  of 
which  324  were  rejected  owing  to  their  pajiers 
not  being  in  order,  leaving  07  to  compete. 

The  following  certificates  were  produced  by 
candidates:  — 

68  from  the  Assistance  Publique  de  Paris. 

15  from  the  Red  Cross  Societies. 

5  from  the  Bordeaux  Schools. 

1  from  Nimes. 

3  from  f'lormont-Fenand. 

1  from  Havre. 

1   from  Lj-on. 

1    from  Augers. 

When  the  list  was  closed  on  ^March  15th. 
notice  was  given  that  an  examination  would 
be   held    in   tln'    jn-oviuces    fnv    r-nn(lidntc«    nnf 


living  in  Paris.  Unfortunately  the  good  new^s 
came  too  late.  ]\Iauy  possible  candidates  had 
been  deterred,  not  only  because  of  the  time  a 
journey  to  Paris  necessitated,  but  chiefly  be- 
cause the  traditions  of  the  counti7,  although 
greatly  changed  within  the  last  few  years,  do 
not  generally  allow  a  young  girl  to  stay  alone 
in  Paris  without  a  chaperone — an  extra  expense 
which  the  family  might  naturally  refuse  to 
incur.  It  must  be  understood  that,  as  a  rule, 
girls  do  not  travel  alone  in  France  as  they  often 
do  in  England. 

The  1st  of  April  arrived,  and  the  number  of 
candidates  who  passed  was  29  out  of  97  who 
went  up  for  the  examination. 

The  proportion  of  candidates  who  passed  was 
100  per  cent,  for  Bordeaux  and  not  quite  25 
per  cent-  for  other  parts  of  France. 

The  War  Office  wrote  to  the  successful  can- 
didates asking  them  if  they  would  be  ready  to 
take  up  their  duties  on  June  10th.  Most  of 
the  nurses  were  ready,  only  waiting  for  instruc- 
tions fixing  the  hour  and  even  minute  of  their 
aiTival. 

Their  ideal  of  military  promptness  was,  alas, 
destined  to  take  a  modified  form.  Days  and 
weeks  wTnt  by.  -June  10th  came ;  no  news 
from  the  War  Office.  Letters  addressed  to 
headquarters  remained  unanswered.  Weeks 
and  months  slipped  by,  until  November  1908, 
when  awaiting  candidates  were  informed  that 
their  admission  depended  on  the  Budget ! 

The  nurses  were  in  the  same  dilemma. 
Some  had  already  given  up  all  hope  of  getting 
on  the  Arniy  Nursing  Staff  and  had  taken  up 
other  work.  The  rest  wondered  whether  they 
should  do  likewise.  Fortunately,  the  Senate 
and  Chamber  of  Deputies  voted  the  necessary 
sum  for  sixty  military  nurses. 

In  December,  1908,  the  candidates  were 
asked  to  choose  out  of  Paris  and  14  provincial 
towns  where  they  would  like  to  work. 

On  January  1st.  1909.  France  opened  again 
the  doors  of  her  military  hospitals  to  women. 
God  speed  and  good  luck  to  them. 
'.^         *         * 

Having  given  bare  facts,  I  will  now  analyse 
the  evolution  of  the  Army  Nurse. 

Army  nursing  reform  is  one  of  the  results  of 
the  many  changes  which  have  taken  place 
since  the  Franco-Prussian  War. 

The  political  parties  of  that  time  were  :  on 
the  one  side  the  Eopublican  striving  for  pro- 
gress and  on  the  other  the  Royalist  clinging  to 
tradition. 

The  laicisation  of  the  Paris  hospitals  was  one 
of  tlie  first  blows  dealt  by  the  new  Government 
to  the  old  rrgiiiic. 

The  Rrpublio  has  separated   itself  from  the 


«ept.  10, 1010.     ^[3c  iSritisb  Journal  of  HAursino. 


Church,  which  has  goue  to  join  the  Royalists, 
composed  chietiy  of  the  nobility  whose  caUing 
jHir  cxccUcnce  is  the  Army. 

The  Army  now  admits  that  the  care  of  the 
sick  is  uot  the  mouopoly  of  the  nuns — one  of 
the  traditions  in  France  which  will  die  slowly. 
(To  he  concluded.) 


iproGVCSS  of  State  IRcoistvatiou- 

The  Hon.  Albiuia  Brodriek  replies  in  \ursing 
Notes  to  a  very  illogical  and  intolerant  criticism 
of  her  arresting  article,  "  Thou  Shalt  do  no 
ilurder, "  which  appeared  in  the  July  number 
of  the  Fortnigldhi  H(  riew.  We  write  illogical, 
because  Nursing  Nofis.  which  is  the  organ  of 
the  Midwives'  Institute,  to  which  the  credit  of 
niidwives  registration  is  due,  has  always  been 
unsound  on  the  question  of  State  Registration 
(educational  organisation)  of  Trained  Nurses. 

The  Editor  of  Nursing  Notes,  in  annotating 
Miss  Brodriek 's  letter,  states  "  that  while 
Nursing  Notes  is  the  official  organ  of  the  Mid- 
wives'  Instituta  ...  as  a  journal  it  is 
entirely  independent  iu  its  views  and  editorial 
comments  on  current  topics     . 

"  It  is  regrettable,"  writes  iliss  Brodriek,  "  that 
the  reviewer  should  impute  to  me  a  motive  in 
writing  the  article  which  is  totally  at  variance 
with  the  actual  one.  My  deep  conviction  of  the 
needs  of  my  profession  and  the  danger  to  which 
the  public  are  exposed  were  the  origin  of  the 
article.  Destruction  is  worthless,  without  some 
scheme  of  construction,  and  I  voiced  the  opinion 
of  the  great  majority  of  thoughtful  and  intellectual 
nurses,  I  do  not  speak  for  England  alone — in  apply- 
ing the  remedy  of  Registration  and  a  Central 
Examination. 

"  It  is  regrettable  that  your  reviewer's  intelli- 
gence did  not  permit  her  to  note  that  my  criticisms, 
each  one  carefully  weighed,  are  directed  against 
the  sijitan  which  permits  such  terrible  occurrences 
as  those  enumerated,  and  not,  as  I  expressly  took 
occasion  to  note,   against  my  profession. 

''  The  object  of  all  training  is,  to  my  mind,  two- 
fold— to  form  habits  and  to  impart  knowledge — the 
failure  of  the  nurse  in  all  the  cases  noted  was  in 
the  habit  and  practice'  of  her  profession — not 
simply  "  in  gentleness  and  goodness,"  or  in  care- 
fulness. A  habit  of  truthfulness,  of  putting  away 
lotions  when  a  delirious  patient  was  in  the  ward, 
of  thinking  first  of  her  patient  under  all  circum- 
stances, of  leaving  no  dangerous  instrument  within 
reach  of  a  suicidal  maniac,  of  strict  asepsis — this 
is  that  in  which  the  nurse  was  lacking.  And  these 
habits  should  form  a  part  of  the  elementary  train- 
ing of  her  profession.  So  also  should  ethics — which, 
properly  taught,  as  in  France  and  the  United 
States,  should  make  most  of  the  cases  cited  impos- 
sible. Had  these  nurses  then  known  '  the  elements 
of  their  profession,'  these  preventable  deaths  would 
not  have  occurred. 


••  Xurses,  being  guardians  of  the  public  health, 
cannot,  where  the  health  of  the  nation  is  at  stake, 
be  dealt  with  as  individuals.  Neither  can  doctors, 
chemists,  or  midwives.  Their  existence,  if  not 
iegalised  and  supervised,  Ls  «  standing  menace  to 
the  public.  Why  recognise  this  iu  all  professions 
except  that  of  Nursing;-  The  position  is  unreason- 
able. How  luirrow  is  the  ix)int  of  view  which  will 
permit  the  health  of  the  race  to  be  sacrificed  to  the 
fancied  niterests  of  the  individual.  We,  of  the 
broader  school,  who  for  many  years  past  have  Ijeeu 
educating  both  profi^ssional  and  public  opinion  in 
the  matter,  cannot  but  view  with  deep  sorrow  the 
writing  iu  a  journal  such  as  that  of  the  Institute 
of  so  prejudiced,  so  narrow-minded,  and  so 
reactionary  a   paper.'' 


Scottish  flOatrons'  Hssoctation. 


The  quarterly  meeting  of  the  .at)Ove  Association 
was  held  on  August  27th.  at  the  Royal  Infirmary, 
Glasgow.  Miss  Gill,  President,  was  in  the  chair. 
There  were  thirty  members  present.  A  resolution 
was  passed  expressing  a  deep  sense  of  the  great 
loss  sustained  by  the  nursing  world  in  the  death 
of  Miss  Florence  Nightingale.  A  wreath  iu  name 
of  the  Association  had  been  sent  to  the  funeral. 
A  resolution  was  also  passed  recording  an  expres- 
sion of  deep  regret  at  the  loss  sustained  by  the 
association  and  the  nursing  profession,  by  the 
death  of  one  of  the  Vice-Presidents,  Miss  Duff*, 
late  Matron  of  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Dundee.  An 
expression  of  sympathy  was  conveyed  to  her  rela- 
tives.    There  were  three  new  members  elected. 

The  next  meeting  was  arranged  to  be  held  in 
Edinburgh  on  December  .3rd.  and  it  was  decide<l 
that  week-end  hospitality  should  be  offered  to 
members  from  a  distance. 

After  the  meeting  Miss  Melrose  very  kindly  pro- 
vided tea  for  the  members,  afterwards  personally 
conducting  them  through  the  Ijeautiful  new  wards, 
nurses'  home,  laundry,  etc.  This  proved  a  great 
attraction,  and  added  greatly  to  the  pleasure  of 
the  dav. 


^1?e  IPassiiuj  36eU. 


The  staff  of  the  .Sussex  County  Hospital. 
Brighton,  has  sustained  a  sad  loss  by  the  death  of 
Nurse  Cooke-Yarborough.  after  a  short  illness.  The 
funeral  took  place  on  the  2nd  in.st.  the  first  x>art  of 
tlie  service  being  held  in  the  Hospital  Chapel,  the 
Rev.  W.  H.  Orton  (Chaplain)  officiating.  The 
service,  which  wa.s  choral,  was  attended  by  the  doc- 
tors, sistei-s,  and  nuuses.  As  the  cofiBn  was  borne 
out  the  nurses  line<l  the  steps  and  placed  lovely 
floral  tributes  on  it.  It  was  inscribed  "  Norah 
Gladys  Cooke-Yarborough,  died  30th  August,  1910. 
aged  2.5.'  Tlie  interment  took  place  in  the  Extra 
Mural  Cemetery.  Miss  Cooke-Yarborough,  who  was 
very  highly  esteemed  by  all  at  the  hospital,  was  a 
native  of  Boston,  Lines. 


208 


%bc  Britlsb  Journal  of  IRursinc}.       [Sept.  lo,  1910 


Zi)c  Srisb  IRursiuG  MorlD. 

We  greatly  regret  to  learu  from  ^Miss  Work- 
man, the  Hon.  Secretarj-,  that  the  Xurses' 
Club  Room  in  Belfast  was  closed  on  1st  Sep- 
tember owing  to  want  of  funds.  This  Club  was 
associated  with  the  Ulster  Branch  of  the  Irish 
Nurses'  Association.  The  lectures  and  social 
evenings,  which  are  greatly  appreciated,  will 
be  held  during  the  coming  autumn  and  winter, 
the  latter  in  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  Institute  in 
College  Square. 


tioual  Congress  of  Nurses  in  London  last  year ; 
and  Irish  nurses  evidently  intend  to  do  their 
part  to  be  well  represented  at  the  coming  Con- 
gress in  Cologne  in  1912. 


Nurses  of  all  women  are  the  least  clubable, 
and  the  reason  is  not  far  to  seek.  The  long 
hours  of  work  in  the  wards  and  the  lack  of 
private  rooms  in  the  majority  of  Nurses' 
Homes,  make  many  nurses  long  for  mental 
rest.  They  do  not  want  to  touch  hospital  and 
nursing  interests  when  off  duty.  Complete 
change  of  environment  is  the  first  necessity  to 
relieve  the  mental  strain  of  nursing —  a  strain 
the  physical  exhaustion  of  which  is  seldom 
realised  to  its  full  extent.  When  off  duty,  to  be 
out  of  doors  in  all'weathers,  and  to  get  into  some 
home  in  touch  with  commonplace  domesticity, 
with  friends,  animals,  or  a  book,  is  what  the 
majority  of  nurses  love,  and,  when  the  fates 
are  propitious,  a  chance  of  listening  to  music 
tir  seeing  a  play  is  a  sure  antidote  to  brain  and 
heart  strain  inseparable  from  true  nureing. 
Clubs  for  nurses  have  been  tried  on  several 
occasions  and  found  wanting;  all  the  same, 
they  have  their  uses,  and  it  is  no  doubt  disap- 
pointing to  those  who  have  given  so  much  time 
and  work  to  organising  that  in  Belfast  to  see 
it  closed. 

The  Eeports  of  the  Irish  Nurses'  Association 
and  the  Ii-ish  ^Matrons'  Association,  1909-1910, 
have  just  been  issued  a  little  late  owing  to 
official  changes.  The  Executive  Committee 
are  pleased  to  state  that  the  Irish  Nurses' 
Association,  founded  ten  years  ago  by  a  few 
Matrons  as  a  Club,  has  now  grown  to  be  a 
strong  and  useful  organisation.  During  the 
year  532  new  members  have  joined,  making  a 
total  of  789  names  on  the  roll,  and  the  Com- 
mittee point  out  that  at  this  critical  time  in 
the  history  of  nursing  organisation,  when  State 
llogistration  is  a  question  of  practical  politics, 
it  is  the  duty  of  nurses  to  combine  to 
make  the  Association  as  representative  as  pos- 
sible, in  order  that  they  may  form  part  of  the 
Central  Registration  Committee,  and,  by 
assuming  responsibility,  guard  their  interests 
and  that  of  the  profession  generally.  The  re- 
]>ort  alludes  to  the  immensely  beneficial  result 
of  co-operation,  as  evidenced  by  the  great 
educational  and  social  success  of  the  Interna- 


The  Irish  Matrons'  Association  continues  to 
form  a  useful  link  between  the  heads  of  the 
training  schools  in  Dublin.  It  is  doing  good, 
steady  work,  and  several  questions  have  been 
discussed  by  its  members  during  the  past  year 
in  friendly  consultation,  which  is  the  very  best 
way  of  making  harmonious  progress  towards 
professional  ideals.  English,  Scottish,  and 
Irish  Alatrons  are  now  associated  in  profes- 
sional councils;  some  day,  no  doubt,  they  will 
affiliate,  each  maintaining  their  distinctive 
national  characteristics  whilst  combining  for 
consultative  purposes  where  standards  of 
nursing  are  concerned.  Matrons  are  such  busy 
women,  such  co-operation  would  be  most  help- 
ful to  those  who  are  anxious  to  avail  them- 
selves of  the  experience  of  others. 


SUTTON  HOLIDAY  HOME  AND  PREVENTORIUM 
The  \\'omen's  National  Health  As.sociatiou 
of  Ireland  held  the  first  annual  meeting  of  this 
Home  en  August  31st.  In  the  acfive  crusade 
which  is  going  on  against  tuberculosis,  this 
holiday  home  is,  perhaps  the  greatest  help  nf 
any. 

A  disused  coastguard  station  on  the  Hill  of 
Howth,  near  Dublin,  was  taken  over  a  year 
ago,  for  the  purpose  of  giving  those  who  have 
been  in  contact  with  tuberculosis,  or  who  are 
in  a  delicate  or  debilitated  state  of  health,  and 
so  liable  to  fall  victims  to  illness  of  any  kind,  a 
few  weeks  in  pure  fresh  air,  with  a  good  whole- 
some and  generous  diet  and  plenty  of  amuse- 
ment. The  little  cottages  are  all  nicely  fur- 
nished, each  inmate  having  a  single  bedroom, 
while  there  is  one  common  dining  room  and 
sitting  room.  It  was  furnished  and  started 
through  the  kindness  of  Irish  friends  in  the 
City  of  Boston,  Mass.,  who  gave  the  Coimtess 
of  Aberdeen,  diu'ing  her  visit  there  last  year, 
the  necessary  funds.  A  trained  nurse  belong- 
ing to  the  Q.V..J.I.  is  in  charge,  and  two  doc- 
tors in  Howth  act  as  hon.  physicians.  During 
the  year  125  persons  have  been  received  as  in- 
mates, ranging  in  age  from  a  baby  of  5  weeks 
to  an  old  man  of  over  100.  All  have  gone  back 
to  their  homes  refreshed  and  invigorated,  and 
in  most  cases  the  Home  has  proved  a  real  "Pre- 
ventorium," as  the  patient  would,  without 
doubt,  have  succumbed  to  illness,  but  for  'ts 
timely  help.  There  is  no  danger  to  residents 
in  the  district,  as  no  one  suffering  from  illness 
is  admitted,  no  case  is  admitted  without  strict 
investigation.  This  first  Home  has  proved  such 
a  boon  that  it  is  hoped  to  establish  others  all 


Si'iit.  10,  I'JlOj 


Zbc  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRursiiuj. 


•209 


round  the  coast  of  lielouil.  A  large  uutuber  oi 
medical  men  came  from  Dublin  to  this  first 
annual  meeting,  and  one  and  all  were  loud  in 
tlieir  })raises  ot  the  Women's  National  Healtli 
Association  for  starting  this  most  useful  branch 
of  work. 


GORDON   BABIES'  HOME,  DUBLIN. 

A  second  Babirs'  Chib  was  opened  on  Sep- 
tember 1st,  at  r.»,  Upper  Chinbrassil  Street- 
Her  Excellency  Lady  Aberdeen  paid  an  infor- 
mal visit.  There  was  a  good  show  of  babies, 
and  the  weighing  under  the  superiutejideuce  of 
Dr.  Dunne,  with  a  trained  nurse  to  assist,  weno 
on  for  about  an  liour.  Afterwards  there  was 
tea  and  a  quiet  talk  with  the  mothers.  These 
clubs  are  proving  of  great  assistance  to 
motliers,  especially  to  young  inexperienced 
women,  who  know  \ery  little  as  to  how  a  baby 
should  be  fed  and  clothed. 


Ebe  IRational  (Toiincil  of  IHurses. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  National  Council 
of  Nurses  w^ill  be  held  early  in  November.  It 
is  hoped  that  it  will  be  strengthened  by  the  ad- 
dition of  several  new  societies  of  nurses.  The 
year  1910  has  been  a  time  of  sorrow  and 
mourning  for  nurses,  death  having  taken  three 
of  our  greatest  and  much  beloved  leaders  from 
u«.  Nevertheless  the  duty  of  those  who  re- 
main is  plain.  We  have  all  the  more  to  do,  and 
we  must  do  it  cheerfully. 

Xeaguc  IRews. 

The  Ixfirmary,  Kixgstox-ox-Thames. 
On  Thursday,  September  1st,  the  annual 
League  meeting  and  Garden  Party  was  held  in 
the  grounds  of  the  above  Infirmary.  The 
guests  were  welcomed  by  the  President,  Miss 
Smith,  }iIatrou  of  the  Infirmary,  and  the 
weather  was  exceptionally  fine,  giving  visitors 
and  staff  an  excellent  opportunity  of  enjoying 
a  game  of  tennis.  As  evening  fell,  the  grounds 
were  very  prettily  illuminated.  Evergreen 
arches  were  erected  and  festooned  with  hun- 
dreds of  twinkling  lights,  giving  the  lawn  and 
gardens  a  very  faii-ylike  appearance.  Many  of 
the  visitors  left  about  7  o'clock.  The  remain- 
der took  supper  with  the  staff  and  afterwards 
joined  very  enthusiastically  in  a  dance.  \ 
whist  drive  was  also  indulged  in,  at  the  conclu- 
sion of  which  prizes  were  given  to  the  success- 
ful competitore,  causing  much  amusement. 
During  the  afternoon  a  band  played  selections 
from  various  operas,  and  also  dance  music 
during  the  evening.  It  was  gratifying  to  se--^ 
that  one  and  all  joined  so  heartily  in  the  func- 
tion.    Many  of  the  old  nurses  were  present ; 


some  travelling  long  distances  to  catch  a 
glimpse  of  their  old  training  school.  Nuni'.-r- 
ous  letters  and  telegrams  conveying  good 
wishes  were  received  from  those  less  fortunate 
who  wTere  unable  to  be  present. 


practical  ipotnts. 

7'/m       Lntirsiate       Mcdkal 
Nutrient  Juunial,     quoting      from      a 

Suppositories.  Gorman  contemporary,  says: 
The  comparative  uselessness 
of  nutritive  enemata  has  led  Boas  to  suggest  re- 
placing them  by  nutritive  suppositories,  consisting 
of  crystallised  egg  albumin,  dextrin,  salt  and 
oocoa-butter.  If  these  suppositories  are  made  two 
and  a-half  inches  long  and  half  an  inch  in  diameter, 
they  will  contain  a  little  over  46  calories.  Four  or 
five  of  these  suppositories  can  readily  be  introduced 
daily,  so  that  the  patient  receives  some  230  calories. 
This,  of  course,  does  not  represent  a  sufficient 
nourishment,  but  it  is  greatly  superior  to  anything 
that  can  be  attained  by  means  of  nutritive  enemata. 
In  addition,  the  necessary  water  must  be  supplied 
by  means  of  two  saline  enemas  daily  of  a  pint  each. 
The  suppositories  are  well  tolerated  and  represent 
a  distinct  advance  in  rectal  alimentation.  Both 
crystallized  egg  albumin  and  dextrin  are  readily 
obtainable  from  dealers  in  chemical  supplies. 


With  regard  to  the  under- 
Underclothing.  clothing  that  should  be  worn 
by  rheumatic  individuals.  Dr. 
Luff  writes  in  the  Lancet:  "  I  must  confess  that 
I  am  a  convert  to  the  view  that  porous  linen  under- 
wear is  the  most  suitable.  It  allows  of  the  free 
evaporation  of  perspiration  and  so  prevents  a  more 
or  less  sodden  garment  from  remaining  in  contact 
with  the  skin,  which  so  frequently  happens  with 
those  who  wear  woollen  underclothing.  I  am  con- 
vinced that  in  the  latter  case  such  sodden  garments 
are  a  frequent  cause  of  many  of  the  forms  of 
chronic  rheumatism.  Some  individuals  find  that 
in  winter  linen  underwear  is  too  cold,  and  in  such 
cases  a  thin  silk  vest  may  be  worn  over  the  linen. 
This  will  be  found  to  constitute  a  thoroughly  warm, 
comfortable,. and  safe  form  of  underwear. 


A  small  piece  of  cotton 
Ingrown  toe-nails,  saturated  with  a  solution  of 
potassium  hydroxide,  one 
ounce,  in  four  ounces  of  water,  and  pressed  gently 
in  between  the  upper  surface  of  the  nail  and  the 
mass  of  tender  granulation  tissue,  is  Ijeing  recom- 
mended by  a  well-known  medical  man,  says  Una, 
for  the  treatment  of  ingrowing  nails.  Tlie  alkali 
soon  permeates  the  .suljstance  of  the  nail  without 
irritating  the  sore,  but  to  be  effective  the  cotton 
must  be  kept  constantly  moist.  The  softened  part 
of  the  nail  is  to  be  carefully  wiped  off  every  morn- 
ing. In  a  few  days  the  nail  will  have  l>ecome  suf- 
ficiently thin  and  soft  to  be  cut  away  without  piain. 
The  applications  must,  however,  he  continue<t  until 
all  granulations  disappear,  and  until  healing  is  well 
under  wav. 


210 


Zbc  Brttisb  3oiirnaI  of  TRurstng. 


[Sapt.  10,  1910 


Zbc  St.   riDargaret  3nvaltJ) 
Xiftcr. 


One  of  the  most  interesting  exhibits  at  the  recent 
Exhibition  at  tlie  Imperial  Institute,  during  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  British  Medical  Association, 
was  the  "  St.  Margaret  Invalid  Lifter,"  as  used  at 
the  Johns  Hopkins  Hospital,  Baltimore,  and  which 
has  just  been  introduced  into  this  country  by 
Messrs.  Allen  and  Hanburys,  Ltd.  The  Lifter  is 
made  on  the  principle  of  a  crane,  and  it  is  claimed 
that  by  its  means  the  patient  may  be  handled 
without  discomfort,  and  nurses  are  saved  physical 
strain.     In  addition 


to  being  a  lifter,  it 
is  also  a  means  of 
conve  y  a  n  c  e,  en- 
abling the  patient 
to  be  moved  with 
ease  and  comfort  to 
any  part  of  the 
hospital  or  hom'e. 
It  can  also  be  used 
to  raise  a  helpless 
patient  from  the 
bed  while  the  mat- 
tress is  being 
turned,  to  lower  a 
typhoid  patient  in- 
to a  bath,  to  move 
a  patient  from  his 
bed  to  a  coucli, 
and  for  other  pur- 
poses. 

The  stretcher  up- 
on which  the  pa- 
tient rests  is  made 
of  bands  of  webbing 
crossed  at  right  an"^ 
gles  to  one  another, 
and  is  attached  to 
cross  bars  fastened 
to  the  upper  arm 
of  the  lifter.  It  is 
easily  manipulated, 
and  should  be  ;>f 
special  service  in 
incurable  homes, 
where  the  nursing 
of  heavy  and  help- 
less patients  is  a 
constant  .strain  up- 
on the  nurses.  In  hospitals  and  infirmaries  this 
lifter  should  certainly  bo  stocke<l  where  it  would 
soon  be  known  as  the  nurse's  friend.  In  private 
liouses  its  cost,  unless  it  can  be  hired,  would  pro- 
bably proliibit  its  use  in  cases  of  short  duration, 
except  for  the  rich. 


3foot>5  as  ilDcbtcines. 

Mr.  Andrew  Wilson,  writing  in  the  lUusiratc" 
London  News,  says  that  it  is  a  very  quaint  and 
charming  study  which  takes  us  by  the  hand  and 
leads  us  into  the  green  pastures  of  the  folk  lore  of 
phints.  Things  interesting  and  instructive  are 
found  on  every  hand,  and  the  wisdom  of  ancient 
and  mediaeval  science  is  distilled  forth  from  every 
page  devoted  to  the  history  of  plant  fare  regarded 
from  a  medicinal  point  of  view.  Very  powerful 
principles  lie  stored  up  in  plant  cells,  ranging  from 
the  grateful  lavender  to  the  virulent  atropin  and 
digitalin. 

Many  of  the 
plants  we  eat  really 
represent  agents  of 
medicinal  value, 
ilost  of  VIS  .swallow 
things  by  faith, 
use,  and  wont,  and 
not  according  to 
knowledge  of  what 
we  eat,  and  hence 
arise  the  many 
groauings  and 
lamentations  over 
disordered  intciioi-s. 
Xot  that  we  know 
much  about  the 
medicinal  action  of 
plants  consumed  as 
food.  On  the  con- 
trary, it  is  a  topic, 
this.  which  can 
bear  niucli  research 
and  exploitation. 
Thus  asi>aragus  is 
said  to  be  a  kidney 
.stimulant,  and  to 
exercise  a  soothing 
influence  on  the 
heart  ;  in  Russia  it 
IS  taken  to  arrest 
bleeding,  and  in 
France  a  syrup  of 
the  plant  is  given 
as  a  remedy  for 
rheumatism.  Onions 
boiled  and  taken  at 
night  are  com- 
meude<l  for  sle<^l)- 
lessness.    and    also. 


The   St.    Margaret  Invalid   Lifter. 


as  they  contain  sulphur,  they  are  commondod  as  an 
article  of  diet  in  skin  troubles.  The  cabbage  and 
cress  tribes  are  anti-scorbutic,  the  lettuce  contains 
opium,  and  one  professor  claims  that  frcsli  lemon 
juice  taken  daily  will  prolong  life. 


HOSPITAL  FOR  THE  MIDDLE  CLASS. 
Miss  1<.  V.  Gill,  secretary  of  the  Women's  Im- 
perial Health  Association  of  Great  Britain,  states 
that  the  association  have  for  some  time  been  con- 
sidering the  advisability  of  erecting  a  Hospital  for 
tlie  Middle  Classes  who  are  unable  to  pay  the 
ordinarj'  fees  charged  at  private  nursing  institu- 
tions. 


AN  INTERNATIONAL  HOSPITAL. 
An  International  Hospital  is  now  open  in  Adana. 
Turkey — the  only  one  (except  a  hospital  for 
Turkish  soldiers)  in  a  district  having  a  population 
of  "0,000.  Tho  nui-s»\s  arc  mainly  Eiigli.sh.  and  it 
will  bo  a  great  relief  to  the  friends  of  young  men 
working  there  to  liavo  them  well  cored  for  in  sick- 
ness. 


Sept.  10,  liUU, 


Cbc  Bdtlsb  3ournal  of  IRursing. 


211 


appoint  men  tt?. 


M  A  1  UO.NS. 

Royal  Albert  Hospital  and  Eye  Infirmary,  Oevonport 
Miss  GUdjs  F.  Knox  has  be<?n  upixjiiitod  .Matron. 
She  was  traiued  at  tlic  Koyal  Devou  and  Exetir 
Hospital,  Exeter,  and  lias  held  successively  and 
very  succetssfiiUy  the  positions  of  Sister,  Xight 
Superintendent,  and  .Vssistant  Matron  at  that  im- 
portant county  hospital.  AVe  are  always  pleased 
to  chronicle  the  promotion  of  ladies  trained  in  je- 
presentative  country  training  schools,  where  ex- 
cellent cxi>erience  is  to  be  obtained  in  practical 
nursing  and  hospital  management.  It  encourages 
the  managers  and  matrons  of  such  hospitals  to  keep 
nursing  standards  up  to  date. 
Xight  Sister. 

Isolation    Hospital,    Warrington Miss  S.  A.  Kaye  has 

been  appointed   Niglit   Sister.      She  was  trained  at 
the    (iiMieral     Inhrmnry,     Halifax,    and    the    Fever 
Hospital,  Bolton.     She  has  also  held  the  position 
of  Ward  Sist-er  at  the  Huddersfield  Sanatorium. 
Charge  Xubse. 

Hartiepools  Hospital.- — Miss  Ethel  Lawson  has  been 
ai)i)ointi>il  Charge  Xurse.  She  was  trained  at  the 
IJoyal  Hospital,  Sheffield,  and  has  since  been  Staff 
Xurse,  and  has  taken  Sister's  duties  in  the  same 
institution. 

SCPERIXTENDENT    NuRSE. 

Upper  Edmonton  Workhouse  — .Miss  Gwendoline 
AA'illiams  has  been  apiwinted  Superintendent 
Xurse.  She  was  trained  at  the  West  Ham 
Union  Infirmary,  where  she  was  Staff  X'urse.  She 
has  also  held  the  posts  of  Charge  X'urse  at  the 
Fever  Hospital,  Sittingbourne,  and  Xight  Sister 
and  Ward  Sister  at  the  Xewport  I  nion  Infirmary, 
Monmouthshire. 

He.\lth  Visitor  and  School  Xurse. 

Urban  District  Council,  Bilston.  —Miss   K.   Weller   has 
been  appointed    Health  Visitor  and  School  Xurse. 
She  is  at  present  working  in  Oldham. 
Secretary. 

West  London  Hospital.  -Mr.  Grey  Hazlerigg  has 
been  appointe<l  to  the  position  of  Secretary  at  the 
West   London    Hospital,   Hammeiismith   Road,    W. 


QUEEN  VICTORIA'S  JUBILEE    INSTITUTE 

Transfers  and  Apivintmenfs. — Miss  Edith  F. 
Hall,  to  Birmingham  (Summer  Hill  Road) ;  Miss 
Margaret  Edwards,  to  Merthyr ;  Miss  Mary  Lovell. 
to  Tipton;  Miss  Florence  Finnis,  to  Hayward's 
Heath ;  Miss  Sarah  Morris,  to  X'orth  Wales  Xurs- 
ing  .Association,  as  Superintendent :  Miss  ,^da  E. 
Elliott,  to  High  Wycombe,  from  Brighton ;  Miss 
Lily  Fenton,  to  Coin  St.  .\ldwyn ;  Miss  Florence 
Meader,  to  Brierley  Hill,  from  Carlisle;  Miss 
Adelaide  Sproat.  to  X"ailsworth ;  Miss  Elizabeth 
Jack,  to  Wintertou;  Miss  Mildred  Dunn,  to  Pem- 
broke Dock. 


WEDDING  BELLS. 
The  marriage  of  Engineer  Lieutenant  W.  H. 
Mitchell  and  Miss  5Iabel  Elizabeth  Martin  took 
place  at  St.  Peter's  Clinrch,  Southsea,  on  the  1st 
inst.  They  were  the  recipients  of  many  handsome 
presents.  The  honeymoon  is  being  spent  in  Paris 
and  Lucerne. 


IHursinG  lEcboes. 

(Jiie  good  result  of  the 
j,'eneral  unrest  amongst  the 
nursing  staff  at  St.  Bartholo- 
mew'.s  Hospital  is  the  desire 
for  work  elsewhere.  Thus 
should  the  e.xperieuced  Sis- 
ters offer  themselves  in  the 
future  for  posts  of  respon- 
sibility more  readily  than 
has  been  the  custom  in  the 
past,  it  will  have  a  beneficinl 
effect  upon  other  Schools. 
The  old  hapj)y  homelike  regime  has  been 
rudely  shattered,  and  a  change  of  scene  is  im- 
perative for  tliose  who  cannot  submit  to 
changes  of  fortune. 

The  new  Matron,  ^liss  ^lackintosh,  enters 
upon  her  duties  on  the  '22nd  inst.  For  the 
future  the  ilatron's  House  is  to  be  an  en- 
tirely private  residence,  as  it  should  be.  The 
custom  in  the  past  of  utihsiug  the  ground  floor 
rooms  as  offices  and  dining  room  made  privacy 
for  the  Matron  very  difficult.  The  Matron's 
office  will  now  be  in  the  Home.  We  often  find 
greater  consideration  for  the  comfort  of  a  new 
official,  than  for  that  of  those  who  have 
borne  the  heat  and  burden  of  the  day,  or 
why  should  all  the  very  necessary  structural 
improvements  now  found  necessary  in  the 
Matron's  house  not  have  been  made  befor?'.' 
The  expenditure  in  fresh  paint  in  the  Nurses' 
Home  has  also  been  overlong  delayed.  The 
unsafe  condition  of  the  tenements  so  used  will, 
we  hope,  be  kept  prominently  before  the 
public.  The  excuse,  "only  the  nurses,"  has 
reflected  boundless  discredit  on  the  authorities 
and  medical  staff  for  years  past. 


.\fter  Kip  van  Winklian  slumbers  the  visit- 
ing staff  are  beginning  to  make  enquiries  as  to 
the  status  and  training  of,  and  rules  for,  the 
appointment  of  Sistens.  They  appear  very 
simple.  The  Sisters  are  appointed  by  ^he 
Treasurer  along  with  "  tlie  Bath  man  and  other 
inferior  servants."  There  is  no  rule  that  they 
should  be  trained  nurses,  so  that  there  is  no 
reason  why  two  years'  trained  women  from 
outside  should  not  be  appointed  Sisters^,  .-s 
well  as  jMatron  and  Superintendeiit  of  Nurs- 
ing. This  possibility  appears  unpalatable  to 
the  visiting  staff.  Why?  Their  representa- 
tives have  voted  for  the  principle  of  deprecia- 
ting the  status  of  the  Nursing  Staff  and  the 
standard  of  their  training,  and  if  Lord  Sa4i.:l- 
hui-st  chooses  to  place  semi-trained  outsiders 
in  the  wards,  the  medical  staff  have  no  logical 
right  of  complaint.  ^ 


212 


Z]K  :©r(ti6b  Journal  of  mursina.       tsept.  lo,  1910 


We  are  glad  to  learn  that  the  request  by  ihe 
Senior  Physician  that  the  Sister  of  one  of  his 
wards  should  postpone  her  resignation  for  a 
time,  has  been  courteously  and  firmly  refused. 
This  lady,  whose  devoted  services  to  the 
patient,  and  as  a  teacher  of  nursing  have  been 
invaluable,  will  be  a  very  great  lose  to  the 
hospital.  Such  personalities  —  strong  and 
sweet — are  rare. 


Liverpool  is  to  have  its  own  permanent 
memorial  of  Miss  Florence  Nightingale.  It  is 
proposed  to  enlarge  and  develop  the  work  of 
the  Liverpool  District  Nursing  Association. 
The  Association  was  fomied  with  Miss  Nightin- 
gale's  advice  and  help,  and  was  always  an 
object  in  which  she  took  the  deepest  interest. 
Many  medical  men  and  nurses  in  uniform  at- 
tended the  special  service  held  in  St.  Peter's, 
Liverpool,  in  niemory  of  the  great  founder  i^f 
professional  nursing  on  August  20th. 


The  Nurses'  ^Missionary  League  is  this 
week  in  camp  at  ilundesley-on-Sea,  Norfolk. 
The  party  is  housed  as  usual  at  Briarcliffe.  The 
purpose  of  this  meeting  of  nurses  is  two-fold, 
(1)  To  provide  a  holiday  which  will  also  be  an 
opportunity  of  help  and  inspiration  in  the 
Christian  life,  and  (2)  to  consider  the  work  of 
the  Nurses'  Missionarv  League. 


The  Barnsley  Nursing  Association,  which  is 
associated  with  the  Queen  A^'ictoria  Jubilee 
Institute,  held  a  successful-  garden  party  and 
sale  of  work  last  week  at  the  beautiful  grounds 
attached  to  Dodworth  Hall,  Dodworth,  through 
the  kindness  of  the  Rev.  T.  T.  Taylor  and  Mrs. 
Taylor.  Two  nurses  have  during  the  past  year 
been  at  work  in  Barnsley,  and  visited  about 
2,000  persons.  The  expenditure  amounts  to 
.£200,  and  there  is  £4.5  short,  which  it  is  hoped 
will  be  realised. 


The  Council  of  the  Edinburgh,  Leith,  and 
District  Friendly  Societies  have  received  the 
following  letter  from  the  Princess  Louise, 
Duchess  of  Argyll: — "I  desire  to  thank  the 
members  of  Edinburgh,  Lcith,  and  District 
Friendly  Societies  for  their  kind  offer  to  make 
the  Scottish  Branch  of  Queen  Victoria's  In- 
stitute for  providing  trained  nurses  for  the  sick 
poor  in  their  own  homes,  the  object  of  their 
collection  this  year,  and  wish  it  most  sincerely 
every  success." 


Her  Eoynl  Highness  the  Duchess  of  Con- 
naught,  recently  a  guest  of  the  Earl  of  Wemyss 
at  Gosford  Hotise,  N,B.,paid  a  surprise  visit  on 
Saturday  Inst  with  Lady  Wemyss  to  the  beau- 
tiful Muirficld  House  Convalescent  Home  at 
Oiillane,  which  is  an  invaluable  branch  of  th^^ 


Eoyal  Hospital  for  Sick  Children  at  Edin- 
burgh. The  Duchess,  who  was  received  by  the 
Sister-m-charge,  Miss  Hurlston,  seemed 
charmed  with  the  arrangements  of  the  insti- 
tution, watched  the  children  have  their  tea 
and  demolish  their  cookies  with  relish.  She 
accepted  a  rose  from  a  pretty  little  Jewess, 
Zena  by  name,  and  wrote  her  name  in  the 
visitors'  book.  Lady  Wemyss  takes  a  very 
kind  personal  interest  in  the  children,  who 
suffer  many  things  with  such  wonderful 
patience  and  even  gaiety  of  heart.  What  a 
blessing  it  would  be  if  we  could  kidnap  every 
child  from  unwholesome  environment  and  give 
them  all  their  rightful  share  of  fresh  air,  good 
food,  and  happiness  1 

For  some  time  past  the  nursing  at  the  hos- 
pital at  Lorient,  one  of  the  great  French  sea- 
ports in  France,  has  been  in  a  very  unsatisfac- 
tory condition;  the  religious  Sisters  have  been 
replaced  by  lay  attendants,  who,  it  is  asserted 
by  the  Catholic  Times,  drank  the  wine  pro- 
vided for  the  patients  and  diluted  that  given 
to  the  sick  with  water;  the  patients'  clothes 
were  also  stolen,  and  the  nursing  areangements 
became  such  a  scandal  that  the  Government 
was  forced  to  act,  and  M.  Imbert,  Inspector- 
General  of  the  Ministry  of  the  Interior, 
has  held  an  enquiry.  The  result  is 
that  the  Minister  of  Justice  will 
institute  a  prosecution  against  the  accountant, 
who  will  be  charged  in  the  Assize  Court  with 
falsification  of  his  accounts ;  and  the  resigna- 
tion of  the  entire  Board  of  Administration, 
which  is  said  to  have  shown  the  most  culpable 
negligence  in  the  control  of  the  accounts  and  in 
the  general  management  of  the  hospitals  under 
its  charge,  is  to  be  accepted. 

Readers  of  this  journal  will  learn  with  plea- 
sure that  in  its  troubles  the  liOrient  Hospital 
looked  to  Bordeaux,  where  Dr.  .\nna  Hamil- 
ton has  initiated  the  modern  system  of 
nursing  in  coimection  with  the  Protestante 
Hospital,  and  encouraged  educated  girls 
to  nurse  the  sick,  who  in  their  turn 
have  gone  out  into  the  world  as  pioneers 
and  instituted  lunsiug  refonns  in  other  hos- 
pitals. It  was  in  this  hospital  that  Miss  Elston 
first  worked  as  Sister,  and  from  which 
she  was  later  appointed  Directrice  at 
Tondu  Civil  Hospital,  Bordeaux,  where  her 
splendid  work  has  gained  recognition  both  from 
tlie  Municipality  and  the  State. 

Miss  Elston  has  now  obtained  some  ni<-)ntbe 
leave  of  absence  from  the  Tondu  Hospital,  and 
is  going  to  Lorient  to  organise  the  nursing  on- 
a  proper  basis.  Her  colleagues  in  this  coimtry 
will  wisli  her  every  success  in  this  splendid 
piece  of  pioneer  work  for  the  sick. 


Sept.  10,  101(1 


^bc  :©i"(t(eb  3ournaI  of  iRursing. 


•213 


Letters  and  papers  prove  tliat  the  Australa- 
sian nursing  world  has  been  widely  interested 
by  Miss  Amy  Hughes  and  Mr.  Harold  Boulton 
in  Lady  Dudley's  District  Bush  Xursiug 
Scheme,  and  it  is  hoped  to  secure  sufficient 
iunds  to  make  a  successful  beginning.  Thes3 
two  expert  missiouers  have  addressed  many 
meetings  in  Queiiisland  and  New  South  Wales, 
they  have  wisely  enlisted  the  help  of  the  power- 
ful State  Associations  of  Nurses,  and  have  met 
in  every  way  the  suggestions  of  the  Australa- 
sian Trained  Nurses'  Association  with  regard 
to  the  necessary  training  of  the  nurses  being 
equal  to  their  standards.  Only  such  nui^s^s 
as  are  registered  members  of  the  A. T.N. A.  and 
the  R.  V.T.N.  A.  are  to  be  accepted.  In  addition, 
it  is  proposed  that  one  member  of  their  State 
Councils  shall  be  nominated  by  the  A. T.N. A. 
in  each  State  on  to  the  Committee  of  the  new 
scheme. 


IRcflections. 


The  nurses'  official  organ  asks — will  nurses  he 
iound  in  sufficient  numbers  w'ho  are  willing  to 
put  aside  the  attractive  city  life  of  private 
nurses,  where  they  can  find  more  work  than 
they  can  do,  and  where  at  the  end  of  the  year 
they  can  show  a  very  substantial  income  for 
their  work?  Will  nurses  be  found  'u 
sufficient  numbers  who  are  willing  to 
undergo  further  study  and  training  to 
fit  themselves  for  the  exigencies  of 
a  Bush  Nurse?  The  Australasian  Trained 
Nurses'  Journal  thinks  they  will,  provided  that 
there  is  at  least  no  pecuniary  loss  by'accepting 
such  positions,  not  that  it  is  meant  to  infer 
that  nurses  are  mercenary,  but  they  certainly 
should  not  be  called  upon  to  add  philanthropy 
to  their  other  necessary  virtues.  Individual 
nurses  will  be  found  ready  to  sacrifice  all — 
salary,  amusement,  comfort,  and  friendship, 
to  carry  on  a  work  which  appeals  to  them,  but 
these  are  few,  and  the  mission  fields  find  most 
of  them. 

It  is  considered  that  a  large  endowment  fund 
-will  be  necessary  to  successfully  launch  and 
can-y  on  the  organisation  on  the  lines  sug- 
gested, but  as  a  memorial  to  the  best  beloved 
of  monarchs  it  will  no  doubt  soon  reach  a  sum 
sufficient  to  start  the  Bush  Nursing  on  a 
limited  scale. 


We  have  no  doubt  thai  in  time  the 
supply  of  devoted  women  ready  to  under- 
take the  arduous  and  lonely  work  will  meet  'he 
need,  and  we  heartily  congratulate  our  col- 
leagues in  the  great  Commonwealth  that  there 
is  to  be'nasham  abmit  the  standard  of  nursing 
thev  are  to  offer  to  the  sick  in  the  Bush. 


From  a  Boahd  Room  MrRROR. 

The  King  lias  bct'ii  pk'ase<l  to  become  Patron  ot 
the  General  Hospital,  liiruiingham,  and  ot  New- 
castle Royal  Victoria  Infirmary. 

The  King  and  Queen  hare  become  Patron  and 
Patroness  of  the  Royal  Hospital  for  Incurables, 
Edinburgh. 

The  Queen  lias  consented  to  become  Patroness  of 
St.  John's  Hospital  for  Diseases  ot  the  Skin, 
Leicester  Square. 


In  the  report  just  printed  by  the  King  Edward's 
Hospital  Fund  the  lion,  sees..  Sir  Savile  Crossley 
and  Mr.  F.  M.  Fry,  givti  a  lot  of  useful  information 
about  the  cost  of  maintenance  of  London's  ninety- 
nine  hospitals — just  one  short  of  100 — in  1909.  The 
secretaries  xioiut  out  that  economies  effected  in 
management  have  effected  a  saving  of  £6,000. 


The  proposal  to  increase  the  number  of  Hon. 
Surgeons  at  the  London  Hospital  has  been  met  by 
disapprobation  and  opposition  by  the  present 
visiting  staff.  But  at  the  Quarterly  Court  held  on 
the  "th  inst.,  two  surgeons  and  two  assistant  sur- 
geons were  elected.  The  present  staff  consists  of 
seven  surgeons  and  four  assistants.  Considering 
the  enormous  number  of  operations  done  in  the 
theatres  and  out-patients"  department,  the  addi- 
tional assistance  will  no  doubt  be  for  the  benefit 
of  the  patients. 


"We  rather  sympathise  with  th©  opinion  of  ilajor 
Ferguson,  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  the 
Cumberland  Infirmary,  at  Carlisle,  who,  whilst  de- 
ploring an  increasing  deficit,  denied  that  there  was 
any  extravagance  or  any  ground  of  complaint 
against  the  management,  adding  that  Carlisle  was 
cram-full  of  croakei-s.  but  as  they  did  not  subscribe 
they  were  of  no  value  to  the  institution,  and  their 
grumblings  were  valueless. 


Tli'^  first  Conference  of  the  British  Hospitals 
Association  will  be  held  in  Glasgow  on  September 
'29th  and  30tli.  Mr,  C'o<mo  Bonsor,  President  of 
Guy"s  Hospita.l.  is  the  President,  and  the  objects 
of  the  organisation  are  (1)  to  facilitate  the  con- 
sideration and  discussion  of  matters  oonnect«tl  with 
hospital  management,  and  where  advisable  to  take 
measures  to  further  the  decisions  arrived  at ;  and 
(2)  to  afford  opportunities  for  the  acquisition  of  a 
knowledge  of  hospital  administration,  I)ot.h  lay  and 
medical. 


A  Sub-coiViraittee  of  Directors  of  the  Sick 
Children's  Hospital.  Aberdeen,  has  been  formed  to 
take  immediate  steps  to  consider  and  report  as  to 
the  best  metho<ls  to  be  adoptc<l  for  tho  provision 
of  a  new  hospital  building,  which  has  for  some  time 
been  recognised  as  a  pr<>s«ing  necessity.  Excellent 
work  has  been  accomplished  in  the  existing  hos- 
pital, but  under  vei-j-  great  difficulties.  The  l>eauti- 
ful  Children's  Hospital  in  Edinburgh,  of  which  the 
inanageiis  are  so  justly  proud,  might  well  be  taken 
as  a  model. 


214 


Zhe  Biittsb  Sournal  of  lRur0in(5>      tsept.  lo,  i9io 


Steps  are  being  taken  for  reconstructing  and 
enlarging  tlie  Ulster  Hospital  for  Women  and 
Children,  Belfast,  at  an  estimated  outlay  of 
£10,000.  The  draft  plans  for  the  minimum  re- 
quirements of  the  medical  staff  show  a  three- 
storey  elevation  with  a  single  storey  for  the  out- 
patients' department  and  a  maternity  ward. 


Zbc  Ibull  Sanatoiium  Scan&al. 


It  is  said  that  the  first  hospital  ever  built  in 
America  was  erected  by  the  Spaniard  Cortex  in  the 
city  of  Mexico  in  1224.  It  was  endowed  out  of  the 
revenues  obtained  from  the  properties  conferred  on 
him  by  the  Si>anish  Crown  for  his  services  in  the 
conquest  of  ilexico.  The  endowment  was  so 
arranged  that  it  still  exi.sts  and  is  paid  at  the  pre- 
sent day.  A  supervisor  is  named  by  the  lineal  de- 
scendant of  Cortez  at  present.  In  this  hospital 
women  occupied  positions  as  nurses  and  physicians, 
and  in  their  care  were  all  cases  and  obstetrics,  and 
women's  diseases. 


Zbc  IRo^al  Sanitary  3n3titutc. 

'  CONGRESS  AND   HEALTH   EXHIBITION 
AT   BRIGHTON. 

The  Twenty-fifth  Congress  of  the  Royal  Sanitary 
Institute  Mas  oi>ened  in  the  Royal  Pavuion, 
Brighton,  on  Jlonday  last,  and  meetings  and  excur- 
sions will  be  held  throughout  the  week. 

The  ojiening  of  the  imix)rtant  Health  Exhibition 
ill  the  Dome  and  Corn  Exchange  was  performed  by 
the  Mayor. 

At  the  Conferences  on  Hygiene  of  Childh<x>d  and 
that  of  Women  on  Hygiene  several  questions  of 
special  interest  to  nurses  will  be  discussed. 

Amongst  the  exliibitoi's  many  firms  well  known 
to,  and  patronised  by,  nui-ses  were  well  to  the  fore. 

The  Royal  Society  for  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to 
Animals  showed  humane  instruments  for  use  in 
slaughter-bouses  and  knacker  yards,  together  with 
I>amphlets  and  plans  with  reference  to  the 
superiority  of  the  public  aljattoir  to  private 
slaughter-houses. 

Xewton,  Chambers,  and  Co.,  Ltd. — Here  the 
well-known  Izal  pvei>aiiations  wore  on  view.  Izal 
Disinfectant  Fluid,  jxiwder,  soaps,  medical,  and 
hotel  preparations. 

Stall  3.3.— The  Executors  of  the  late  William 
Sharratt  exhibited  their  Formalide  sprayer,  lamps, 
fumigator,  and  Tablets,  "  Karsene,"  "  Rozene." 
and  Carbolic  Disinfectants. 

Southall  Bros,  and  Barclay,  Ltd.  (Stall  56)  con- 
tained specimens  of  many  of  their  invahmblo 
sanitary  towels.  Originally  patento<l  by  S.  B.  &  B. 
in  1880,  since  improved,  and  now  the  most  ixufect 
towel  on  the  market.  Compresse<l  towels,  full- 
sized  towels  reduced  by  pressure,  packed  in  tiny 
Iwxes.  Night  tidy,  for  night  use;  "  Shieldette," 
containers  for  u.<ied  towels.  pix)tectivc  api-on,  cami- 
fflle  (breast  supix)rt  For  the  nursing  jx-riod),  in- 
fants' knopkenettos,  nursing  aprons  (waterproof, 
flannel,  and  combined),  sanitary  sbcet.s  of  various 
sizes  for  occouohment,  oK<;tetric  binders,  un- 
Ktretchable  (stout  and  iiie<liunO  fiauiiol,  sIibikhI 
with  buckles  for  fastening ;  mackintosh  sheets,  free 
from  odour,  and  other  practical  appliances. 


The  Hull  Sanitary  Committee  have  once  again 
pio.-ed  that  they  have  no  right  to  be  trusted  with 
the  care  of  the  sick,  or  responsible  for  the  safety 
or  innocent  girls  as  nurees,  and  that  it  is  high 
time  the  citizens  of  Hull  took  active  measures  to 
clear  out  the  Augean  stable  known  as  the  Hull 
Sanatorium. 

Listen  to  this : 

On  Saturday  last  an  important  meeting  of  the 
Hull  Sanitary  Committee  was  held  to  con- 
sider the  report  of  the  Sub-Committee  charged 
with  the  investigation  of  the  administration  of  the 
Hull  Sanatorium.  The  inquiry  was  rendered  neces- 
sary by  the  proceedings  in  the  Manchester  Police 
Court  against  Dr.  Alfred  G.  P.  Thomson,  who  was 
Medical  Superintendent  of  the  institution,  and 
against  whom  an  affiliation  order  wa.s  obtained  by 
Nurse  Shuttleworth. 

Alderman  Askew  presided.  A  letter  was  read 
from  Dr.  Thompson  tendering  liis  resignation,  and 
on  his  motion  the  resignation  was  accepted. 

Tlie  reix)rt  of  the  Sub-committee  slated  that  Mis> 
Butler,  the  Deputy  Medical  Officer,  had  been 
appointed  to  take  charge  of  the  Sanatorium 
for  tliree  montlis,  and  then  proceeded  to  recom- 
mend that  the  Matron,  Miss  Duffy,  who  was  re- 
lieved of  her  duties  ixMiding  the  inquiry,  should 
now  be  asked  to  resume  duty. 

The  Chairman,  in_  moving  the  adoption  of  the  re- 
l>ort,  said  they  had  iion  to  see  how  far  the  Matron 
was  concerned  in  the  allegations  made  again.st  the 
resident  medical  superintendent.  Very  serious 
allegations  had  been  made  as  to  the  Matron's  con- 
nection with  the  painful  business  which  neces- 
sitated an  inquiry,  and  it  was  stated  that  among 
other  thing.s  she  had  authorised  some  kind  of  an 
agreement  with  reference  to  the  custody  of  an  ex- 
pected child  of  Nurse  Shuttlewort'n.  The  docu- 
ment which  was  alleged  to  have  Ijeeu  drawn  up, 
however,  had  never  been  jjioduced,  and  the  Matron 
herself  repudiate<l  altogetlier  such  an  agreement. 
Ho  considered  that  the  Matron  ought  to  lie  1h'- 
lieved,and  there  was  not  sufficient  ground  to  ju,stify 
the  Committee  in  calling  upon  her  to  resign.  He 
had  received  a  petition  from  nurses  at  the  Sana- 
torium which  he  i-ousiderod  it  unwise  for  the  nurses 
to  have  sent.  The  gist  of  the  jx^tition  was  that  in 
their  opinion  Nur.se  Shuttlewortli  should  not  l)e 
called  Iieforo  the  Sub-Committee. 

Mr.  Raiiio  .seconded  the  adoption  of  the  report, 
and  observed  that  ho  did  not  think  there  was  suf- 
ficient proof  of  tlic  suggested  complicity  between 
Miss  Duffy  and  Dr.  Tlioiu.son. 

Dr.  Robinson,  a  nuuiiber  of  the  Council,  followed 
with  a  speech  containing  some  .startling  statements. 
He  said  he  took  a  .s<^iious  view  of  the  whole  ques- 
tion. For  yoni-s  there  liad  been  lax  administration 
at  the  Hull  Cor|x>ration  Hospitals.  When  the 
Matron  took  up  duty  at  the  Hull  Sanatorium  there 
were  five  single  women — nui'sos  and  domestics — 
pregnant  there,  and  not  a  word  of  this  was  reported 
to  tlie  Chairman  of  the  Hospital  Sub-Cominittoe. 
In  the  administration  in  many  departments  of  the 
Cor|>oi>ation  there  was  laxity.       Another  girl  who 


Sept.  10,  i9io:     ^|3e  Britisb  3ournaI  of  IRursino. 


215 


was  pregnant  during  tli«  time  of  tlio  Matron  was 
got  away  quietly.  Two  liead  officials  at  the  Sana- 
torium were  continually  quarrelling,  and  pi-oper 
administration  could  not  be  expect€<l  under  such 
conditions.  Serious  statements  had  been  made  by 
people  who  had  be<in  nursing  there  as  to  the  lack 
in  quality  and  quantity  of  food  for  the  nui^es  and 
the  patients. 

One  nurse  stated — and  it  was  not  seriously  con- 
tradicted— that  instead  of  the  porter  being  called 
to  take  tie  corjise  away  when  a  death  occurred, 
the  nurses  had  to  place  it  where  they  coi'ld  until 
morning,  and  on  one  occasion  a  child  was  placed 
outside  in  a  linen  basket.  Dr.  Robinson  averred 
that  further  evidence  showed  that  the  nurses  were 
given  food  in  bad  condition,  and  had  to  eat  it  from 
crockery  u&e<l  by  the  patients.  "  Imagine,"  said 
the  doctor,  "'  nuiises  eating  off  crockery  used  by 
diphtheria  patients."  So  bad  was  the  food  pro- 
vided, they  were  told,  that  it  was  generally  given 
to  the  cat.  After  the  di-sclosures  they  had  had  he 
did  not  consider  Miss  Duffy  had  acted  as  she  should 
have  done  in  this  affiliation  case,  and  she  should  not 
be  retaine<l  as  the  Matron  of  the  institution. 

Dr.  Lilley  (Chairman  of  the  Hospital  Sub-Com- 
mittee) said  the  statements  of  Dr.  Robinson  had 
never  come  before  the  Committee. 

Mr.  Flanagan  could  not  agree  with  the  resolution 
that  the  Matron  be  asked  to  resume  her  duties. 

Dr.  Robinson  moved,  and  Mr.  Flanagan 
seconded,  an  amendment  that  the  Matron,  Miss 
Duffy,  \ie  asked  to  resign. 

Dr.  Lilley  supported  the  resol  ition,  and  said  he 
was  certain  that  the  statements  made  by  Dr.  Robin- 
sou  were  untrue. 

Mr.  North  remarked  that  he  hoped  the  Com- 
mittee would  not  reinstate  the  Matron. 

Ultimately  the  amendment  that  the  Matron  be 
asked  to  resign  was  defeat€<l,  and  the  report  re- 
commending that  she  Ije  asked  to  resume  her  duties 
was  adopted. 

TVe  hope  the  women  of  Hull  will  take  public 
action  in  support  of  Dr.  Robinson  in  his  spirited 
demand  for  decency  and  discipline  in  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  Hull  Sanatorium.  We  commend  this 
instittitiou  to  the  vigilant  attention  of  the  National 
Vigilance  Association  for  the  Suppression  of  Vice. 


Xcgal  flDatters. 

There  are  several  lessons  to  be  learned  fiom  the 
evidence  given  before  the  Lambeth  Coroner  at  an 
inquest  on  a  poor  patient,  who  through  the  error 
of  a  nurse  received  an  overdose  of  morphia  at  St. 
Thomas's  Hospital.  As  reported  in  the  TimPs, 
Miss  Bertha  Smalley,  nurse  at  the  hospital,  said 
that  the  woman  came  under  her  care.  She  pro- 
duced a  bed  card,  and  stated  that  she  was  respon- 
sible for  giving  the  liquor  morphia  hydrochloric 
sleeping  draught  mentioned  on  the  card.  She  gave 
it  from  a  medicine  glass,  which  was  marked  for 
teaspoonfuls.  For  half-<lrachm  she  would  measure 
half  a  teaspponful.  The  morphia  was  of  Pharmaro- 
pceia  strength,  and  was  marked  "Liquor  morph." 
It  was  kept   in    a   poison    chest.        There    was  an 


electric  lijilit  in  the  ward  when  she  poured  out 
the  draught.  In  reply  to  the  Coroner,  she  saiil 
that  the  signs  for  a  tablespoonful  and  a  teaspoon- 
ful  were  much  the  same,  and  she  mistook  the  sign 
on  the  card.  In  reading  it  she  mistook  the  drachm 
sign  for  an  ounce.  Five  minutes  afterwards  she 
discovered  her  mistake  and  called  the  doctor.  The 
house  physician  said  that  the  patient  was  suffer- 
ing from  Graves's  disease  and  advanced  consump- 
tion of  both  lungs.  She  had.  no  symptoms  of 
poisoning  when  he  was  called,  and  he  could  find 
no  sign  of  morphia  poisoning  at  the  time  of  her 
death.  She  might  have  died  at  any  moment  from 
natural  disease.  He  did  not  think  that  the  mor- 
phia accelerated  the  death.  Nurse  Smalley,  re- 
called, said,  in  reply  to  the  foreman  of  the  jury, 
that  nurses  were  not  trained  as  to  the  fatal  doses 
of  poisons;  "they  had  to  find  out  for  themselves." 
The  Coroner  commented  on  the  danger  of  having 
a  number  of  closely  written  lines  containing  the 
names  of  several  poisons  on  a  bed  card,  and  also  on 
the  danger  of  permitting  hospital  nurses  to 
measure  poisons  with  an  ordinary  glass  marked 
for  teaspoonfuls  or  tablespoonfuls.  The  jury 
found  that  the  woman  died  from  the  effects  of 
disease  accelerated  by  the  shock  following  the  sur- 
gical treatment  made  necessary  by  the  nurse's 
mistake.  They  recommended  that  directions  for 
administering  medicine  should  be  written  in  plain 
English  instead  of  "  hieroglyphics." 

We  commend  the  Coroner  for  his  remarks,  but 
why  did  he  not  go  further  and  recommend  that 
systematic  teaching  in  elementary  therapet^tics 
should  be  included  in  the  nursing  curriculum  of 
every  training  school  for  nui-ses?  Surely  the  time 
has  gone  past  when  nurses  "have  to  find  out  for 
themselves  "  whether  or  no  the  drugs  they  are 
called  upon  to  administer  will  poison  a  patient ! 
And  should  it  not  be  an  invariable  rule  that 
mimim  doses  should  be  measured  in  a  minim  glass. 
And  surely  the  common  signs  of  weights  and 
measures  cannot  be  described  as  "  hieroglyphics." 
A  mistake  may  be  made,  and  we  sympathise  with  a 
nurse  who  makes  one,  but  in  this  instance  it  would 
appear  as  if  the  lack  of  systematic  training  was 
the  primary  cause  of  disaster. 


(toininG  Events. 


Congress  os  the  Rot-\l  S.\xit.\by  Insiiiute,  Rot.\l 

P.wiLiox,  Brighton,  September  oth — 10th. 

Principal  Events. 

September  9th. — Conference,  10  a.m. 

Closing  Meeting,  1.30  p.m. 

Garden   Party,  3.30   p.m. 

Popular  Lecture  by  Dr.  Alex.  Hill,  M.D., 
F.R.C.S.,  J. P.,  on  "  The  Bricks  with  which  the 
Body  is  Built."     8  p.m. 

September  10th. — Excursions. 

September  lOth-1'ith. — Second  International 
Congress  on  Occupational  Diseases.  Brussels. 

October  10th. — Territorial  Force  Nursing  Service, 
City  and  County  of  London.  Reception  at  the 
Mansion  House  by  invitation  of  the  Lady  Mayoress 
and  the  Members  of  the  Executive  Committee. 
8 — 10. .30.  p.m.      lun'Mtainnient^aiid  music. 


216 


Zbe  Bvitisb  3oiirnal  of  TRurslno*     ^^'p^-  ^o,  i9io 


®iit0(&e  tbc  (Bates. 


GIRLS'  SOCIAL  EDUCATION. 

A  very  interesting  paper  on  Girls'  Social  Educa- 
tion in  Germany,  by  Dr.  Alice  Salomon,  Director 
of  the  Social  School  for  Women  in  Berlin,  appears 
in  last  month's  Slaiitte.  Dr.  Salomon  writes  that 
"  In  Germany  we  are  slowly  turning  our  attention 
away  from  the  question  of  educating  girls  for  the 
professions,  back  to  the  problem  of  preparing 
them  for  their  sphere  of  usefulness  in  family  life 
and  of  deciding  which  educational  paths  should  be 
opened  up  for  the  mothers  of  the  future.  And 
this  task  now  bears  a  new  and  deep  significance. 
First  of  all,  the  women's  movement  had  to  fight 
for  the  right  of  '^  mate  education,"  for  the  throw- 
ing open  of  the  "  higher  education,"  the  classical 
schools,  the  Universities,  the  other  technical  in- 
stitutions, and  this  was  done  in  order  to  open  up 
to  girls  the  i)rofessional  possibilities  of  which  un- 
der the  present  economic  conditions  they  stand  in 
need.  After  having  succeeded  in  this,  the  women 
of  this  country  are  free  to  give  their  attention  to 
other  educational  needs.  And  now  they  cannot  for- 
get that  only  in  exceptional'  cases  is  a  woman's 
life  entirely  filled  by  her  profession,  that  most 
women  have  tiro  sxjheres  of  activity.  They  pass 
from  their  profession  into  the  domestic  circle,  or — 
and  this  is  the  less  pleasing  case — their  profession 
stands  on  the  same  footing  as  their  marriage,  and 
they  are  forced  into  carrying  out  their  iirofessional 
and  their  family  duties  at  one  and  the  same  time. 
"  It  is  an  established  fact  that  in  general  German 
women  devote  two-thirds  of  their  jieriod  of  activity 
to  family  duties,  and  only  one-third  to  their  pro- 
fession. From  this  the  demand  for  preparing  the 
growing  generation  of  girls  for  both  occupations 
follows  as  an  absolute  necessity.  It  is  not  suffi- 
nciet  merely  to  fit  thorn  for  a  profession.  They 
must  also  bo  capable  of  performing  home  and 
family  duties. 

"  Some  ycar.s  ago,  therefore,  a  social  sclionl 
for  womoii  was  opened  near  Berlin,  which 
attempts  in  a  two  yeai-s'  course  to  combine 
the  training  of  young  girls  for  family  duties  and 
for  social  work.  The  lower  class  prepares  the  girls 
for  thoir  duties  in  family  life,  and  therefore 
places  educational  subjects  in  the  front  rank  of 
the  course,  supplementing  them  by  practical  teach- 
ing in  kindergarten  work,  needlework,  handicrafts, 
and  domestic  economy.  licssons  in  political 
economy  and  constitutional  history  provide  an 
introduction  to  social  problems.  The  I'pper  Class 
is  intended  to  train  the  pupils  for  social  work,  to 
prepare  girls  for  the  tasks  which  await  them  now- 
adays in  public  life.  It  has  always  be(-n  an 
object  of  the  wonu'n's  movement  to  have  public 
offices  such  as  poor  relief  work,  the  care  of  orphans, 
School  Board  membership,  and  matters  of  guar- 
dianship, oix'ii  to  women.  And  now  that  this  de- 
mand has  been  fulfilled  and  \yomcn's  work  is  re- 
quired in  so  many  departments  of  public  life,  her 
inerest  and  understanding  for  social  ta.sks  must 
be  roused,  and  she  must  bo  equipped  with  the 
knowledge  which  she  nee<ls  for  the  effeoive  execu- 
tion of  her  now  duties. 


'■  A  woman's  life  is  no  longer  entirely  filled 
by  home  duties.  Public  life,  too,  has  claims 
on  the  '  citizeness,'  and  the  woman  who  fol- 
lows no  actual  profession  is  doubly .  bound  to 
fulfil  these  obligations.  Tlie  instruction  in 
the  .social-scientific  branches,  the  tiaining  for 
work  in  poor  relief,  protection  and  care  of  children, 
working  women's  clubs,  etc.,  is  therefore  intended 
to  fit  the  pupils  for  fulhlling  their  duty  to  the  com- 
munity, either  as  voluntary  helijere  or  as  profes- 
sional social  workere.  Besides  the  theory  of  educa- 
tion, hygiene,  iK>litioal  economy,  and  constitutional 
history — the  continuation  of  the  Lower  Course — 
the  instruction  inchules  civil  law,  social  hygiene, 
the  pi'oblems  of  social  work,  relief  of  the  poor,  and 
the  protection  and  care  of  children.  The  plan  Ls  to 
show  wliere  the  nation  stands  in  need  of  woman's 
work  and  strength,  that  our  time  has  its  own 
problems  to  deal  with,  and  that  want  and  relief, 
hurt  and  healing,  must  be  connected  with  each 
other. 

The  scheme  has  been  very  successful,  and  Dr. 
Salomon  considei'S  that  the  large  attendance  of 
pupils  is  la  satisfactory  proof  that  i>eople  nowadays 
are  recognising  more  and  more  how  necessary  it  is 
to  prei>are  young  girls  for  their  family  duties  and 
for  the  new  tasks  which  await  tliem  in  public  life ; 
that  girls  under  the  conditions  of  our  modern  times, 
mu.st  be  trained  to  be  ''  mothers"  in  the  old,  deep 
meaning  of  the  word,  to  take  an  active  part  in  the 
life  of  their  own  nation,  and  to  extend  tlieir 
motherly  care  fi-om  the  home  to  the  community 
wliich  stands  so  .sorely  in  need  of  it.  It  is  for  these 
modern  tasks  that  the  new  edticational  institution 
provides  a  modern  training. 


Boof?  of  tbe  mcc]\. 


THE  HEART  OF  MARYLEBONE.* 

The  heroine  in  this  story  marries  for  the  very 
original  motive  of  providing  hereelf  with  the  neces- 
sary funds  to  have  an  operation  (presumably  for 
api)endicitis)  performe<l  upon  herself  iu  a  nursing 
home  in  Marylebone. 

"  I  don't  want  to  take  you  by  surprise.  I  am 
afraid,  Leila,  you  must  think  me  very  abrupt,  but 
it  does  not  seem  abrupt  to  me.  I  wanted  to  ask 
if  you  would  marry  me.     .     .     ." 

"  Harry,  I  can't,"  she  «sclaim©<l.  "  How  can  I 
think  of  marrying  to-day?     .     .     ." 

As  nothing  else  would  .suffice  she  told  him  all. 
Slie  told  him  briefly  what  was  wrong  and  what 
would  be  necessary  to  put  her  right.  If  anything 
was  to  be  done  she  should  be  in  the  nursing  home 
that  night. 

"  But,  of  coui'se,  something  must  be  done.  Wliy, 
of  coui-se  it  must.  Everything  must  I>e  done,  and  it 
must  1h>  done  at  onco." 

"  It  can't,"  she  «l)served,  briefly. 

Bi'ing  n  man,  who  -shut  his  eyes  to  roadity,  he 
asked  lier  why. 

Leila's  i>alo  face  grew  a  little  pink.  A  poor 
man   would   never    liave    asked    the   question ;    he 

*  By  Handasyde.    (Hufchinson  and  Co.,  London. > 


Sept.  10,  1911V 


IIi)C  Britlsb  3ournal  of  IRursino. 


217 


ivoiild  have  known  tliere  is  always  on«>  reason,  and 
Jt  is  always  the  sjiino. 

Henry  Palmerston,  who  never  acted  on  inii)uIso, 
-and  never  did  a  l«x)lish  thing,  suddenly  matle  up 
his  niintl.  He  drew  a  chair  close  to  the  sola  on 
which  she  was  sitting. 

"  There  is  only  one  thing  to  be  done,  Leila.  .  .  . 
You  must  marry  nie  this  afternoon.  There  will  be 
Jio  question  of  means  after  that.  Tlie  privilege 
of  i>aying  will  then  he  my  right.'' 

"This  afternoon  I  she  repeated.  But,  but,  I 
ought  to  lie  in  the  home  by  half-past  sis.'' 

'■  And  so  you  shall  be.  I  must  get  a  special 
licence.    1  shall  tolei)lionc  to  the  House  at  once." 

Tliis  is  a  quaint  pix)ceeding  to  say  the  least  of 
it.  but  Henry,  being  nothing  if  not  resourceful, 
carries  it  thixjugh,  and  at  the  appointed  hour  she 
iinds  herself  in  the  home  with  Henry's  signet  ring 
upon  her  third  linger. 

Tlie  greater  portion  of  the  book  is  occupied  in 
describing  life  in  a  surgical  home,  and  the  authoress 
has  an  irritating  habit  of  speaking  of  the  nurses  by 
their  surnames  without  prefix,  "Sister"  Eister 
alone  being  paid  this  re.'ipect. 

This  marriage  in  ha.ste  at  firet  does  not  promise 
v.ell,  and  in  her  adieus  to  Sister  Lister  she 
admits — 

"  To-night  the  world  appals  me." 

"There's  so  much  in  it,"  Sister  Lister  agreed. 

'■  Don't  ask  me  whetlier  I  have  decided  to  go  to 
'Grosvenor  Square  or  to  Soham ;  people  ask  me 
nothing  else  all  day  long,  and  the  truth  of  tlie 
matter  is  I  don't  want  to  go  to  either." 

Sister  Lister  dropped  her  eyes  again.  "  Don't  be 
-af  i^id.  I  am  not  going  to  ask ;  but  if  I  were 
you  I  should  go  to  .Soham.  .  .  .  With  many 
people  marriage  is  only  a  half-way  house.  I 
-couldn't  live  in  a  half-way  house  myself ;  I'd  rather 
be  homeless." 

"  I  can't  live  there  either."  It  was  quite  un- 
necessai-y  to  explain  that  the  mansion  of  Soham 
was  the  house  to  which  she  referred. 

Later,  "she  thought  Soham  was  beautiful,  but, 
like  Grosvenor  Square,  it  chilled  her.  It  was  a 
magnificent  house,  but  it  did  not  seem  to  be  any- 
one's home." 

She  tells  her  maid:  "It  is  so  dreadfully  quiet, 
Terry.  I  can  hear  everything."  .She  could  hear 
her  own  heart  beating,  and  longed  with  a  pang 
of  liome-sickness  for  the  roar  of  London  that  used 
to  silence  all  these  lesser  sounds.  Twice  during  the 
night  Terry  came  in  softly  to  see  if  she  were  sleep- 
ing. 

"Terry,"  she  whisi)ered,  "I  want  to  go  back; 
the  world  hurts  me.'' 

"  Well,  we  can't  go  Ijack  to-night,"  Terry  said, 
"  and  things  always  hurt  less  in  the  morning." 

Tlie  second  time  Terry  came  her  face  was  buried 
in  the  embroidered  pillow.  She  was  weeping  her 
Jieart  out  against  the  Palmei-ston  monogram. 

But  though  it  all  eonus  right  in  the  end  we  think 
the  moral  is.  that  the  nursing  home  was  dear  at 
the  price,  and  the  common  or  garden  hospital  would 
have  saved  a  great  deal  of  trouble.  But  then  this 
book  would  never  have  been  written. 

H.  H. 


Xcttci'5  to  tbe  Editor. 


ir/iiiat  cordially  inviting  com- 
munications upon  all  tubjecfs 
/or  these  columns,  we  wish  it 
to  be  distinctly  understood 
that  we  do  not  in  ant  way 
hold  ourselves  responsible  for 
the  opinions  expressed  by  our 
correspondents. 


OUR  GUINEA  PRIZE. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 
Dear  Madam, — Very  many  thanks  for  Briti.sh 
Journal  of  Xcrsing  announcing  my  gain  of  the 
'■  Guinea  Puzzle  Prize,"  which  came  as  a  delight- 
ful surprise  to  me. 

I  am,  yours  very  truly. 

E.    SH-iHEAIAN. 

Th&  Infirmary,  Wandsworth. 


THE  NEW  MIDWIVES'  BILL. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "British  Journal  of  yursing." 

Dear  Madam, — May  I,  in  the  interests  of 
tens  of  thousands  of  poor  women,  ask  your  readers' 
attention  for  the  new  Midwives'  Bill,  which  the 
House  of  Lords  has  just  passed,  and  which  the 
House  of  Commons  has  now  to  consider? 

AVhen  the  police  find  a  man  urgently  needing 
medical  aid,  owing  to  some  accident  or  another,  or 
oven  to  his  own  misconduct,  they  summon  a  doc- 
tor to  attend  to  him.  Tliat  doctor's  fee  is  paid  as 
a  matter  of  course  out  of  the  police  rate,  and  the 
man  is  not  made  liable  to  repay  the  amount. 

When  a  woman  has  made  the  customary  pro- 
lision  for  her  confinement  by  engaging  a  certified 
midwife.  Parliament  intervenes  to  compel  that  mid- 
wife, should  any  unforeseen  dangerous  emergency 
arise,  to  have  a  doctor  .sent  for.  Parliament  made 
no  provision  as  to  that  doctor's  fee,  but  it  is  being 
paid,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  in  Manchester  and  Liver- 
pool, Cardiff,  and  St.  Helens,  by  the  Town  Council 
out  of  the  Public  Health  Rate ;  and  all  Rural  and 
Urban  District  Councils  have  equal  powers  to  make 
the  payment.  .Sometimes  the  Board  of  Guardians 
will  make  the  payment,  and  then  the  Relieving 
Officer  is  sent  to  make  inquiries,  though  the  Poor 
Law  authority  has  no  legal  power  to  recover  the 
amount. 

Now  the  Bill  which  the  House  of  Lords  passed 
proposes  by  Clause  17  to  put  it  upon  the  Board  of 
Guardians,  instead  of  the  Town  Council,  in  all  cases 
to  pay  the  doctor's  fee  out  of  the  Poor  Rate, 
although  the  payment  has  admittedly  nothing  to 
do  with  parochial  relief,  and  is  expros.sly  declared 
to  be  not  parochial  relief.  At  tb.e  same  time  the 
unfortunate  woman  and  her  husband  are,  for  the 
first  time,  to  be  made  liable  to  repay  whatever  fee 
the  Board  of  Guardians,  under  Local  Government 
Board  regulations,  chooses  to  pay  the  doctor.   • 

Here  are  two  separate  and  distinct  hardships  to 
be  inflicted  on  thousands  of  thrifty  and  hard-work- 
ing women  and  their  families,  just  in  their  hour  of 
n^.  The  first  hardship  is'the  importation  into 
the  matter  of  the  machinery  of  the  Poor  Law,  in- 


218 


Zlbe  36ritisb  3oiunal  of  IRursino. 


[Sept,  10,  1910 


stead  of  that  of  the  public  health  authority. 
Probably  the  noble  Lords  do  not  see  any  difference. 
But  many  a  worthy  woman  has  a  feeling  of  shame 
and  indignity  at  having  anything  to  do  with  the 
Poor  Law  and  the  Relieving  Officer. 

If  the  Board  of  Guardians,  instead  of  tlie  Town 
or  County  Council,  is  (for  the  first  time)  required 
to  jjay  the  doctor's  fee,  and  to  decide  whether  or 
not  it  will  recover  the  amount  from  the  patient,  it 
will  inevitably  use  the  Poor  Law  machinery  for  this 
purx>ose — the  visits  of  inquiry  of  the  Relieving 
Officer,  the  summons  to  attend  before  the  Board, 
and  60  on,  just  as  if  the  matter  were  one  of 
l>arochial  relief.  Indeed,  the  official  argument  used 
tor  the  clause  is  that  this  use  of  the  Relieving 
Officer  affords  the  most  couvenieut  machinery  for 
making  the  inquiries. 

The  Grovernment  has  been  warned  by  all  those 
concerned,  bj-  the  representatives  of  the  Midwives' 
Institute,  the  Central  Midwives'  Board,  the  Society 
of  Metlical  Officers  of  Health,  the  British  Medical 
Association,  the  Municipal  C'oriK>rations  Associa- 
tion, such  typical  County  Councils  as  those  of 
Lancashire  and  Nottinghamshire,  and  such  im- 
IKjrtaut  Town  Councils  as  that  of  Manchester,  that 
to  import  the  Board  of  Guardians  into  the  delicate 
and  difficult  business  of  providing  medical  aid  in 
these  cases  of  emergency  will,  as  a  matter  of  fact, 
deter  midwife  and  patient  from  calling  in  the  doc- 
tor. Lord  Sheffield  and  other  noble  lords  expressly 
~ay  that  they  hope  it  will  have  that  effect! 

The  -second  hardship  is  the  new  financial 
burden  which  the  Bill,  for  tlie  first  time, 
places  on  tliese  unfortunate  families.  I  see 
no  I'cason  why,  when  the  State  insists  on 
the  medical  man  being  called  in,  on  public  health 
grounds,  any  repayment  of  the  fee  shoidd  be  in- 
sisted on  ;  and  it  is  a  distinct  grievance  that  the 
liability  will  be,  not  to  pay  the  nuxlest  fee  which 
the  doctor  would  have  charged  to  the  poor  patient 
herself,  but  the  one  or  two  guineas  which  (quite 
rightly)  tlie  Local  Government  Board  will  fix  as 
the  sum  that  the  doctor  may  charge  to  the  Public 
.\uthority.  But,  even  if  it  is  thought  that  the 
Public  Authority  ought  to  be  able  to  recover  the 
amount,  this  is  no  reason  for  taking  the  dvity  out 
of  the  hands  of  the  Public  Health  Authority  and 
giving  it  to  the  Poor  Law  Authoiity.  Neither  has 
now  the  power  to  recover  the  fee.  Either  of  them 
could  be  given  that  iKjwer  if  desired. 

Can  anything  be  done  between  now  and  the  re- 
:issembling  of  Parliament  in  November  to  prevent 
the  House  of  Commons  from  passing  Clause  17  of 
this  nill?  I  .shall  be  glad  if  anyone  willing  to  help, 
or  desiring  further  particulars,  will  communicate 
with  mo. 

I  am,  etc., 
Bkatrick  Wkbb  (Mrs.  Sidney  Webb). 

The  National  Committee  for  Prevention  of 
Destitution, 
37,  Norfolk  Street,  Strand,  W.C. 

[Nnr.ses  are  fully  aware  how  the  deserving  ixmr 
dread  pa\iperisation.  We  hope  those  of  our  rewdei-s 
who  realise  the  hardships  to  which  Mrs.  Sidney 
Webb  alludes  will  write  to  any  nu^nber  of  Parlia- 
nuMit  with  whom  they  or  their  family  aie 
ncf|uaiuted  and  a>,k  fhem  to  opiw.s«^  Clause  17  of  tin- 


Midwives'  Bill  as  it  stands.  Lord  Ampthill  took 
this  coui«e  in  the  House  of  Lords  but,  unfor- 
tunately, his  policy  was  not  adopted. — Ed.] 


THE   NURSING   OF   MALE   PATIENTS. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 

De.4r  Editor, — Having  read  in  a  recent  number 
of  the  Bhitish  Journal  of  Nursing  your  criticism 
of  the  remarks  of  Dr.  Renshaw  at  the  Catholic 
Congress  in  Leeds,  I  think  it  only  fair  to  the 
Catholic  body  that  you  should  see  the  enclosed 
extract  from  the  Universe  and  Catholic  Keekly. 
I  am,  yours  faithfully, 

A  Catholic  Nurse. 

The  extract  is  as  follows:  — 

"  It  may  be  counted  as  one  of  life's  little 
ironies  that  the  things  men  say  and  do  in  their  Jess 
wise  moments  are  just  the  things  which  get  embar- 
rassing attention.  Of  the  many  papers  read  at  the 
Catholic  Congress  at  Leeds  last  week,  none  seems 
to  have  attracted  so  much  notice  as  Dr.  Renshaw's 
rather  remarkable  denunciation  of  lady  doctors, 
female  nurses  for  men,  and  women  generally  in 
these  and  similar  spheres  of  life.  The  paxier  has 
caused  a  mild  sensation  in  the  North,  space  being 
devoted  to  it  in  the  newspapers  which  its  author 
must  not  mind  if  we  say  is  out  of  all  proportion 
to  its  worth.  By  this  time  we  hope  it  has  been 
made  clear  that  in  writing  as  he  did.  Dr.  Renshaw 
was  not  only  stating  what  was  merely  a  personal 
opinion,  but  that  the  opinion  is  certainly  not  that 
of  his  co-religionists  as  a  body,  nor  do  we  think 
there  are  many  individual  Catholics  who  share  his 
view.  A  more  characteristic  expression  of  the 
Catholic  attitude  towards  women  in  the  healing 
professions  was  supplied  at  the  great  mass  meet- 
ing in  the  Town  Hall  on  Sunday  afternoon,  when 
one  of  the  most  aiiplauded  papers  was  that  by 
a  lady  doctor,  commending  her  calling  and  'e- 
counting  her  experiences." 

[It  is  impossible  to  believe  that  Dr.  Renshaw's 
views  are  shared  bv  many  of  his  co-religion ist-s. — 
Ed.] 


JAPAN-BRITISH  EXHIBITION  AWARDS. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Xursing." 
De.m!  >L\dam. — On  the  S)th  July  the  name  of  our 
firm  aijpeared  in  the  List  of  Awards  as  the 
only  recipients  of  the  Grand  Prix  for  Disinfectants, 
and  we  duly  annovmced  that  fact  by  an  advertise- 
ment in  the  columns  of  your  journal,  AVe  now 
learn  (eight  weeks  after  the  original  publication  of 
the  list)  that  within  the  last  few  days  a  similar  di.v 
tinction  has  been  conferred  uix>n  another  firm  of 
mannfnctnrei-s,  making  our  statement  erroneous  as 
at  the  present  time.  AVe  now  ask  the  courtesy  of 
your  columns  to  correct  our  statement,  which  was. 
of  course,  ni.ide  in  good  faith,  and  in  no  s<»us*>  in- 
tended to  mi.sload. 

Yours,  etc.. 
For  Jeyes'  Sanitary  Comi^ound.s.  Co.  Ltd.. 
■V\'m.    Sf.amtcr, 

Secretary. 


OUR   PUZZLE  PRIZE. 
Rules    for   competing   for   the     Pictorial    Puz.zle- 
Prize  will  be  found  on  Advertisement  page  xii. 


Sept.  10,  loio:  ^\^^  36r(tisb  3ournal  of  iHursino  Supplement. 

The    Midwife. 


219 


labour  in  a  Septate  interns. 

The  development  of  the  female  genital 
organs  is  complex,  and,  to  rightly  understand 
it,  embryology  must  be  studied ;  some  elemen- 
tary knowledge  is  necessary  to  explain  malfor- 
mations of  the  uterus.  In  the  early  embryo 
a  tube  is  formed  u|ion  either  side  of  the  body ; 
these  open  anteriorly  into  the  body  cavity  and 
posteriorly  into  the  lU'o-genital  sinus.  Later 
two  canals  are  formed  from  these  tubes — the 
Miillerian  ducts.  By  the  eighth  week,  the 
inner  walls  of  the  lower  ends  fuse  to  form  the 
uterus  and  vagina,  the  upper  and  divided 
portions  opening  into  the  pleuro-peritoueal 
cavity  ultimately  develop  into  the  Fallopian 
tubes.  A  depression  is  at  first  present  at  the 
point  of  union :  by  the  eight  or  ninth  month 
this  should  have  disappeared,  and  all  trace  of 
any  septum  between  the  two  tubes  should  be 


DiAGR.\M  (Vteris  Septus). 
A.  Vagina.       B.  Cervix.       C.   Septum. 

D.    FCXDUS.  E.    F.\LLOPIAX     TCBES. 

F.  EouxD   Ligaments. 

lost.  If  the  septum  persists  in  any  degree, 
there  results  the  double  uterus,  an  organ  with 
two  sides  or  compartments — i.e.,  the  two 
component  parts  have  failed  to  fuse  into  one : 
there  is  no  excessive  formation;  such  as  is  im- 
plied by  the  term  "  double  uterus."  There 
may  be  two  separate  uteri,  lying  side  by  side — 
uterus  didelphys — or  the  uterus  may  have  ap- 
proximately the  same  shape  exteriorh%  and 
the  septum  may  simply  divide  the  upper  por- 
tion into  two  lobes  or  extend  throughout  the 
length  of  the  uterine  cavity  and  down  the 
median  lirfe  of  the  vagina  (uterus  et  vagina 
duplex).  Between  these  two  extremes  are 
many  varieties  to  which  different  names  have 
been  given. 


In  the  following  case  the  septum  was  only 
present-  in  part  of  the  body  .of  the  uterus"^; 
fusion  of  the  Miillerian  ducts  was  far  more 
advanced  than  in  the  bicornuate  uterus  proper, 
but  the  presence  of  the  septum  indicates  that 
the  fusion  was  inconi])leto.  The  fundus  at  term 
had  a  well  marked  depression  in  the  centre, 
making  it  heart-shaped  in  form  (uterus  cordi- 
formis).  The  diagnosis  of  this  abnormality  is 
usually  made  during  an  intrauterine  ex- 
ploration, such  as  is  necessary  in  version  or 
removal  of  the  placenta  and  membranes.  In 
cases  in  which  menstruation  occurs  every  fort- 
night or  persists  throughout  pregnancy,  the 
presence  of  a  double  uterus  should  be  sus- 
pected; if  the  septum  extends  to  the  cei-vix, 
so  that  there  is  a  double  os,  or  the  vagina  is 
duplicated,  the  diagnosis  of  the  condition  is 
confinned. 

The  following  obstetrical  history  illustrates 
.some  interesting  points  in  the  clinical  pheno- 
mena which  may  ac-eompauy  labour  where  the 
uterus  has  a  partial  septum.  The  patient, 
Mrs.  D.,  had  a  normal  menstrual  history;  the 
onset  of  the  periods  occurred  at  the  age  of  14, 
they  continued  regularly  every  28  days ;  the 
loss  was  somewhat  profuse,  the  flow  lasted 
for  four  days.  There  was  no  change  after  mar- 
riage or  in  the  intervals  between  the  pregnan- 
cies and  suckling.  Up  to  date  she  has  had  ten 
pregnancies:  all  were  full  tenn,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  second,  when  labour  came  on 
prematurelj'  at  the  seventh  month,  and  she 
was  delivered  of  a  still-bom  child.  The  litera- 
ture concerning  the  uterus  septus  testifies  to 
the  frequency,  of  abortion.  Ruge  divided  the 
septum  in  a  patient  who  had  twice  miscarried 
and  she  went  to  term  in  the  next  pregnancy. 

The  course  of  labour  completing  the  ten 
pregnancies  was  as  follows: — ■ 

1.  Natural,  vertex  presentation,  adherent 
placenta,  removed  manually;  the  septum  was 
not  discovered  by  the  doctor.  It  Would,  there- 
fore, seem  improbable  that  the  placenta  was 
attached  to  the  septum,  a  condition  which 
would  certainly  cause  profuse  post-partum 
hiemorrhage. 

2.  Premature   labour;    still-born   infant. 

3.  AiTn  presentation,  version;  child  still- 
born. The  uterus  was  then  discovered  ta  be 
septate. 

4.  Arm  presentation ;    still-born. 

7.  Arm  presentation ;  still-bom.  The  in- 
complete septum,  it  may  beVisily  understood, 
favours  a  transverse  presentation. 


•220 


^bc  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRursino  Supplement.  [Sept.  lo,  1910 


5.  Vertex;    forceps;    alive. 

6.  Breech;    alive. 

8.  The  patient  does  not  know  how  the  child 
presented ;    there  were  no  coniplicatious. 

9.  Feet  presentation;    child  still-born. 

10.  Breech;  easy,  uncomplicated  labour; 
child  weighed  5  lb.  lOjOZ.  The  placental  site 
was  in  the  right  horn;  on  exploring  the  uterus 
a  well  marked  septum,  extending  for  about 
3  inches  into  the  body  of  the  uterus,  was  felt. 
It  was  somewhat  triangular  in  form,  its  width 
in  the  upper  part  being  about  2  to  3  inches. 

The  patient  says  that  she  always  lost  freely 
after  labour,  but  apparently  the  loss  was  never 
excessive.  She  is  a  big,  stout,  healthy-looking 
woman  with  a  florid  complexion  ;  the  abdominal 
walls  were  very  lax;  and  before  delivery 
(tenth  labour)  the  child  was  very  freely  mov- 
able. She  was  advised  to  go  into  hospital. 
The  liability  to  abnormalities,  the  danger  of 
p)ost-partum  hsemorhrage,  and  the  possibility 
of  rupture  of  the  septum  during  labour,  made 
it  urgent  for  the  patient  to  have  the  best 
obstetric  help  possible. 

a  IRareJPresentatton. 

The  patient,  Mrs.  W.,  was  a  primagravida, 
aged  18.  The  pregnancj'  was  uneventful,  and 
went  to  tenn.  Pains  began  on  JNIay  16th  at 
5  p.m. ;  on  admission  into  hospital  at  8.30 
p.m.  they  occurred  every  ten  minutes.  The 
child  was  lying  in  the  4th  saccal  position 
(L.S.P.);  the  breech  was  in  the  brim  of  the 
pelvis,  but  not  well  engaged ;  on  vaginal  ex- 
amination the  OS  admitted  one  finger,  the 
membranes  were  unruptured,  a  soft  mass  was 
felt,  which  was  thought  to  be  the  buttock. 
The  patient  had  strong  pains  all  night,  'he 
presenting  part  made  slow  advance;  the  mem- 
branes did  not  rupture  till  ^lay  17th,  8  a.m. 
A  second  vaginal  examination  was  then  made, 
the  finger  impinged  on  a  soft  mass,  the  anus 
was  directed  backwards,  the  iliac  bones  were 
easily  felt ;  there  seemed  to  be  considerable 
tiltinj^  of  the  lireech  ;  strong  pains  brought  the 
presenting  part  to  the  vulva ;  on  separating  the 
labia,  a  dark  bluish  semi-translucent  mass 
appeared,  with  marked  fluctuation,  fluid  oozed 
from  a  small  aperture  in  the  centre :  it  was  at 
first  thought  it  might  be  a  hyarocele,  with  ;in 
accumulation  of  fluid  in  the  scrotum.  Tlv^ 
pains  were  not  very  effective,  but  with  good 
fundftl  pressure  steady  advance  was  made,  and 
there  emerged  a  spina  bifida,  about  the  size 
of  an  orange,  the  cerebro-spinal  fluid  was 
oozing,  and  part  of  the  tissue  was  broken 
down.  The  infant,  a  male,  weighing  7  lb. 
12J  oz.j  was  easily  delivered  (Wat.  Smellie 
method);  he  was  feeble,  and  onlv  survived  two 
hours.  '    M.  O.  H. 


THE  CENTRAL  MIDWIVES'  BOARD. 
The  Privy  Council  have  approved  of  the  con- 
tinuance from  September  30th,  1910,  until  June 
30th,  1911,  of  the  Rules  framed  by  the  Central 
Midwives'  Board  in  pursuance  of  Section  3  of  the 
Midnives  Act,  1902,  and  approved  by  the  Privy 
Council  by  Order  dated  August,  10th,  1909,  for  a 
period  of  one  year  ending  September  30th,  1910. 


THE    MIDWIVES'   BILL. 

The  Midwives'  Vecord,  the  official  organ  of  the 
Union  of  Midnives,  realises  the  dangers  of  the 
new  ^Midwives'  Bill  as  it  has  left  the  "  Lords,"  and 
has  not  much  patience  with  the  "sheep-like  content- 
ment based  on  abysmal  ignorance  "  of  the  average 
midwife.  "  Here  we  are,"  it  exclaims,  "  a  body  of 
thousands  of  women,  professionally  recognised  by 
law,  and  a  Bill  in  the  highest  degree  offensive  and 
inimical  to  our  interests  is  introduced  by  a  senile 
Minister;  we  should  heave  imagined  that  under  such 
circumstances  every  midwife  in  the  land  would  have 
grown  hot  with  indignation,  and  figuratively  speak- 
ing, would  have  rushed  to  arms,  or,  in  other  words, 
would  have  overwhelmed  the  Bill  with  every  form 
of  opposition.  Not  a  bit  of  it.  Thousands  of  wo- 
men, apparently,  don't  know  that  there  is  a  Bill. 
AVc  are  not  at  all  sure  whether  thousands  are 
aware  of  the  existence  of  Parliament." 


Whilst  sympathising  with  the  Editor,  may  we 
remind  her  that  the  "fighting  force"  which  in- 
spires the  sense  of  public — or  even  personal  duty — 
is  one  of  the  rarest  virtues  in  tlie  world.  Pro<luc- 
tive  as  it  is  of  the  highest  morality,  its  expression 
spells  martyrdom  for  the  submerged  sex.  Tyranny 
breeds  fear,  and  wonuui  are  still  foolishly  feai'some 
of  "tattered  bogarts"  stuffed  with  straw.  Some 
day  they  will  laugh  to  learn  how  easily  they  are 
toppled  over. 


AVe  should  advise  midwives  to  carefully  read  Mrs. 
Sidney  Webb's  letter  which  api)eai-s  in  this  issue, 
and  to  enlist  her  Parliamentary  supjiortei's  in  their 
just  demand  for  more  effective  direct  representa- 
tion on  their  own  Governing  Board. 


INSPECTORS  OF  MIDWIVES'  ASSOCIATION. 

.\  nie<'ting  of  the  Insix^ctore  of  Midwives' 
Association  will  be  held  at  tlw>  Midwives'  In.stitute, 
12,  Buckingham  Street,  Stiiand,  Ix>ndon.  W.C.  at 
2.30.  Mi.ss  du  Sautoy.  the  Hon.  Secretary,  IG,  Elm 
Gi"Ove,  Taunton,  will  Iw  glad  to  receive  by  Sep- 
t^ml>er  12tli  subjects  for  discu.ssion,  so  that  they 
may  be  placed  ui)on  the  agenda.  This  .Vssociation 
appeare  to  have  a  very  useful  futuie  before  it. 


MIDWIVE^'  DEFENCE  UNION. 
Midwives  practising  in  the  Brightside  and  Pits- 
nuK>r  districts  in  Sheffield  have  intimated  that  they 
will  not  attend  cases  unless  paid  the  recognised  fee 
of  10s.  6d.  in  advance,  and  they  have  just  started 
a  Midwives'  Defen<     "  'u  Sheffield.     Tlie  truth 

is  that  midwifery  i..  ...  'ous  and  tcrrilily  re- 

sponsible work,  very  inadequately  paid,  and  with- 
out co-o])eration  it  is  impossible  to  make  «  living 
wage. 


THE 


IMH  MMMSIIKI 


EDITED  BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


SATURDAY,     SEPT     17,     1910. 


lEMtoiial. 


THE   NECESSITY   FOR  ORGANISED    NURSING 
EDUCATION. 

The  fatality  at  St.  Thomas'a  Hospital,  to 
Avliicli  we  called  attention  in  this  journal 
last  week,  furnishes  an  object-lesson  which 
is  of  the  utmost  importance  to  the  whole 
community.  Briefly,  the  statements  made 
at  the  inquest  on  a  patient  were  that  the 
nurse  gave  her  half  an  ounce  of  morphia  in 
mistake  for  half  a  drachm,  and  that  the 
medicine-glass  she  used  was  marked  in 
teaspoons  and  tablespoons.  These  state- 
ments were  admitted  to  be  accurate  ;  indeed, 
the  nurse  may  be  commended  for  the  con- 
scientious and  tnithful  manner  in  which  she 
gave  her  evidence,  as  she  explained  that  the 
nnrses  at  St.  Thomas's  Hospital  have  no 
special  training  as  to  the  administration  or 
nature  of  fatal  doses  of  poisons ;  and  she 
added,  '■  we  have  to  find  that  eut  for  our- 
selves." 

Subsequently,  the  Secretaryof  the  hospital, 
■  in  an  interview  with  a  lay  journalist,  is  re- 
ported to  have  said  "  that  the  statement  was 
substantially  correct,  though  not  happily 
expressed  ' ;  and  to  have  added,  "  there  is 
no  need  for  the  nurses  to  understand  the 
strength  of  doses  of  any  mixture,  so  long  as 
thej'  are  able  to  carry  out  the  doctor's  in- 
structions." It  must  be  remembered  that 
the  whole  object  of  professional  education  is 
to  fit  persons  to  perform  their  duties  in  an 
expert  and  skilled  manner  ;  that  the  duties 
of  a  nurse  responsible,  as  she  often  is,  for 
human  life,  make  it  imperative  that  the 
principles  of  nursing — ^;hicli  incbides  the 
administration  of  drugs — should  be  syste- 
matically and  carefully  taught  by  those  re- 
sponsible for  her  training-  and  to  argue  that 
trained  and  efficip  _.    ^g  can  be  based 

on  mere  rule  of  thumb,  and  not  on  accurate 


knowledge,  is  an  admission  of  ignorance 
upon  the  part  of  a  responsible  hospital 
ollicial,  which  is  almost  incredible,  if  it  was 
not  a  fact  that  in  very  few  of  our  lay- 
managed  Nursing  Schools  the  curriculum 
includes  instruction  in  the  elements  of 
materia  medica. 

The  wider  her  knowledge,  and  the  greater 
her  experience,  the  more  valuable  is  the 
nurse  both  to  doctor  and  patient.  At  the 
present  day,  when  many  commonly  used 
drugs  are  poisonous  in  large  doses,  the  nurse 
who  is  not  taught  the  nature  and  doses  of 
these  poisons  during  her  training  will  always 
be  liable  to  make  some  fatal  mistake. 

We  protest,  therefore,  most  earnestly 
against  the  assumption  that  nurses  can  be 
considered  efficiently  trained  if  they  are  not 
efficiently  taught  ;  and  urge,  for  the  safety 
of  the  public,  that  those  responsible  for  the 
training  of  nurses,  should  realise  that 
neglect  in  this  particular  almost  amounts 
to  criminal  negligence  on  their  part. 

But  just  so  long  as  Parliament  neglects 
to  frame  and  pass  an  efficient  law  for  the 
organisation  of  Nursing  Education  and  the 
Registration  of  Nurses,  tested  by  an  inde- 
pendent examination,  just  so  long  will  the 
lives  of  sick  persons  be  in  peril — not  only 
by  poisons,  but  by  general  ignorance  and 
lack  of  skill,  resulting  from  obsolete 
methods  of  teaching.  It  is  high  time  the 
happy-go-lucky,  cheap,  and  insufficient 
method  of  education  provided  for  ^jurses 
in  many  hospitals  should  be  dealt  with  by 
Parliament,  and  that  it  should  provide  safe- 
guards for  the  lives  of  the  community.  The 
opposition  of  the  nn-professional  persons 
who  control  the  voluntary  charities  of  the 
^letropolis  to  State  organisation  of  nursing 
is  an  economic  one,  and  the  Government 
must,  sooner  or  later,  deal  with  it  as  such. 
The  lives  of  sick  people  should  be  a  most 


222 


Zbc  Brittsb  Journal  of  IRursing. 


[Sept.  17,  1010 


sacred  trust  of  the  State.  Let  those  at 
present  in  power  prove  that  they  realise 
their  responsibility  by  dealing  effectively 
with  the  Registration  of  Nurses  at  an  early 
date. 

flDe^tcal  flDatters. 


NEW  USES  FOR  CARBOLIC  ACID. 

Dr.  Kobert  Masou,  Exeter,  N.  H.,  writing 
for  the  Medical  Record,  says  he  ha.s  used 
carbolic  acid  (liquefied  crystals)  iu  fourteen 
consecutive  cases  of  diphtheria.  The  acid 
is  applied  by  saturating  a  piece  of  absorbent 
cotton  (so  it  will  not  drip),  fixed  to  a  cotton 
holder,  and  smearing  the  tonsils  till  the 
surface  turns  white.  This  operation  is  to  be 
repeated  every  day — sometimes  lightly,  both 
morning  and  ijight.'  In  four  or  five  days  the 
cure  is  complete.  Every  case  of  diphtheria 
he  has  had  has  teiminated  in  recovery  under 
this  treatment.  He  has  used  the  same 
treatment  in  tonsilitis,  in  a  great  many  cases 
with  perfect  results,  sometimes  aborting  the 
disease  with  one  apj)lication.  He  says 
enlarged  tonsils  land  uvula  (chronic  inflam- 
mation) can  be  cured  in  the  same  way.  He 
has  also  removed  adenoids  in  the  same 
manner.  He  say.*  papules,  furuncles,  afid 
carbuncles  can  be  aborted  if  touched  before 
suppuration  has  occuixed.  He  has  injected 
several  encysted  tumours  x>f  the  back  with 
pure  acid,  and  has  seen  them  disappear 
without  any  pain  or  inconvenience  to  the 
patient.  He  has  used  a  50  per  cent,  mix- 
ture of  the  acid  with  water  (on  cotton  with 
holder)  and  thrust  the  cotton  through  a 
polypus  of  the  nose,  and  also  through  uterine 
polypi,  and  has  destroyed  them  with  one  or 
two  treatmeutfr.  He  says  warts  may  be  re- 
moved by  touching  with  carbolic  acid  on  a 
dull  pointed  stick. 

EFFECT  OF  LEECHES. 

A  French  medical  paper  states  that  wet  cup- 
jiing  has  almost  entirely  replaced  the  use  of 
leeches  in  therapy,  yet  the  effect  of  the  two 
is, not  the  same.  After  cujjping,  the  haemor- 
rhage will  soon  cease,  while  after  the  use  of 
leeches  as  much  as  100  to  200  c.c.  can  be  ob- 
tained. The  exuding  blood  resembles  that  of 
hemophilia,  in  that  coagulation  sets  in  very 
slowly.  If  the  soft  non-adherent  clot  is  re- 
moved, the  bleeding  will  usually  continue.  In 
the  test-tube,  the  clotting  only  affects  the 
plasma ;  it  occurs  late  and  the  clot  shows  no 
retraction,  and  it  frequently  redissolvcd.  The 
addition  of  a  few  drops  of  human  or  animal 
serum  will  bring  about  nonnal  clotting. 


IRotes  on  paial^sis  anb  tbe  Com* 

nton  Jfornis  fIDet  witb  tn 

(tbil^rcn's  IRnrstng. 

Paralysis  "  Trelax  "  means  loss  of  power, 
muscular  action ;  this  is  generallj-  due  to  in- 
terference witii  some  portion  of  the  nervous 
system.  Proper!;-  regarded,  paralysis  is  more 
correctly  described  as  a  symptom  rather  than 
a  disease;  this  symptom  is  usually  (to  some 
extent)  associated  with  disease  or  injury  to  the 
nervous  system — either  cerebral,  spinal,  or 
peripheral. 

The  more  common  types  of  paralysis  met 
with  in  children's  work  come  from  Class  II. 
It  may  be  well,  however,  to  first  point  out 
some  of  the  more  usual  types  to  be  met  with 
in  Class  I.,  although  age  may  have  little  to  do 
with  the  condition  where  due  to  injury. 
Class  I. — Cerebral. 

Hemiplegia  (half  stroke),  affecting  one  side 
of  the  body,  is  caused  either  by  haemorrhage 
into  the  brain  substance  or  plugging  of  one  of 
the  blood  vessels.  This  may  occur  suddenly, 
as  in  apoplexy,  or  through  a  local  injury; 
again,  the  condition  may  arise  gradually  with- 
out loss  of  consciousness.  When  this  appears 
in  a  modified  degree  it  is  called  "  Paresis." 
The  side  paralysed  will  be  the  opposite  one 
from  the  side  of  the  brain  affected.  Partial 
recovery  may  take  place  of  muscular  power, 
but  it  is  rai'ely  that  the  nervous  system  re- 
covers entirely  from  the  shock.  In  advanced 
life  the  condition  is  apt  to  recur  when  the 
cause  has  been  haemorrhage. 

Care  should  be  taken  to  avoid  exciting  the 
person  who  has  suffered  from  hemiplegia  in  the 
past.  The  evening  meal  should  be  hght  and 
digestible,  alcohol  should  be  employed 
sparingly,  and  upon  a  rush  of  blood  to  the 
head  (many  patients  complain  of  a  feeling  of 
fulness)  the  feet  should  be  placed  in  mustard 
and  water  and  cold  applied  to  the  head.. 
Mustard  leaves  also  can  be  placed  on  the  back 
of  the  neck  and  spine,  and  mental  rest 
encouraged  by  the  nurse.  Massage  will  do 
much  to  prevent  the  side  affected  from  mus- 
cular waste,  but  this  should  not  be  employed 
without  the  consent  and  direction  of  the 
medical  attendant. 

"  Paralysis  agitans  "  is  a  disease  of  advanced 
life ;  it  is  characterised  by  trembling  of  the 
parts  affected.  The  patient  does  not  recover, 
but  hfo  may  be  prolonged  for  some  years. 

There  are  other  kinds  of  functional  paraly.^is 
which  are  generally  the  heralds  of  further 
disease  in  the  nervous  system.  General 
paralysis  of  the  insane  is  the  most  complete 


Sept.  17,  1910] 


Zhc  Britisb  3ournaI  of  iRiui^iiio. 


223 


and    distressing    condition  that   can   be    njeu- 
tioned. 

Diplegia,  an  extensive  condition  of  disease 
affecting  both  side*;  of  the  body,  sometimes 
occurs  in  infants  soon  after  birth :  it  is  due  to 
inflammation  of  the  brain. 

Class  II. — Spin.\l. 

Disease  of  the  spinal  cord,  causing  paralysis, 
may  be  due  to  myelitis,  inflsunmation  of  the 
cord,  hsemorrhage,  spinal  injury,  or  disease 
affecting  the  vertebral  column. 

Inflammation  limited  to  the  anterior  p<->rtion 
of  tlie  grey  matter  of  the  spinal  cord  through- 
out a  greater  or  less  extent  is  termed  "  infan- 
tile paralysis  ";  in  this  condition  the  function 
of  motion  is  affected,  leaving  that  of  sensa- 
tion  unimpaired. 

Infantile  paralysis  may  affect  one  limb  only  ; 
it  is  then  temied  "  Monoplegia."  If  both 
sides  are  affected,  this  will  occur  below  the 
seat  of  injury,  and  be  termed  "  Paraplegia." 
Paraplegia  may  be  due  to  injury  or  disease  of 
the  spinal  cord;  it  is  also  a  form  of  paralysis 
commonly  associated  with  disease  or  injury  oi 
the  vertebral  column,  fracture,  or  caries. 

Tn  the  case  of  the  posterior  portion  of  the 
i-pnal  cord  being  affected,  the  function  of  sen- 
se, tion  will  be  lost,  and  if  laterally  affected. 
spastic  paralysis  ensues. 

When  the  spine  has  been  injured  the  con- 
dition may  arise  at  once,  or  in  the  case  of 
disease  it  may  be  progressive,  when  all  func- 
tions are  lost :  the  bladder  and  bowels  will 
probably  also  be  similarly  uncontrolled.  - '     / 

Progressive  muscular  atrophy  is  a  disease  of 
rridJJe  life — certain  groups  of  muscles  waste: 
this  is  due  to  the  nervous  system  being 
affected,  and  if  death  results  from  this  con- 
dition it  is  when  the  muscles  of  respiration  are 
affected. 

Before  considering  the  nursing  of  paralysis 
it  may  be  well  to  mention  some  kinds  of  peri- 
pheral paralysis. 

I 

Cl.\SS    III. — PERIPHER.4L    P.\R.\LYSIS.' 

The  most  common  forms  in  this  class  are 
facial  affections.  This  may  be  due  to  disease 
of  the  brain  or  the  canal  through  which  the 
special  nerve  passes.  Neuritis  is  another 
example,  also  diphtheritic  and  lead  poisoning 
paralysis. 

The  treatment  of  the  different  fomis  of 
paralysis  differs  widely.  There  are,  however, 
a  few  common  points  as  regards  the  nureing  of 
such  cases  that  it  may  be  well  to  dwell  upon. 
The  most  important  of  these,  and  the  most 
imiversal,  is  the  prevention  of  bedsores  and, 
where  they  have  occurred,  their  cure.  As  the 
circulation"  is  much  affected  in  the  paralysed 
part,  everythius  must  be  done  to  maintain  it. 


Massage    will,   therefore,  .be    found    of    much 
benefit. 

Cleanliness  is  a   great  point,  and  diet   will 
need  special  attention ;    the  care  of  the  skin 
and  bowels  will  need  special  consideration. 
The  Preventjox  of  Bedsijres  axd  their  Ccre. 

In  an  extensive  condition  of  paralysis,  which 
is  not  due  to  an  injury  to  the  spinal  column, 
and  where  the  disease  is  in  a  clH'onie  condition 
(not  acute  I.  nothing  aids  the  nurse  more  when 
she  desires  to  keep  the  patient's  skin  supple 
than  bathing  the  patient  by  immersion  in  a 
wann  bath,  and,  after  thoroughly  -  soaping, 
washing,  and  drying,  briskly  rubbing  the  skin 
with  methylated  spirit,  and  carefully  powder- 
ing, taking  great  care  that  the  palms  of  hands, 
groins,  toes,  and  fingers  are  well  dried  and 
powdered.  The  patient  may  then  be  placed 
on  a  couch  well  covered,  and  general  massage 
may  be  given  if  ordered  by  the-  medical  mau : 
after  this  the  patient  should  rest  and  bs 
allowed  to  sleep. 

Should  the  skin  become  superficially  red, 
kaolin  may  be  applied  to  the  part ;  but  in 
every  case  where  there  is  any  appearance  of 
pressure  t4ie  pressure  must  be  removed.  There 
are  many  appliances  in  the  present  day  to 
assist  the  nurse.  A  large  water  pillow  is 
always  of  service,  a  ring  pillow  or  horseshoe 
where  there  is  total  paralysis,  or  a  divided  bed. 
the  mattress  being  in  four  pieces,  with  a  square 
in  the  middle  to  contain  a  bed  pan,  and  ring 
pillow,  will  be  found  of  use;  this,  however. 
entails  special  sheets,  and  one  loses  the  water 
pillow,  unless  two  small  ones  can  be  used 
under  the  shoulders  and  feet.  In  a  case  of 
total  paralysis,  to  sling  the  feet  and  legs  on  a 
cradle  with  a  calico  sling,  with  holes  for  the 
heels,  has  been  found  of  service.  Many  are 
the  devices  used  to  ensure  the  one  essential 
thing — prevention  of  pressure. 

In  the  case  of  infantile  paralysis  massage  is 
most  helpful;'  so  much  can  be  done,  if  only 
the  child's  condition  be  noticed  soon  after  the 
paralysis  has  occurred.  During  dentition,  or 
after  a  chill,  this  may  happen,  and  no  notice 
be  taken  of  the  apparent  uselessness  of  a  limb 
or  limbs,  especially  if  the  child  is  not  walking. 
By  massage  much  can  be  done  to  prevent  mus- 
cular waste  and  promote  the  circulation 
and  prevent  defonnity — by  one  set.  of  muscles 
that  are  still  active,  but  unopposed,  gulhng  the 
limb  out  of  place — or  spinal  curvature  occureing 
Massage  should  always  be  in  the  hands  of  a 
specially  trained  operator,  who  will  know  just 
what  movements  are  required  and  how  ^long 
to  continue  at  one  time. 

General  massage  also  much  aids  the  diges- 
tion,   and    the  patient,   who  cannot  exercise, 


224 


Cbe  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRursing.        ^sept.  17, 1910 


assimilates  food,  and  skin  diseases  disappear, 
that  may  have  given  much  trouble  in  the  past, 
some  patients  being  very  subject  to  eczema. 

Where  the  patient  is  admitted  suffering 
from  extensive  bedsores,  surgical  cleanliness 
must  be  observed,  pressure  removed  entirely, 
and  great  patience  and  discretion  used  in  the 
dressings.  Bedsores  occur  because  the  cir- 
culation of  the  part  of  the  body  has  been  im- 
peded by  pressure  (this  happens  only  in  the 
hands  of  the  untrained  or  untrainable  person), 
but  where  they  have  occurred  the  nurse  will 
need  to  give  much  patient  attention  to  effect 
a  cure. 

Boracic  fomentations,  frequently  changed, 
are  perhaps  best",  where  there  is  an  old  slough 
a  small  piece  of  lint  (sterilised),  soaked  in 
balsam  of  Peru,  and  applied  immediately  over 
the  slough,  helps  to  detach  it;  this  may  be 
surrounded  by 'a  boracic  fomentation,  the  latter 
changed  four-hourly  until  the  parts  are  clean. 
Then  the  unhealthy  granulations  will  need 
keeping  down  and  the  wound  stimulating  by  a 
change  of  dressing.  Lotio  Eubra  is  useful  for 
this  purpose,  returning  to  the  use  of  boracic 
after  a  few  days. 

Where  the  patient  cannot  be  placed  in  a 
bath,  careful  washing  in  bed  will  be  needed, 
and  his  back,  thighs,  shouldei^,  heels,  and 
elbows  will  need  attention  (which  should  be 
regular)  night  and  morning  or  more  frequently. 

Diet  and  the  care  oi  the  bowels  must  be 
suited  to  the  individual. patient.  Children  who 
may  partially  recover  will  need  a  generous 
diet  and  cod  liver  oil,  and  small  doses  of 
Gregory  powder  often  suits  them  better  than 
any  other  aperient,  followed,  if  necessary,  l)y  a 
simple  enema.  Fruit  and  vegetables  should 
be  included  in  their  diet,  and  fats;  no  hard 
and  fa.st  rules,  however,  can  be  laid  down. 

In  the  case  of  children  incurably  afflicted, 
cases  of  paraplegia,  etc.,  and  the  aged,  a  light 
diet  should  be  given,  which  is  easily  digested, 
and  lime  juice  may  be  added  when  the  diges- 
tion is  too  weak  to  assimilate  green  vegetables, 
otherwise  the  skin  wjjl  give  trouble,  unless  the 
diet  be  so  reduced  as  t6  include  milk  foods  only. 

In  every  case  the  urine  should  be  duly 
t.sted,  and  plenty  of  water  should  be  given  to 
the  patient  to  drink.  Very  helpless  cases  often 
do  not  take  sufficient  water,  and  the  urine  will 
then  be  found  to  be  t>n-bid — alkaline  and 
mucus  will  be  present. 

In- the  nursing  of  all  chronic  conditions  the 
nurse  will  need  to  take  the  same  care  (ns  in 
an  acute  disease)  in  attending  to  the  patient's 
mouth  and  teeth.  Young  nurses  do  not  always 
realise  this  point ;  neither  do  they  remember 
that  in  dealing  with  helpless  eases  great  care 
will  need  to  be  exercised  against  chill,  for  these 


cases  are  specially  prone  to  chest  afiections, 
while  the  air  must  always  be  kept  fresh  and 
constantly  changing. 

Where  the  patient  is  very  helpless,  and  the 
position  cannot  be  altered  from  side  to  side, 
blocks  placed  under  the  head  of  the  bed  and 
removed  regularly  at  internals  of  a  few  hours 
will  sufficiently  alter  the  position  to  guard 
against  a  condition  of  congestion  of  the  lungs 
arising,  which  will  prove  quickly  fatal  to  a 
helpless  patient  if  unrelieved. 

Before  quitting  this  subject  perhaps  it 
would  be  wise  to  mention  bright,  cheerful  sur- 
roundings and  willing  service,  with  some  light 
occupation,  when  the  mental  and  physical 
condition  admits,  are  both  beneficial  to  the 
patient  and  often  the  only  thing  that  the  nurse 
can  secure  to  alleviate  the  tediousness  of  a 
fellow  human  being's  sufferings.  In  this  world, 
alas,    "hopelessly   incurable." 

M.\DGE  Sutton. 

a  Call  from  tbe  Meet. 

The  Victorian  Order  of  Nurses  for  Canada, 
founded  in  1897  as  a  National  IMemorial  of 
Queen  Victoria's  Diamond  Jubilee,  received  its 
inspiration  fronl  thfe  great  success  which  at- 
tended the  excellent  work  of  the  Q.V. J.N.I. 
in  England. 

The  objects  of  the  Order  are : — "To  supply 
nurses,  thoroughly  trained  in  hospital  and  dis- 
trict nursing,  aud  subject  to  one  central 
authority,  for  the  nursing  of  the  sick,  who  are 
otherw-ise  unable  to  obtain  trained  nursing  in 
their  homes  both  in  towns  and  country  dis- 
tricts."— V.  0.  Eeport. 

The  General  Superintendent  for  Canada — 
Miss  ^Mackenzie,  a  lady  of  high  administrative 
abilities — resides  in  Ottawa,  and  numerous 
local  branches  have  been  established  in  various 
cities  throughout  the  Dominion,  each  under 
the  charge  of  a  competent  Lady  Superinten- 
dent. 

Since  its  inception  the  work  of  the  Order  has 
steadily  increased,  and  there  are  now  V.O. 
Nurses  in  many  parts  of  Canada,  though  the 
number  is  totally '  inadequate  for  this  vast 
coiuitry.  It  is  earnestly  hoped  that  in  the  near 
future  every  town  and  city  will  have  its 
Branch. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  English  nm-ses  to 
read  some  account  of  the  work  of  the  Order 
in  Montreal,  Canada's  largest  city,  prefaced  by 
a  few  remarks  relative  to  the  city  itself. 

To  repeat  a  well-known  fact,  the  site  occu- 
pied by  the  City  of  Montreal  is  not  sur- 
passed by  any  other  in  the  world.  Situated  on 
the  Island  of  ^lontreal,  and  surrounded  on  all 
sides  by  the  mighty  St.  Lawrence  Eiver,  it  is 


Sept.  17.  i&io:        ^\jc  Bi-itisb  3onrnal  of  IRursing. 


225 


huilt  on  a  succession  <>t  iciraees  that  i'>nn  the 
southern  side  of  the  heautifuUy  wooded  Mount 
Eoyal,  which  has  an  altitude  of  some  900  feet 
above  the  sea.  Mount  Koyal  Park  fomis  one 
of  the  principal  pleasure  grounds  of  the  city, 
and  a  most  delightful  and  enchanting  pano- 
ramic view  of  the  city  and  surrounding  couutry 
can  be  obtained  from  the  "Observation  Point" 
or  "  Look  Out." 

The  climate,  too,  is  ideal,  the  summer  heat. 
being  tempered  by  cool  breezes,  tempting 
thousands  of  tourists,  who  visit  the  city  in  ever 
increasing  numbers :  while  the  winter  snows 
are  looked  forward  to  with  keen  anticipation  as 
heralding  a  season  of  outdoor  S]x>rts  and  pas- 
times which  are  unsurpassed.  Hockey  is  the 
national  winter  game,  wliilst  skating,  tobogan- 
ning,  ski-ing,  snow-shoeing,  sleighing,  and 
many  other  recreative  amusements  vie  with 
each  other  ui  making  the  winter  months  a 
period  of  healthy  and  invigorating  exercise 
combined  with  wholesale  amusement  and 
pleasure. 

The  :\IontreaI  (Local)  Branch  of  the  V.  O. 
consists  of  a  Lady  Superintendent  and  thirty 
nurses.  This,  agaip^  is  subdivided  into  ten 
districts,  each  having  from  one  to  six  nurses, 
but  for  a  population  of  over  half  a  million  the 
demand  is  far  greater  than  the  supply.  Xew 
districts  would  be  immediately  opened  up  pro- 
viding it  were  possible  to  supply  the  necessary 
staffs.  In  addition  to  the  above,  the  Royal 
Edward  Institute  for  Tuberculosis  employs  two 
iiurses,  whilst  three  are  employed  by  the 
Prot-estant  Sch<x)l  Board. 

The  nui-ses  work  for  eight  hours  a  day,  or 
from  8  a.m.  tc  I  p.m.,  and  from  2.30  to  5.30 
p.m.  They  are  not  expected  to  pay  more  than 
seven  to  eight  visits  during  the  day.  At  times 
the  cases  he  at  some  distance  apart,  but  the 
Street  Car  Service  is  always  available,  and 
even  quite  remote  suburbs  are  quickly  reached. 

The  work  is  very  interesting,  the  majority 
of  cases  being  maternity  and  typhoid,  with  a 
good  percentage  of  operations  and  other  general 
work.  Midwives  are  not  allowed  to  practise  in 
Canada.  The  homes  are,  on  the  whole,  cleaner 
than  those  visited  in  England,  the  occupants  in 
most  cases  earning  good  wages  and  having  an 
air  of  comfort  and  well-being  about  their  sur- 
roundings. This  is  chiefly  noticeable  in  the 
homes  of  the  English  and  French  speaking 
Canadians.  It  is  usually  only  among  the  Poles 
and  Roumanians  and  other  foreigners  of  this 
cosmopolitan  city  .that  one  finds  squalid 
homes,  though  this  is  not  for  want  of  means. 
Often  these  foreigners  are  most  grateful  and 
willing  to  pay  highly  for  the  services  of  the 
nurse.  Parts  of  tlie  city  are  almost  entirely 
French,  so  that  a  knowledge  of  the  French 
language  is  verv  useful. 


The  charge  for  each  visit  of  the  nurse  .varies 
from  5c.  to  50c.  (2id.  to  2s.),  but  the  very 
poor  are  attended  free. 

There  is  one  central  home,  where  seven 
nurses  and  the  Lady  Superintendent  live. 
Those  working  in  the  subiu-bs  usually  rent  a 
tlat  and  live  together,  or  they  may  live  in 
private  or  boarding  houses  subject  to  the  ap- 
proval of  the  Lady  Superintendent,  and  pro- 
vided they  can  have  the  use  of  a  telephone. 

The  salaries  of  the  nurees  are  good,  and 
range  from  $25.00  (£5)  to  $30.00  (£B)  per 
month.  In  addition  to  this,  each  nurse  is 
allowed  $20.00  (£-i)  per  month  for  board  and 
loom  expenses,  $3.00  (12s.)  for  laundry,  and 
$5.00  (£1)  for  car  fares.  The  expenses  of 
living  and  clothing  are  not  so  great  in  Canada 
as  one  often  hears.  Excellent  bargain  sales 
occur  regularly  at  all  the  stores,  but  sue!i 
articles  as  furs,  huen  goods,  blankets,  felt  hats, 
woollen  underwear,  and  dress  materials  are 
certainly  cheaper  in  England. 

If  some  English  nurses  who  read  this  articl.' 
feel  inclined  to  take  up  work  in  our  beautiful 
Dominion,  they  may  rest  assured  that  they 
will  always  find  an  enormous  field  of  work  in 
this  vast  "country.  Should  any  nurse  wish  to 
learn  further  particulars  of  the  V.  O.  work  in 
IMontreal,  a  letter  addressed  to  the  Lady 
Superintendent,  20,  Bishop  Street,  Montreal, 
will  alvvavs  brine  a  courteous  reply. 

A.  A. 


Jfaicwell  to  flDiss  IRunMc 

ISLA     STEWART     SCHOLAR. 

Miss  M.  S.  Rundle  left  London  on  \\'ednt- 
day  for  Liverpool,  the  first  stage  of  her  journtv 
to  New  York — fraught  with  so  many  hopes  fi-.;- 
the  future.  Selected  by  tlie  League  of  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital  Xurses  a-s  the  first 
Isla  Stewart  Scholar,  INIiss  Rundle  fully  appre- 
ciates her  most  honourable  responsibility,  and 
her  work  will  prove,  we  feel  sure,  that  th  ■ 
League  could  have  made  no  better  appoint- 
ment. 

Amongst  those  present  at  Euston  Station  to 
bid  Miss  Rundle  good-bye  were  Miss  Cox- 
Davies,  President  of  the  League,  Mi-s.  Bedtorl 
Fenwick,  Miss  M.  Sleigh  (Sister  Lucas),  and 
several  nurse  friends,  and  she  went  off  in  th  • 
best  of  spirits,  keenly  anticipating  the  pleasur- 
able experiences  of  the  future  in  a  new  worl.l 
of  thought  and  effort. 

We  think  our  American  colleagues  will  agr>  ■• 
that  we  have  sent  them  a  \ery  charming  ai:  i 
promising  pupil.  The  reputat>ion  Miss  Rumr  • 
has  made  at  home  is  of  the  Highest. 

Luck  go  with  her. 


226 


tlbe  Britisb  Journal  of  IRursino. 


[Sept.  17,  1910 


^be  IHurseZas  patriot. 

THE  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  A  MILITARY  NURSING 
SERVICE    IN     FRANCE. 

By  Miss  C.  Elston, 

Directrice      Ecole     des     Gardes-Malades     de 

I'Hopital  du  Tondu,  Bordeaux,  France. 

{Contmued  from  page  207.) 

The  next  point  is  how  the  War  OfiBce  chose 
its  nurses. 

The  fact  that  there  was  a  competitive 
examination  shows  a  wish  to  secure  the  best. 

Nurses  will  see  that  the  conditions  of  admis- 
sion were  not  dictated  by  anyone  knowing 
nurses'  possibilities  for  good  and  evil.  Were 
such  a  competition  to  take  place  in  England, 
where  nursing  is  far  in  advance  of  France,  the 
most  rabid  anti-registrationist  'would  be  con- 
vinced of  the  necessity  for  a  minimum  unifonn 
standard  of  nursing,  when  it  came  to  putting 
the  successful  candidates  to  work. 

The  age  is  the  first  thing  which  strikes  one. 
Putting  aside  the  fact  that  French  women  are 
older  for  their  age  than  English  women,  what 
^Matron  would  from  choice  put  a  girl  of  21  in 
charge  of  a  men's  ward,  much  less  a  military 
ward,  where  some  of  the  patients  would  belong 
to  the  same  social  rank  as  the  nurse?  for 
military  service  is  compulsory  for  all  elaeses 
in  France. 

As  far  as  moral  character  is  concerned,  the 
only  testimonial  required  w'ith  nurses  is  the 
"  extrait  du  easier  judiciaire."  The  "  easier 
judiciaire  "  is  a  legister  in  which  only  criminal 
offences  are  inscribed.  Minor  failings,  which 
we  should  describe  under  the  head  of  unsteadi- 
ness or  untrustworthiness,  are  not  noted. 

I  have  left  it  to  the  last  to  mention  the  cer- 
tificate of  a  training  school  recognised  by 
Government.  The  Government  encourages 
every  one  to  train  nurses,  but  it  is  very  chary 
about  giving  preference  to  anyone  in  particular, 
so  that  as  far  as  the  selection  of  candidates 
was  concerned,  the  State  approval  was  no  sort 
of  guarantee  whatever. 

The  English  public  knows  that  a  person 
holding  a  nursing  certificate  of  any  kind  has 
more  or  less  practical  experience,  but  in  France 
practice  is  a  thing  which  very  often  comes 
later,  and  is  not  considered  to  be  at  all  essen- 
tial to  the  obtaining  of  a  certificate. 

It  is  quite  ]>ossible  to  hold  a  diploma 
without  having  nursed  a  patient,  and  it 
i>  also  possible  to  be  luuised  in  a  Parisian 
hfispital  by  an  infirmieror  infirmiere  who  holds 
no  certificate  nt  all,  and  who  has  no  intention 
f<i  (pialifying  for  one.-    So  that  certificate  and 

*  Present«i  to  tlie  liit«»riiatioiial  C'ongr«>6s  of 
NiirsfS,  lyondon.  ISKJ!). 


experience  have  nothing  in  common  with  one 
another. 

The  certificate  of  the  Eed  Cross  Societies  re- 
presents the  slightest  possible  practical  experi- 
ence, which  is  as  much  as  can  be  expected  of 
amateurs. 

The  Eed  Cross  Societies  are  composed  of 
three  branches,  whose  object  is  to  send  to  the 
sick  and  wounded  gifts  provided  by  public 
generosity ;  in  time  of  war  to  provide  accom- 
modation for  patients  at  the  rear,  and  as  the 
Comte  d'Haussouville  says,  "  to  provide  the 
superfluous." 

The  Red  Cross  Societies  have  30,000  beds— 
that  is  to  say,  that  hotels  and  similar  establish- 
ments promise  to  one  or  other  of  the  Societies 
a  certain  number  of  beds  in  time  of  war — 
creating  what  is  called  an  auxiliaiw  hospital. 

The  Red  Cross  Societies  aiTange  nursing  lec- 
tures, which  are  largely  attended  by  society 
women.  Those  amongst  them  who  wish  to 
obtain  certificates  practice  dressings  in  a  dis- 
pensary for  three  to  six  months.  A  higher 
grade  certificate  is  awarded  to  those  who  work 
for  three  months  in  a  hospital  approved  of  by 
the  Society,  but  even  this  course  may  only 
mean  a  few  houi-s"  work  in  the  morning. 

The  professional  value  of  the  Red  Cross 
nurses  in  France  is  in  no  way  the  equivalent 
of  those  of  Germany  or  America.  They  have 
lectures  rather  more  advanced  than  the  St. 
John's  Ambulance  First  Aid  Classes;  have  at 
the  most  the  ward  experience  of  our  three 
months'  paying  probationers. 

The  Red  Cross  Societies  are  for  the  most 
part  an  agglommeration  of  women  belonging 
almost  entirely,  by  reason  of  family  ties  and 
interest,  to  the  clerical  party,  just  in  the  same 
way  as  the  Primrose  League  dames  are  wives 
and  daughters  of  Conservatives  in  England. 
They  do  real  good  without  trespassing  on  pro- 
fessional ground,  as  lady  visitors  and  ladies 
bountiful. 

The  Bordeaux  certificates,  which  are  issued 
to  candidates  who  are  chosen  with  the  greatest 
strictness  and  care,  are  the  most  like  our  Eng- 
lish ones.  They  are  awarded  after  two  years' 
conseeuti\c  ward  work,  including  night  duty, 
in  a  hospital  for  patients  of  both  sexes,  where 
nursing  is  systematically  taught  by  trained 
nurses. 

It  must  be  regretfully  admitted  that  the 
most  important  factors  towards  success — 
namely,  moral  value  and  practical  nursing  ex- 
perience, were  omitted  from  the  recent  French 
War  Ofiiee  requirements. 

The  actual  position  of  the  Army  Nurses  in 
the  military  hospitals  is  not  well  defined.  They 
have  the  special  care  of  serious  cases,  help  the 


Sept.  17,  lOlOj 


Zbc  «rttisb  3oncnal  of  •Rursing. 


227 


soldier-uurses  in  Jistiibutiug  of  tood  and  drugs, 
and  follow  the  doctor's  visit.  They  are  under 
the  authority  of  the  doctor  in  charge. 

The  provisional  rules  do  not  mention  their 
rank,  but  in  the  matter  of  rations  they  are 
treated  as  non-commissioned  otHcers. 

They  are  included  in  the  list  of  the  staff  for 
active  sen'ice,  but  their  duties  are  not  defined. 
There  is  no  ilatron  or  Sister  in  charge. 

As  a  patriot,  the  French  nurse  is  well  on  ner 
way  to  being  worthy  of  her  high  calling.  No 
one  can  cast  a  doubt  u{)on  her  love  of  country, 
but  her  nursing  qualities  must  be  stimulated, 
so  that  love  of  humanity  may  be  honoured  with 
the  same  laurels  as  crown  devotion  to  the 
fatherland. 

^be  Zn\tb  about  State  TRcgistra* 
tlon  in  tbe  nnite^  States. 


LETTERS  TO  MISS  L.  L.   DOCK. 

Nebraska. 

Sfate  Board  of  lieoisirafion  of  Surses.   Omaha, 

Sebrasha. 

Mv  L)E.ut  Miss   Dock, 

The  State  of  Nebraska  has  only  just  begun  to 
register  its  nun>es,  but  tlie  registration  law  lias 
already  indirectly  caiiseri  the  closing  of  a  number 
of  small  private  hospitals  maintaining  training 
schools;  and  other  hospitals  having  courses  of  six 
months'  training  have  lengtliened  them  to  one  year, 
and  promised  to  extend  the  course  to  two  years'  in 
another  year.  Many  graduates  from  these  short 
courses  are  applying  to  the  general  hospitals  for 
more  training. 

Doctors  having  their  own  private  hospitals  are 
asking  for  registered  nurses  to  take  charge  of  them 
where  hitherto  they  have  had  women  who  are  not 
even  nurses. 

Victoria  Anderson. 

President. 

MiXXESOTA. 

The   Minnesota  State  Board  of  Examiners   of 
yurses.  Minneapolis. 
My   Dear  Miss   Dock. 

Our  Bill  for  State  Registration  is  still  so  youth- 
ful in  Minnesota  that  it  is  difficult  to  give  you  any 
definite  results. 

State  Registration  is  stimulating  the  interest 
nf  our  nurses  in  not  only  present  conditions,  but 
conditions  which  may  be  better  through  their  efforts 
for  the  future  nurse  and  the  profession  at  large. 
Uniform  training  and  willingness  on  the  part  of 
smaller  training  schools  to  provide  their  nurses 
with  additional  training  through  aflBliation  with 
the  larger  schools,  is  a  hopeful  result  in  our 
State.  We  have  had  .some  difficulties  with  the 
heads  of  our  large  insane  hospitals,  where  they 
maintain  their  nurses  are  sufiSciently  trained,  but 
the  nurses  themselves  see  the  justice  in  the  require- 
ment for  aclditional  training  in  a  general  hospital, 
and  have  shown  their  appreciation  by  coming  up 
for  the  required  examinations.  Most  of  the  appli- 
cants have  been  successful. 


Wo  have  registered  about  r.ve  uundrcd  from  our 
various   hospitals  through  the  State. 

Edith  P.  Rcmmel,  R.N., 
President. 

North  Carolina. 
'^tafe  Board  of  Exainimrs  for  Surses.  Sorth 
Carolina. 
My  Dear  Miss  Dock, 

As  I  am  no  longer  a  member  of  the  Esamdnatiou 
Board  of  Nurses,  I  cainiot  speak  as  President,  but 
I  can  say  this  much,  that  as  a  member  of  the  Board 
for  six  years  I  liave  had  ample  time  to  observe 
an  improvement  in  the  nurses  as  they  present  them-_ 
selves  before  the  Board;  the  number  has  increase<I 
every  year,  and  more  hospitals  are  represented, 
and  the  nurses  seem  better  prepared,  and  they  also 
recognise  the  fact  that  a  registered  nurse  has  a 
more  envia.ble  standing  than  un-registered. 
Yours  very  truly, 

Constance  E.  Pfohl,  R.N. 
Ex-Pre-iident',  State  Board  of 
Examiners  for   Xurses. 
[A  State  with  very  poor  educational  standards 
generally. — L.  L.  D.] 


practical  points. 


In  a  paper  recently  read  be- 
Flies  and  Summer    fore      the      British      Medical 
Diarrhoea.  Association,        Dr.       J.       H. 

Clements,  ot  Beckenham.  de- 
tailed the  results  of  an  investigation  into  44  ca.ses 
of  summer  diarrhcea  in  a  northern  town  Ln  the  year 
1909.  These  cases  were  notified  from  42  houses, 
there  being  two  sets  of  twins,  and  40  of  them 
occurring  between  Augu.st  9th  and  September  9th. 
In  several  houses  adults  or  older  children  suffered 
from  the  disea.se.  but  were  not  included  in  the 
count,  which  only  related  to  children  under  two 
yeai-s.  The  .secondary  cas.^s  were  probably  infected 
from  a  common  source  and  not  directly  from  the 
first  case,  for  the  same  care  was  taken  with  the 
stools  and  linen  as  in  the  case  of  typhoid  fever.  Of 
the  babies,  27- were  under  twelve  months  and  17 
between  12  and  24  months.  Of  the  fouuer,  17  «ere 
under  the  age  of  9  month.s,  and  in  none  of  these  was 
the  baby  fed  entirely  on  the  breast ;  10  of  them 
were  fed  wholly  by  bottle  or  artificial  foods,  and  7 
were  partly  breast-fed  and  partly  bottle-fed.  Tlie 
mother  went  out  to  work  in  1-5  cases.  In  the  great 
majority  of  the  iufectetl  houses  the  yards  were  un- 
paved  and  the  conveniences  were  privy  middens. 
In  the  few  cases  in  which  the  house  was  provided 
with  a  water-closet  there  were  privy  middens  in 
the  adjoining  yards  or  close  by.  Si>eakiug  gener- 
ally, tlie  cases  occurred  in  jjarts  of  the  town  where 
the  housing  was  of  the  (KKuest  tyjie,  where  the 
sanitary  arrangements  were  least  .satisfactory,  and 
where  there  was  evidence  of  neglect  and  want  ot 
cleanlinesi  within  and  without  theJiouse.  A  rough 
estimate  was  made  of  th»'  number  of  flies  in  the  in- 
fected houses,  and  flies  were  collected  from  l-l 
cases  for  bacteriological  exag^ination.  In  every 
house   where  diarrhoea   <Kx:urrelt  there   were    mini- 


•228 


Cbe  Britieb  3ournaI  of  IRursing. 


[Sept.  17,  1910 


beis  of  flies,  and  some  ot  the  iiouses  were  infected 
■n-ith  them. 

TJie  examinations  proved  that  there  oonkl  be 
little  doubt  that  the  fly  reared  in  a  manure  heap 
had  its  alimentary  canal  well  stocked  with  what- 
ever organisms  the  manure  might  contain,  and 
these  organisms  probably  coutrnue<l  to  multiply 
during  the  adult  life  of  the  fly,  and  got  deposited 
wherever  it  chanced  to  alight.  Dr.  Clements  ex- 
pressed the  view  that  this  fact  alone  should  suffice 
to  cause  the  fly  to  be  regarded  with  suspicion,  even 
if  his  legs  were  not  so  admirably  constructed  for 
picking  up  and  carrying  whatever  material  his  un- 
•  savoury  habits  induced  him  to  rest  upon.  During 
the  period  of  fly  prevalence  some  attempts  were 
made  to  kill  the  flies  in  houses  where  they  were 
the  greatest  nuisance.  -Sprays  of  various  kinds 
were  us^,  and  fonnalin,  both  in  the  form  of 
vapour  and  spray,  was  tried.  Tlie  vapour  did  not 
kill  the  flies,  and  the  spray  was  so  unpleasant  and 
irritating  to  the»  person  using  it  that  it  had  to  be 
given  up.  A  spray  of  izal  proved  to  be  more  suc- 
cessful ;  it  did  not  immediately  kill  the  flies,  but 
when  sprayed  over  them  they  became  stupefied  and 
fell  to  the  ground,  where  they  could  be  swept  or 
gathered  up  with  a  cloth  and  thrown  into  the 
fire.  By  the  use  of  izal  spray  all  the  flies  in  several 
houses  were  killed. 

Dr.  Clements  warned  his  hearers  that  although 
this  spraying  cleare<l  the  house  of  flies  for  the  time 
being,  the  great  aim  must  be  to  exclude  flies 
altogether.  Such  a  consummation  is  devoutly  to  be 
desired,  but  meanwhile  most  people  will  be  glad  to 
know  of  an  effective  palliative  measure. 


appointments. 


iprcscntations. 

TO  MISS  WREFORD. 

On  Friday  last,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Committee 
of  the  Leetls  Hospital  for  AVomen  and  Children,  Mr. 
Henry  Barrau,  Chairman,  on  behalf  of  th^  Com- 
mittee. Lady  Visitors,  and  one  or  two  friends,  pre- 
sented the  retiring  Matron  (iliss  Wreford)  with  a 
purse  containing  a  cheque  as  a  mark  of  apprecia- 
tion of  her  long  and  useful  services. 

Miss  Wreford,  who  holds  the  certificate  of  the 
Bristol  Royal  Infirmary,  worke<l  for  some  yeai-s  in 
connection  with  the  Leetls  District  Xurses'  Home, 
and  in  1893  she  was  appointed  .Sister  at  the  Hos- 
pital, shortly  afterwards  acc.pt ing  the  offer  of  the 
post   as  Matron. 


TO  MISS  L.  FOX. 
Miss  L.  Fox,  for  many  years  the  .Sister  of  the 
Duchess  Ward  for  children  at  the  Hull  Royal  In- 
firmary, has  been  appointe<l  matix>n  of  the  Hilo 
Hospital,  Hawaii  Islan<ls,  West  Indies.  A  hand- 
some presentation  has  been  made  by  the  Me<lical 
and  Nursing  Staffs  to  her.  Miss  Fox,  who  was 
highly  respected  by  all  in  the_Institution,  and 
much  beloved  by  her  little  patients,  leaves  her 
home  (Barnsley)  on  September  24th  to  take  up 
her  duties  in  the  West  Indies,  with  the  heartiest 
i;<K)d  wishes  of  a  large  circle  of  friends. 


Matron. 

Victoria  Infirmary,  Glasgow,  N.B Miss  Jessie  Camp- 
bell has  been  appointed  Matron  to  succeed  Miss 
M.  M.  Macfarlaue.  She  was  trained  at  the  Vic- 
toria Infirmary,  where  she  has  held  the  position  of 
Assistant  Matron,  and  she  has  also  been  Matron  of 
the  Convalescent  Home,  Largs.  We  congratulate 
Miss  Campbell  upon  the  honour  of  being  selected 
to  superintend  her  training  school,  and  the  nursing 
staff  upon  the  recognition  of  their  work  by  the 
governing  body  of  the  hospital. 

St.  Pancras  Infirmary,  Highgate,  N Miss  F.  S.  Spittle 

has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was  trained  at 
the  London  Hospital,  E.,  and  has  been  Home  Sister 
and  Assistant  ^latrou  at  St.  Pancras  Infirmary. 
Her  selection  is  a  gratifying  recognition  of  her 
work  by  the  Board  ot  Guardians. 

Cottage  Hospital,  Bingley.  —  Miss  J.  Robertson  has 
been  appointed  Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the 
Bethnal  Green  Infirmary,  X.E.,  where  she  worked 
as  Staff  Xurse,  Sister,  and  Superintendent  Nurse. 
Miss  Robertson  has  also  held  the  positions  of 
Assistant  Matron  at  the  Keighley  and  Bingley 
Joint  Hospital,  and  Sister-iu-Charge  of  the 
Keighley  and  Binuky  Joint  Hosi>ital  Sanatorium. 

Abertysswg  Workhouse  Hospital — Miss  M.  J.  Thomas 
lias  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was  trained  at 
the  Cardiff  Infirmary,  and  has  been  Staff  Nurse, 
and   Sister  in  the  same  institution. 

Children's  Shelter,  Edinburgh. — Miss  Anna  Sinclair 
has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was  trained  at 
the  AVestern  Infirmary,  Glasgow,  and  the  Brighton 
Hospital  for  W'omen,  and  has  since  had  the  fol- 
lowing extensive  experience; — Assistant  Matron 
Queen  Victoria  Hospital  for  Seamen,  Las  Palmas, 
Sister  in  the  Deaconess  Hospital,  Edinburgh, 
Sister-in-Charge  of  a  Surgical  Home,  Glasgow,  and 
Alexandra  Nurse  at  Fort  George,  and  she  has  also 
done  district  and  private  nursing.  Miss  Sinclair  is 
a  certified  midwife. 

Hammersmith  Receiving  Home  for  Children. — Miss  Eva 
M.  Mustoe  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  St.  Marylebone  Infirmary,  and  has  since 
been  Sister  at  Cro.vdon  Infirmary,  Superintendent 
Nurse  at  Holborn  Schools  Infirmary,  Miteham,  and 
Charge  Nurse  at  Shirley  Schools,  near  CYoydon. 

.VSSIST.\NT   M,\IRON. 

St.  Pancras  Infirmary,  N Miss    Janet    Thorpe     has 

been  appointed  Assistant  Matron.  She  was  trained 
at  the  London  Hospital,  and  has  been  Home  Siteter 
at  .St.  Pancras  Infirmary. 

Bath  Royal  United  Hospital. — Miss  Alice  Marshall,  of 
the  Norfolk  and  Norwich  Hospital,  has  been 
appointed  Assistant  Matron. 

Night  Sister. 
General    Hospital,   Chelmsford. — Miss     Florence     ^I. 

Fiiiley  h.ns  been  appnintod  Night  Sister.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Royal  Portsmouth  Hospital,  and 
has  Jtieen  Staff  Nurse  at  the  Cancer  Hospital.  Fiil- 
ham  Road,  London,  where  she  has  gained  experi- 
ence as  holiday  .Sister  and  Home  Sister. 


Sept.  17, 1910]        ^|,c  36ntiC'b  3ounial  of  iRursino^ 


'220 


Sll'KRlNTKNl>EM. 

Northumberland     County     Nursing      Association.   — Miss 

Anna  H.  Hunter  lias  licen  selected  as  Superinten- 
dent. She  was  traintnl  at  the  Koyal  Infirmary, 
Dundee,  and  was  Queen's  Nurse  at  Dundee  and 
Barry,  South  AVales.  Miss  Hunter  has  been  Sister 
in  the  Concentration  Camps,  South  Africa,  and 
Assistant  Siiperintendent  of  the  Northumberland 
County  Nursing  Association,  is  a  certificated  mid- 
wife, and  holds  the  certificate  of  the  Royal  Sanitary 
Institute. 

Stjperixtexdext  JfURSE. 
Poole  Union  Inlirmary.  -Miss  Lucy  A.  Stanley  has 
been  appoiutod  .•>upirintendent  Nurse.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Ashton  Union  Infirmary,  has  been 
Head  Nurse  at  Chiiipins  Norton  Workhouse  In- 
firmary, and  done  private  nursing  at  Burton-on- 
Trent. 

ClIAHGK    NrRSE. 

Penarth  Sanatorium,  near  Cardiff. — Miss  Bessie  Nor- 
man has  been  appointed  Charge  Nurse.  She  was 
trainetl  at  the  isolation  Hospital.  Norwich,  where 
she  was  Staff  Nurse  and  .Sister. 

St.  George's  in  the  East  Parish  Infirmary.. — Miss  F.  E. 
Pike  has  been  appointed  Charge  Nurse.  She  re- 
ceived her  trainini:  in  the  same  Institution. 


QUEEN    ALEXANDRA'S    IMPERIAL    MILITARY 

NURSING  SERVICE. 
Miss  Grace  E.  Stew.-in,  staff  nurse,  resigns  her 
appointment.     Dated  .""eptember  7th,  1910. 


QUEEN    ALEXANDRAS    IMPERIAL   MILITARY 

NURSING  SERVICE  FOR  INDIA. 
Miss   Evelyn    M.    Skinner   has     been     appointed 
'^i.ster. 


QUEEN  VICTORIAS  JUBILEE  INSTITUTE 
FOR  NURSES. 
Transfers  ami  .lpj.oinfm€;ifs.----Miss  Betsy  F. 
Fulcher,  to  Cumberland,  as  Assistant  County 
Superintendent  and  ScIkmiI  Nurse;  Miss  Sarah  Bir- 
kin.  to  Manche-ster  (Bradford  Home);  Miss  Eliza- 
beth J.  Nicol.  to  Mells. 


THE  PASSING   BELL. 

We  record  with  regret  the  death  of  Mr.  Johu 
Langton,  F.R.C.S.,  Consulting  Surgeon  to  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital.  E.C..  which  occurred  on 
.Suntlay  last.  Mr.  Langton  has  been  associated 
with  uurses'  organisations  for  many  years. — as 
Trea-surer  of  the  Royal  Biitish  Nurses'  Association, 
and  later  of  its  Nni-ses'  .Settlement  Fund,  and  it 
was  only  this  year  that,  upon  the  invitation  of 
Lord  Ampthiil.  he  accepted  office  as  Treasurer  of 
the  Central  (Nurses')  Registration  Committee.  Mr. 
Langton  was  held  in  great  affection  by  the  Sisters 
and  Nurses  at  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital,  of  whom 
a  large  number  attended  a  memorial  service 
held  in  the  Church  of  St.  Bartholomew-the- 
Less  within  the  grounds  of  the  hospital,  at  12 
o'clock  on  Wednesdav  last. 


IHuraina  iCcboes. 

The  -Metropolitan  Asylutns 
Board  is  providing  means  of 
further  training  for  young 
women  in  the  care  of  sick 
children.  The  Park  Hospital 
at  Levvisham,  which  has 
been  closed  for  some  time, 
has  been  thoroughly  disin- 
fected, and  is  being  re- 
arranged as  a  Children's  In- 
firmary on  the  lines  of  the 
institution  working  so  suc- 
;stully  at  Carshalton.  Miss  Villiers,  the  Ma- 
tron at  the  Park  Hospital,  is  well  known  as  a 
very  successful  organiser  and  superintendent, 
and  a  very  charming  woman,  so  that  the  nurses 
selected  to  fomi  the  new  staff  may  look  forward 
with  confidence  to  happy  surroundings.  Sta£E 
Nurses  and  probationers  are  required — the 
former  to  be  thoroughly  trained— the  latter  will 
be  selected  from  apphcants  w-hose  age  need  not 
exceed  nineteen.  They  will  be  engaged  on  a 
three  months'  trial,  and  if  found  suitable,  they 
will  be  engaged  for  a  three  yeans'  term  of  train- 
ing in  children's  nursing  and  care.  Proba- 
tioners will  be  systematically  instructed,  will 
have  to  pass  examinations  from  time  to  time, 
and  a  certificate  of  training  will  be  given  only 
at  the  end  of  three  years,  and  after  passing  a 
final  examination  by  an  outside  examiner. 
The  salary  will  be  £10,  £14,  and  £18  per 
annum. 


It  was  announced  at  the  quarterly  court  at 
the  London  Hospital  that  Lord  Tredegar,  the 
landlord  of  the  institution,  had  presented  the 
hospital  with  a  fi'eehold  of  Tredegar  House,  the 
preliminai'v  training  home  of  nurses.  A  gift  of 
£1,000  had  also  been  made  by  Mr.  Raphael  to 
name  a  ward.  Mr.  Hora,  by  whose  munifi- 
cence the  hospital  had  so  frequently  benefited, 
had  deposited  with  ^Messrs.  Glyn,  ^lills,  and 
Co.  securities  for  £3,000  at  4i  per  cent.,  there- 
by raising  the  return  from  his  endowment  to 
£.320  a  year,  a  sum  which  would  relieve  the 
hospital  fund  from  the  charges  that  it  had  borne 
since  the  opening  of  the  Marie  Celeste  wards. 

We  may  hope,  therefore,  that  the  nurses  who 
work  in  these  maternity  wards  will  not  now  be 
charged  £"20  each  for  their  training. "As  they  do 
all  the  work,  it  is  an  excessive  fee. 


The  death  is  announced  at  Geneva  of  M.  Gustave 
Moynier,  the  president  of  the  International  Red 
Cros^s  Committee. 


The  advance  proof  sheets  of  "  The  Nurses' 
Year  Book,  Who's  Who,  and  Register,"  frhich 
is  being  "ompiled  by  Mrs.  Helen  Davidson, 
with  an  introduction  by  Lady  Helen  Mmno 
Fevirn<nn.  prove  the  monufnental  scope  of  the 


230 


^be  Britieb  3ournaI  of  iRurslng. 


[Sept.  17,  1910 


work,  and  the  euormous  difficulty  of  making  it 
correct.  It  is  a  great  mistake,  therefore,  to 
tack  on  the  title  of  "  Register  "  to  this  unpro- 
fessional publication.  If  an  entry  in  a  social 
publication  is  not  quite  con-ect,  no  very  great 
damage  is  done,  but  a  mistake  in  a  professional 
register,  and  they  are  bound  to  be  numerous  in 
a  Ust  compiled  and  issued  by  lay  people,  might 
give  great  cause  for  professional  damage. 


We  will  take  one  entry  alone  from  the  proofs 
sent  to  us.  A  lady  stated  to  be  born  in  "  1868  " 
is  entered  a.s  "  certificated  and  C.M.B.  1884," 
that  is,  she  is  "  certifieated  "  at  the  age  of 
sixteen,  eighteen  yeai-s  before  the  Central  Mid- 
wives'  Board  was  constituted  under  the  Mid- 
wives'  Act  of  1902.  A  little  lower  in  the  para- 
graph she  is  entered  as  "  Sister,  Miss  McCaul's 
Nursing  Home,  for  Sir  F.  Treves,  Welbeck 
Street,  1875-6."'  The  lady,  therefore,  held  this 
responsible  post  at  the  age  of  eleven — at  a  time 
when  "  Freddie  "  Treves  was  a  youthful  resi- 
dent at  the  London  Hospital,  and  some  twenty 
years  before  Miss  ^IcCaul'  helped  to  start  the 
Nursing  Home  alluded  to.  Furthermore,  the 
name  of  Dr.  Milton  is  spelled  "  Nilton." 

No  doubt  the  firm  of  Andrew  Melrose,  the 
well-known  publishers,  hope  to  meet  a  need  by 
the  issue  of  a  Nurses'  Year  Book,  but  to  as- 
sume the  title  of  Register,  and  dabble  in  the 
professional  training  and  status  of  thousands 
of  nurses  is  as  unwise  as  it  is  impracticable. 
Professional  Registers  can  only  be  usefully 
compiled  under  the  supervision  of  a  legally  con- 
stituted professional  authority,  and  should  not 
be  attempted  on  any  other  basis.  The  expense 
also  of  revising  and  keeping  up  to  date  such  a 
work  is  enormous. 


In  the  table  of  contents  we  find  notified 
"The  Registration  Society."  Presumably, 
this  alludes  to  "  The  Society  for  the  State  Re- 
gistration of  Ti-ained  Nurses."  If  so,  the  in- 
formation must  be  quite  unofficial,  a*  none  has 
been  given  or  corrected  from  the  office  by  any 
reliable  officer.  We  sincerely  hope  the  title 
"  Register  "  will  be  dropped. 


On  Thui-sday,  the  8th  inst.,  the  Countess 
RcMUcluini))  opened  at  the  Worcester  Infirmary 
wiiat  was  described  as  the  "  nurses'  and 
patients'  sale  of  work."  It  was  an  effort  or- 
ganised by  the  sisters  and  nurses  under  the 
direction  of  the  Matron  (Miss  Herbert)  to  pro- 
vide a  balcony  for  the  Bonaker  Ward.  ^liss 
Herbert,  in  explaining  the  oliject  of  the  sale, 
said  they  needed  a  linlcony  on  which  to  put  tbe 
children  in  their  cots.      Sunshine  was  a  valu- 


able aid  in  restoring  them  to  health,  and  at 
present  they  could  get  very  little  of  it  in  the 
ward.  The  nurses  felt  that  to  go  on  for  months 
without  having  some  provision  of  that  charac- 
ter would  be  a  bad  state  of  affairs,  and  there- 
fore they  had  co-operated  with  friends  outside 
in  that  effort.  Lady  Beauchamp  said  she  was 
glad  to  join  in  the  undertaking,  which  must 
appeal  to  all  their  hearts. 

In  moving  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Lady  Beau- 
champ,  Mr.  S.  T.  Hams  and  the  Rev.  G.  F. 
\Mlliams  spoke  in  warm  praise  of  the  generous 
help  of  Miss  Herbert  and  her  staff,  the  latter 
remarking  that  as  chaplain  he  liad  the  oppor- 
tunity of  seeing  a  good  deal  of  the  work  in  the 
Bonaker  Ward,  and  he  was  quite  sure  that 
there  was  a  great  deal  of  sunshine  in  the 
ward,  but  it  was  not  of  that  kind  which  Miss 
Herbert  now  required.  The  organisers  of  the 
sale  made  the  best  of  the  little  accommoda- 
tion available.  They  had  a  stall  in  the  middle 
of  the  committee  room,  and  other  small  stalls 
in  .some  of  the  corners.  Every  available  crevice 
was  artfully  utilised.  Shelves  which  had  borne 
ponderous  medical  treatises  now  bore  tempting 
cakes  and  delicacies  which  were  offered  for  sale. 
We  are  glad  to  know  the  sale  was  a  decided 
success. 

Miss  M.  D.  Milton,  a  probationer  at  the  Hull 
Sanatorium,  has  shown  courage  and  a  sense 
of  duty  in  writing  to  the  local  press  concerning 
the  following  paragraph  in  the  report  of  the 
Sanitary  Committee,  to  which  we  alluded  last 
week  :• — 

"That  as  to  the  allegation  that  an  effort  wa-s 
made  to  induce  the  witnesses  not  to  give  evi<lonce 
or  to  keep  things  back,  the  evidence  wa.s  that  a, 
certain  sister  liad  RiK>ken  to  one  nurse  alx>ut  the 
inquiry  because  slie  thought  she  was  a  nui-se  wlio 
would  be  inclinod  to  exaggerate  her  grievances. 
She  told  lu'i-  sinii)ly  that  it  was  not  a  time  for  one's 
own  j)eifion«l  grievances,  but  a  question  of  the  hos- 
pital in  general,  because  pix)hationers  made 
grievances  out  of  v«ry  small  matters. 

Miss  Milton  writes:  — 

"  I  am  the  probationer  referred  to.  and  I  wish  to 
publicly  repudiat.e  tlie  statement.  ^^^lat  actually 
oocurr«Kl  was  that  one  of  the  sistere  had  a  conversa- 
tion with  me  on  genera  I  iti<*v,  and  got  to  know  my 
opinion  al>out  the  institution,  which  was  not  a 
favourable  one. 

"  My  own  view  is  tliat  the  sister  was  afraid  that 
I  should  sixNik  out  at  the  inquiry  about  the  train- 
ing probationei-s  were  getting  at  the  institution, 
which  in  mv  own  case  has  been  piactitwllv 
nil.     ..." 

"As  far  as  absolntvly  '  i>ei'sonal  grievances'  are 
ooncerne<l  I  .shouhl  like  to  say  I  had  none,  and  the 
stand  I  took,  and  am  taking,  is  purely  on  the 
(juestion  of  a<lniinisti«tion  of  th<>  institution  as  a 
training  scliool  for  nui-sos." 


^^-pt.  17,  I'.an, 


If  be  JBritisb  Souinal  of  "Wuvsino. 


231 


This  lettfi"  is  only  one  moro  prtwf  of  tlu>  iii- 
jstice  to  young  womeu  eager  for  efficient  tniin- 
iug — when  they  find  themselves  in  institu- 
tions where  no  systematic  training  is  provided, 
and  worse  luck  still — where  a  Committee  not 
only  neglects  its  duty  in  this  particular,  but 
l<eei)S  persons  in  office,  from  whom  decent 
women  should  he  protected. 


The  Lancct'ii  special  eorresiX)ndcnt  iu  Aus- 
tralia sends  the  following  report  from  a  medical 
ix>int  of  view  of  the  IJush  Xureing  scheme  :  — 

"  A  special  meeting  of  the  Victorian  branch 
of  the  British  Medical  Association  was  held 
to  hear  an  outline  of  Lady  Dudlev^'s  scheme  for 
"  bush  nurses,"'  which  was  commimicated  by 
Mr.  Boulton,  of  London.  The  scheme  at  the 
outset  was  said  to  he  intended  for  the  organisa- 
tion of  district  nursing  throughout  Australia 
and  its  gradual  extension  to  outlying  districts. 
This  was  the  plan  that  had  succeeded  in  Great 
Britain  and  Canada,  and  Australia  presented 
less  difficulty  than  the  latter  in  that  there  were 
already  existent  siuull  country  hospitals  which 
could  be  utiUsed  as  bases  for  beginning  work. 
The  proposed  organisation  consisted  of  : — (1)  A 
federal  committee,  whose  duty  it  was  to  see 
that  conditions  were  standardised  all  over  Aus- 
tralia, and  which  would  appoint  nursing  inspec- 
tors to  see  that  the  scheme  was  woi'king 
smoothly.  (2)  Each  State  would  have  a  cen- 
tral committee,  whose  duty  was  to  see  that 
nui^es  were  available  and  adequately  trained. 
Every  hospital  trained  nurse  would  have  to 
undergo  six  months'  experience  of  district  nurs- 
ing in  the  city  before  being  sent  out,  and  would 
also  require  to  be  proficient  in  maternity  work. 
The  State  committee  would  also  see  that  pay- 
ment was  adequate,  and  that  no  trespass  on 
the  function  of  the  doctor  was  permitted.  (3) 
In  each  town  there  would  be  a  local  committee, 
whose  duty  would  be  to  see  that  the  nurse  was 
properly  hou.sed,  and  to  provide  means  of  trans- 
port. It  would  also  arrange  all  financial  mat- 
ters, and  the  nuive  woidd  receive  no  money 
from  patients  at  all.  The  local  bodies  would  be 
represented  on  the  State  committees,  and  from 
these  the  federal  council  would  be  elected.  It 
was  not  intended  to  thrust  nurses  on  the 
people.  Each  town  or  district  could  apply  at 
its  own  discretion,  and  the  nurse,  if  not  fully 
occupied,  might  possibly  lecture  on  matters  of 
hygiene  in  the  local  schools.  The  meeting  re- 
ceived the  address  sympathetically,  but  a  good 
deal  of  doubt  was  expressed  as  to  the  necessity 
for  anything  of  the  kind.  Public  enthusiasm 
has  been  somewhat  lacking,  especially  in  Vic- 
toria. "  New  South  Wales  has  shown  more 
energy,  and  already   a   considerable  sum    has 


been  raised  by  subscription  and  other  means. 
The  conditions  in  Australia  are  so  wholly  differ- 
ent from  Great  Britain  and  Canada  that  out- 
side the  cities  there  are  practically  no  people 
that  could  be  termed  unable  to  pay  for  skilled 
nuiving  or  unable  to  have  tlieir  sick  removed 
to  hospital.  Possibly  in  parts  of  Queensland 
and  Tasmania  the  provision  of  nurses  in  out- 
Iving  districts  would  have  some  real  service." 


The  danger  of  nursing  the  tuberculous  in 
sanatoria  has  heretofore  been  considered  so 
slight  as  to  be  negligible,  but  American  Medi- 
cine, touching  on  the  question,  saj-s  "it  is 
often  argued  that  in  defence  of  these  institu- 
tions that  in  effect  they  are  the  safest  places 
in  the  word  on  account  of  the  great  care  exer- 
cised to  destroy  all  bacilli  escaping  from  the 
patients.  As  usual  with  all  such  unqualified 
medical  opinions,  a  very  false  impression  has 
been  conveyed,  for  we  have  recently  learned  of 
two  female  nurses  who  have  contracted  pul- 
monale tuberculosis  in  a  sanitorium  situated  in 
a  climate  which  has  been  widely  advertised  as 
God's  own  for  the  cure  and  prevention  of  the 
disease.  With  everything  in  their  favour  as  to 
climate  and  hygiene  they  have  been  infected  by 
their  patients,  and  their  sad  plight  conveys  the 
lesson  that  there  is  great  danger  from  contact 
with  any  infection.  It  was  only  a  few  years 
ago  that  we  thought  typhoid  a  very  safe  disease 
to  nurse,  but  we  are  now  appalled  at  the  enor- 
mous number  of  coirtact  cases,  and  have  re- 
versed our  teaching  to  the  end  that  nurses  be 
guarded  with  extreme  precautions.  Similarly, 
though  to  a  less  extent  of  course,  we  must 
warn  all  those  in  contact  with  the  tuberculous. 
Perhaps  the  two  nurses  we  mention  had  be- 
come reckless  irom  the  proverbial  contempt  of 
dangers  daily  encountered,  or  have  been  grossly 
careless,  but  even  so  they  show  that  the  occu- 
pation is  not  as  safe  as  we  believed." 


A  trained  nurse  should  be  an  exquisitely 
clean  and  careful  woman,  but  many  women 
who  attend  on  tuberculous  patients  are  very~ 
insufiicieutly  trained,  and  are,  therefore,  ignor- 
ant of  the  elementary  principles  of  asepsis.  It 
is  just  in  this  direction  the  danger  of  infection 
lies.  All  attendants  on  sick  people  suffering 
from  infectious  diseases  or  not,  should,  from 
the  day  they  enter  the  sick  room,  live  by  well 
defined  laws  of  ab-solute  personal  cleanliness. 
Breathe  no  dirt,  swallow  no  dirt,  touch  no  dirt, 
scrub,  clean,  and  disinfect,  and  cultivate  a 
healthy  appetite,  and  do  a  bit  of  deep  thinking 
every  day.  Mental  effort  is  the  stimulant 
which  makes  the  physical  wheels  go  round, 
and  keeiis  the  whole  body  in  iiealth. 


232 


^15?  Bntisb  journal  of  IRursing.        t^ept  i^,  loio 


IRetlections. 


From  a  Board  Room  Mirror. 
Tlieir  Majesties  the   King   and   Queeu   have   be- 
come   patrons   of    tlie     Hunstanton     Convalescent 
Home  and  of  tlie  Prince  Eihvard  Home  for  Con- 
valescent Children. 


The  operating  tlieatre,  which  like  the  rest  of  the 
building  is  still  unfurnished,  is  light  and 
spacious.  It  not  only  has  a  top  light,  but  the  east 
side  is  almost  entirely  formed  of  glass,  so  that 
whatever  light  there  is  will  be  concentrated  there. 
There  are,  of  coui'se,  the  usual  annexes,  and  much 
thought  has  evidently  been  given  to  this  depart- 
ment where  so  much  useful  work  is  carried  on. 


Her  Majesty  the  Queen  has  become  a  patron  of 
the  Royal  Xational  Hospital  for  Consumption  and 
Diseases  of  the  Chest,  Ventnor. 


The  Queen  has  kindly  sent  presents  of  grapes  to 
several  homes  for  incurables  and  invalid  gentle- 
women—amongst which  the  Home  at  Catherine 
House,  Church  Road,  St.  Leonards-on-Sea,  has  been 
&o  favoured. 


Prince  Francis  of  Teck,  Chairman  of  the  Middle- 
sex Hospital,  has  had  a  wonderful  success  in  his 
appeal  for  £20,000,  Already  over  £19,000  has 
been  subscribed  by  lx>th  rich  and  poor,  and  the 
sum  required  will  no  doubt  be  soon  complete. 


Princess  Henry  of  Battenberg,  with  Mrs.  Hay 
Newton  in  attendance  last  week,  attended  the 
annual  meetiug  of  Goveraore  of  the  Frank  James 
^Memorial  Cottage  Hospital,  of  which  Her  Royal 
Highness  is  pre.Mdent.  The  meeting  was  held  at 
the  East  Ck>wes  Town  Hall. 


The  Hon.  Secretary  of  tie  Southport  Infirmary, 
Mr.  A.  H.  Reynolds,  has  acknowledged  the  receipt 
of  £.5,000,  the  gift  of  IMiss  Swindells,  of  Birkdale, 
ior  the  building  and  endowment  .of  the  "  Swin- 
'lells  "  Ward  of  the  Infirmary.  The  ward  is  now 
in  the  course  of  erection. 


Ebe  3sabel  Mmpton  IRobb 
flDcmoiial. 


THE  HOSPITAL  FOR  WOMEN,  SOHO  SQUARE,  W. 
The  Hospital  for  Women,  Soho  Square,  London, 
W.,  which  has  been  entirely  rebuilt  to  meet 
modern  requirements,  will  not  be  ready  for 
jjatients  until  the  end  of  the  present  month,  but 
slruoturally  it  is  practically  finished,  and  it  is  evi- 
il<Mit  that  the  wards  will  be  liright,  sunny,  and 
]>lea.sant  when  furnishe<l.  The  thiee  laige  wards, 
which  are  in  the  front  of  the  building,  overlook 
the  .sfjuare,  while  otheis  are  carried  back  from 
tlK-  main  block  and  face  Frith  Street,  Most  of 
them  are  provided  with  balconi<s,  so  that  patients 
who  are  well  enough  will  Ije  able  to  enjoy  the  fresh 
air. 

On  entering  the  building  one  finds  oneself  in 
-a  spacious  entrance-hall,  with  main  staircase  of 
1<^ak  giving  access  to  all  parts  of  the  building. 
The  wards  have  floors  of  polishe<l  teak,  and  the 
walls,  which  are  painted  with  paripan,  are  cream 
in  colour,  with  a  dado  of  green  tileR,  The  mantel- 
pieces are  of  white  tiles,  flush  with  the  walls, 
Iho  grates  l>eing  brass. 

The  bath  rooms  look  very  fresh  and  clean,  with 
white  tiles  below  and  white  parijian  above,  and 
al!  floors  are  laid  with  tefrazzo.  The  kitchen 
walls  are  also  lined  with  white  tiles,  and  the  pas- 
sage pan  be  warme<l  with  radiatom. 


In  the  current  American  Journal  of  yursing  an 
oi)en  letter  "  To  the  Xui'ses  of  America  "  appears, 
headed  "  The  Isabel  Hampton  Robb  Educational 
Fund,"  in  which  the  debt,  and  the  individual 
responsibility  which  must  be  a,$sumed  Ijy  every 
American  nurse,  is  poiiite<l  out,  if  the  memorial 
is  to  be  a  worthy  contribution  to  the  cause  of  the 
higher  education  of  nuises  and  an  impressive  testi- 
monial to  one  of  the  great  teachera  in  our  pro- 
fession, "  Thioughout  the  length  and  breadth  of 
our  land,"  it  runs,  ■'there  ought  to  come  the 
practical  evidences  that  you  appreciate  your  own 
obligation  in  this  endeavour  and  that  out  of  your 
sincere  appreciation  you  pui-pose  that  this  memo- 
rial shall  lie,  not  the  attempt  of  a  few,  but  the 
grateful  expression  of  every  nui-se  and  every  ti^ain- 
ing  school,  that  one  and  all  are  debtoi-s.  to  Isabel 
Hampton  Robb  beyond  what  they  can  ever  repay, 
,  ,  "  '  How  shall  we  show  the  worship  we 
should  do  her?  '  Surely,  by  carrying  out  the  pur- 
poses so  dear  to  her  heart,  in  making  the  nurses' 
training  one  of  increasing  educational  privilege 
and  highest  dignity,  Xo  better  means  toward  this 
end  could  have  Ijeen  devised  than  the  establish- 
■nent  of  the  Isal)el  Hampton  Robb  Educational 
Fund,  to  which  all  of  you  are  a.sked  to  give,  as 
your  heart  prompts  you.  You  and  your  school  may 
pi-ofit  directly  irom  it,  if  you  choose.  Assuredly, 
the  nui'sing  profession  will  profit  immeasurably,  as 
there  are  adde<l  to  its  ranks  earnest,  enthusiastic 
women  who  have  had  the  advantages  of  the«!  Robb 
Scholarships,  to  make  them  better  teachers  and 
leaders  amongst  us,"  ,  .  .  "'It  is  urged  that 
every  nursing  body,  alumnse  and  state  association, 
nureing  clubs  and  schools,  etc.,  make  a  systematic 
effort  to  interest  their  members,  that  everyone 
shall  fe<'l  the  d<\sire  to  have  some  part  in  this  splen- 
•<lid   undertaking." 


pvcliininav\>  ^rainino- 

Till'  laini'iited  death  of  Mrs.  Hobb  has  de- 
prived the  Iiitfriiational  Education  C-ommittee 
of  its  first  ehniniinii — an  irreparable  loss.  Miss 
\'an  Lanschot-Hubrecht,  secretary  to  the  Coni- 
inittee,  is  sending  out  to  each  President  of  a 
National  Council  of  Nurees  questions  relating 
to  preliniinarv  training.  The  replies  will  be 
hionglit  before  the  next  meeting  of  the  Inter- 
national Council  at  Cologne. 


Sept.  17.  v.no] 


Z\K  :6riti9b  journal  of  IRursincj. 


■2:V5 


jpciajrination^.— I. 

"Have  you  lioardr" 

In  a  very  serious  tone,  and  with  an  ominous 
expression,  the  question  was  addressed  to  nie  on 
the  morning  of  my  departure. 

'•  Ober-Ammergau  is  under  water  and  the  theatre 
is  in  danger  of  collapse." 

This  did  not  give  me  an  appetite  for  breakfast ! 
The  authority  for  the  unwelcome  news  was  the 
English  Press,  and  when  I  thought  thereon  my 
spirits  revived. 

"  Don't  go,"  urged  my  apprehensive  friend.  Not 
go!  when  the  fruition  of  my  hopes  of  many  years 
was  within  sight.  Was  1  to  be  turned  from  my 
purpose  by  a  mere  rumour,  an  uncorroborate'l 
statement,  when  my  cherished  ticket  had  been 
taken  weeks  before  and  my  plans  made?  I  might 
never  see  the  great  Play  at  all. 

I  started,  met  the  friend  who  was  going  with  me 
at  the  appointed  time  and  place,  and  we  left  that 
night.  At  intervals  along  the  route  I  enquired 
eagerly  about  the  fl(X«ls  in  Bavaria.  Xo  one  seemed 
able  to  tell  us  much  until  we  reached  Munich,  and 
then  the  accounts  were  very  reassuring.  That  there 
had  been  floods  no  one  denied,  but  the  waters  had 
returned  to  their  natural  courses,  and  the  Play 
had  not  been  interrupted  and  the  theatre  stood 
firm.  (Moral. — stand  firm  to  your  purpose!)  It 
was  very  obvious  that  the  authorities  were  as 
anxious  not  to  st^em  the  tide  of  foreign  visitors  to 
Bavaria  as  they  were  to  stem  the  tide  of  the  less 
welcome  invasion.  There  was  suflScient  evidence 
that  the  heavy  rains  had  done  some  jJevastating 
work  when,  at  a  wayside  station  midway  between 
Munich  and  Ober-Ammergau,  an  excited  official 
entered  the  carriages  and  told  us  that  we  must  all 
get  out  at  once.  The  floods  had  washed  away  part 
of  the  railway  and  with  it  the  embankment.  The 
train  crawled  up  to  the  edge  of  the  yawning  chasm  ; 
we  then  climbed  down  the  embankment,  carrying 
our  hniulorixiti-,  and  up  the  other  side,  where  the 
train  waited  for  us. 

Ober-Ammergau  at  last !  my  Ultima  Thule !  It 
was  like  another  world,  this  quiet,  beautiful 
Bavarian  village,  surrounded  by  guardian  hills, 
chief  among  which  is  the  great  rocky  crag  called 
the  Kofel  rearing  its  summit  above  the  rest,  sur- 
mounted by  a  cross  immediately  over  the  village 
like   its  guardian-in-chief. 

The  spirit  of  the  Passion  Play  seemed  to  rest 
upon  the  place. 

The  courtesy  and  hospitality,  the  smiling  faces, 
the  long  hair  which  softened  the  faces  of  the  »en, 
and  the  picturesque  dress  of  the  children  and  some 
of  the  adults;  the  entire  absence  of  newspaper 
boys,  shrieking  the  latest  turf  news  or  hideous 
•rime,  and  the  glaring  and  obtruding  posters  pro- 
claiming the  same,  which  hit  the  eye  eve^y^^■here 
in  our  big  modern  cities,  all  combined  to  make 
the  contrast  felt  by  tho-se  who  dwell  in  them. 

Our  host^ — ".St.  Thomas" — a  skilled  carver,  re- 
ceived^ us  with  impulsive  courtesy,  and  showed  us, 
in  the  absence  of  his  wife,  to  our  tiny  but  ex- 
quisitely clean  bedroonis. 

A  steady,  relentless  downpour  of  rain  did  not 
bode  well  for  the  morrow  ;   however,  to  my  frequent 


liK^tiun,  "  What  about  to-morrow;-'^  1  always  re- 
■  lived  the  confident  reply,  •  It  will  be  fine  Uv- 
morrow"';  and,  sure  enough,  "The  dripping 
clouds  divided  and  the  sun  looked  down  an<l 
smiled  "—smiled  radiantly  out  of  a  cloudless  blue 
sky. 

Shortly  before  8  a.m.  the  entire  village  appeare-.! 
to  be  in  the  hands  of  a  peaceful  invading  force, 
an  allied  army  of  foreigners,  speaking  many 
languages.  From  every  road  and  lane  of  the  vil- 
lage they  emerged,  4,000  strong,  all  centralising 
towards  one  point — the  Theatre.  Silently  and 
quickly  all  took  their  places,  for  punctually  at 
eight  the  play  began.  To  describe  the  representa- 
tion would  occupy  too  much  time  and  space,  but, 
if  the  Editor  will  permit  me,  I  would  like  to  epito- 
mise my  impressions. 

The  Play  was  wonderful  from  beginning  to  end, 
characterised  by  deep  reverence,  simplicity,  and 
devotion.  Acting,  as  such,  does  not  exist;  each 
man  and  woman  takes  the  part  allotted  to  them — 
by  the  Council  of  the  Passion  Play — and  makes  it 
his  and  her  own,  throwing  into  it  all  the  realism 
and  pathos  with  which  centuries  of  faithful  alle- 
giance to  their  vow  has  inspired  them. 

A  tableau,  taken  from  Old  Testament  History, 
immediately  precedes  every  score  of  the  drama 
which  it  foreshadows.  They  all  follow  in  quick 
succession.  In  order  to  appreciate  the  Play  as  't 
deserves  to  be  appreciated,  it  is  almost  necessary 
to  see  it  a  second  time.  Perha.ps  the  most  im- 
pressive scenes,  besides  the  culminating  one,  were 
the  parting  at  Bethany,  the  Repentance  of  St. 
Peter,  the  remorse  of   Judas. 

The  first  part  of  the  Play  is  over  at  twelve,  when 
there  is  an  adjournment  of  two  hours.  The  second 
part  terminates  shortly  before  6  p.m. 

We  made  Switzerland  our  highway  back  to  Eng- 
land, stopping  a  few  days  at  various  charming 
spots.  (X.B. — What  si)ot  in  Switzerland  is  not 
charming !') 

En  route  we  spent  a  day  in  Munich.  Since  •ur 
last  International  Congress  of  Xurses  I  have  be- 
come imbued  with  the  spirit  of  internationalism — 
the  Editor  will  say  that  is  the  raison  d'etre  of 
such  Congresses.  AVell.  this  excellent  spirit  within 
me  impelled  me  to  ring  the  bell  at  the  main 
entrance  of  the  large  General  Hospital  of  that  city, 
and  boldly  ask  to  be  shown  over. 

T^nien  I  explained  that  I  was  mysolf  a  Kranfcen- 
pflegerinen — the  word  looks  brimming  over  with 
the  highest  qualifications,  does  it  not? — I  was  at 
once  admitted,  and  a  gracious  Sister  of  Mercy, 
although  obviously  the  hour  was  rather  incon- 
venient, took  me  round.  The  building — capacity 
ahotit  -500  beds — was  built  in  the  ye«r  1813;  struc- 
turally, therefore,  it  is  out  of  date,  as  indeed  aU 
old  hospitals  must  be,  seeing  that  light  and  air  as 
curative  agents  were  'nothing  accounted  of"  in 
the  "good  old  in.tdnifnry  dats " — the  italics,  of 
course,  are  my  own.  For  instance,  the '  oblong 
ward,  which  appeared  to  be  uniform  in' size,  and 
containe<.l  fourteen  lieds  each,  had  only  one  window 
and  that  was  placed  at  the  one  end!  Consequentlv 
there  could  be  no  ventilation,  and  the  patients 
looke<l  weary  and  depress^.  Xot  a  single  picture 
adorned  the  whitewashed  walls,  not  a  single  flower 


234 


ITbc  36rl£isb  3ournaI  ot  IRurstng. 


[Sept.  17,  1910 


or  plant  the  tables  aud  lockers,  except  in  one  case 
where  I  observed  a  sorry-looking  bunch,  forlorn  in 
the  flowerless  waste! 

The  beds  looked  untidy  and  not  too  clean.  I  was 
disappointed  in  the  cheerless,  depressing  aspect  of 
these  wards.  Yet  the  good  Sisters  radiatetl  smiles 
and  graciousnees  with  great  liberality.  AVith  all 
due  respect  for  these  excellent  women,  my  oljserva- 
tions  on  several  occasions  have  led  me  to  the  con- 
clusion that  they  do   not  make  good  nurses. 

.\3  a  contrast,  the  hospital  was  furnished  with 
all  the  newest  ai>pliances  for  the  alleviation  of  suf- 
fering lx)th  in  the  medical  and  svirgical  depart- 
ments that  modern  thought  and  human  ingenuity 
©ould  devise.  In  the  basement  there  were  rooms 
for  various  kinds  of  treatment  by  mechanical  ap- 
pliances, etc.  A  room  for  sulphur  baths,  a  Turkish 
bath-room,  a  medical  gyjnnasium,  fully  equipped 
with  electrical  appliances  for  the  treatment  of 
©very  kind  of  stiff  joint  and  decrepitude  imagin- 
able. Then  there  was  a  hot  air  room  for  inhala- 
tion for  the  treatment  of  nose  and  throat  diseases 
Also  an  electric  light  bathroom,  and  another  for 
Finsen  ray  treatment.  It  was  marvellously  in- 
teresting, and  I  almost  doubt  if  there  were  such  a 
thing  as  an  incurable  disease  in  that  hospital. 

I  was  also  introduced  to  a  very  fine  theatre, 
splendidly  equipped  with  every  modern  require- 
ment except  what  seems  to  me  ought  to  be  part  of 
the  furniture  of  the  theatre  of  every  hospital,  large 
or  small,  and  which  I  have  only  seen  at  the  Cot- 
tage Hospital  at  Wemyss — an  oxygen  cylinder 
mounted  on  a  trolley,  with  funnel  and  tube  at- 
tached, ready  for   u.se   upon  emergency. 

The  floor  was  of  marble,  and  everything  was 
beautifully  clean  and  polished.  B.   K. 

(To   he   coniinued.) 

THE  HULL  SANATORIUM   SCANDAL. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  Hull  City  Council  was 
held  on  Monday  to  discuss  the  question  of  adminis- 
tration at  the  Hull  Sanatorium.  This  was  in  con- 
sequence of  the  allegations  arising  out  of  the  re- 
signation of  the  Medical  Superintendent  and  the 
recommendation  of  the  Sanitary  Committee  tliat 
the  ^Matron  (Miss  C.  M.  Duffy),  who  had  been  sii.s- 
pended  during  the  inquiry,  sliould  be  asked  to 
resume  her  duties  at  the  Sanatorium. 

After  a  prolonged  discussion  it  was  decided  to 
adjourn  the  meeting  for  a  fortnight,  that  the 
minutes  be  printe<l  and  circulated,  and  the 
Matron  be  suspended. 

The  Matron,  following  upon  the  decision  of  the 
City  Council,  immediately  sent  in  her  resignation. 
-The  letter  stated: — "My  health  has  been  so 
seriously  affected  by  the  ordeal  through  which  I 
have  had  to  pass  for  .so  many  months,  that  al- 
though I  assert  my  innocence  of  the  serious  charges 
brought  against  me,  I  feol  that  the  best  course  for 
me  is  to  resign  mv  aiipointment,  and  to  sever  my 
connection  with  an  institution  to  which  I  came 
with  splendid  credentials,  and  in  which  I  have 
conscientiously  discharged  my  duties  to  both 
officials  and  staff,  and  the  ratepayers.  I  there- 
fore resign  my  i>osition.  to  take  effect  forthwith." 

Miss  Duffy  is  seriously  affecte<l  by  the  course  of 
events,  as  she  went  to  Hull  with  excellent  cre- 
dentials. 


pure  fIDilk  Campaign. 


The  question  ot  pure  milk  for  babies  is  one  of 
no  little  difficulty,  and  in  their  world  midwives  and 
nurses  are  constantly  consulted  how  to  procure 
it.  The  first  duty  is,  ot  course,  to  impress  upon 
the  young  mother  that  no  food  can  equal  her  own 
milk  if  the  supply  is  natural  and  healthy,  but 
alas!  this  is  often  not  the  ease  and  substitutes 
must  be  given.  Even  medical  opinion  diffei-s  as 
to  infant  feeding,  and  little  wonder,  babes  have 
their  idiosyncra.sies.  and  what  suits  one  poisons 
another,  and  owing  to  the  extreme  difficulty  in 
obtaining  our  absolutely  pure  milk  supply,  the 
labour  and  cost  of  preparation.  Doctors,  nui^ses, 
aud  midwives  are  constantly  met  with  the  diffi- 
culty of  pix>curing  sufficient  nourishment  for  the 
weakly  infants  of  ill- nourished  and  poor  mothers. 

To  meet  this  need,  ni<xlified  standardised  desic- 
cated milk  (Glaxo)  has  lieen  most  carefully  pre- 
pared, and  whilst  in  no  \\  ay  wishing  to  depreciate 
other  methods  of  milk  teeding — all  designe<l  to 
assist  in  reducing  the  heavy  infantile  mortality 
in  large  cities,  it  is  well  to  acquaint  oneself  with 
the  excellent  work  toward  the  same  object  which 
upon  the  evidence  of  medical  officers  of  health  is 
being  accomplished  by  the  use  of  Glaxo. 

Some  three  years  ago.  Dr.  Xewman,  the  then 
medical  officer  for  Finsbury,  and  Dr.  Fenton,  tlie 
then  M.O.H.  for  Barking  Urban  District  Council, 
had  brought  to  their  notice  the  modified  standard- 
ised desiccated  milk  (Glaxo),  which  they  subjected 
to  an  exhaustive  trial.  The  former  doctor  had 
30  infants  fed  uix>n  it  pereistently  for  twelve 
months  and  ovei-  100  for  different  periods  of  time, 
and  the  average  weekly  gain  was  4.6  ounces.  In 
his  annual  report  to  the  Health  Committee,  he 
reix>rted : — 

"  There  can  l>e  no  doubt  that  it  provides  an  ex- 
cellent substitute  for  much  of  the  milk  upon  which 
infants  are  now  fed  .  .  that  it  can  be  well 
used  and  when  so  used,  yield  excellent  results 
.  .  that  the  progress  made  (average  increase 
per  week.  4.G  ounces)  indicates  that  the  milk  was 
not  only   nourishing.     .     .     ." 

Equally  satisfactory  results  were  obtained  at 
Barking,  the  annual  rejKirt  containing  the  follow- 
ing statement: — "  IMost  children  can  be  brought  to 
the  deix>t  .  .  .  and  aie  supplied  with  a  pre- 
l>aration  of  pure,  waterless  milk.  The  iwrticular 
form  I  have  been  using  is  called  Glaxo,  and  my 
results  have  l)een  veiy  satisfactory  indeed." 

S«>veral  other  similar  bodies  have  since  adopted 
its  use  in  preference  to  either  p«stenrise<l  or 
sterilised  milk,  owing  to  its  sterility  (the  proc*'6s 
assures  the  death  of  tlie  tubercle  bacillus),  economy, 
and  convonienc<'.  It  keeps  indefinitely  in  the 
hott<>st  weatlicr.  its  constant  composition  and  in- 
creastnl  nutritive  value  conn>nro<l  to  either  ordinary 
milk,  pasteurised  or  sterilise<l.  It  is  easier  dige.>»- 
te<l  than  ordinary  milk,  owing  to  the  process 
Clausing  a  physieal  change  in  the  Protein,  which 
prevents  it  sulxsoquently  forming  a  dense,  leathery 
curd. 

The  cost  of  running  a  milk  depot  with  Glaxo  is 
considerably  less,  and  r,iuch  more  convenient,  t^au 


Sept.  17, 1910]        ^[5c  Bvltlsb  Boiimal  of  TRursing. 


235 


with  pasteurised  or  sterilised  milk.  The  latter  liii>. 
to  bo  8oI<l  at  a  loss  iu  order  to  bring  it  n-ithiii  rt-aeli 
ol  the  poor.  This  is  not  the  case  with  Glaxo,  which 
c«u  bo  sold  at  cost  price.  Tlie  inoonvenienoe  ot 
fetching  milk  daily  from  a  distance,  the  cost  of  in- 
stalling a  pasteurising  plant,  the  running  expenses, 
cost  of  bottles  and  the  breakages,  are  obviate<l  by 
using  this  preparation,  and  it  permits  a  closer 
inspection  of  the  babies,  as  once  a  week  they  come 
to  a  certain  address  to  obtain  their  supplies,  when 
the  authority  is  there  to  give  advice  and  see  the 
babies  weighed,  and  fiually,  it  is  in  great  favour 
with  the  mothers  owing  to  its  convenience. 

To  overcome  the  (juestion  of  dirty  or  tuberculous 
milk,  it  will  be  agreeil  by  anyone  familiar  with  in- 
fant fee<ling  and  our  milk  supply  tiiat  this  cannot 
1)0  satisfactorily  done  by  mechanical  means.  Tlie 
only  efficient  method  of  doing  this  is  to  go  right 
to  the  source  of  supply  of  the  milk,  and  handle 
it  when  it  is  fresh — say,  within  two  hours  of  its 
coming  from  the  cow — before  any  fermentative 
clianges  have  taken  place,  as  it  has  been  proved 
that  milk  that  has  more  than  .2  of  1  per  cent,  of 
lactic  acid  is  too  sour  for  satisfactory  results.  This. 
no  doubt,  is  the  reason  why  Glaxo  promises  to  solve 
the  pi-oblem  of  infantile  mortality.  It  is  made  in 
Xew  Zealand — the  milk  is  received  at  the  factory 
within  two  hours  of  its  being  dimw'n  from  the  cow. 
All  the  cows  supplying  milk  to  the  factory  are 
I)erio<lic«lly  inspected  by  Government  veterinary 
surgeons,  and  the  cans  that  carry  the  milk  to  the 
factory  are  washed  in  lime  water,  hot  water,  and 
finally  sterilised  with  steam.  Tlii>  -iubstauce  is  then 
put  up  in  pure  vegetable  parc'i.i.ent  bags,  which 
are  placed  in  hermetically  sealed,  air-tight  tins. 


©utsibc  tbc  (Bates. 


Xegal  fIDatters. 


Nothing  quite  so  disgraceful  as  the  conduct  of 
Henry  Moss  Cohen,  a  member  of  the  St.  George's- 
in-the-East-  Board  of  Guardians,  has  recently  been 
re<-orded.  He  was  recently  summone<l  at  the 
Thames  Police  Court  for  assaulting  Mi.ss  .Jane  Pitts, 
a  nurse  at  the  workhouse.  Xurse  Pitts  stated 
that  she  went  off  duty  at  6.30  on  the  evening  of 
August  2.5,  and  atx>ut  an  hour  later  went  to  her 
bedroom  in  the  female  officers"  quarters.  The  door 
was  close<l,  but  not  locketl.  She  went  to  bed  about 
eight  o'clock.  About  ten  o'clock  she  was  suddenly 
awakened  by  hearing  her  door  opene<l.  She  got 
up  and  saw  Cowen  in  her  room.  He  shut  the  door, 
and  when  asked  what  lie  wanted  he  made  no  reply, 
but  stood  still  with  his  Ijack  to  the  door.  As  he 
Inade  no  movement  to  leave,  slie  jumped  out  of 
bed,  and  as  she  went  towards  him  he  put  his  arms 
around  her  and  ki.ssed  her  on  the  lijx-i  roughly. 
After  a  struggle  Cohen  loft  the  room.  Tlie  magis- 
trate, in  giving  his  deci.sion,  said  he  had  no  hesi- 
tation in  saying  that  he  believe<l  every  word  that 
had  been  said  by  Mi?v>  Pitts  and  other  witn(--->es. 
So  .serious  did  he  regai<l  the  defendant's  offence 
that  he  had  decide<l  to  sentence  him  to  one  mouth's 
imprisoument  without  the  option  of  a  fine.  He 
coiiMdered  the  defendant  totally  unfit  to  hold  the 
position  of  a  guardian.  Tlie  sentence,  he  an- 
nounced, would  not  carry  with  it  hard  labour. 


We  arc  pleased  to 
learn  that  women  Suf- 
fragists have  it  in  mind 
to  honour  the  memory 
of  Miss  Florence  Night- 
ingale. Second  to  none 
in  original  genius  and  as 
a  benefactor  to 
humanity  —  she  was 
naturally  in  favour  of  full  citizenship  for  her  sex. 
AVe  hope  the  members  of  every  Suffrage  Society 
will  unite  to  consider  how  the  sacre<l  memory 
of  this  great  woman  can  best  be  honoured. 


The  hundre<l  and  thirteenth  annivei-sary  of  the 
death  of  Maiy  Wollstonecroft,  the  author  of  "A 
Vindication  of  the  Rights  of  Women,"  took  place 
on  Saturday  last.  A  largp  number  of  women 
Suffragists  visited  her  tomb  in  St.  Peter's  church- 
yard, Bournemouth,  and  placed  floral  tributes  on 
the  grave  in  honour  of  one  w'ho  was  de.scribed  as  a 
great  woman  and  a  noble  pioneer  in  the  movement 
for  the  freedom  of  women.  In  the  evening  a  com- 
memoration meeting  was  held. 


Under  the  auspices  of  the  Women's  Industrial 
Council,  an  enterprise  is  under  consideration  for 
the  foundation  of  an  institution  in  the  East  End 
where  working-class  girls  can  be  trained  as 
children's  nui-ses.  Tliis  scheme  is  not  a  new  one. 
As  far  back  as  1908  the  matter  was  discussed  at 
a  conference  held  at  the  Guildhall. 

A  suitable  house,  with  a  nice  garden  attached, 
has  been  found  at  Homerton,  and  there  it  is  pro- 
posed to  open  a  creche  or  day  nursery,  for  the 
babies  of  mothei-s  who  are  compelled  to  go  to  daily 
work,  and  are  thereby  unable  to  take  care  of  their 
children.  A  small  charge  (probably  4d.  a  day) 
would  be  made  for  the  care  of  each  child.  In  look- 
ing after  these  little  ones  the  working  girls  would 
receive  their  training  in  the  care  of  infants  and 
young  children. 

At  present  girls  of  tlie  working  elass  on  leaving 
the  Board  schools,  if  they  do  not  become  factory 
hands,  generally  follow  some  occupation  where 
skill  or  training  is  not  necesasiy.  Many  develop 
into  household  drudges  for  their  neighboure' 
children,  and  eke  out  a  scanty  existence  thereby. 

The  girl  of  fifteen  or  sixteen  is  hard  to  place, 
as  she  has  rarely  any  but  an  imperfect  knowledge 
of  household  matters,  and  would  not  be  employed 
in  a  domestic  capacity  except  by  someone  whose 
circumstances  do  not  permit  of  the  engagement 
of  a  traine<l  servant.  A  girl  commencing  Fife 
under  these  conditions  has  no  future  before  her, 
as  from  such  suriioundings  she  cannot  possibly  rise 
to  any  position  either  as  a  domestic  servant  or  a 
iMirse.  It  is  to  help  this  class  of  girl  that  the 
Women's  Industrial  Council  are  founding  the  in- 
stitution. 


Recognition  of  women's  original  work  is  so 
sparing  in  this  country  that  we  are  always  pleased 
to  record  it.      When   the  International  Council  of 


236 


jrbc  JBiitisb  3ournaI  of  IRursing.       tsept.  it,  1910 


Women  held  it.s  C'«iigre,s.s  in  London  in  1899.  many 
of  us  had  tlie  pleasure  of  me<?ting  Mrs.  Willoughby 
Cummings,  of  Canada,  the  secretary  of  the  Cana- 
dian National  Council  of  Women. 


King's  College  at  Wind.sor,  Nora  Scotia,  is  the 
oklest  unirersity  in  the  British  Colonial  Empire. 
and  at  the  Convocation  Ceremony  last  week,  the 
honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Civil  Law  was  con- 
ferred on,  among  others,  Mrs.  Willoughby  Cum- 
mings. Mrs.  Cummings  is  the  fiist  woman  upon 
whom  the  honorary  degree  of  D.C.L.  has  been 
conferre<l.  She  is  now  employed  by  the  Dominion 
Government  to  deliver  lectures  upon  the  Govern- 
ment's old-age  pension  system. 


Mme.  Curie  and  M.  Debierne  have  just  pre- 
Kente<l  a  joint  memoir  to  the  Academy  of  Sciences 
announcing  that  they  have  succeeded  in  isolating 
pure  radium.  Tlie  metallic  radium  which  they 
liave  obtaine<l  is  of  a  brilliant  white  colour,  whicli 
i.Iackens  when  exjiosed  to  the  air.  It  burns  paper, 
rapidly  decomposes  water,  and  adheres  to  iron. 


BooF^  of  tbe  ^llleek. 

VERITY  LADS.* 

To  quote  from  tlie  introduction.  "This  lx)ok  is 
a  iwcket  made  up  of  l>oy's  letters.  .  .  .  Tlie 
letters  are  like  the  needy  knife  grinder ;  for  storv. 
God  bless  you.  they  have  none  to  tell,  sirs^s 
stories  told  by  writers  go.  Tliey  are  all  about  a 
thou>»nd  things  that  seemed  funny  or  vexatious 
to  an  irresponsible  youngster." 

They  were  written  to  his  I'nch'  Donby.  tlie  out- 
cast of  the  family.  "  It  is  the  oddest  thing  in  the 
world,  that  people  think  they  know  sufficient  of 
a  man  to  judge  him,  when  they  have  heard  just 
one  plain  thing  alwut  him.  My  Uncle  Donby  had 
been  in  jail,  that  was  enough.  .  .  .  My  uncle 
died  at  Cliristnias  of  pneumonia.  .  .  .  Ho, 
was  delirious  for  a  day  and  part  of  the  night  : 
and  towards  morning,  he  raised  himself  with"  his 
ordinary  keen  look  of  quiet  pleasure,  and  pointe<l 
at    the   w<KKl<>n    floor. 

'•  See!  "  .«<jid  he,  as  if  he  had  .spied  a  secret  out, 
"  Tak  one." 

1  asked  him  what  I  was  to  take. 
"  Wha',  do  you   not  see?"  he  smiled,  dropping 
his  eyes  at  me.     "  SnawdroiJS." 

They  were  not  due,  al^s,  till  he  had  been  six 
Aveeks  underground. 

"Shall  I  gather  a  bunch  for  you?"  said  L 
""Nay,"    he   answered,   with  his  tone   of   gentle 
deprecation.     "  Nay,  leave  'em,  Harry.     Aw  m'  be 
goin'  home." 

With  that  he  lay  back  again  and  slept  his  last 
sleep. 

It  must  not  l>e  siippasetl  that  much  of  the  l)ook 
is  in  this  strain,  for  the  confidences  tliat  Ma.ster 
Harry  Verity  makes  to  his  uncle,  lends  to  pious 
thanksgiving  that  he  I}elouged.  to  any  other  family 


than  one's  own.  His  misdemeanours  appear  to 
have  come  home  to  him  when  he  was  suffering  from 
the  mumi)s.  "  I  liad  to  take  care  they  didn't  meet 
under  my  chin,  Ijecaiise  Sally  .said  if  ever  they 
slipped  down  and  came  together,  I  was  as  dead 
a.s  a  nit.  .Sally  tsaid  if  1  ])ut  my  feet  in  mustard 
and  water  and  juinpe<l  into  bed  quick  the  mumps 
would  .sweat  away.  I  was  afraid  of  dying,  because 
of  not  being  saved.  There  is  no  end  of  things  you 
can  think  of  to  repent,  it  you  want  l>adly  to  be 
forgiven.  P'raps  the  anizel  mi-sses  out  some,  if 
a  nipi>er  doesn't  rightly  know  what  a  sin  is.  I 
would.  I  expect.  1  ought  to  have  sat  with  my  class 
when  we  went  to  chapel,  instead  of  going  into  the 
free  seats  with  Bob,  where  the  stove  was,  and 
roasting  chestnuts  with  a  hole  cut  in  them,  so  they 
wouldn't  crack  out.  But.  of  course,  in  the  Bible 
there  is  nothing  said  alxnit  a  thing  like  that 
.  but  I  know  I  prayed  about  it. 
Sally  told  my  mother  not  to  give  me  any  medi- 
cine. She  said.  "  Anyljody  that  takes  medicine, 
it  eats  their  insides  away,  while  at  least  there'.s 
nought  but  a  shell ;  and  it  ever  it  gets  at  l»ack 
of  their  heart  into  that  cup  where  their  heart  is. 
jind  lift  it  out  then  they're  done  for.  IfepeciaFly 
black  medicine  that  goes  straight  into  the  cup." 

But  as  everyone  knows.  "  When  the  devil  was 
ill,  the  devil  a  saint  would  be,"  etc..  and  while  the 
inuini>s  were  yet  with  liini  he  went  to  visit  Tom 
Hopkinson  afflicted  in  tlie  .same  manner.  "  We  had 
a  try  to  mend  their  clock.  It  never  went  anyway. 
I  don't  exi)ect  we  did  much  harm  to  it."  "  We 
got  .sent  away  to  Whittaker's  fann,  near  Cragside. 
f«r  a  holiday,  old  Whittaker  expected  we  should 
come  to  no  good — so  he  made  u,s  go  to  church  on 
Sunday.  By  rights.  I  expect  we  should  have  gone 
to  chai>el  like  we  always  did.  Church  is  different. 
The  iKir.son  had  a  long  white  gown  on.  He  kept 
f.inging  (rather  niLseralile).  and  then  they  all  .saug 
whenever  he  stopixnl :  but  not  very  loud.  Ix^cause 
I  don't  think  many  knew  what  tune  it  was.  The 
sermon  was  soon  done,  I  didn't  get  to  look  :it  all 
the  windows,  but  I  enjoyed  myself  l)etter  than 
our  chai^el,  that  is,  I  would  have  if  Bob  had  be- 
haved. He  told  me  it  was  Popery,  and  said  don  t 
take  any  notice." 

If  the  "Verity  Lads"  does  no  more  than  pro- 
voke a  smile,  it  is  something  in  this  sorrv  world. 

H.    H. 


COMING  EVENTS. 

Si'pfcniher  2Jith. — Meeting  of  the  Inspector.-;  of 
Midwives"  Association.  Midwives'  In.stitute.  12, 
Buckingham  Street.  Strand,  W.C.     2.30  p.m. 

Octobrr  10th. — Territorial  Force  Nursing  Ser- 
vice, City  and  County  of  London.  Reception  at  the 
Mansion  House  by  invitation  of  the  Lad.v  Mayoress 
;iud  the  Members  ot  the  Exe<nitive  Committee. 
8 — 10. .'10   p.m.      Entertainment  and  music. 


•  By    Reighley   Snowd«n. 

Clifford's  Tnii.) 


WORD    FOR  THE  WEEK. 

I    wonder    why    we    are   not   all   kinder   to   each 
other  than  we   are.     How  much  the   world   needs 


(T.    Werner   Laurie,       it.     How  easily  it  is  doire.'' 


Hkxhy  Diumvond. 


Sept.  17,  1910] 


Zbc  »ritisb  3ournaI  of  IHursing. 


23- 


Xetters  to  tbe  EDitor. 


n'hUst  cordially  inviting  com- 
munications  upon  all  subiect$ 
for  these  columns,  we  wish  it 
to  be  distinctly  understood 
that  tee  do  not  in  ant  wai 
hold  ourselves  responsible  for 
the  opinions  expressed  by  our 
correspondents. 


THE  NIGHTINGALE  MEMORIAL. 
To  the  Edifr.r  of  th'-    •  British  Journal  o]  Xursing." 

Dear  Mad.\m, — I  have  read  witli  deep  interest, 
and  more  than  once,  your  etiitorial  of  this  iveek. 
1  agree  witli  the  suggestions  made,  in  their  en- 
tirety.' Xo  man  or  woman  has  passe<l  away  who 
deserves  to  be  memorialised  more  than  the  truly 
great  woman  Florence  Nightingale,  who  was  an 
altruist  and  a  humanitarian,  besides  being  a 
pioneer  and  a  reformer.  I  suppose  no  one  will 
deny  that,  in  considering  the  pix)posals  for  suit- 
able memorials,  there  is  the  national,  and  there 
is  the  professional  aspect  to  be  considered.  I  am 
glad  to  see  that  you  emphasise  this  point. 

Florence  Nightingale  was  a  highly  educated 
woman,  and  in  all  her  advice  to  others  we  iSul 
her  insisting  upon  efficiency  and  thoix)ughne.ss  as 
the  basis  of  all  enduring  work ;  in  other  woids — 
a  scientific  basis.  Wliat  could  be  more  suitable, 
therefore,  than — as  you  aptly  put  it — "a  logical 
National  Memorial"  in  the  form  of  a  College  of 
Nui-ses. 

Some  might  object  that  there  is  a  <langer  of 
over-educating  the  nurse;  but  a  moment's  reflec- 
tion will  show  such  to  be  a  foolish  and  groundless 
tear.  Education — especially  in  the  nurse — is  never 
finished.  In  order  to  be  an  efficient  Aid  Society 
to  the  medical  profession,  with  its  rapid  advaiice- 
ment  and  constant  new  discoveries,  the  nursing 
profession  should  offer  facilities  for  post-graduate 
education,  which  your  admirable  scheme  of  a 
College  of  Nurses  would  supply.  Tlie  lament  of 
many  nurses — many  of  them  excellent  nurses — is 
that  they  are  getting  rusty.  The  scheme  would 
meet  their  need.  The  public  are  slow  to  realise 
that  our  profession  is  of  great  national  import- 
ance: this  would  ai-ouse  their  imagination. 

Let  us  follow  the  e.\ample  of  the  French,  who 
may  well  be  proud  of  their  splendid  college  at  the 
Salpetriere  in  Paris,  which  I  have  had  tlie  pleasure 
of  visiting.  And  what  is  a  sum  of  £.50.000  for 
an  Empire  like  ours  to  subscribe  foi" — shall  I  say — 
this  patriotic  scheme.  As  an  act  of  love  and  re- 
spect for  the  work  of  a  great  i>atriot,  England 
could  not  do  better  than  erect  and  endow  n  Col- 
lege of  Nurses.  Tlie  suggestion  of  a  professional 
memorial  should  also  be  welcomed  by  the  nurses 
of  the  Empire;  a  statue  in  Trafalgar  .Square 
appeals  to  me  more  than  one  in  Westminster 
Abl>ey.  as  being  more  conspicuous,  and  near  the 
Royal  College  o1  Physicians,  and  so  more  suitable. 
I  would  suggest  that  no  on©  but  nuisse  should  sulr 
scribe  to  this;  let  us  make  it  all  our  own. 
■'  .Standing  still  is  childish  folly, 
Going   backward    is  a   crime. 


Onwaixi,   ye  deluded  Nations, 
Onward — keep  the  march  of  Time!  " 
I    foar   I   have   trespaesed   too   much     upon     tlie 
space  of   this  journal,   which   stands   for  the   pro- 
gress alluded  to.  Beatrice  Kent. 

P.S. — 1  hope  many  other  readere  of  the  journal 
will  find  time  to  expreee  their  opinions  upon  tliis 
inH)oi-tant   matter. 


A     RELIABLE    OPINION. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 

Dear  Madam. — 1  enclose  my  yearly  sub.scription 
to  The  British  Jocrxal  of  Nursixg. 

Wliile  watching  with  interest  the  march  of 
events,  one  cannot  but  deplore  how  very  slowly 
State  Registration  appixiaclies. 

It  is  a  grievous  thing  that  so  much  opposition 
should  be  met  with.  Writing  from  a  country  that 
lias  had  registration  tor  some  years,  I  can  state 
with  confidence  that  the  benefit  to  the  public  is 
incalculable,  and  the  nureing  profession  is  relieved 
of  much  odium  undeservedly  bestowed.  It  is  so 
easy  for  a  "bogus"  nurse  to  glibly  explain  that 
she  is  thoroughly  trained,  and  who  can  question 
her  statements? 

Here  the  register  is  at  once  referred  to  and  all 
doubts  set  at  rest. — Believe  me,  yours  faithfully, 
J.  Melita  Jones,  R.N. 

Okeokinga  Institute  for  Trained  Nurses, 
Auckland.    New   Zealand. 


THE    NURSE    AS    SOCIAL  WORKER. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 

Dear  Madam. — 1  should  like  to  record  with 
what  great  interest  I  read  the  article  on  "  The 
Nurse  as  Social  Worker  "  in  your  issue  of  the  3rd 
.September. 

I  wonder  if  there  are  any  school  nui-ses  or  health 
visitors  who  have  not  sadly  realised  in  the  coui-se 
of  their  duties  "that  peculiar  mental  condition 
which  is  bound  to  result  from  the  constant  de- 
pressing straggle  for  bare  existence." 

Those  of  us  who  are  Suffragists  realise  only  too 
well  that  if  the  laws  of  maintenance,  as  they  affect 
the  wives  and  children  of  working  men,  were 
altered,  to  the  advantage  of  the  foi-mer,  they 
would  go  far  to  removing  the  cause  of  this 
'■mental  state."  To  illustrate  this:  In  the  course 
of  my  duties  I  was  visiting  a  mother  in  order  to 
ascertain  why  she  had  not  been  able  to  have  a 
l>hysical  defect  in  one  of  her  children  remedied. 
She  had  previously  promised  to  do  this,  and  help 
had  been  fortbcoming.  I  was  unable  to  penetrate 
this  very  '■mental  condition"  that  Miss  Pearse 
so  ably  defines.  I  knew  that  here  was  an  apathetic 
indifference  to  the  welfare  of  her  children  that  was 
not  natural  to  the  woman.  Happening  to  Ije  in 
this  homo  just  at  the  dinner  hoUr,  she  asked  me 
to  excuse  her  while  she  dispatched  her  "man's" 
dinner  to  his  place  of  work.  This  dinner  consisted 
of  a  good-sized  Yorkshire  pudding  and  piece  of 
roastetl  meat — an  a<lequate  amount  for  three  grown 
people.  This  was  all  sent  per  small  son  "to  the 
"  legal  parent." 

A  light  dawned  on  me!  I  felt  I  had  the  key  to 
this  nrental  state  that  was  baffling  me.  I  made 
inquiries  as  to  what   mother  and  rlie  four  children 


233 


Zbc  3l6vit(5b  journal  of  IRursino. 


[Sept.  17,  1910 


were  to  have — tlieie  nas  nothing  but  bread  and  lard 
— less  than  halt  a  loaf  of  this  and  about  i  oz.  ol 
lard.  I  remonstrated,  but  the  woman  assured 
me  that  "he  buys  it  hisself  every  morning,  and 
I  has  to  sind  it.  He  «ould  kick  mc  if  I  didn't, 
miss."  (Thi.>said  in  a  weary,  resigned  tone.)  This 
i-i  by  no  means  an  isolated  case.  In  my  little 
•~l>here  of  work  I  know  of  many.  It  is  this  sort 
<>:  thing  that  shonid  convert  those  "delicately 
in.sane  "  antis  who  talk  of  "  Queens  of  the  home  '" 
to  the  necessity  of  having  laws  to  protect  their  less 
fortunate  sisters  from  brutality  of  this  descrijition. 

Truly,  as  your  admirable  journal  once  stated. 
the  opportunities  of  doing  good  by  the  educated 
iiur-ie  as  a  social  worker  are  limited  only  by  her 
oHn  capacity. 

If  there  are  any  nurses  engaged  in  social  work 
who  are  not  yet  assured  of  the  need  of  Women's 
Suffrage,  I  sincerely  trust  that  they  may  Ije  given 
"  furiously  to  think."  after  reading  tha  article 
referred  to  in  your  last  week's  i.ssue.  I  make  a 
point  of  sending  youf  journal  to  a  nurse  "  Anti  " 
every  «eek,  as  I  consider  it  an  educating  influence 
on  tlie  need  of  a  higher  status  for  women,  the 
professional  nui-se  included.  I  take  this  oppor- 
tunity to  thank  you  for  the  very  helpful  and  en- 
couraging advice  I  have  derive<rfrom  The  British 
.Jornx.ii,  OF  XrRSiNG. — I  am.  dear  Madam,  youre 
tintlitullv.  A   He.\lth   Missioxek. 


THE   NEW  MIDWIVES'  BILL. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 

Dear  Editor, — Being  a  constant  reader  of  your 
paper,  let  me  say  that  I  agree  with  your  remarks 
in  this  week's  issue,  in  answer  to  the  extract  taken 
from  the  Mifhcives'  Friord,  and  wo.nld  like  to  sup- 
],lement  them  by  saying  that  all  the  midwives  in 
tlie  country  .ire  not  passive. 

There  is  no  newspaper  to  blazen  forth  the  fact, 
b\it  tliere  is  a  strong  fighting  force  in  the  country 
under  the  banner  of  the  National  Association  of 
!N[idwives. 

■\Mien  Parliament  reassembles  there  are  30  mem- 
l.crs  pledged  to  oppose  the  Midwives'  Bill  when  it 
:i|)pears  in  the  House  of  Commons. 

The  secretaries  of  our  branches  liave  had  per- 
-1  ual  interviews  with  their  respective  meml)ers. 

The  secretary  of  the  Jtanchester  Branch  is  re- 
sponsible for  obtaining  the  pledges  to  oppose  the 
Bill  from  .seven  members  in  one  day. 

Knowing  your  sympathy  for  womanhood,  I 
thought  you  would  like  to  know  the  work  that  is 
being   done. 

Please  let  me  draw  your  attention  to  an  error 
that  has  crept  into  your  columns  regarding  the 
•Tnion  formed  by  the  midwives  of  Sheffield  and 
district.  The  fact  is  they  have  forme<l  a  branch 
of  the  X.A.M.,  and  not  a  small  local  union.  The 
v.onien  of  .Sheffield  beliere,  as  do  we,  that  small 
local  uniniis  are  alisolutely  no  u»e  to  midwives  at 
this  critical  time  in   tin-  history  of  our  profession. 

It  is  only  by  united  effort  and  presenting  a 
.solid  front  that  we  can  hope  to  obtain  any  measure 
of  justice. 

Yiiurs  faithfully, 

Maro.xret  L.\wson. 
fr,  .,,1,1,1     \,,t;,,,„i}    \.is,„',.:fi(in   nt  ^fi<hrires. 


(Eoinments  an&  TRepItes. 

Miss  T.  .S..  London. — The  hi>spital  in  which  you 
are  training  is  not  alon<'  in  failing  to  provide  syste- 
matic teaching  for  nurt>«\s  in  Materia  Medioa.  It 
is  a  most  serious  and  dangerous  omi.ssiou  from  the 
nureing  curriculum,  ^^'e  should  advise  you  to  ob- 
tain the  Text-Book  on  Materia  Medica  for  Nurses, 
compiled  by  Miss  L.  L.  Dock,  It  contains  a  Table  of 
Poisons,  their  antidotes  and  antagonists,  and  is 
published  by  G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons,  24.  Bedford 
.Street,  Strand.   London.   W,C'. 

Sister  Marian.  Liver i„,ol. — See  reply  to  above — 
Your  suggestion  to  give  "grinds"  to  your  proBa- 
tioners  we  consider  most  wise.  No  doubt,  when  we 
have  a  Central  Nursing  Council,  Materia  Medica 
will  be  a  compuLsory  subject  for  nuiises.  According 
to  Gould,  the  bioad  meaning  of  medicine  (Medi- 
cine) is  "  the  science  and  art  of  healing  and  curing 
the  sick."  and  the  word  drug  means  "a  substance, 
simi)le  or  comfxiund,  natui-al  or  prepared,  single 
or  mixed,  with  other  suljstances,  used  as  a  medi- 
cine; and  "  Materia  Medica"  covers  the  entire  list 
of  such  substances,  with  their  whole  history.  Every 
nurse  should  ix>ssess  and  study  Dock's  text-book 
on  this  subject. 

District  -Vursc.  .l.F.t  .— Dr.  G.  H.  Mapleton,  in 
the  British  Medicnl  .7(j»r/ia?  advises  that  all  cre- 
vices in  ix)oms  be  brushed  with  a  feather  dipped  in 
strong  solution  of  corrosive  sublimate  in  rectified 
spirit  for  the  destruction  of  bugs.  He  considers  it 
infallible.— Ed. 


IRoticcs. 


The  British  Journal  of  Nubsiko  is  the  official 
organ  of  the  following  important  Nursing  socie- 
ties :  — 

The  International  Council  of  Nurses. 

The  National  Council  of  Trained  Nurses  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland. 

The  Matrons'  Council  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland. 

The  Society  for  the  State  Registration  cf 
Trained  Nurses. 

The  Registered  Nurses'   Society. 

The  School  Nurses'   League. 


CONTRIBUTIONS. 

The  lixlitor  will  at  all  times  be  pleasecl  to  consider 
articles  of  a  suitable  nature  for  insertion  in  this 
Journal— those  on  practical  nursing  are  specially 
invited. 

.idvertisement.i  and  business  communications 
should  bo  addressed  to  the  Manager,  British 
JouRN.^L  OF  Nursing,  11,  Adam  Street,  Strand, 
W.C. 

Such  communications  must  be  duly  authenticated 
with  name  and  address,  and  should  be  addressed  to 
the  Editor,  20,  Upper  Wimpolo  Street,  London,  W, 

The  British   Journ.vi.  of  Nursing    may  be   ob- 
tained at  431,  Oxford  Street,  London,  W. 
OUR  PUZZLE  PRIZE. 

Rules  for  competing  for  the  Pictorial  Puzzle 
Prize  will  be  found  on  Advertisement  page  xii. 


«ept.  17, 1010     ^(5c  Bdtisb  3ournal  cf  iHiu'sincj  Supplement. 

The    Midwife. 


.'39 


a  Iboypital  in  lltopia. 

Time  was  when  womeu  in  labour  were  at- 
tended solely  by  practitioners  of  their  own  sex, 
and  so  strong  was  the  feeling  in  this  country 
against  the  admis*;ion  of  men  to  the  lying-in 
room — a  feeling  still  existing  with  equal  force 
not  only  in  the  zenanas  of  India,  but  in  manj' 
other  Eastei-u  countries — that  it  is  related  that 
the  first  male  practitioner  whose  services 
were  requisitioned  for  an  lu-gent  ca«e  had  to 
attend  the  patient  in  woman's  dress.  Later 
midwifery  passed  largelj-  into  the  hands  of 
men,  not  because  men  were  more  capable  than 
women,  but  because,  as  medical  education  im- 
proved, the  knowledge  of  medical  men  was 
greater,  and  therefore  they  became  more  pro- 
ficient than  midwives.  The  consequences  were 
twofold :  firstly,  it  became  increasingly  usual 
for  medical  men  to  be  engaged  or  summoned 
to  assist  women  in  childbirth ;  and  secondly, 
as  all  the  most  desirable  cases  were  absorbed 
by  the  medical  profession,  midwifery  was  re- 
jected as  a  means  of  livelihood  by  many  women 
of  the  class  who  fomierly  practised  it,  until 
the  term  midwife  became  almost  one  of  re- 
proach, and  certainly,  for  the  most  •  part, 
synonymous  with  ignorance  and  unfitness,  so 
that  it  was  mostly  practised  by  women  of  the 
lowest  class.  It  will  be  remembered  that  ^Irs. 
Gamp  was  a  midwife  as  well  as  a  "  sick 
nurse,"  and  attended  lyings-in  and  layings  out 
with  equal  readiness  ;  it  is  perhaps  as  well  that 
her  biographer  does  not  record  with  what  re- 
sult. 

Like  trained  nursing,  midwifery  to-day  has 
been  rescued  from  the  evil  plight  into  which  it 
had  fallen,  and  thousands  of  trained  women 
are  to-day  caring  for  their  fellow-women  in 
childbirth  to  their  comfort  and  advantage,  for 
it  must  be  remembered  that,  so  far  as  the 
poor  are  concerned — and  it  is  mostly  the  poor 
who  are  attended  by  midwives  at  the  present 
time — the  medical  practitioner  who  attends  a 
lying-in  woman  does  so  only  at  the  time  of 
confinement,  and  delivers  the  patient  (if,  in- 
deed, delivery  has  not  been  effected  before  his 
an-ival  by  an  ignorant  (so-called)  monthly 
nurse).  The  midwife,  on  the  other  hand,  if 
sunmioned  si'.fficiently  early,  remains  with  the 
patient  throughout  the  second  and  third  stages 
of  labour,  and  visits  her  daily  for  ten  days, 
subsequently  attending  to  her  comfort  and 
dietary  and  that  of  the  child  during  that 
pcrind . 


What  the  future  of  midwifery  as  practised 
by  women  in  this  country  will  be  it  is  not  easy 
to  foresee,  except  that  in  the  future,  as  in  the 
past,  their  opportunities  of  .usefulness  will  be 
limited  only  by  their  opportunities  of  acquiring 
knowledge.  .\t  present  the  standard  required 
by  th  Central  Midwives'  Board  is  limited  to 
the  acquisition  of  "  such  knowledge  as  it  would 
be  dangerous  to  a  midwife  to  lack,"  and 
neither  the  professional  prestige  attainable  nor 
the  remuneration  which  is  the  reward  of  hard 
and  responsible  work,  are  sufl&cient  to  attract 
a  highly  educated  class  of  women  in  large 
munbers  to  adopt  midwifery  as  a  profession. 

But  in  Gennany  a  scheme  has  been  evolved, 
which  could  scai-cely  have  been  suggested  ex- 
cept in  a  country  where  male  domination  is 
the  i-ule,  to  provide  not  only  male  practitioners 
to  deliver  women  in  childbirth,  but  also  to 
attend  them  as  monthly  nurses.  Incredible, 
but  apparently  true,  for  a  correspondent  de- 
scribes in  an  article  of  nearly  a  column  length 
in  the  Times,  under  the  heading  "  A  Hospital 
in  Utopia,"  a  new  movement  to  provide  a 
maternity  hospital  where  "  nurses  in  the  pro-  . 
fessional  sense  are  to  be  superseded  by  fully 
qualified  doctors  of  both  sexes.  These  young 
doctors,  immediately  after  taking  their  degree, 
are  to  spend  a  certain  time  in  the  hospital, 
"giving  to  the  patients  all  those  professional  at- 
tentions which  are  usually  left  to  the  trained 
nuree,  while  the  patient  is  also  to  receive  the 
care  which  affection  only  can  bestow,  fi-om  her 
personal  friends  Not  only  the  nurse  but  the 
Matron  will  thus  be  found  superfluous." 
Verih%  it  takes  a  male  mind  to  conceive,  and 
male  obtuseness  to  propound,  such  a  scheme. 
The  best  we  could  wish  for  this  unique  insti- 
tution is  that  it  should  remain  in  Utopia,  but 
apparently  it  is  to  materialise  in  bricks  and 
mortar  at  Munich.  The  opportunity  for 
acquiring  additional  knowledge  may  be  desir- 
able in  the  interests  of  medical  education,  but 
how  it  will  benefit  tiie  patients  is  not  easy  to 
understand.  Imagine  a  hospital  in  which 
there  is  no  head  to  the  nui-sing  department, 
the  ofiBce  having  been  abolished  as  superfluous, 
and  where  the  nursing  duties  are  divided  be- 
tween medical  students  who  have  just  quali- 
fied and  untrained  friends  of  the  patients,  and 
this  in  a  maternity  home  where,  if  nowhere 
else,  woman  is  eminently  in  her  own  Sphere. 

The  scheme  is  promoted  by  a  group  of 
Munich  doctors,,  whose  first  maxim  is  that 
"  childbirth,  like  other  dangerous  operations  ( '.) 


240 


^bc  Britisb  3ounial  ot  IHureing  Supplement,   t^^^p^  "-  i^io 


needs  the  safeguards  and  apparatus  which  are 
to  be  had  completely  only  in  a  hospital  or  in- 
stitution, and  not  in  a  private  house  of  any 
kind."  Therefore  they  argue  that  women  of 
every  class,  rich  and  poor,  should  be  urged  to 
enter    institutions    for    this   pui-pose  Since 

when  has  childbearing  ceased  to  be  a  normal 
act,  that  it  is  now  to  be  classed  wdth  "other 
dangerous  operations'?"  Moreover,  it  is 
surely  cruel  to  impress  upon  women  the  danger 
of  an  event  to  which  most  of  tliem  look  for- 
ward with  some  dread,  when  it  is  proved  that 
something  less  than  2  per  1,000  is  the  average 
maternal  mortality  when  patients  are  attended 
by  skilled  midwives.  We  imagine  that  it  will 
take  some  persuasion  to  induce  women  who 
can  afford  to  pay  for  the  services  of  competent 
nurses  to  make  a  habit  of  leaving  their  own 
homes  and  entering  an  institution  for  their 
confinements,  although  it  is  held  out  as  an  in- 
ducement, in  the  case  of  the  ^Munich  institu- 
tion, that  it  is  to  be  a  "  home  from  home." 
It  does  not  seem  to  have  dawned  upon  the 
good  doctors  that  it  needs  the  Matron  or  house 
mother,  whom  they  in  their  wisdom  consider 
'  supei-fluous  "  to  make  a  "home." 

A  point  which  is  considered  important  by 
the  founders  of  the  new  institution — or 
Frauenheim,  as  it  is  called — is  "  the  free  entry 
of  one  chosen  friend  of  the  patient  at  all  times 
and  seasons  to  the  hospital,"  a  regulation 
which  we  imagine  could  only  work  well  in  the 
male  imagination.  Daily  visits,  certainly,  but 
"  at  all  times  and  seasons."  It  will  be  curious 
to  note  how  the  staff  of  young  medical  practi- 
tioners, minus  the  organising  control  of  a 
Matron,  will  manage  the  work  under  these  con- 
ditions. The  supreme  control  of  the  Frauen- 
heim is  to  be  vested  in  a  house  surgeon  or 
director  "  of  the  highest  possible  skill,"  and  it 
is  needless  to  add  that  "  his  emohnneuts  will 
consist  of  a  handsome  salary,  a  good  dwelling- 
house  attached  to  the  hospital,  and  the  right  to 
receive  as  many  patients  as  he  pleases  in  his 
own  consulting  room,  as  well  as  the  use  of  a 
certain  specified  number  of  beds  for  his  own 
cases.  Within  bounds,  the  house  surgeon  is  to 
be  an  autocrat — -almost  a  despot.  But  he  is 
to  be  appointed  by  members  of  the  Society 
-  (Verein)  created  to  establish  the  home,  and  re- 
sponsible to  them  alone,  and  patients  and 
friends  of  patients  are  to  have  the  opportunity 
of  stating  grievances  and  suggesting  amend- 
ments— in  fact,  of  governing  in  their  own 
interests. 

Tt  is  said  that  in  Germany  a  happy  "bed- 
side manner  "  is  not  cultivated"  with  the  same 
care  as  in  England.  "  Some  German  doctors 
bully  their  patients   into  health,    as  the  drill 


sergeant  bullies  his  recruits.  And  the  nurses, 
overvi'orked  and  undertrained,  have  not  the 
cheei-;s',  kindly  exteinor  to  which  we  are  accus- 
tomed in  London." 

Dr.  Heiigge  one  of  the  most  distinguished 
Munich  physicians,  has  recently  visited  Eng- 
land and  America  to  study  the  systems  in 
force,  and  lecturing  recently  at  Munich  gave 
unstinted  praise  to  English  hospitals,  the  kind- 
liness and  competency  of  the  nurses,  and  the 
"  comfort  "  with  which  patients  and  nurses 
are  suiTounded.  It  is  just  that  atmosphere  of 
"  comfort  "  which  mere  man,  with  the  best  of 
intentions,  can  never  disseminate,  and  for  this 
reason  we  fear  the  Frauenheim  can  never  fulfil 
the  liopes  of  its  promoters. 

A  MATERNITY  WARD  AT    '  BARTS." 

A  maternity  ward  is  sc>on  to  be  opened  at  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital,  but  we  gather  it  will 
be  used  for  the  •  instruction  in  midwifei-y  of 
medical  students,  and  not  of  nurses.  A  sugges- 
tion that  the  nurses  should  be  compelled  to  pay 
for  training  in  this  ward'"  as  at  the  London  " 
would  be  most  unfair,  as  they  will  only  receive 
instruction  in  matenaity  nui-sing,  and  not  the 
necessary  experience  in  midwifery  to  qualify 
themselves  for  the  .Central  IMidwives'  Board 
examination  and  certificate — a  professional 
asset  of  commercial  value. 

A  LOVELY  BABBY. 

At  the  Bristol  Police  Court,  reoently,  Elizabeth 
AValker,  of  Elbert'jii  Place,  Regent  Road,  Bedmin- 
st«r,  was  sitmmouwl  for  contravening  the  Mid- 
wives'  Act  by  practising:;  without  being  duly  certi- 
fied. Mr.  F.P.  Tyrrell  (Town  Clerk's  Office)  prose- 
cuted, and  cKiid  the  Act  came  into  force  in  1902, 
but  the  section  enforcing  the  registration  of  mid- 
wives  did  not  become  o])erative  till  April  of  this 
year.  Notice  of  tbat  clause  had  been  given  from 
time  to  time  to  women  practising  as  midwives,  and 
one  prosecution  in  respect  of  a  woman  practising 
without  a  certificate  had  taken  i)lacp.  Defendant 
had  been  practivsing  as  a  midwife  for  .some  years, 
and  up  to  the  present  time,  but  she  had  not  been 
certified.  She  had  beon  cautioned  on  two  oc- 
casions by  the  Coroner. 

Evidence  was  given  by  women  whom  defendant 
had  attended  lately,  but  they  all  agreed  that  de- 
fendant was  a  kind  and  skilful  nurse. 

Defendant  inquired  of  one:  ''  Have  yon  any- 
thing to  complain  of  I-'  " 

Witness;    No,   it's  a  lovely  babby. 

!Mr.  Tyrrell :  She  attended  yon  for  another,  did 
she  not?     Was  that  a  lovely  babby,  too? 

Yes;   a  fine  l>oy.      Slie  looked   after  me  well. 

Defendant  admitted  the  offence,  but  said  she  had 
tried  to  get  a  certificate.  She  frequently  attended 
cases  with  doctors,  and  they  were  satisfied  with 
her. 

The  magistrates  adjourned  the  case  for  a  month, 
telling  defendant  she  nuist  not  ))ractise  meanwhile, 
unless  she  obtainerl  ;i  certificate. 


THE 


intsuoiiW' 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 
EDITED  BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


SATURDAY,     SEPT     24.      1910. 


lEMtorial. 


"OUT     BACK." 

The  Countess  of  Dudley's  District 
Ntirsing  Scheme,  or,  as  it  has  now  been 
decided  to  call  it,  "  The  Australian  Order 
for  District  Nursing,"  is  making  progress 
— although  not  on  the  lines  originally 
suggested — and  Lady  Dudley  has  written 
to  the  Australian  press  to  say  she  has 
reluctantly  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the 
Bush  Xursing  Scheme  is  not  wholly  accept- 
able to  the  people.  The  truth  is  the 
Australian  nursing  world  is  self-governed 
and  democratic — and  the  Bush  Nursing 
Scheme  was  neither.  The  fact  that  women 
are  citizens  in  the  Commonwealth  was 
([uite  overlooked,  and  the  members  of  the 
medical  and  nursing  professions  who  have 
raised  nursing  in  Australia  from  ill- 
equipped  drudgery  to  a  highly  skilled  and 
organised  profession  for  women,  naturally 
dreaded  the  effect  of  any  form  of  district 
nursing  which  might  in  time  follow  on  the 
lines  of  the  Queen's  Institute  in  England — 
which  by  afhliation  has  recognised  as 
district  niirses,  hundreds  of  ill-educated  and 
quite  insufficiently  trained  women  as  pro- 
fessional nurses  for  the  rural  sick  poor — a 
step  of  a  very  disastrous  nature  so  far  as 
the  prestige  of  nm-sing  in  this  country  as  a 
whole  is  concerned.  Australian  nurses 
who  are  politically  enfranchised,  will  not 
accept  absolute  government  and  control  by 
aristocratic  persons,  whose  only  claim  for 
interference  with  professional  standards  is 
their  social  influence.  Here  is  the  matter  in 
a  nutshell. 

But  for  all  that  the  generous  impulses  of 
Lady  Dudley  will  bear  good  fruit.  We 
learn,  at  a  public  naeeting  recently  in  Sydney 
at  which  the  Lord  Mayor  presided,  three 
resolutions     were     passed     (1)    expressing 


general  approval  of  the  scheme  as  submitted 
by  Lady  Dudley,  (2)  recommending  that  a 
provisional  State  Council  for  New  South 
Wales  should  be  formed  in  order  to  co- 
operate with  the  provisional  Federal 
Council,  (3)  pledging  those  present  to 
stimulate  public  interest  in  the  scheme, 
and  to  help  to  raise  as  large  a  sum  as 
possible  in  its  support. 

A  meeting  of  the  provisional  Federal 
Council  of  the  Order  was  also  held  at 
Government  House,  at  which  the  Governor 
General,  who  presided,  and  l^ady  Dudley 
were  present,  as  well  as  the  Governors  of 
Victoria  and  Tasmania  and  official  delegates 
representing  New  South  Wales  and  South 
Australia,  Mr.  Harold  Boulton,  iliss  Amy 
Hiighes  and  others.  The  draft  Constitution 
was  formally  approved,  and  a  nursing  com- 
mittee formed  with  Her  Excellency  the 
Countess  of  Dudley  as  chairman,  and  an 
executive  and  finance  committee  with  Pro- 
fessor Anderson  Stuart  as  chairman.  These 
two  committees  will  consider  the  general 
by-laws  and  regulations  for  Federal  and 
State  Councils  and  for  the  district  com- 
mittees, and  report  to  the  next  meeting  of 
the  Federal.  Council. 

An  important  effect  of  the  establishment 
of  the  scheme  is  likely  to  be  that  women 
will  be  encouraged  to  settle  in  the  outlying 
districts  where  their  services  are  needed, 
instead  of  remaining  in  overcrowded  cities 
as  at  present.  This  is  but  one  more 
instance  of  the  national  value  of  the  work 
of  trained  nurses,  for  it  is  evident  that 
before  the  resources  of  Australia  can  be 
developed  "out  back,"  this  skilled  worker 
is  indispensable  as  a  pioneer  settler,  in 
order  to  give  that  sense  of  security  of  care 
in  sickness  which  will  inspire  other  Women 
to  penetrate  into  lonely  outposts  of  the 
interior.     The   trained    nurse   is,   in  short. 


242 


Zbc  36rit(sb  3ournal  of  IRurstng. 


[Sept.  24,  1910 


Indispensable  to  the  adequate  colonisation 
of  this  great  continent,  with  its  vast 
resources,  and  as  her  services  to  the  State 
are  so  great,  surely  no  members  of  the 
community  are  more  jnstlj'  entitled  to  the 
full  benefits  of  citizenship. 

In  support  of  this  statement,  we  quote 
the  Sydney  Town  and  Country  Journal, 
which  says  : — ''  One  of  the  most  important 
items  in  tliis  scheme  to  a  young  country  is 
that  once  it  is  established  women  are  more 
likely  to  go  and  live  'out  back,'  for  there 
is  no  doubt  many  women,  especially  those 
in  delicate  health  and  with  young  children, 
are  often  prevented  from  going  into  the 
interior  owing  to  the  dilRculiies  they  would 
encounter  in  case  of  illness,  and  they  would 
sooner  live  on  -less  in  tlie  cit^'^  or  large  town 
than  risk  their  lives  by  being  out  of  reach 
of  a  doctor  or  nurse.  .Once  Ladj'  Dudley's 
scheme  is  in  full  swing  all  these  difficulties 
will  vanish,  for  with  a  nurse  within  call — 
even  if  it  is  a  long  call — the  advantage  of 
the  iJusli  telephone,  and  closer  settlement, 
women  will  flock  to  tlie  country  and  help 
to  build  homes  for  themselves  and  their 
children.  Those  in  the  city  who  are  not 
now,  perlia)3s,  quite  in  sympathy  with  the 
idea  cannot  hel  p  seeing  what  a  benefit  it  will 
be  in  the  development  of  tfie  country.  For 
the  overcrowding  of  the  cities  and  the 
employment  of  many  women  and  girls  in 
factories,  simps  and  other  phices  where  they 
go  in  for  occupation,  rioes  not  tend  in  any 
way  to  itnpi-Mve  the  yoimg  generation." 

Ihe  schenie,  it  is  also  thought,  will 
appeal  to  girls  born  and  bred  in  the  bush, 
who  seldom  become  accustoim  d  to  city  life, 
but  who  if  thej'  train  as  inirses  would,  as 
members  o'  the  Australian  Order  for  District 
Nursing,  be  able  to  return  ti  the  interior  as 
most  vabialih-  inen)bers  of  society,  earning 
agood  li\i  yasskilleil  i^rolps-ional  workers. 
In  short,  ii  is  almost  iMi|iMssible  to  foresee 
all  the  p  -s  liilities  which  the  scheme  holds 
for  the  !.o  'I  of  p'eilerated  Australia,  but  it 
is  evidc'  ili;it  they  iire  likely  to  be  greater 
even  ih;ip  ''iidd  have  ijcen  anticipated  by 
its  far-si:  1    i.|  Founder. 

One  1 1      ..  must  be  kept  well  in  mind. 

To  l)(  .  I  s-ful,  the  Ausir  ilian  Order  for 
District  '  ing  mus'  be  buili  up  by  the  best 
women,  mposi  ellicieiiilv  Imined  nurses. 


flDcbical  nDatters. 


SHOCK. 

Dr.  T.  X.  Braiuerd,  writing  in  the  American 
Journal  of  Clinical  Medicine,  quotes  Da  Costa's 
definition  of   Shock  as  very  accurate. 

"  Shock  is  a  sudden  depression  of  the  vital 
powers  arising  from  an  injury  or  a  profound 
emotion  acting  on  the  nerve-centres  and  in- 
ducing e.xhaustion  or  inhibition  of  the  vaso- 
motor mechanism."  •.  .  .  In  shock  the 
abdominal  veins  are  greatly  distended  and  the 
other  veins  of  the  body  may  be  overiul;  the 
arteries  contain  less  blood  than  normal,  and  an 
insufficient  amount  of  blood  is  sent  to  the 
heart  and  to  the  vital  centres  in  the  brain.  In 
other  words,  in  shock  there  is  a  deficiency  in 
the  circulating  blood.  .  .  .  Shock  may  be 
light  and  trausitnt,  or  it  may  be  severe  and 
prolonged,  and  it  may  even  produce  almost 
instant  death.  .  .  .  Shock  is  more  6evere 
in  women  than  in  men,  and  in  the  nervous  and 
sanguine  than  in  the  lymphatic,  in  those 
weakened  by  suffering  than  in  those  who  are 
strangers  to  illness. 

The  treatment  of  shock  is  simple  and  mostly 
passive.  Be  careful  to  do  nothing  which  can 
add  to  the  existing  shock. 

In  moving  a  patient  be  gentle  with  him.  Do 
not  permit  a  broken  bone  to  gouge  into  the 
flesh  and  nerves  and  blood-vessels  needlessly. 

Keep  him  quiet  on  his  back  with  head  low. 

Apply  artificial  heat. 

Give  moi-phine  hypodermically  for  the  relief 
of  pain  and  to  quiet  the  mental  agitation.  The 
hyoscine-morpbine  combination  is  best  for  this 
purpose. 

Give  strychnine  (1-20  grain)  to  revive  the 
heart  action. 

Give  hypodermic  or  intravenous  injections  of 
saline  solution  to  fill  up  the  blood-vessels. 
Atropine  and  ergotine  will  contract  the  smaller 
blood-vessels.  Adrenalin  chloride  will  raise  the 
blood  pressure. 


SANDFLIES. 
Professor  Eobcrt  Xewstcad,  of  Chester,  who 
was  despatched  to  Malta  by  the  Liverpool 
Tropical  School  of  Medicine  to  investigate  the 
problem  of  the  serious  menace  to  health  by 
sandflies,  has  returned  after  an  absence  of 
three  months.  Practical  measures  for  dealing 
with  disease-cnrrying  insects  in  the  island  will 
be  embodied  in  a  report  which  Professor  New- 
stead  is  drafting.  He  has  brought  back  a  con- 
siderable amoiuit  of  material  not  only  in  con- 
nection with  the  special  object  of  his  investiga- 
tion, but  also  into  other  fonns  of  tropical 
disease  in  IMalta.    , 


Sept.  2t,  mio] 


Cbc  Britisb  3ournal  of  IHursmo. 


243 


Clinical  THotCd  on  Sonic  Conmton 
ailments. 

Bv  A.  KxvvETT  (i.'UDMN.  M.B.  (Cantab.). 


DYSPEPSIA. 

We  now  come  to  a  condition  which  is  so 
common  as  to  number  almost  every  one  at 
one  time  or  another — and  certainly  every 
nurse — amongst  its  victims,  namely,  dyspep- 
sia, or  indigestion,  as  it  is  popularly  called. 

It  is  a  diflficult  subject  to  treat  in  a  short 
paper,  for  it  has  been  complicated  by  an  enoi^- 
mous  mass  of  literature,  and  different  writers 
have  attempted  to  elucidate  matters  by  call- 
ing the  same  thing  by  as  many  different  names 
as  possible,  with  the  result  of  making  the  con- 
fusion worse  confounded.  In  reality,  however, 
the  matter  is  simple  enough  if  we  omit  names 
altogether,  and  keep  before  our  minds  the 
central  fact  that  indigestion,  whatever  its 
cause,  simply  mean*  that  tlie  food  stays  longer 
in  the  stomach  than  it  should.  We  will  then 
try  to  see  the  reasons  for  the  delay,  and  how 
the  patient  can  best  be  treated  in  each  case. 

In  this  endeavour  we  are  helped  very  con- 
siderably by  ceiiain  experiments  that  have 
recently  been  made  on  animals,  and  also  by 
the  results  of  administering  to  patients  meals 
containing  various  articles  of  food,  and  then 
removing  the  contents  of  the  stomach  at  dif- 
ferent intervals  with  the  stomach  tube,  and 
investigating  by  chemical  tests  the  extent  to 
which  digestion  of  the  food  has  taken  place. 
It  is  true  that  delay  in  the  conversion  of  the 
food  into  the  nutritious  part  of  blood — which 
is,  after  all,  the  object  of  digestion — may  be  due 
to  faults  in  some  other  part  of  the  alimentary 
canal,  but  this  is  comparatively  rare,  and  need 
not  concern  us  in  this  article.  We  will  also 
leave  out  those  cases  in  which  the  delay  is  due 
either  to  organic  disease  of  the  stomach,  such 
as  ulceration  or  cancer,  or  to  any  mechanical 
obstruction  to  the  exit  of  food  into  the  intes- 
tine, due  to  a  growth  or  adhesions  round  or 
inside  the  organ  itself. 

Having  thus  cleared  the  ground  somewhat, 
we  have  next  to  consider  what  happens  in  the 
normal  person  when  an  ordinary  meal  is  taken. 
Assuming  that  it  is  properly  masticated — and 
very  many  cases  of  indigestion  are  due  to 
either  carious  teeth  or  to  the  modern  custom  of 
the  "  quick  lunch  "  or  the  "  theatre 
dinner  " — the  food  meets  in  the  stomach  with 
gastric  juice,  which  consists  of  a  ferment, 
pepsin,  and  an  acid,  hydrochloric  acid.  The 
object  of  gastric  digestion  is  twofold^first,  and 
most  important,  to  reduce  all  the  food  to  a 
pulpy  mass,  so  that  it  may  pass  easily  into  the 


intestine ;  and  secondly,  to  convert  proteids 
into  soluble  peptones,  the  starch.  Sugar,  and 
fat  in  the  food  remaining  (chemically)  un- 
changed. 

Now,  much  of  the  confusion  in  which  the 
literature  of  dyspesia  is  wrapped  is  due  to  the 
fact  that  it  was  formerly  thought  that  the 
main  part  in  gastric  digestion  was  played  by 
the  pepsin,  and  that  the  acid  only  helped  the 
femient  to  do  its  work  of  conversion,  but  in 
the  light  of  recent  research  it  appears  that  the 
hydrochloric  acid  is  the  more  important  of  the 
two  constituents  of  the  gastric  juice.  In  fact. 
the  real  work  of  conversion  of  the  food  is  done 
by  the  pancreatic  and  intestinal  juices  and  by 
the  bile  in  the  small  intestine,  but  if  the  food 
does  not  enter  the  intestine  properly  prepared 
by  the  stomach,  trouble  ensues. 

Properly  speaking,  therefore,  the  hydro- 
chloiic  acid  seizes  two  purposes — it  assists  in 
the  brealnng  up  of  the  food  so  that  all  its  con- 
stituents are  exposed  to  the  action  of  the  in- 
testinal juices  when  it  leaves  the  stomach,  and 
it  acts  on  a  substance  which  is-  present  in  the 
intestinal  walls  (called  pro-secretin)  to  form 
another  body  (called  secretin),  which  so  stimu- 
lates the  pancreas  that  it  pours  out  its  pan- 
creatic juice,  which  converts  not  only  proteids 
into  peptones  but  starch  into  sugars  and  fats 
into  an  absorbable  mixture  of  soap  and  fatty 
emulsion. 

If,  then,  hyroehloric  acid  is  not  formed  in 
sufficient  quantity  in  the  stomach,  there  is 
none  of  it  left  to  stimulate  the  production  of 
pancreatic  juice,  and  if  it  is  present  in  excess 
the  food  has  to  stay  in  the  stomach  until  suf- 
ficient bile  (which  is  alkaline)  has  been  poured 
out  by  the  liver  to  neutralise  that  excess;  in 
both  cases,  therefore,  the  food  stays  too  long 
in  the  stomach. 

In  addition  to  this,  when  the  glands  of  the 
stomach  are  not  acting  properly — whether  acid 
be  deficient  or  in  excess — they  secrete  a  large 
quantity  of  mucus,  which  adheres  to  the  food 
and  prevents  the  proper  access  to  it  of  pepsin 
in  the  stomach,  and  of  the  intestinal  juices 
later  on. 

We  can  now  divide  cases  of  .(functional) 
dyspepsia  into  those  due  to  the  presence  in 
the  stomach  of  too  much  hydrochloric  acid 
and  those  where  it  is  deficient,  and  we  find  in 
practice  that  these  types  of  indigestion  occur 
in  very  different  kinds  of  people;  in  fact,  the 
clinical  distinction  was  recognised  long  before 
the  pathological  reasons  for  it  were  understood. 

Unfortunately  it  is  a  little  difficult  to"  give 
to  the  two  conditions  names  which  stall  be 
sufficiently  brief  and  yet  indicate  the  nature 
of  the  distinction  between  them.     At  present 


■241 


Cbe  Brittsb  3oiu*nal  of  IRurslng. 


[Sept.  2-1,  1910 


the  best  that  I  can  suggest  are  "  robust  "  and 

weakly,"  ahvays  premising  that  the  temis 
apply  to  the  patient's  stomach  and  not  to  the 
man  himself  or  to  his  constitution.  In  the 
robust  type  there  is  too  much  hydrochloric 
acid  and  in  the  weakly  type  too  little. 

Let  us  first  take  a  typical  case  of  the  robust 
variety.  He  is  a  man  in  the  upper  middle 
■class,  who  has  been  more  or  less  athletic  in 
his  school  and  college  days,  but  has  settled 
down  into  "  something  in  the  City,"  or  is,  it 
may  be,  a  professional  man;  at  any  rate,  a 
round  of  golf  on  Saturday  afternoons  has,  per- 
force, replaced  the  daily  cricket  and  football 
of  his  earlier  days. 

His  appetite,  however,  has  not  undergone  a 
con-esponding  change,  and  he  would  describe 
it  as  "healthy":  he  takes  alcohol  fairly 
freely  both  at  lunch,  dinner,  and  as  a  nightcap 
before  going  to  bed,  and  probably  partakes 
of  meat  three  times  a  day,  and  is  liable  to 
constipation.  The  first  thing  that  indicates 
that  there  is  something  wrong  is  the  occur- 
rence of  pain  at  the  pit  of  the  stomach  before 
each  meal,  that  is  to  say  about  the  time  when 
the  stomach  should  have  been  emptied  of  the 
previous  repast;  at  the  same  time,  he  will 
probably  complain  nf  flatulence  directly  after 
food-  and  of  difficulty  with  his  bowels,  which 
no  longer  act  regularly  after  breakfast.  The 
pain  is  relieved  by  the  taking  of  food  or  by  a 
small  whisky  and  soda,  both  of  which  remedies 
have  usually  been  successfully  applied,  but 
now  seem  to  be  losing  their  effect. 

In  addition  to  these  symptoms,  he  may  com- 
plain of  waking  up  about  five  in  the  moi-ning 
with  an  attack  of  pain  in  the  stomach,  or 
flatulence,  or  perhajis  of  vomiting  itself,  on  all 
occasions  when  he  has  had  a  late  supper  at 
which  his  "  healthy  "  appetite  has  been  com- 
pletely satisfied.  Later  on  he  generally 
develops  signs  of  high  arterial  tension,  such 
as  have  been  described  in  a  previous  paper, 
and  thereafter  becomes  a  source  of  income  to 
the  citizens  of  Harrogate  or  some  other  water- 
ing place  once  or  twice  in  the  year. 

Let  us  now  turn  to  the  other  type.  Tlie 
patient  will  be  a  slightly  anaemic  girl  (a  very 
anaemic  one  would  have  i)robably  a  gastric 
ulcer,  which  is  another  story),  who  works  for 
tier  living  in  a  stuffy  atmosphere,  or,  at  all 
rvents,  does  not  get  out  of  doors  vei-y  mucli, 
and  oft  has  but  little  time  for  her  meals, 
which,  if  she  is  a  liospital  nurse,  are  probably 
badly  cool^ed  and  worse  served.  She  will  eat 
but  little,  because  she  will  be  under  the  im- 
pression  that  food  brings  on  pain,  just  as  the 
man  in  the  ])revious  ease  tJiinks  that  it  relieves 
it — incidentally  both   are  very  good   examples 


of  a  "  vicious  circle."  When  the  pain  appears, 
it  is  either  very  shoi'tly  after  each  meal,  or 
more  usually  within  luilf  an  hour  of  its  com- 
pletion, and  it  gradually  diminishes  as  diges- 
tion pi'ogresses ;  there  will  probably  not  be 
much  flatulence,  but  there  may  be  nausea,  or 
even  vomiting,  directly  after  the  principal 
meal ;  the  patient  is  probably  a  teetotaller, 
but  takes  a  cup  of  tea  whenever  she  can  get 
it;  her  arterial  tension  is  below  the  average, 
and  she  ultimately  develops  a  snarling  dis- 
position and  a  red  nose ;  her  tongue  will  be 
pale,  large,  and  flabby,  in  contrast  to  that  of 
the  robust  man,  which  is  small,  red,  and 
pointed. 

If  now  we  give  to  each  of  these  patients  a 
test  meal  of  bread  and  meat,  and  remove  the 
contents  of  the  stomach  (by  the  stomach  tube) 
for  analysis  at  various  periods  afterwards,  we 
shall  find  that,  in  the  case  of  the  man,  the 
contents  are  much  too  acid,  and  in  that  of  the 
woman,  the  hydrochloric  acid  is  deficient,  with 
the  result  that  the  food  stays  too  long  in  the 
stomach  in  each  instance.  The  pain  is  due 
in  the  first  case  to  the  presence  of  free  hydro- 
chloric acid,  and  in  the  latter  to  the  fact  that 
food  is  there  without  any  digestive  juice  to  act 
upon  it. 

Obviously  we  mu«t  treat  these  two  patients 
very  differently,  but  certain  things  are  essen- 
tial to  the  successful  management  of  each. 
Firstly  we  must  deal  with  constipation,  and 
the  best  drug  for  this  purpose  is  calomel,  not 
in  the  heroic  doses  of  the  days  of  our  fore- 
fathers, but  given  preferably  in  quantities  of 
a  grain  or  half  a  grain,  repeated  every  two 
hours  until  three  grains  have  been  adminis- 
tered. Besides  opening  the  bowels  calomel 
also  disinfects  the  intestinal  contents  and  so 
hinders  the  absoi-ption  of  the  products  of  im- 
perfectly digested  nitrogenous  food,  which 
makes  for  high  tension.  Another  useful 
measure  in  each  case  is  a  tumblerful  of  hot 
water  with  a  pinch  of  bicarbonate  of  soda  in 
it  taken  on  rising:  this  acts  by  washing  the 
stomach  and  so  freeing  its  walls  from  the 
sticky  mucus  which  is  present,  more  or  less, 
in  every  case  of  dyspepsia:  if  he  prefers  to 
drink  this  at  so  much  per  time  to  the  accom- 
jianiment  of  gossip  and  an  orchestral  re- 
chauffee  of  the  latest  conuc  sougs  we  can  send 
him  to  a  Spa.  Then  the  mouth  must  be  at- 
tended to,  and  all  carious  teeth  removed  or 
stoi)])e(l :  it  is  well  that  more  than  ordinary 
allention  should  be  paid  to  the  toilette  of  the 
mouth,  an  antiseptic  and  alkaline  wash  being 
emjdoyed  for  this  ]iiu'i)oso.  Exercise  in  the 
open  air  is  desirable,  but  it  is  almost  a  cruelty 
to  prescribe  the  obviously  im])ossibIe.     Tiiere 


Sept.  24,  lOlO; 


Zbc  36rtti3b  3ournal  of  IHursiuG, 


•24.: 


is  no  doubt,  however,  that  dailj'  gyniiiastie 
exercises  in  front  of  an  open  window  for  ten 
minutes  on  rising  are  always  useful  and  gener- 
ally possible. 

Coming  now  to  the  special  treatment  of 
each  form,  we  must  obviously  give  our  man 
less  acid  and  our  woman  more.  Inasmuch  as 
the  hydrochloric  acid  of  the  gastric  secretion 
16  derived  from  common  salt  in  the  diet,  we 
forbid  this  condiment  to  the  man  and  encour- 
age the  woman  to  take  more;  very  many 
"  weakly  "  dyspeptics  do  not  take  salt  at  all 
with  their  meals,  and  men  who  live  well  fre- 
quently take  too  much  in  the  fonn  of  savouries 
and  highly  spiced  dishes. 

Then,  in  the  case  of  the  robust  type  of  dys- 
peptic, we  prescribe  something  that  will  neu- 
tralise the  excess  of  gastric  acid,  and  we  give 
it  when  the  pain  comes  on,  that  is  to  say, 
about  half  an  hour  before  each  meal.  The  car- 
bonates of  bismuth  and  of  soda  are  perhaps 
the  most  useful  drugs  here,  and  we  may  give 
twenty  grains  of  each.  For  the  weakly  type, 
we  prescribe  hydrochloric  acid  itself  imme- 
diately after  meals,  with  a  little  bitter  tonic 
such  as  the  infusion  of  gentian ;  strychnine 
may  usefully  be  added  to  impart  vigour  to  the 
movements  of  the  stomach. 

(To  be  continued.) 


be  a  uniform  standard  of  examination  for  th'- 
whole  kingdom.  This  uniformity  could  onl\ 
be  obtained  by  taking  the  examinations  out  ol 
the  hands  of  interested  bodies  and  placing 
them  under  independent  control. 


a  Great  %053  to  St.  3obn'e 
Ibousc. 


Iproeress  of  State  IRegistration. 

\^'e  acknowledge  with  inuch  gratitude  12s. 
kindly  foi-warded  through  the  Lady  Superinten- 
dent, !Mrs.  Kildare  Treacy,  by  members  of  the 
nursing  staff  of  the  City  of  Dublin  Xursing  In- 
stitution, Dublin,  in  support  of  the  work  of  the 
Society-  for  the  State  Registration  of  Xurses. 
Next  month  we  hope  the  Eegistrationists  of 
the  United  Kingdom  will  individually  begin  an 
active  campaign  in  support  of  this  reform, 
which,  to  -judge  from  recent  events  in  the 
nursing  world,  is  more  urgently  necessary  than 
ever,  if  professional  standards  already  attained 
are  to  be  maintained,  and  the  negligent  care  of 
the  sick  in  many  institutions  improved. 

Our  earnest  hope  is  that  the  nurses'  organisa- 
tions will  concentrate  themselves  on  Registra- 
tion during  the  coming  Sesston  of  Parliament. 


Dr.  C.  \Y.  Stewart,  M.A.,  D.P.H.,  in  the 
course  of  an  address  at  the  opening  of  the 
session  of  the  Nureing  Association,  Scotia 
Street,  Glasgow,  said  that  the  State  Registra- 
tion of  Nurses  was  of  tlie  greatest  importance 
both  to  the  nursing  profession  and  to  those  of 
the  public  who  required  tlieir  services.  But  to 
ni:il<''  til.'  r.-'_'istr.-itinii  .if  ;mv  value  there  must 


It  is  with  great  regret  we  leam  that  the 
Sister  Superior  of  St.  John's  House,  Queen 
Square,  Bloomsbury,  is  shortly  retiring  from 
active  work,  after  holding  the  office  for  seven- 
teen years,  during  which  time  she  has  done 
much  to  benefit  the  nurees  and  to  maintain 
the  prestige  which  the  House  has  enjoyed  ever 
since  its  foundation  in  1848. 

During  Sister  Charlotte's  term  of  office  the 
Nurses'  Pension  Fund  has  been  consolidated, 
the  houses  in  Norfolk  Street,  where  St.  John's 
House  was  located  for  so  many  years,  given 
up,  and  a  house  suited  to  its  purposes  built  in 
Queen  Square;  the  Norfolk  Street  Chapel 
endeared  by  many  memoiies  being  removed 
and  rebuilt  on  the  new  site. 

St.  John's  House  has  never  been  simply  a 
commercial  speculation,  but  has  taken  its  share 
in  promoting  nursing  education  and  in  estab- 
lishing good  fellowship  between  nurses  of 
different  institutions.  The  present  Sister 
Superior  has  worthily  maintained  its  best  tra- 
ditions, and  to  her  is  due  the  foundation  of  the 
League  of  St.  -John's  House  Nurses;  Sister 
Charlotte  from  the  first  being  elected  its  Presi- 
dent, an  office  which  she  now  holds.  It  will  be 
remembered  that  last  year,  when  the  Inter- 
national Council  of  Nurses  met  in  London,  its 
membei-s  were  invited  to  a  reception  at  St. 
•John's  House,  and  the  League  also  took  part 
in  the  Nursing  Exhibition  held  at .  the  same 
time.  Sister  Charlotte  will  be  very  greatly 
missed  by  the  nurses  of  the  staff,  for  her  rule 
has  been  characterised  by  justice  and  liberality 
of  outlook,  on  all  professional  matters,  while 
she  has  endeared  herself  to  them  by  many  acts 
of  personal  kindness. 

When  the  resignation  of  the  Sister  Superior 
takes  effect  the  connection  of  the  Community 
of  St.  Peter's  Sisters  with  the  House  will  cease, 
as  it  is  found  impossible  to  spare'jinother  Sister 
for  this  work ;  this  will  be  an  additional  sorrow 
to  the  nurses,  as  the  ^lother  Superior  at  one 
time  worked  at  St.  John's  House,  and  she 
therefore  has  an  intimate  knowledge  of  its 
needs.  When  the  Community  of  St.  Teter's, 
Kilburn,  retires,  the  charge  of  St.  John's 
House  will  be  taken  over  by  the  Community 
of  St.  Mariraret,  East  Grinstead. 


246 


^be  36r(t(9b  3ournal  of  IRursina.        tsept.  24, 1910 


Servants  of  nDan^?in^. 

KOCHER.  THE  GREAT  GOITRE  SPECIALIST. 

_  A  few  notes  on  one  oi  the  winners  of  the 
Xobel  prizes  may  be  of  interest.  The  prizes  are 
a\i-arded  to  those  who  are  considered  to  have 
rendered  the  greatest  service  to  mankind,  and 
one  was  won  last  year  by  the  eminent  .surgeon, 
Professor  Kocher,  of  Berne. 

Kocher  was  born  of  simple  parentage  in  the 
eounti-y  region  of  the  Canton  of  Berne.  It  was 
entirely  owing  to  his  zeal  and  capacity  for  work 
that  the  fund  for  his  studies  were  provided,  and 
fliese  qualities,  added  to  his  genius  for  diagnosis 


land  and  the  European  continent,  but  from  all 
over  the  world.  .Millionaires  and  others  have 
to  wait  patiently — sometimes  for  weeks — until 
the  great  surgeon  has  time  to  see  them. 

Kocher's  activity  is  wonderful.  Although  he 
is  nearly  70,  he  is  at  the  hospital  evei-j-  morning 
at  7.30.  He  visits  his  cases,  delivers  lectures, 
and  performs  operations  till  midday.  In  the 
afternoon  his  time  is  given  to  his  private 
patients.  Five  in  the  evening  he  is  generally 
at  the  hospital  again.  His  own  private  hospital 
has  also  to  be  attended  to.  And  all  this  is 
done  with  the  enthusiasm,  vitality,  and  rapidity 
which    is    generally    associated    wifh    youth. 


PROFESSOR  KOCHER,  OF  BERNE. 


lud  surgery,  have  raised  him  to  his  present 
honoured  position  in  the  world  of  medicine. 

Kocher's  literary  \\orks  are  of  great  value, 
•specially,  perhaps,  his  writings  on  military 
surgery,  such  as  liis  well-known  treatise  on 
iiio<lern  gunshot  wounds.  ?Iis  general  surgery 
js  brilliant,  but  his  celebrity  is  chiefly  due  to 
his  discoveries  in  the  etiology  of  the  diseases  of 
the  thyroid  gland  and  his  successful  treatment 
■  >i  tlieni.  He  was  the  fimt  to  attempt  operative 
treatment,  of  goitre.  His  first  operation  was 
performed  in  the  early  eighties,  and  by  now  he 
has  done  over  two  thousand !  He  generally 
uses  local  anesthetics  for  the  purpose,  as  he 
■onsiders  a  general  one  unsuitable. 

Patients  come  to  him,  not  only  from  Eng- 


though  many  young  people  are  older  than 
Kocher  from  the  time  thej-  are  born.  His 
bright  eyes,  (juick  movements,  and  speech 
often  make  his  assistants  and  nurses  wish  they 
could  keep  pace  with  him.  I  was  pi'ivileged  to 
attend  one  of  Kocher's  clinical  demonstrations 
to  students  in  tiie  lecture  theatre  of  the 
General  Hospital  at  Berne.  And  here  I  will 
incidentally  remaik  that  one  knows  how 
advanced  medical  and  surgical  science  is  at 
Bei-ne,  and  that  therefore  one  regrets  the  more 
certain  nursing  deficiencies.  For  instance,  it 
struck  one's  English  hospital  mind  disagreeably 
on  the  occasion  I  am  describing,  that  no  niu'se 
remained  with  the  patient.  Tiie  doors  opposite 
the    amphitheatre    are    flung   open,    and    the 


Sept.  -24,  I'.'lM 


Cbc  Britlsb  3ournal  of  IRursino. 


247 


patient  is  caniod  or  wliec  led  in.  He  finds  him- 
self before  a  sea  of  strange  faces,  and  often 
has  to  undergo  a  painful  examination  without 
the  friendly  hand  and  face  of  the  ward  nurse 
to-  console  him.  The  same  thing  happens  in 
the  case  of  women  and  children.  On  this 
occasion  the  fir.<t  patient  was  a  man  of  about 
thirty,  a  stalwart  peasant,  who  was  wheeled  in 
in  his  bed.  Two  students  were  called  down 
from  their  seats,  and  had  to  stand  by  tlie  bed- 
side to  undergo  the  formidable  ordeal  of  being 
questioned  by  Kocher.  The  latter  explained 
that  the  man  had  been  brought  in  complaining 
of  great  pain  in  the  thigh  after  a  fall  from  a 
bicycle.  There  had  beeu  no  wound  and  no 
signs  of  fracture,  and  no  cause  for  the  pain 
could  be  discovered.  Kocher  had  thereupon 
made  an  incision.  He  found  nothing,  but  next 
day  an  abscess  on  the  l)one  manifested  itself. 
"  What,"  said  Kocher,  tm'ning  to  one  of  the 
students,  "  do  you  attribute  this  to?"  The 
unfortunate  man  ventured,,  after  some  hesita- 
tion, to  say,  "  To  septic  infection,"  and  Kocher 
thereupon  asked  whether  he  accused  him, 
Kocher,  of  introducing  germs  with  his  instm- 
ments.  The  tone  was  light  and  bantering,  but 
one  felt  son-y  for  the  youth,  particularly  as 
the  answer,  as  far  as  it  went,  was  eoreect. 

The  Professor  then  explained  the  history  of 
the  case.  He  had  re-qtiestioned  the  man  after 
the  abscess  had  foniied.  and  ascertained  that 
some  time  previous  to  the  fall  he  had  cut  his 
hand  with  a  fork  with  which  he  had  been 
carrying  manure.  The  W'Ound  had  suppurated 
badly.  "That,"  said  Kocher.  "is  how  the 
germs  entered  the  circulation.  And  when  the 
man  had  the  fall  and  bruised  the  bone,  the  cocci 
found  the  injured  area  a  congenial  spot  to 
settle  in  and  multiply.  When  you  caniiot 
account  for  a  similar  septic  condition,  always 
find  out  whether  there  is  any  histon"  of  a  pre- 
vious infection. "  Kocher  concluded  his  lecture 
on  the  case  thus,  and  possibly  the  hint  may  be 
of  use  to  nurses  also. 

E.  L.  C.  Eden. 


Ipiactical  ipoints. 


Ibealtb  an^  fll>oralit^. 

A  Private  Conference  on  Health  and  Morality 
is  being  arranged  to  be  held  in  London  on  Wed- 
nesday, November  23rd.  Women  doctors, 
trained  nurses.  Guardians,  and  Eescue  Workers 
will  be  invited.  The  Editor  will  be  pleased  to 
obtain  tickets  for  Xursis  who  desire  to  attend 
the  meeting.  We  are  glad  to  note  in  reports  of 
addresses  by  doctor.*  '^o  nurses  in  the  United 
States  that  the  vital  importance  of  morality  to 
the  health  of  a  nation  is  being  impressed  upon 
them. 


Till-     Lancet    reports    that 
The  Dirty  Prote^iior  Joseph   P.    R<'min^- 

Medicine  Bottle,  ton.  a  prominent  plmrmaceu- 
tical  teacher,  in  aAlressing  a 
section  ot  the  American  Medical  Association  at 
the  recent  meeting  at  .St.  Ixyxiis.  calle<l  attention 
to  the  useful  work  i\hicli  tltc  pharmacist  oan  do 
in  tlie  wav  of  preventing  inlection  from  har,mful 
bacteria.  Bv  way  of  illustration,  lie  state<i  that 
picctices  which  had  been  followed  by  careless  and 
igi  orant  druggi.<its,  have  most  undoubtedly  in- 
creased the  death-rate  in  the  past.  Thus  liottles 
and  boxes  coming  direct  from  an  infected  sick 
room  have  frequently  been  refilled  without  pi-opt^r 
cleansing.  It  is  obvious  that  the  blamo  for  this 
dangerous  practice  rests  largely  with  the  nurse  in 
chai-ge  of  the  case,  who  should  see  that  oorks  and 
boxes  from  infected  quartern  are  destroyed,  and 
that  Ijottles  and  other  utensils  are  properly  steril- 
ised before  passing  into  other  hands.  Corks  are 
particularly  dangerous  as  germ  bearei-s,  and  there 
is  no  valid  excuse  for  using  them  a  second  time. 
TJie  old  practice  of  biting  a  cork  to  soften  it  and 
moistening  it  with  the  tongue  to  make  it  fit  tTie 
neck  of  tlie  bottle  are  not  altogether  obsolete,  dis- 
gusting though  they  are.  The-  necessity  for  scru- 
pulous cleanliness  in  dispensing  is  especially 
evident  in  the  case  of  hyijodermic  injections  and 
collyria.  Care  -should  be  taken  to  sterilise  the 
liquid  to  remove  all  flocculi  and  particles  of  du.st, 
and  to  use  perfectly  clean  utensils  and  containers. 
Such  precautions  call  for  greater  care  in  the 
storage  of  dispensing  materials  and  containers  tlian 
is  usually  met  with.  A  glance  at  the  back  of  a 
dispensing  screen  too  often  reveals  row  after  row 
of  dusty  bottles  and  jars,  and  syrup  bottles  coated 
around  the  neck  with  crystalline  sugar  and  dust, 
upon  which  flies  find  a  happy  hunting  ground. 


Dr.  I.  S.  Stone,  writing  in 
Skin  Sterilisation     the  Sotithern  Medical  Jovrna!. 
by  Tincture  of       considers     that     tincture    of 
Iodine.  iodine   is  the  best  skin  disin- 

fectant now  known.  Experi- 
ments have  been  i)eifornied  which  clearly  demon- 
strates that  iodine  has  the  power  of  penetrating 
deeply  into  the  layer.s  of  the  .skin.  The  spaces  be- 
tween these  layers  are  occupied  by  the  various  forms 
of  bacteria,  fat,  sweat,  etc.  The  inter-  and  intra- 
cellular capillary  and  lymph  spares  all  commiuiicate 
with  these  layers  of  epithelium,  and  it  is  con- 
clusively shown  that  iodine  jjenetrates  into  all  of 
these  various  clefts  and  openings  of  the  skin.  The 
alcohol  of  the  tincture  dissolves  the'  fat,  while 
iodine  has  a  special  penetrative  quality  of  its  own 
and  forms  a  chemical  combination-  with  the  fatty 
acids  of  the  skin,  which  combination  is  quickly 
absorbed.  The  author  believes  that  the  soap  and 
water  cleansing  is  wrong  in  principle,  as  the  intra- 
cellular spaces  are  fille<l  with  the  soap  solution, 
whicli  prevents  the  action  of  the  alcohol.  'After  tlie 
operation  is  completed  a  final  application  is  made 
over  the  closed  wound  before  applying  the  sterile 
dressing. 


248 


Cbc  Brttlsb  3ournaI  of  iRurslng. 


[Sept.  24,  1910 


^raintng    tor    Monien   Ibealtb 
IDisitors  ant)  School  IRnrees. 

On  the  10th  of  October  a  Course  of  Lectures  will 
commence  at  the  Eoyal  Sanitary  Institute,  90, 
Buckingham  Palace  Road,  London,  S.AV.,  to  assist 
students  entering  for  the  Examinations  on  Hygiene 
in  its  bearing  on  School  Life,  and  for  Women 
Health  Visitors  and  School  Xurses.  The  Course 
will  consist  of  Lectures  and  Practical  Demonstra- 
tions on  Physiology,  Personal  Hygiene,  and  the 
Sanitation  of  School  Buildings  and  Dwellings,  The 
Hygiene  of  Child  Life  and  Educational  Methods. 
The  Local  Government  Board  accepts  the  certifi- 
cate of  the  Royal  Sanitary  Institute  as  one  of  the 
qualifications  for  the  appointnjent  of  Health  Visi- 
tor, and  the  Education  Committee  of  the  London 
County  Council  also  accept  it  for  certain  appoint- 
ments. 

<Siueen  IDictoiia's  3ut>ilee  3nstitute 
for  IRurecs. 


EXAMINATION   FOR  THE    ROLL    OF  QUEEN'S 
NURSES,  SEPTEMBER   15th,«1910. 

1.  AVhat  do  you  niojin  by  infection.*  Describe  the 
«teps  you  would  take  in  different  cases  of  infectious 
<lisease  to  lessen  the  danger  of  the  infection  spread- 
ing. 

2.  AVhat  is  eclampsia?  AATiat  are  the  symptoms 
•which  accompany  it  ?  How  would  you  deal  wifh  an 
•eclamptic  convulsion  in  the  district  in  the  absence 
of  a  doctor? 

.3.  Explain  the  advantage  of  a  mixed  diet.  Give 
&  suitable  and  economical  week's  diet  for  a  case 
of  phthisis  and  of  acute  rheumatism. 

4.  Contrast  the  compositions  of  inspired  and  ex- 
pired air.  How  does  this  show  the  necessity  for 
good  ventilation  ? 

•5.  What  do  you  understand  by  the  following 
terms? 

(a)  Dyspncca. 

(h)  Cheync-Stoke's  brpathing. 

(c)  Oedema. 

(d)  Cyanosis. 

,     (e)  Podiculi  capitis. 
6.  How    would   you    deal    with    a   case  of   acute 
hsemoptysis   in    the    district    before    the      doctor's 
arrival? 

TRANSFERS  AND  APPOINTMENTS. 
Miss  Mary   C'rackiicll,   to    Sick   R<Mim   Helps,   as 
Senior  Xurse:  Mi'^s  Marion  Bird,  to  Huddersfield; 
•  ^[iss  Anna  Davics,  to  Naiitile  Vale. 


PARISH  NURSE 
A  meeting  of  the  Executive  Conimittce  of  the 
Wales  Parish  Nursing  Fund  was  held  on  Wediies- 
<lay,  in  order  to  appoint  a  nurse  to  succeed  Nurse 
.\ubin,  who  is  leaving  to  take  up  an  appointment  at 
C'romer.  Eighty-two  application.*  were  received  for 
tlio  post,  and  after  careful  consideration,  it  was 
■  liridod  to  appoint  Nurse  Latham,  a  lady  with  very 
high   qualifications. 


Hppointments. 

L.\Dy   SCPERIXTEXDESTS. 
The   Melbourne   Hospital,  Victoria,   Australia. — Miss  Bell 

has  just  been  appointed  Lady  Superintendent  of 
the  ^Melbourne  Hospital.  She  was  trained  at  the 
Royal  Prince  Alfred  Hospital,  Sydney,  N.S.W., 
and  Queen  Charlotte's  Lying-in  Hospital,  London. 
Miss  Bell  has  had  a  very  extensive  experience  in 
nursing  and  training  school  administration.  She 
has  held  the  positions  of  Ward,  Night  Superintend- 
ing, and  Housekeeping  Sister  at  the  Royal  Prince 
Alfred  Hospital;  ^Matron  of  the  Bundaberg  Hospi- 
tal, Queensland ;  ^latron  and  Superintendent  of 
Nurses  at  the  Brisbane  Hospital,  Queensland;  and 
Senior  Assistant  Lady  Superintendent  at  the  Royal 
Infirmary,  Edinburgh,  from  February,  1909,  to  the 
present  date.  Miss  Bell  is  also  a  Certified  Midwife. 
AVe  should  imagine  no  candidate  could  have  been 
selected  as  Lady  Superintendent  for  the  Melbourne 
Hospital  more  efficiently  trained  for  that  position, 
or  whose  appointment  Avould  be  more  gratifying  to 
the  Australasian  nursing  world. 

Newcastle-on-Tyne  Nurses'  Home  and  Training  School. 
— Miss  Mildred  Emery  has  been  appointed  Lady 
Superintendent.  She  was  trained  at  the  Royal 
Infinnarj-,  Fxlinburgh.  and  the  Newcastle-on-Tyne 
Lying-in  Hospital.  Miss  Emery's  previous  ex- 
perience includes  that  of  Matron  to  the  Royal  In- 
firmary Nurses'  Home  of  Rest,  Colinton,  and  Sister 
at  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Edinburgh,  from  1909,  to 
present  date.     She  is  also  a  Certified  Midwife. 

Matrons. 

Liverpool,  Royal  Southern  Hospital Miss  Lucy  Eleanor 

Jolley  has  \yv^^n  ap|»iiited  Matron.  She  wa» 
trained  at  Guy's  Hospital.  London,  where  she 
gained  her  certificate  for  three  yeai-s'  training  in 
1906.  Miss  Jolley  was  subsequently  Instructress 
in  the  Preliminary  Training  School  and  Night 
Sister  until  1908,  and  has  held  the  position  of  School 
Inspector  at  Ipswich.  Miss  Jolley  holds  the  Guy's 
Nurses'  Medal  for  five  years'  service,  and  the  cer- 
tificates of  the  Central  Midwives'  Board  and  the 
Incorjiorated  Scxicty  of  Trained  Masseuses. 

Medical  College  Hospitals,  Calcutta. — Miss  B.  Steven- 
son, Matron  of  the  Hromliead  Institution  for  Nurses 
at  Lincoln,  has  been  appointed  Matron  of  the 
above  group  of  ho.si)itals  carried  on  under  the  aus- 
pices of  the  India  Medical  Service,  and  which  re- 
quire thorough  reorganisation  in  the  nursing  de- 
partments. Miss  Stevenson,  who  will  sail  early  in 
October,  will  take  with  her  three  Sisters  from  the 
London  Hospital,  E.,  who  will  act  as  Senior  .\s- 
sistants.  The  appointment  is  a  responsible  one, 
for  each  ho.spital  is  (ompletely  fitted  for  different 
treatment.s,  and  there  is  a  students'  ino<lical  col- 
lege attached.  The  hospitals,  it  is  interesting  to 
note,  are  sitnntid  aniongst  the  native  population, 
quite    away    fnuii    l''.iiro])ean   civilisation. 

General  Hospital,  Simonstown, South  Africa. — Miss  Love- 
ridge  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was  trained 
at  the  Bagthorp<'  lufirniary.   Nottingham. 

Birmingham  Ear  and  Throat  Hospital. — Miss  T/Ouisa 
Strickland  lias  Immii  ap|)oititc<l  Matiou.  She  was 
tiiaiueil  at    University     College    H<^*.pit«l,     I/ondon, 


Sept.  24,  iPio]       ^f5c  Britieb  Journal  of  iRiueiiKt 


249 


Tras  Theatre  Sister  end  Night  Superintendent  at 
the  Samaritan  Free  Hospital,  I<ondon,  and  is  at 
present  Matron  of  the  Victoria  Infirmary,  North- 
Mich. 

Assistant  Matron; 

Victoria   Infirmary,  Glasgow Miss  Janet  Rodger  has 

been  appointpd  Assistant  Matron.  She  was  trained 
at  that  institution,  and  has  held  the  position  of 
Sister  to  the  Electrical  Department. 

SlSTER-IN-CnAROE. 
Kelghley  and  Bingley  Joint  Hospital  Sanatorium.  -Miss 
N.  Wilson  has  been  appointed  Sister-in-Charge. 
She  was  trained  at  Bethnal  Green  Infirmary,  Lon- 
-don,  where  she  was  promoted  to  be  Sister.  Miss 
"Wilson  has  also  had  experience  in  private  nursing. 

Sci'ERINTKNDENT   XuRSE. 

Isle  of  Wight  Union — iliss  E.  Ruddock  has  been 
appointed  Superintendent  Xurse.  She  was  trained 
at  Chorlton  I'nion  Hospital,  and  has  been  Charge 
Xurse  at  Crossland  Moor,  Huddersfield,  and  Super- 
intendent Nurse  at  Deanhouse  Hospital,  Hudders- 
field. 

Night  Sister. 

Borough    Hospital,    Birkenhead Mies  Alice  Todd  has 

been  appointed  Night  Sister.  She  was  trained  at 
Bury  Dispensary  Hospital,  and  has  held  the  posi- 
tion of  Sister  and  Theatre  Sister  at  the  General 
Hospital,  Lougliborough. 

Sisters. 
Grantham  Hospital — Miss  A.  B.  Close  has  been  ap- 
point-ed   Sister.      She  was  trained  at  the   County 
Hospit.al,  Lincoln. 

Newport  and  County  Hospital,  Newport,  Mon.-^Miss 
■Gladys  Alexander  has  been  appointed  Sister.  She 
was  trained  at  Newport,  and  has  since  held 
the  positions  of  Nurse  at  Abergavenny  Cottage 
Hospital,  and  Staff  Nurse  at  the  Newport  Hospital. 
Charge  Nurses. 

The  Darlington  Hospital — iliss  L.  Atkinson  has  been 
appointed  Charge  Nurse  of  the  Children's  Ward. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Macclesfield  General  Infir- 
mary, and  has  there  done  temporary  and  holiday 
Sister's  duties. 

Plymouth  Workhouse  Infirmary — Miss  Sara  E.  Chil- 
ton and  Miss  Helen  Nensham  have  been  appointed 
Charge  Nurses.  The  former  received  her  training 
at  the  Durham  County  Hospital,  and  the  latter  at 
St.  Liike's  Hospital,  Halifax. 

Coole  Joint  Hospital. — Miss  Helena  Scully  has  been 
appointed  Charge  Nurse.  She  was  trained  at 
Monsall  Fever  Hospital,  Manchester,  and  has  been 
Assistant  Nur.se  at  Liverpool  City  Hospital, 
Charge  Nurse  at  Calverley,  Yorks,  and  has  done 
private  nursing. 

Craiglelth  Hospital,  Edinburgh. — Miss  Laurie  and 
"Miss  Oliver  have  been  appointed  Charge  Nurses. 
They  were  trained  at  Stobhill  Hospital,  Glasgow. 


QUEEN     ALEXANDRAS    IMPERIAL    MILITARY 
NURSING    SERVICE. 

The  undermentione<l  ladies  to  be  StafI  Nurses 
(provisionally): — Miss  B.  Jackson  (Aug.  29);  Miss 
T).  C.   Isaacson  (Sept.  I). 

Miss  E,  S.  Mason,  Sister,  resigns  her  appoint- 
ment (September  14th). 


presentations. 

TO  MISS  E.  8.   FORTESCUE. 

In  the  presence  <?f  members  of  the  Board  of 
Management  and  many  subscribers.  Miss  Ethel  S. 
Fortescue,  the  Matron  of  the  Torbay  Hospital, 
Torquay,  was  presented  on  the  14th  inst.  with  a 
cheque  for  £121,  and  a  beautifully-illuminated 
address,  upon  her  retirement  from  the  position  of 
Matron  of  the  Institution,  aft.Gr  discharging  the 
duties  for  nearly  eight  years.  The  address  was 
contained  in  an  album,  bound  in  red  morocco,  on 
the  cover  of  which  were  Miss  Fortescue's  initials 
in  gold.  On  the  page  containing  the  address  was  a 
coloured  sketch  of  the  hospital,  and  the  wording 
was:  "  Presented  to  Miss  Ethel  S.  Fortescue,  with 
the  accompanying  gift,  by  the  undersigned  sub- 
scibers,  as  a  token  of  appreciation  and  esteem,  on 
her  retirement  after  eight  years'  devoted  service 
as  Matron  of  the  Torbay  Hospital."  The  names  of 
the  1-51  subscribers  followed.  Miss  Fortescue  was 
also  the  recipient  of  a  toilet  set,  with  her  initials 
in  silver  on  the  back  of  each  article,  from  the 
Sisters  and  nurses,  and  of  a  silver  coffee  jug  from 
the  cook,  maids,  and  porters  of  the  Institution. 

Colonel  Carey,  the  President  of  the  Hospital,  in 
making  the  presentation,  asked  Miss  Fortescue's 
acceptance  of  this  small  token  of  their  respect  and 
of  their  high  esteem  and  appreciation  of  her  in- 
valuable services  to  the  hospital.  He  stated  that 
her  constant  kindness  and  attention  to  the  many 
patients  had  obtained  their  abiding  gratitude  and 
that  of  their  friends  and  all  interested  in  the 
institution. 

Miss  Fortescue  acknowledged  the  gifts  in  an 
eloquent  little  speech,  in  which  she  thanked  all  her 
friends  for  their  past  and  present  kindness. 


TO  MISS  ANNA  SINCLAIR. 
Miss  Anna  Sinclair,  recently  appointed  Matron 
of  the  Children's  Shelter  at  Edinburgh,  who  has 
been  in  charge  of  the  Nursing  at  Fort  George  Gar- 
rison during  the  past  four  years,  was  the  pioneer 
of  "  Alexandra "  Nursing  in  the  North.  Before 
leaving  to  take  up  her  new  appointment  she 'was 
presented  with  a  silver  sugar  basin  and  cream  jug. 
The  articles  are  very  massive  and  of  exquisite  work- 
manship, and  bear  the  following  inscription : — 
"  Presented  to  Miss  Sinclair  as  a  token  of  gratitude 
by  the  women  of  Fort-George  Garrison.  1910." 
Eighteen  months  ago  the  Highland  Light  Infantry, 
before  leaving  Fort-George,  presented  Miss  Sin- 
clair with  a  silver  teapot. 


A  WINDFALL. 
Miss  Emily  Knowles,  of  Sussex  Place,  W.,  has 
left  £.5,000  each  to  the  following  London  hospitals: 
Charing  Cross,  the  Middlesex,  University  College, 
Royal  Free,  St.  George's,  St.  Mary's,  the  London, 
the  Cancer,  the  Chelsea  Hospital  for  AVomen,  the 
British  Home  for  Incurables,  Queen  Charlotte's, 
and  £1,000  each  to  Dr.  Barnardo's  Homes  a'nd  the 
Royal  .Society  for  the  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to 
Animals. 


250 


Sbe  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRursing. 


[Sept.  24,  1910 


IRuraing  JEcboes. 


are    pleased    to    note 
a     proposal     to     com- 


that 

uremorate  the  services  of  the 
late  Miss  Florence  Nightin- 
gale by  i:)lacing  a  marble 
bust  of  her  in  the  Guildhall, 
or  in  ,some  other  \^'ay,  will 
come  Ijefore  the  Corporation 
at  an  early  date.  Miss 
Nightingale,  it  will  be  re- 
membered, received  the 
honorary     Freedom    of     the 


City  in  1908. 


"  Nurse  B,"  in  the  Daily  Chronicle,  makes 
the  suggesti/o(u  that  all  persons  other  than 
trained  nurses  should  pay  duty  on  wearing 
nursing  unifoiTn-«-.so  many  domestics  have  now 
adopted  it.  The  difficulty  is  to  enforce  such  a 
licence. 


We  have  observed  severa]  suggestions  in  the 
press  recently,  that  male  unemployment  might 
be  decreased  by  the  adoption  by  young  men  of 
the  nursing  profession.  There  is  no  doubt, 
when  women  have  raised  and  legalised  this 
work  by  their  strenuous  labour,  more  men  will 
avail  themselves  of  its  organised  benefits. 


Why  has  it  never  been  considered  necessary 
to  provide  Best  Cure  Homes  ■  for  the  poor  ? 
Not  merely  convalescent .  homes,  but  institu- 
tions where  treatment,  perfect  rest  in  bed  for 
a  month  or  more,  with  forced  feeding  and  mas- 
sage. "  Nil  Humani  Alienum  "  invites  con- 
sideration of  this  question  in  the  daily  press. 


"The  appalling  mystery,"  lie  writhes,  "of  the 
neunastheiiic  ,st«tf.  whatevfr  its  true  nature  may 
bo,  must  Siurely  appeal  to  your  rcadere  as  .soon  a.s 
they  realise  the  need.  It  is  only  less,  if  it  lie  less. 
than  the  misery  of  insanity  itself :  and  it  may  well 
Ik)  greater,  beoanse  the  neurasthenic  is  sane  enough 
to  appreciate  his  own  exceeding  wretchedness. 


"  Whatever  conclusion  (if  any)  is  reached  as  to 
the  relative  strain  of  mental  and  manual  work, 
there  seems  to  be  a  consensus  of  exiK>rt  opinion  that 
on©  of  the  great  factore — if  not  the  gi'eate*t — in 
nervous  breakdown  is  ivainful  emotion  ;  and  no  one 
can  deny  tliat  tliis  element  is  as  prevalent  among 
the  ]>oor  ns  among  the  rich  :  their  anxieties  and 
griefs,  if  <liffeieiit  in  kind  and  less  subtle  in  nature. 
are  obvii>usly  often  ov<>i-whelmuig  in  degret^.  and 
frequently  come  from  the  great  elemental  things 
and  touch  the  very  Ijedrock  of  human  needs  and 
passions. 


lie  enormous;  tin-  risks  of  abuse  would  Ije  con- 
siderable, tliougb  lj,\-  no  means  .so  great  as  the  lay- 
man might  supixfst' ;  but  as  long  as  no  pioi>er  .sys- 
tem of  "  lest  cur«'  '  is  provided  for  the  iX)Or  we  -ii 
this  country  cannot  make  the  proud  txrast  we  are 
apt  to  make,  and  »e  ought  to  he  able  to  make — 
viz.,  that  the  medical  needs  of  the  [xwr  are  well 
.seen  to,  and  that  (thank  (kxl)  still  almost  wholly, 
despite  Socialism,  despite  '  minority  reports,"  in 
the  immortal  words  of  the  mythical  Frenchman,  by 
'  Monsieur  Voluntary  Cuntriljution,"  by  the  free 
gifts  of  the  rich." 

In  the  coimty  of  Lincoln  a  scheme  has  been 
set  on  foot  to  raise  a  memorial  to  the  memory 
of  Florence  Nightingale,  and  it  is  thought  that 
no  more  suitable  memorial  could  be  suggested. 
than  that  the  work  of  the  Lincolnshire  Nursing 
Association  should  be  enlarged  and  augmented 
by  scholarships  given  to  assist  in  the  training 
of  women  who  are  suitable  for  the  profession, 
and  that  each  scholarship  should  be  called  a 
Nightingale  Scholarship.  In  addition  to  the 
ordinary  subscribers,  it  is  suggested  that  a  Shil- 
ling Fund  be  opened  in  every  district  where  the 
nurses  of  the  Association  are  employed. 


Dr.  Davy  is  making  an  appeal  on  behalf  of 
the  Exeter  Distriet  Nursing  Association,  in 
affiliation  with  'the  Queen  Victoria  Jubilee  In- 
stitute. The  time  has  long  since  passed  when 
it  was  necessaiw  to  urge  the  desirability  of 
nurses  being  available  for  attendance  on  the 
sick  poor.  The  Major  and  ^Mayoress  of  the 
city  have  taken  up  the  matter  enthusiastically, 
and  are  supporting  the  claims  of  the  Associa- 
tion, and.  this  being  so,  it  is  not  too  much  to 
hope  that  the  comparatively  small  debt  which 
remains  on  the  initiation  of  the  scheme  will 
soon  be  met. 


At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  Committee  of 
Dundee  Sick  Poor  Nursing  Society  a  report  was 
submitted  from  the  Superintendent  of  the 
Scottish  Branch  of  (jueen  Victoria's  .Jubilee  In- 
stitute for  Nurses  upon  the  work  of  the  Queen's 
nurses  in  Dundee,  inspected  in  August,  which 
sets  forth  that  each  nurse  whose  work  was  seen 
showed  capability  and  a  kindly  spirit,  that  the 
nurses'  equipment  was  in  good  order,  their 
uniform  neat,  their  Ixwks  up-to-date  and 
neatly  kept,  that  the  nursing  work  goes  on  well, 
and  that  there  is  n  good  spirit  in  the  Home. 


"  The  cost  of  organising  any  adequate  .system  for 
dealing  with  such   cases  would,   I   am   well   aware, 


It  may  specially  interest  school  nurses  to 
know  that  tiie  current  issue  of  School  Hi/girur 
is  a  special  "  Congress  Number,"  and  contains 
a  very  full  and  eNealleiit  report  of  the  third  In- 
ternational Congress  on  School  Hj-giene  which 
was  held  in  Paris  last  month. 


Sept.  24,  mill, 


(Tbc  36riti6b  3ournal  of  IHursing, 


liol 


Dr.  L.  Hadt.li  lliii'st,  in  ilcscribiiig  tlie  sug- 
gi'stetl  orgauisation  of  a  scliool  clinic  iu  the 
Daily  St  ivs,  coiisidei-s  tliat  as  in  every  closely- 
populated  locality  schools  arc  built  fairly  close 
to  each  other,  and  fall  into  groups,  to  serve 
a  group  of  schoc>ls  only  one  school  clinic  is  re- 
quired, and  in  a  thick'y-populated  neighbour- 
hood one  clinic  may  very  well  serve  for  sixteen 
or  twenty  echools,  with  a  school  population  of 
something  under  a  thousand  each. 


"  In  order  to  start  a  school  clinic  all  that  is 
needed  is  to  find  some  convenient  building 
situated  in  the  centre  of  the  group,  or  as  near 
this  as  may  be.  It  is  desirable,  especially  for 
small  children,  to  have  the  clinic  not  more  than 
twenty  minutes'  walk  from  any  school.  Greater 
distances  are  inconvenient,  and  much  smaller 
distances  highly  desirable.  The  chief  needs  of 
a  clinic  premises  are  a  large  waiting-room,  one 
or  two  rooms  for  consultation  with  the  doctor, 
and  a  room  for  treatments  and  dressing  by  the 
nurse. 


"  A  doctor  should  be  in  attendance  at  the 
clinic  duxing  school  hours  in  the  morning,  and 
the  head  teachers  of  the  schools  served  by  the 
clinic  should  send  to  the  clinic,  in  charge  of  the 
school  nuree  or  other  responsible  person,  all 
the  children  who  are  to  have  treatment.  These 
children  will  be  roughly  the  poverty  group 
cases,  but  they  wnll  also  include  cases  of  dis- 
charging ears  and  other  chronic  ailments  that 
need  daily  care,  and  which  cannot  be  attended 
to  at  a  hospital.  The  children  sent  to  the  clinic 
would  be  normally  those  examined  by  the 
school  doctor,  whose  parents  were  recom- 
mended to  get  them  treatment,  but  who  failed 
to  obtain  it,  on  their  own  initiative,  after  a 
reasonable  period,  say  a  mouth.  In  some  acute 
and  urgent  cases  the  clinic  should  render  first 
aid,  as  it  were,  pending  other  arrangements, 
and  the  teachers  should  be  encouraged  to  con- 
sult the  doctor  and  send  children  to  the  clinic 
for  examination  in  every  case  where  there  was 
uncertainty  as  to  its  condition. 


"  The  clinic  should  be  the  organisation  which 
sees  that  the  child  gets  treatment.  A  large 
number  of  cases,  those  of  ear,  nose,  and  throat, 
manv'  skin  diseases,  cheet  troubles,  digestive 
troubles,  and  others,  would  be  actually 
treated  at  the  clinic.  But  the  very 
severe  ear  case  would  be  sent  to  hospital,  the 
serious  phthisis  case  to  the  sanatorium,  and 
the  serious  bone  tuberculosis  case  to  the  special 
hospital.^  The  clinic,  in  fact,  while  acting  as  a 
treatment  centre  for  those  defects  and  diseases 


which  can  be  conveniently  and  economically 
treated  in  an  institution  fitted  up  iu  ix  simple 
and  inexpensive  way,  «ould  also  act  as  a  sort- 
ing centre,  and  draft  off  sericHis  and  sjjecial 
cases  to  the  institution  where  their  appropriate 
treatment  could  be  obtained. 


"  The  school  clinic  should  work  in  the  closest 
co-operation  with  the  hospirals  and  dispen- 
saries, and  should  have  standing  arrangements 
with  them,  whereby  certain  classes  of  cases 
could  be  sent  direct  to  hospital  from  the  clinic. 
Some  of  the  arrangements  made  at  present 
with  hospitals  for  treatment  would  fit  in  well. 
This  means  in  practice  that  the  clinics  would 
onlj-  need  the  simplest  apparatus,  and  that  for 
the  complex  cases  the  costly  and  elaborate  hos- 
pital orgauisation  would  be  made  use  of. 


"  The  clinic  should,  in  fact,  become  the  in- 
struction centre  for  parents  in  the  art  of 
hygiene,  the  concrete  examples  being  provided 
by  their  own  children's  ailments.  Such  con- 
crete hygiene  teaching,  supplemented,  perhaps, 
by  special  demonstrations  and  talks  for  parents 
— on  the  care  of  the  teeth,  on  breathing,  and 
on  feeding,  for  instance — would  do  more  for 
shun  districts  and  poverty  spots  than  years  of 
abstract  lectures  in  evening  schools,  admirable 
as  these  are. 


"  Above  all,  the  clinic  must  be  simple, 
straightforward,  and  human.  A  laughiiig  and 
a  smiling  child  should  be  the  rule.  A  solemn 
or  a  weeping  child  the  exception.  The  doctors' 
and  nurses'  rooms  should  be  places  of  hap- 
piness and  kindliness.  In  this  way  the  confi- 
dence of  child  and  parent  will  be  gained  easily, 
treatment  will  be  faeihtated,  and  the  parents 
will  try  to  obey  and  imderstand  rules  of  treat- 
ment and  hvgiene." 


Miss  Betty  Tanner,  the  five  year  old  Cali- 
forniau  heiress  to  f  5,000,000,  is  known  as  the 
"  sterilised  baby,"  on  account  of  the  extra- 
ordinaiy  precautious  taken  to  ensure  that  her 
health  should  not  be  endangered.  A  mansion 
has  literally  been  built  around  her  near  Los 
Angeles,  a  city  of  perpetual  summer.  The 
ground  has  been  sterilised,  and  the  same  pre- 
caution has  been  taken  with  regard  to  every  bit 
of  material  used  in  the  building.  The  air  that 
the  baby  breathes,  her  toys,  food,  and  clothes 
are  thoroughly  antisepticised  before  they  are 
allowed  to  reach  her.  How  the  little  cage  bird 
will  flutter  her  wings  once  she'is  iu  possession 
of  those  millions ! 


252 


Zhc  SBvitieh  3ournal  of  mursing.        [Sept.  24, 1910 


Zbc  "fljospital  Morlb. 

J3i^      THE  STOBHILL  HOSPITAL,    GLASGOW. 

In  no  branch  of  hospital  administration  has 
more  rapid  and  marvellous  progress  been 
made  than  in  the  great  parish  infirmaries 
which  in  England  are  under  the  direction 
of  the  Local  Government  Board,  and 
in  Scotland  under  the  Parish  Councils. 
I  recently  visited  the  General  Hospital, 
Stobhill,  Springbum,  Glasgow,  and  found 
a  hospital  city,  and  not  merely  an  institution. 
Springbum  is  a  suburb,  clear  away  of  the  great 
mercantile  Queen  of  the  Clyde,  and  one  mounts 
up  and  up  until  one  finds,  most  magnificently 
situated  on  elevated  ground,  this  splendid  in- 
stitution for  the  healing  of  the  sick. 

Covering  many  acres,  the  blocks  and  build- 
ings are  intersected  with  lovely,  well-kept 
lawns  and  gardens,  and  without  the  boundaries 
are  scented  meadows,  sunny  farms,  and  ex- 
quisite views  of  a  beautiful,  beautiful  world.  Es- 
pecially is  this  so  from  the  men's  recreation 
ground,  and  from  the  windows  and  balconies 
of  some  of  the  blocks,  looking  away  over  the 
valley  to  the  picturesque  Campsie  Hills. 

Stobhill  Hospital  contains  accommodation 
for  nearly  2,000  patients— to  be  correct,  1,422 
adults  and  500  childi-en ;  so  to  call  it  a  hospital 
city  is  no  exaggeration.  The  Nurses'  Home  is 
a  fine  building,  containing  the  Matron's 
charmingly  bright  suite  of  rooms  and  office,  and 
for  the  nursing  staff  excellent  bedrooms,  a  fine 
refectory,  and  recreation  and  study  rooms.  The 
Scottish  people  lo\e  a  lordly  house,  and  the 
Parish  Council  of  Glasgow  were  evidently  in 
no  niggard  mood  when  they  planned  the  Stob- 
hill Hospital. 

Miss  Wright,  the  Matron,  has  under  her 
supervision  the  domestic  and  nursing  depart- 
ments of  the  whole  institution,  and  a  personally 
conducted  tour — which  took  some  hours — 
under  her  direction  proved  her  admirable 
ability.  In  the  wards  and  annexes,  planned 
spaciously,  in  the  splendid  kitchens,  and 
domestic  offices,  in  the  laundi-y,  throughout  the 
tuberculosis  camps  for  men  and  women,  and  in 
the  blocks  for  healthy  children,  every  detail  of 
the  management  of  this  pnoiTnous  institution 
was  known  to  the  Matron. 

The  wards  are  fitted  with  evei7 
modem  improvement,  and  all  were  in 
exquisite  order,  and  the  nursing  staff,  alert 
and  busy,  presented  a  very  nurse-like  appear- 
ance. That  is  a  vci-y  high  compliment,  for  to 
be  nurse-like  a  woman  must  be  neat,  sweet, 
and  wholesome  in  appearance,  swift  and  noise- 
less in  movement,  and  sunny  in  manner.  At 
Stobhill  the  nursing  staff  had  a  happy  air.  I 
like  that,  it  is  so  good  for  sick  people.     The 


Matron  herself  has  this  happy,  buoyant  tem- 
perament; her  welcome,  eo  unaffected  and 
kind,  her  pride  in  her  far-reaching  sphere  of 
work  so  genuine,  her  professional  sense  so  keen 
and  intelhgent.  No  need,  therefore,  to  add 
that  Miss  Wright  has  for  many  years  been  a 
keen  educationalist,  and  naturally  a  registra- 
tionist.  The  technical  and  practical  instruction 
of  nurses  at  Stobhill  is  well  up  to  date,  and  in- 
cludes the  majority  of  subjects  which  a  Central 
Council  would  exact;  indeed,  for  several  years 
the  Parish  Councils  in  Scotland  have  subjected 
their  nurses  to  a  central  examination  before 
certifying  their  fitness,  so  that  it  would  be 
but  a  step  for  their  nurses  to  prepare  for 
examinations  by  a  State-appointed  Nursing 
Council  in  competition  with  nurses  trained  in 
the  voluntary  hospitals. 

On  the  evening  of  my  visit,  thanks  to  the 
courtesy  of  Miss  Wright,  I  had  the  pleasure  of 
speaking  to  a  gathering  of  some  100  nurses  in 
the  fine  recreation  room.  Of  course,  profes- 
sional education  and  nursing  economics,  as 
suggested  in  the  Nurses'  Registration  Bill,  was 
our  theme,  and  I  was  glad  to  find  that  Scot- 
tish nurses  are  taking  a  very  intelligent  interest 
in  this  important  question,  and  ai-e — at  least  at 
Stobhill — well  insti-ucted  in  the  underlying 
principles  of  Eegistration.  This  comes  of 
having  a  broad-minded  and  public-spirited 
woman  in  charge  of  the  School. 

To  do  justice  to  the  work  carried  on  at  Stob- 
hill would  require  a  folio.  Suffice  it  to  say,  I 
have  added  the  hours  I  spent  thei-e  to  a  list  of 
"  happy  days  "  tucked  away  in  some  brain  cell, 
to  be  called  forth  and  lived  over  again  in 
memory's  playtime. 

We  took  our  way  into  the  city  on  a  lovely 
morning  through  Springbum  Park — a  recrea- 
tion ground  for  the  surrounding  district,  and  a 
very  lovely  spot.  Such  grand  velvety  bowliujj 
greens,  to  play  on  which  we  met 
night  workmen  wending  their  way.  And 
such  flowers,  everywhere  a  great  splendour  of 
bloom,  grown  to  maiwellous  perfection.  A 
millionaire,  who  lives  near  by,  presented 
this  gorgeous  gard-'n  to  the  people. 
That  is  how  I  should  like  to  commemorate 
a  great  King,  by  providing  beautiful 
playgrounds  in  every  section  of  a  big  city,  and 
in  every  village  as  well — King's  Gardens  all 
over  the  land.  Surely  prevention  is  better  than 
cure  ! 

E.  G.  F. 
Tiirougli  the  kindness  of  Dr.  Parker  and  Miss 
Donald,  the  nurses  of  Stobhill  were  recently 
invited  to  a  tennis  match  at  Gartlock  Mental 
Hos])ital.  The  \\Lather  was  ideal,  and  a  de- 
lightful time  was  spent.  The  result  was  a 
victorv  for  Gartlock. 


Sept.  24,  1910] 


Zhc  36dt(sb  3ournaI  of  iRursinfl. 


253 


Keflcction6. 


From  a  Board  Room  Mikroh. 

All  over  tlie  country  nictuoriak 
To  the  late  King  Edward  VII.  are 
being  piX)poised.  The  Welsh 
National  Memorial  vri\l  take  tlio 
form  of  a  sanatorium  for  consump- 
tives, as  £150.000  of  the  £300,000 
lequired  has  already  been  promised 
for  this  pui-pose.  Xe\voastle-on- 
TSne  favours  chanty  in  opposition 
to  a  town  hall  or  statue.  The 
^Coventry  and  WarwicksJiire  Hospital  will  probably 
get  a  new  wing.  Binningham  will  have  both  a 
statue  and  a  new  Children's  Hospital,  Carlisle  wiii 
add  a  wing  to  the  Cumberland  Infirmary,  to  contain 
men's  and  children's  wards,  and  Belfast  is  to  have 
a  new  building  for  surgical  and  administrative  pur- 
poeee  in  connection  with  the  Royal  Victoria  Hos- 
pital, an  institution  erected  to  commemorate  the 
Jubilee  of  Queen  Victoria,  which  was  opened  by 
King  Edward  on  the  occasion  of  his  last  visit  to 
Belfast. 


Brighton  has  before  it  the  suggestion  to  erect  a 
Home  for  Queen's  Xurees  working  in  the  town. 
Recently,  through  the  generosity  of  an  inhabitant 
•of  Hove,  a  freehold  house  has  been  provided  as  a 
bome  for  the  three  nurses  working  there,  and  tlie 
two  nurses  employed  at  Portslade  are  supported 
locally ;  but  for  the  twenty  working  in  Brighton, 
which  is  the  administrative  centre  of  the  whole 
■district,  not  only  is  there  no  proper  home,  but  the 
provision  made  for  their  support  is  totally  inade- 
quate. The  Queen's  Xurses  in  Brighton  are  now 
housed  in  two  separate  buildings,  and  are  working 
■nder  conditions  which,  from  a  sanitary  point  of 
riew,  it  is  impossible  to  continue,  for  the  sake  of 
the  patients  as  well  as  of  the  nurses;  for  in  work 
■of  this  character  not  merely  ordinarj-,  but  surgical, 
.cleanliness  is  a  necessity. 


The  question  arose,  after  the  resignation  of  Miss 
Duffy,  the  Matron  of  the  Hull  Sanatorium,  whether 
it  would  be  necessary  to  circulate,  in  accordance 
with  the  resolution  of  the  Council,  the  evidence 
taken  at  the  private  inquiry  by  a  special  Sub-com- 
mittee. Means  have  been  taken  to  ascertain  the 
▼iews  of  the  members  of  the  Corporation  on  this 
point,  with  the  result  that  the  decision  of  the 
•  Council  will  be  carried  out.  The  evidence  will  be 
.circulated  among  the  members  before  the  adjourned 
meeting  next  week.  We  are  relieved  that  the  Coun- 
cil has  summed  up  courage  at  last  to  acquaint 
itself  with  the  truth. 

For  the  .sake  of  the  patients,  the  public  should 
not  tolerate  any  hushing  up  concerning  this  mis- 
managed institution. 


The  Ninth  International  Antj-Tuberculosis  Con- 
ference is  to  l)e  held  in  Brnssela  from  October  ofh 
to  8th.  Tlie  Conference  is  under  tlie  patronage  of 
His  Majesty  the  King  of  the  Belgians,  and  the  Hon. 

■Secretary   is  Dr.   Pannwitz,    Avenue  Van   Volxem, 

i233.  Forest,  Brussels. 


Ipcrcorinationg.— U. 

H'oiitinuid  /rciy/t  jxige  23i.) 

Surely  none  can  enjoy  a  holiday  more,  or  indeed 
as  much,  as  those  who  work.  The  delicious  sensa- 
tion of  feeling  more  and  more  rested  every  day, 
and  with  it  the  power  of  enjoyment  growing 
stronger,  and  the  taste  keener,  rnakes  one  eager  to 
make  the  best  use  of  every  hour  that  passes! 
There  are  certain  elements,  however,  necessary  to 
the  fullest  enjoyment  of  a  summer  holiday,  tlie 
chief  among  which,  of  course,  is  javouraMe  weather 
conditions ! 

To  be  in  a  place  called  "  beautiful,"  where  the 
pitiless  rain  falls  night  and  day,  almost  without 
ceasing,  the  lovely  blue  sky  obliterated  by  obscuring 
sullen  grey  clouds,  and  the  snow-capped  mountains, 
which  one  had  travelled  many  miles  to  see,  a 
thing  of  the  imagination  only,  is  a  strain  upon 
one's  faith,  and — one  is  but  human ! — ^the  temper 
also.  What  was  even  worse,  the  sun  in  mockery, 
would  scatter  the  clouds  for  a  brief  interval,  giving 
us  a  moment's  hope,  and  then  the  rain  would  fall 
again  with  such  earnestness  of  purpose,  that  you 
will  not  wonder,  gentle  reader,  when  I  tell  you  that 
it  came  to  pass  one  morning  at  an  early  hour,  and 

oh!  the  irony  of  it!   a  fine  morning,   at  least  a 

rainless  one — that  two  travellers  arrived  at  the 
breakfast  table  booted  and  spurred  for  a  journey, 
ready  to  run  away  I  If  it  had  not  been  for  the 
formality  of  having  to  pay  our  bill  we  might  have 
effected  our  escape  even  earlier.  But  the  cnstom 
had  to  be  complied  with ! 

We  had  heard  that  the  sun  was  to  be 
found  at  Lugano,  so  we  went  after  that  elnsive 
thing,  and — Jubilate ! — we  found  him  in  his  fullest 
prodigality. 

The  trinity  of  lakes  in  southern  Switzerland, 
called  the  Italian  Lakes,  has  been  poetically  likened 
to  a  shell,  with  Lugano  as  the  pearl  in  the  centre. 
And  verily  it  is  a  pearl  of  great  beauty.  As  I  write 
I  see  it  in  panorama  before  me,  standing  on  tlie 
summit  of  Monte  San  Salvatore.  The  blue  lake 
with  purple  shadows  playing  fantastically  over  it, 
lying  serenely  in  the  centre  of  a  perfect  "  chaos  of 
mountains,"  the  town  itself  seen  from  this  great 
height  looked  an  exquisite  mosaic  set  in  green  ar.d 
blue  enamel,  and  the  little  villages  nestling  close  to 
the  water's  edge,  all  along  the  shores  made  beauti- 
ful patches  of  colour.  Such  scenes  render  the  eye 
and  mind — and  shall  I  say  the  soul — insatiable. 
We  stayed  at  Paradiso-Lugano,  the  immediate 
suburb,  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain  mentioned 
above,  being  a  quieter  and  to  my  mind  prettier 
spot.  The  name  is  sufficiently  suggestive.  The 
ruddy  brown-skinned  children  running  about  b.- re- 
foot,  looke<l  as  if  illness  could  not  touch  thcra ; 
nevertheless,  there  is  a  fine  newly  built  hosrital 
standing  on  high  ground  on  the  outskirts  of  the 
town,  which  I  resolved,  if  I  could,  to  visit.  A^ain 
the  Fates  were  propitious,  and  without  any  intro- 
duction beyond  my  own  calling  card,  and  tbc  .nn- 
nouncement  that  I  was  an  infirmiere — the  lan- 
guage had  to  lie  changed  this  time — I  was  cour- 
teously received  by  the  Directeur. 

What  is  most  foreign  to  thfjnind  of  the  EngHoIi 


254 


&bc  Biitisb  3ournal  of  IRurslna. 


[Sept.  24,  1910 


nurse  in  visiting  foreign  hospitals,  is  the  absence  of 
the  Matron  I  The  want  is  very  conspicuous,  and 
60  contrary  to  the  traditions  of  her  training.  A 
young  Italian  house  surgeon,  who  spoke  French, 
was  sent  to  me  to  conduct  me  round  the  hospital. 
It  is  only  two  years  old,  having  been  built  in  1908, 
on  the  most  approved  and  up-to-date  lines  of  hos- 
pital science. 

This  new  "  Ospidale  Civico''  has  entirely  re- 
placed the  old  "  Italian  Hosijital  ''  in  the  city, 
which  I  imagine  must  bo  too  old  and  unsuitable  to 
serve  any  longer  the  purpose  of  a  hospital.  It  is 
now  used  as  a  sort  of  almshouse  for  old  ijeojjle. 
The  new  building  is  evidence  of  a  fine  forward 
movement. 

Who  .shall  say  that  some  reverberating  note  of 
our  International  Congresses  has  not  reached  and 
quickened  into  action  the  less  progressive  Italian 
mind  ?  AVe  know  that  Rome  is  waking  up,  so  we 
may  be  sure  that  the  reform  movement  will  spread 
into  the  provinces ;  and  Italian  Switzerland  will 
not  care  to  l>e  out  of  the  progressive  march.  The 
Ospidale  Civico  is  built  to  contain  200 — 300  beds; 
the  laudable  aim  of  the  architect  appears  to  be,  to 
admit  the  maximum  amount  of  light  and  air. 

The  wards  are  not  large  ;.  no  more  than  eight  beds 
did  I  see  in  any  of  them,  they  are  lofty  and  abun- 
dantly airy,  and  they  are  heated  on  the  central 
heating  principle. 

The  walls  are  of  washable  paint,  of  a  soft  eau  de 
Xil  colour.  Extreme  cleanliness  was  evident 
everywhere.  The  beds  looked  the  acme  of  comfort, 
of  that  type  known  as  Italian  bedsteads — a  goo<l 
well-stuffed  mattress  over  a  bos  spring  mattress, 
indeed,  the  most  comfortable  of  all  bedsteads,  but 
which  I  have  never  seen  in  use  in  a  hospital  before. 
Everything  was  of  white  within  the  wards.  The 
entire  absence  of  colour  made  them  look  .bare  and 
cheerless.  Again,  flowers  and  pictures  were  con- 
spicuous by  their  absence!  "  A  thing  of  beauty  is 
a  jo.v,"  and  surely  it  is  a  mistake  to  deny  the 
joy  of  such  things  to  the  sick,  upon  whom  they  have 
undoubtedly  such  a  beneficial  effect. 

Perhaps  this  fact  was  accountable  for  the  air 
of  depression  which  I  again  noticed  among  the 
patients.  Particularly  strange  in  a  land  of  sun 
and  flowers ! 

At  tlie  end  of  each  of  the  long,  wide  corridors,  a 
table  was  placed  for  the  purpose  of  serving 
meals  to  convalescent  patients,  instead  of  in 
the  ward — an  excellent  plan.  A  great  deal 
of  use  is  made  of  the  balconies  which  can  be 
closed  in  with  glass  panels  in  the  winter.  There 
are  a  few  wards  for  paying  patients,  which  looked 
thoroughly  comfortable. 

There  are  three  good  theatres,  splendidly  built, 
and  equipped  with  every  modern  reqitisite.  One 
for  general  purposes,  one  for  gynax-ological  cases 
only,  and  one  for  smaller  operations  in  the  casualty 
rooHL.  Th<>  tubercular  patients  were  accomiiKKlatod 
in  a  separate  block.  I  was  surprised  to  find  no 
provision  for  opon-air  treatment.  I  am  sorry  to 
say  that  the  educational  standard  of  the  nurses  is 
not  in  line  with  the  advance  of  medical  .science. 
"One  year  to  eighteen  months"  the  House  Sur-. 
geon  told  nu'  in  a  tone  which  .seemed  to  imply  that 
it  was  of   very  little  importance!       Such   was  the 


training  of  the  nurses!  Their  uniform  consisted 
of  cotton  gowns  with  short  sleeves,  covered  by  an 
overall;  no  caps.  Their  aijpearauce  was  not  very 
neat.  I  should  imagine  that  they  were  drawn 
mostly  from  the  uneducated  classes.  The  authori- 
ties would  do  well  to  visit  the  fine  college  for 
nur.ses  at  the  Salpetriere  in  Paris,  with  a  view 
to  an  imitation. 

The  children,  too,  have  a  block  to  themselves, 
and  are  very  well  cared  for. 

I  was  very  inquisitive,  and  asked  a  great  many 
questions,  which  my  attentive  guide  answered  with 
much  patience  I  He  had  only  been  there  a  month, 
however,  and  was  unable  to  sati-sfy  me  on  all  points. 
He  took  me  everywhere,  even  into  the  kitchen,  and 
finally  to  ihe  Board  Room,  whose  walls  were  hung 
with  the  portraits  of  notable  people,  who  looked 
benignly  down  upon  us  from  their  sombre  frames, 
and  whose  spirits,  let  us  hope,  actuate  the  delibera- 
tions of  the  members !  Then,  with  bows  and  smiles 
and  thanks  on  my  part,  we  wished  each  other  good- 
day. 

A  week  later  I  had  left  beautiful  sunny  Lugano- 
Paradiso  behind  me,  and  was  back  in — well — there 
can  be  no  comparison — London  to  the  loyal  Lon- 
doner is  sMprt-me ! 

Be.\trice  Kent. 


letter  from  the  Emeralb  3sle. 

Ballincoona,  Caher  Daniel, 

Co.  Kerry. 

Our  year's 
recor  d  of 
work  is  very 
d  i  fiEerent 
from  the  one 
which  we 
had  hoijed 
to  be  able  to 
send  you. 
It  still  has 
to  be,  as  a 
friendly  critic  put  it  last  year  :^"  Truly  Irish — the 
report  of  a  hospital  wluch  does  not  exist."  In  many 
ways  it  is  simply  a  record  of  what  we  have  not 
done. 

A  widespread  and  virulent  epidemic  of  measles 
broke  oiit  in  the  district  in  July,  1909.  The  Medi- 
cal OfiScer  of  Health  forbade  all  congregating  to- 
gether until  it  was  over.  In  consequence,  the 
building  was  stopped  during  all  the  most  favour- 
able summer  weather,  and,  when  at  last  we  were 
able  to  resume,  the  better  part  of  our  masons  liad 
found  work  elsewhere,  and  it  was  too  late  in  the 
year  to  start  afresh.  We  were  therefore  only  able 
to  raise  the  external  walls  to  an  average  of  2  feet 
G  inches  in  height. 

Owing  to  the  same  cause,  we  have  not  yet  got 
our  tram-line  for  carrying  stone  into  working 
order.  Nor  is  our  windmill  for  raising  water  the 
fifty  feet  necessary,  yet  erected. 

AVe  have  unfortunately  also  to  chronicle  the  loss, 
through  sickness,  of  our  excellent  foreman,  who 
n-.adi'our  interests  his  own. 


Sept.  24,  1010] 


Cbe  Britisb  3ournaI  of  IRurslng. 


In  addition,  some  of  our  materials  liave  siitfinil 
fl  serious  detorioratioii,  through  being,  of  neces- 
sity, left  uncovered  througliout  the  winter,  a  win- 
ter of  furious  rain  and  windstorms.  They  were 
materials  whioh,  in  every  case,  should  have  been 
used  up  before  work  stopped  for  the  winter. 
Owing  to  the  epidemic  this  i)roved  to  be  impos- 
sible. 

Owing  to  the  long  drawn  out  winter,  our  men 
v.ere  unable  to  plant  their  potatoes,  or  to  get 
ready  the  ground  for  tliem  until  unusually  late  in 
the  spring.  Instead,  therefore,  of  starting  work 
in  March,  as  we  had  hoped,  it  w  as  well  into  April 
before  we  were  able  to  make  any  headway.  This 
was  followed  by  a  strike  amongst  the  younger  and 
lees  thoughtful  of  the  workmen,  which  threatened 
the  work  seriously  for  a  time. 

Our  sand  for  building  did  not  yield  good  results, 
and  it  was  more  than  doubtful  if  any  of  sufficiently 
good  quality  could  be  obtained  near  at  hand. 

Things  are  mending  now.  The  strike  was  set- 
tled on  a  friendly  basis.  We  are  obtaining  excel- 
hnt  sand  from  five  miles  away. 

Your  hospital — yours  by  reason  of  the  good  help 
Avhich  you  have  been  generous  eno^igh  to  send  us — 
has,  for  *he  past  six  weeks,  been  growing  and 
prospering.  We  have  had  nine  masons  at  work. 
The  ground  fl<x)r  windows  are  almost  all  in.  We 
are  making  gootl  progress  with  the  casting  of  con- 
crete blocks  for  lintels  over  doors  and  windows  and 
of  stairs  for  our  external  staircases.  The  exeava- 
tion  for  our  reservoir  of  drinking  water  is  almost 
completed.  The  reservoir  will  be  of  concrete,  to 
hold  1-1.000  gallons.  The  inter  :-l  walls  are  some 
C  feet  in  height  ujiou  an  average.  The  main  part 
o.^  the  scaffolding — a  serious  item  in  both  cost  and 
labour — has  been  put  up.  At  present  the  building 
appears  a  forest  of  masts. 

Your  farm,  and  estate  (of  1.5i  acres)  have,  on  the 
other  hand,  made  good  progress  througliout  since 
last  year. 

We  have  now  a  substantial  row  of  farm  build- 
ings, 60  feet  in  length,  comprising  cow  stables  to 
the  newest  sanitary  designs,  calf  stall,  mule  stable, 
and  isolation  stall  for  invalids.  Also  a  good  cart 
and  implement  shed  with  loft  overhead — the  latter 
an  untold  boon  for  the  keeping  of  stores.  We  have 
also  a  small  movable  fowlhouse  in  timber. 

Drainage  goes  steadily  forward.  We  have  nearly 
another  acre  thoroughly  drained  and  sown  in  grass. 
This  provetl  a  troublesome  job.  owing  to  the  quan- 
tities of  stones  met  with.  These,  however,  have 
been  made  use  of,  none  being  wasted.  The  best 
went  to  the  hospital,  the  less  good  to  the  farm 
buildings  and  necessary  walls,  and  the  smaller  and 
entirely  inferior  to  road-mending  and  the  filling  in 
of  floors  below  concrete. 

On  the  island  we  have  planted  three  thousand 
larch.  There  is  little  timber  in  the  district,  al- 
though in  old  times  it  was  covered  with  forest,  as 
ii  shown  by  the  stacks  of  'iMg-deal  "  which  we 
have  dug  out  in  draining  and  turf-cutting.  Should 
these  trees  do  well,  they  ought  to  prove  a  valuable 
asset  to  the  hospital.  Should  they  weather  the 
winter  succes'sfully,  we  propose  to  plant  some  ten 
to  fifteen   thou.sand  more. 

We  have  also   planted  some  hundreds  of   black- 


thorns   for  which  there  is  a  sale  as  "  shillelaghs," 
and  700  osiers,   with  a   view   to  basket-making. 

This  has  Ijeen  a  year  of  experiment,  and  also  of 
considerable  expen.se  in  stocking.  It  must  be  re- 
membere<l  that  our  aim  is  to  be  self-supporting  in 
the  future,  in  regard  to  food,  as  far  as  possible. 

Wo  have  three  cows  in  milk  and  one  in  calf,  one 
yearling  bullock  and  two  heifer  calves — all  black 
Kerries ;  A  pigs,  2  turkeys,  2  pure-Bred  prize  strain 
White  Wyandotte  cocks,  with  6  hens  and  8  chick- 
ens, and  10  common  or  cross-bred  hens,  1  hive  of 
bees. 

Although  we  were  unable  to  manure  our  ground 
adequately  in  time  for  the  year's  crops,  we  had  a 
very  fair  result  in  potatoes,  sufficient  to  last  us 
throughout  the  year,  a  fair  amount  of  oats  and 
rye,  also  of  cabbage,  mangolds  and  turnips,  al- 
though by  no  means  sufficient  for  the  winter  feed- 
ing of  the  cattle — and  carrots,  turnips,  lettuce, 
and  celer.v  for  our  own  use.  Our  hay  .crop  was  fair 
and  well-saved.  We  bought  a  rick  of  hay  and 
three  tons  of  mangolds  for  winter  feeding. 

Turning  from  outgoings  to  incomings,  we  have 
made  by  sale  of  wittle  £'13  .5s.;  pigs,  £28;  butter, 
eggs,  and  vegetables,  £11 — £52  in  all.  In  addi- 
tion, w-e  cured  a  few  hundred  of  mackerel  in  the 
autumn  fishing  season,  the  greater  part  of  which 
we  sold  in  the  spring.  Our  bees  yielded  .30  lb.  of 
honey,  which,  after  providing  for  ourselves, 
brought  us  in  eighteen  shillings.  We  made,  too, 
some  hundreds  of  pounds  of  plum  jam,  apple  jelly, 
and  marmalade',  which  have  brought  us  a  very  fair 
return. 

We  are,  of  course,  like  the  proverbial  fai-nier,  in- 
capable of  keeping  an  honest  farm  account.  The 
whole  working  belongs  to  the  hospital  work,  and 
all  profits  go  to  the  hospital  fund. 

Since  the  beginning,  we  have  paid  in  wages 
£1,494  6s. ;  in  materials  for  building,  .stocking, 
blasting,  feeding  of  stock  and  planting,  £2,284  6s., 
making  a  total  of  £3.778  12s.  In  donations  we 
have  receire<l  £49-5  17s.  6d.,  and  deeply  grateful 
've  are,  not  only  for  the  financial  help,  but  for  the 
encouragement  and  the  living  interest  which  some 
of  our  friends  give  to  and  take  in  our  small  kosmos. 

I  am  glad   to  be  able  to  chronicle  that,  through 
the    kindness   and    good-will    of     our    neighbours, 
Ballincoona  has  become  the  centre  of  a  yowig,  but 
flourishing  Co-operative  Agricultural  Society. 
Yours  sincerely, 

ALBI^^A  Broobick. 

June,   1910.  . 

GRAND  PRIX.  BRUSSELS  EXHIBITION. 
Metisrs.  Horrockses,  Crewdson,  and  Co.,  Ltd.,  the 
well-known  manufacturers  of  the  celebrated  Long- 
cloths,  Twills,  Sheetings,  Flannelettes,  etc.,  have 
been  awarded  the  Grand  Prix  at  the  Brussels  Ex- 
hibition. This  award  is  the  highest  obtainable, 
and  is  another  proof  of  the  sterling  value  of  these 
famous  goods.  Indeed,  no  award  but  the  highesr 
is  good  enough  for  "  Horrockses."  But  in  view"of 
the  world  wide  attention  given  to  the  Brussels  Ex- 
hibition, and  the  world  wide  competition  thereat,  it 
is  a  feather  in  the  cap  even  of  Horrockses  to  gain  a 
Grand  Prix  there.  "*• 


256 


Zlic  ISritisb  3ournal  of  IHursinG. 


[Sept.  24,  1910 


©iitsi^e  tbe  (Bates. 


•Book  of  tbe  mcc\{. 


THE     NATIONAL     UNION     OF    WOMEN 
WORKERS. 

J'lie  annual  conference 
ot  tlie  National  Union  of 
\\'omen  AVorkers  of 
(ii'fat  Britain  and  Ire- 
land will  be  held  at  tlie 
Central  Hall,  Lincoln, 
from  October  10th  to 
14th.  There  are  42  local 
branches  of  the  Union, 
and  in  addition  142  .Societies  connected  -H-ith 
womeu's  Tvork  are  affiliatetl.  Lady  Launa  Ridding 
IS  this  year  President  of  the  Union. 

The  proceedings  will  ojjen  on  Monday,  October 
10th,  when,  after  a  meeting  for  branch  workei-s,  the 
Mayor  and  Jlayoress  of  Lincoln  will  give  an  "At 
Home"  in  St.  Martin's  Parish  Room  at  5  o'clock. 
In  the  evening  there  will  be  a  public  meeting,  at 
which  Lady  Laura  Ridding  will  preside,  and  the 
Bishop  of  Lincoln,  Lady  Cecilia  Roberts,  and  Mrs. 
Edwin  Gray  will  be  the  speakers. 

Ou  Tuesday  morning  Lady  Laura  Ridding  will 
deliver  her  presidential  address,  which  will  be  rol- 
lowed  by  a  discussion  on  "  Educational  Ideals,"  by 
Dr.  L.  Martindale,  Mre.  Wyndham  Knight-Bruce, 
and  the  Hon.  Jlrs.  Fi-anklin.  At  the  afternoon 
meeting  papers  on  "  The  Relative  Place  in  Educa- 
tion of  Literary  and  Manual  Training  "  will  be  read 
by  Lady  Darwin  and  Miss  E.  P.  Hughes  (Glamor- 
gan), while  the  evening  papers  will  be  on  "  Tlie 
Effect  Upon  the  Nation  of  Forty  Years  of 
Elementary  Edncation,"  by  the  Headmaster  of 
Westminster  and  Mrs.  Simon  (Newcastle-on-Tyne). 
.\  meeting  of  the  National  Council  of  Women  will 
he  held  on  Wetlnesilay  to  consider  the  annual  re- 
port, etc.,  and  reports  of  tlie  .sectional  and  other 
committees  will  be  considered.  The  Conference 
will  discu.ss  "  The  Res]x>nsibility  of  the  .'school  in 
Regard  to  the  Cliild's  Future  Career"  (Miss 
Burstall,  M.A.),  "  Street  Trading  vind  Labour 
Bureaux  "  (Mi.ss  M.  E.  Mar.shall).  "  Women's 
Indian  Study  A.ssociation "  (Mrs.  George  Cad- 
bury),  and  "International  Council  of 
Women  "«  (Lady  Aberdeen).  A  meeting  tor 
rescue  wffikere  will  follow  at  o  o'clock,  and  in 
the  .evening  there  will  l)c  a  reception  by  Lady 
rjondcetxuough   in   the  County  Assemlily  Rooms. 

The  National  C-oiincil  meeting  will  bf  continued 
on  'l'hurs<lay  morning.  The  Standing  Committee 
of  the  Scottish  Union  of  Women  AVdrkers  have  a 
resolution  "  That  for  the  name  '  National  Union  of 
Women  Workers  '  there  be  siibstilutod  the  name 
'  National  Council  of  Women.'  "  Resolutions  on 
Education, Street  Trading, and  the  Care  and  Control 
of  the  Feeble-minded  will  be  considered,  and  in  the 
afternoon  paiHU-,s  on  "  The  Position  of  Women  in 
our  Universities"  and  "The  Participation  of 
Working  'Women  in  Higher  Education"  will  bo 
discn8f«><l,  followed  by  a  r<>ception  at  the  Giil.s'  High 
.School.  .Xn  ethiral  meeting  will  be  held  in  tlio 
ovoning,  at   which  Canon Mastern: an  will  speak. 

On  Friday  tbe  Mishop  of  Tiincoln  will  preach  at 
;>  special  MTvir,.   ill    (lie  CalbrdiMl    •!(    11    a.m. 


,  THE  ROSARY  * 

This  book  appears  to  have  enjoyed  an  amazing, 
popularity,  and  has  already  been  rei>rinted  a  num- 
l>er  of  times.  Wliy,  we  are  not  prei>ared  to  state, 
except  that  it  al)ouuds  in  sentiment  of  a  rather 
sickly  order.  We  seem  to  have  met  the  Duchess 
of  Meldrum  and  the  young  man  who  feels  "just 
seven"  quite  recently  in  one  of  Mr.  E.  R.  Ben- 
.son's  books.  Though  the  latter  looks  wickedly  pic- 
turesque "  in  a  violet  shii't  and  tie  with  white- 
flannels,"  he  chooses  as  the  object  of  his  adora-  ' 
tion  a  woman  his  senior  by  three  yeara. 

"Jane  Champion  was  now  in  her  thirtieth 
year.  She  had  once  been  described  by  one  who  • 
saw  below  the  surface  as  a  perfectly  beautiful 
woman  in  an  absolutely  plain  shell ;  and  no  man 
had  yet  looked  beneath  the  shell  and  seen  the 
woman  in  her  perfection. 

She  would  have  made  earth  heaven  for  a  blind 
lover."  (The  italics  are  ours,  and  we  anticipate  the- 
oonclusion  by  stating  that  Garth  Salmain  oblig- 
ingly accomplishes  this  ideal  by  being  shot  through^ 
the  eyes.) 

"  She  had  a  glorious  voice,  but  her  face  not 
matching  it,  its  existence  w^as  rarely  suspected." 

We  suppose  that  the  Honourable  Jane,  of  in- 
dependent means,  having  studied  under  first-clas* 
mjtstere,  must  have  been  at  considei^able  pains  to 
hi<le  her  light  under  a  bushel,  so  completely  did 
she  take  by  surprise  her  audience  m  the  Duchess's 
concert  room,  when  the  prima  donna,  having  failed 
through  illnes-s  to  appear,  she  consents  to  step- 
into  the  breach — ^and  sing  "  The  Rosary." 

"  The  listening  crowd  held  its  breath.     This  was 

not  a  song.      This  was  the   throbbing  of  a  heart. 

.     The    last    four   words  were   given    with    a 

sudden   ijower   and   passion   which    electrified    the 

assembly." 

It  is  after  tliis  revelation  that  Garth  realises 
tliat  his  old  chum  Jane  is  more  than  this  to  him. 

"Jane  looked  steadily  into  his  shining  eyes,  and. 
a  smile  of  pleasure  illumined  her  own. 
"So  you  liked   my  song?"  she  said. 
"Liked— liked  your  song?"   repeated    Garth,   a 
shade  of  perplexity  cixwsing  his  face.     "  I  do  not 
know  whether  I  liked  your  song." 

"Then  why  this  flattering  demon.stration  ?"  said 
Jane,  laughing. 

"  Because,"  said  Garth,  very  low,  "you  lifted  the 
veil,  and  I — I  pa.ssed  within." 

Jane  weighted  with  the  sense  of  her  own  plain- 
ness, liowevor,  refuses  her  happiness,  and  alone 
in  lier  room  she  "turned  on  all  the  lights  over  the 
dressing  table,  particularly  two  bright  ones  on 
either  side  of  her  mirror,  and  sitting  down  before 
it,  faced  herself  honestly,  and  as  the  village  clock 
struck  one,  she  airiv(><l  at  lier  dtx'ision.  Slowly  she 
arose,  turned  off  the  lights,  fell  upon  her  knees, 
and  broke  into  a  passion  of  desiierate  silent  weep- 
ing. 

.\fter  the  accident  that    deprives  Garth   of  his 


•   By  Florence   M.   Barclay. 
Sons,   New  York  and  London.) 


(G,   P.   Putnam'* 


Sept.  -24.  1910 


Z\K  ISritisb  3ournal  of  iRursino. 


sight,  Jane  remembers  a  convenient  period  of 
training  in  some  institution,  auil  a,  uniform  stored 
away  belonging  to  the  t^anie  j^eriod,  and  as  Xnrse 
Rosemary  she  goes  to  undertake  the  post  of  what 
is  described  as  a  "  nurse  compauion  person  ''  to 
her  lover. 

This  period  is  quite  too  silly  and  impossible,  and 
even  though  she  wears  a  bandage  over  her  eyee  to 
enable  her  better  to  sympathise  with  her  patient, 
for  forty-eight  hours,  it  fails  to  avoke  much  re- 
sponse from  us. 

Still  there  is  much  in  the  book  that  will  commend 
it  to  the  average  read.r. 

H.    H. 


Derses. 

LIFE. 
Much  toil,  a  little  leisure. 
Fond  memories  we  treasure. 
Some  moments  of  sweet  pleasure, 

Commingled   with   tears — 
In  effort  weak,  hope  strong. 
Love's  rapture  tunes  the  song, 
And  fateful  glide  along 

The  years. 

Through  fire  that  purifies 
With  faith  that  glorifies. 
Love's  sweetest   sacrifice 

Our  living  endears — 
So  summer  comes  and  goes 
AVith  fragrant  heath    and  rose 
Enhancing  to  the  close 

Our  years. 

Lewis  D.wton  Bttbdick, 
Dietetic  and  Hygienic  Gazette. 


COMING  EVENTS. 

September  3ith. — Meeting  of  the  Inspectors  of 
ilidwives'  Association.  Midwives'  Institute.  12, 
Buckingham  Street,  Strand,  "VV.C.    2.30  p.m. 

.iiptember  29th  and  SOth. — British  Hospitals' 
Association  Conference,  rnivcreity  Buildings, 
Glasgow. 

October  1st. — International  Conference  on  Can- 
cer Research  at  Paris  (four  days). 

October  oth  to  ' Sth. — International  Anti-Tuber- 
culosis Conference,  Brussels. 

October  10th. — Territorial  Force  Nursing  Ser- 
vice, City  and  County  of  London.  Reception  at  the 
Mansion  House  by  invitation  of  the  Lady  Mayoress 
and  the  Members  of  the  Executive  Committee. 
S — 10.30   p.m.      Entertainment  and  music. 

October  10th. — Royal  Sanitary  Institut«,  90, 
Buckingham  Palace  Road,  S.AV.  Course  of  Lec- 
tures—Training for  Wonion  Htvalth  Visitors  and 
School  Nurses. 

WORD  FOR  THE  WEEK. 
•'Avoid  all  introspection:  Physically  don't  look 
at  your  tongue  (I  haven't  s«n  mine  for  years); 
for  it  ha.s  t>e<;n  well  said  that  whereas  in  childhood 
tongues  should  be  seen  and  not  hear<l,  with  adults 
they  should   be   heard   and    not   .veen." — Dr.    A.   T. 

StHOFlELD. 


Xettcvs  to  the  editor. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  com- 
munications Upon  all  subjects 
for  these  columns,  we  icish  it 
to  be  distinctly  understooa 
that  we  do  not  in  ant  WAt 
hold  ourselves  responsible  for 
the  opinions  expressed  by  our 
correspondents. 


THE  HULL  SANATORIUM  FROM  THE  INSIDE. 
To  the  Editor  of  ■■The  UriH.ih  .fvurnal  of  Sursing." 
Dear  M.\d.\.m. — Now  that  the  Hull  City  Council 
are  at  last  going  to  acquaint  themselves  with  the 
condition  of  the  Sanatorium  it  may  be  hoped  a  new 
system  will  be  inaugurated.  It  might  meanwhile 
interest  the  public  to  know  a  few  of  the  impressions 
of  one  who  has  worketl  there  in  the  past. 

I  think  one  may  truthfully  say  that  there  is  no 
skilled  nursing  for  the  patients  in  .the  Hull  Sana- 
torium ;  that  the  place  is  very  dirty ;  that  the 
tone  amongst  the  nurses  is  deplorable;  that  little 
discipline  has  been  maintained,  and  no  systematic 
training  given.     That  is,  at  least,  my  experience. 

(1)  No  skilled  nursing.  A  ward  containing 
twenty  patients,  some  of  them  operations,  may  be 
left  in  charge  of  a  quite  new  and  inexperienced 
probationer ;  for  instance,  a  bad  case  of  trache- 
otomy needing  a  special  nurse,  another  child  with 
tracheotomy  impending  at  any  moment,  and  others 
needing  skilled  care  and  attention ;  the  Sister  and 
nurse  out.  Imagine  the  responsibility  and  anxiety 
of  an  ignorant  probationer !  The  system  of  sterili- 
sation was  most  primitive;  for  instance,  the  trachy 
tulje  when  cleansed  was  removed  by  unsterilised 
fingei"s  and  not  forceps,  boiled  in  a  common  sauce- 
pan in  which  eggs  and  other  things  were  cooked, 
and  replaced  in  the  thj-oat  by  unsterilised  fingers. 
No  disinfectant  was  ever  used  personally  by  the 
nurses;  lianfls  were  merely  washed  with  warm 
water  and  soap.  The  nurses  wore  no  overalls,  and, 
as  from  every  part  of  the  hospital — the  scarlet, 
enteric,  diphtheria  wards — the  nurses  took  their 
meals  together,  cross  infection  was  apparently  in- 
vit-ed.  Blanket  baths  were  largely  given,  and  one 
pair  of  blankets,  was  used  for  all  patients — boys, 
girls,  women — in  rotation ;  it  did  not  matter  if 
the  patients  were  tubercular,  or  suffering  from 
skin  diseases,  for  the  latter  diseases  no  patient  was 
tested  or  treated  specially.  There  was  no  effective 
cleansing  of  heads  from  pediculi ;  the  hair  was  just 
combed  with  a  very  weak  solution  of  carbolic,  and 
t  he  heads  remained  infected  for  weeks.  The  wards 
were  dusty  and  dirty,  polished  floors  never  washed, 
and  dust  swept  up  with  dry  brushes,  and  thus  easily 
breathed  in  by  the  patients  and  nurses.  These  are 
just  a  few  of  the  unscientific  methods  of- nursing 
apparently  satisfactory  to  the  authorities. 

(2)  As  to  the  tone  in  the  Nurses'  Hoine,  it  was 
deplorable.  One  of  the  first  cjuest^ions  I  was  asked 
as  a  perfect  strangej-  was  "Have  you  a  sweet-' 
heart?"  and  I  was  told  many  of  the  nurses  hid 
"best  boys"  with  whom  they  went  out.  The 
"boys"  I  .saw  were  of  the  working  class.  This 
intercourse  may  have  been  harniless,  but  it  was  the 
subject  of  vulgar  joking.  '^ 


258 


?tDe  3l5rltisb  3ournal  of  IRurstng* 


[Sept.  24,  1910 


The  food  was  iiisufBcient  and  very  poor  in  quality, 
and  many  nursos  supplied  themselves  with  food, 
they  were  so  hungry.  The  bathing  arrangements 
were  abominable,  the  one  bath  on  each  floor  being 
Ufietl  by  nurses,  maids,  and  lauudi-y  maids,  so  that 
those  of  us  who  were  particular  had  to  disinfect  it 
with  lysol  before  venturing  to  take  a  bath. 

The  truth  is,  that  with  a  staff  so  generally  un- 
educated it  seems  a  hopeless  thing  to  maintain  a 
high  standard  of  scientific  nursing,  such  as  is  so 
necessary  in  an  infectious  hospital.  The  first  re- 
form required  is,  of  course,  a  standard  of  nursing 
and  proper  export  inspection  :  the  apijointment  of 
a  Matron  whose  professional  knowledge  and  power 
of  administration  has  been  t-est-ed  :  a  test  of  general 
education  for  probationers ;  a  curriculum  of  train- 
ing, including  sterilisation,  which  tlie  Sisters  should 
be  capable  of  teaching;  particii>ation  in  the  prac- 
tical nursing  by  the  Sisters — less  time  devoted  by 
them  to  fancy  work,  flowers,  and  gossip — and  a 
trained  nurse  always  on  duty  in  the  Sisters' 
absence ;  daily  sup«Tvision  by  the  31atiX)n  of  the 
nursing  and  domestic  arrangements;  and  more 
thorough  medical  attention  to  the  patients. 

The  Hull  City  Council  is  unfortunately  mostly 
ooraposcil  of  business  men  who  do  not  know  what 
skilled  nursing  is;  it  is  not  tiieir  fault.  Why  are 
not  all  public  hospitals  inspected  by  medical  and 
nursing  experts?  It  is  only  fair  on  the  poor 
patients  tliat  they  should  be  kept  up  to  the 
mark.  I  have  no  personal  gi"ievance  beyond  regret 
for  time  which  I  wasted  at  the  Hull  Sanatorium. 
Yours  truly 

A  Teained  Nurse. 


MIDWIVES  ON  THE  MIDWIVES'  BOARD. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "British  Journal  of  Nursing." 
Dear  ]\I.\dam, — I  notice  that  in  a  recent  inter- 
view a  representative  of  the  Midwives'  Institute 
stated  that  there  was  not  sufficient  representation 
of  the  midwives  provided  for  on  the  Central  Mid- 
wives'  Board,  in  the  Bill  now  Wfore  Parliament, 
and  that  the  Midwives'  Institute  claimed  another 
representative.  It  is  inii>ortant,  however,  to  dif- 
ferentiate between  the  Midwives'  Institute  and 
the  certified  midwives.  The  institute,  through 
societies  lately  affiliated,  may  possibly  claim  to 
represent  2,000  mi<lwives,  while  the  certified  mid- 
wives  on  the  roll  number  some  30,000.  Presum- 
ably, therefore,  the  odd  28,000  do  not  desire  to 
booome  members  of  the  Midwives'  Institute,  but 
tliat  is  no.  reason  why  they  should  be  unrepre- 
sented on  their  governing  body,  or  Ije  forced  into 
Ix-ooming  members  of  the  in,stitnte  before  they  can 
obtain  repre<=ientation.  It  mu.st  be  remembered 
that  the  Midwives'  Institute  never  claimed  that 
there  should  be  one  midwife  on  the  Board,  as 
fH)nstitute<l  by  the  original  Bill,  and  that  members 
of  that  lM>dy  publicly  declared  that  if  tlie  institute 
only  had  one  representative  allottetl  to  them  under 
t.he  1919  Bill  that  they  desired  that  roprcsenta- 
tiv©  to  be  a  medical  man.  They  arguwl  that  there 
were  too  many  medical  men  on  the  Board  already, 
and  so  they  must  have  another  to  look  after  the 
interests  of  the  midwives,  on  the  ground,  I  sup- 
pose, that  "like  cures  like,"  and  that  "a  hair 
of  the  dog "   is  the   best   remedy   for  the  proix>n- 


derating  medical  rei>resentation.  Possibly  this- 
homceopathic  doctrine  may  commend  itselt  to- 
some;  it  does  not-  to  me,  or  to  the  large  number 
of  certified  midwives  who  see  in  direct  representa- 
tion the  only  ju.st  and  satisfactory  method.  If 
the  Midwives'  Institute  really  considers  midwives 
are  insufficiently  represented  on  their  governing 
body,  why  do  they  not  claim  that  the  second  re- 
presentative allotted  to  them  shall  be  a  midwife 
and  not  a  i)ei'&on,  or  why  do  thej'  not  make  a  bid 
for  the  confidence  of  the  midwives  thioughout  the 
country  by  demanding  direct  representation? — I- 
am,  dear  Madam,  yours  faithfully. 

Certified  iliDwiFE. 


HOW  MEN   MANAGE  WOMEN. 

To  the  Editor  of  flu:  "  Britisli  Journal  of  XursinO-'' 
De.ar  Madam, — The  sentence  of  hard  lalwur 
passed  on  an  East-End  Guardian  for  his  insulting 
behaviour  towards  a  nurse,  referred  to  in  your 
journal,  was  well  deserved.  But  what  of  the  tone 
and  management  of  an  institution  where  such  lack 
of  discipline  was  ixissible?  I  know  the  institution. 
It  IS  a  very  great  pity  there  are  no  lady  Guardians 
on  the  Board.  Wherever  women  are  associated 
with  men  in  the  management  of  public  institutions, 
the  moral  tone  is  at  once  raised.  A  few  women  on 
the  Local  Government  Board  itself  would  set  a  use- 
ful example. 

Youi-s  truly, 

A  Poor  Law  Xcrse. 


Comments  anb  TRepIics. 


Country  Midirift'. — Write  direct  to  the  Member 
of  Parliament  for  the  constituency  in  which  you 
live.  Shall  be  pleased  to  receive  the  paper  on  the 
subject  you  mention. 

Mother  in  titc  Midlands. — The  prisons  are  under 
the  Home  Office.  We  look  forwaixl  to  the  time 
when  all  prison  Matrons  will  be  trained  general  and 
psychological  uur-es.  Very  little  can  be  done  with- 
out the  State  authority.  We  have  no  educational 
standard  for  probationers  at  present. 


NOTICES. 

We  regret  that  owing  to  a  i)rinter's  error  tJie 
definition  of  the  «ord  pwiralysis  in  Miss  Sutton'e 
article,  published  last  week,  the  words  "  I  relax  " 
sliould  have  appeared  "  Ti^las."  No  doubt 
readers  realised  the  meaning  of  the  misprint. 


CONTRIBUTIONS. 

The  Editor  will  at  all  times  be  pleased  to  consider 
articles  of  a  suitable  nature  for  insertion  in  this 
Journal — those  on  practical  nursing  are  specially 
invited. 

Such  communications  must  be  duly  authenticated 
with  name  and  address,  and  should  lie  addresso<l  to 
the  Editor,  20,  Upper  Wimpole  Street,  London,  \V. 

The  British  Journal  op  Nursing   may  be  ob- 
tained at  431,  Oxford  Street,  London,  W. 
OUR   PUZZLE  PRIZE. 

Rules  for  competing  for  the  Pictorial  Puzzli 
Priee  will  be  found  on  Advertisement  page  xii. 


Sept.  24, 1010]  ^|)c  Britl9b  3ournal  cf  ilAursino  Supplement.         259 


The    Midwife. 


Ibistor^  of  ©bstetrlcal  Jforccps. 

Classical  authors  do  not  mention  instruments 
used  to  deliver  the  head  in  difficult  labours, 
but  that  such  existed  in  some  form  or  another 
is  undoubted,  since  patterns  have  been  dis- 
covered amongst  ancient  Egyptian  surgical  in- 
struments. It  was  not  till  the  begirmiug  of  the 
17th  century  that  one  of  a  family  named 
Chamberlen  invented  the  forceps ;  they  gained 
a  marvellous  reputation  for  skill  in  difficult 
deliveries,  but  the  means  which  they  employed 
wero  kept  a  profound  secret.  AveUng,  in  "  The 
Chamberlens,"  gives  some  interesting  details 
concerning  the  very  selfish  and  mean-spirited 
physicians,  who  heaped  up  riches  by  keeping 
the  invention  to  themselves  for  more  than  three 
eenei-ations.  The  head  of  the  family  was  a 
Huguenot,  who  escaped  to  England  in  1569, 
before  the  massacre  of  St.  Bartholomew's.  He 
had,  curiously  enough,  two  sons  named  Peter; 
both  practised  as  doctors  in  London.  The 
younger,  a  quarrelsome  and  egoistic  individual. 
Boasted  before  the  College  of  Physicians,  when 
called  to  account  for  his  conduct,  that  he  and 
his  brother  and  none  other  excelled  in  difficult 
labours.  The  elder  Peter  was  in  all  probabihty 
the  inventor  of  the  forceps. 

The  younger  had  a  son,  also  named  Peter, 
likewise  an  obstetrician,  practising  in  London, 
wealthy,  talented,  a  good  linguist,  but.  like  his 
forefathers,  selfish  and  bombastic.  He  wrote 
his  own  epitaph  :— 

"  To  tell  his  learning  and  his  life  to  men. 
Enough  is  said  by  '  Here  lies  Chamberlen.'  " 
His  son,  Hugh,  was  a  sad  spendthrift;  the 
idea  occurred  to  him  that  he  might  raise  funds 
by  selling  the  secret,  up  till  then  jealously 
Eruarded.  He  entered  into  negotiations  with 
!^Iauriceau  in  Paris,  and  demanded  10,000 
dollars,  an  exorbitant  sum ;  but  having  failed 
to  deliver  a  dwarf  with  contracted  pelvis, 
chosen  for  him  to  demonstrate  the  efficiency 
of  his  instrument,  his  terms  were  not  accepted. 
His  debts  drove  him  to  leave  England  ;  he  took 
refuge  in  Amsterdam.  Then  he  had  better 
luck;  he  sold  the  secret  to  the  College  of 
Physicians.  But  alack  !  the  greed  for  gold  was 
upon  them  also,  and  the  construction  and  use 
of  the  forceps  was  only  revealed  to  those  of  the 
profession  who  could  pay  highly  for  the  know- 
ledge. Thus  the  secret  was  still  kept  from  the 
scientifis  world  unt'l  two  public-spirited 
citizens  of  Amsterdam,  qualified  men,  pub- 
lished it  abroad  in  the  middle  of  the  18th 
century.     In  England  it  was  already  known. 


the  secret  having  leaked  out.  At  first  it  was 
thought  that  the  honour  of  the  invention  be- 
longed to  one  Palfyn,  a  surgeon  of  Ghent, 
whose  instrument  consisted'  of  spoon-shaped 
solid  metal  blades  with  wooden  handles;  but 
the  discovery  in  1815  of  four  pairs  of  obstetric 
forceps  at  Woodham,  in  Essex,  where  Peter 
Chamberlen,  junior,  had  formerly  lived,  proved 
conclusively  that  the  Chamberlens  were  the 
unworthy  pioneers.  It  is  difficult  to  conceive 
the  possibility  of  such  selfish  conduct,  when  the 
lives  of  mothers  and  infants  were  being  con- 
stantly sacrificed  for  want  of  such  help  as  is 
afforded  by  their  forceps.  It  consisted  of  two 
fenestrated  blades  with  cephalic  curves  and 
scissor-like  handles.  In  two  of  the  patterns 
there  was  a  socket  joint ;  in  the  others  the 
handles  were  kept  together  by  winding  tape 
round  the  point  of  crossing.  Viewed  in  profile 
the  forceps  were  straight,  and  therefore  not 
well  adapted  to  the  curve  of  the  pelvic  canal. 

Smellie,  in  England,  and  Levret,  in  France, 
added  the  pelvic  curve ;  the  former  obstetrician 
also  added  the  straight  port-ion  between  the 
blade  and  handle  known  as  the  shank,  and  in- 
vented the  double  slot  lock,  known  as  the 
English  lock.  At  first  he  covered  the  blades 
with  leather,  so  as  to  prevent  them  slipping.  A 
pair  of  such  forceps  are  to  be  seen  in  the 
museum  of  the  College  of  Surgeons. 

A  German,  Busch  by  name,  added  the  cross 
pieces,  or  shoulder,  which  give  a  firm  grip  to 
the  operator. 

No  very  marked  changes  have  since  been 
made  in  what  are  known  as  "  the  long 
forceps."  These  are  used  to-day  in  median 
and  low  forceps  operations,  but  it  was  foimd 
that  there  was  grave  disadvantage  in  applying 
them  to  the  head  at  the  brim,  since  the  direc- 
tion of  traction  is  not  in  the  axis  of  the  brim. 
It  is  to  Tamier,  of  Paris,  that  is  owed  the  im- 
portant modification  of  the  instrument — the 
addition  of  what  are  known  as  axis  traction 
rods;  these  are  of  curved  metal  attached  to 
the  fenestra  by  slots,  a  transverse  bar,  with 
ball  and  socket  joint,  is  applied  to  the  end  of 
the  rods,  by  which  traction  is  made  in  the  axis 
of  the  pelvis.  The  handles  are  screwed  to- 
gether so  as  to  keep  the  head  gripped.  The 
Simpson,  Cullingworth,  ^lilne-^Iurray,  and 
Porter  Matthews'  axis  traction  forceps  are 
English  patterns  on  the  same  principle.  The 
modern  forceps  is  whoFy  made  of  metal,  has  as 
few  joints  and  angles  as  impracticable,  and  is 
much  lighter  than  the  older  patterns. 


260         zbc  Britisb  3ounial  ot  IHurslno  Supplement.  [Sept.  -it,  loio 


36loo^  humour  in  tbe  ffiroat)  Xtga* 
ment  Buiina  IHatural  Xabouu. 

Attentiou  has  recently  been  drawn  in  a 
German  medical  journal  to  this  rare  condition. 
A  case  is  reported  where  a  child  was  delivered 
by  turning,  the  patient,  aged  34,  having  a  flat 
rachitic  pelvis.  Symptoms  of  internal  hemor- 
rhage set  in  two  hours  later,  no  rupture  of  the 
uterus  could  be  detected,  and  as  a  big  soft 
swelling  was  definable  in  the  pelvis  on  the  right 
of  the  uterus,  hitmatoma  of  the  right  broad 
ligament  was  suspected.  The  patient  died 
within  a  few  hours.  The  uterus  showed  no 
laceration,  but  a  rent  was  detected  in  the  pos- 
terior laver  of  the  right  broad  ligament.  It 
led  into  a  cavitv  full  of  clots,  which  lay  entirely 
in  the  broad'  ligament.  The  writer  also 
relates  anothei*  case  of  a  woman,  aged 
41,  who  had  borne  eight  children.  The 
labour  was  spontaneous  and  not  hngering ;  the 
child  was  born  alive ;  it  weighed  a  little  under 
8  lb.  and  was  nearly  20  in.  in  length.  There 
was  but  little  loss  of  blood.  Shortly  after  the 
expulsion  of  the  placenta  the  patient  felt  faint. 
A  tender  swelling  of  the  size  of  a  fist  was 
detected  on  the  right  of  the  uterus,  which  was 
pushed  against  the  left  side  of  the  pelvis,  but 
was  well  contracted.  Next  day  signs  of  internal 
hfemorrhage  became  evident,  and  a  little  over 
24  hours  after  delivery  abdominal  section  was 
performed.  The  fundus  uteri  lay  at  the  um- 
bilical level,  pushed  to  the  left  by  a  livid  pui-ple 
tumour,  occupying  and  distending  the  right 
broad  ligament!  A  rent,  2  in.  long,  was  found 
in  its  posterior  layer,  and  the  peritoneal  cavity 
contained  a  quantity  of  fluid  and  of  recently 
clotted  blood.  The"^  patient  died  during  the 
operation.  No  trace  of  a  rupture  of  the  uterine 
walls  could  be  discovered.  It  appears  that  a 
varicose  vein  had  burst  in  the  folds  of  the 
right  broad  ligament.  It  is  needless  to  say 
that  such  an  accident  is  extremely  rare.  The 
only  successful  treatment  would  be  by  early 
abdominal  operation. 


3nfanttle  Convulsions. 

Some  corrcsiiondeiice  has  ict-fntly  l)fcii  ]iub- 
lished  in  the  Linircf  on  cold-bath  treatment  of 
infantile  convulsions.  An  officer  in  the  Indian 
medical  service  states  that  he  has  for  many 
years  regarded  high  fever  as  the  cause  of  the 
convulsions  in  acute  diseases  in  children,  and 
acted  accordingly.  Time  after  time  he  has 
noted  that  rigidity,  twitcliings,  and  convulsions 
become  established  pari  paKSii  with  the  pro- 
gressive  rising   of  tho    tempera^turc,   and   that 


they  subside  pdri  passu  with  a  lowering 
of  the  temperature.  The  rectal  temperature  is 
the  best  guide  as  to  the  child's  condition.  The 
younger  the  child  the  more  readily  does  its 
temperature  become  hyperpyretic  and  the  more 
readi,ly  are  convulsions  produced.  The  writer 
believes  that  the  onset  of  convulsions  when 
the  brain  and  spinal  cord  are  not  themselves 
the  seat  of  the  disease  can  be  anticipated  and 
prevented  by  careful  taking  of  the  temjH'ratui'c 
in  the  rectum  at  frequent  intervals,  and  the 
use  of  tepid  sponging  of  the  naked  body,  or  the 
cold  bath,  as  circumstances  indicate.  .\s  the 
heat-regulating  mechanism  gets  so  easily  out  of 
joint  ill  very  young  patients,  the  cold  bath 
must  be  used  with  caution,  as  it  is  easy  to  pro- 
duce over-cooling.  In  evei-y  case  of  fever  in  a 
young  child  the  parents  or  attendant  should  be 
instructed  to  watch  for  the  slightest  signs  of 
the  hands,  arms,  legs,  or  eyeballs,  and  to 
sponge  the  child  all  over  at  once  and  keep  it 
wet  and  naked  when  these  symptoms  appear. 

fIDore  innprofessional  IReprcscnta* 

tion  on  tbc  Central  nl^l^\vives' 

Boar&. 


The  Pjxeciitivc  ('-01111011  of  the  Poor  Law  I'liioiW 
A.'isociation.  at  a  recent  meeting  held  at  the  Hol- 
born  Restaurant,  Ijondon,  received  a  reix)rt  from 
the  Parliamentary  Committee  that  the  Midwiyes' 
Bill  (No.  2),  ivhich  had  been  introduced  by  thi' 
Lord  President  of  the  Council,  coutiaiiie<l  tlie  sjimo 
p!X>visions  as  the  Midwives'  Bill  intro<hiO(><l  earlier 
ill  tho  Session,  but  diy)pj)ed,  with  the  addition  ol  a 
provision  enabliiifj  the  Local  Government  Boanl 
to  make  regulations  as  regards  the  payment  liy 
Boards  of  Guardians  of  fees  to  me<lical  practitioiieis 
oalkxl  in  on  the  advice  of  niidwives,  and  also  a  pro- 
vision tliat  the  payment  of  such  foes  was  not  to  l)e 
considered  parochial  relief,  nor  was  any  i)ei-soii  by 
reason  thereof  to  be  subjected  to  any  disability  or 
disqualiticatioii.  The  Committee  reconimende<l  tho 
Council  to  appiy>ve  of  such  new  piy)vision.  The 
Committee  found,  however,  that  there  was  no  pro- 
vision for  representation  of  tlie  Poor  Law  I'nions 
Asspociation  on  tli<>  new  CVmtral  Board,  and  they 
had  canse<l  another  eonuiiuniration  to  bo  sent  to 
the  Lord  Prosi<h>iit  of  tho  Council  pressing;  for  an 
amendment  of  tho  Bill  in  that   rosiiect. 

Tho  ie|>ort  was  ad«pt<><l. 

Tlio  name  of  this  Board  would  be  more  accurately 
described  as  tlu'  Midwifery,  not  Alidwivo-s'  Board. 
These  proffvssionnl  w<)ikei>>  appear  to  bo  tho  last 
persons  to  tibtain  iiiiy  representation  on  their  own 
governing  IkkIv  ! 


MONEY  WELL  SPENT. 
>frs.  Proctor  Baker  has  given  tlO.dOO  to  pro- 
vide a  maternity  ward  for  the  Bristol  (!<'noral  Flos- 
pital.  Tlie  ward  is  to  Ik"  d<Mlicato<l  to  tho  niomory 
of  her  Into  husband.  Mr.  W.  Proctor  Baker,  who 
was  for  s'.'veral  vcflis  Pri'sident  of  the  institution. 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 

iMK  mumsma  mecomp 

EDITED  BY  MRS  BEDFORD  FENWiCK 


No.  1,174. 


SATURDAY,     OCTOBER     1,      1910. 


EMtonal. 


NURSING  AGENCIES  COME  UNDER  THE  LAW. 
It  has  fallen  once  more  to  the  lot  of  this 
Journal — as  it  has  fallen  on  many  occasions 
cKiring  the  last  twenty  years — to  be  the 
first  to  call  the  attention  of  the  nursing  pro- 
fession to  a  matter  which  may  be,  hereafter, 
of  the  utmost  importance  to  the  interests  of 
luirses.  On  August  ortl,  the  Royal  Assent 
was  given  to  an  Act  of  Parliament  with  the 
simple  title  of  "  The  London  County  Council 
((ieneral  Powers)  Act.  1910."  Amongst 
sections  referring  to  various  street  works, 
purchase  of  lands,  control  of  smoke  nuis- 
ances, and  special  powers  to  the  Camberwell 
Coxincil,  there  are  included  clauses  relating 
to  Employment  Agencies  carried  on  in  the 
County  or  City  of  London.  Some  five  years 
ago,  the  County  Council  obtained  powers  to 
regulate  certain  agencies  or  registries  in 
wliich  it  was  believed  "  fraud  or  immorality" 
might  be  carried  on.  Those  powers  the 
present  Act  repeals,  on  the  ground  that 
they  have  proved  to  be  insufficient  for  tlie 
purposes  desired.  The  present  Act  pro- 
vides, in  short,  that  "  from  and  after  the 
first  day  of  January,  One  thousand  Nine 
hundred  and  Eleven,  no  person  shall  caiTy 
on  an  employment  agency  without  a  license 
from  the  Licensing  Authorities  authorising 
him  so  to  do."  We  propose  to  describe  in 
detail,  hereafter,  the  methods  by  which  the 
new  licenses  will  be  carried  on.  For  the 
moment,  however,  the  ijrinciples  of  the  new 
legislation  demand  the  careful  considera- 
tion of  the  nursing  profession. 

In  the  first  place,  every  agency  for  em- 
ployment of  any  kind  or  description,  con- 
ducted within  the  County  of  London,  is 
brought  within  the  provisions  of  this  Act. 
When  the  Bill  was  in  Committee  in  the 
House  of  Commons,  efforts  were  made  by 


the  Central  Hospital  Council  for  London 
to  exclude  institutions  connected  with  or 
engaged  in  charitable  work,  on  the  gi'ound 
that  hospitals  might  be  included.  The 
Committee  would  not  listen  to  any  sugges- 
tions for  limiting  the  scope  of  the  measure, 
and  thus  all  charitable  institutions,  includ- 
ing hospitals,  must  be  considered  as  coming 
within  the  scope  of  the  Act.  In  other 
words,  those  hospitals  wliich  now  combine 
business  with  philanthropy,  by  sending  out 
nurses  to  the  public,  and  therefore  acting 
as  agencies  for  nurses,  will,  from  the  end  of 
this  year,  be  compelleil  to  carrj'  on  that 
business  under  the  licence  and  regulations 
of  the  I.,ondon  County  Council;  or  of  the 
City  Corporation,  as  the  case  may  be.  In 
like  manner,  every  Nursing  Home  or  Institu- 
tion which  supplies  nurses  to  the  public 
will  require  a  similar  licence.  In  the  next 
place,  the  licensed  agent  will  be  compelled 
under  the  Act  to  conform  to  regxilations 
drawn  up  by  the  Licensing  Authority,  to 
keep  books  or  forms  showing  the  manner  in 
which  the  business  is  conducted,  which  are 
subject  to  inspection  by  officials  appointed 
for  that  purpose.  ^loreover,  very  heavy 
penalties  are  provided  in  the  Act  for  any 
infraction  of  the  regulations,  or  for  any 
attempt  to  carry  on  an  employment  business 
without  the  proper  licence,  which  must  be 
renewed  at  the  commencement  of  every  year. 
It  is  obvious,  therefore,  that  Parliament  has 
made  a  new  departure  with  regard  to  nurs- 
ing matters,  which  may  be  fraught  with  the 
most  important  consequences  not  only  to 
nursing  institutions  but  also  to  all  private 
nurses.  We  foresee,  indeed,  some  results 
Avhich  will  be  little  less  than  revolutionary  ; 
but,  on  the  whole,  we  believe  that  the  con- 
sequences will  be  entirely  for  the  benefit  of 
trained  nurses,  and  we.  therefore,  cordially 
welcome  the  new  legislation. 


262 


Sbe  Britisb  3oiirnaI  of  IRursing. 


[Oct.  1,  1910 


flDcbtcal  fIDatters. 


PHLEBOTOMUS  OR  SANDFLY  FEVER. 

In  the  Britisli  Medical  Journal  of  last  week 
Lieutenant-Col.  C.  Birt,  K.A.jM.C,  has  a  very 
interesting  and  instructive  paper  on  Phleboto- 
mus.  He  writes  that  this  fever  under  various 
names  has  long  been  known  to  prevail  in  the 
tropics,  and  it  was  as  long  ago  as  1804  that 
Pym,  an  army  medical  officer,  gave  the  follow- 
ing account  of  cases  which  he  had  observed  in 
the  Mediterranean: — "The  disease  generally 
comes  on  like  other  fevers  with  slight  headache, 
chilliness,  shivering,  sometimes  sickness  at  the 
stomach.  These  symptoms  are  in  a  few  hours 
followed  by  violent  pain  in  the  head,  confined 
chiefly  to  the  eyeballs  and  forehead,  pain  in  the 
back,  and  in  the  calves  of  the  legs.  The  face 
becomes  flushed  and  the  eyes  have  a  shining, 
watery  appearance,  with  a  slight  degree  of  in- 
flammation, like  those  of  a  person  half  drunk. 
The  skin  is  dry,'  tl'e  bowels  in  general  bound, 
the  tongue  foul.  The  fever  ends  about  the 
third  daj-."  Since  sandfly  fever  is  of  short  dura-* 
tion,  and  causes  ao  mortality,  its  existence  in 
Malta  had  been  quite  overshadowed  by  the 
graver  infections  caused  by  the  typhoid  bacillus 
and  the  Micrococcus  melitensis.  When  Malta 
fever  was  eJ:tinguished  among  the  troops  by 
prohibiting  the  use  of  goats'  milk  in  1906,  sand- 
fly fever  appeared  in  relief  and  called  for  in- 
vestigation. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  year  1908  E.  Doerr 
published  the  researches  which  he  had  made 
on  a  short  febrile  ailment  which  attacked  a 
large  proportion  of  the  soldiers  who  had  re- 
cently arrived  at  stations  on  the  Dalmatian 
coast.  It  was  prevalent  only  during  the  sum- 
mer months.  Doerr  showed  by  experiment 
that  this  fever  was  caused  by  an  invisible  virus, 
present  in  the  blood  during  the  first  day  of  the 
pyrexia,  which  was  conveyed  by  the  sandfly, 
Pklebotomus  papatasii. 

It  was  then  suggested  that  a  like  study 
should  be  made  of  Pym's  fever  at  Malta,  and 
this,  was  undertaken  in  1909  by  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Birt,  who  describes  the  symptoms  as 
follows:  — 

The  Symptoms. 

The  onset  of  phlebotomus  fever  is  usually 
sudden,  though  sometimes  the  pyrexia  may  be 
preceded  by  lassitude,  and  discomfort  for  a  few 
days.  Chilliness  may  be  complained  of,  and 
slight  ri^jors  observed,  but  never  the  chattering  . 
of  the  teeth  of  the  ague  onset.  He  is  attacked 
with  giddiness  and  a  violent  headache,  chiefly 
confined  to  the  brow  and  behind  the  eyes,  ex- 
aggerated by  the  least  movement  of  the  head. 
He  has  pain  in  his  back  and  in  the  calves  of  his 


legs,  and  stiffness  of  all  the  muscles  of  his- 
body,  which  render  him  restless,  though  at  the 
same  time  unwilling  to  move  in  bed,  since  he 
finds  that  a  change  of  position  only  aggravates 
his  discomfort.  He  is  drowsy,  and  resents 
being  disturbed.  Sleep  is  either  much  broken 
or  absent.  His  face  is  deeply  flushed  and  some- 
what tumid.  His  eyelids  are  slightly  swollen 
and  are  half  open.  His  eyes  are  bloodshot,  so 
that  Pym's  description  of  the  half  drunken 
look  of  these  patients  is  characteristic.  The 
eyeballs  are  sensitive  to  movement  and  gentle 
pressure.  The  temperature  rises  to  101-103 
degs.  Fahr.  in  a  few  hours,  but  the  pulse  re- 
mains slow,  often  not  more  th^n  80.  It  has 
been  noted  as  low  as  40.  The  patient  may 
have  vomited.  This  sj  mptom  occurs  in  about 
25  per  cent,  of  the  cases.  Diarrhoea  with 
watery  stools  was  marked  in  20  per  cent.  Con- 
stipation is  commonly  observed. 

'The  tongue  becomes  coated  with  a  thin  white 
fur,  except  at  the  tip  and  edges.  It  is  inclined 
to  be  large  and  flabby.  Taste  is  impaired.  Loss 
of  appetite  is  constant.  Nausea  is  a  frequent 
symptom.  Thei-e  is  often  congestion  of  tlie 
fauces  and  vesicles  on  ihe  palate  are  frequent. 
Throat  symptoms,  however,  are  rarely  notieerl 
by  the  patient.  There  is  no  expectoration  nor 
coryza.  The  skin  is  usually  dry,  though  occa- 
sional perspirations  may  occur.  But  the  pro- 
fuse sweating,  such  as  ends  a  fit  of  ague,  does 
not  take  place.  There  is  often  much  dilatation 
of  the  capillaries  of  the  face,  which  causes 
puffiness  of  the  eyelids  and  features,  and  gives 
a  dissipated  look  to  the  suffei'er.  In  the  early 
sixties,  indeed,  alcoholic  excess  was  supposed 
to  be  the  cause  of  Pym's  fever.  Many  of  the 
unfortunate  soldiers  who  were  attacked  were 
shown  in  the  army  returns  under  the  heading 
"  Ebriositas."  The  erythema  may  extend  to 
the  neck  and  upper  part  of  the  chest.  Rashes 
are  absent,  except  those  caused  by  insects. 
The  joints  are  not  swollen. 

Blood  was  obtained  by  venepuncture  in  23 
instances. 

The  Blood  E.xamix.\tions. 

The  negative  results  obtained  in  the  blood 
examinations  excluded  malaria,  relapsing,  try- 
panosome,  Malta,  typhoid,  streptococcic, 
staphylococcic,  tctragenus,  pneumococcic,  and 
influenzal  infections,  and  also  Rogers's  seven- 
day  fever,  which  he  attributes  to  a  typhoid-like 
organism. 

It  was  first  necessary  to  ascertain  if  this 
short  fever  of  INIalta  was  a  specific  disease. 
Here  experiments  on  the  lower  animals  gave  no 
assistance,  for  they  were  all  immune  to  5  c.cm. 
of  the  blood  of  a  patient  in  the  first  day  of  his 
illness.     When  the  nature  of  the  investigation 


Oct.  1,  191i\ 


Zbc  36r(ti5b  3ournal  of  IRursino. 


was  explaiaed  to  the  gunners  of  No.  99  Com- 
pany of  tlio  Koyal  LTarrison  Artillery,  many  of 
them  came  fonvaid  voluntarily  and  ofiered  to 
submit  to  experiniout.  Had  it  not  been  for 
their  intelligence  and  self-sacrificing  courage, 
which  paid  no  heed  to  their  own  sufferings, 
the  inquiry  into  the  origin  and  causation  of 
Pvni's  fever  would  have  remained  barren. 

Experiments  wore  made  with  infected  sand- 
flies, which  showed  that  the  Phlebotomus  pajm- 
tiisii  (the  Malta  species)  can  convey  the  virus, 
and  that  the  bite  of  one  fly  only  is  sufiBcient  for 
the  purpose ;  also  that  the  sandflies  are  infec- 
tive seven  to  ten'  days  after  sucking  virulent 
blood. 

Sandfly  fever  is  prevalent  throughout  the 
Mediten-anean  area,  and  it  is  now  located  in 
E^ypt  and  India. 

Prevextiox. 

For  the  prevention  of  the  disease  isolation  of 
the  patient  during  the  first  forty-eight  hours 
only  of  hisi  illness  in  sandtly-proof  nets  is  re- 
quired. DoeiT  has  shown  that  the  blood  is 
avirulent  after  the  end  of  the  second  day. 

Captain  !Marett's  discovery  of  the  pupae  and 
larvae  in  the  crannies  of  sun-parched  walls. 
coupled  with  the  fact  that  the  sandfly  months 
are  the  rainless  months  in  every  part  of  the 
world,  suggests  that  moisture  is  inimical  to 
them.  It  seems  probable  that  their  numbers 
migh  be  lessened  by  spraying  their  haunts  with 
sea  water  in  the  maritime  areas  where  sandfly 
fever  is  epidemic. 

Zbc  ^wenttetb  (tcnturp  fIDatron. 

The  Lecture  given  by  the  late  Miss  Isla 
Stewart  before  the  Matrons'  Council  in  1905 
on  "  The  Twentieth  Century  Matron  "  has 
been  issued  in  pamphlet  form,  reprinted  from 
this  Journal.  This  inspiring  paper  has  already 
been  translated  into  several  foreign  languages, 
and  has  appeared  in  many  nursing  papers,  but 
its  matter  is  yet  fresh  and  of  sterling  quality. 
It  is  full  of  the  mellow  thought  of  experience — 
it  hankers  after  noble  ideals — and  it  is  a  very 
human  document.  It  is  written  "  Let  us 
begin  with  loyalty."  Would  that  we  could 
have  loyalty  all  the  way  I  "  Nothing  hurts  a 
Matron  so  much  deep  down  in  her  soul  ae  to 
find  that  her  nui-ses  are  not  loyal  to  her."  How 
all  important  therefore  that  a  IMatron  should 
herself  be  true  to  the  finest  ethics  of  her  profes- 
sion. It  would  be  well  for  every  Matron  to 
keep  by  her  this  little  pamphlet.'  "  It  must 
be  because  it  is  right  "  is  its  keynote. 

The  pamphlet  can  be  obtained,  price  6d., 
from  Mjss  Ethelle  Campbell,  Matron,  Park- 
w.x>d,  Swanley,  Kent. 


1Rinct\>*"IHlnc,   or   Xifc   in  a 
Sanatoriuin. 

By  "  O.NE  Who  Has  Been  Through  It." 


"  Say  ninety-nine." 

"  Ninety-nine  1 

■■  Again." 

"  Ninety-uine  I  " 

"  Now  cough." 

I  coughed. 

''  Again." 

Again  I  coughed.  Anything  to  oblige !  .\t 
the  Doctor's  bidding  I  had  said  ninety-nine 
dozens  of  times,  and  coughed  till  I  was  blue  in 
the  face.  The  examination  had  commenced 
with  my  pulse  being  felt,  and  my  being 
searched  all  over  by  the  keen  eye  of  an  expert : 
it  was  continued  by  knocking  at  every  portion  of 
my  chest,  and  listening  to  all- kinds  of  sounds 
interesting  no  doubt  to  the  physician — in  heart 
and  lungs;  and  had  wound  up  by  my  being 
invited  to  say  ninety-nine  and  cough  ad  lib. 
This  kind  of  thing  was  no  novelty  for  me,  as 
I  had  already  obliged  four  other  doctors  by  say- 
ing ninety-nine.  However,  the  profession  has 
an  arduous  and  often  gloomy  time  of  it,  and 
far  be  it  from  me  to  deny  them  any  little 
pleasure  they  may  extract  from  hearing  their 
patients  say  these  magic  words  (though  what 
virtue  there  can  be  in  that  particular  number, 
I  cannot  Imagine).  During  these  perform- 
ances, often  conducted  by  two  or  three  medical 
luminaries,  I  generally  experienced  a  feelin; 
more  or  less  like  a  pullet  being  tested,  for  th;' 
pot.  However,  perhaps  unlike  a  pullet,  I  use  i 
to  feel  a  bit  bored,  and  took  rather  an  im- 
personal interest  in  what  was  going  on. 

"  Well,  that  will  do  now.  Put  on  your 
clothes." 

"  How  do  you  think  I  am,  Doctor?  " 
"  Oh,  you'll  do  all  right — ^Nothing  much 
wrong — H'm! — Your  sj'stem  wants  toning  up.- 
A  little  rest  will  soon  set  you  up  again."  All 
this  said  in  the  most  genial  and  reassuring 
manner  possible.  So  much  so  indeed,  that  had 
I  not  been  well  used  to  the  genus  medicus  I 
might  have  thought  that  all  this  fuss  of  going 
to  a  celebrated  London  physician  was  a  regular 
farce. 

I    left   the     consulting   room,    so   that   my 
father  and  the  Doctor  could  have  an  unembar- 
rassed tete-a-tete.     After  an  hour;  my  father 
emerged  looking  rather  solemn. 
"Well?"  I  said. 

"Oh— ah— "  ^    • 

"  You  may  as  well  tell  me  the  truth?'  Is  it 
phthisical?  "  I  asked. 

"Oh,  well.    Evervthinfj  seems  to  be  more  or 


264 


Zbc  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRuvsing, 


[Oct.  1,  1910 


less  tubercular   novvadaj-s.       Your    lungs    are 
slightly  touched." 

Then  this  was  the  awful  truth  which  1  had 
suspected  myself  for  some  time,  but  had  ab- 
stained from  finding  out  definitely  by  making 
inrjuiries.  In  some  ways  it  is  better  to  have 
doubts  as  to  whether  one  is  suffering  from  some 
fell  malady  than  to  know  it  for  certain.  I  felt 
like  one  doomed.  That  famous  picture,  "  Sen- 
tence of  Death,"  where  a  young  man  is  repre- 
sented sitting  in  a  Doctor's  consulting  room, 
and  staring  into  vacancy,  having  just  been  told 
he  was  suffering  from  some  fatal  disease, 
flashed  across  my  mind.  At  any  rate,  there 
was  no  use  being  down  in  the  mouth  over  it. 
One  must  die  sometime,  and  better  to  do  so 
like  a  gentleman  than  start  whining  about  it. 
I  determined  to  feign  indifference. 

"  What's  the  programme  now?"  I  inquired. 

"  Dr.  Trefem  says  you  must  have  absolute 
rest  and  plenty  of  good  food.  He  adviees  that 
you  should  go  at  once  to  a  smal]  sanatorium 
in  Blankshire,  which  he  recommends.  He 
thinks  very  favourably  of  your  case." 

"  How  long  will  I  have  to  stay  at  this  ex- 
citing place?  " 

"  Oh,  he  thinks  perhaps  five  months.  It  all 
depends  on  how  quickly  you  get  well." 

There  was  no  help  for  it.  I  must  resign  my- 
self to  Fate,  and  there  was  this  merit  about 
the  step  about  to  be  taken,  that  nothing  was 
undecided,  and  undoubtedly  it  was  the  beet 
thing  to  do.  But,  to  think  of  it — to  spend  the 
next  five  months  of  my  existence  in  a  Con- 
sumptive Home  (to  put  it  in  plain  English  I) 
and  perhaps  to — but  I  must  keep  that  idea  out 
of  my  mind. 

Accordingly  on  the  following  day,  after  a 
two  hours'  motor  drive  from  I^ondon,  I  found 
myself  feeling  pretty  cheap,  and  worn  out, 
sitting  in  an  easy  chair  in  the  study  at  Mount 
Pleasant  -r-  mighty  pleasant  1  —  Sanatorium. 
Presently,  Dr.  Williams  came  in.  He  was 
a  genial  soul,  and  had  a  fine  breezy  manner. 
Two  little  fox  terriers  accompanied  him.  !More 
questions  about  my  health  and  condition,  and 
then  conversation,  in  which  owing  to  lassitude 
I  ceased  to  interest  myself,  between  my  father 
and  the  Doctor,  in  which  the  words  "  open 
air,"  "  good  food,"  "  quiet,"  "  temperature," 
•occniTed  very  frequently. 

Presently  a  pretty  girl,  looking  very  fresh 
and  smart  in  her  iirat  hospital  uniform,  looked 
in. 

"  -Mlow  me  to  introduce  the  new  patient — 
Nurse  Thompson  I"  sjiid  the  Doctor. 

.\lready  I  began  to  feel  more  reconciled  to 
my  lot. 

"  Come    along,    and    I'll    show    you 
shelter,"  she  said. 


your 


I  had  always  thought  of  a  shelter  as  a  grue- 
some, mournful  sort  of  place  where  consump- 
tives passed  their  last  hours.  Instead  of  that 
I  beheld  a  cheerful,  sunny  room  with  canvas 
sides  which  could  be  let  down  at  will.  There 
was  a  cornfoztable  wicker-work  chair  in  one 
corner,  a  big  cupboard  containing  a  washing- 
basin,  etc.,  in  another,  a  mahogany  chair  in 
another,  and  in  the  centre — last  but  not  least 
— a  most  comfortable  looking  bed  with  a  little 
table  on  each  side  of  the  head.  On  the  top  of 
the  cupboard  were  two  huge  vases  of  sweet 
pea,  which  scented  the  little  apartment  with 
their  pleasant  odour.  The  floor  was  covered 
with  a  linoleum  of  a  pretty  pattern,  and  which 
harmonised  very  well  with  the  light  blue  dis- 
temper of  the  framework  of  my  bedroom.  Al- 
together a  most  inviting  studiol 

1  soon  popped  into  bed,  and  when  snugly 
ensconsed  between  the  snowy  sheets,  felt  more 
comfortable  than  I  had  for  days.  This  then 
was  the  dreaded  "  San!  "  Well,  what  with 
reading,  playing  patience,  and  chats  with  the 
Doctor  and  Nurse,  I  reckoned  I  would  be  able 
to  pass  the  time  quit*  comfortably. 

There  was  a  knock  at  the  door,  and  the 
Nurse  came  in  and  let  down  two  whole  sides  of 
the  shelter.  It  was, very  pleasant,  the  summer 
breezes  came  wafting  in.  and  through  the  open 
sides  I  had  an  enchanting  view  of  meadows, 
trees,  hills  and  dales,  and  far  away  a  pictur- 
esque old  country  church  just  showing  over  the 
surrounding  foliage  on  a  distant  mound.  To 
my  consternation,  I  noticed  Nurse  Thompson 
calmly  collecting  all  my  clothes  into  a  bundle. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  with  those?"  I 
asked. 

"  I'm  going  to  take  them  away  into  the 
house." 

"Why?" 
Oh,  to  kee|]  i/i<u  troni  ranihliiig  and  to  keep 
your  clothes  dry,"  she  said  with  a  smile. 

"  Drastic  measures  to  keeji  your  patients 
here  I  I  thought  this  place  was  called  Mount 
Pleasant'!  " 

She  laughed — "  Oh,  it's  a  merry  place  right 
enough,  but  we  must  not  take  any  risks  with 
our  precious  charges." 

.\t  any  rate,  I  thought  to  myself,  it  would 
be  difficult  to  he  lugubrious  with  such  a  jolly 
lively  little  sprite  riuming  roimd. 

I  felt  n  bit  tif  a  shock  when  my  father  came 
out  to  say  "  good-bye,"  as  I  had  reckoned  on 
his  staying  in  the  neighbourhocxl  for  about  a 
week.  However,  he  said  Dr.  Williams  had 
been  very  finn  about  his  going  away.  Accord- 
ing to  the  Doctor  I  was  to  have  absolute  quiet, 
and  apparently,  my  father  was  supposed  to 
exercise  n  disturbing  influence  over  me. 

"  Good-bye,  my  boy !  and  I  hope  to  find  you 


Oct.  1,  1910: 


^be  36i-it(s5b  3oiunal  of  lI^iuc>(no. 


strong  and  fit  when  next  I  see  you." 

Ho  wrung  my  hand  and  turned  away.  I  felt 
a  pang  of  grief  and  loueliiKSS  as  I  saw  his  well- 
known  figure  crossing  the  garden.  When  would 
1  see  him  again'.'    Who  could  tell? 

However,  I  quickly  cheered  up  at  hearing  a 
tinkle  of  cups,  and  the  hriek  rustling  of  the 
Nurse's  dress.  She  entered  bringing  me  my 
afternoon  tea.  While  I  was  drinking  it  she 
chatted  to  me  pleasantly,  telling  me  about  all 
the  other  patients.  [Very  unprofessional. — • 
El).]  (To  be  concluded.) 


Our  (Buinca  Iprtsc. 

We  liav©  pleasure  in  armouncing  that  Mi.56  M 
Cooper,  .  Western  District  Hospital,  Had<lingt<)ii, 
N.B.,  has  won  the  Gninea  Prize  for  Soptemljer. 


Ibomase  to  flDist?  IRiobtinoale. 

We  are  pleased  to  leani  that  there  is  a  grow- 
ing desire  amongst  nurses  to  have  a  memorial 
to  Miss  Nightingale  all  their  own,  and  that  it 
shall  take  the  form  of  a  beautiful  statue,  as 
strongly  advocated  in  this  Journal.  Trafalgar 
Sijuare  awaits  such  adornment.  There  the 
nurses  of  the  whole  world  would  come  and 
worship  at  the  shrine  of  the  Founder  of  their 
Profession.  Let  there  be  no  hesitation  on  the 
count  of  cost,  the  money  would  just  roll  in  for 
such  a  purpose. 

In  the  national  memorial  to  Miss  Nightin- 
gale, St.  Thomas's  Hospital  quite  rightly  has 
taken  the  initiative.  We  believe  it  is  to  take 
sotne  fonn  of  charity  for  nurses.  Frankly,  we 
have  little  sympathy  with  any  scheme  of  the 
kind.  Florence  Nightingale  was  first  and  fore- 
most a  great  educationalist.  She  inspired  the 
thirst  for  knowledge.  She  loved  simplicity, 
self  reliance,' self  control.  We  have  now  the 
o])i)ortunity  of  inviting  the  support  of  the 
public  to  a  national  scheme  of  nursing  educa- 
tion which  would  qualify  future  generations  of 
nurses  to  be  self-supporting,  and  so  be  saved 
from  the  necessitous  condition  into  which 
many  now  fall  in  their  old,  age,  owing  to  the 
quite  inadequate  standard  of  remuneration 
paid  to  them  for  work  indispensable  to  the 
community  at  large. 

We  deprecate  a  nurses'  charity  in  connec- 
tion with  the  illustrious  name  of  Florence 
Nightingale.  We  owe  her  scientific  genius  re- 
coi,'nition. 

To  worthily  emphasise  her  hfe's  work  it  is 
our  duty  to  commemoraite  the  fact  that 
Florence  Nightingale  was  a  great  teacher,  and 
not  primarily  a  philanthropist. 

The  Duke  of  Westminster  will  lend  Gros- 
venor  House  for  a  drawing-room  meeting  for 
discussing  and  formulating  a  scheme  to  provide 
a  memorial  of  Miss  Florence  Nightingale.  It 
is  eminently  suitable  that  such  a  meeting 
should  be  held.  ' 


Key  to  Puzzles. 
No.  1.— Cyllin. 

C'-lll-iun. 
\o.  2. — Plasnion. 

P-Lass-mow-ii. 
Xo.  3. — Bailey's  Dre&siii_-. 

B-ale-eycs  drcs.-^-^iii^';. 
Nil.    I. — Giinoukl's  cloaU^. 

G-anx)w-LDS  CL-fjaks. 

The  following  oompetitoi-s  Jiavc  also  solved  the 
puzzles  correctly: — E.  M.  Dickson,  Gosport^  F.  A. 
GriflSn,  llford ;  A.  Summers,  Grange;  .J.  A\  illiam.s, 
Paddington;  A.  G.  Layton,  Loudon;  .J.  Cook,  Port- 
land; G.  Smart,  Cork;  E.  A.  Leeds,  Ixjndon;  S. 
Arthur,  Slongh;  W.  Hairland,  London:  C.  Lawsou, 
Dumfries;  E.  L.  Little,  Belfa-st;  E.  Burnett, 
Pontypridd;  M.  Dempster,  Ealing;  C.  T.  Carey, 
Guernsey;  5L  T.  Baird,  Aberdeen;  F.  Lowe,  SRef- 
•field  ;  C.  Moss,  York ;  E.  Spencer,  London ;  F.  Mac- 
fie,  Edinburgh;  —  Bidmead,  Coveuti-y ;  —  Lord. 
Burton-on-Treut ;  C.  Ballance,  Glasgow ;  T.  Moore, 
Plymouth;  L.  C.  C<x>per,  Streatham ;  A.  M.  Shoe- 
smith,  Durham ;  K.  Polden,  London ;  E.  Dinnie, 
Harrow ;  yi.  Drew,  Dublin ;  E.  Matthews,  Ryhop.->  ; 
T.  Brewster,  Manchester;  E.  Harriss,  Sutton  Coil- 
field;  F.  E.  S.  Roberts,  Surbiton ;  L.  Newman. 
AVest  Liss;  E.  S.  Sills,  Oakham;  M.  Truemau, 
Wicklow;  E.  Douglas,  Belfast;  F.  B.  Matlews. 
London;  —  Hoyes,  Southwell;  G.  M.  Thompson, 
London  ;  C.  Dunne,  Dublin  ;  —  Cobb,  New  CrcfS.- ; 
M.  Varley.  Bumingham ;  P.  Davics,  Cardiff;  A. 
Martin.  Southampton;  F.  Dowd,  Dublin;  A.  B. 
Curtis.  Kvde:  B.  E.  Poulter;  S.  Woodford;  M. 
Modliu,"  Brixton;  M.  Walker,  Port  St.  Mary;  F. 
Flower.  Liverpool;  C.  Daly,  Limerick;  J.  Benstead. 
Birmingham;  V.  Newham,  Virginia  Water;  E. 
Long.  Nottingham;  C.  P.  Smith,  Temimley;  E. 
Wilson,  T^wisham;  N.  A.  Fellows,  Etlgl>aston ;  M. 
P.  Hartley,  Ixmdon ;  F.  Sheppard,  Tunbridge 
Wells;  R.  Leigh,  Lympston ;  B.  S.  Sheard.  Chisle- 
hui-st;  IXL.Mackey,  Perth;  E.  :^^acfarIane,  London  ; 

B.  Mackenzie,  Eduiburgli ;  V.  Lane,  Cromer;  R.  L. 
Wiseman,  Parson's  Green  ;  M.  K.  Herbert,  Brom- 
ley ;  F.  Williams,  Rawtenstall :  R.  Conway,  Avie- 
more;  C.  O'Conor,  Cork;  A.  E.  Garver.  AVimble- 
don  ;  H.  Cobb,  Attlelwrough  ;  >L  Leo,  Bolton :  S.  S. 
Sherring.  Liverpool ;  K.  Terry,  London ;  G.  G. 
Tate.  I/ondon;  J.  Nuti,  W.  Bromwich,  C.  May, 
Leicester:  A.  Pettit,  Tendon;  F.  McQueen,  GaW 
ton:  L.  Woodland,  Galway;  T.  Barnes,  Leeds;  M. 

C.  Ford.  Islington:  C.  X.  Hindley,  Poole:  G.  Fes- 
ter, Plymouth :  M.  N.  Seely,  Swansea ;  P.  Armi- 
tage,  Halifax;  D.  O'CaUigan,   LiveipooL 

The  Rules  for  Pi-izo  Puzzles  remain  the  same, 
and  will  be  found  on  page  xii.  Comijetitors  must 
sign  uiitials  with  name,  and  write  "  Prize  -Puzzle 
Competition  "  on  enveloj^e.  Seveiial  comi>?titoi's 
have  again  omitted  to  comply  with  these  simple 
regulations. 


•266 


Zbc  36ritisb  Journal  of  IRurstng. 


[Oct,  1,  19X0 


1Rc\v  flDcmbevs  of  tbe  ilDatrons' 
Council. 

MISS  MABEL  THURSTON. 

Lady  Superiniendent.  Christ  church  Hospital, 
Sew  Zealand. 

The  International  Council  of  Trained  Nurses 
is  bringing  the  nurses  of  the  world  into  personal 
as  well  as  professional  touch  with  one  another, 
and  the  Matrons'  Council  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland,  the 
S  o  ci  e  t  y  which  , 
took  the  initiative 
in  1899  in  forming 
it,  welcomes  most 
cordially  to  mefn- 
bership  the 
^Matrons  of  train- 
ing schools  for 
nurses  in  our 
splendid  and  pro- 
gressive Domi- 
nions bej-ond  the 
seas. 

:\I  i  s  s  il  a  b  e  1 
Thurston,.  Lady 
Superintendent  of 
C  h  r  i  s  t  c  h  ureh 
Hospital,  was 
elected  at  the  Bir- 
minghiam  meet- 
ing, and  the  ac- 
companying pic- 
ture gives  us  a 
nurse  -  like  pre- 
sentment of  her 
in  W'hite  uniform 
and  the  original  j 
■'  Bart's  "  cap.        i 

Upon      an-iving   j 
in    New    Zealand 
from    England    in 
the      year      lOOn, 
Miss    Th  u  rston 
was     deeply      in- 
terested      i  1 ' 
learning  of  the  d' • 
mand   for  uurst-^. 
and    in     the    dis-    - 
fussions        which 
,vvere   then    taking 
place  on  the  State 
itegistration  question 
two  year.s  later). 

She  therefore  entered  the  Wellington  Hos- 
pital for  training  in  1901,  and  at  the  end  of 
the  third  year  ol)tHined  the  hospital's  certifi- 
cate, and,  having  i)assed  the  State  examiiui- 
tion,  was  registered.  Subsequently  she  was 
apjKjinted  Sister  of  the  operating  theatre,  and 


Miss    MABEL    THURSTON, 

ndeni,    Cliri^tclnirch     Hofiiilal. 


(The  Bill -became  law 


later  of  the  women's  surgical  wards.  In 
-March,  1906,  Miss  Thurston  became  Matron  of 
the  Graymouth  Hospital  on  the  west  coast,  a 
gold  and  coal  mining  district,  containing  60 
beds,  and  in  1908  she  was  promoted  to  the  im- 
portant charge  of  the  Christehureh  Hospital,  a 
position  she  still  holds.  This  well-organised 
hospital  contains  140  beds,  and  two  new  wards, 
each  holding  30  beds,  are  to  be  opened  early  in 
the  New  Year.  The  nursing  staff  of  70  also 
nurses  a  sana- 
torium  for  con- 
sumption. In  the 
near  future,  ac- 
cording to  the 
provisions  of  a 
new  Hospitals 
Act  recently 
passed  in  New 
Zealand,  several 
other  charitable 
institutions,  which 
will  come  under 
the  control  of  the 
Board  of  Manage- 
ment, will  require 
to  be  staffed  from 
n  u  r  s  e  6  trained 
at  the  Christ- 
church   Hospital. 

!Miss  Thurston 
takes  an  active 
interest  in  the 
organisation  o  f 
her  profession,  and 
is  a  member  of 
the  Council  of 
the  Christehureh 
Branch  of  the 
New  Zealand 
Trained  Nurses' 
Association, 
foi-med  in  1908, 
and  which  has 
been  such  an  un- 
qualified success. 
Indeed,  we  hope 
it  may  be 
affiliated  to  the 
Intern  a  t  i  on  a  I 
Council  of  Nurses 
atCologneinl912. 
From  Kai  Tiaki,  the  official  organ  of  the 
New  Zealand  nurses,  we  learn  with  interest  of 
wonderful  j)rc>gress  in  every  direction,  and 
with  State  Hegistration  in  force,  this  is  only 
to  be  expected,  because  in  all  other  countries 
the  recognition  and  government  of  nurses  by 
the  State  has  been  followed  by  marked  im- 
provements. 


Oct.  1, 1910; 


Z\K  Bvttisb  3ournal  of  IRursino. 


lpvoGi*c56  of  State  IRcijiCitratton. 

THE  STATUS  OF  FEVER  NURSES. 

Scotland  has  come  late  into  the  Kegistratiou 
controversy,  but  none  tln'  less  eager  for  that. 
All  through  the  summer  the  question  of  Xui-ses' 
Registration  has  beeu  deUated  oft'  and  on  in 
the  two  leading  national  uewspapurs — the 
Scotsiitun  and  the  Gla.><th'W  Herald — and  the 
controversy  on  the  status  of  the  fever  nurse  is 
the  chief  item  of  interest  of  the  hour. 

Dr.  A.  Campbell  ^Munro  is  in  sympathy  with 
the  demands  of  the  Convocation  of  Royal 
Burghs  of  Scotland  (men  of  municipal  in- 
fluence), and  certain  bodies  which  control  the 
large  Scottish  fever  hosjjitals,  in  their  demand 
for  a  Fever  Nurses'  Register,  and  thinks  that 
unless  this  band  of  specialists  is  set  up  and 
recognised  in  the  Nurses'  Registration  Bill  now 
before  Parliament  local  authorities  will  have  to 
fall  back  on  "  the  handy  woman,"  and  states 
"  that  to  the  care  of  such  the  children  of  the 
ratepayers  will  be  committed."  Dr.  Campbell 
Munro  states  that  because  it  is  not  provided  in 
the  Bill  to  set  up  a  Fever  Nurses'  Register,  they 
are  "  to  be  beyoud  the  pale — pariahs,"  and 
advises  local  authorities  to  block  the  Bill  "  in 
order  to  secure  that  the  interests  of  the  insti- 
fcious  which  are  under  them  can  be  safe- 
guarded." 

Just  that — •"  the  interests  of  the  institu- 
tions." Now  let  us  regard  the  question  from 
the  nurses'  and  the  patients'  point  of  view, 
with  due  consideration  for  economics.  We  do 
not  agree  with  Dr.  ]\Iunro  that  nurses  who  work 
in  hospitals  which  admit  patients  suffering 
from  infectious  diseases  only  are  to  be  placed 
in  the  same  category  as  male  nurses  or  those 
who  attend  mental  patients;  and  a  midwife 
now  registered  is  not  necessarily  a  nurse  at  all. 
Men  must  remain  specialists, inso  far  as  they 
will  never  be  called  upon  to  nurse  women  and 
young  children,  which  will  necessitate  a  special 
curriculum  of  training  and  examination ;  a 
register  of  male  nurses  is  therefore  expedient. 
The  curriculum  of  education  for  a  mental  nurse, 
based,  of  course,  on  the  principles  of  general 
nursing,  will  always  renuiin  more  or  less  of  a 
speciality,  and  no  hardship  result  to  the  mental 
nurses  jis  there  will  always  remain  outside  the 
asylum  a  wide  and  remunerative  field  of  border 
cases  in  attending  which,  they  can  earn  their 
living. 

Beyond  "these  two  very  distinct  classes, 
specialism  should  be  determinedly  discouraged. 
\Vhy'?  Because  it  is  unju.st  to  the  patient  and 
the  nurse.  To  the  patient,  because  effective 
specialism  must  be  based  on  wide  general  know- 
ledge of  disease  and  treatment:    to  the  nurse. 


ill_■OllU.^e    it    SUi_-     1.-    blUt:-U;n  1.1     I    liil'/     ..  ;..ii     i;.„^. 

be  described  as  a  P'ever  Nursing  Pen,  her  power 
to  practise  would  be  necessarily  very  cir- 
cumscribed. She  could  not  earn  her  living 
fairlv  in  competition  with  general  trained 
nurses,  and  the  result  would  be  that  the  most 
intelligent  women  would  avoid  training  in  fever 
iiospitals,  and  the  very  evils  Dr.  Munro  antici- 
pates would  result.  Fever  hospitals  would  only 
get  women  to  accept  the  disadvantages  of  a 
special  training  who  were  not  up  to  the 
standard  required  by  the  general  hospitals. 

Reciprocal  training  between  the  general  and 
infectious  diseases  hospitals  is  the  only  wise 
and  scientific  solution  of  the  difficulty,  and  to 
define  and  provide  such  a  complete  training  be- 
fore registration  would  be  the  first  duty  of  any 
Central  Nursing  Authority  set  up  by  law. 

Miss  E.  A.  Stevenson,  in  replying  to  Dr. 
Munro,  puts  this  matter  very  clearly.  She 
writes : 

Before  the  Public  Health  Acts  came  into  force 
most  hosi)ital  training  schools  had  attached  what 
were  called  '■  fever  houses."  A  probationer  nurse 
served  part  of  her  time  in  the  general  hospital,  and 
part  of  her  time  in  the  fever  wards.  Modern 
methods  abolished  the  dangerous  system  of  treat- 
ing medical,  surgical,  and  fever  cases  practically 
under  one  roof.  But  in  many  good  movements 
there  are  disadvantages,  and  in  this  good  move- 
ment who  were  the  losers-'  Most  assuredly  the 
nurses.  Instead  of  getting  au  all-round  training, 
the  nurse  of  to-day  is  swept  into  the  general  hos- 
pital on  the  one  side,  or  the  fever  hospital  on  the 
other.  .She  goes  into  tlie  general  hospital  or  the 
fever  hospital ;  she  may  take  both  trainings  if  she 
likes,  but  as  a  double  period  of  training  is  a  severe 
physical  strain,  only  a  small  proportion  of  women 
care  lo  risk  it. 

It  is  clear  that  a  fever  register  would  be  ex- 
tremely prejudicial  both  to  general  and  fever 
nurses.  In  Scotland  there  are  already  training 
schools  which  recognise  the  value  of  reciprocai 
training  by  having  arrangements  with  fever  hos- 
pitals to  talie  probationers  for  part  of  the  period 
of  training  In  England,  the  Metropolitan  Asylums 
Board  have  had  under  consideration  schemes  for 
co-operation  with  general  hospitals,  and  although 
there  are  difficulties,  they  are  not  insurmountable. 

It  is  incorrect  to  say  that  fever  nurses  "  are  to 
be  beyond  the  pale — pariahs,"  and  it  is  not  in 
accordance  with  fact  that  the  Bill  at  present  before 
Parliament  provides  no  recognition  for  fever  nurses. 
Under  Section  1.5,  Sub-section  (3)  sets  forth  :  "  Any 
nurse  whose  name  is  placed  on  the  general  register, 
and  who  holds  a  certificate  of  the  Tever  Nurses' 
.Association,  or  its  equivalent,  granted  under  con- 
ditions approved  by  the  Council,  shall  be  entitled, 
on  payment  of  a  single  registration  fee  of  two 
shillings  and  sixpence,  to  hare  the  wor^s  '  also 
trained  in  fever  nursing  '  added  to  her  record  in 
the  register." 

If  we  are  going  to  begin  with  a  fever  register, 
we  may  as  well  have  au  erg  register,  an  ear  and 


^l)C  Biltisb  3ournal  of  THiusing, 


LOct.  1.  1910 


Throat  register,  a  skin  register,  etc.,  etc.  A  fever 
register  would  be  a  great  convenience  to  local 
authorities,  but  this  convenience  can  easily  be 
;ittaine<l  «itliout  sacrificing  the  nurses,  who  deserve 
better  consideration.  Let  ine  point  out,  also,  that 
a  fover  register  would  be  no  benefit  to  the  public. 
Outside  the  fever  hospital,  fever  nursing  is  a  very 
Jimitcd  field,  and  even  a*  such  is  under  the  control 
of  the  local  authority. 

The  Bill  at  present  before  Parliament  provides 
for  the  representation  of  fever  interests,  and  once 
the  machinery  of  State  Registration  is  set  in 
motion,  progress  will  be  made  towards  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  full  curriculum,  reciprocal  training, 
or,  in  other  words,  co-operation  between  general 
and  fever  hospitals. 

A  full,  medical,  surgical,  and  fever  training  is 
what  every  nurse  who  looks  after  the  interests  of 
her  profession  will  aim  at  and  endeavour  to  secure. 

Next  week  we  shall  discuss  other  suggestions 
advanced  in  Seojtland  for  the  solution  of  the 
difficulty,  which  is  by  no  means  insurmount- 
able. We  must  remember  the  Nurses'  Kegistra- 
tion  Bill  is  designed  to  bring  order  out  of  chaos, 
and  not  to  make  confusion  worse  confounded. 
•  E.  G.  F. 

^be  IRiirses'  fllMs6ionar\}  Xcaoue. 

The  Valedictory  Meetings  in  connection  with  the 
Nurses'  ^Missionary  League  will  be  held  at  Univer- 
.=;ity  Hall  (Dr.  AVilliams'  Library),  Gordon  Square, 
London,  AV.C,  on  "\Yednes<lay,  October  5th,  to  take 
leave  of  fifteen  nurses  proceeding  to  the  foreign 
field. 

The  Mobning   Conference. 
9.4.5  a.m.   to  12.30   p.m. 

At  the  Morning  Conference  the  chair  will  be 
taken  by  a  i\urse  from  the  London  Hospital.  The 
eiil-ject  under  consideration  will  be  "  The  Out- 
look and  Purpose  of  the  Nurses'  Missionary 
League."  (1)  Short  papers  will  be  read  by  mem- 
bers of  the  League,  and  discussion  will  take  place 
on  in)  How  the  liOague  helps  the  individual  life 
<(;iiy's  Hospital),  (h)  In  preparation  for  work 
abroad  (General  Hosjjital,  Nottingham),  (c)  In  win- 
ning volunteers  (Prince  of  Wales"  Hospital,  Totten- 
!i  .ni).  At  the  conclusion  of  these  papers  there  in)l 
r,(.  an  interval  for  tea  and  coffee.  (2)  A  short  ad- 
dress on  "  The  Outlook  of  the  Future  "  will  be 
given  by  Miss  J.  Maofee,  B.A.  (3)  The  closing 
address  on  "The  .\ll-sufficicncy  of  God  "  will  be 
iriven  by  Mrs.  H.  T.  Hodgkin  (China). 

Tub  AFTEnNOON  C'onvf.rs.vzionk. 
2.30— o  p.m. 
Ill  the  afternoon  Mrs.  Hodgkin. and  Miss  Knir- 
firld  (Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee)  will 
lie  At  Hsmo  to  meet  the  members  of  the  League, 
v\  ho  hope  to  sail  this  autumn  for  the  Mission  Field, 
and  all  members  of  the  Nursing  Profession  will 
receive  a  hearty  welcome.  At  3..10  p.m.  a  short 
address  will  be  given  by  Mrs.  Scharlieb,  M.S., 
M.D.,  and  at  intervals  there  will  be  music  and 
II  <jf  riti"M=. 


The  Evening  Meeting. 
7 — 9  p.m. 
At  the  evening  meeting  an  address  will  be  given 
by  Miss  H.  Y.  Richardson  (Secretary  of  the 
N.M.L.),  on  "  The  Work  of  the  League."  The 
sailing  members  will  also  speak,  and  Miss  J.  Mac- 
fee,  B.A.,  will  speak  on  "The  Claims  of  the  Mission 
Field,"  and  give  messages  from  the  Edinburgh 
Missionary  Conference.  The  closing  address  will 
be  given  by  J.  Howard  Cook,  Esq.,  F.R.C.S.,  of 
Mengo  Hospital,  Uganda.  Throughout  the  day 
tea  and  coffee  will  be  served  at  intervals,  with  the 
hospitality  which  is  a  characteristic  of  the  Nurses' 
Missionary  League   gatherings. 


On  the  Tuesdays  in  November  a  course  of  five 
lectures  on  "  A  Nurse's  Ecjuipment  for  Service  at 
Home  and  Abroad  "  will  be  given  in  connection 
with  the  League  at  University  Hall,  Gordon 
Square,  W.C.  ■ 

November  Isf. — 9.45  a.m.,  "  "Work  in  a  Home 
and  Foreign  Hospital  Contrasted,"  Miss  C.  F. 
Tippet,  of  Shansi,  North  China  (trained  at  the 
General  Infirmary,   Gloucester). 

November  Silt. — 7.15  p.m.,  "  Difficulties  and  Pos- 
sibilities in  a  Nurse's  Life,"  Miss  L.  V.  Haughton 
(Matron,  Guy's  Hospital). 

Xovember  loth. — 3  p.m.,  "  The  Nurse  in  Rela- 
tion to  her  Patient)"  Miss  C.  M.  Ironside,  M.B. 
Lond.,  of  Ispahan. 

November  L'3nd.— 10.30  a.m.  "  What  the  Twen- 
tieth Century  Nurse  may  Learn  from  the  Nine- 
teenth," Miss  E.  M.  Fox,  Matron,  Prince  of 
Wales'   Hospital,   Tottenham. 

November  ^Oth. — -7. 1-5  p.m..  "  Tlie  Decisive 
Hour  of  Christian  Missions;  Its  Appeal  to  the 
Nursing  Profession."  G.  Basil  Price,  Esq.,  M.D. 

It  should  be  notetl  that  the  hour  of  these  lectures 
varies,  though  the  place  at  which  they  are  held  is 
the  same  throughout  the  month. 

University  Hall  is  between  Euston  Square 
Station  (formerly  Gower  Street  Station)  and 
Russell   Square  Tube. 


WOMEN  S  IMPERIAL   HEALTH  ASSOCIATION. 

Muriel  Viscouutoss  Helmsley  will  dedicate  at 
the  Royal  Botanic  Gardens  on  Saturday,  October 
1st,  a  new  van  of  the  Women's  Imperial  Health 
Association  to  be  used  in  the  Eastern  Counties  and 
to  be  known  as  the  "  Florence  Nightingale."  The 
caravan  will  be  in  charge  of  women,  and  a.  medical 
woman  will  deliver  the  lectures.  Another  van  will 
be  used  in  the  London  parks,  the  County  Council 
having  given  permission  for  health  lectures  illus- 
trated by  cinematograph  pictures  to  be  delivered 
in  the  daytime  in  Finsbnry,  Battersea,  and  Vic- 
toria Parks. 

FOR  DISTRICT  NURSING. 
Her  Highness  Princess  Marie-Louise  of  Schles- 
wig-Holsteiu  has  given  her  patronage  to  a  subscrip- 
tion ball  to  be  held  in  the  Grafton  Galleries  on 
the  Uith  of  November,  in  aid  of  the  Hammersmith 
and  Fiilham  District  Nursing  Association  (Queen'a 
Nurses). 


Oct.  1,  lOiuJ 


"^^c  3Srltisb  ^oiiinal  of  Uliusiiuj. 


20J 


Hppointmcnts. 

Maikons. 

Cottage  Hospital,  Lewes.' — Miss  N.  Thorpe  has  been 
oppoinUHl  Elation.  She  has  lield  the  positions  of 
>'ii;ht  Superintendent  antl  Sister  at  York  Road 
Lying-in  Hospital,  Night  Superintendent  at  the 
Genoral  Hospital,  Wolverhampton,  and  Matron 
of  the  l.ancing  Cottage  Sanatorium,   Shoreham. 

Maternity  Hospital,  York. — Miss  I.  C.  Wishart  has 
been  appointtnl  Matron.  .She  was  trained  at  the 
Royal  Infirmary,  Edinburgh,  and  has  been  Assist- 
ant-in-Cliarge  at  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Dundee,  and 
Sister  at  the  Hoyal  Infirmary,  Edinburgh. 
Xl'BSE  ^Iatron 

Nantwioh  and  District  Hospital. — Miss  Katherine 
Gregg  has  been  appointed  -Nurse-Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Denbighshire  General  Infirmary, 
aud  has  held  the  positions  of  Staff  Nurse  at  Chester 
Isolation  Hospital,  Holiday  Sister  at  Denbighshire 
Cieneral  Infirmary,  and  Nurse  at  Hammerwich 
Cottage  Hospital.  Miss  Clregg  has  also  had  ex- 
perience  in  private  nursing. 

Littleborough,  Mllnrow,  and  Wardle  Hospital,  Hollingworth. 
— Miss  O.  M.  Rocke  has  been  appointed  Nurse- 
Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  Monsall  Fever 
Hospital,  Manchester,  and  has  been  Night  Super- 
intendent at  Moss  Side  Isolation  Hospital,  Lytham. 
Assistant  Hocskkekper  and  NrnsE. 

Belfast  Union  Nurses'  Home. — Miss  B.  M.  Gibb  has 
been  appointed  Assistant  Hnusekeeper  and  Nurse. 
She  has  been  Sister  in  the  Infirmary  in  Surgical 
and  Ophthalmic  Wards,  and  subsequently  Staff 
Nurse  for  four  years  in  "The  Olives"  Private 
JCursing  Home  at  Belfast. 

Sisters. 

Stanley  Hospital,  Liverpool.— Miss  Ina  M.  Docherty 
has  been  appointed  Tlieatre  Sister.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Dumfries  and  Galloway  Royal  In- 
firmary, and  has  held  the  positions  of  Staff  Nurse, 
Royal  Infirmary,  Edinburgh,  and  done  Sister's 
Tioliday  duty  in  the  same  institution. 
Night  Sisters; 

Royal    Victoria    Hospital,    Bournemouth.^Miss        Mary 

S.  Tyers  has  been  api)ointt-<l  Night  Sister.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Royal  Free  Hospital,  London,  and 
the  New  Hospital  for  AVonien.  Miss  Tyers  is  a 
<;ertifio<l  midwife. 

Workhouse  Infirmary,  Newport,  Mon. — ^liss  M.  J. 
Bevaii  has  been  appointi-<l  .Xight  Sister.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Paddington  Infirmary,  London,  and 
■has  held  the  positions  of  Charge  Nurse  at  the 
Devonport  Infirmary,  and  at  the  Easthampstead 
Infirmary. 

Sri'ERIXTENDENT  NuRSE 
Bakewell  Union  Infirmary, — Miss  E.  E.  Douglas  has 
been  appointed  Superintendent  Nurse.  She  was 
traine<l  at  Crnm)Ksall  Infirmary,  Manchester,  and 
has  held  the  positions  of  Sister,  House  Sister,  and 
Assistant  Matron  at  the  .Stockport  Union  HospitaL 


Lady  Relief  \'isrron. 
Reading  Board  of  Cuardians.^ — Miss    Beatrice    E.     01- 

phert  has  been  a|)pointed  Lady  Relief  Visitor  and 
Protection  Visitor,  under  the  Children  Act,  1908. 
She  was  trained  for  three  years  at  the  Royal 
Devon  and  Exeter  Hospital,  in  district  nursing  for 
six  months  at  Walworth,  S.E.,  in  midwifery  for 
three  months  at  the  East  End  Mothers'  Home, 
London,  E.,  and  is  a  certified  midwife.  Miss 
Olphert  has  been  Queen's  Nurse  at  Norton,  York- 
shire, and  Bognor,  Sussex ;  Superintendent,  County 
Nursing  Association,  and  Inspector  of  ilidwives 
under  the  Gloucestershire  County  Council,  and  '3 
at  present  Inspector  of  Midivives  under  the  Berk- 
shire  County   Council. 

The  Reading  Board  of  Guardians  have  selected 
an  excellently  well  qualified  woman  for  the  nfew 
appointment. 


1l5ull  Sanatorium  Scanbal. 


Both  Miss  J.  Bell  and  Miss  M.  Emery  have  held 
their  positions  at  the  Roy:,l  Infirmary,  Edinburgh, 
since  1907 — not  1909  as  r<ported  last  week. 


The  Hull  City  Council  discussed  on  Monday  the 
administration  at  the  Sanatorium.  .\  motion  ap- 
pointing five  more  members  on  the  committee  in- 
vestigating the  affair  v.as  carried.  Alderman 
Askew,  Cliairman  of  the  Sanitary  Committee,  for- 
mulated three  questions  for  consideration,  and 
added  "  the  business  had  been  distasteful,  dis- 
agreeable, and  nasty,"  an  expression  of  opinion 
with  which  the  world  at  large  will  agree. 

Mr.  Pearlman  said  that  the  public  demanded 
that  all  institutions  kept  at  the  public  expense 
should  at  least  be  clean  in  the  management.  Pro- 
ceeding, Mr.  Pearlman  said  that  if  some  of  the 
statements  in  the  correspondence  of  the  press  were 
correct,  there  were  things  which  would  be  a  dis- 
grace to  some  of  the  dirtiest  slum  houses  in  the 
city.  They  had  been  told  that  children  had  come 
from  the  Sanatorium  in  a  verminous  condition, 
and  they  had  been  told  publicly  in  the  press  that 
the  Sanatorium  had  been  kept  in  such  a  condition 
that  water  was  dripping  from  the  walls,  and  that 
the  place  was  in  an  uncleanly  condition. 

The  Town  Clerk  read  a  letfer  from  Miss  -A^bbott, 
a  former  Matron  of  the  Sanatorium,  stating  that 
she  was  mnch  annoyed  to  see  her  name  dragged 
into  these  sordid  proceedings,  more  especially  as 
she  was  not  allowed  to  confirm  or  deny  the  allega- 
tions made.  The  statement  made  with  regard  to 
five  girls  being  in  a  state  of  pregnancy  was  ab- 
solutely false.  During  her  nine  years  as  Matron 
of  the  Sanatorium  there  were  two  of  the  maids, 
particulars  of  which  she  could  give,  who  unfortu- 
nately got  into  trouble.  She  reported  both  cases 
to  the  Medical  Officer  and  the  Chairman  of  the 
Committee,  and  she  als^  saw  the  parents  of  both 
girls,  who  eventually  left  the  service.  In  justice 
to  her-self,  she  asked  the  Town  Clerk  to  place  this 
letter  before  the  Council  to  clear  her  in  the  minds 
of  the  public. 

The  discussion  lasted  four  hours,  during  which 
there  was  a  heated  scene  between  Dr.  IKibinson 
and  Dr.  Lilley,  chairman  of  the  Hospital  Sub- 
Committee,  who  each  accused  the  other  of  saying 
what  was  not   true. 


•270 


Zbc  Brlttsb  Journal  of  iRursing. 


[Oct.  1,  1910 


IRureino  Ecbocs. 

Al,  a  meeting  of  the  Court 
of  Common  Council,  held  on 
the  •22nd  inst.,  at  the  Guild- 
hall, E.G.,  the  Lord  Mayor 
presiding,  the  following  reso- 
lutions were  .passed  unani- 
mously :  — 

"  That  a  scholarehip  be 
established  at  St.  Thomas's 
Nursing  Home  in  connec- 
tion with  the  City  of  London 
Schools  to  peiiDetuate  the 
memory  of  the  late  Miss  Florence  Nightingale, 
and  that  it  be  refen-ed  to  the  City  of  London 
Schools  Committee  to  consider  and  report  as  to 
the  best  means  of  establishing  a  scholarship, 
with  powder  to  confer  with  the  Coal,  Com,  and 
Finance  Committee  thereon." 

"  That  it  also  be  refen-ed  to  the  City  Lands 
Committee  to  consider  and  report  whether  a 
bust,  portrait,  or  other  memorial  of  the  late 
Miss  Nightingale  should  be  provided  to  be 
placed  within  the  Guildhall." 


A  deputation  waited  on  the  Lord  Mayor  of 
Livei-pool  on  the  same  date,  and  asked 
him  to  convene  a  public  meeting  in  sup- 
port of  the  movement  to  establish  a  memorial 
in  the  city  to  Miss  Nightingale,  to  take  the 
form  of  a  new  nursing  home  to  bear  her  name  in 
connection  with  the  Queen  Victoria  Nulling 
Association.  The  Lord  Mayor  agreed  to  con- 
vene a  meeting  for  October  13th. 


Next  month  the  headquarters  of  the  Terri- 
torial Force  Nursing  Service  will  be  located  at 
the  War  Office,  whei'e  Miss  Sidney  Browne, 
K.R.C,  ^latron-in-Chief,  will  for  the  future 
have  her  office. 


We  are  informed  that  a  Conference  on  the 
Feeding  of  Nurses  in  Hospitals  and  similar  in- 
stitutions will  be  held  at  Caxton  Hall,  West- 
minster, on  Saturday  afternoon,  November  5th. 
The  arrangements  for  the  gathering,  which  will 
be  held  under  the  auspices  of  the  National  Food 
Reform  Association,  are  in  the  hands  of  a  re- 
presentative Committee.  Full  particulars  will 
be  announced  later. 


The  Swansea  Guardians  have  decided  to  re- 
quest the  authorities  of  the  University  of  Wales 
to  take  steps  for  holding  an  examination  nnd 
issuing  certificates  in  nursing. 


ceremony  last  week,  when  Earl  Fortescue  pre- 
sented certificates  to  fitteen  ladies  of  the  staff 
of  the  Fourth  Southern  General  Haspital  (Ter- 
ritorial Force),  whose  headquarters  are  at 
Plymouth.  At  the  same  time,  medals  were 
pinned  on  their  breasts  by  Lady  Mary  Parker. 


The  nurses  and  their  friends  were  entertained 
to  tea,  and  the  ceremonj-  was  performed  on 
the  lawn.  The  ladies  who  were  recipients  of 
the  certificates  and  decorations  were  Miss  E. 
Smale  (Principal  Matron),  iliss  M.  Hains- 
selin  and  !Miss  E.  Fortescue  (Matrons), 
Sisters  Hutchings,  Wilson,  Blackler,  Jenkins, 
Stidston,  Kirkpatrick,  and  Ninees,  and  Nurses 
Davies,  Eobins,  Parker,  Lilly,  and  Osborne. 


The  movement  for  providing  a  permanent 
home  for  the  Worthing  District  Nurses,  as  a 
memorial  to  the  late  Sir  Henry  Aubrey- 
Fletcher,  is  making  good  progress.  It  has  been 
decided  that  the  home  shall  be  named  "  The 
Aubrey-Fletcher  Memorial  Home  for  Queen's 
Nurses."  The  formal  opening  will  ta'ke  place 
during  the  first  week  in  November. 


A  conference  was  recently  held  in  the  lec- 
ture room  of  the  'Young  Women's  Christian 
Association,  Sheffield,  called  to  consider  the 
formation  of  a  branch  of  the  Nurses'  Union. 
Invitations  had  been  sent  to  many  trained 
nurses  and  those  who  accepted  were  welcomed 
in  the  new  bright  rooms  of  the  institute,  which 
had  been  decorated  for  the  occasion  with  plants- 
and  flowers.  Mrs.  Mozley,  head  of  the  North 
of  England  department  of  the  Nurses'  Union, 
came  from  Newark  to  explain  its  working. 
During  the  sessions  of  the  conference  refresh- 
ments were  served  and  solos  were  sung  by 
Miss  S.  A.  Birch,  L.R.A.M.,  Miss  Cook.  Miss 
Boothby,  and  the  blisses  Payne.  As  a  result 
of  the  conference  a  sitting  room  in  the  institute 
is  set  apart  for  nurses  where  they  may  feel 
perfectly  at  home,  and  engage  in  work  or  re- 
creation, or  meet  friends.  Certain  days  in  the 
month  are  set  apart  for  "  quiet  times."  Miss 
Harbord,  resident  secretary,  will  be  glad  to 
give  further  particulars  to  anv  nurse  calling  at 
35,  High  Street,  Sheffield. 


The  beautiful  gardens  of  Saltram  House,  near 
Plvmoiitli,    were   the   scene   of  nn   interesting 


On  Wednesday,  21st  September,  Miss 
Shuter  and  ^liss  Reed  were  "  At 
Home  "  to  the  members  of  the  Irish 
Nurses  Association,  at  Ivanhoe,  Lansdowne 
Road.  Dublin.  A  very  large  number  of  the 
members  availed  themselves  of  this  kind  in- 
vitation, and  a  delightful  afternoon  was  spent. 
After  tea  the  guests  adjourned  to  the  beautiful 
grounds  of  the  Home,  where  spirited  contests 


Oct.  1,  1910] 


ZlK  Kritisb  3ournal  of  iRiirstng. 


271 


at  golf  croquet  wi-re  engagid  iu,  the  wiuiiers 
of  I  lie  filial  lient  being  presented  with  boxes 
of  ciiocolate  by  their  kind  iiostesses.  Every 
oiu^  left  with  regret.  It  was  the  last  of  the 
nienibei-s'  summer  amusements.  Next  month 
winter  work  and  lectures  begin,  and  a  vin-y 
busy  time  is  anticipated. 


Her  E.xcelleucy  the  Countess  of  ^linto  was 
tile  recipient  of  a  pleasing  tribute  from  the 
Indian  Nui-sing  Staff  at  Himla  on  .A.ugust 
2tith,  when  Mrs.  Davies,  Chief  Lady  Superin- 
tendent, handed  to  her  a  beautiful  silver  ink- 
stand accompanied  by  an  appreciative  address, 
artistically  printed  on  vellum.  The  Central 
Committee  of  the  Association  was  represented 
by  Major-General  Scallon.  Surgeon-General 
Lukis,  Sir  W.,  Crooke-Lawless,  and  Mr.  A.  N. 
Ker.  In  the  adddress  the  nurses  expressed  ■ 
their  deep  regret  at  the  departure  of  Lad}' 
Minto,  the  Founder  of  their  Association  from 
India,  and  how  much  they  appreciated  her 
constant  and  affectionate  concern  in  all  that 
was  for  their  welfare  and  that  of  the  Associa- 
tion at  large. 

In  her  reply  Her  Excellency  said  it  was  diffi- 
i'ult  for  her  to  express  adequat-ely  her  thanks 
to  the  Lady  Superintendent  and  the  Sisters  of 
the  Nursing  Staff  for  their  vei-y  kind  thought, 
and  that  she  should  treasure  their  farewell  gift, 
which  would  always  be  on  her  writing  table, 
and  would  daily  remind  her  of  the  great  work 
they  were  doing  to  relieve  the  sick  and  suffer- 
ing in  a  counti-y  which,  more  than  any  other 
in  the  world,  needed  prompt  and  skilled  at- 
tendance. Lady  Minto  said  that,  although  she 
was  obliged  to  sever  her  immediate  connection 
with  the  Nursing  Sisters  of  India,  they  might 
rest  assured  that  her  interest  in  their  welfare 
would  he  a.s  keen  as  ever.  In  bidding  them 
farewell  she  promised  her  photograph  to  each 
of  the  Sisters  which,  she  hoped,  they  would 
keep  as  a  remembrance  of  an  Association  which 
would  always  be  connected  iu  her  mind  with 
many  happy  hours. 

Like  most  nursing  -Journals,  The  Nursing 
Journal  of  India  becomes  more  and  more  sub- 
stantial as  time  goes  on,  and,  of  course,  the 
Editor  cannot  find  space  for  many  interesting 
items  of  use  to  her  readers.  This  month 
appears  therein  an  admirable  paper.  "  Three 
Years'  Training,"  by  Miss  S.  Grace  Tindall, 
Lady  Superintendent  of  the  Cama  and  Allbless 
Hospitals,  Bombay,  which  was  read  at  the 
.\gra  Nursing  Conference.  "  My  views,"  she 
writes,  "  with  regard  to  this  most  important 
subject  (the  necessity  for  a  three  years'  term  of 
training)  are  decided  and  unalterable,"  and  she 


claiiiLS  that  "  it  is  the  universal  opinion  that 
nothing  less  than  this  temi  is  sufficient  to  turn 
out  a  ■'  trained  nurse."  Nurses  all  over  the 
world  will  be  grateful  for  this  claim.  As  Miss 
Tindall  tersely  remarks,  "  Nursing  nowadays 
does  not  consist  in  pouring  in  wine  and  oil  by 
the  wayside,"  and  states  that  in  her  opinion 
the  Nursing  Superintendents  in  Ilulia  have  the 
making  of  'the  profession  in  India  in  their  own 
hands,  "  in  so  far  as  they  are  true  to  the  highest 
standard  of  nursing  principles,  and  the  best 
professional  methods." 


A  memorial  is  to  be  raised  by  nurses  in  India 
to  the  late  iMiss  Thoi-pe,  whose  sudd<'n  and 
tragic  death  saddened  many  friends. 


A  Committee  has  been  fomied  to  establish, 
maintain,  and  extend,  a  high  and  uniform 
standard  of  district  nursing  throughout  North- 
ern Tasmania — as  a  memorial  to  the  late  King 
Edward  VII.  The  membei-s  of  this  Nursing 
Order  are  to  be  known  as  "  King's  Nurses," 
and  will  work  generally  for  the  betterment  of 
the  physical,  sanitary,  and  hygienic  conditions 
of  the  people  in  Tasmania.  It  is  intended  to 
confer  certificates  and  diplomas  in  District 
Nursing,  and  di.stinctive  badges. 


Writing  on  The  Social  Side  of  a  Nurses' 
Work,  Miss  M.  Loane,  so  well  known  for  her 
understanding  sympathy  with  the  i)Oor,  says  : 
"  The  question  ''  Is  it  worth  while?  '  probably 
occurs  from  time  to  time  to  evei-y  woman  in 
every  profession ;  even  mothers  are  not  exempt 
from  obstinate  self-questioning;  but  from  the 
nurse  it  does  not  often  receive  a  despairing 
answer,  especially  if  she  has  in  any  degree 
the  power  to  be  a  teacher  as  well  as  a  nurse, 
to  prevent  suffering,  and  not  merely  to  supply 
a  limited  and  doubtful  alleviation.  If  the  ques- 
tion is  ever  insistent,  it  is  in  the  mind  of  the 
woman  whose  lot  or  choice  takes  her  to  the 
home  of  wealthy  patients.  I  remember  a 
stirring,  capable  person  of  twenty-seven,  who 
found  herself  one  of  three  trained  nurses  en- 
tirely occupied  with  a  -malade  imaginaire  of 
about  her  own  age.  She  endured  it  as  best 
she  might  until  one  day  when  the  patient  de- 
clared that  her  nose  was  cold,  and  ordered 
her  to  make  a  poultice  for  it.  She  said  to  her- 
self, "  Have  I  seen  and  suffered  and  learnt 
for  five  years  in  a  general  hospital  for  no 
better  end  than  thin'!  "  She  left  the  institution 
at  the  earliest  possible  moment,  and  became  & 
di.strict  nurse  in  a  very  poor  neghbourhood, 
living  a  life  of  considerable  hardship,  but  free  I 
from  the  burden  of  despising  herself  or  her 
patients.  -^ 


272 


Zhe  Britisb  Journal  of  iRiustna. 


[Oct.  1,  1910 


"  It  never  seems  to  me  more  '  worth  while  ' 
to  be  a  nurse  than  when  it  is  in  my  power 
to  do  anything,  however  small,  to  abate  the 
class  prejudice  which  checks  and  hinders  the 
amelioration  of  the  conditions  of  life  among 
the  poor.  By  class  prejudice  I  do  not  mean 
feelings  of  jealousy,  rancour,  and  hatred  on 
one  side,  and  oppression,  grudging,  and 
nialic«  on  the  other.  Except  in  the  fiery 
imagination  of  demagogues,  and  the  nervous 
obsessions  of  retired  fossils,  I  do  not  believe 
that  these  conditions  of  mind  can  be  found 
in  any  degree  that  need  excite  alarm  or  dis- 
tress. I  mean  mutual  ignorance,  suspicion, 
and  mistrust,  more  especially  those  forms  of 
it  which  are    so  sadlv    familiar   to  the  district 


!Miss  Loans  thinks  that  "  Nothing  but  regii- 
hn-  intercourse  with,  more  cultivated  minds 
and  the  steady  influence  of  an  unhesitating, 
nn-self-conscious  maintenance  of  a  bolder, 
more  independent  standard  can  ever  change 
such  ingrained,  instinctive  habits  for  more 
reasoned  social  conduct.  The  District  Nurse 
shotild  be  an  ambassador  from  the  poor  to  the 
lieh,  as  well  as  from  the  rich,  to  the  poor." 
.Miss  Loane  writes: — "  There  are  few  workers 
for  whom  less  sj'mpathy  is  felt  than  for  young 
Council  School  teachers,  and  perhaps  none  who 
need  it  more,  not  only  on  account  of  the  inevi- 
table difficulties  of  their  -work,  but  because 
they  begin  it  unaided  by  social  knowledge,  and 
often  without  idequate  guidance  in  mattei-s 
.which  lie  partly  outside  school  routine,  and 
yet  are  inextricably  connected  with  it." 


Several  good  stories  are  recounted  in  this 
connection.  For  instance  : — "  Paying  a  morn- 
ing visit  to  one  poor  mother,  I  found  her  sim- 
mering with  wrath,  only  kept  from  boiling  over 
by  laying  the  flattering  imction  to  her  soul 
that  sh©  '  had  had  the  best  of  it."  Whjle  I 
was  bandaging  her  foot,  she  suddenly  broke 
out,  "  Whad'you-'spose  that  imp'dent  young 
teacher  went  and  done?'  It  was  merely  a 
rhetorical  question,  and  I  hazarded  no  answer. 
'  She  sent  a  message  as  I  was  to  send  my  hoy 
to  school  cleaner !  I  juss  sent  Milly  to  the  comer 
shop  for  writin'  paper — they'll  let  yo»i  have  it 
for  a  favden — iuid  1  juss  write  to  her,  '  My  boy 
ain't  a  rose.  Don't  smell  'un.  Teach  'un.' 
You  know,  muse,  'tis  on'y  top  dirt,  so  wliat  call 
has  she  to  say  such  things?  '  After  full  justice 
had  been  done  to  her  hoii  mot,  we  disctissed  the 
subject  at  some  length,  and  finally  agreed  that 
there  was  no  great  hnrni  in  occasionnlly  wash- 
ing boys'  clothes." 

Miss  rx>nne  evidently  thinks  it  is  "  worth 
while  "  if  one  is  a  District  Nurse. 


Xcaouc  Ittews. 

We  are  intunned  by  ^liss  Cox-Davies,  ^la- 
tron  of  the  Royal  Free  Hospital,  Loudon,  that 
it  is  proposed  to  form  a  League  of  Nunses 
trained  at  that  hospital,  and  that  she  will  be 
very  pleased  to  hear  from  those  nurses  whose 
addresses  she  has  not  got,  and  with  whom  she 
is  therefore  unable  to  communicate.  A  meet- 
ing will  be  held  in  the  Nurses'  Home  of  ihe 
Fioyal  Free  Hospital  on  Saturday,  the  8th  of 
October,  and  invitations  will  be  sent  to  all 
those  who  are  interested  in  the  matter,  and 
express  a  wish  to  be  present.  Experience 
proves  that  self-governing  Leagues  of  nurses 
are  a  source  of  the  greatest  happiness  to  the 
members,  producing  as  they  do  an  increased 
sense  of  professional  responsibility '  and  per- 
sonal sympathy,  not  only  between  nurses 
trained  in  the  same  hospital,  but  towards  their 
colleagues  far  and  wide.  We  wish  the  new 
League  every  success,  and  have  no  doubt  that 
with  the  experienced  guidance  of  the  Matron 
nothing  but  success  can  result. 


Some  Chavitics  in  tbc  Mest 
TRiMno  of  iparksbirc. 

Bv  ]M.\CK  All. 
IV. 

IXSTITIITIOX    FOR    CRIPPLED   AND  InV.\LID 

Children. 

It  has  been  said  by  a  lady  well  qualified 
to  give  an  opinion  on  such  matters  that  there 
is  no  town  in  England  where  so  many  crippled, 
under-sized,  and  deformed  children  are  to  be 
found  as  in  Leeds. 

When  we  come  to  deal  with  institutions  for 
tlie  prevention  of  illness,  we  may  say  some- 
thing about  the  causes  of  this,  but  in  this  paper 
we  shall  only  deal  with  the  societies  which  are 
helping  those  already  crippled  or  invalided. 

The  City  Council  have  a  school  for  crippled 
and  invalid  children  in  Leeds.  It  is  situated 
in  a  pleasant  garden,  and  has  its  class  rooms 
all  so  arranged  as  to  allow  as  much  fresh  air 
and  sunshine  as  possible  to  the  children  during 
lessons. 

Ou  the  morning  that  I  visited  the  school 
there  were  about  80  pupils  present,  and  these 
were  in  all  stages  of  defonnity  from  the  frail 
girl,  unable  to  Ijeep  pace  with  the  average  child 
in  the  Couueil  Schools,  to  the  little  dwarfed 
mannikin  in  his  teens,  no  taller  than  a  three- 
year-old  ehild,  and  with  every  limb  deformed. 

.Vnurse  is  attached  to  the  school,  and  is  kept 
very  busy.     In  the  morning  she  accompanies 


Oct.  1,  1910] 


Zbc  36ritisb  Journal  of  IRursina. 


273 


the  ambulance  to  the  homos  of  the  most  help- 
less of  the  children,  and  in  the  afternoon  she 
sees  these  same  children  safely  home  again. 

During  the  forenoon  those  who  have  sores 
are  dressed  by  the  nurse  in  the  school  surgery. 
These  comprise  tubercular  hips,  knees,  and 
other  joints. 

Massage  is  given  at  the  school  to  a  few  cases 
of  infantile  paralysis,  but  there  is  not  much 
time  for  this. 

Instead  of  the  children  going  home  tc  din- 
ner at  mid-day,  a  substantial  meal  is  provided 
in  the  school  building. 

It  is  painful  to  watch  the'  little  twisted 
bodies  as  they  hobble  off,  many  of  them  on 
ci'utches  to  their  dinner.  A  few  are  too  ill 
even  to  hobble,  and  these  lie  in  special  car- 
riages out  in  the  garden,  most  of  them  doing 
some  work  with  their  fingers. 

In  the  dining-room  are  long  tables,  covered 
with  white  cloths  and  bright  cutlery.  All  looks 
attractive,  and  most  of  the  children's  faces 
brighten  when  once  they  ai-e  seated  in  their 
places.  After  grace  has  been  said,  they  are 
allowed  to  talk  to  one  another.  At  one  time 
silence  was  compulsoi^y,  but  the  nuree  now  in 
charge  believes  in  letting  the  children  have  as 
much  liberty  as  possible.'  It  may  be  a  little 
noi^y  for  the  workers  (although  too  much  noise 
is  cheeked),  but  it  certainly  brightens  the  hour 
for  the  little  ones. 

Girls  are  served  first,  and  all  must  use  their 
knife  and  fork  properly.  These  meals  are  a 
means  of  education  to  the  children  for  very 
few  of  them  come  to  school  with  good  table 
manners.  The  dinners  provided  are  always 
nourishing  and  plentiful,  and  the  children  are 
taught  to  eat  everything  set  before  them. 

On  one  day  of  the  week  there  is  a  roast  joint 
with  potatoes,  followed  by  a  milk  pudding  and 
stewed  fnijt.  On  another  day  the  fare  is  meat 
stew  and  a  suet  pudding. 

The  ebildren''3  parents  are  supposed  to  pay 
2d.  for  each  dinner.  No  child,  however,  is 
denied  a  dinner  because  he  fails  to  produce 
the  2d. 

The  school  hours  are  the  same  as  for  the 
infant  department  of  the  Council  schools.  The 
children  are  taught  to  make  kindergarten  toys, 
etc.,  and  to  become  skilful  with  their  fingers. 
Beading,  writing,  and  arithmetic  may  not 
enter  so  much  into  their  days  as  into  that  of 
healthy  children,  but  to  learn  to  occupy  their 
time  and  make  most  of  their  handicapped  lives 
ie  no  small  thing. 

From  an  outsider's  point  of  view  it  seemed 
a  pity  thfvt  children  with  open  tuberculous 
wounds  should  occupy  the  same  class-room  as 
dwarfed  children,  or  those  crippled  from 
.rickets,  but  otherwise  free  from  disease. 


However,  all  the  rooms  were  well  ventilated, 
and  the  teachers  took  a  very  practical  and 
affectionate  interest  in  each  of  their  little 
invalid  scholars.  There  are  Council  sehools 
for  the  education  of  the  deaf  and  the  blind. 
In  the  fonner  lip  language  is  taught.  Chil- 
dren from  outside  Leeds  are  received  as 
board  ei-s. 

On  the  morning  that  I  visited  this  school, 
the  scholars  present  numbered  138.  There 
seems  to  be  no  special  theory  with  regard  to 
deafness  except  that  it  is  sometimes  here- 
ditary, and  that  the  children  of  parents  who 
are  nearly  related  are  more  likely  to  be  deaf 
than  others.  A  few  cases  can  be  traced  to 
abscesses  or  to  injuries  received  during 
infancy. 

The  Blind  School  has  acconsmodation  for 
between  80  and  90  pupils.  These  children 
board  at  the  school.  They  are  taught  to  read 
Braille  type,  and  to  write. 

Some  of  the  older  ones  learn  type-writiftg. 
And  the  little  ones  are  taught  to  make  baskets 
and  toys,  while  those  with  an  ear  for  music 
have  lessons  on  the  piano.  About  90  per  cent, 
of  the  cases  of  blindness  are  due  to  ophthalmia 
neonatorum.  It  would  make  this  article  too 
long  to  describe  in  detail  the  work  of  the  Deal 
and  Blind  Schools. 

The  Invalid  Children's  Aid  Society  have 
workrooms  in  Leeds,  and  it  is  the  aim  of  this 
Society  to  pass  the  crippled  children  on  from 
the  schools  into  the  workrooms.  The  boys 
learn  to  mend  shoes  and  in  some  eases  to  make 
them.  They  are  also  taught  to  repair  kettles 
and  pots,  and  to  do  all  kinds  of  soldering  work. 
For  their  first  three  months  in  the  I.C.A.S. 
work-rooms  they  receive  no  pay,  but  at  the 
end  of  that  time  they  earn  a  small  wage. 

^lost  of  them  get  very  good  situations  as 
cobblers,  andv  as  their  teacher  said,  earn  as 
much  money  "  as  straight  lads."  This  brancli 
of  the  work  is  self-supporting. 

The  girls  are  taught  plain  sewing  and  simple 
dress-making.  I  saw  about  twenty  of  them 
at  work  one  morning,  many  oi  them  very  de- 
formed, and  some  unable  to  move  without 
cmtches.  They  turn  out  very  dainty  and  use- 
ful articles,  but  unfortunately  the  girls'  work- 
room does  not  nearly  pay  its  way. 

Besides  the  institutions  nientione"d  in  this 
paper,  there  are  others  for  alleviating  the  lot 
of  delicate  children.  It  is  still  easier  m  the 
West  Riding  of  Yorkshire  to  get  assistance  for 
invalids  rather  than  for  those  who  will-  in 
course  of  time  become  invalids  if  they  are  not 
helped.  But  a  better  day.  we  hope,  is  dawn- 
ins,  when  something  jnaetigjl  will  bo  done  lo 
stop  the  manufacture  ot  inv^JTids  and  cripples. 


274 


Z\K  36rit(5b  3ournal  of  IRursino. 


[Oct.  1,  1910 


■Reflecttons. 


From  a  Board  Room  Mirror. 
It  has  Ijeeu  decided  that  the  memorial  of  the 
Jews  of  London  to  the  late  King  shall  take  the 
form  of  a  hospital,  -where  Jewish-speaking  doctoi-s 
and  nurses  shall  attend  tlie  patients.  A  site  has 
been  secured  in  Stepney  Green.  The  cost  of  the 
Hospital,  including  equipment,  will  be  between 
£15,000  and  £20.000.  The  site  has  been  bought  for 
£5,000.     The  hospital  will  be  fitted  with  50  beds. 


Tlie  Jews  are  a  very  sensitive  people,  and  we  were 
incidentally  informed  quite  recently  by  an  East- 
End  Jew  that  he  nould  not  let  his  wife  go  into  the 
nearest  hospital  because  if  she  was  an  interesting 
case  he  was  afi^aid  of  hea'  disea.se  l>eing  discussed  in 
the  newspapei-s.  He  strongly  deprecated  the  adver- 
tising of  the  hospital  through  such  methods. 
''Elephant  men"  and  "brittle  men"  and  the 
publicity  giveli  to  abnormal  diseases,  horrified  the 
Jewish  sense  of  decency.  'When  they  had  a  hospital 
of  their  own  the  patients'  suffering  should  be  kept 
private. 


The  King  and  Queen  have  granted  their 
patronage  to  the  City  of  London  Hospital  for 
Diseases  of  the  Chest,  Victoria  Park,  E. 


The  Council  of  the  Hospital  Saturday  Fund 
state  that  the  income  of  the  Fund  to  the  10th  inst 
had  amounted  to  £15,082  1.5s.  lOd.,  being  an  in- 
crease upon  last  year  of  £2,080  16s.  3d.  A  new 
Committee  has  been  formed  for  Kensington.  The 
arrangements  are  now  practically  completed  for 
the  Annual  Special  Collection,  fixed  for  Octol>er 
loth. 


Forty-three  men's  and  131  women's  detachments, 
representing  1,442  men  and  3,944  women,  have  so 
far  been  registered  by  the  War  Office  in  connection 
with  the  Territorial  Nursing  scheme  of  the  British 
Bed  Cross  Society.  There  are  between  400  and  500 
detachments  waiting  to  be  registered. 


Lady  Mond  has  forwarded  £479  to  the  Infants' 
Hospital,  Vincent  Square,  'VN'estminster,  as  part 
proceeds  of  the  matinee  at  His  Majesty's  Theatre 
on  Jul.y  15th  last  in  aid  of  the  ho.spital  and  the 
Royal  Waterloo  Hospital. 


Last  week  saw  the  opening  of  the  new  Centenary 
Wing  of  the  West  of  England  Eye  Infirmary  at 
Exeter  by  the  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Devon,  Earl 
Forteseue  in  the  presence  of  a  large  number  of 
supporters  and  friends  of  the  in.stitution.  This 
oomi)letes  the  original  scheme  for  providing  an 
adccfuate  and  very  beautiful  hospital  for  the  treat- 
ment of  di.sea.sps  of  the  eye,  and  in  replying  to  a 
vote  of  thanks  I.^rd  Forteseue  referred  to  the  de- 
voted work  of  those  who  had  helped  to  built  it— not 
omitting  the  name  of  the  late  ^latron.  Miss  Kin- 
ninmont,  to  whose  wonderful  energy  and  ability 
much  of  the  success  of  the  work  i<  clue. 


Ebc  Britisb  Ibospitals  Bseodatton. 

The  conference  ot  the  British  Hcspitals  Associa- 
tion will  be  held  in  the  University  Buildings, 
Glasgow,  on  the  last  two  days  of  September.  The 
objects  of  the  Association  are  to  facilitate  the  con- 
sideration and  discussion  of  matters  connected  with- 
hospital  management,  and,  where  advisable,  to- 
take  measures  to  further  the  decisions  arrived  at 
and  to  afford  opportunities  for  the  acquisition  of  a 
knowledge  of  hospital  administration,  both  lay  and- 
medical.  The  Lord  Provost  will  welcome  the 
members  to  the  city.  Papers  will  be  discussed  in 
the  first  ses.sion  on  "  The  majority  point  of  view  on 
the  Poor  Law  as  regards  general  and  special  hos- 
pitals," by  Mr.  Charles  Stewart  Loch,  B.A., 
Secretary  to  the  Council  of  the  London  Charity 
Organisation  Society,  and  on  "The  Abuse  of  the 
Hospital  and  its  Cure,''  by  Mr.  A.  Scott  Finnic, 
Treasurer  of  the  Aberdeen  Royal  Infirmary.  On 
the  second  day  Mrs.  Sidney  Webb  will  read  a  paper 
on  ''A  Unified  County  Medical  Service  and  how  it 
will  Affect  the  Voluntary  Hospital,"  and  Dr. 
Nathan  Raw,  Visiting  Medical  Superintendent  of 
Mill  Road  Infirmary,  Liverpool,  will  deal  with 
'•  The  Institutional  Treatment  of  Tuberculosis." 
Three  other  sulijects  are  suggested  for  discussion  :  — 
"  What  are  the  Best  Ambulance  Arrangements,  for 
Hospitals!-'  Is  the  Motor  Ambulance  Quite  Re- 
liable?" ''  Should  General  Hospitals  Admit 
Private  Patients,  and,  if  so,  what  Arrangements 
should  be  Made  for  Them?"  and  "Should  Private 
Rooms  be  Provided  in  Fever  Hospitals  for  Patients 
who  are  Prepared  to  Pay  for  Them  ?  Can  they  be 
Attended  by  Their  own  Medical  Man?"  Mr.  H. 
Cosmo  Bonsor,  Treasurer  of  Guy's  Hospital, 
London,  is  President  of  the  Association,  and  Dr. 
D.  I.  Mackintosh,  of  the  Western  Infirmary,  is 
acting  as  Local  Hon.  Secretary.  The  programme  is 
illustrated  by  views  of  the  University,  the  City 
Chambers,  the  Royal,  Western,  and  Victoria  In- 
firmaries, the  Cancer  Hospital,  and  the  Maternity 
Hospital. 


riDUh  Supply. 


The  National  League  for  Physical  Education 
and  Improvement,  the  chief  object  of  which  is 
to  stimulate  public  interest  in  the  physical  con- 
dition of  the  people,  has  done  an  excellent  bit 
of  practical  viork  in  foraiing  a  ^lilk  Committee, 
which  committee  has  issued  three  leaflets  con- 
taining (a)  instructions  to  farmers  and  other 
milk  producers,  (b)  to  distributoiis  and  retailers 
of  milk,  and  (c)  to  housewives  and  all  con- 
sumers of  milk.  We  hope  these  leaflets  will  be 
issued  in  millions. 

Many  cowTiheds  are  kept  in  a  filthy  and  most 
insanitary  condition — it  is  costly  to  keep  them 
clean — both  in  labour  and  bedding.  Poor 
farmers  are  therefore  great  offenders  in  this 
connection,  and  the  advice  which  it  is  recom- 
mended should  be  hting  up  in  every  cowshed 


Oct.  1,  1910] 


Cbc  Brltisb  3ournaI  of  Cursing. 


would,   if   followed,    materially   reduce   infant 
mortality. 

The  following  advice  to  housewives  might  be 
taken  to  heart  by  hospital  housekeepers:  — 
The  Milk  Supplied. 

The  oousiinier  should  protect  his  family  by  ob- 
taining pure  and  ole.m  milk. 

Pure  milk  slionld  show  no  deposit  whatever  at 
the  bottom  of  the  vessels  in  which  it  is  kept.  If 
there  is  any  deposit,  complaint  should  be  made  at 
once  to  tlie  dairyman  ;  ami  if  the  deposit  continues 
after  complaint,  the  dairyman  should  be  changed. 

Milk  from  a  clean  farm  will  keep  much  better 
ihan  milk   from  a  dirty  one. 

Contamination    in   the  Home. 

Diarrhiea,  typhoid  fever,  scarlet  fever,  diph- 
theria, and  other  serious  diseases  may  be  brought 
about  by  contamination  of  milk  within  the  con- 
.^nmer's  house. 

Such  contamination  occurs  from:  — 

1.  Improperly  cleansed  milk  vessels. 

2.  The  storage  place  being  unsuitable. 

3.  The  receptacles  being  uncovered. 

4.  Flies  and  dust. 

Cleansing   Milk   Vessels. 

Immediately  after  use  milk  vessels  should  be 
thoroughly  rubbed  and  washed  out  with  cold  water, 
and  then  dipped  into  boiling  water  and  left  there 
for  some  time ;  or,  if  too  large,  thoroughly  scalded 
with  boiling  water. 

Place  of  Stobage. 

The  storage  place  should  be  in  a  well-ventilated 
clean  or  cool  pantry  or  cellar,  i:;:i!  not  in  a  warm 
or  dusty  kitchen. 

Souring  is  due  to  the  rapid  increase  in  the  num- 
ber of  germs  in  the  milk,  and  if  milk  is  kept  cool 
these  germs  do  not  multiply  so  rapidly,  and  sour- 
ing is  thereby  delayed. 

That  is  the  reason  why  milk  keeps  much  better 
in  winter  than  in  summer. 

Warmth  is  equally  favourable  for  the  multipli- 
cation of  many  dise.ase-producing  germs  in  mDk. 
The  milk  must,  therefore,  be  kept  at  as  low  a  tem- 
perature as  posiiible. 

The  milk-jug  should  be  placed  in  a  basin  of  cold 
water  in  summer-time. 

Even  under  the  best  conditions  it  is  undesirable 
to  keep  fresh  milk  for  any  length  of  time. 
Covered  Vessels. 

.\11  milk  should  be  kept  in  covered  vessels  to  pre- 
vent the  entrance  of  flies  and  dust. 

It  is  a  mistake  to  suppose  that  milk  will  not  keep 
■■iweet  if  it  is  covered. 

Flies. 

Flies  carry  on  their  legs  on  enormous  number 
of  germs,  among  which  may  be  those  that  cause 
■diarrha^a,  typhoid  fever,  and  other  diseases. 

Within  the  house,  therefore,  the  greatest  care 
slioukl  be  taken  to  prevent  flies  from  reaching  the 
milk. 

Flies  breed  on  all  kinds  of  manure  and  decaying 
matter.  Such  material  should,  therefore,  be  kept 
covered  and  be  removed  as  soon  as  possible.  Ash- 
pits and  middens  should  be  cleaned  out  at  least 
once  a  week.  The  eggs  of  flies  may  hatch  out  in 
♦■igbt  to  ten  days. 


Outsibc  tbe  Sates. 


WOMEN. 

Lady  Dorothy  Xevill 
has  given  us  a  second 
instalment  of  her 
delightful  reminiscences, 
"  Under  Five  Reigns." 
Possessed  -of  immense 
mental  vitality,  this 
spirit-ed  lady  —  she  is 
old  but  ever  young — 
presents  a  delightful  commentary  on  the  social 
aspects  of  the  reigns  under  which  she  has  lived  so 
cheerfully.  Everyone  will  read  this  book,  so  we 
will  resist  the  inclination  to  quote  extensively  from 
its  most  interesting  pages;  just  one  little  bit  will 
suffice:' — 

'■  Children  at  that  time  (seventy  years  ago)  were 
kept  in  great  order,  and  generally  forbidden  to  do 
anything  they  particularly  liked — more,  I  think, 
on  general  principle  than  for  any  sufficient  reason. 
The  highly  salutary  precepts  enjoined  in  books  such 
as  Mrs.  Turner's  '  Cautionary  .Stories,'  were  in 
great  favour  with  parents.  Some  of  the  lines  in 
this  volume  with  regard  to  gluttony  are  highly 
characteristic  of  infantile  education  as  it  was 
understood  in  the  past :  — 

"  '  Mamma,  why  mayn't  I,  when  I  dine. 

Eat  ham  and  goose,  and  drink  port  wine? 
And  why  mayn't  I,  as  well  as  you. 
Eat  pudding,  soup,    and   mutton,  too  ?' 
'  Because,  ray  dear,   it  is  not  right, 
To  spoil  the  youthful  appetite.'  " 


Miss  E.  Phillips,  of  Cardiff,  has  been  elected  the 
first  Lady  President  of  the  National  Federation  of 
Assistant  Teachers. 


The  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons,-  in  an 
address  delivered  recently  at  Penrith,  on  the  for- 
mation of  voluntary  aid  detachments  under  the 
British  Ked  Cross,  must  hav,^  amused  the  women 
present.  He  announced  with  much  condescension: 
"  Ladies  were  allowed  to  help.  They  were  anxious 
nowadays  to  take  a  part  in  iiublic  affairs.  They 
had  had  some  experience  of  that  elsewhere.  There 
was  a  grand  opportunity  for  them.  There  was  no 
necessity  to  parade  the  streets  or  hold  meetings  in 
Hyde  Park.  They  could  by  learning  home  nursing 
become  useful  members  of  the  Stat-e." 


Ladies  always  are  allowed  "to  help,"  especially 
with  all  the  drudgery  of  every  movement.  But  how 
the  elements  of  home  nursing  are  to  satisfy  the 
intelligent  members  of  the  sex  who  claim  the-status 
of  citizenship — as  they  have  to  pay  all  its  penal- 
ties— the  Speaker  did  not  explain.  We  seem  to 
hear  £he  echo  of  the  mid-Victorian  grandpa,  shoo- 
ing his  clamorous  girl  babies  out  of  his  study  with 
a  flutter  of  the  Times — "  There,  there,  little  dears,* 
run  away  and  play  with  dollies — nicey,  nice.v." 

And  a  rebellious  baby  reply: — ''  I'se  melted  her; 
sht  wasn't  real — div  me  a  penny  "  I 


276 


?P)e  Britisb  3ournaI  of  IRursing, 


[Oct.  1,  1910 


A  vevy  remarkable  letter,  instinct  -nitli 
righteousness,  has  I>eeu  addressed  by  "Clara 
Smith,"  of  Fort  Hill,  Athlone,  the  author  of  "Ire- 
land's Great  Future,"  to  every  Board  of  Guardians 
and  to  the  Governors  of  every  lunatic  asylum  in 
Ireland.  The  letter  opens  with  a  pix)test  against 
the  sentence  of  capital  punishment  passed  on  the 
beautiful  and  haplees  Hannah  Aliera,  for  the 
murder  of  her  newly-born  child  at  Newcastle  West 
AVorkliouse  iii  April  last.  The  sentence  has  l>eeu 
commuted  to  the  no  less  awful  one  of  penal  servi- 
tude for  life. 


The  letter  continues: — "The  sentence  is  unjust 
in  that  the  man — who  alone  oould  generate  life — 
is  not  penalised  for  his  recklessness  and  cruelty 
in  using  the  great  power  (Jod  entrusted  to  him 
without  due  regard  to  the  welfare  of  his  offsijring. 
Man  is  responsible  to  God  for  the  life  he  passes 
over  to  woman;  therefore,  in  God's  sight  he  is 
the  real  murderer  when  he  spurns  and  foi-sakes 
the  mother  and  drives  her  to  desperation.  Cases 
of  this  kind  are  becoming  painfully  frequent,  and 
if  the  galiow.s  is  resorted  to  as  a  remedy,  soon 
the  gallows  must  be  erected  for  mothers  in  every 
county  in  Ireland.  Lunacy  statistics  piove  that 
the  gi'eatest  ])ercentage  of  oa.ses  are  funii-ihed  by 
women  mentally  afflicted  at  child-birth.  'Wouien's 
nervous  organisation  cannot  stand  the  strain  of 
child-birth  under  the  unnatural  conditions  which 
too  often  prevail  in  modern  life.  If  this  lie  so  in 
lawful  wedlock,  how  much  harder  it  must  be  for 
girls  in  the  iKJsition  of  Hannah  Ahem  to  preserve 
their  mental  balances.  .  .  With  the  gallows 
in  operation  for  the  mothers  of  man's  un- 
lawful issue,  and  sanatoriums,  asylums,  hospitals, 
and  workhou^s  erected  to  -shelter  man's  lawful 
issue,  the  future  of  Ireland  is  assuied  on  lines 
that  must  rejoice  the  heart  of  Ireland's  greatest 
foe." 


"Clara  Smith-''  pleads  with  the  men  "who  pre- 
side over  Ireland's  soitow  and  Ireland's  disgrace, 
her  poverty,  and  her  insanity."  _  She  discusses  a 
side  of  life  that  is  not  only  closerl.  but  double- 
barred  to  ordinary  discission ;  of  pure  breeding,  she 
states:  "If  your  sheep  and  cattlo  were  in  this 
grievous  state,  you  would  deal  witli  the  tixjuble 
in  a  very  different  way  to  that  adopted  towards 
the  human  family,"  and  then  she  sprtiks  plainly  of 
manhood  and  motherhood — "  A  nc\\  t?.tandard  of 
manhood  must  l)e  raised  in  Ireland  and  all  life 
purified  and  cleansed." 


"There  ■will  never  be  peace  on  earth  till  there 
IS  peace  between  man  and  woman.  Jlotherhood 
IS  the  most  sacred  duty  a  woman  c;ui  undertake ; 
n  notion  is  on  the  down  grade  when  it  is  jxxssible 
on  account  of  man's  lawlessness  to  hang  a  mother. 
The  brute  beast  is  nourished  and  cared  for  during 
pn-iyiancy.  A  woman  in  such  a  condition  should 
l)e  a  nation's  pride  and  glory,  and  when  this  is 
not   so  the  dishonour  is  man's." 

The  ardent  writer  would  have  men  conserve  their 
warmth  till  'lioy  can  unite  with  woman  in  rever- 
ence and  the  fear  of  God,  so  that  a  healthy  stock 
may  enter  t!io  land,   with   God\   blessing — a   race 


that  will  rule  in  righteousness.  "  As  a  young  man 
marrieth  a  virgin,  so  thy  sons  shall  marry  them, 
and  as  a  bridegroom  rejoiceth  over  a  bride,  so- 
shall  thy  God  rejoice  over  them,"  then  Ireland  will 
enter  on  that  upwaixl  road  of  progress  that  TvilL 
make  her  great. 

A  veritable  psean   to  humanity  and  patriotism  t 
Let  it  be  taken  to  heart. 


Booft  of  tbe  Meeh. 


AN  AFFAIR  OF  DISHONOUR.* 

"  Five  o'clock  by  the  .sundial  on  the  lawn,  an(J 
the  man  that  had  to  fight  the  duel  at  seven  was- 
sound  asleep  and  dreaming." 

The  duel  was  arranged  between  the  father  of 
the  young  girl,  whose  dishonour  he  had  bix«ight 
about,  and  who,  at  the  time  this  story  opens,  13- 
unashamefUy  living  with  him  as  his  wife. 

This  profligate  young  nobleman  of  the  17th  cen- 
tury was  a  near  neighbour  of  the  upright  squire 
he  has  so  grievously  wronged.  In  the  encounter 
the  older  man  is  wounded  to  the  death  and  Sir 
Oliver  returns  to  the  side  of  the  beautiful  girl 
wh6  is  besotted  with  her  love  for  liim  and  totally 
unaware  of  the  tragedy  that  has  taken  place. 

"The  i>adk)ck  he  knew  would  l>e  on  his  tongue, 
should  he  try  to  speak  to  his  woman  victim  of 
her  father's  death.  .  .  .  Death  in  duels  m\ist 
cohie  about  .  '.  .  and  as  for  the  provocation 
he  had  given — what  foul  play  had  he  been  guilty 
of?  The  girl  was  eighteen  and  old  enough  to  know 
better,  as  the  phrase  goes.  How  had  his  conduct 
been  unlike  that  of  any  other  man  of  fashion  and 
spirit  ?  Besides,  who  oould  say  his  suit  would  not 
have  been  en  fouf  bicit,  tout  hoiicur.  if  it  had  not 
been  for  his  wife — cui:se  her?  At  least — do  him 
this  but  justice! — ^he  had  honourably  promised  this 
Lucinda  to  make  her  his  wife,  if  he  oould  rid  him- 
self of  his  other  encumbrance." 

Owing  to  the  blindness  of  her  passion  for  him 
this  girl  is  his  willing  victim,  but  the  difference 
between  them  is  well  summed  up  in  the  following 
extract: — 

"Do  not  peer  into  tlie  unholy  caverns  of  his- 
muid — dwell  in  tlie  garden  of  hers,  wild  and  dis- 
orderly perhaps,  but  still  a  garden." 

The  plot  of  the  story  hangs  on  the  sucoeestul 
concealment  from  Lucinda  of  the  fact  of  her 
father's  death.  For  the  lietter  carrying  out  of  this- 
piirpose  they  take  a  day's  journey  on  horse  to 
Kips  Manor,  another  of  his  estates.  "  In  the 
fifth  week  of  this  strange,  lonely  residence,  in  what 
was  to  all  intents  and  purposes  a  wilderness, 
Lucinda  reisolve<l,  even  -should  she  risk  his  anger, 
to  speak  of  tin's  uneasiness  of  hers  to  Sir  Oliver. 
"Sweetheart  Oliver,"  said  she,  "  my  father  writes 
not."  Levity  sat  ill  uix)n  him  to-ivight,  and  his 
eyes  never  met  Lucinda's,  that  were  fixe<l  on  him 
there  in  the  moonlight,  watching  how  wliit«  he 
grew. 

"  O  Oliver,  tell  me  the  truth.     Ha«  a  letter  come 

•  By  Williame  de  Morgan.  (William  Heine- 
n:ann,    London.) 


Oct.  1,  lOlOj 


Jlbc  asuitisb  3oiirnal  of  IRursing. 


iroin  liiiu  that  you  are  keeping  biiok  from  uier  It 
■\\at  be  so,  tell  me  of  it,  and  let  me  read  it,  even  ii 
I  wince  iu  the  reading,  tiive  it  me,  Oliver — give 
:'  me."  Then,  always  in  tear  that  she  might 
^>mehow  lutfle  Sir  Oliver's  temper,  she  kissed  liini 
••  iKlerly.  drawing  his  face  to  her  liiK  os  she  readily 
might.  For  he  was  a  man  of  no  great  stature, 
while  she  was  of  full  heiglit  for  a  woman  of  twenty, 
but  slender  and  in  all  things  gracious  and  deli- 
i\ate.'" 

Tliat  year  l(jt35  was  the  beginning  of  the  second 
war  l)etween  England  and  Holland,  and  the  naval 
battle  which  Sir  Oliver  and  Lucinda  witness  fiom 
their  sea-bound  manor  is  vividly  described. 

■'  It  was  a  four-square  open  gallery  with  a  wooden 
rail  topping  a  gable,  that  rose  in  the  centre,  well 
above  the  surrounding  roofs,  and  giving  a  fine  view 
seawards.  Tliere  Sir  Oliver  stood  when  Lucinda 
found  him.  spying  thix>ugh  his  glass,  which  he  held 
against  a  little  flagstaff  at  the  corner." 

"  Are  they  not  easy  to  see,  Oliver  mine — the 
fisher-boats  beyond  the  bay  I'" 

"  None  so  easy.  Mistress  Lucy!  I  see  none,  look 
as  I  may.  Thine  eyes  are  cleverer  than  mine  to 
M>e  fislier-boats  on  yonder  sea.  If  there  be  any, 
better  for  them  to  be  ashore  as  fast  as  may  be." 
Now  this  made  Lucinda  look  again,  and  then  she 
saw  what  slie  had  taken  to  be  tisher-boats  were, 
on  nearer  sight,  great  ships  with  canvas  spread 
and  hulls  rising  high  above  the  sea,  story  by 
story." 

"What  are  they  wench?  VTliy.  I  take  it  they 
be  the  Dutch  fleet  under  Admiral  de  Ruyter." 

The  liorrors  of  the  battle  terrify  the  sensitive 
^irl,  ".she  had  time  to  think  of  the  man  the  shot 
Ntruck.  and  the  wife,  maybe,  who  thought  him 
living  still.  .  .  .  Could  she  but  have  known 
the  thing  she  hei-self  was  ignorant  of — the  tale  of 
the  man  slain  by  the  arm  she  held  just  now." 

Our  space  is  too  limited  to  follow  the  fortunes 
of  Lucinda  and  Sir  Oliver,  or  to  si>eak  of  the  girl's 
remorse  when  she  learns  that  her  sin  and  her 
lover's  treachery  have  cost  her  father  his  Tiie. 
Those  who  have  read  with  appreciation  "  Alice  tor 
Short."  will  not  be  slow  to  obtain  "An  Affair  of 
Dishonour,"  and  they  will  vastly  enjoy  the  latest 
work  from  the  very  individual  pen  of  Mr.  AVUliame 
de  Morgan.  H.     H. 

COMING    EVENTS. 

October  1st  and  Jrrf.— Opening  of  Medical 
Schools. 

October  Srd. — Fourth  International  Congress  for 
Care  of  Lunatics.  Berlin. 

Ocfohcr  5th. — Nurses'  Missionary  League.  Vale- 
dictory Meeting,  University  Hall,  Gordon  Square. 
liondon,  W.C. 

October  5th  to  S*/i.— International  Anti-Tuber- 
culosis Conference,  Brussels. 

October  G'.h. — Central  Midwives'  Board,  Monthly 
Meeting.  Caxton  House,  S.TV. 

October  7th. — Central  London  Sick  Asylum, 
Hendon.  Nurses'  Meeting.  Mrs.  Bedford  Fen- 
wick  will  speak  on  Nursing  Organisation  .  and 
State  Registration.     5  p.m. 

Octobor  Stfi-.— Royal  Free  Hospital.  W.C. 
Nurses'  Home.  Meeting  to  consider  the  formation 
of   a   Nurses'  League. 


Xctters  to  tbc  CMtor. 


ir/ii/j*  cordially  inviting  com- 
munications upon  all  iubjecti 
for  these  columns,  we  uish  it 
to  be  distinctly  understooa 
that  we  do  not  in  ant  w.^y 
hold  ourselves  responsible  for 
the  opinions  expr.essed  by  our 
correspondents. 


FINANCIAL  ORGANISATION   AT   MIDDLESEX 

HOSPITAL. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 

M.\D.\M. — I  am  happy  to  be  able  to  inform  you 
that  I  have  now  receive<l  the  £20,000  I  a-sked  for 
to  enable  me  to  remove  the  debt  fixjin  the  iliddle- 
sex  Hospital — a  generous  friend,  who  desires  to 
remain  anonymous,  having  just  handed  me  a 
cheque  for  £231  in  order  to  complete  .that  sum. 

I  find  some  difficulty  in  suitably  expressing  the 
deep  sense  of  gnatitude  I  feel  towards  all  those  who 
have  so  loyally  responded  to  my  api>eal  on  behalf 
of  an  institution  in  whose  activities  they  have  notv 
shown,  by  their  practical  sympathy,  the  highest 
confidence  and  appreciation. 

Rich  and  poor  alike  have  contributed  to  the  suc- 
cess of  my  effort,  for  the  sums  I  have  received 
range  from  one  thousand  guineas  to  threepence. 
It  has  afforded  me  the  greatest  gratification  to 
observe  the  generosity  of  those  who  owe  their  pre- 
sent freedom  from  tlisease  or  relief  fix>m  pain  to 
the  hospital's  kindly  influence,  and  I  venture  to 
say  that  no  stronger  proof  could  be  found  of  the 
value  of  this  ancient  charity  than  that  those  who 
were  once  under  its  care  should  have  come  foi-wai^, 
cheerfull.y  and  often  with  much  self-sacrifice,  to 
share  its  burden  in  its  hour  of  need. 

To  each  and  every  oontributor  I  one©  again  offer 
my  sincerest  thanks,  and  I  also  take  this  oppor- 
tunity gratefully  to  acknowle<lge  my  indebtedness 
to  the  Press  for  the  valuable  assistance  they  liave 
afforde<l  me  by  bringing  the  needs  of  the  hospital 
prominently  Ijefore  their  readei-s. 

But  my  task  is-  not  yet  finished.  The  debt  of 
£20.000  has,  it  is  true,  been  removed,  but  that 
liability  represented  the  accumulated  deficits  be- 
tween income  and  expenditure  for  three  years, 
and  from  this  it  is  obvious  that,  until  a  steady  and 
permanent  addition  of  £7,000  per  annum  is  made 
to  the  hospital's  income,  its  financial  position  is 
not  secure,  and  every  third  year  the  Governors 
will  find  themselves  face  to  face  with  a  crisis  simi- 
lar to  that  which  has  now  happily  been  averted. 

It  is  my  ambition  to  substitute,  for  such  a  hand- 
to-mouth  administration  as  this,  one  which  wiU  pro- 
vide the  Governoi'S  with  an  income  sufficient  to 
meet  the  noimal  expenses  of  the  year,  so  that  they 
may  apply  themselves  solely  to  seeing  that  it  is 
expended  to  the  best  advantage  in  the  interests  qf 
those  whom  the  hospital  serves,  and.  directly  I  am 
able  to  do  so,  it  is  my  intention  to  devote  my  time 
and  energy  to  budding  up  an  adequate  annual 
subscription  and  donation   list.     I^feel  sure  that 


278 


^be  JBritisb  3ournal.  of  TRurstnG. 


[Oct.  1.  lOl! 


my  confidence  m  the  geneiosity  of  those  to  whom 
1  apply  will  again  be  fully  justified. — Yours  truly, 
Francis  of  Tece, 
Chairman  of  the  Weeklr  Board  of  Gorernore. 
Tlie  Middlesex  HosiJital,  'W. 

[We  heartily  congratulate  His  Serene  Highness 
on  the  splonfhd  response  U)  his  a-ppeal — Ed.] 

FROM  THE  INSIDE. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  o]  Nursing." 
DE.iR  Madam, — It  is  not  only  the  Hull  Sana- 
torium, if  seen  fix>in  the  inside,  would  prove  how 
insufBcient  is  the  teaching  of  nurses  m  provincial 
fever  hospitals,  and  it  is  only  within  recent  yeai's 
tliat  the  large  Metropolitan  fever  hospitals  have 
improved  in  thii>  resi>ect.  Little,  however,  will  Be 
done  in  the  country  "from  the  inside."  I  agi-ee 
with  a  "  Trained  Nurse  "  that  what  is  required  is 
a  definite  cun-iculuni,  and  expert  inspection.  The 
Hull  City  Council  may  sit  for  ever  making  inquiries 
and  little  good  will  result.  The  nureing  profession 
n-quires  an  edupatioual  authority  with  the  force 
of  the  law  behind  it,  and  until  we  get  a  Nursing 
-Act  in  working  order  these  scandals  will  recur  and 
recur.  It  is  time  the  iiuising  uiouoiM)ly  by  a  few 
skilful  financiers  was  thoroughly  exposed.  For  a 
quarter  of  a  century  they  h^ave  stood  between  the 
■sick  public  and  safe  nursing,  and  deprived  the 
nurses  of  this  country  not  only  of'an  adequate  pro- 
f(>ssional  education,  Imt  of  just  reward  of  their 
lal>our.  Hospitals  are  no  longer  purely  charitvable 
institutions,  they  are  widely  advertised  business 
concerns,  with  medical  and  nursing  schools 
attached,  and  lequire  organising  as  such.  Because 
women  work  in  institutions  where  sick  people  ai-e 
admitted  is  no  leason  i\  hy  they  should  tie  at  the 
al)solute  mercy  of  the  people-  who  employ  them, 
with  no  law  of  any  kind  on  tiie  Statute  Book  con- 
corning  them.  Surely  nui'ses  are  human  beings! 
In  my  opinion  no  class  of  workers  require  outside 
protection  more  than  nurses.  The  Matron  at  the 
Hull  Sanatoriunv  is  the  scajiegoat  of  a  thoroughly 
di,«>rganised  system  of  hospital  management,  and 
the  anti-registration  nursing  monopolists  who  con- 
<Iuct.  many  of  our  largest  hospitals,  with  their 
official  agents,  are  to  blame.  I  have  worked  at  Hull 
and  I  have  been  in  worse  places. 

Supposed  to  be  Trained. 


MIDWIFERY  WORK  AT  THE  CAMA  HOSPITAL. 

Ti)  the  Editor  of  thf  •'  British  Journal  ofyvrstvfi." 
Madam, — I  cannot  wiito  the  unwritable  things  we 
all  think  of  the  treatment  of  Bart's  Nm-ses  by 
Hart's  Governors.  It  seems  as  if  the  Cixtwn  ought 
to  be  approached  to  deliver  the  whole  army  of 
three  yevir-s'  trained  nurses  fiyim  such  an  un- 
justifiable indignity — unjustifiable  Ivecause  of  the 
many  Bart's  nurses  caiable  of  holding  the  ]X)st  of 
Matron,  ixisses&ing  as  they  all  do  the  now  all  the 
world  over  recognised  minimum  rertifi<-ate  of 
three-years'  training.  Even  in  India,  where  nurs- 
ing has  boiMi  at  stich  a  low  ebb,  wc  are  not  satis- 
fied wiili  a   .shorter  period  of  training. 

But  my  few  words  this  mail  are  not 
for  Bail's  sake,  for  words  fail  me,  but 
simply,  in  case  it  may  int«re«t  you  and  my  fellow 
readci-s,   to  tell  what   midwifery   work  out  here  is 


like.  On  August  31.st  I  had  in  the  lying-in  wards 
of  AUbless  H<j^pital,  of  30  beds,  three  Ciesarians. 
two  very  difficult  forceps,  one  of  which  was  an 
eclampsia,  with  fits  both  before  and  after,  the 
child  still-born  and  stinking,  a  placenta  prtevia 
(breech),  and  the  most  dreadful  harelip  and  cleft 
X>alate  I  have  ever  seen. 

We  have  also  had  in  August  craniotomies, 
another  breech,  and  a  transverse  presentation  with 
spontaneous  evolution,  the  patient  being  nonnally 
delivered  without  any  help  whatsoever.  I  think 
this  constitutes  something  of  a  record. 
■Yours  sincerely, 

S.  Grace  Tindall, 
Matron  of  Cama  and  AUbless  Hospitals,  and 
Lady  Superintendent  of  Nurses. 


Commente  an&  IReplies. 


"Also  a  Trained  Nui-se,"  Hull,  mast  -send  name 
(not  necessarily  for  publication)  if  she  wishes  her 
letter  to  appear  in  this  journal;  no  anonymous 
letters  are  inserted. 

Miss  J.  B.  Balglish,  West  Kirby.— The  Pam- 
phlets you  require  are  to  be  obtained  from  Miss  L. 
L.  Dock,  Nurses'  Settlement,  265,  Henry  Street, 
New  York  City,  U.S.A. 

C.  F.  M.,  Manchester. — ^We  do  not  prescribe. 
Ask  your  doctor. 

Private  A'ur.s('. ^Washing  a  dog  is  not  a  nurse's 
duty  within  the  strict  letter  of  the  law,  but  if 
your  patient  is  so  devoted  to  her  little  canine 
friend,  and  asks  you  to  wash  it,  certainly  do  so. 
It  is  much  easier  than  washing  a  baby.  Plenty 
of  warm  soap  and  water — and  lysol.  Rub  the 
"Pom's"  coat  with  sulphur  powder.  "Love  me 
love  my  dog!" 

IHotices. 


The  British  Journal  op  Nursing  is  the  official 
organ  of  the  following  important  Nursing  socie- 
ties :  — 

The  International  Council  of  Nurses. 

The  National  Council  of  Trained  Nurses  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland. 

The  Matrons'  Council  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland. 

The  Society  for  the  State  Registration  of 
Trained  Nurses. 

The  Registered  Nurses'  Society. 

The  School  Nurses'  League. 


CONTRIBUTIONS.  » 

The  Editor  will  at  all  times  be  pleased  to  consider 
articles  of  a  suitable  nature  for  insertion  in  this 
.lournal— those  on  practical  nursing  are  specially 
invited. 

Such  communications  must  be  duly  authenticated 
with  name  and  address,  and  should  bo  addressed  to 
the  Editor,  20,  Upper  Wimpole  Street,  London,  W. 
OUR  PUZZLE  PRIZE. 
Rules   for  competing  for   the    Pictorial    PuzzI'l 
PriBO  will  be  found  on  Advertisement  page  xii. 


Oct.  1, 1910]     jiijc  Biitiijb  3oiu-nal  of  il^nrsino  Supplement. 

The    Midwife. 


270 


IPruritue  in  |Preonanc\). 

A  French  physician  has  recently  drawn  at- 
tention to  the  frequency  of  pruritus  among 
pregnant  women,  and  that  it  is  often  so  aggra- 
vated as  to  entail  loss  of  rest  and  sleep,  and  to 
induce  pronounced  nervous  irritability.  In 
some  cases  the  cause  is  without  doubt  the 
presence  of  more  or  less  well  marked  discharge, 
hut  he  has  found  sugar  in  the  urine  of  all  the 
preirnant  women  who  have  complained  of  dis- 
comfort and  irritation  of  this  kind.  He  there- 
ioic  prohibits  all  sugars  or  sweets,  and  pre- 
scribes for  them  Vichy  water  as  a  drink. 
A  local  application  of  hot  water,  with 
li'  grams  of  chloral,  is  made  four 
times  a  day,  the  parts  being  after- 
wards treated  with  an  ointment  of  ichthyol  10 
grams,  and  benzoin.  A  few  days  later  a  powder 
made  up  of  zinc  oxide,  bismuth,  and  talc  is 
oidc-red,  and  if  there  is  any  leucorrhcea  a  morn- 
ing and  evening  douche  containing  20  grams  of 
sodium  borate  is  prescribed. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  in  this  country  carbolic 
acid  ointment  is  generally  used  in  these  cases 
with  much  benefit. 


a  Ibanb^  Sterilisation  of  jfoiceps. 

Captain  V.  T.  Carruthers,  in  a  correspon- 
dence in  the  Lancet  on  Antiseptsis  in  Midwifery 
Practice,  gives  the  following  account  of  his  own 
experience  of  sterilising  midwifery  instru- 
ments:— 

"  I  began,"  he  writes,  "  by  causing  a  local 
tinsmith  to  make  a  small,  light  steriliser  of 
thinnest  tin.  It  was  just  large  enough  to  hold 
mv  forceps.  I  canied  it  easily  in  my  bag  and 
used  it  frequently  with  satisfaction.  It  then 
occurred  to  me  to  try  a  plan  which  would  en- 
able me  to  use  a  smaller  spirit  lamp,  carry  less 
.=piiit,  and  at  the  same  time  save  some  of  the 
lo  or  20  minutes  necessary  for  my  steriliser  to 
i:-aeh  boiling  point.  I  accordingly  tilted  tho 
steriliser  so  that  one  end  was  several  inches 
1  v.or  than  the  other,  poured  two  or  three 
nices  of  hot  water  into  it,  and  placed  a  single 
-ir.ill  spirit  lamp  under  the  lower  end.  The 
V  arer  quickly  boiled  and  filled  the  closed  steri- 
l -^ti-  with  boiling  hot  steam.  Afterwards,  I  gave 
•:r  the  steriliser  and  used  a  thin  tin  douche 
r-:t\\  of  the  same  dimensions  as  the  steriliser, 
c.'.id  having  d,  lid  but  no  spout.  It  was  used 
in  the  same  way — i.e.,  by  having  a  few  ounces 


of  water  boiled  in  the  bottom  of  the  tin.  Wire 
supports  to  hold  the  can  erect,  or  sharply  in- 
clined, can  be  easily  made  and  attached.  This 
device,  besides  rapidly  sterilising^  forceps  and 
gloves,  supplied  the  great  desideratum  of  a 
sterile  douche  can  in  place  of  the  septic  house- 
hold jug.  Of  course,  the  instruments  have  to 
be  well  cleansed  from  organic  or  greasy  con- 
tamination before  trusting  them  to  steam  dis- 
infection. I  have  been  told,  but  do  not  know 
if  it  is  true,  that  the  addition  of  a  httle  forma- 
lin to  the  water  increases  the  antiseptic  power 
of  the  steam.  I  have  also  tried  the  expedient 
of  connecting  the  spout  of  a  douche  can,  by 
means  of  a  few  inches  of  rubber  tube,  to  the 
spout  of  a  small  kettle  on  a  spirit-lamp.  In  a 
glass  douche  reservoir  a  thermometer  (well 
wrapped  in  lint)  registered  210  degs. 
Fahr.  in  a  few  minutes  after  the  kettle 
began  to  boil.  The  reservoir  was  kept 
closed  by  a  folded  handkerchief.  This 
plan  might  prove  useful  to  those  who  prefer 
to  sterilise  the  forceps  before  going  to  their 
case.  For  the  instrument,  wrapped  in  cloth, 
can  be  sterilised  without  being  wetted.  Any 
dampness  that  may  hang  about  the  cloth  can 
be  dried  off  in  front  of  the  fire  without  un- 
wrapping the  forceps." 

Zbc  Snspectors  of  fiDibvvives' 
association. 


The  recently  fomied  Inspectors  of  Midwives' 
Association  held  a  meeting  on  Saturday  last  at 
the  Midwives'  Institute.  The  number  of  lady 
inspectors  of  midwives,  appointed  by  county 
or  borough  councils,  is  steadily  increasing,  and 
their  work  is  recognised  as  a  powerful  factor 
in  the  administration  of  the  Act.  The  objects 
of  the  Association  include  the  consideration 
and  discussion  of  the  best  methods  of  bringing 
more  uniformity  into  the  administration  of  the 
Act,  and  of  obtaining  trustworthy  and  prompt 
information  from  the  midwives  themselves. 
One  of  the  chief  subjects  of  discussion  at  Satur- 
day's meeting  was  the  new  Midwives'  Bill 
w'hich  passed  the  House  of  Lords  last  session, 
and  which  will  be  before  the  House  of  Com- 
mons during  the  autumn  session,  the  Associa- 
tion pledging  itself  to  endeavour  to  obtain  the 
amendment  or  omission  of  certain  clauses' 
which  they  deem  prejudicial  to  the  working  of 
the  Act.  Dr.  Macrory,  senior  inspector  for 
London,  was  elected  President. 


280 


tlbe  Brltisb  3ouvnal  ot  mursing  Supplement.  [Oct.  i,  1910 


^be  IRew  flDl&\vtves'  BUI. 


It  is  not  only  the  midwives,  but  medical 
practitioners,  who  are  agitated  concerning  the 
provisions  of  the  new  ^lidwives'  Bill,  to  judge 
by  a  coiTetspondence  on  the  matter  in  the 
Britisli  Medical  Journal. 

Dr.  James  Hamilton  wants  the  opinion  of 
his  confreres  on  the  following  point:  — 

"  Is  it  to  the  advantage  or  is  it  just  and  right 
to  thft  medical  profession  that  medical  men  should 
for  the  sake  of  a  small  payment  give  their  services 
as  lecturers  and  teacliers  to  nursing  homes  to  train 
midwives,  and  thus  enable  them  to  compete  with 
our  profession  ?  It  is  to  my  mind  as  wrong  as  it 
would  lie  for  a  veterinary  surgeon  to  train  farriers 
how  to  treat  animal  diseases." 

Dr.  Fred  W.  James  calls  attention  to  the 
following  advertisement  from  a  certain  London 
suburb : — 

Nursing  an/1   Midwifery  Institute  . 

Patients  supplied  with  midwife,  monthly  nurse,  or 
visiting  nurse.  In-patients  taken,  both  general 
and  maternity.  Attendance  by  doctor  or  midwife, 
fees  arrfiiKjed,  strictly  moderate.  Maternity  club, 
Nurse  ,  certified,  midwife. 

He  writes  :  — 

•'  When  the  matter  was  brought  to  the  notice  of 
the  Central  Midwives'  Board,  their  secretary  re- 
plied that  neither  the  advertisement  nor  the  cir- 
cular infringed  the  regulations  of  the  Board. 

"  It  is  therefore  open  to  these  women  to  advertise 
as  much  as  they  please — a  fact  which  demonstrates 
the  need  of  drastic  revision  both  of  the  "  regula- 
tions "   and  of  the  Board  responsible  for  them. 

"  Under  the  limitations  imposed  by  the  Act  it  is 
impossible  for  a  midwife  to  carry  on  a  considerable 
practice  without  the  a-ssistance  of  medical  men.  It 
is  difficult  to  believe  that  the  men  who  habitually 
assist  the  midwife  and  live  in  her  immediate  neigh- 
bourhood are  ignorant  of  the  nature  of  her  adver- 
tisement. 

"  In  return  for  their  complaisance  the  nurse's 
medical  friends  receive  the  benefit  of  her  touting 
advertisement,  in  which  .she  offers  the  services  of 
a  doctor.  However  one  may  deprecate  their  me- 
thods, it  does  not  lay  the  men  o])en  to  any  action 
by  the  General  Medical  Council,  as  there  is  no 
direct  evidence  of  a  finnncinl  understanding  be- 
tween them  and  the  advertising  midwife.  Appar- 
ently, therefore,  under  tlio  present  rules  of  the 
game,  it  is  open  to  midwives  to  advertise  them- 
selves and  their  medical  backers  without  laying 
either  cla.ss  open  to  any  consequences  whatever." 

The  item  in  the  advertisement  to  which  we 
take  the  most  exception  is  the  admittance  to 
the  institution  of  both  general  and  maternity 
cases.  The  lying-in  woman  thus  runs  great 
risks,  as  there  is  neither  inspection  nor  control 
of  nursing  homes  at  present,  and  we  know- 
that  every  sort  of  slip-sliod  method  is  often 
employed   unchecked. 

Very  few  nurses  know  anything  about  sani- 
tation, and  are  therefore  at  the  mercy  of  the 
jerry-b\iildcr. 


jfree  flDi^wifev^  draining. 

It  is  reported  in  Kai  Tiaki  that  in  order  to 
make  some  effort  to  supply  the  great  need  ot 
well  trained  midwives  in  the  country  districts 
in  New  Zealand,  the  GovernmenE  has  offered 
two  free  scholarships  each  term  in  the  St. 
Helens  State  Maternity  Hospitals,  for  country 
women  who  cannot  afford  to  come  to  town  and 
pay  the  fees  for  training. 

It  is  found  that,  although  a  fairly  large  num- 
ber of  midwives  are  being  turned  out  yearly  in 
these  training  schools,  yet  the  country  dis- 
tricts are  not  much  better  off ;  the  reason  being 
that  so  much  work  offers  in  the  tow-ns  that 
the  pupil  nurses  are  offered  engagements 
months  ahead,  even  before  they  contplete  their 
training,  so  that  even  those  girls  who  come 
from  the  country  prefer  to  remain  in  town. 

The  free  scholarships  are  being  given  to 
remedy  this.  A  candidate  -ust  be  recom- 
mended by  the  Hospital  Boai  '>f  the  district ; 
she  must  agree  with  the  Boan ',  p  work  where 
she  is  most  required  in  the  dis.  g^^t  for  at  least 
two  yeai-s.  If  she  has  her  homr  l  .  that  part  so 
much  the  better;  if  not,  at  tue  end  of  two 
years,  she  is  likely  to  be  so  established  that 
she  will  remain  there  if  she  gets  sufficient  work 
to  do.  As  in  many  paiis  midwifery  work  may 
be  irregular,  and  cases  not  frequent  enough  to 
bring  a  sufficient  income,  the  women  wno  are 
best  suited  for  these  scholarships  are  the  wives 
and  daughtere  of  fanners  and  other  settlers, 
who  will  be  able  to  attend  the  cases  around 
them,  but  who  are  not  entirely  depen  lent  on 
this  work.  The  first  pupil  on  this  arrangement 
is  shortly  entering  St.  Helen's  Hospital,  .\uck- 
land. 

The  State  Examination  of  pupils  trained 
under  the  "  Midwives'  .\ct  "  is  held  in  Wel- 
lington, Dunedin,  .\uckland,  and  Christchurch, 
and  the  training  which  consists  of  six  months' 
work  in  the  St.  Helen's  ^laternity  Hospitals  in 
these  cities  is  of  a  very  practical  uature. 


A  MATERNITY  HOSPITAL    NEEDED  AT  NAIROBI. 

.\ii  appeal  is  being  uuule.  su))ported  by 
Princess  Christian,  President  of  the  South 
.\frican  Colonisation  Society,  and  of  the  Earl 
of  Crewe,  Secretary  of  State  for  the  Colonies, 
to  provide  a  maternity  home  at  Naii'obi  in 
British  East  .\frica.  Owing  to  the  increase 
of  European  settlement  the  want  of  such  a 
home  is  being  keenly  felt,  and  a  great  effort  is 
being  made  locally  to  (irovide  one. 

The  home  would  also  receive  surgical  cases 
from  amongst  the  women  of  the  white  popula- 
tion who  could  not  be  treated  at  home,  and 
would  provide  accommodation  for  a  Matmn 
!uiil  two  nurses. 


§nisiJoiiEta<» 

WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 

TMH  MllllSKIIGc  IIECOIIB 

EDITED  BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


No.  1,175. 


SATURDAY,     OCTOBER     S,      1910. 


leMtorial. 


AN     INIQUITOUS     LAW. 

A  Storm  of  protest  has  been  aroused  in 
New  York  State  by  the  iiassing  of  an  Act 
known  as  "  the  Page  Bill,"  relating  to  the 
procedures  of  the  Lower  Courts  of  New 
York  City,  clause  70  of  which  provides  for 
the  medical  examination,  and  compulsory 
detention  during  treatment,  of  convicted 
prostitutes — a  term  which  is  interpreted  as 
applying  to  women  only,  while  the  men  who 
consort  with  them  are  left  free  to  convey 
infection. 

Emphatic  protest  against  the  obnoxious 
clause  was  made  to  the  Covernor  before  its 
passage,  but  in  vain,  and  an  inlluential 
committee  has  therefore  been  formed  to  lay 
before  the  citizens  of  the  State  the  reasons 
advanced  against  clause  79. 

A  most  convincing  protest  has  been  drawn 
up  by  Dr.  Jane  D.  Beny,  formerly  a  nurse 
trained  at  Bellevue  Hospital,  showing  that 
the  women  are  not  being  imprisoned  until 
reformed,  or  until  sulUciently  punished,  but 
imtil  presumably  well,  when  they  are  re- 
turned to  the  streets. 

Prominent  Women  Suffragists  in  New 
York  are  fighting  the  law,  and  amongst  the 
foremost,  we  may  be  sure,  is  Miss  L.  L. 
Dock. 

Under  the  new  law  a  Night  Court,  before 
which  women  can  be  brought,  has  been 
instituted,  and  serious  trouble  is  antici- 
pated unless  the  laws  under  which  the 
Court  sits  are  declared  unconstitutional. 

Wehave  only  to  quote  the  evidence  recently 
given  by  one  woman  at  a  public  meeting  of 
protest  to  show  the  need  for  the  influence  of 
women  in  public  affairs.  Miss  Mary  Don- 
nelly, who  three  years  ago  was  Matron  of 
the  Queen's  County  Jail,  declared  that  she 
was  discharged,  and  her  name  taken  off  the 


civil  service  list,  because  she  sought  to  pro- 
tect the  girls  who  were  brought  there  from 
the  outrages  perpetrated  upon  them  l)y  the 
prison  oHicials.  She  solemnlj^  declared  that 
reformation  was  impossible  for  anj-  girl  who 
had  spent  one  night  in  the  Queen's  County 
Jail.  "  It  wasn't  a  jail  at  all,"  she  said ; 
"  it  was  a  dive.  Not  only  did  oilicers  of  the 
prison  degrade  the  women  prisoners,  who 
were  absolutely  in  their  power,  but  they 
put  the  poor  creatures  at  the  disposal  of  the 
male  prisoners  and  the  men  of  the  town.- 
One  girl  told  me  that  she  had  been  a  bad 
girl  when  she  was  brought  there,  but  she 
had  never  known  there  was  so  much  wicked- 
ness in  the  world  as  she  had  seen  there. 
And  yet  it  is  only  the  women  who  are 
punished  under  our  laws.  The  real  criminals 
go  scot  free." 

At  a  recent  election  Miss  L.  L.  Dock, 
^liss  Winifred  Leonard,  and  Miss  Hender- 
son watched  in  the  polling  booth  in  Ninth 
Avenue  in  the  interests  of  Mr.  Francis  P. 
Coughlin,  Vrho  fought  Mr.  J.  F.  Curry  for 
Tammany  leadership.  The  latter  contended 
that  their  presence  as  watchers  was  illegal, 
and  Inspector  Jackson,  Chairman  of  the 
Board  of  Inspectors,  ordered  the  three 
watchers  to  move  outside  the  rail  in  the 
polling  booth.  One  of  them  complied,  but 
iliss  Dock  and  the  other  refused  to  budge, 
with  the  result  that  they  were  arrested  and 
l^rought  before  Magistrate  Kernochan,  at 
the  West  Side  Court,  the  first  women  sub- 
jected to  this  indignity.  ^liss  Dock  and 
lier  companion  ajipeared  in  court  wearing  a 
broad  yellow  sash  over  their  white  gowns, 
inscribed  "Votes  for  Women."  The  result 
was  a  triumph  for  the  right,  for  the  magis- 
trate held  that  the  defendants  had  a  right 
to  act  as  watchers,  and  therefore  to  be  inside' 
the  guard-rail,  and  discharged  them.  Both 
ladies  at  once  returned  to  the  polling  booth. 


2S2 


^bc  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRursing, 


[Oct.  8,  1910 


fIDei>ical  flDatters. 


THE     QUICKENING      SPIRIT. 

Dr.  Leonard  Williams  M.E.C.P.,  in  an  ad- 
dress jjublished  in  the  British  Medical  Journal 
on  "The  Quickening  Spirit,"  says  in  part:  — 

That  mind  exercises  an  influence  over 
matter  is  a  fonnula  which  most  of  us  have 
lisped  since  the  day.-;  of  our  childhood.  The 
formula  represents  a  beUef,  held  strongly  per- 
haps, but  essentially  vaguely,  even  by  those 
who  have  had  a  scientific  training,  and  it  has 
not  hitherto  assumed  anything  which  could  be 
described  as  a  definite  outline.  Such  an  out- 
line I  believe  it  to  be  now  in  process  of 
assuming,  and  it  is  the  part  of  those  who  take 
the  profession  of  medicine  seriously  to  con- 
tribute something  out  of  the  vast  store  of 
material  which  lies  daily  to  their  hands  towards 
the  elucidation  of  some  of  the  difficult  but 
fascinating  problems  which   await  solution. 

In  the  human  body  evei-y  motive  force  is 
provided  with  a  corresponding  controlling  force, 
and  it  is  important  to  realise  that  the  motive 
force  itself  is  always  developed  in  advance  of 
the  coiTesponding  controlling  force.  When  a 
child  is  bom  it  has  the  power  of  contracting 
its  muscles  and  thus  moving  its  limbs,  but  ib 
is  a  long  time  before  it  can  so  co-ordinate  these 
muscles  as  to  walk  or  otherwise  accurately 
accomplish  any  purposive  movement.  . 
So  much  is  recognised,  but  it  is  not  so  W'ell 
recognised  that  the  same  laws  obtain  in  the 
region  of  what  is  called  the  mind.  Here  the 
motive  force  is  represented  by  the  emotions — a 
child  is  all  emotion  and  instinct — and  the 
control  force  is  provided  by  reason  and  experi- 
ence— that  is  by  the  intellect  and  the  will. 
Intellect  and  will  are  admittedly  not  identical, 
and  they  are  associated  here  with  the  view  of 
abbreviating  the  argument  wifliout,  I  hope, 
vitiating  it.  It  is  of  course  quite  clear  that  the 
development  of  the  intellect  and  the  will,  with 
its  consequent  control  of  the  emotions,  will 
exercise  a  progressively  modifying  influence 
upon  character,  but  is  it  true  to  say  that  this 
same  development  of  the  will  at  the  expense, 
.10  to  speak,  of  the  emotions  can  exercise  any 
moderating  influence  upon  the  materics  of  the 
human  body,  so  as  to  render  the  tissues  both 
less  susceptible  to  disease  and  better  equipped 
to  combat  disease  when  invasion  has  been  suc- 
cessful ■'  That  it  must  he  true  is  an  opinion 
which  is  forced  upon,  every  thinking  medical 
man  by  the  experiences  of  his  everyday  work. 
They  are  commonplaces  of  medical  literature 
which  tell  of  chorea  being  provoked  by  fright,' 
of  an  attack  of  the  go\it  being  caused  by  a  fit 
of  iuiger,  of  ex-ophthalmic  goitre  being  brought 


on  by  wi_>ny  and  anxiety  ;  and  works  on  psycho- 
logy will  furnish  the  curious  with  well 
authenticated  instances  of  examples  even  more 
dramatic.  When  we  come  t<y  enquire  how-  such 
effects  can  be  produced,  our  attention  is  imme- 
diately attracted  by,  and  becomes  focussed 
upon,  the  circulatory  system.  The  physical 
manifestations  of  violent  emotion  are  prepon- 
deratingly  vascular.  The  lividity  of  rage,  the 
blush  of  shame,  the  deathly  pallor  of  alarm, 
.and  the  ashen  hue  of  excitement,  are  expres- 
sions which  have  been  dear  to  the  pens  of 
writers  since  time  began;  and  they  describe 
truly  enough  what  all  of  us  have  frequently 
experienced  even  in  our  own  persons.  Now,  it 
must  not  be  supposed  that  such  vascular 
changes  as  these  manifestations  represent  are 
confined  to  the  integument;  for,  as  Leonard 
Hill  has  shown,  the  pressure  of  blood  in  the 
system  at  large  is  kept  in  a  state  of  equipoise 
by  the  law  which  provides  that  a  vaso-constric- 
tion  in  one  part  shall  be  immediately  compen- 
,  sated  for  by  a  con-esponding  vaso-dilatation  in 
another  part;  so  that  while  the  sudden 
cutaneous  hyperaemia  of  the  ' '  blush  of  shame 
proclaims  an  ischsemia  elsewhere,  so  the 
cutaneous  ischaemia  of  "pallid  fear"  denotes 
a  compensatory  hypersemia  in  some  possibly 
distant  area. 

If  we  now  proceed  to  consider  the  effect  of 
such  vascular  storms  upon  the  economy 
generally,  we  have  no  difi&culty  in  concluding 
that  the  customary  working  of  the  human 
machine  must  thereby  be  profoundly  disturbed. 
So  long  as  the  circulation  of  the  blood  is  smooth 
and  orderly  its  purification  is  regularly  accom- 
by  the  excretory  organs,  and  its  renovation 
adequately  effected  by  the  continuous  supply 
of  material  from  the  contributory  glands.  If, 
however,  instead  of  being  smooth  and  orderly, 
the  circulation  is  fitful  and  spasmodic,  the  ex- 
cretoiy  organs  and  contributory  glands  will  b  • 
alternately  gorged  with  sudden  repletion  an<l 
starved  into  astonished  bankruptcy,  with  th- 
result  that  the  circulatory  fluid  itself  becomes 
so  fundamentallj'  altered  in  composition  that  it 
imposes  on  the  tissues  either  an  excess  of  what 
they  do  not  require  or  an  insufficiency  of  that 
which  they  demand.  In  view  of  such  con- 
siderations it  is  surely  not  possible  to  doubt  that 
violent  emotions  affect  the  physical  health  of 
their  victim. 

.\nd  it  this  be  true  of  sudden  ftnd  violent 
emotions  overtaking  people  who  are  normally 
controlled,  it  must  be  equally  true  of  those 
who,  owing  to  defective  education  of  the  will, 
live  a  life  of  constant  sulwrdination  to  the 
caprices  of  their  emotions.  For  it  is  not  neces- 
sary that    pnifound  changi's  in   blood  distribu- 


Oct.    8.    I'.'IK 


dbc  Britieb  3ournal  of  IRursino. 


tiou  should  bo  kocm  in  onl.  r  that  they  may  be 
api)reciat<;d.  X'asculiu-  poiturbaiiees  may  occur 
without  either  blushing  or  pallor;  indeed,  the 
emotional  vascular  see-saw,  when  it  takes  place 
between  important  internal  organs,  is  even 
more  likely  to  j)rove  deleterious  to  the  economy 
than  when  one  of  the  partvs  affected  happens  to 
be  the  skin.  Professor  Osier,  in  his  most  illumi- 
nating Lumleian  Lectures,  says  that  "  the 
profession  is  now  riding  on  the  top  of  a  cardio- 
vascular wave,"  and  1  suppose  1  may  be  con- 
sidered to  have  been  caught  in  the  trough  of 
that  wave  when  I  ask  you  to  beUeve  that  the 
physical  ills  which  beset  emotional  patients  are 
due  primarily  to  circulatoi-y  causes.  Such. 
however,  is  the  position,  and  if  .1  have  suc- 
ceeded in  making  myself  clear  up  to  this  point, 
I  have  said  enough  to  show  that  uncontrolled 
and  misdirected  emotions  may,  and  do,  by 
their  action  on  the  blood  vessels  which  supply 
the  excretory  organs,  and  the  replenishing 
glands,  so  affect  the  composition  of  the  blood 
itself  that  the  nutrition  of  the  tissues  is  im- 
paired.    .     .     . 

With  the  nutrition  of  the  tissues  impaired, 
the  tissues  themselves  become  bereft  of  their 
normal  jwwers  of  resistance  to  bacterial  in- 
vasion: in  other  words,  the  soil  becomes 
unduly  receptive,  with  the  result  that  acute 
specifics  of  all  kinds  have  a  peculiar  tendency 
to  show  themselves. 

Surgical  injuiies  apart,  there  is  no  type  of 
disease  w-hich  may  not  be  provoked  or 
encouraged  by  the  action  of  the  emotions  when 
insufficiently  curbed  and  guided  by  the  develop- 
ment of  the  will. 

Dr.  Williams  argues  that  it  is  important  that 
this  truth  should  be  recognised  by  the  medical 
profession,  because  unqualified  competitors 
have  blundered  ujwn  it  and  ignorantly  exploited 
it  to  the  detriment  of  the  public  when  they 
fail,  and  to  the  discredit  of  the  profession  when 
they  sucaeed.  The  mainspring  of  all  these 
systems,  nakedly  expressed,  is  the  control 
which  they  impose  on  the  emotions.  It  is 
doubtless  true  that  they  substitute  one  over- 
powering emotion,  faith,  for  a  host  of  minor 
ones  ;  but  so  far  as  the  health  of  the  individual 
is  concerned,  the  net  result  is  all  to  the  good, 
for  his  faith  instils  into  him  that  all  essential 
control  over  the  multiplicity  of  emotions  whose 
unrestrained  play  had  hitherto  exercised  such" 
a  baneful  effect  upon  him. 

.\fter  saying  that  it  is  impossible  'to  dismiss 
thi-  whole  question  bj'  casting  doubts  on  results. 
Dr.  Williams  shows  that  martyrs  have  suffered 
with  a  degree  of  physical  pain,  which  according 
to  their  own  showing  was  jiractically  negligible, 
oi-.l.'^i!-  ul,i,.)i   t.,  ,.r,1,^,.,v^    ponple  would  h-ive 


bei.-ii  uupossiijle  tortures.  1  n.-  str>--nglli  <il  Ui.;n 
iwsitiou  is  their  power  of  turning  their- atten- 
tions away  from  what  is  painful  in  order  to 
concentrate  it  upon  what  is  agreeable  and  hope- 
ful. To  accomplish  this,  however,  there  must 
be  something  better  than  the  academic 
acquiescence  which  so  often  does  duty  in  tlii> 
direction  ;  it  must  be  the  overweening  and  ever 
present  faith  of  t?he  convert.  Now  in  ordinary 
people  this  power  does  not  come  of  itself,  it 
timst  be  educated.     ... 

It  may  be  objected  that  the  question  of  a 
rational  education  of  the  will  with  a  view  of 
subduing  the  emotions  is  one  which  concerns 
parents  and  teachers  rather  than  medical  men. 
In  its  w  idest  sense  this  is  no  doubt  true ;  but 
as  medical  men  we  are  called  upon  to  deal  with 
the  individual,  whom  it  is  our  duty  to  help  in 
every  possible  way.  Now  I  make  so  bold  as  to 
say  that  if  we  fail  to  place  before  him  the 
power  w-hich  resides  in  him — and  in  him  alone — 
of  ameliorating  his  condition,  then  we  are 
neglecting  or  evading  an  obvious  and  para- 
mount duty.  It  is  a  good  thing  to  engender  in 
the  patient  a  confidence  that  we  and  the 
methods  we  employ  are  able  to  guide  him  into 
the  way  of  peace ;  but  it  is  a  much  better  thing 
to  arouse  him  to  a  full  sense  of  his  o\^-n  powers 
in  the  same  direction.  This  is  the  factor  which 
in  modern  therapeutics  is  being  neglected. 

I  should  indeed  be  inviting  you  to  make 
bricks  without  straw  if  I  were  to  call  upon  you 
to  do  this  thing  without  appending  some  sug- 
gestions as  to  how  it  should  be  done.  Such 
suggestions  as  I  have  to  make  are  of  the  sim- 
plest possible  description,  for  in  a  matter  of 
this  kind  each  individual  must  develop  the  de- 
tails of  the, method  along  the  lines  which  most 
befit  his  character  and  temperament.  The 
essential  point  is  that  he  should  have  a  clear 
idea  of  what  he  wants  to  do,  and  that  he  should 
pursue  that  end  with  determination  and  per- 
severance. I  have  tried  to  show  that  his  object 
is  to  awaken. in  his  patient  a  sense  of  her  own 
powers,  her  own  dignity,  and  her  own 
superiority  to  the  littlenesses  by  which  our  lives 
are  inevitably  beset :  that  he  should  teach  her 
so  to  educate  and  control  and  order  her 
thoughts  and  sensations  that  she  may  learn  to 
dominate  them  instead  of  allowing  them  to 
dominate  her.     .     .    \ 

We  can  no  longer  afford  to  neglect  the  aid 
of  the  mind  as  a  therapeutic  agent.  It  refuses 
to  be  neglected.  It  is  daily  and  -hourly  be- 
coming more  insistent  for  the  recognition  of  its 
legitimat-e  claims,  and,  if  it  does  not  obtain 
recognition  at  our  hands,  it  will  seek  and  ol)- 
tain  it  elsewhere.  It  has  been  my  ende,avour 
^.^  |.l:ic.-  rli.><..  I'laims  upon  a  scientific  basis. 


284 


Zbe  Britlsb  3ournaI  of  IRursing, 


[Oct.  8,  1910 


©ppoi'tuiutics  foi-  IHiir&ing  in 
China.' 


By  Sad  a  C.  Tomlixsok, 
.inking,   China. 

In  the  few  minutes  in  which  I  may  sjjeak  to 
\-ou,  I  want  to  tell  you  of  the  great  opportunity 
for,  and  the  great  need  of,  the  trained  nuree 
in  the  foreign  mission  field,  to  interest  you,  if 
I  can,  in  missions.  To  do  this,  I  must  speak 
to  you  of  the  only  portion  of  the  foreign  mission 
field  of  which  I  have  any  practical  knowledge, 
which  is  China. 

You've  all  doubtless  heard  a  great  deal  of 
the  awakening  of  China,  heard  her  character- 
ised as  a  monster,  stretching  herself  and  open- 
ing her  eyes  after  sleeping  a  thousand  years. 
You  maj'  know  that  her  people  call  her  "  Djung 
Gueh,"  which  means  the  middle  kingdom,  and 
in  former  times  thought  of  her  as  enclosed  in 
a  huge  circle,  touching  on  all  sides  the  extreme 
limit  of  a  square,  flat  world,  leaving  four  small 
comers,  "  ilai  Gueh  "  or  outside  kingdoms, 
inhabited  by  barbarians,  .and  as  long  as  China 
retains  her  present  mode  of  writing  and  her 
ancient  literature,  just  so  long  will  she  con- 
tinue to  consider  all  westerners  as  barbarians, 
from  a  literary  standpoint,  as  possessing  that 
only  too  utterly  new  to  be  of  any  real  value. 

But  during  the  last  ten  years,  the  student 
clais  in  China  has  been  rapidly  opening  its 
eyes  to  the  fact  that  there  are  other  pursuits 
than  the  literary,  worthy  of  their  attention. 
China  is  calling  in  men  from  our  great  colleges 
and  from  England  to  teach  the  young  men  in 
her  government  schools — modern  languages, 
chennstry,  athletics — she  is  calling  in  foreigners 
to  instruct  her  officers  and  drill  her  annies. 
These  facts  are  due  to  many  sources,  but 
largely,  though  often  indirectly,  to  the  army 
of  foreign  workers  within  the  empire,  labouring 
unceasingly  to  broaden  and  give  direction  to 
her  awakening  energies.  Travel  among  the 
upper  classes  is  growing  to  be  as  much  the 
vogue  as  it  was  the  vogue  fifty  years  ago  not  to 
know  of  anything  outside  the  Chinese  Empire. 

Hand  in  hand  with  this  progress  has  come 
ihe  building  of  hospitals,  more  or  less  on  the 
plan  of  hospitals  of  this  country  to-day.  These 
hospitals  are  monuments  to  the  tireless  energy 
of  a  few  physicians.  They  were  built  for  the 
most  part  by  nionej'  given  in  this  country-,  by 
peo])lo  who  believed,  as  did  the  physicians,  that 
if  hos))itals  were  placed  where  the  need  is  so 
dire,  there  would  be  those  willing  and  anxious 

*  Prosentwl  nt  the  Thirteenth  .'Vnmial  Conveti- 
tion  of  the  Niirsps'  Associated  Alumna?  of  the 
I'liitod  States,  1910.  Reprinted  from  X\w  American 
■TfiuTiutl  of  I^ur.iing. 


to  go  out  and  man  them,  making  them  the 
efiiecient  weapons  they  should  be  against  ignor- 
ance and  disease — an  educational  and  benefi- 
cent intluence  to  all  who  come  within  their 
radius. 

The  question  before  the  medical  and  nursing 
professions  of  China  to-day,  is — was  their  be- 
lief justifiable'.'  There  are  a  great  many  good 
peojjle  in  China,  on  a  far  higher  plane 
spiritually  than  we  are  (unless  this  assembly 
diffei-s  vastly  from  most  assemblies  of  nurses), 
and  these  people  are  largely  of  the  old  and 
tried,  who  have  been  in  China  at  least  ten  or 
■fifteen  years — they  believe  that  their  motto  is 
"  The  greatest  good  to  the  greatest  number  " 
— by  which  1  gather  that  they  mean,  we  must 
do  the  most  we  can  for  the  greatest  possible 
munber  of  patients,  even  to  the  detriment  of 
the  quality  of  our  work,  and  if  you  try  to  find 
out  how  they  dare  to  do  less  well  than  they 
know,  they  will  reply,  "  But  think  how 
superior  our  poorest  attempts  are  to  anything 
they  have  ever  had." 

Quite  ti-ue,  for  before  the  foreigners  brought 
it,  there  was  no  such  thing  as  surgery  in  China, 
and  their  doctors  are  the  veriest  of  "  medicine 
men,"  filling  their  patients  with  ground  glass 
for  indigestion,  and  thrusting  red  hot  needles 
into  the  eyebails-for  some  trifling  eye  disease  : 
but  what  of  these  people  who  are  willing  to 
give  less  than  their  best'?  The  fact  is,  most 
of  them  are  daily  giving  of  the  best,  but  they 
are  willing,  for  the  sake  of  what  seems  to  them 
expediency,  to  have  us  of  the  medical  profes- 
sion give  less  than  our  best.  Among  people 
of  this  way  of  thinking  are  a  few  doctore  vi-ho 
have  been  in  China  many  years-. 

Is  it  that  they  see  too  many  obstacles  in  the 
way?  They  are  not  the  men  to  stop  at  ob- 
stacles. Have  they  forgotten  the  strides  their 
profession  makes  yearly?  Is  it  that  they 
themselves  have  fallen  behind  and  grown  care- 
less, that  they  underestimate  the  value  of — 
well,  asepsis  for  instance?  Yet  it  is  due  to  the 
superhuman  efforts  of  these  very  men  that  we 
now  are  able  to  begin  the  work  as  it  should  be 
done.  Please  remember  I  did  not  say  all  the 
doctors  who  have  been  many  years  in  China 
are  of  this  mind ;  they  are  not,  I  am  glad  to 
say.  We  can  only-, wonder  how  they  keep 
abreast  as  they  do :  we  know  it  means  every 
vacation  or  furlough  spent  in  "Vienna,  Berlin, 
England,  or  this  country — not  in  rest  but 
irorh. 

We  are  not  to-day  the  pioneers  of  the  medi- 
cal profession  in  China,  though  we  may  be  the 
pioneers  of  the  hospitals  conducted  on  the 
American  plan,  and  of  the  training  of  the 
student  class  in  the  profession  or  nursing. 
But  if  these  veteran  workers  are  right — then 


Oct.  8.  i9io:  ^lic  ffiritisb  3ournal  of  Trtursuuj. 


285 


the  tiuie  has  not  come  to  liuiu  native  nurses 
for  China.  1  need  scarcely  present  to  Voii  the 
result  of  turning  out  upon  any  country  (least  ot 
all  a  country  in  a  state  oi  ferment  that  China 
is  in  to-day)  an  army  of  shp-shod,  careless 
nurses,  in  their  tuni  to  instruct  nurses  certainly 
not  less  careless  and  slip-shod. 

But  there  is  in  China  a  small  number  of 
doctors  and  nurses  who  believe  that  the  time 
has  come  to  give  nursing  as  a  profession  to  the 
student  class  in  China — the  very  magnitude  of 
the  work  demands  it — and  if  this  is  the  case, 
the  best  we  can  send  is  not  too  good.  This 
small  company  also  believes  that  its  motto  is 
"  The  greatest  good  to  the  greatest  number," 
ultimately.  In  several  hospitals,  more  or  less, 
I  should  say  less,  successful  attempts  have 
been  made  to  train  the  lower  classes  as  nurses. 
In  St.  .James  Hospital,  Anldng,  on  the  Yantse 
River  (where  I  have  been  for  the  past  two 
yeare)  has  been  made  the  first  attempt,  so  far 
as  I  know,  in  Central  China,  to  establish  a 
training  school  in  connection  with  the  hospital, 
thus  giving  nursing  as  a  profession  to  the 
student  class  of  mandarin-speaking  men  and 
women.  I  think  I  may  say  so  far  it  has  not 
been  unsuccessfid.  In  the  next  five  years  ib 
should  prove  a  success,  and  will  doubtless  be 
adopted  by  all  the  hospitals.  If  the  profession 
is  to  clahn  and  hold  the  best  of  the  student 
class,  it  will  be  through  the  services  of  nurses, 
the  best  our  hospitals  can  train — capable, 
attractive,  adaptable  women,  who  know  what 
it  is  tJ>  fight,  and  love  it — w-ho  are  not  afraid 
to  meet  difKculty  and  overcome  it. 

If  now  we  can  give  nursing  to  the  student 
class  of  China,  we  will  give  our  profession  in 
the  Empire  a  forward  impetus  of  a  hundred 
years  at  least;  for  if  now  the  profession  is 
given  to  the  lower  class,  the  evolution  by  which 
it  will  come  to  its  own  will  be  painful  and  slow 
— how  long  will  China  have  to  look  for  a 
Nightingale? 

The  standard  of  good  work  has  already  been 
raised  there.  I  know  of  one  nurse  from  Block- 
ley.  Philadelphia.  She  is  doing  splendid  work. 
She  has  been  doing  the  work,  nominally,  of 
two  women — it  should  be  allotted  to  three. 
How  long  can  she  keep  on  if  nobody  goes  out 
to  help  her"?  I  don't  know.  What  will  she 
do?  Will  she  be  content  to  lower  her  standard 
of  work  and  give  less  than  her  best  because 
of  the  great  pressure  on  her?  I  think  not. 
Will  she  give  up  and  come  home  rather  than 
give  less  than  her  best  ?  Maybe  so.  Will  she 
drop  at  her  work,  or,  worse,  ruin  her  health? 
Will  we  let  her?  Will  you  and  I  miss- such  an 
opportunity?  I  know  a ■  nurse  from  my  own 
school  (Boston  City),  a  Johns  Hopkins  nurse. 


a  Roosevelt  nurse,  a  Welksley  woman  m  the 
i'ule  mission— she  is  still  conteudmg  with  the 
lau"uage.  In  a  vear  she  will  open,  on  Arneri- 
can°lines.  Dr.  Hume's  Hospital  at  Chang  bha, 
where  the  Yale  mission  is  located.  How  long 
before  she'll  be  begging  for  an  assistant?  lou 
can't  teach  in  practice  and  theory,  direct  the 
training  school,  know  about  every  patient  and 
inspect  every  corner  in  the  hospital,  and  be  the 
operating  room  nurse,  and  do  it  all  well: 

People  sav,  ••  There's  so  much  to  do  here. 
whv  not  do  It  first  ?"  Juist  because  in  the  atti- 
tude OI  China  at  present  there  is  an  opportunity 
that  will  not  wait ;  it  must  be  grasped  now  or 
in  a  few  vears  it  will  have  gone  on  to  the  place 
of  lost  opportunity,  another  witness  to  selfish- 
ness and  neglect.  i  i  t 
A  friend  was  asking  me  of  my  work,  and  L 
said,  "Oh,  it's  really  a  big  situation^ to  be 
sluu",  and  of  course  its  fun  to  §ling  it.  She 
said/'  But  whv  can't  you  do  the  littlething  so 
close,  instead  of  going  way  out  there '?_  N\  el , 
the  thing  I'm  trying  to  do  just  now  is  to  help 
the  people  who  have  said,  "  We  will  crusn 
tuberculosis  out  of  our  laud,"  and  it  isn  t  in 
anv  sense  little,  but,  this  country  once 
thoroughlv  aroused  to  its  danger,  how  long  will 
it  take?  Some  people  say— years.  How  man} 
are  there  prepared  to  fight,  compared  with 
those  equipped  to  intelligently  f^ght  m  Cliina . 
lu  the  United  States  are  90  million  ;  m  China 

400  million.  „^„     ,      •  • 

In  the  United  States  are  lo2,000  physicians 
and  surgeons;  in  China,  207  men  and  96 
women  doctors. 

Manv  people  here  are  superintendents  ot 
areat  training  schools— you  can't  go  out  there— 
I'd  be  the  last  to  want  you  to;  some  of  you  are 
an  inspiration  daily  to  every  nurse  who  works 
under  vou,  but  vou  might  find  ways  to  let  your 
nurses'fcuou— you  want  them  to  be  bioad,  you 
misht  have  people  let  them  know— what  their 
profession  is  doing  in  foreign  lands. 

"But  these  people  have  their  religions.' 
There  are  Confucianists,  and  Buddhists,  and 
Mohammedans—yes,  they  have— and  Bud- 
dhism and  Mohammedanism  and  that  splendid 
moral  code  of  Confucius  are,  I  believe,  that 
salt  that  has  saved  China. 

But  are  thev  afiectlug  the  life  of  China  to- 
daV  No,  thev  are  not.  They've  done  then- 
work,  and  thef  are  dead.  Have  we  nothing  to 
give  China  more  vital  to  take  their  place . 

People  will  sav,  "  Oh,  it  is  all  right  to  give 
them  medical  aid— but  Christianity,  I  don  t 
believe  in  it."  Oh,  don't  you?  Go  out  then, 
and  look  at  the  women  and  the  little  chiWren 
in  China  and  maybe  you'll  feel  that  you'd  like 
to  give  them  -gomething.    Have  you  something 


286 


^be  Britigb  3ournal  of  iRurstng. 


[Oct.  8,  1910 


better  than  Christianity  ?  The  jieople  who  say 
these  things  are  ijroduets  of  Christianity — owe 
everything  they  are,  every  humane  instinct 
they  have,  to  Christianity. 

I  heard  a  preacher  in  St.  Paul  not  long  ago 
say  that  tliere  was  only  one  sin — I  hadn't  been 
listening  to  a  word  he  had  been  saying,  but  that 
sentence  caught  my  attention — I  knew  before 
he  spoke  the  word — it  was  "  selfishness."-  I'd 
never  thought  of  it— evervthing  is  traceable  to 
it. 

Many  of  you  can't  go.  I  know  it.  Some  of 
you  maybe  can.  Do  you  think  it  would  be  in- 
teresting? Don't  you  think  it  would  be  worth 
while?  If  you  do,  look  into  it.  Come  over 
into  Macedonia  and  help  tis. 


IRlnctP^mine,  ov  %itc  in  a 
'  Sanatorium. 

By  '■  One  ^^'^o  Has  Beex  Through  It. 


(Concluded  from  page  265.) 

Dr.  Williams  looked  •  in  after  I  had  de- 
spatched a  heavy  dinner.  Of  course,  go<>d  food 
being  a  great  item  in  fighting  tuberculosis  one 
makes  a  great  point  of  the  meals  at  these  sana- 
toria. The  Doctor  had  a  long  talk  with  me, 
in  which  he  made  extensive  inquiries  into  my 
past  antecedents  and  my  family.  In  fact,  he 
was  gathering  materials  for  the  "  history  "  of 
my  case.  He  gave  me  particulars  about  the 
regime  to  be  followed  at  his  establishment,  in 
which  the  amusement  of  the  patient  was  not 
neglected.  He  suggested  that  I  should  get  a 
daily  paper,  and  told  me  some  of  the  other 
patients  would  come  and  see  me  the  following 
■day.  He  hoped  to  make  a  complete  cure  of 
mv  case. 

In  spite  of  being  in  the  open  air  and  the. 
strangeness  of  the  surroundings,  I  slept  very 
comfortably.  I  had  a  complete  feeling  of  rest 
and  freedom  from  all  care  and  anxiety.  This 
was  partly  induced  by  the  fact  that  I  was 
ordered  not  to  bother  about  anything. 

Well,  there  is  nothing  special  to  chronicle  in 
the  daily  routine  of  a  small  sanatorium.  TRe 
time  passed  wonderfully  quickly,  and,  strange 
to  saj',  quite  pleasantly  and  free  from  ennui. 
One  lives  the  simple  life  with  a  vengeance.  I 
was  kept  in  bed  for  two  months  and  a  half. 
During  that  jieriod  my  day  passed  as  follows : 
Wakened  at  7.4.5.  A  glass  of  milk.  Bath  and 
toilet  Breakfast  at  8.30  aim.  Daily  paper, 
ninss  of  milk  at  11  a.m.  Lunch  at  1  p.m. 
Sleep  from  2  p.m.  to  3  ]).m.  Glass  of  milk  at 
3  p.m.  Afternoon  tea  at  4.-80  p.m.  Dinner  at 
7  p.m.  Glass  of  milk  at  0..30  p.m.  Lights  out 
nt  10  p.m.  -        _ 

.\  monotonous  day  one  would  say,  but  it  is 


extraordinary  how  uUe  gets  used  to  a  life  of 
routine,  and  although  there  is  hardly  any  active 
enjoyment  about  such  an  existence,  yet  it  is 
quite  pleasant.  Again,  there  are  different  little 
occupations  and  distractions  that  help  to  pass 
the  time.  One  reads  the  newspaper,  writes 
letters,  plays  chess,  draughts,  picquet,  bridge, 
etc.,  or  chats  with  the  other  patients.  Then 
one  can  play  patience,  or  indulge  in  a  little 
mild  betting  on  horses  by  the  aid  of  one's  daily 
paper,  a  sporting  paper,  and  the  services  of  an 
obliging  "  booky."  This  latter  occupation  adds 
a  little  excitement  to  an  otherwise  colourless 
existence,  and  gives  a  new  zest  to  the  reading 
of  the  newspaper. 

There  was  one  sportsman  at  the  "  San," 
who  amused  himself  by  joining  a  CoiTespond- 
ence  Club  which  was  advertised  in  some  jour- 
nal. He  was  assigned  some  lady  with  whom 
to  exchange  sweet  nothings  on  paper.  He  had 
great  fun  out  of  it,  until  the  fair  correspondent 
became  too  curious,  and  wished  to  know  his 
means  and  see  his  photo.  He  then  thought  it 
advisable  to  cease  his  literary  effusions.    . 

I  was  weighed  and  examined  once  a  week, 
and  steady  progress  both  in  weight  and  lungs 
made  me  feel  cheerful.  One  is  always  looking 
forward,  and  takes  more  of  an  interest  in  life 
as  one  gets  better  and  better.  There  was  quite 
a  keen  rivalry  between  the  different  patients  as 
to  the  amount  of  food  consumed,  the  amount 
of  weight  put  on,  and  in  fact  with  regard  to  the 
general  improvement  made.  There  used  to  be 
the  keenest  excitement  after  the  weights  were 
out  on  one's  "  Examination  Day,"  whicE  oc- 
ciu'red  once  a  week  when  the  Doctor  came  on 
his  visit  armed  with  his  stethescope.  Three 
pounds  was  my  performance  for  the  firsf  week, 
and  this  was  considered  very  creditable,  but  I 
have  known  of  one  case  where  a  patient  put  on 
12  lbs. — this  was  the  record.  Of  course,  it  all 
depended  on  how  run  down  the  individual  was 
before  he  was  admitted,  and  the  old  stagers 
found  great  difficulty  in  increasing  their  weight. 
After  a  certain  period  at  the  "  San,"  which 
varied  in  different  cases,  one  arrived  at  one's 
maximum  weight  on  which  it  was  impossible 
to  improve.  At  one  period  we  used  to  have 
sweepstakes  for  the  greatest  gain  per  week, 
and  groat  efforts  would  be  made  dvn-ing  the 
week  in  the  food  line  in  order  to  pull  off  the 
important  event. 

After  my  two  and  a  half  months  of  bed  I 
was  allowed  to  get  up.  At  first,  for  only  a  few 
miniites,  then  this  daily  period  was  gradually 
lengthened  till  I  spent  (juite  a  normal  day, 
rising  lifter  liroakfast,  and  not  going  to  bed 
until  10  p.m.  The  "up-patients  "  used  to  go 
for  long  walks,  and  took  their  meals  with  the 
Doctor.     One  would  never  innigine  if  one  hap- 


Oct.  8,  1910; 


Z\K  »vitisb  Journal  of  H^uvsino. 


287 


peued  to  turu  up  for  one  ul  the  meals  that  liir 
healthy  brouzeJ-lookmg  l)eop^e  sitting  roiiiKl 
the  table  were  the  much-dreaded  consump- 
tives. At  one  time  we  had  quite  a  "  dis- 
tingue "  company,  consisting  of  a  naval  lieu- 
tenant, an  army  otticer,  and  two  doctors.  No 
coughing  was  the  order  of  the  day,  and  it  is 
certainly  extraordinary  what  one  can  do  in  this 
line  if  one  really  tries. 

Talking  of  consumptives,  there  was  one  thing 
I  noticed  about  the  Rest  Cure.  Just  as  in 
Lunatic  Asylums  one  tries  always  to  disguise 
the  place  as  much  as  possible  by  endeavouring 
to  make  it  look  like  a  big  park,  by  not  printing 
the  word  "  asylum  "  on  the  asylum  note- 
paper,  and  geneVally,  by  making  the  place  as 
cheerful  as  possible ;  so  at  Mount  Pleasant  one 
never  called  the  place  a  sanatorium,  and  the 
word  "  consumption  "  was  never  mentioned. 
We  were  alwavs  called  "Phthisis"  or 
keeping  "  T.B.'s""  (Tubercle  BacilliV  Dis- 
agreeable facts  were  kept  from  one's  notice, 
and  very  bad  cases — hopeless — were  sent 
home.  Thus  we  were  quite  a  jolly  family. 
Mount  Pleasant  was  only  a  small  place,  and 
people  went  there  for  nerves  and  rest  cures, 
apart  from  being  addicted  to  "T.B."  This 
fact  also  helped  one  to  imagine  that  one  was 
also  merely  enjoying  a  rest  cure,  pure  and 
simple. 

After  I  had  been  under  treatment  for  about 
three  months  and  a  half.  I  was  allowed  greater 
freedom,  such  as  joining  longer  expeditions, 
and  running  up  to  London  occasionally  for  the 
day. 

.\t  the  end  of  five  months  I  had  lost  the 
tired  feeling  and  felt  fit  and  strons  and  full  of 
life.  ^loreover.  I  had  sained  two  stone  in 
weight.  Dr.  Williams  then  told  me  that  I  had 
been  very  bad  when  I  arrived — a  fact  which  I 
had  not  realised  mvself — such  optimism  is.  I 
believe,  a  feature  of  the  disease,  but  that  I 
was  now  well  on  the  rAad  to.  complete  re- 
covery. He  told  me.  however.  I  must  not,  by 
any  means,  imagine  that  I  was  quite  well, 
and  that  it  might  take  another  two  years  before 
T  was  entirely  rid  of  those  pertinacious 
"  T.B.'s."  He  recommended  me  to  sojourn  for 
some  time  in  a  high  altitude  in  Switzerland  in 
order  to  further  complete  the  cure.  Accord- 
ingly I  left  ^fount  Pleasiint  and  it  was  with 
real  feelings  of  regret  that  I  saw  the  place  dis- 
appearing from  view  from  my  seat  in  the  dog- 
cart as  I  drove  to  the  station.  I  have  now  been 
over  a  year  in  Switzerland,  and  am  almost 
quite  well.  In  another  year  I  hope  to  be  abso- 
hitely  cured,  and,  to  use  a  slang  expression,  to 
have  completely  "  given  the  push  to  those 
persistent  'T.B.'s  '  which  have  caused  me  so 
much  trouble." 


ipiooictjt?  of  state  1Kct3i5tiatlon. 

THE  STATUS  OF  FEVER  NURSES. 
Last  week  we  considered  some  opinions 
placed  bv  registrationists  before  the  public  m 
Scotland^  touching  on  tlie  status  of  fever 
uurse-i  In  another  column  will  be  found  an 
admirable  letter  from  Miss  E.  A.  Stevenson, 
whose  wide  professional  experience  and  tacUe 
pen  constitute  her  an  admirable  protagomst  m 
support  of  the  nurse's  point  of  view,  and  we  are 
entirelv  in  sympathy  with  her  arguments. 

In  Scotland  certain  Medical  Officers  of 
Health,  who  now  largely  control  fever  hospi- 
tals, are  agitating  -foi-  a  Special  Register  of 
Fever  Nurses.  We  last  week  argued  why  such 
a  register  would  be  injurious  to  the  status  of 
nurses  working  in  hospitals  for  infectious 
diseases,  although  it  would  no  doubt  be  a  con- 
venience to  the  authorities  of  Fever  Hospitals. 
In  the  correspondence  in  the  Scottish  local 
press  Dr.  P.  H.  Robertson,  M.B.,  a  member 
of  the  Scottish  Nurses'  Association,  and  gener- 
ouslv  inclined  towards  the  improvement .  of 
education  and  status  for  trained  nurses  as  a 
whole,  proposes  an  alternative  policy  in  refer- 
ence to  the  registration  of  fever  nurses.  We 
understood  from  the  first  letter  that  he  would 
enforce  a  four  years'  course  of  training,  three 
of  which  should  be  passed  in  fever  hospitals, 
which  training  should  be  accepted  as  full  n.edi- 
cal  training,  and  with  one  year's  surgical  train- 
ing, should  qualify  for  registration.  This  ap- 
parently was  not  his  suggestion  in  its  entirety. 
We  will,  therefore,  quote  a  letter  contributed 
by  Dr.  Eobert.son  to  the  Glasgow  Herald  on 
September  •29th. 

••  Dr.  Munro  has  apparently  misunderstood  my 
proposal  to  give  fever  nurses  certificates  instead  of 
establishing  a  separate  register.  Such  certificates 
would  be  granted  with  the  authority  of  the  Coun- 
cil to  be  constituted  under  the  Bill,  and  would 
therefore  be  ■  statutory  '  certificates.  Fever  nursei 
either  go  on  to  getgeneral  training,  in  which  case 
they  would  be  put  on  the  general  register,  or  they 
remain  in  fever  hospitals,  in  which  case  statutory 
certificates  would  be  sufficient  to  enable  them  to 
move  about.  Were  fever  nurses  to  get  employment 
to  any  appreciable  extent  in  private,  I  would  sup- 
lK>rt  a  separate  register,  in  spite  of  its  minor  draw- 
backs; but  as  they  do  not.  I  disapprove  of  such 
a  register.  It  is  unnecessary,  and  the  fewer  regis- 
ters the  better,  beyond  what  is  required.  The 
difference  between  the  two  proposals  is  more  on 
the  surface  than  in  the  essence.  With  both  the 
training  and  examination  of  fever  nurses  would 
be  under  the  super%-ision  of  the  Central  Council : 
with  both  a  list  of  those  who  had  satisfied  th«v  ex- 
aminers would  be  kept.  The  only  difference  is  that 
in  the  one  case  the  list  would  be  published  annually 
at  considerable  exjiense,  while  in  the  other  it 
\\on\d  be  published,  but  certificates  would  be  issued 
once." 


288 


Cbe  36i*tti5b  3ournaI  of  IHursing. 


[Oct.  8,  1910 


We  may  say  at  once  that  no  such  scheme 
could  succeed.  Once  State  Registration  is 
in  force,  no  sutficient  number  of  intelHgent 
women  will  place  themselves  in  the  am- 
biguous position  of  working  for  "  statutory  cer- 
tificates "  which  are  not  registrable,  and  no 
Statutory  Nursing  Council  would  make  itself 
responsible  for  this  ambiguous  class. 

The  issues  are  plain  enough.  The  Fever 
Hospitals  must  be  nursed,  but  thousands  of 
women  must  not  be  sacrificed  in  the  nursing  of 
them.  The  nursing  of  infectious  diseases  is 
a  very  important  section  of  medical  nursing. 
Every  general  nurse  cannot  be  compulsorily 
trained  in  the  care  of  infectious  diseases,  be- 
cause it  is  not  practicable,  but  every  nurse  who 
undertakes  the  arduous  and  unselfish  care  of 
infectious  dise^ises  should  be  privileged  to 
train  in  medical  and  surgical  nureing  in  their 
entirety,  and  thus  be  protected  from  isolation 
and  unfair  discrimination  in  practice.  The 
nurses  possessing  knowledge  and  trained  skill 
in  medical,  surgical,  and  infectious  nursing 
would  in  time  become  the  most  highly 
qualified  section  in  the  nursing  profession. 
Their  skill  would  speedily  become  recognised  as 
worthy  of  higher  financial  remuneration,  and 
the  very  best  women  would  thus  be  available 
as  training  material  in  Fever  Hospitals  (let  us 
hope  a  decreasing  quantity  as  time  goes  on). 

These  professional  questions  have  been  de- 
bated and  carefully  considered  by  the  van- 
guard of  registration  these  twenty  years.  They 
are  new  to  the  awakening  supporters  of  legal 
status  for  nurses  over  the  Border.  We  put 
nothing  down  hastily  in  this  connection,  but 
we  advise  without  hesitation  that  the  trained 
nurses  of  the  United  Kingdom,  strenuously  op- 
pose anj-  proposition  or  scheme  breaking  up  the 
nursing  profession  into  little  squads  of  special- 
ists— that  is,  sections  of  workers  only  par- 
tially trained  in  the  general  underlying  princi- 
•  pies  of  nursing.  No  such  schemes  can  ulti- 
mately benefit  trained  nurses  or  the 
public,  and  are  merely  makeshifts  to  meet 
the  immediate  requirements  of  special 
hospitals,  the  simple  duty  of  the  Managers  of 
which  institutions  is  to  co-operate  with  the 
general  hospitals  and  infirmaries  in  providing 
the  nursing  staff  they  require  with  a  good, 
sound,  general  knowledge  of  nursing,  following 
the  educational  demands  of  medicine  in  its 
widest  sense. 

An  Act  of  Parliament  for  the  Registration  of 
Nurses  should  merely  incoi-porate  principles, 
and  in  establishing  a  representative  Educa- 
tiomil  .\uthority  for  Nurses,  leave  to  that 
authority  the  power  to  define  standards  of  lun-s- 
ina   from    time   to  time   as  the    evolution   of 


trained  nursing  may  demand.  The  first  and  last 
duty  of  such  an  authority  would  be  the  nursing 
of  the  sick,  in  all  its  phases,  in  the  best  possible 
manner  irrespective  of  the  interests  of  poten- 
tates and  powers. 

E.  G.  F. 


^bc  jTlorcncc  miobtingale 
Caravan. 


The  '■  Aurora,"  the  caravan  stai-ted  on  its 
mission  of  teaching  the  laws  of  health  in  the 
Home  'Counties  on  August  20th,  by  the 
Women's  Imperial  Health  Association,  has 
more  than  justified  the  hopes  of  its  promoters, 
and  on  Saturday  last  a  second  caravan  was 
despatched  to  East  Anglia,  after  the  inaugural 
ceremony  in  the  Botanical  Gardens,  Regent's 
Park.  The  caravan,  spick  and  span  in  fresh 
green  paint,  bearing  the  name  and  address  of 
the  Association  in  gold  letters,  and  wreathed 
with  garlands  of  flowers,  was  much  admired. 
Inside  all  was  compact  and  orderly  as  a  ship's 
cabin.  The  living  room  and  kitchen  contains 
a  tiny  range,  a  window  seat,  which  can  be 
utilised  as  a  bed,  a  hanging  cupboard,  store 
cupboards,  a  wide  shelf,  and  a  folding  table; 
the  walls  are  a  restful  shade  of  green  in  colour, 
and  the  windows  have  curtains  of  white  case- 
ment cloth.  The  bedroom,  which  opens  out  of 
the  living  room,  is  furnished  with  a  double  bed, 
under  which  are  cupboards  and  drawers,  and 
shelves,  rods,  racks,  and  hooks  are  fitt-ed  in 
convenient  corners.  A  small  door  near  the 
washstand  opens  on  to  an  enclosure  in  which  a 
bath  can  be  taken,  and  the  caravan  is  also  pro- 
vided with  a  lavatoiw.  Underneath  the  van  pails 
and  cans  are  hung,  and  behind  is  a  rack  which 
lets  down  for  luggage  and  other  packages. 

Two  ladies,  ^liss  D.  G.  Law.son  (Assistant 
Secretary)  and  JMiss  Crundall  (Cambridge 
University),  are  travelling  with  the  caravan, 
and  Miss  Richards  acts  as  advance  representa- 
tive, and  stirs  up  local  interest  before  its  aiTival. 

The  first  part  of  Saturda3''s  function  took 
place  in  a  tent,  when  the  Chairman,  Dr.  H. 
J.  F.  Simson,  explained  the  work  and  objects 
of  the  Association.  Its  motto  is  :  "  The  power 
of  the  King  is  in  the  health  of  his  people." 
and  its  endeavour  has  been  to  find  a  new  way 
of  impressing  this  truth.  In  addition  to  simple 
lectures  and  first  aid  classes,  therefore,  cine- 
matograph pictin-es  are  shown,  illustrating  such 
subjects  as  how  to  dust  a  room,  how  to  wash 
and  dress  a  baby,  the  right  and  the  wrong  girl 
to  nuirry,  and  so  forth.  Both  caravans  are 
fully  equipiH'd  with  cinematograph  apparatus, 
and  the  demonstration  given  in  the  coiu'se  of 
Dr.   Simson's  address  was  a  practical  illustra- 


Oct.  8, 1010]  ^i3c  36ritieb  3outnaI  of  IRiu'siiio. 


289 


tion  ot  tlie  interest  likely  to  be  aroused  by  this 
nietliotl.  Medical  womeu,  who  will  lecture  in 
eounection  with  the  carnvau  are  Dr.  Lvdia 
Leuey,  Dr.  Mary  Dowie,  Dr.  Flora  ^lurray, 
Dr.  I'rudenee  GatKkiu,  Dr.  Annie  Gowdy.  Dr. 
Christine  Morell,  Dr.  Grace  Mackiunon,  Dr. 
Coghill  Hawkes,  and  Dr.  May  Thome. 

The  principal  ceremony  took  place  outside 
the  caravan,  when  Munel,  Viscountess 
Helnisley  christened  it  in  pure  milk,  giving  it 
the  name  of  the  "  Florence  Nightingale."  She 
eidarged  upon  the  good  work  already  done  by 
the  "Aurora, "and  said  that  the  London  County 
Council  had  given  pemiission  for  a  caravan  to 
visit  Finsbury,  Battcrsea,  and  Victoria,  Parks, 
and  it  was  hoped  shortly  to  send  a  third  van 
to  do  this  work.  The  cineniatograph  display 
given  would  be  the  first  sanctioned  in  the 
London  parks. 

(I be  pu^^uul  7La^\). 

"  The  Pudding  Lady,  '  published  for  the  St. 
Pancras  School  for  Mothers,  37,  Chalfont 
Street,  Euston  Eoad,  N.W.,  price  6d.,  is  an 
interesting  account  of  a  new  departure  in  social 
work  by  Miss  Bibby  (Sanitary  Inspector),  Miss 
Colles  (late  Lady  Superintendent  of  the 
School),  MissE.  Petty,  and  Dr.  Sykes,  Medical 
Officer  of  Health  for  the  Borough.  Experience 
ii*  the  best  teacher,  and  in  the  work  of  the 
School  for  ^lothers  it  was  found  that  though 
the  cookery  lessons  were  carefully  given,  and 
the  attendances  and  interest  of  the  women 
satisfactory,  yet  few  were  putting  into  actual 
practice  the  lessons  received,  and  that  they 
were  regarded  merely  as  a  form  of  recreation. 
Miss  Petty  therefore  made  the  experiment  of 
going  into  the  homes  of  the  pupils  and  giving 
practical  lessons  to  the  mothers  of  making 
puddings  and  other  simple  dishes  in  the  sur- 
roundings and  with  appliances  which  the 
housewife  has  at  her  command  in  her  own 
home.  The  name  "  pudding  lady  "  was  be- 
stowed upon  Miss  Petty  by  the  children  of  her 
pupils.  The  results  of  the  work  have  so  far 
been  most  gratifying,  "  domiant  intelligence 
has  been  awakened  and  atmphied  powers  called 
into  use:  a  new  interest  has  been  given  to  the 
everyday  affairs  of  life  and  a  new  importance 
to  household  duties." 


The  London  Medical  Exliibition  at  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Hall,  Vincent  Square,  S.W., 
which  is  in  progress  this  week,  remaining  open 
until  Friday  evening,  October  7th,  is  always 
an  interesting  event.  Although  intended  pri- 
marily for  tlie  medical  profession,  nurses  also 
will  find  much  that  is  instructive  to  them  in 
their  work. 


^]K  Colonial  IRursino  association 

The  Fourteenth  Annual  Keport  of  the  Colo- 
nial Nursing  Association  shows  that  this 
Society,  founded  in  1896  because  a  woman 
(Mrs.,  now  Lady,  Piggott)  found  the  dire 
necessity  for  nurses  in  connection  with  the 
British  Community  in  Mauritius,  is  doing 
excellent  work  in  all  parts  of  the  worjd,  and 
that  during  the  past  year  that  work  has  been 
still  further  developed.  This  development  has 
included  the  selection  of  a  Xurse-Matron  for 
the  Tai  Koo  Hospital,  Hong  Kong,  recently 
built  and  equipped  by  one  of  the  leading  firms 
in  the  East  for  the  benefit  of  their  employees. 
Additional  nurses  have  also  been  supplied  for 
private  employment  in  Ceylon,  Shanghai,  and 
with  the  ]^Iadrid  Nursing  Association.  On  the 
Government  side  new  appointments  have  been 
occasioned  by  the  opening  of  the  Lady  Eidg- 
way  Block  attached  to  the  Lady  Haveloek 
Hospital,  Colombo,  and  by  the  building  of  the 
new  hospital  at  Warn,  in  Southern  Nigeria. 
A  Matron  has  been  appointed  to  the  Govern- 
ment Hospital  at  Nairobi,  East  Africa;  and  ad- 
ditions to  the  Nursing  Staff  have  been  made  in 
the  Nikosia  Hospital,  Cypi-us;  the  Colonial 
Hospital,  Sierra  Leone ;  and  the  General  Hos- 
pital, Nassau,  Bahamas.  The  Association  has 
also  recently,  at  the  request  of  the  Foreign 
Office,  supplied  a  nurse  for  work  in  the  Pro- 
tectorate of  Zanzibar. 

The  total  number  of  nurses  at  work  during 
the  last  eleven  months  (the  period  covered  by 
the  report)  has  been  220,  of  whom  69  have  been 
employed  as  private  nurses  and  151  by  Govern- 
ment.    This  is  an  increase  of  11  on  last  year. 

The  reports  received  by  the  Association  con- 
cerning the  nurses'  work  are  very  gratifying. 
With  hardly  an  exception  the  record  is  one  of 
good  and  efficient  service,  devotion  to  duty, 
and  a  commendable  adaptability  to  local  con- 
ditions. 

An  interesting  function  took  place  during  the 
year  at  the  General  Hospital,  Kandy,  Ceylon, 
when  two  beds  and  six  cots  were  fomially  pre- 
sented on  behalf  of  the  Planters'  Association, 
and  Kandyan  Ladies,  to  the  maternity  ward. 
Five  of  the  latter,  with  two  chiefs,  attended 
the  ceremony. 

At  the  Colonial  Hospital,  Sierra  Leone,  eight 
native  women  are  being  trained,  and  in  St. 
Vincent  six  nurses  receive  their  midwifery 
training  in  the  course  of  the  year,  a  very  satis- 
factory piece  of  work,  as  midwives  are  mycli 
needed  in  the  remote  districts  and  outlying 
islands. 

Lord  Ampthill,  whose  interest  in  nursing  is 
well  known,  is  President  of  tlT*  Association. 


290 


^e  Bi'itisb  .journal  of  IRiu-sing, 


[Oct.  8,  1910 


Cbe  lEbucation  ot  poor  Xaw 
1R  arses. 


The  Guardians  of  the  Poor  of  the  parish  of 
Fniham  are  circularising  the  Guardians  of 
other  Metropolitan  unions  and  parishes,  in- 
viting their  consideration  and  approval  of  the 
subjoined  scheme  for  the  training  and  examina- 
tion of  probationer  nurses  prior  to  its  being 
submitted  to  the  Local  Government  Board  for 
sanction. 

Proposed  Rules  and  Regulations  for  the  Train- 
ing AND  ExAMIN.\TION   OF  PROBATIONER  NuRSES   IN 

Metropolitan  Infirmaries. 

(1}  Candidates  for  the  post  of  probationer  must 
fe  .it  least  21  year.s  of  age  and  must  produce  cer- 
tificates that  they  are  of  good  character  and  healtK 
ai'.d  liave  received  a  fair  general  education.  They 
jlioi'ld  be  selected  and  recommended  for  appoint- 
ment by  the  Medical  Superintendent  and  Matron 
of  the  Training  School  (if  possible,  after  a  personal 
interview  with  the  JIatron),  and  should  serve  for 
a  trial  period  of  at  least  two  or  three  months  before 
be'ng  permanently  appointed. 

(2)  The  training  shall  extend  over  a  period  of 
at  least  three  years  during  which  the  probationer 
will  be  required  to  attend  courses  of  lectures  on 
elementary  anatomy,  physiology,  medical  and 
surgical  nursing  and  cookery  for  the  sick,  such  lec- 
tures being  arranged  by  the  Boards  of  Guardians 
at  their  respective  training  schools.  All  lectures 
shall  be  given  by  the  Infirmary  staff  (except  cook- 
ing) without  any  additional  expense  being  in- 
curred by  the  Guardians. 

(3)  Probationei-s  will  be  required  to  pass  the  ex- 
amination held  by  the  Examining  Board.  Th-s 
examination  may  be  taken  at  any  time  after  the 
end  of  the  probationer's  .second  year,  and  will  con- 
sist of  a  paper  and  a  viva  voce  examination  on  the 
sub.je<-ts  mentioned  'n  paragraph  2,  except  cookery 
for  the  sick.  Candidates  for  the  examination  must 
produce  certificates  signed  by  the  Medical  Superin- 
tendent and  Matron  of  their  Training  School,  that 
their  conduct  and  ward  work  have  been  .satisfac- 
tory, and  that  they  have  attended  courses  of  in- 
struction in  the  subjects  mentioned  in  paragraph  2. 

(4)  The  Examining  Board  .shall  consist  of  three 
Infirmary  Medical  Suporintcndpiits.  three  In- 
firmary Matrons,  and  four  other  persons  (two  of 
whom  shall  be  medical  men  and  two  of  whom  may 
be  women).  The  Medical  Superintendents  and 
Matrons  shall  have  had  at  least  five  years'  ex- 
perience as  such  at  a  London  Poor  Law  Infirmary, 
and  shall  hold  office  for  two  years.  The  Examining 
Board  .shall  be  appointeil  by  a  Committee  to  be 
constituted  by  one  member  from  each  Board  of 
Guardians  <<)-operating  in  the  s<'hemo. 

(.5)  The  examinations  shall  be  held  at  convenient 
times  during  the  year,  such  times  to  be  arranged 
by  the  examining  authorities.  The  written  exami- 
nation will  be  held  at  the  individual  training 
school,  the  authorities  of  which  will  be  responsible 
for  the  supervision  of  candidates.  The  oral  and 
practical  examinations  will  lie  held  at  convenient 
centres. 


It))  Tlie  pajjers  and  subject  matter  of  the  viva 
vora  and  practical  examinations  shall  be  set  by  the 
Board  of  Examiners.  The  pa^iers  shall  be  marked 
by  the  me<lical  members  of  the  Board.  The  practi- 
cal and  oral  examination  shall  be  marked  by  the 
medical  members  and  mati-ons  in  consultation. 

(7)  Successful  candidates  shall  be  arranged  in 
two  classes.  The  Board  of  Examiners  shall  fix  the 
percentage  of  marks  qualifying  for  a  pass  of  each 
class. 

(8)  Successful  candidates  who  have  completed 
three  years'  training  shall  be  awarded-  certificates. 
Each  certificate  shall  state  : 

(i.)  That  the  candidate  has  received  three 
years'  training,  with  theoretical  and  practical 
instruction,  at  some  sjiecified  London  Poor  Law 
Infirmary. 

(ii.)  That  her  work  during  those  three  years 
has  been  "Excellent,"  "Very  Good,"  "Good," 
or   "  Satisfactory.'' 

(iii.)  That  her  conduct  during  those  three 
years  has  been  "Excellent,"  "Very  Good." 
"  Good,"  or  "  Satisfactory." 

(iv.)  That  she  has  passed  an  examination  in 
the  principles  and  practice  of  nursing  in  the 
first  or  second  class. 

This  certificate   will  be   signed  by:  — 
The  Chairman  of  the  Examining  Board. 
The  Authorities  of  the  training  school  in  which 
she  received  her  training. 

(9)  Each  Board  of  Guardians  shall  pay  a  fee  of 
10s.  6d.  for  each  probationer  sent  up  for  oxamina- 
tion  or  re-examinatioiv  from  its  training  school. 

In  relation  to  this  scheme  we  may  point  out 
that  while  it  affords  satisfactory  evidence  of 
the  widespread  desire  for  greater  unifoimity  of 
training  and  teaching  for  nurses,  the  curricu- 
lum of  theoretical  instruction  is  scarcely  suffi- 
ciently comprehensive,  as  no  curriculum  for 
nurses  can  be  adequate  which  does  not  include 
instruction  in  such  essential  subjects  as  hy- 
giene and  matei'ia  medica.  Presumably  bac- 
teriology is  included  in  the  lectures  on  surgical 
nursing. 

Further,  we  are  of  opinion  that  the  inter- 
ests of  the  Poor  Law  Infirmaiy  Training 
Schools  (and  of  the  nurses)  will  be  best 'served 
by  claiming  for  them  the  position  which  is 
rightfully  theirs  of  general  training  schools. 
There  i.'?  already  a  tendency  to  differentiate  be- 
tween hospital  and  infinnary  training  schools 
for  nurses,  and  anything  which  tends  to  em- 
pha.'sise  this  is  to  be  deprecated.  In  our  view. 
tlie  best  method  of  obliterating  the  line  of  de- 
marcation between  the  two  would  be  by  estab- 
lishing one  examination  for  both  under  State 
Authority. 

There  is  every  indication  that  musing  educa- 
tion nmst  be  put  on  a  satisfactory  basis,  a 
standard  be  defined,  and  the  knowledge  of 
nurses  tested  by  a  central  examination  if  efli- 
cieney  is  to  be  secured.  The  public  safety 
demands  this  guarantee. 


Oct.  S,  1010- 


CFjc  ffiiitisb  3oiirnal  of  H^ursino. 


291 


Zl)c  IHurscy'  nDit?^ionar\>  ILcaoue. 

As  \vf  j;ii  to  pii'^N  till'  Niir^iv'  Mi?Ksi(>iuny  Lramio 
ii  hoiUiiiji  its  V:iltHlictory  Mn-tiiiKS  at  University 
Hall,  (iordon  Stuiare,  W.C,  to  wliioli  all  tricnds 
o""  tho  I^oagile  have  liecn  invited.  The  fiillowini:: 
w  ilie  list  of  sailing  memhet-s:  — 
S.MMNG  Members. 

.Miss  O.  Lacey  (C.M.S.),  trained  at  Guy's  Hosjii- 
tal,  proceeding  to  Peshauar. 

Miss  C.  Goodacre  (L.J.S.),  tr.ainetl  at  Steyning 
Infirmary,  proceeding  to  Jerusalem. 

Miss  K.  Jackson  (Wesleyan  Society),  trained  at 
London  Temperance  Hospital,  proceeding  to  Bom- 
bay. 

Miss  G.  Atkin,  trained  at  Royal  Infirmary, 
Derby,  proceeding  to  .Sierra   Leone. 

Miss  X.  Britten  (C.I.il.),  trained  at  Hoyal 
Devon  and  Exeter  Hospital,  proceeding  to  Cliina. 

Miss  Webb  (Wesleyan  Society),  trained  at  Chester 
General    Infirmary,  proceeding  to  Ceylon. 

Miss  M.  Downing  (C.I.M.),  trained  at  Great 
Yarmouth,   proceeding  to  China. 

Miss  A.  E.  JIanwaring  (C.JI.S.),  traiiie<l  at 
Prince  of  Wales"  General  Hospital,  Tottenham, 
proceeding  to  India. 

Miss  E.  Wilson  (C.E.Z.M.S.),  trained  at  Norfolk 
and  Norwich  Hospital,  proceeding  to  Peshawar. 

Miss  E.  G.  AVilliams  (C.M.S.),  trained  at  Mild- 
may  Mission  Hospital,  proceeding  to  Gaza. 

Mi.ss  E.  F.  Pitt  (C.M.S.),  trained  at  Mildmay 
Mission  Hospital,  proceeding  to  China. 

Miss  P.  L.  Hockin,  trained  at  Margate,  pro- 
cewling  to  Bannu. 

Miss  C.  McCrackeu  (North  Africa  Mission), 
trained  at  Prince  of  Wales"  General  Hospital,  Tot- 
tenham, proceeding  to  Tangiers. 

Miss  J.  Smyth,  trained  at  Union  Hospital,  Sun- 
derland, proceeding  to  China. 

Mrs.  Girling  (B.:M.S.).  trained  at  Great  Nor- 
thern Central  Hospital,  proceeding  to  the  Congo. 


IPrcsentations. 


St.  Babtholomew"s  Hospit.xl. 

The  following  presentations  have  recently  been 
made  at  .St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital,  to  Sisters 
who  have  resigned  their   appointments:  — 

To  Miss  y'lcholsoii.  appointed  Matron  of  the 
Manchester  Children's  Hospital,  Pendlebury,  a 
silver  tea  service  from  Miss  Cutler,  the  Assistant 
Matron,  and  the  Nursing  Staff,  and  a  brass  kettle 
and  spirit  lamp,  and  vas<»s  from  the  maids. 

To  Sister  Pafiei  (Miss  Shrives),  a  silver  purse 
containing  gold,  from  Miss  Cutler  and  the  .Sisters, 
and  a  gold  curb  bracelet  from  the  nurses. 

To  Sister  Lucas  (Miss  M.  Sleigh),  an  ivory  toilet 
set  and  cheque,  from   Miss  Cutler  and  the  Sisters. 

To  Sister  Abernethy  (Miss  K.  M.  Jackson),  a 
leather  travelling  bag,  from  Miss  Cutler  and  the 
Sisters,    and    a   silver   travelling     clock    from    the 


QUEEN    ALEXANDRA'S     IMPERIAL    MILITARY 

NURSING   SERVICE    FOR   INDIA. 
Xui-sing  .Sister  Elinor  Violet  Harold  has  been  ix>r- 
mittc<l  to  retire,  with  effect  from  July  2.oth,  1910. 


appointiiicnt'j. 

Newport  Borough  Asylum  Caerleon,  Monmouthshire. — Miss 

Ethel  lluuaid  has  lierji  aiipoiiited  Matron.  She 
was  trained  at  Cheddleton  A>ylinii,  Leek,  where  she 
subsequently  l«H;ame  Sister.  .She  has  since  been 
Night  Superintendent  at  The  Retreat,  York,  and 
later  returned  to  Cheddleton  Asylum  as  Assistant 
Matron. 

District  Cottage  Hospital,  Blaina. — Miss  E.  A.  Cliit- 
ham  has  Ixhmi  apiiointed  Matron.  She  was  trained 
at  th<'  Car<lifF  Infirmaiy.  where  she  has  held  the 
IKxsition  of  Ward  and  Theatre  .Sister.  She  has  also 
done  Matron's  holiday  duty  at  the  Bridgend 
Cottage  Hospital. 

NrnsK    M.vTRON. 

Accidents  Hospital  (Derwent  Valley  Water  Board),  Birchin- 

lee,    Bamford,   via   Sheffield .Mi^s     .\.      Daubeney     liiis 

been  appointed  Nium'  Matron.  .She  was  trained 
for  three  years  at  the  Royal.  Hospital,  Sheffield,  and 
has  held  the  position  of  .Staff  Nurse  at  the  Hospi- 
tal, Port  Sunlight,  Cheshire,  and  of  Sister  at  the 
Royal  County  Hospital,  Ryde.  She  has  also  had 
experience  of  district  nursing. 

Assistant   MATitoN. 

High  Wood  School,  Feeble-Minded  Girls'  Colony. — Miss 
Flora  Harris  has  been  apix)inted  Second  Assistant 
Matron-in-Charge  of  tho  (Colony  under  the  Jletro- 
politan  Asylums'  Board.  She  was  trained  at  the 
IjOiidon  Hospital,  where  she  worked  for  six  and  a- 
half  years.  .She  has  also  been  .Sister  at  Ley's 
School,  Cambridge,  and  Home  Sister  at  the  Farm- 
field  Home  for  Women. 

SiSTEHS. 

Oldham  Infirmary. — Mi.ss  Taylor  and  Miss  Harrison 
have  been  api>ointed  respectively  Sisters  of  Wo- 
men"s  and  Men's  Wards,  and  Miss  Webber  has 
been  appointed  Night  Sister.  Miss  Taylor  was 
trained  and  has  been  Staff  Nurse  at  Oldham  In- 
firmary. Miss  Harrison  has  also  had  the  same  ex- 
perience. Miss  Webber  was  trained  at  the  Royal 
Portsmouth  Hospital,  and  has  been  Sister  at  the 
Royal  Victoria  Hospital,  Bournemouth. 
Charge  Nurse. 

Leeds  Union  Infirmary.  — Jliss  P.  M.  Cox  has  been 
appointed  Charge  Niir.se.  She  was  trained  at  the 
Leeds  Union  Infirmary,  and  has  also  been  proba- 
tioner at  Leicester  Union  Infirmary  one  year,  and 
at  Solihull  Union  Infirmary  one  year.  Miss  Cox 
has  also  been  nurse  at  the  Leeds  Corijoration  Fever 
Hospital. 

School  Nurse. 

Bailey    Education  Committee Afiss  Alice  Musto  has 

been  appointed  School  Nurse.  She  was  trained  at 
the  St.  Olave's  Infirmary,  Rotherhithe,  and  has 
been  Charge  Nurse  at  Bexley  Heath  Asylum,  and 
District  Nurse  at  Longford  for  four  years.  Miss 
Musto  is  an  Associate  of  the  Royal  Sanitary  In- 
stitute, and  a.  certified  midwife. 

SUPERINTEXDENT  OF  XuRSES'  HoME. 
St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital,  London. — Miss  G.  R.  Hale 
has  lieen  appointe<l  to  su(<-eed  Miss  Nicholson  as 
Superintendent  of  the  Nurses'  Home  at  St.  Bar- 
tholomew's Hospital,  E.C.  She  was  trained  and 
c(  rtificated  in  the  institution,  and  has  recently  held 
the  position  of  Sister  at  the  Q^ijeen's  Hospital  for 
Children,  Hackney  Road,  X.E. 


292 


tTbc  Britisb  3onrnaI  of  IRurslng, 


[Oct.  8,  1910 


QUEEN^iVICTORIA'S  JUBILEE  INSTITUTE 
FOR  NURSES. 
'fTans/crs  ond  Appointntcnts.— Miss  Ada  Wright, 
to  Sheeruess,  as  Senior  Nurse;  Miss  Alice  Hor- 
rocks,  to  Gildersome;  Miss  Minnie  Shepherd,  to 
Gainford;  Miss  Hannah  Owen,  to  Towyn ;  Miss 
Edith  L.  P.  Clarke,  to  Barford ;  Miss  Ethel  F. 
AVood,  to  Woodlands;  Miss  Ethel  A.  Coates,  to 
Torquay ;  Miss  Sarah  Tull,  to  Carlisle ;  Miss  Annie 
Budd,  lo  Portsmouth,  as  Assistant  Superinten- 
dent ;  Miss  Catherine  Williams,  to  Stockport,  as 
Senior  Xurse;  Miss  Alice  Watson,  to  Exeter,  as 
Senior  Xurse;  Miss  Ann  Barnett  and  Miss  Amy 
Baughurst,  to  Exeter;  Miss  Gertrude  Page,  to 
Croxley  Green  ;  Miss  Annie  G.  Barnes,  to  Brixton  ; 
Miss  Lilian  Leathley,  to  Eltham;  Miss  Lily  Parker, 
to  St.  Helen's;  Miss  Mary  Ford,  to  Wednesbury ; 
Miss  Sarah  A.  G.  Lett,'  to  Exning;  Miss  Edith 
Townsend,  to  Porthcawl. 


a  3uMcial  3nqimv- 

At  the  Cornwall  Asylum,  Bodmin,  last  week, 
Mr.  H.  D.  Foster  held  an  iiiquiry  ordere<l  by  tfie 
Lunacy  Commissionei-s  oonoeruing  the  death  of 
a  woman  patient  as  a  result  of  scalds,  which 
recently  formed  the  subject  of  a  coroner's  inquiry. 
The  Chairman  read  the  Coroner's  depositions,  and 
also  the  bathing  regulations  in  force  in  tlie 
Asylum,  which  provide  that  when  not  in  use  the 
bath  taps  are  to  be  kept  locked,  as  well  as  the 
bath-room  doore.  Dr.  Rivere,  the  me<lical  officer 
in  charge  of  the  case,  then  made  a  statement,  and 
m  reply  to  the  Chairman  said  that  assuming  two 
patients  went  down  to  the  lavatory  they  ought 
not  to  have  had  access  to  the  bath-room,  but  the 
bath-room  door  was.  open  on  the  occasion  under 
oonsidei'ation.  Further,  that  it  was  an  irregularity 
for  one  patient  to  be  taken  to  the  batJi-rooni  by 
another.  The  full  extent  of  the  injuiy  to  the 
I>atient  Pengelly  was  known  at  about  -5.30  p.m.  on 
the  day  when  it  occuried.  and  she  received  con- 
tinuous treatment  up  to  the  time  of  her  death. 

Chief  Nurse  Wilkinson  state<l  that  it  was  the  duty 
of  the  nui-ses  to  accompany  j>atients  going  to  the 
lavatories  to  and  from  the  wards.  Tlie  nvii-se  in 
charge  should  have  done  so  in  the  case  of  Pengelly. 
About  2.30  p.m.  on  the  day  the  injury  occurretl  slie 
«as  told  by  a  nui-se  that  Pengelly  had  a  scald  on 
her  foot — nothing  serious.  She  heard  no  more  of 
it  until  .six  o'clock  in  the  evening. 

Dr.  I>ayton  stated  that  one  of  the  nui-ses  told  him 
a  different  tale  to  that  which  she  told  the  Coroner 
as  to  the  circumstances  of  the  accident.  'VNTien  he 
quest ioiKKl  her  as  to  why  she  had  made  such  a 
.statement  she  replied  that  another  nur.se  and 
othei-s  had  put  her  up  to  it. 

Severe!  nurses,  one  of  whom  said  she  was  willing 
to  take  all  the  blame  on  herself,  were  called  before 
the  iiK|uiry  and  questioned,  and  as  a  result  it  was 
unanimou.sly  decide<l  to  discharge  two  nurses  and 
to  iei)riin«nd  two  othere. 

Caiel<>Nxn<>s..  in  ob.'icrving  regulations,  and  iin- 
tnithfulnesK,  are  faults  which  are  quite  inexciisatile 
ill  any  nurse  in  charge  of  insane  jiatients,  and  may 
lead  to  grave  results. 


IRiusing  Ecboes. 


We  leam  that  the  Sister 
Superior  elect  of  St.  John's 
Hou.se  received  her  profes- 
sional training  at  St. 
Thomas's  Hospital,  and  has 
also  worked  in  connection 
with  the  Queen  Victoria's 
•lubilee  Institute  for  Nurses. 


We  are  glad  to  notice 
that  iu  his  speech  at 
the  annual  dinner  of 
Barlholomew's  men  in  the  Great  Hail 
on  Monday,  ilr.  C.  B.  Lockwood, 
F.E.C.8.,  who  presided,  calle€  attention 
to  the  urgent  necessity  for  a  new  Nurses' 
Home.  This  necessity  has  been  chronic  for  a 
quarter  of  a  century.  The  tenements  in  which 
the  nurses  are  housed  are  evidence  of  a  callous 
disregard  for  their  health  and  safety. 


Mr.  Alfred  Willett,  F.R.C.S.,  Consulting 
Surgeon  to  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital,  con- 
tributes some  interesting  reminiscences  to  its 
Journal  in  an  article  on  "  The  Surgical  Side 
of  the  Hospital  Fifty  Years  Ago."  Referring 
to  the  nursing  stafi,  he  writes:  — 

"The  Sisters  of  Abernethy  or  Lucas  Wards,  ac- 
cording to  the  sex  of  the  patient,  attended  in  the 
theatre  at  all  the  operations,  one  of  the  ward 
nurses  accompanying  the  patient,  taking  back, 
after  the  completion  of  the  operation,  any  instruc- 
tions for  the  Ward  Sister.  Sister  Abernethy  of  the 
time  was  a  really  splendid  character,  immensely 
respected  by  all.  She  was  a  Sister  of  the  Head 
Beadle  Ansell.  Another  noted  surgical  Sister  was 
"Colston,"  to  whom  the  nickname  "Queen  of 
Hell  ''  was  most  unjustly  given.  A  white-haired, 
fresh-coloured  old  lady,  who,  although  she  rul»>d 
her  ward  by  fear,  was  in  truth  kind-hearted.  The 
fact  was  she  looked  upon  complaints  by  a  patient 
as  base  ingratitude.  Yet  to  see  her  every  morn- 
ing in  the  square,  outside  her  ward,  surrounded  by 
a  flock  of  city  pigeons,  which  she  regularly  fed, 
settling  on  her  head,  shoulders,  or  arms,  while  she 
caressed  them,  showed  she  had  at  least  one  soft 
spot  in  her  heart. 

The  Sisters  belonged  to  what  I  suppose  would 
in  those  days  be  called  the  "genteel  "  class.  They 
came  without  previous  hospital  experience,  yet, 
being  intelligent,  and  fairly  well  educated,  they 
quickly  learnt  their  duties,  nursing  as  well  as 
official,  and  were  devoted  to  their  work  and  to  the 
well-doing  of  their  patients.  Nurses  were  seldom 
promoted  to  be  Sisters,  for  they  were  of  the  domes- 
tic servant  class,  mostly  middle  aged,  and  I  fancy 
took  up  nursing  when  other  oc<Mipations  failed  ;  not 
a  few  were  widows.  Their  life  was  a  hard  one. 
There  were  three  nurses  to  a  ward,  and  each  was 
on  night  duty  one  night  in  three;  they  lived,  or 
rather  herded,  in  the  two  dark,  ill-ventilated  rooms 


Oct.  8.  1010~ 


Zbc  Britisb  Journal  of  IHursino. 


•2!)3 


oponing  Irom  the  wanls  aiul  plaofd  in  the  lobby 
between  the  doors,  leading  into  the  front  and 
back  wards  rospet'tively.  Tliey  did  their  best,  but 
from  lack  of  training  could  not  be  very  reliabU'. 
The  Sisters'  uniform  \rasad«rk  blue  stuff  material, 
the  nursi^  a   brown."' 


We  congratulate  the  Chelsea  lufiniiary 
nurses  on  the  inauguration  din-ing  the  past 
year  of  their  swimming  elub,  of  which  an  in- 
teresting account  is  given  in  the  League 
Journal.  There  is  a  managing  Committee, 
with  the  Matron  as  Chainiian,  Mrs.  jNIoore  as 
Vice-Chairman,  and  Sister  Grace  and  Sister 
Hayes  as  Captains.  Almost  every  evening 
some  of  the  staff  have  been  at  the  Chelsea 
Baths,  and  have  learnt  to  swim,  and  Sister 
Grace  and  Nurse  Nankivel  have  obtained  certi- 
ficates for  swimming  a  mile.  Amongst  the 
rules  is  one  "  that  no  distinctions  in  nursing 
rank  shall  be  recognised  by  the  members  while 
in  the  water."  It  was  feared  that  a  "  pro  " 
wlio  might  be  a  skilful  swimmer  might  be  con- 
sidered presumptuous  if  she  came  to  the 
assistance  of  a  Sister,  while  the  Matron 
felt  she  would  probably  be  left  to  drown. 
Every  woman  should  learu  how  to  swim  if  this 
accomplishment  has  been  neglected  during 
cliildhood. 


A  circular  has  been  sent  by  Sir  Evei'ard 
Hambro  to  the  nurses  of  the  Eoyal 
National  Pension  Puud,  of  which  he  is  Chair- 
man, in  which  he  says  that  when  he  addressed 
the  nurses  at  their  last  general  meeting  he  sug- 
gested that  the  best  way  for  them  to  honour 
the  memory  of  their  late  patron,  Iving  Edward, 
was  to  try  and  aid  those  of  their  profession 
who,  from  age  or  infinuity,  wanted  assistance. 
He  now  thinks  that  the  best  way  to  do  that 
would  be  to  raise  funds  by  general  subscription 
for  a  Iving  Edward  VII.  Home  for  Aged  Nurses, 
which  could  be  managed  from  the  offices  of  the 
Eoyal  National  Pension  Fund  for  Nurses,  of 
which  Queen  Alexaudi-a  is  President,  who 
looked  with  favour  on  the  scheme  and  had  pro- 
mised to  assist  it. 

We  hope  in  the  future  the  tiine  may  come 
when  trained  nursing  will  be  estimated  at  its 
true  value  as  a  national  asset,  and  remunerated 
accordingly,  and  thus  nurses  in  their  old  age 
be  saved  from  pauperisation.  Let  us  hope  but 
few  will  require  to  avail  themselves  of  such 
alms.  As  the  nurses  are  going  to  provide  all 
the  funds,  we  hope  they  will  also  administer 
them,  and  thus  let  there  be  as  little  advertise- 
ment and  ])uhlicity  in  earning  out  the  scheme 
as  possibk'. 


The  Belfast  Board  ot  Guardians,  according 
to  the  statement  of  the  Chairman,  are 
endeavouring  to  reduce  the  scale  of  dietary- 
very  considerably,  and  by  this  means  to  save 
the  ratepayers  at  least  tl,UOO  a  year.  They 
have,  therefore,  just  to  see  how  it  works,  de- 
prived the  nurses  of  their  lunch  and  lunch 
hour.  The  nurses,  writing  from  the  Belfast 
Union  Hospital,  object  to  this  arrangement, 
and  have  sent  the  following  letter  of  protest  to 
the  Board.     They  complain:  — 

"  Regarding  the  question  of  the  discontinuation 
ot  our  lunch,  we  have  given  this  new  scheme  a  very 
fair  trial  since  the  16th  inst.,  and  tind  that  it 
proves  most  unsatisfactory.  The  fact  of  us  liaving 
dinner  a  quarter  of  an  hour  earlier  does  not  mend 
matters  in  any  way.  We  still  have  a  very  long 
fast,  and  no  interval  during  which  to  tidy  our- 
selves. We  do  not  wish  to  lower  .the  dignity  of 
our  profession  by  having  to  start  and,  for  instance, 
change  our  aprons  in  presence  of  patients  and 
cleaners  in  the  wards  or  ward  kitchen,  and  this 
must  necessarily  be  done  if  we  wish  to  appear 
anyway  nurse-like  througliout  the  day.  No  nurse 
can  keep  herself  scrupulously  clean  and  at  the 
same  time  perform  the  dusting,  tidying,  etc., 
which  of  necessity  she  must  do  in  the  early  part 
of  the  morning  in  the  hospital  and  infirmary  wards. 
Therefore  we  ask  you  to  kindly  give  this  matter 
your  further  consideration,  and  let  us  have  the 
lunch  and  time  as  heretofore." 

Under  the  old  regulations  the  nurses  had 
breakfast  at  7  a.m.,  and  came  on  duty  at  8. 
.\t  9  a.m.  they  had  a  lunch  hour,  in  which  they 
washed  and  dressed  after  the  pei'formance  of 
the  morning's  ward  work.  Dinner  was  served 
at  12 ;  but  the  new  arrangement  provides  that 
the  nurses  will  have  half  an  hour  longer  in  bed 
in  the  morning,  and  instead  of  having  the  lunch 
hour  come  to  dinner  at  11.30. 

This  appears  a  thoroughly  bad  system.  The 
morning's  work  should  be  done  early,  and  8 
a.m.  is  quite  late  enough  to  begin.  The  prin- 
cipal meal  in  the  day  should  not  be  taken  be- 
fore 12.30,  otherwise  the  division  of  the  two 
substantial  meals  is  ill-regulated  in  the  twenty- 
four  hours.  Breakfast  7.30,  hard  ward  work 
from  8  to  9.30,  lunch  of  hot  milk,  cocoa,  bread 
and  butter  9.30  to  10,  midday  meal  12.30  or 
1.30,  tea  4  or  4.30,  supper  (a  good,  hot  meal) 
8  p.m.  This  divides  the  day  conveniently. 
To  sit  down  after  the  morning's  rush  of  work 
and  eat  the  principal  meat  meal  of  the  day  at 
11.30  a.m.,  is  not  conducive  to  appetite  or 
digestion. 


La  Garde  Malade  Hospitaliere  for  Septem- 
ber is  practically  devoted  to  the  late  Miss 
Florence  Nightingale,  and  is  most  intelligently 
sympathetic.  This  journal  i^w  enters  its  fifth 
year  of  life  and  usefulness,  sfftd  is  carrving  in 


294 


^be  Brittsb  Journal  ot  IRursino. 


[Oct.  8,  1910 


the  French  language  to  mqny  lands  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Plorence  Nightingale  system  of 
nursing. 


TRcflcctions. 


Zbc  3sla  Stewart  Scholar. 

It  will  please  members  of  the  "  Bart's  " 
League  to  learn  that  Miss  M.  S.  Eundle  has 
safely  arrived  at  New  York  City,  after  a  good 
passage  and  having  proved  herself  a  good  sailor. 
Miss  Eundle  writes: — "  I  received  a  letter  by 
the  pilot  boat  from  Miss  Lavinia  Dock  welcom- 
ing me  to  the  '  little  old  city,'  and  to  say  she 
would  be  at  the  wharf  to  meet  me,  and  would 
be  waving  a  '  Stars  and  Stripes  '  so  that  I 
should  fnnd  her.  But  it  was  with  difficulty  I 
got  ashore  at  all,  for  the  officials  were  so  in- 
quisitive as  to  my  intentions  in  going  to  Colum- 
bia University  (I  think  they  thought  I  was 
going  to  blow  it  up)  that  they  withheld  my 
pass  until  they  had  dealt  with  the  American 
citizens.  Possibly  they  might  have  sent  me 
back  to  England  had  nqt  the  situation  been 
saved  by  the  appearance  of  a  lady  with  the 
British  Journal  of  Nursing  containing  mj 
portrait  under  her  arm  !  This  was  iliss  Stewart, 
Miss  Nutting's  assistant.  Under  her  protection 
I -was  allow'  to  leave  the  ship.  And  on  the 
wharf  was  Miss  Dock  with  her  flag.  She  gave 
me  such  a  welcome.  My  heart  warmed  to  her 
at  once  for  such  loyalty  to  the  memory  of  our 
Matron,  to  be  there  at  7  a:m.  on  a  Sunday 
morning  to  meet  the  Isla  Stewart  Scholar.  My 
ipplication  for  residence  at  Whittier  Hall  was 
too  late,  so  1  am  at  Shelbume  Hall,  in  the  next 
avenue,  and  I  have  access  to  Whittier  Hall, 
and  every  privilege  except  sleeping  accommo- 
dation. I  took  tea  with  Miss  Nutting  on 
Sunday  afternoon,  and  she  is  chaiToing.  I 
shall  .soon  be  at  work,  and  my  next  letter  will 
tell  you  something  of  it." 

Just  one  word  to  the  fellow  members  of  our 
Scholar.  Home  sickness  in  such  a  vital  en- 
vironment is  not  to  be  anticipated  for  a  mo- 
ment, but  news  of  all  sorts  from  home  is  very 
sweet  to  everyone  with  sea  between.  Letters 
and  papers  will  find  Miss  Rundle  at  Shelbume 
Hall,  90,  Momingside  Avenue,  W.,  New  York 
City,   U'.S.A. 


MISTAKEN  FOR  MALARIA. 
Sir  Riihort  Rovoe,  addroisiiin;  tlic  Liverpool 
Chamber  of  Conimeroc  on  the  question  of  yellow 
fever  in  West  Africa,  from  which  country  he  has? 
just  retnrnofl,  states  as  a  result  of  his  observations 
that  yellow  fever  is  endemic  in  West  Africa,  and 
has  been  mistiilten  for  malaria.  There  is  no  doubt 
that  a  giunntir  error  in  diagnoses  has  been  com- 
mitted. Tie  looks  forward  to  the  deatli  rate  going: 
<lown   with  a   run.   now   that  tlii>;   i.>i  known. 


From  a  Bo.\rd  Room  Mirror. 
Mr.  Otto  Beit  has  promised  a  gift  of  £5,000  to- 
complete  the  amount  needed  for  the  erection  of  the 
Children's  Sanatorium  for  Consumption  at  Holt, 
Norfolk.  Hearty  congratulations  to  Sister  Marian 
Rnnibali,  the  founder  of  this  excellent  and  u.setuL 
charity. 


I'he  Manchester  Corporation  i>ropose  to  erect  a 
new  convalescent  ward  jiavilion  at  the  Monsall 
Hospital. 


It  is  certain  that  all  the  friends  of  the  Royal 
Portsmouth  Hospital  will  be  glad  to  be  assured 
that  the  designation  "  Royal "  was  the  gracious 
gift  of  our  late  Queen  Victoria,  and  that  it  can  be 
established  now  and  for  ever  on  indisputable 
evidence. 

The  question  was  recently  raised  by  the  Home 
Secretary,  and  thanks  to  Dr.  Ward  Cousins,  whose 
memory  carries  him  back  for  many  years, 
and  who  has  been  connected  with  the  hospital 
for  the  whole  of  his  professional  career,  the  fol- 
lowing paragraph,  under  date  February  23rd,  18o0, 
was  discovered  in  old  files  of  the  Hampshire 
Telegfajth :  — 

"  AVe  rejoice  to  say  that  her  most  gracious 
Majesty  the  Queen  has  spontaneously  presented 
our  local  hospital,  through  Lord  George  Lennox, 
with  the  sum  of  £.50,  as  a  joint  donation  of  her 
Majesty  and  H.R.H.  the  Prince  Albert,  towards 
the  permanent  fluids  of  that  charit.v.  Her  Majesty 
further  graciously  expressed  her  commands  that 
henceforward  the  institution  shall  be  designated 
tlie  Royal  Portsmouth,  Portsea  and  Gosport  Hos- 
pital." 

But  where  are  the  minute  books  of  the  hospital - 
Are  they  not  forthcoming?  A  pity  if  they  are  not, 
as  nothing  is  juore  interesting  than  to  dive  into 
these  old  records,  and  thus  come  into  touch  with 
the  work  and  difficulties  of  those  who  have  founded 
good  works  and  passed  away. 


The  Swansea  Hospital  Board  of  Management 
have  had  inider  consideration  a  letter  from  the- 
local  education  authority,  asking  that  an  addi- 
tional e.ve  specialist  be  apjiointed  at  the  institu- 
tion, and  that  the  eye  department  be  opened  every 
afternoon.  The  Board  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
the.v  were  not  justified  in  asking  subscribers  and 
staff  to  undertake  the  additional  duty. 

This  i.s  important  national  work,  which  should 
be  underfakon  by  a  ^^unioil)al  Health  Department. 
The  more  the  voluntary  hospitals  pick  and  choose 
their  work,  the  sooner  the  State  must  step  in  and 
meet   the  iiee<:ls  of  the  iK>pulatioii. 

The  foundation  stone  of  the  new  Maryliorough 
Infirmary  Sanatorium  was  laid  last  week  by  Lady 
Coofe,  who  has  been  the  iirincipal  mover  in  its 
estalilisliment.  Such  a  building  is  a  very  nece.ssarv 
adjunct  to  a  hospital  or  infirmary,  and  of  much 
Ix'nefit  to  patients. 


Oct.  8,  I'.UU 


Z\K  36ilti5b  3oiirnal  of  TRursino. 


29d 


^be^Britii?!?  1bos:>pital6 
asc>ociation. 


The  British  Hospitals  Association,  which  was  in 
session  iit  Glasgow  last  week,  discussed  many  in- 
teresting and  important  siibjects  under  the  presi- 
dency of  Mr.  J.  D.  Hedderwick,  Chairman  of  the 
Royal  Infirmary,  Glasgow,  and  senior  member  of 
the  Council  of  the  Association,  in  the  absence  of 
the  President,  Mr.  H.  Cosano  Boneor.  An  official 
welcome  was  extended  to  the  members  by  Lord 
Provost  M'Innes  Shaw. 

Thb  Social  Policy  of  Voldn-tary  Hospimls. 

Mr.  C.  S.  Loch,  Secretary  of  the  Charity  Organi- 
sation StK-iety,  first  discussed  "The  Social  Policy  of 
Voluntary  Hosi)itals  "  and  said  that  no  people  were 
more  grateful  than  members  of  the  Charity  Organi- 
sation Society  to  hospitals  and  their  staffs  for 
their  constant  help  and  advice  in  cases  of  illness 
and  distress.  The  questions  he  submitted  were 
whether  consistently  with  iiresent  indications  some 
more  definite  social  policy  should  not  now  be  de- 
veloped, and  accepted  by  hospitals  generally,  a 
policy  consistent  with  the  principles  of  charity  and 
our  social  and  economic  knowledge.  Mr.  Loch, 
tlefined  a.  liospital  broadly  as  a  plac«  for  the 
free,  or  part  pay  medical  and  surgical  treatment 
of  poor  people,  and  discussed  it  (1)  in  relation 
to  the  medical  profession  and  education.  (2)  in 
relation  to  the  Poor  Law  an<l  medical  charities, 
and  (3)  in  relation  to  the  individual  case  and  its 
proper  assistance.  He  advocati!  the  abolition  of 
the  letter  system,  i^ayments  1  y  hospital  patients 
according  to  their  ability,  payment  of  me<lical 
practitioners  for  contr.ict  work  in  accordance  with 
standards  accepted  locally  by  the  profession ;  that 
patients,  and  more  especially  out-patients,  should 
be  sent  as  a  rule  to  the  hospitals  through  provident 
dispensaries  or  general  practitioners;  and  that 
medical  practitioners  taking  part  in  the  work  of  a 
hospital  should  be  remunerated  for  that  work. 
The  contrasting  policy,  that  free  medical  aid  should 
be  provided  by  the  State,  ^Ir.  Loch  believed  would 
tend,  if  put  into  practice,  to  a  deterioration  in  the 
social  virtue  of  foresight,  and  would  be  socially 
wrong.  Discussing  the  hospital  in  relation  to  Poor 
Law  and  medical  charities,  the  speaker  thought 
there  was  but  one  way  of  proceeding — viz.,  to 
follow  the  recommendation  of  the  Royal  Commis- 
sion "  that  representative  Jfedical  Assistance  Com- 
mittees should  be  established  to  co-ordinate,  and 
when  necessary  supi)lement.  the  medical  institu- 
tions of  the  county  or  county  borough,  and  to  sup- 
port methods  of  co-operation  with  the  sanitary 
authorities  and  the  authorities  in  charge  of  volun- 
tary hospitals,  to  organise  an  outdoor  and  provi- 
dent medical  service."  In  relation  to  the  assistance 
of  individual  cases  he  emphasised  the  value  of  the 
work  of  hospital   almoners. 

In  the  discussion  which  followed,  Mr.  James 
Cunningham,  of  the  Glasgow  Parish  Council,  ex- 
I  rcssed  the  opinion  that  the  tendency  to  make 
l»tate  provision  of  everything  for  everybody  was 
encouragiiiif  thriftlessness  iind  sapping  the  whole 
iiidependenc.'  of  the  Scottish  people. 

Professor  Hrnry  Jones,  Glasgow  University,  said 


that  hospitals  or  inhrinaiiit.  «l'ic  lo  a  tonsiderable 
extent  the  centres  for  the  greatest  medical  skill  a 
great  city  could  command.  If  that  were  so,  they 
should  bo  open  to  rich  as  well  as  to  poor. 

Mr.  C.  W.  Thios,  London,  said  that  the  only 
people  who  were  tackling  the  liospital  question  in  a 
scientific  manner  were  the  Germans  and  the  Swiss, 
and  described  the  German  method  by  which  thf 
municipality  and  the  State  maintain  the  hospital 
to  which  all  members  of  the  community  have  entrj 
and  pay  according  to  their  means. 

The  .\buse  of  Hospitals  .\nd  its   Cube. 

Mr.  A.  Scott  Finnic  contributed  a  paper  on  the 
above  subject,  and  said  that  on  the  whole  it  was 
believed  that  such  abuse  resulted  from  sheer  lack 
of  any  alternative  place  of  treatment  rather  than 
from  intentional  misuse  of  charity.  A  first  steji  in 
any  real  reform  seemed  to  be  conference  between 
representatives  of  all  the  interests  involved.  It 
should  then  be  possible  to  devise  a  system  under 
which  all  legitimate  interests  would  be  conserved. 

Dr.  Dewar,  Mr.  W.  B.  Blaikie  (Edinburgh),  and 
Mr.  J.  A.  Roxburgh  (Glasgow),  also  took  part  in 
the  discussion,  and  Mr.  Kershaw,  Secretary  of  the 
Central  Throat  Hospital,  Ixvudon,  maintained  that 
the  whole  hospital  system  was  drifting  not  only  in 
the  direction  of  State  control  of  the  hospitals,  but 
in  the  nationalisation  of  the  whole  medical  service. 
A  Tnified  Cocnit  Medical  Sekvice. 

The  first  paper  on  Friday,  September  30th,  the 
second  day  of  the  Conference,  was  contributed  by 
Mrs.  Sidney  YS'ebb,  and  read  by  Dr.  D.  J.  Mackin- 
tosh, M.V.O.,  on  '■  The  Coming  of  a  Unified  County 
Medical  Service,  and  how  it  will  affect  the  Volun- 
tary Hospital."  The  writer  pointed  out  that  (1) 
the  United  Kingdom  was  this  year  spending  out 
of  rates  and  taxes  close  on  £20,000,000,  of  which  at 
least  one-third  was  dealing  with  the  destitution  of 
peojjle  stricken  with  preventable  sickness  which 
was  not  prevented;  (2)  that  in  our  public  arrange- 
ments for  dealing  with  sickness  we  were  in  a 
greater  muddle  than  was  realised  of  diiplicated 
service  and  confusion  of  principles.  On  the  one 
hand.  Poor  Law  doctors  were  forbidden  to  treat 
sickness  tinless  and  until  it  was  complicated  with 
destitution,  and  an  equally  rate-supiK)rted  Public 
Health  Service  .was  dealing  largely  with  the  eame 
diseases  as  the  Poor  Law  medical  service  from  the 
standpoint  not  of  relief  but  prevention.  She  did 
not  think  it  needed  much  gift  of  prophesy  to  see 
that  the  policy  which  would  finally  prevail  was  that 
of  breaking  up  the  Poor  Law  into  its  constituent 
services,  but  whatever  was  done  by  the  Poor  Law 
there  would  be  scope  for  the  voluntary  hospitals. 

Mr.  James  R.  Motion  hoped  that  the  Minority 
Report  of  the  Royal  Commission  on  the  Poor  I/aws 
Avould  never  bo  adopted  in  .Scotland. 

Treatment  ok  TrBERcm-osis.,. 

Dr.  Nathan  Raw,  of  Liverpool,  read  an  interest- 
ing paper  on  the  above  subject. 
Office  Be.vrf.rs. 

Office-bearers  were  re-elected  as  follows:. — Ptivi'i- 
clent,  Mr.  H.  Cosmo  Bonsor,  President,  Guy's»Ho.<;- 
pital,  London;  Hon.  Treasurer,  Mr.  Conrad  W. 
Thies,  Royal  Free  Hospital,  London;  Hon.  Seere- 
taries.  Mr.  A.  AVilliam  AVest,  London,  and  Or.  D. 
J.    ilackintosb.   Western   InfirHjiiry,   Glasgow. 


296 


Sbe  Bvitisb  Journal  of  IRursing. 


[Oct.  8,  1910 


©utsibe  tbe  (Bates. 


Book  of  tbe  Meek. 


WOMEN. 
The  Confeiciicc  progiaiiime  of  the  National 
L'niou  of  Women  \\orkeis,  to  meet  at  Lincoln  on 
the  10th  inst,  is  one  of  wide  liuman  interest.  At 
the.se  gatherings  an  enormous  amount  of  expert 
information  is  aniiunlly  exchanged,  and  this  year 
child  lite  and  educational  ideals  will  receive  pro- 
minent consideration. 


The  reasons  «hy  the  vote  should  be  given  to 
women  are  enumerated  by  the  Countess  of  Sel- 
borne,  the  President  of  the  Conservative  and 
I'nionists'  AVomen's  Suffrage  Society,  as  follows  in 
T"offs  joT  Wumen': — "They  should  have  it  because 
in  a  demociiatic  form  of  government  unrepresented 
interests  are  perforce  neglected.  They  should  have 
it  because  trade  unions,  anxious  to  keep  up  their 
own  wages,  do  not  stop  to  consider  the  hardship 
they  are  inflicting  on  the  women  whom  they  are 
ready  to  deprive  of  their  only  means  of  livelihood. 
They  should  have  it  because  it  will  educate  them 
and  make  them  think.  They  should  have  it  lie- 
cau.se  they  pay  taxes,  and  therefore  should  be  con- 
sulted about  the  S{>eiiding  of  the  national  income. 
Tliey  .should  have  it  Ijecau^  there  are  many  laws 
wlich  apply  mainly  or  only  to  them,  and  they  are 
the  proi>er  i>eople  to  say  whether  laws  are  satis- 
factorj-  or  not.  They  should  have  it  because  they 
are  the  guardians  of  family  lite,  the  mothers  of 
children." 


The  urgency  of  this  matter  is  increased  by  the 
imminence  of  State  payment  of  members. 
That  women  who  are  .denied  the  right 
of  electing  members  of  Parliament  shall  be 
comi>elled  to  i>ay  for  their  maintenance  will 
create  an  impossible  situation,  from  which  the 
enactment  of  the  Conciliation  Bill  will  provide  an 
esoaiie. 


A  meeting  of  the  United  Kingdom  Branch  of  the 
AsS'Ociation  of  Me<lieal  Women  in  India  was  held 
recently,  at  which  Mrs.  Scharlieb,  M.D.,  presided. 
The  meeting  was  arrange<l  to  mct^f  Miss  Benson. 
.M.D.,  Firet  Physician  of  the  Cania  Hospital.  Bom- 
Bay,  in  order  to  hear  from  her  some  proposals  as  to 
the  formation  of  an  organise<l  female  medical  ser- 
vice for  India,  and  to  receive  information  on  the 
present  working  conditions  of  the  Dufferin  Fund. 
The  nie<^ting  wa.s  unanimously  of  the  opinion  that 
the  Secretai-y  of  the  Counte.ss  of  DufiPerin's  Fund 
should  be  a  qualified  me<lical  woman  ;  that  at  least 
one  (|iialified  nM-dical  woman  should  have  a  seat 
on  the  Central  Committee  of  the  Fund  (at  present, 
excepting  the  President,  T*idy  Minto.  no  woman 
is  on  th<'  C'ommittee) ;  and  that  an  efficient  service 
of  medical  women  for  India  should  l)e  organised. 
For  tjie  furtherance  of  these  objects  it  was  re- 
Nolved  that  the  Secretary  of  State  for  India  and 
Lady  Hardinge  shotild  be  asked  to  receive  some 
membei-s  of  the  A-s-socintion  in  order  that  a  brief 
explanation  of  the  urgency  of  the  iuhhI  in  India  for 
an  efficiently  organist^d  smvice  of  medical  women 
niav  be  set  l)efore  tlieni. 


THE  LANTERN  BEARERS.* 
This  story  is  of  very  unequal  merit ;  though  it 
cannot  lay  claim  to  much  originality,  it  just 
escapes  the  commonplace,  but  we  cannot  say  it 
gives  it  a  very  wide  berth.  It  tells  of  a  family  of 
fallen  fortunes,  living  in  Surbitou,  on  a  hundred 
and  fifty  a  year.  True,  they  are  but  three  in 
number — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Byrne  and  their  daughter 
Helga — but  one  can  well  imagine  that  life  pressed 
somewhat  hardly  upon  them.  Too  much  stress  is 
laid  upon  this  aspect  of  the  book,  and  the  reader 
gets  wearietl  of  the  details  of  petty  economies,  and 
depressed  by  their  persistent  misfortune.  Pretty 
Helga  has,  of  course,  none  of  the  advantages  of 
her  class,  but  her  mother,  who,  by  the  way.  is  a 
perfect  marvel  of  thrift  and  philosoi)hy,  "  taught 
her  child  what  she  herself  had  learned  as  a  child, 
so  at  nineteen  Helga  knew  German  well,  French 
imperfectly,  knew  some  historjv  and  geography,  and 
could  even  play  the  piano  i>3ssably." 

By  superhuman  efltort  and  contrivance,  Helga  is 
able  to  accept  an  invitation  to  a  dance  at  the  house 
of  an  old  friend  of  her  father's. 

"  She  was  content  to  look  on  for  a  time,  and  see 
how  others  danced  and  what  was  their  demeanour. 
Certainly  her  hair  was  not  right.  Xo  other  girl 
in  the  room  wore  plaits  at  all.  Their  gowns  were 
unlike  hers,  too.  .  .  .  Her  mother  had  always 
told  her  it  did  not  matter  what  you  looked  like, 
provided  you  behaved  well  and  had  pleasant 
manners.  Possibly  her  mother  was  right,  but  how 
can  you  have  pleasant  manners  when  you  sit  by 
yourself  on  a  long  bench  in  a  crowded  ball-room?" 
Of  course  it  is  here  she  meets  her  fate,  in  a  cer- 
tain Olive  Ashley,  who  decidedly  loses  no  time  in 
his  wooing.  As  a  perverse  Fate  ordained,  he  is  the 
son  of  her  father's  enemy.  Their  true  love,  in  con- 
sequence, runs  anything  but  smoothly,  and  he  per- 
suades her  to  a  secret  marriage. 

Matters  are  complicated  by  the  attentions  to 
Helga  of  a  young  German  boarder,  a  boy  of  good 
family,  whom  the  Byrnes  have  taken  to  help  eke 
out  their  slender  income,  and  who  has  quite  made 
up  his  mind  that,  with  his  father's  consent,  he  has 
only  to  ask  and  have. 

"  I  was  right  about  Conrad."'  said   Mrs.   Byrne 
to  her  husband.     "  He  does  wish  to  marry  Helga." 
"  Has  he  told  you  so?'' 

"  Yes.   but   not  officially.     He   hopes   to  get   his 

father's  consent  when  he  goes  home  at  Christmas." 

"  We  .shall  probably  never   see  him   again,   once 

h.>  goes  home.     His  father  will  tell  him  not  to  be 

a  young  fool,   and  keep  hiui  in  Hamburg." 

Conrad  in  wishing  Helga  good-bye,  and,  referring 
to  the  English  mincemeat,  etc.,  he  is  taking  to 
Hamburg  with  him,   remarks:  — 

"  My  mother  will  be  delighted  to  find  that  you 
can  cook  so  well." 

Though  Helga  made  no  reply  at  the  time,  she 
came  back  to  this  remark  after  he  had  gone. 

"  Why  should  his  mother  be  pleased  because  I 
can  c<H)k?"   she  asked. 

*  By  Mrs.  Alfred  Sidg\vick.  (Methuen  and  Co.. 
London.) 


Oct.  8,  lOlOi 


^j?c  ©ilttsb  3ournal  of  IRursino. 


•207 


■•  Bfcause  of  his  attaohnu'iit  lo  yon  !'' 

"Tliat's  moonshiiii','"  said  Hclga  with  tlwisioii. 

■'  I  liopt"  not,"  said  Mrs.  Hyriie. 

Tho  motluT  and  daiigliter  turned  from  each  other, 
trouliled.  siU>nt.  afraid  of  tlif  next  word.     .     . 

"The  marriage  Hclya  liad  made,  without  heinji 
greatly  stirred,  took  its  jilaee  at  last  as  the  jjara- 
nioiint  adventure  of  her  life.  .  .  .  Torments  of 
an.xiety  and  desire  consumed  the  silly  child,  wlio 
had  played  with  love,  not  knowing  that  love  was 
a   tire." 

The  fortunes  of  the  family  going  from  had  to 
worse,  compel  Helga,  who  is  afraid  to  own  her 
nuirriajre.  ie  find  some  way  of  earning  her  own 
living;.  She  obtains  the  place  of  a  parlour  maid 
to  some  intimate  friends  of  her  husband's,  and 
after  the  obvious  awkwardness,  that  such  a  pro- 
ceetling  would  briiii;  al>out,  she  at  last  confesses  her 
decejjtion  to  her  parents,  and.  by  a  stroke  of  the 
wand,  everything  is  as  it  should  be,  including  a 
remunerative  billet   for  ilr.  Byrne. 

R\it  we  were  perhajw  wrong  in  saying  that  "  The 
Lantern  Bearers  "  escaped  the  commonplace. 

H.   H. 


#Vr^ 


COMING     EVENTS. 

Octdbrr  7th. — Central  London  Sick  Asylum, 
Heudon.  Xurses'  Meeting.  Mrs.  Bedford  Fen- 
wick  will  speak  on  Nursing  Organisation  and 
State  Registration.     5  p.m. 

Oitoher  S/7i.— Royal  Free  Hospital,  'W.C., 
Xurses'  Home.  Meeting  to  consider  the  formation 
of   a   Xurses"   League. 

October  10th. — Territorial  Force  Nursing  Ser- 
vice, City  and  County  of  London.  Reception  at  the 
Mansion  House  by  invitjation  of  the  Lady  Mayoress 
and  the  Members  of  the  Executive  Committee. 
8 — 10.30   p.m.      Entertainment  and  music. 

Ortoher  10th. — Royal  Sanitary  Institute,  90, 
Buckingham  Palace  Road,  S.W.  Course  of  Lec- 
tures— Training  for  Women  Health  Visitors  and 
School  Xurses. 

Ihtiihir  10th  to  l.'ith. — The  National  Union  of 
AVomen  Workers.  Annual  Conference,  Central 
Hall,  Lincoln.  Annual  Meeting.  X'ational  Council 
of   Women,   12th   and    1.3th   inst.,   10.30  a.m. 

Ocfofter  13th. — Royal  Infirmary,  Edinburgh. 
Course  of  Lectures  to  Trained  Nurses.  Opening 
Lecture  on  "  The  Nursing  of  Cases  of  Cardiac 
Disease,"  by  Dr.  G.  A.  Gibson.  4. .30  p.m. 
.  October  loth.— The  National  Pure  Food  Associa- 
tion. Lecture.  "  Infant  ilnrtality  and  the  Food 
and  Drugs  Act,"  by  Mr.  .John  Foot,  Chief  Inspec- 
tor for  the  Borough  of  Bethnal  Green,  38,  Russell 
Square,  W.C.  8  p.m. 

October  Hftli. — Central  London  Sick  Asylum, 
Cleveland  Street,  W.  Nurses'  Meeting.  Mrs.  Bed- 
ford Fenwick  will  speak  on  Nursing  Organisa- 
tion and  State  Registration.     -5  p.m. 

October  J5f/i.— Royal  Institute  of  Public  Health, 
37,  Russell  Square,  W.C.  First  lecture  of  special 
course  for  women  desirous  of  qualifying  as  Health 
Visitors  and  Scliool  Nurses.  7  p.m. 

October  20th. — Society  for  State  Registratioti  of 
Trained  Nurses.  Meeting  Executive  Committee, 
431,  Oxford  Street,   London,   AV.,  4  p.m.     Tea. 


letters  to  the  CDitoi-. 


Whilst  cordially  iuvitini/  com- 
munications upon  all  subjects 
for  these  columns,  we  wish  it 
to  be  distinctly  understooa 
that  we  do  not  in  any  way 
hold  ourselves  responsible  for 
the  opiniofis  expressed  by  our 
correspondents. 


y 


STATE   REGISTRATION   OF  FEVER   NURSES. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  .Journal  of  yursing." 

Dkar  .Madam, — Tho  Srotsinaii  ami  (rlnsyow 
Herald  have  again  given  a  prominent  place  to 
the  above  subject.  The  point  of  the  recent  corres- 
pondence has  been  the  registration  of  fever 
nurses.  Dr.  Campbell  Munro  advocates  a  separate 
or  supplementary  register;  other  writers  condemn 
this  method  of  recognition. 

.\s  the  question  of  State  Registra^^ion  of  Nurses 
is  primarily  a  nurses'  question,  I  shall,  with  your 
kind  permission  make  a  few  remarks  through  the 
columns  of  the  British  Joubnal  of  Nursing. 

A  register  of  fever  nurses  would  tend  to  isolate 
fever  nurses  even  more  than  they  are  isolated  at 
present  in  connection  with,  their  education  and 
training.  It  would  cramp  and  fix  their  work  and 
position  in  the  future:  it  would  render  it  more 
difficult  for  general  trained  nurses  to  obtain  fever 
training;  it  would  be  little  or  no  use  to  the  public. 
On  .the  other  hand,  it  would  be  a  convenience  to 
local  authorities,  but  such  a  convenience  could  he 
attained  without  sacrificing  the  best  interests  of 
the  nurses.  One  writer  says  that  a  fever  register 
would  cause  confusion  in  the  public  mind,  but  a 
supplementary  fever  register  coidd  no  more  cause 
confusion  than  the  mental  nurses'  register 
or  the  male  nurses'  register ;  there  are 
much  more  weighty  and  reasonable  objections 
to  it  than  this.  -A.  full  medical,  surgical,  and  fever 
training  has  always  appeared  to  me  to  be  the 
ideal  training.  I  agree  with  Dr.  Robertson,  who 
writes  as  a  member  of  the  Scotti.sh  Nurses'  Associa- 
tion that  a  separate  register  woidd  not  do  justice 
to  fever  nurses.  Dr.  Robertson  goes  on  to  say, 
however,  that  the  training  "  in  our  large  fever 
hospitals"  is  "  ijuite  sufficient  for  the  nut-sing  of 
medical  cases,"  and  he  proceeds  to  advocate  the 
abolition  of  general  medical  training  for  nurses  who 
have  gone  through  three  yeaa-s'  training  in  fever 
hospitals.  Medical  nursing  and  fever  nursing 
differ  in  many  respects,  as  those  nurses  who  have 
gone  through  both  trainings  know.  In  my  opinion. 
Dr.  Robertson's  proposal  to  keep  nurses  for  three 
years  in  a  fever  hospital,  give  them  one  year's 
surgical  training,  and  send  them  out  registered  as 
general  trained  nurses  (after  having  undergone  a 
four  year.%'  training  in  -irhich  medical  nursing  is 
not  included)  would  be  a  very  grave  injustice.  A 
year  of  medical  training,  a  year  of  surgical  train- 
ing, and  .a  year  of  fever  training  would  be  more 
like  justice  to  nurses.  I  merely  mention  these" 
periods  of  time  as  an  illustration  because  th^re 
will  be  much  to  do  in  the  adjustment  of  a  full  cur- 
riculum.    It  has  always,  however,  been  my  belief 


298 


tTbe  IKilttsb  Journal  of  iRuisUtA. 


[Oct.  8,  1910 


tliat  fever  training  should  not  be  compulsory,  but 
this  is  fully  guarded  against  in  the  BiU  at  iire- 
sent  before  Parliament. 

It  is  with  reluctance  that  I  feel  obliged  to  take 
exception  to  Dr.  Robertson's  statement  that  con- 
siderable prejudice  exists  on  the  part  of  general 
trainetl  nurses  against  fever  nurses.  During  all 
the  years  1  have  been  a  nurse  I  have  never  known 
a  general  trained  nurse  who  had  a  ''  prejudice  " 
against  fever  nurses.  I  am  sorry  for  those  whoue 
unfortunate  experience  it  may  have  been  to  come 
in  contact  with  general  trained  nurses  whose  minds 
are  prejudiced. 

I  have  been  a  fever  nurse,  I  have  nui-sed  a  dying 
fever  nurse,  I  liave  been  more  than  once  nursed 
by  fever  nurses,  and  I  have  superintended  fever 
nurses.  The  impressions  left  upon  me  by  these 
experiences  are  that  fever  nurses  deserve  better 
things  than  to  be  fixed  under  a  fever  register,  or 
sent  out  as  general  registered  nurses  after  having 
undergone  a  four  years'  but  only  partial  training. 
I  am,  yours  faithfully, 

E.  A.  Stevenson, 
Vice-President  Scottish  Nurses' 
Association. 

The  Vr.Iloy,  Trinity,  Brechin. 


PESTERED   BY  PUBLICITY. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  ''  British  Jpvrnal  of  Nursintj-" 

Mad.\m, — Your  critical  notes  on  the  Nurses' 
Year  Book  and  Begister  which  my  firm  is  produc- 
ing, in  your  issue  of  the  17th  ult.,  which  I  have 
only  now  .seen,  are  based  upon  two  wrong  assump- 
tions. (1)  That  you  have  seen  "  advance  proof 
sheets"  of  the  work;  (2)  that  the  book  is  "com- 
piled by  lay  people." 

The  sheets  you  have  seen  ■  arc  only  specimen 
pages  got  up  for  Advertising  purjw-ses,  to  indicate 
the  style  the  l)iographical  information  will  take. 
The  biographical  notes  in  these  sheets  were  taken 
from  printed  .sources,  and  make  no  pretence  to 
being  authoritative. 

•  The  book  is  not  compiled  by  lay  people.  On  the 
contrary,  the  Editor  is  a  trained  nurse  of  many 
years'  experience,  and  the  lu'ographical  data  will 
be  in  every  case  .supplied  by  the  nurse  who.se  career 
ii  set  forth.  The  printed  forms  duly  filled  up,  are 
l)einK  returned  to  us  in  bat<'hes  by  every  post,  from 
which  we  conclude  that  our  Nurses'  Year  Book  and 
Itegister  is  commending  itself  to  the  Nursing  pro- 
fession. 

Finally,  let  me  say  that  I  have  not  taken  up 
this  work  lightly,  and  without  appreciation  of  the 
orgaiiisatinn  aiul  expense  it  involves.  I  hope  T  am 
not  presumptuous  in  believing  that  my  firm  will 
prove  equal  to  it. 

I  presume  you  will  give  this  letter  a  place  in  the 
same  columns  where  your  criticism  api)eare<l,  iin.l 
apologising  for  troubling  you, 

I  am,  yours  faithfully, 

.\NnRF.W    ^fF.t.nosE. 

3,  York   Street,   Covent  Garden,  W.C. 

[We  beg  to  differ  from  our  correspondent  that  we 
based  our  criticism  on  the  f(U'tlicoming  publication 
til  which   111'   alliiiles  OM.  wrong  assumptions.     Whe- 


ther the  "  proofs  "  sent  to  us  were  issued  for  "  ad- 
vertising purposes"  or  not  is  a  matter  of  no  im- 
portance. The  infornuition  they  contained  is 
incorrect,  and  this  is  not  denied  by  the  pub- 
lisher. The  excuse  is  that  ''  The  biographical 
notes  in  these  sheets  were  taken  from  printed 
sources,  and  make  no  pretence  of  being  authorita- 
tive," and  yet  in  a  covering  letter  sent  with 
''these  sheets"  we  are  informed  that  "This  valu- 
able work  will  not  only  register  the  Hospital  Xvirse, 
but  every  Private  Nurse  who  is  certificated,  and 
who  has  obtained  her  diploma.  .  .  On  this  ac- 
count Hospital  Authorities,  Local  Government 
Boards,  Doctors,  and  all  Members  of  the  Profes- 
sion will  find  the  Nursing  Year  Book  absolutely 
indispensable.''  Our  contention  is  that  no  firm  of 
lay  publishers  s.hould  a.ssume  the  right  or 
the  knowle<lge  to  "  register''  professional  women, 
and  that  in  doing  so,  if  they  print  the  inevitable 
inaccuracies  t<i  which  we  have  drawn  attention, 
they  may  give  cause  for  professional  damage.  The 
work  as  advertised  is  "  compiled  by  Helen  David- 
son," and  we  are  informed  Mi-s.  Davidson  is  not 
a  trained  nurse.  Whether  she  is  or  not  does  not 
alter  the  fact  that  a  firm  of  l,\v  publishers  have 
assiuned  the  responsibility  of  professing  to  "regis- 
ter" trained  nurses. 

We  regret  that  in  good  faith  in  quoting  from 
"these  sheets"  sent  out,  as  we  are  informed,  "for 
advertising  purposes,"  we  announced  that  the  In- 
troduction to  the  Fii-st  Issue  "  will  be  by  Lady 
Helen  Munro-Ferguson."  This  statement,  we  are 
now  informed,  was  entirely  unauthorised,  and  an 
apology  has  been  ofiFered  by  the  publishers  to  Lady 
Helen  with  the  undertaking  that  the  advertisement 
will  be  withdrawn.  Finally,  we  are  informed  that 
"  this  work  has  not  been  taken  up  lightly,  and 
without  appreciation  of  the  organisation  and  ex- 
pense it  involves."  Our  comment  on  this  state- 
ment is  "  Wait  and  see  "  ! 

We  reaffirm  our  opinion  that  a  social  "  Wlio's 
Who  "  could  do  little  harm,  although  whether  the 
fact  that  a  nurse's  father  was  "  a  butcher,  baker, 
or  candlestick-maker,"  or  even  a  peer  of  the  realm, 
docs  not  api>ear  to  be  of  stupendous  importance  to 
the  stability  of  our  social  fabric.  Such  details  may 
gratify  a  pa.sning  curiosity,  and  nothing  more. 
A  Registci-  of  professional  ]>ei'sons  can  only 
b'i  usefully  compiled  by  a  legally  consti- 
tuted pix>fe6sional  authority,  and  until  Parliament 
'finds  time  to  set  up  such  an  authority  it  would 
be  a  ble«.<«>d  relief  to  us  to  he  no  fnither  ex- 
ploited by  publishers  for  commercial  purix>ses. 
Competition  amongst  them  is  now  getting  fast  and 
furious.  Would  that  they  would  turn  their  atten- 
tion to  the  legions  of  "shoppies."  or  clerks, 
or  tyjiists !  Why  are  nurses  the  only  class  of  honest 
wiuni'u  workers  to  be  pestered  by  luiblicity? — F.n,] 


IHoticcs. 


OUR   PUZZLE   PRIZE, 
Rules    for    competing    for    the     Pictorial    Puzsil. 
Prize  will  be  found  on  Advertisement  page  xii. 


(At.  8,  loio;    ^|)c  BrittsI)  3ournal  ct  Mursina  Supplement. 


290 


The    Midwife. 


CTbc  flDl^\vifc  of  t!:o*^a>>. 


Till-  Mithvives'  .\ct  ot  1902  has  now  bfeu  an 
estrtblisliod  fact  for  some  years,  and  practical 
people  are  beginning  to  ask  what  the  results 
are.  On  the  whole,  we  understand  the}'  are 
considered  satisfactorj',  although  naturally 
there  are  some  few  hitches  to  the  smooth  work- 
ing of  the  Act  just  at  first :  and  one  of  the  great- 
est of  these,  perhaps,  is  the  difficulty  that  is 
experienced  in  receiving  an  adequate  supply  of 
the  right  people  to  act  as  midwives.  Certainly 
it  is  not  that  there  are  not  enough  qualified  to 
do  the  work,  for  we  see  a  list,  four  or  five  times 
every  year,  of  several  hundre<l  candidates 
passed  by  the  Central  Midwives'  Board,  and  it 
would  seem  that  there  must  be  something 
either  in  the  work  itself,  or  in  the  conditions 
under  which  it  is  done,  which  prevents  these 
hundreds  of  presumably  capable  people  taking 
it  up  enthusiastically  after  iiaving  gone  through 
an  arduous  and  expensive  training.  This  being 
so,  it  might  be  well  to  find  out  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible to  what  their  reluctance  is  due,  and  I 
thinJv  there  can  be  verj-  little  doubt  that  it  ;.-> 
the  financial  aspect  of  the  case  which  lies  at 
the  root  of  the  matter. 

Certainly  if  the  midwifery  in  this  country 
is  to  become  a  serious  profession,  and  is  to  be 
conducted  in  an  efficient  and  dignified  manner, 
it  must  be  firmly  establi.shed  on  a  sound  econo- 
mic basis,  and  must  not  be  dependent  on 
philanthropy  or  casual  help,  nor  be  regarded  as 
the  last  resource  of  those  incompetents  whose 
labour  has  little  market  value.  Tliere  are  doubt- 
less many  women  of  sufficient  means  and 
superfluous  energy  who  are  ready  and  willing 
to  take  up  this  work  for  a  time,  as  a  novelty,  or 
a  charitable  hobby,  but  they  are  not  to  be  re- 
lied upon  as  stead\'  earnest  workers ;  nor  is  it 
right  that  work  so  responsible  and  serious 
should  be  allowed  to  sink  almost  to  the  level 
of  a  sweated  trade. 

In  the  old  days  the  midwife  was  one  of  the 
peojile  themselves,  and  if  she  on  her  side  was 
not  required  to  be  very  skilful  or  particularly 
intelligent,  neither  did  she  in  return  demand 
much  in  the  way  of  remuneration.  Her  needs 
were  few.  her  way  of  living  humble,  and  the 
few  shillings  that  she  might  earn  at  a  case 
were,  with  the  addition  of  various  gifts  in  kind, 
ample  payment  for  the  neighbourly  and  un- 
obtrusive services  she  rendered.  Now,  how- 
ever, all  tbis  is  altered,  and  the  law  demands 


that,  willy  nilly,  the  patient  must  be  attended 
by  an  educated  person,  and  not  only  must  she 
be  subjected  to  all  the  hitherto  undreamt  of 
fuss  and  bother  contingent  on  modern  surgical 
asepsis  and  sound  midwifery,  but  must  also 
pay  this  tiresome  person  a  sum- wholly  incom 
patible  with  her  station  and  mode  of  life. 

In  order  to  meet  this  somewhat  impossible 
position,  charitable  ladies  have  combined  iu 
many  districts  for  the  benefit  of  the  y)oor 
people,  fonning  societies  which  are  partially 
self-supixirting,  and  which  engage  a  midwife  at 
a  fixed  salary  to  attend  a  large  district.  I 
have  sometimes  been  consulted  about  the  little 
difficulties  which  arise  in  the  administration  of 
these  societies,  and  I  find  that  the  organisers 
are  usually  sui-prised  and  disappointed  that  the 
posts  thus  created  are  not  more  eayerly  and 
gratefully  sought  after,  or  are  held  fur  so  short 
a  time. 

The  reasons  are  not  far  to  seek,  and  although 
we  may  regret  that  this  essentuilly  womanly 
work  is  not  passing  more  freely  '\oU)  the  capablt- 
hands  of  those  so  well  suited  to  carry  it  on.  we 
cannot  honestly  be  sui-prised.  How  can  we 
expect  that  after  spending  three  or  four  of  the 
best  years  of  their  lives,  as  well  as  a  large  sum 
of  money  on  their  training,  hishly  educated 
women  should  be  content  to  live  a  life  of  unre- 
mitting toil  and  self-denial,  constant  strain  and 
anxiety,  and  be  grateful  tor  a  i^ai-e  subsistence 
wage,  which  allows  of  no  m-ntal  or  physical 
recreation,  no  little  comforts  or  luxuries,  no 
holidays,  and  offers  no  prospect  of  rest  in  later 
years? 

Those  of  us  who  have  practical  experience  of 
present  day  midwifery  realise  what  are  the 
hardships,  what  th-  difficulties  of  the  mid- 
life's lot.  Her  patients  often  troublesome  and 
obstinate,  she  must  always  be  cheerful  and 
convincing;  working  nearly  evei"y  night,  she 
must  be  fresh  aud  energetic  by  day  ;  always  on 
duty,  she  must  nevyr  be  tired  or  unfit;  fighting 
against  dirt,  ignorance,  poverty,  and  disease, 
she  must  still  be  successful  r  and  if,  after  years 
of  blameless  record,  and  hundreds  of  satisfac- 
tory cases,  one  should  do  badly,  she  must  never 
look  for  help  or  sympathy. 

And  her  :.-ward"?  The  knowledge  that  she  is 
doing  useful  work,  the  love  and  gratitude  of  her 
patients,  and  only  too  often,  broken  health, 
over-strair.ed  nerves,  and  a  premature  and  de- 
pendent old  age.  Is  it,  then,  sui-prising  that 
good  practical  midwives  are  difficult  to  fintl  -^ 

M.  F. 


300 


Zbc  Britisb  Journal  of  IHurstiiG  Supplement.  [Oct.  s,  loio 


(Queen's  IRurses  preferred. 

We  are  glad  to  see  that  the  Burgess  Hill 
District  Nursing  and  ^Midwifery  Association 
appreciates  its  "  two  excellent  Queen's 
Nurses,"  and  that  ^liss  Blakesley's  proposi- 
tion to  insert  the  ■nord  "  preferably  "  in  a 
clause  in  Eule  1,  so  as  to  read:  "And  the 
District  Nurse  maintained  by  the  Association 
shall  be  preferably  a  Queen's  Nurse,"  was  car- 
ried. Warm  praise  was  given  at  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  Association  to  the  present 
Queen's  Nurses  for  their  admirable  work. 


added  to  the  Roll.  Henceforth,  presumably,  only 
midwives  who  have  fulfilled  the  couditious  laid 
down  by  the  Central  Midwives'  Board,  and  who 
have  X5asse<l  its  examination,  will  be  eligible  for 
admission. 


©art's  riDaternit^  Marbs. 

We  learn  that  it  is  propo.sed  to  organise  courses 
o'  instruction  for  nurses  at  St.  Bartholomew's  Hos- 
pital now  that  "  Elizabeth  "  is  to  be  a  maternity 
ward,  by  which  they  can  be  prepared  for  the  ex- 
amination of  tho  Central  Midwives"  Board.  This 
means,  we  presume,  that  some  of  their  cases  will 
be  taken  in  the  district  surrounding  the  hospital, 
a  field  of  experience  denied  to  the  late  Matron  for 
training  purposes. 

BacJi  to  Bach  Ibonses. 


The  necessity  of  fresh  air  in  infancy  and  child- 
hood is  demonstrated  by  a  report  ijublished  by  the 
Local  Government  Board,  drawn  up  by  Dr.  Darra 
Mair,  one  of  its  medical  inspectors.  The  report 
deals  with  the  average  death-rate  from  all  causes 
in  back-to-back  houses  in  thirteen  industrial  towns 
in  the  West  Riding  of  Yorkshire  as  compared  with 
that  in  through  houses.  In  the  "back-to-back  houses 
the  mortality  was  1.3  per  cent,  greater  than  in  the 
through  houses,  and  when  they  were  built  in  con- 
tinuous rows  it  was  over  20  per  cent,  greater.  The 
causes  of  this  excess  are  stated  to  be  diseases  of 
the  chest  and  other  diseases  associated  with  the 
defective  growth   and  development  of  children. 


^be  Central  flDtbwivea'  BoarD. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  Central  Midwives'  Board 
was  held  at  the  Board  Room,  Caxton  House,  S.W., 
on  Sept.  .SO,  to  receive  and  deal  with  the  report  of 
theStandingCommittoe  held  on  the  same  afternoon, 
so  far  as  it  related  to  applications  under  Rule  B2. 
This  was  necessary  because  the  extension  by  the 
Privy  Council  of  the  time  during  which  the  names 
of  midwives  who  have  not  jjassed  the  examination 
of  the  Board  coidd  be  placed  on  the  ^fidwives'  Roll 
at  the  discretion  of  the  Board  terminated  on  the 
last  day  of  September.  It  will  be  remembered 
that  through  no  fault  of  their  own  some  midwives 
failed  to  s<>cure  admission  to  the  Roll  before  the 
expiration  of  the  term  of  grace  originally  fixed. 
and  in'the  case  of  others  it  was  felt  that  hardship 
had  sometimes  been  inflicted.  The  Privy  Council 
therefore  empowered  the  Central  Midwives'  Board 
to  add  further  names  for  a  limited   period. 

-Vt  Friday's  meeting,  On  the  recommendation  of 
the   Standing   Committee,   over    300    names     were 


Xcc&s  flDaternlt^  Ibospital. 

The  Committee  of  the  Leeds  Maternity  Hospital 
the  motto  of  which  is  "  The  Union  of  those  who 
Ix>ve  in  the  Service  of  those  who  Need,"  are  able 
to  give  a  most  encouraging  report  of  the  work 
achieved.  The  hospital  was  first  opened  in  Decem- 
ber, 1905,  and  the  present  hospital  in  ilay  last, 
when  the  opening  ceremony  was  performed  by  Mrs. 
Kendal,  who  afterwards  presented  two  pictures 
<5f  Queen  Mary  and  the  Queen  Mother  to  the  in- 
stitution, and  the  building  was  dedicated  by  the 
Bishop  of  Ripon. 

The  residence  and  grounds  were  presented  to  the 
Committee  by  Mr.  J.  Ellershaw  Pepper,  and  the 
former  has  been  mainly  adapted  for  the  adminis- 
trative work.  The  new  part  consists  of  an  exten- 
sion of  four  storeys  100  feet  loiig  and  30  feet  wide, 
and  the  hospital  now  contains  33  beds  for  patients 
and  27  for  the  nursing  and  domestic  staffs.  The 
Matron  of  the  new  hospital  is  Miss  Edwards,  from 
the  Maternity  Hospital,  Liverpool,  and  the  Assis- 
tant Matron,  3Iiss  Moore,  from  the  Rotunda  Hos- 
pital, Dublin. 

The  following  figures  show  conclu-sively  the  rapid 
growth  of  the  wor.k  of  the  institution.  The  de- 
liveries for  the  last  three  years,  ending  in  June, 
have  been  as  follows: — In  the  hospitaJ :  1908,  144, 
1909,  239;  1910,  356.  On  the  district:  1908,  35; 
1909,  140;  1910.  239.  There  has  only  been  one 
maternal  death,  that  of  a  patient  suffering  from 
eclampsia,  who  was  practically  moribund  on  ad- 
mission. The  death  rate  is  thus  less  than  0.2  per 
cent.  Of  the  babies  ten  have  died,  most  of  this 
number  only  surviving  their  birth  by  a  few  hours. 
Afany  of  the  cases  sent  in  by  medical  practitioners 
required  operative  measures,  and  in  one  instance 
Caesarian  section  was  performed,  both  mother  and 
child  doing  well. 

With  regard  to  the  training  school  for  midwives, 
always  an  important  department  of  the  work  of  a 
maternity  hospital,  seventeen  pupils  were  trained 
during  the  past  year.  Of  these  sixteen  presented 
themselves  for  the  examination  of  the  Central  Mid- 
wives'  Board,  and  fifteen  were  successful  in  obtain- 
ing its  certificate.  Ten  pupils  trained  as  mater- 
nity nurses  and  received  the  certificate  of  the  hos- 
pital. Students  from  liocds  and  other  medi<'al 
schools  hav<'  nlso  attended  the  hospital  for  clinical 
instruction  under  the  medical  officers., 

Everything  [xiiiits  to  still  further  progress  in  the 
future.  Each  month  the  number  of  applications 
for  admission  to  the  hospital,  or  for  attendance  on 
the  district  increase,  medical  practitioners  are  in- 
creasingly using  the  hospital  for  abnormal  cases, 
and  larger  numbers  of  pupils  are  applyjng  for 
training.  The  interest  of  the  working  classes  in 
the  hospital  is  shown  by  the  supi>ort  given  by  the 
Workpeople's  Hospital  Conunittee,  which  during 
the  past  year  gave  £2.50  to  the  Building  Fund,  and 
£125  to  the  up-keep  of  the  hospital. 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 
EDITED  BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


No.  1,176. 


SATURDAY,     OCTOBER      15,      1910. 


EMtorfal. 


THE  SPIRIT  OF  THE  VOLUNTEER   NURSE. 

No  one  who  was  the  guest  of  tlie  Lady 
Mayoregg  and  the  Executive  Committee  of 
the  Territorial  Force  Nursing  Ser\-ice  of  the 
City  and  County  6i  London  at  the  reception 
at  the  Mansion  House  on  ^londay  last  could 
fail  to  recignise  the  strong  appeal  made  by 
the  Ten-itorial  movement  to  the  nursing 
profession  or  the  popularity  of  the  Terri- 
torial Nursing  Service. 

What  is  the  reason  for  the  hold  which 
this  movement  has  gained  upon  the  affec- 
tions of  nurses  ?  It  is  simple.  Nurses,  as 
a  class,  are  a  most  patriotic  section  of  the 
community,  their  loyalty  to  King  and 
coimtry  is  unbounded.  A  well-disciplined 
and  invaluable  body  of  worker's,  they  go 
where  they  are  bidden  to  go,  work  as  they 
are  bidden  to  work. 

But  the  Territorial  Service  presents  itself 
to  them,  for  the  first  time,  as  a  channel 
through  which  they  can  make  a  free-will 
offering  of  the  gifts  which  they  possess. 
Conscription  has  always  been  unpopular  in 
this  countn,-,  and  in  raising  the  necessary 
force  for  home  defence  the  War  Odlce  has 
relied  upon  the  individual  patriotism  of  its 
sons  and  daughters,  rather  than  on  the 
method  of  compulsion. 

Nurees  are  grateful  that  the  principle 
which  has  been  applied  to  the  fighting  force 
has  been  applied  also  to  the  Nursing  Ser- 
vice, which  is  an  integral  and  indispensable 
part  of  the  Territorial  organisation,  and  that 
the  opportunity  and  joy  of  placing  at  their 
country's  service,  by  their  own  voluntary 
act,  a  gift  of  value — nay  more,  of  supreme 
importance — is  tl)us  offered  to  them.  Is  it 
any  wonder,  therefore,  that  the  Territorial 
Force  Nursing  Service  is  probably  the  most 
popular  Service  in  the  coimtry  with  nurses 


at  the  present  time,  or  that  the  full  staffs 
required  for  the  hospitals  throughout 
(ireat  Britain  have  been  quickly  enrolled? 
The  countiT  showed  its  confidence  in  the 
patriotism  of  its  tx'ained  nurses  by  appealing 
for  volunteers,  and  they  eagerly  pressed  for- 
ward to  prove  that  this  confidence  was  well 
founded,  and  that  they  were  po  whit  less 
anxious  than  their  male  relations  to  place 
the  best  they  had  to  give  at  its  disposal ; 
so  that  there  are  now  enrolled  and  in  touch 
with  the  responsible  authorities — for  everj' 
Territorial  nurse  reports  to  the  Principal 
Matron  of  the  hospital  to  which  she  is 
attached  at  least  once  a  year — a  body  of 
niirses  sufficient  to  meet  the  estimated  needs 
of  the  sick  and  wounded  should  an  invading 
force  ever  land  upon  our  shores — nurses, 
moreover,  whose  professional  and  personal 
credentials  have  been  carefully  investigated 
in  time  of  peace,  and  whose  efficiency  and 
patriotism  are  undoubted. 

Had  the  War  Office  relied  on  hospital 
authorities — as  was  strongly  iirged  in  some 
quarters — to  select  and  supply  the  nurses 
when  the  need  arose,  as  goods  are  supplied 
by  firms  which  provision  and  furnish  hospi- 
tals, it  is  possible  the  need  might  have  been 
met,  though  it  is  more  than  probable  that  the 
supply  would  have  given  out ;  but  the  spirit 
which  now  animates  the  Service,  and  which 
is  its  most  valuable  possession,  would  have 
been  wanting — the  spirit  which  impels  each 
member,  not  because  she  is  bidden,  but 
because  she  is  desirous,  to  serve  her  country ; 
because  the  appeal  for  service  has  been  made 
to  her  as  a  sentient  human  being,  rather 
than  as  an  efficient  machine. 

The  spirit  animating  the  volunteer  nurse 
is  the  desire  to  give  the  best  that  is  in  her, 
"good  measure,  pressed  down,  and  shal^en 
together,  and  running  over,"  to  the  Mighty 
ilother  who  has  bredther. 


302 


tTbe  Britisb  Journal  of  iRursing, 


[Oct.  15,  inin 


CUtucal  IRotes  on  Sonic  Common 
ailments. 


By  a.  Knvvktt  (mikdun,  M.B.  (Cantab). 
DYSPEPSIA. 

In  the  last  paper  we  considered  the  two 
common  types  of  dyspepsia,  and  we  took  as 
illustrations  the  case  of  a  man  and  a  woman 
suffering  from  their  representative  symptoms. 
It  must  not  be  thought,  however,  that  the 
robust  type  of  dyspeptic  is  always  a  man  or 
vice  vrisu,  but  merely  that  it  is  more  com- 
monly so.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  indigestion  due 
to  excess  of  hydrochloric  acid  is  often  found 
in  plethoric,  over-fed  women,  who,  curiously 
enough,  attribute  their  ailments  to  insufficiency 
of  food  rather  than  to  excess.  In  "  Sketches 
by  Boz,"  Dickens  gives  us  in  Mrs.  Bloss  an 
inimitable  example  of  the  robnst  type  of  female 
dyspeptic.  She  was  "  wafted  through  life  by 
the  grateful  prayers  of  the  purveyors  of  animal 
food  throughout  the  district."  Similarly 
ansemic,  underfed  mep  may  suffer  from 
deficiency  of  acid. 

This  brings  us  to  the  question  of  the  dietetic 
treatment  of  dyspepsia,  which  will  obviously 
have  to  be  I'egulated  to  suit  the  environment 
of  the  patient  and  will  differ  in  the  two  types 
of  the  disease.  There  can  be  no  greater  error 
than  to  imagine  that  we  can  successfully  treat 
either  tj^pe  by  medicine  alone  ;  and  it  is  certain 
that  the  sufferers  cannot  be  adequately  relieved 
by  attendance  at  a  busy  out-patient  depart- 
ment, where  it  is  practically  impossible  to  diet 
each  patient  according  to  his  means  and 
oceupation. 

Let  us  take  the  robust  type  first.  The  real 
reason  why  he  has  digestive  trouble  at  all — and 
we  must  remember  that  at  school  and  college 
he  enjoyed  robust  health — is  that  he  has 
omitted  to  cut  down  his  nitrogenous  intake  to 
suit  his  new  way  of  living,  and  one  almost 
always  finds  that  he  is  eating  as  much  animal 
food  as  he  did  when  he  was  rowing  or  playing 
cricket  three  days  in  the  week.  Probably 
the  best  thing  w©  can  do  for  such  a 
man  is  to  put  him  on  a  "  bun  lunch," 
with  coffee  instead  of  alcohol  in  the 
middle  of  the  day.  For  him,  too,  afternoon 
tea  is  very  useful,  sb  it  serves  to  take  the  edge 
off  his  otherwise  voracious  appetite  for  a  late 
dinner.  .\t  the  latter  meal  one  course  of  meat 
is  fpiite  sufficient;  fish  is  better  than  soup 
(whii^h  contains  nearly  all  the  hamiful  extrac- 
tives of  meat),  and  the  adoption  of  the  French 
custom  of  serving  a  well-tvwked  vegetable  as 
a  course  i)y  itself  will  make  an  entree  of  meat 
unnecessary.  It  is  really  better  that  he  should 
become   u    fcrtolallcr,    at    all    events   until    his 


digestion  has  accommodated  itself  to  doing 
without  habitual  violent  exercise,  but,  if  he 
Cannot  manage  this,  weak  whisky  well  diluted 
with  an  alkaline  mineral  water  that  does  not 
contain  sails  of  chloride  of  sodium — plain 
potash  water  is  as  good  as  any — is  better  for 
him  than  an  acid  wine.  A  Turkish  bath  once 
or  twice  a  week  will  help  him  to  eliminate  his 
superfluous  nitrogen,  and  will  thus  to  a  cer- 
tain extent  replace  his  previous  football. 

But  with  the  woman  of  our  tale  the  condi- 
tions arc  altogether  different;  she  has  too  little 
food,  and  what  she  has  contains  too  little 
meat.  For  her  both  the  bun  shop  and  the 
^  egetarian  restaurant  are  unsuitable  ;  she  runs 
in  no  danger  of  suffering  from  high  arterial 
tension,  and  she  should  certainly  always  have 
hot  fresh  meat  in  the  middle  of  the  day,  and 
the  meal  sliould  not  be  either  accompanied  or 
followed  by  the  inevitable  cup  of  tea,  nor  should 
afternoon  tea  be  for  her  the  most  enjoyable,  if 
not  the  principal  meal.  Unfortunately  for 
many  of  the  sufferers  from  this  type  of 
dyspepsia  an  adequate  diet  is  inconsistent  with 
the  length  of  their  purse  (because  they  are 
often  grossly  underpaid  for  the  extremely  con- 
scientious way  in  which  they  usuallj'  do  their 
work),  but  a  little  meat,  even  if  it  comes  out 
of  a  tin,  is  better  than  concoctions  of  starch 
and  sugar,  and  it  might  be  taken  more  often 
than  is  usually  the  case  in  the  evening  when 
work  is  over  and  the  patient  has  had  a  brief 
rest.  Nor,  incidentally,  is  the  daily  perfor- 
mance of  "  Sandow's  exercises  "  in  front  of 
an  open  window  quite  so  absurd  or  impossible 
as  it  might  sound.  A  daily  aperient  on  rising 
both  regulates  the  bowels  and  supplies  the 
sodium  chloride  which,  as  we  have  explained, 
is  often  deficient  in  the  dietary  of  such  patients. 

It  is  also  manifest!}'  necessary  that  sufferers 
from  any  type  of  dyspepsia  should  avoid  foods 
which,  though  they  may  be  ultimately 
nutritious,  yet  require  a  prolonged  stay  in  the 
stomach  heforo  they  are  ready  for  pancreatic 
and  intestinal  digestion.  If  we  compare,  for 
instance,  peas  and  milk,  the  fonner,  weight 
for  weight,  contain  far  inore  nitrogenous  nutri- 
ment than  the  latt(n-,  but  owing  to  the  fact 
that  the  us(>ful  part  is  contained  in  an  envelope 
of  insoluble  vegetable  woody  matter,  which 
has  to  be  pentrated  by  the  gastric  juice  before 
it  can  be  made  available,  a  pint  of  milk  may 
be  ultimately  far  more  nutritious  than  a  iiound 
of  peas.  Siuiilarly,  fish  is  more  "  digestible  " 
than  fowl,  and  fowl  than  butcher's  meat,  and 
so  on;  the  comparative  digestibility  of  the 
various  fo<ids  can  be  found  by  reference  to  a 
text  l)<x>k  of  jihysiology,  and  need  not  detain 
us  now.     Perhaps  the  most  indigestible  among 


Oct.   IT).    1010] 


^bc  Britteb  3ournal  ct  iHiu'sino. 


303 


cunimoii  uiticles  of  diet  are  cheese,  pastiy, 
potatoes,  bacon,  and  seeds  or  nuts  of  any  kind, 
and  tlu-y  should  be  avoided  by  all  dyspeptics.. 
Tt-a  and  coffee  are  bad  for  the  "  weakly  '"  type, 
because  they  diminish  the  secretion  of  gastric 
juice. 

It  must  not  be  forgotten  that  in  all  cases  of 
dyspepsia  it  is  necessaiy  to  make  sure  that 
some  organic  disease  is  not  at  the  bottom  of 
the  trouble.  In  middle-aged  men  we  have  to 
think  of  cancer  of  the  stomach,  and  of  ulcer, 
not  in  the  stomach,  but  just  beyond,  in  the 
duodenum,  and  in  young  women  (or  indeed  in 
women  of  all  ages)  we  should  remember  that 
gastric  ulcer  is  more  common  than  is  usually 
sujiposed.  Of  the  former  conditions  I  do  not 
intend  to  speak  here ;  the  diagnosis  is  often 
very  difficult,  and  the  coiTect  treatment  be- 
longs rather  to  the  realm  of  expert  gastric  sur- 
gery. The  pathology  and  symptoms  of  gastric 
ulcer  have  been  discussed  in  a  previous  paper, 
but  it  remains  to  add  a  few  words  on  one  of 
the  consequences  of  ulceration,  which  is  apt  to 
be  confounded  with  simple  dyspepsia — namely 
dilatation  of  the  stomach. 

In  men  who  have  lived  well,  this  may  occur 
from  weakness  of  the  muscular  part  of  the 
stomach",  apart  from  any  ulceration,  but  in 
underfed  women  it  is  almost  always  due  to 
obstruction  at  the  intestinal  end  of  the  organ 
from  contraction  of  a  previously  ulcerated 
patch,  the  natural  consequence  of  which  is 
that  the  stomach  never  empties  itself  properly, 
and  so  becomes  stretched  to  many  times  its 
normal  capacity. 

The  chief  symptom  of  this  condition  is 
flatulence,  owing  to  the  distension  of  the 
stomach  with  gases  produced  by  fermentation 
and  decomposition  of  the  retained  food.  In 
addition  to  the  discomfort  arisiug.from  this,  the 
patient  suffers  from  pain  and  often  from 
vomiting  of  the  contents  of  tlie  stomach :  the 
pain  of  the  distended  stomach  is  not  felt  in 
the  abdomen  as  a  rule,  though  there  may  be  a 
sense  of  heaviness  there,  but  is  referred  to  the 
region  of  the  heart,  and  it  is  often  difiBcult  to 
persuade  the  patient  that  she  is  not  suffering 
from  disease  of  that  organ.  Together  with  the 
pain  there  will  often  be  palpitation  from  pres- 
sure of  the  distended  stomach  on  the 
diaphragm,  which  also  produces  a  sense  of 
faintness,  and,  incidentally,  from  the  ease  with 
which  a  dose  of  alcohol  relieves  the  symptoms 
not  infrequently  forms  the  starting  point  of  an 
alcoholic  habit. 

The  size  of  the  stomach  can  be  determined 
by  distending  it  with  gas  given  in  an  effer- 
vescing mixture  and  then  percussing  out  the 


area  of  the  hollow  note  given  by  the  inflated 
organ.  '    ^,  ■  , 

For  the  relief  of  the  condition  two  methods 
are  available  :  we  can  either  prevent  the  occur- 
rence of  distension  by  frequent  emptying  of 
the  stomach  by  the  passage  of  a  soft  tube  down 
the  gullet — and  this  can  be  followed  by  wash- 
ing out  of  the  organ  with  a  weak  alkaline  solu- 
lion —  or  we  can  deal  directly  .with  the  cause 
of  the  obstruction  itself. 

For  the  latter  purpose  the  abdomen  is 
opened  and  the  stomach  exposed.  A  coil  of 
small  intestine,  as  near  to  the  stomach  as  pos- 
sible, is  taken,  and  an  opening  is  made  both 
into  the  stomach  at  its  lowest  part  and  into 
the  chosen  part  of  the  intestine.  The  stoniach 
and  bowel  are  then  united  round  the  incisions 
with  two  rows  of  stitches  and  a  permanent 
opening  results  through  which  the  food  can 
pass  into  the  intestine  without-  going  through 
the  narrow  pylorus.  This  operation  is  known 
as  gastro-enterostomy,  and  a  very  large  number 
of  patients  have  remained  permanently  relieved 
of  their  trouble  through  its  perfoi-mance. 
Though,  like  eveiw  other  useful  measure,  it 
may  have  been  sometimes  abused,  it  yet  re- 
mains as  one  of  the  most  brilliant  achievements 
with  which  abdominal  surgery  can  be  credited. 


Some  motes  on  tbe  3nfant. 

So  much  has  been  written  on  the  care  and 
special  treatment  of  the  infant  by  such  men  as 
Dr.  -John  Thompson.  Dr.  Holt,  and  many  more 
eminent  authorities  that  it  may  seem  that  the 
last  word  has  already  been  said. 

Yet  there  are  one  or  two  small  matters  of 
interest  regarding  childhood  which  every  nurse 
gathers  as  she  goes. 

How  often  the  lay  people  write  to  the  some- 
what distracted  nurse  for  information  about 
their  babes,  how  often  they  are  dissatisfied  at 
its  brevity — the  wit  passes  them  over  like  the 
proverbial  oily  duck  I 

Perhaps  weight  is  one  of  the  most  important 
signs  in  the  steady  progress  of  an  infant,  and 
with  the  exception  of  abnomial  excess  such  as 
dropsy,  the  chart  is  one  of  singular  regularity. 

The  average  sized  baby  weighs  about  7  lbs.  at 
birth :  during  the  first  two  days  of  life  there 
is  a  loss  of  from  8  to  10  oz.  from  various  causes, 
primarily  from  having  no  novn-ishment,  and 
also  owing  to  passage  of  urine  and  meconium. 
.\fter  the  third  day  there  ought  to  be  a  steady 
rise  of  an  ounce  daily. 

If  a  child  rapidly  or  slowly  loses  weight  it 
is  an  important  morbid  ^ymptoiri,  and  can 
only  point  to  ill-health. 


304 


^be  36ritisb  3ournaI  of  IRnrsmg. 


[Oct.   15,   1910 


The  bottle-fed  baby  gains  weight  at  a  slower 
rate  than  the  breast-fed  baby. 

Following  very  closely  in  importance  to 
weight  is  temperature. 

At  bu-th  an  infant's  temperature  is  above 
that  of  its  mother,  and  during  infancy  and 
childhood  is  always  a  little  higher  than  in  adult 
Ufa. 

Pyrexia  in  an  infant  may  be  caused  by 
trivial  causes  such  as  change  of  scene,  consti- 
pation, and  emotional  causes.  Sudden  rise 
of  temperature  may  have  many  causes. 
Disorder  of  stomach,  influenza,  pneumonia, 
erysipelas,  meningitis,  surgical  lesion,  and  os- 
teomyelitis being  the  most  common.  Holt 
gives  for  an  important  cause  inanition  fever, 
when  the  temperature  rises  from  102  degs.  to 
104  degs.,  and  the  child  is  not  obtaining  suffi- 
cient nourishment.  The  temperature  will  dis- 
ajipear  on  feeding. 

Comby  thinks'  that  rise  of  temperature  is 
often  due  to  concentrated  urine. 

It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  a  child's  tem- 
perature up  to  about  10  years  will  be  at  its 
greatest  height  between  12  noon  and  4  in  the 
afternoon,  with  a  marked  fall  in  the  evening 
hours. 

As  everyone  who  has  had  to  nurse  children 
knows,  the  beet  place  for  taking  the  tempera- 
'ture  is  in  the  rectum. 

Development  in  the  infant  is  a  process  of 
great  interest,  and  a  few  notes  may  prove  of 
use  to  both  the  mother  and  the  nurse  in  charge. 

As  to  length,  at  the  end  of  its  fifth  year  the 
child  is  supposed  to  have  doubled  its  original 
length. 

Probably  there  is  not  a  single  house  in  Eng- 
land which  does  not  boast  of  its  measurements 
on  the  nursery  door  of  the  various  children  who 
have  grown  from  childhood  to  adult  size. 

Which  of  us  have  not  suffered  from  heart- 
bum  when  our  younger  brother  or  sister  has 
out-stripped  us  in  length,  and  left  us  to  creep 
slowly  behind  unaided  by  high  heels  and  big 
bows  on  the  top  of  our  heads ! 

Tears  come  with  age — no  baby  sheds  them 
until  the  second  or  even  foui-th  month  is  passed. 
We  know  from  experience  that  when  tears  re- 
appear in  illness  the  sign  is  good  and  may  even 
be  considered  a  really  favourable  sign. 

Taste,  smell,  and  pain  are  well  developed  in 
the  early  days  of  life,  and  soon  after  birth  an 
infant  is  able  to  distinguish  light  from  darkness. 

For  the  first  few  days  all  infants  are  deaf, 
but  very  early  in  life  become  conscious  of  all 
sorts  and  conditions  of  noise.  It  may  come  as 
a  blow  to  mothers,  but  is  a  well-known  fact  that 
all  hough   a   cliild  may  show  great  interest  at 


feeding  time,  it  does  not  recognise  its  mother's 
voice  for  at  least  several  months  after  birth. 

The  walls  of  the  intestine  are  very  feeble  in 
early  life,  which  accounts  for  the  distension, 
and  flatulence  so  many  young  babies  sufier 
from. 

As  to  clothing,  the  world,  fortunately  for  the 
coming  generation,  has  undergone  great 
changes  in  opinion. 

Young  children  are  no  longer  hampered  by 
closely  fitting  winding  sheets;  the  little  limbs 
are  encouraged  to  go  free,  and  nothing  can  be 
warmer  or  more  comfortable  than  the  short 
woolly  vest  and  jacket  and  knitted  trousers 
which  one  almost  universally  meets  with  in  the 
modem  nursery. 

Soap  and  water,  sunshine,  and  fresh  air — 
three  kindly  sisters — watch  over  and  help  to 
develop  the  baby  of  to-day,  both  in  health  and 
illness.  One  wonders  what  the  future  will  hold 
for  so  fortunate  a  person. 

M.  K.  S. 


proeress  of  Stafe  IReoistration. 

The  considfratiou  of  business  will  necessitate 
a  meeting  of  the  Central  Eegistretion  Com- 
mittee towards  the  end  of  the  year,  and  it  has 
been  proposed  that  a  Eegistration  Eeunion 
should  be  held  on  the  evening  of  the  same  day. 
This  is  a  happy  idea,  and,  if  agreeable  to  the 
members  of  the  various  Societies  affiliated  in 
support  of  the  Eegistration  Bill,  a  very  repre- 
sentative gathering  will  result,  and  a  spacious 
place  will  be  required  for  the  pui-pose. 


Zbc  IHational  Council  of  IHurses. 


The  annual  meeting  of  the  National  Council 
of  Nurses  will  be  held  in  London  on  Friday, 
November  4th,  at  4  p.m.  The  agenda  will  be 
sent  out  to  the  Hon.  Secretaries  of  the  affiliated 
societies  which  form  the  Council,  and  will  be 
duly  notified  in  this  Journal,  which  is  the 
official  organ  of  the  National  Council.  The 
members  of  the  following  societies  are  eligible 
to  attend  : — The  ^Matrons'  Council,  the  Society 
for  the  State  Eegistration  of  Trained  Nurses. 
Eegisfcered  Nurses'  Society,  St.  Bartholomew's 
Hospital  Nurses'  League,  Leicester  Infinnai-y 
Nurses'  League,  General  Hospital.  Birming- 
ham, Nurses'  League,  St.  John's  House  Nurses' 
League.  Chelsea  Infirmary  Nurses'  League, 
Kingston  Infirmary  Nurses'  League,  Victoria 
and  Boui-nemouth  Nurses'  League,  Royal 
South  Hants  Xiu-ses'  League,  School  Nurses' 
League,  Steevous'  Hospital,  Dublin,  Nurees' 
League,  and  tiic  Irish  Nurses'  Association. 


Oct.  15,  1910]        ^bc  Britfsb  3oiirnaI  of  IRursino. 


Sba^ce  of  Elisalctb  $i\\ 

Some  fifty  years  ago  au  English  child  lived 
iu  a  buoyant  etivironmeut  as  fresh  and  free  as 
air,  then  she  was  suddenly  whisked  awaj'  to 
study  music  in  Paris.  One  fair  summer's  day 
she  returned  to  England,  and  came  pale  and 
silent  into  a  terraced  garden.  Without  word  or 
warning  she  cast  away  her  Parisian  chapeau. 
flung  herself  on  the  verdant  ground,  and  was 
seen  rolling  from  terrace  to  terrace,  her  fluffy 
petticoats  well  above  her  knees,  and  her  liigh- 
heeled  bronze  boots  kicking  in  the  air.  Over 
and  over  she  turned  with  cries  of  delight 
until  she  bumped  on  to  the  lower  gravel  path. 
In  a  twinkling  she  was 
up  again,  with  frisc 
hair  flying,  only  to 
repeat  with  unre- 
strained mirth  her 
abandoned  evolutions, 
until,  with  flaming 
cheeks  and  grass- 
stained  garments  she 
was  ultimately  seized 
by  an  outraged  mother. 

Slaps  —  threats  —  at 
once  to  bed — no  din- 
ner! 

A  not  too  materpal 
treatment. 

Then  the  Man  of 
Mercy  with  the  glis- 
tening  whiskers 
snatched  up  the  "  dis- 
hevelled dervish,"  and 
made  away  with  her. 

A  rufty-tufty 
headed  girl  stood 
sentinel,  cold  as  stone. 
In  such  mood  she  was 
denied  the  relief  of 
tears — her    heart    teas 

weeping,  flip-flop,  flip-flop,  drip-drip-drip.  You 
will  perceive  her  notions  of  anatomy  to  have 
been  sensational  in  those  far-oS  days.  She  lis- 
tened to  grown-ups. 

The  mother  of  the  culprit,  whom  old  and 
young,  including  her  children,  called  by  her 
flowery  Christian  name  (and  indeed  she  ex- 
haled the  perfume  of  pink  roses),  spat  out  little 
venomous  words  of  anger,  the  childless  woman 
well  beloved  of  babes  rippled  excuses,  but  up- 
on his  return  the  !Man  of  Mercy  with  whiskers 
bristling  spoke  rough  mysterious  truths.  "That 
child  has  been  in  prison,  and,  mark  my  words, 
her  mother  will  frizzle  for  it.  I  have  burned 
those  monstrous  boots!  " 

The  rufty-tufty  headed  girl  weighed  the 
words  with  wonder. 


ELIZABETH     FRY. 


"Prison!  Frizzle!  What  crime — '.' 
But  she  was  a  practical  httle '  per- 
son, and,  later  in  the  day,  having 
abstracted  from  the  larder  various  tooth- 
some dainties,  she  crept  with  them  up  the 
back  stairs  to  the  room  in  which  the  Singing 
Bird  was  doing  time,  hidden  behind  the  cur- 
tains of  an  eighteenth  century  four  poster,  and 
when  but  a  janmiy  stickiness  remained  to 
attest  to  taits  and  trifles,  she  pressed  to  know 
of  that  prison  in  Paris.  And  a  tragic  tale  she 
heard  which  cannot  be  written  here. 

Oil !  that  tale  of  woe  !  Of  days,  and  weeks, 
and  months  of  misery,  high  up  in  a  house  of 
darkness — of  life  with  an  old  mad  maker  of 
music,  of  scales  and 
scores,  and  strumming, 
of  sharp  raps  on  tired 
fingers,  and  thumps  on 
music  stools,  of  terrific 
.crashes  on  poor  pianos, 
of  sighs  and  sobs  and 
tears.  And  the  terrible 
longing  for  green — real 
English  green— and  to 
'dance  in  puddles  and 
make  mud  pies,  and 
kick  up  dead  leaves,  to 
hear  the  sound  of  sea, 
aud  smell  salt  winds, 
and  taste  sirloins  of 
beef,  real  English  beef. 
Oh !  to  have  none  of 
these  things  is  prison. 

And  here  Nurse  en- 
tered and  exclaimed, 
' '  Oh  !  you  naughty 
story — a  pack  of  fiddle- 
de-dee.  Prisons  is  sum- 
mat  different  to  that, 
I'se  assure  you.  You 
just  go  and  see  them 
mui'derers'  graves  i' 
Castle  Keep  .to  Lincoln.  There's  j^^^'sou 
for  you.  Up  you  go  them  mossy  old 
brick  steps,  and  you  find  a  door  in  the  wall. 
'Ear  the  rusty  old  key  a'screech  in  the  lock. 
Step  through,  look  hup,  'igh  walls  to  the  ve';-,- 
sky,  and  at  yer  feet  blue  grass  as  'igh  as  yer 
knees,  and  down,  down  among  the  dead  men, 
graves  and  graves,  where  lie  the  bones  of  them 
as  has  been  'anged  as  'igli  as  'Aman — as  wel' 
they  deseiwed  it — a  gruesome  sight  I'se  assure 
you — but  now't  to  do  wi'  sirlines  so- juicy  as 
never  was.  Its  agin  nature  that  them  grass 
fed  beasts  should  thrive  to  Paris  what  wi' 
frogs  and  snails  and  sich  like.  And  now  y  .-u 
two  little  gels  is  forgiven,  for  all  your  mi^bo- 
liaviour.  and  you're  to  take  dessert  in  the  room 
along  of  your  kind  uncle,  so  here  goes." 


306 


tTbc  IBritisb  3ountaI  of  IRiirslnG.        loct.  15,  1910 


The  preparation  for  such  distinction  entailed 
^hat  nurse  described  as  "a  regular  'urrican," 
vigorous  rubbing,  and  scrubbing  with  yellow 
soap,  and  terrible  tussles  with  recalcitrant 
curls — tugs,  and  hugs,  and  kisses — over  which 
was  east  a  veil  of  white  muslin  frocks  and 
open  work  socks,  and  perky  silken  sashes.  Thus 
attired  they  were  admonished  "  to  mind  yer 
n-annerfolds  and  play  the  agreeables,"  and 
hand  in  hand  down  the  broad  staircase  they 
trip  as  pleasing  a  pair  of  poppets  as  eye  could 
light  upon. 

On  either  side  of  the  ]\Ian  of  IMercy  they  sit 
as  prim  as  posies, 
and  partake  of  his 
bounty,  as  he  plies 
them  with  fruits  and 
fizzie  water.  They 
dabble  their  fingers 
in  his  ruby  bowl, 
and  later  cling  like 
limpets  to  his  stal- 
wart arms,  as  he 
paces  purple  path- 
ways in  the  night- 
ward  hours. 

Eeverting  to  pri- 
sons, it  is  then  in 
commending  the 
quality  of  mercy 
that  he  tells  them  of 
Elizabeth  Fry. 

It  was  not  until 
forty-five  years  had 
passed,  and  with 
them  two  of  that 
happy  trio,  that  thr- 
"rufty-tufty" 
headed  girl  stood  be- 
side the  grave  of 
Elizabeth  Fry,  the 
"  dove-like  Betsy," 
of  whom  it  was  pro- 
phesied that  she 
should  be  "a  light 
to  the  bhnd,  speech  to  the  dumb,  and  feet  to 
the  lame,"  whose  name  is  still  as  ointment 
poured  forth. 

Those  who  work  must  wander,  and  it  was  in 
such  humour  that  I  felt  like  worshipping  at- the 
ski'ine  of  someone  great. 

"  Let  us  go  to  Barking  and  touch  the  grave 
of  Elizabeth  Fry,"  I  suggested. 

Dear  "  Matron  "  said  yes,  so  we  went. 

.\  pale  beautiful  January  day. 

As  we  crept  through  East  London  our  hearts 
wanned  to  it. 

"  It's  as  full  of  gor"l'-'--'=    ■■■-■    -1   i.f-1    )^n<l,"    \v,. 

lureed — and  so  it  is. 


CRAVE     IN 


When  we  came    to    Barking    we  would    be 
directed  to  the  resting  place  of  Elizabeth  Fi-y. 
"  We  do  not  know  the  lady,"  one  and   all 
replied. 

Alas  I  alas!      And  how  ignorant  were  we. 

So    we     wandered     amidst     lordly    tombs, 

and    found    it  not.      We  enquired  of  di'owsy 

vergere,   polite  policemen,   and  other   persons 

of  worth,  but  no  one  had  heard  of  the  great 

evangelist  who  earned   the  beautiful  light  of 

sympathy  into  the  prison  dungeons  of  England 

a  hundred  years  ago.       By  and  bye  someone 

said,    "  Try  the  Friends'  Burying  Ground    at 

the      end      of      the 

town."     To  this  we 

wended     our      way, 

and  here  enclosed  by 

an  old  brick  wall  we 

found      a      peaceful 

acre. 

Accompanied  by 
the  caretaker  of  the 
fleeting  House  op- 
posite, we  were 
guided  to  the  spot 
where  for  65  years 
has  rested  all  that 
was  mortal  of  this 
beatific  being  —  in 
one  grave  with  her 
husband,  and  close 
by  the  little  child  she 
wept  such  bitter 
tears  to  lose. 

All  the  stones  in 
this  quiet  place  are 
uniformly  simple, 
after  the  custom  of 
Friends.  That  of 
Elizabeth  Fry  stands 
back  to  the  wall,  and 
growing  from  her 
grave  was  a  beautiful 
white  holly  bush, 
full  of  waxen  berry. 
We  begged  two  sprays,  which  were  given  to 
us. 

Think  of  it.     This  tree  has  in  its  sap  of  her 
great  lieart's  hlnod. 

"  Earth  to  earth.    Dust  to  dust." 
Yea  verilv.    Yet  for  ever  and  for  ever  Life  to 
Life.  '  ^_^__         E.  G.  F. 

THE  ELIZABETH  FRY  LEAGUE. 
We  do  earnestly  wish  some  ardent  person 
would  devote  time  to  the  organisation  of  a 
League  to  improve  nursing  in  prisons,  and  to 
obtain  for  i)rison  workere  educational  advan- 
tages to  fit  them  f'T-  tlv^ir  vpw  >;iiecial  and  self- 
denying  task. 


Oct.  15,   1910] 


Che  3Srit(0b  3ournal  of  IHursiiuj, 


Che  lRiu-s?e9'  ni>i59ionai-v>  leaijue. 

The  valedictory  meetings  of  the  Nurses'  Mis- 
sionary League  were  held  throughout  the  day 
on  Wednesday,  October  5th,  at  University 
Hall,  Gordon  Square,  W.C.  The  interest  was 
well  sustained  throughout  the  day.  the  evening 
meeting  being  far  the  largest. 

The  iloRxixG  Conference. 

The  morning  conference  was  devoted  to  the 
two  following  questions. 

The  Outlook  and  Purpose  of  the   Nurses' 
Missionary  League. 

The  chair  was  taken  by  ^Miss  Hope  Bell 
(London  Hospital),  who  conducted  the  Con- 
ference with  much  ability,  and  gave  an  earnest 
address  on  David  in  the  Wilderness  as  Un- 
crowned King,  drawing  the  parallel  of  the 
Christ  as  an  uncrowned  king  in  so  many  indi- 
vidual lives.  She  pointed  out  that  David's 
kingdom  was  not  lifted  up  on  high  because  of 
those  who  were  with  him  at  his  coronation,  but 
by  those  who  joined  him  in  the  wilderness, 
whose  first  characteristic  was  personal  devo- 
tion to  their  king.  So  the  Nurses'  Missionary 
League  must  accomplish  its  work  through  the 
personal  devotion  of  individual  members  to  the 
King  of  Kings.  She  also  described  the  ritual 
by  which  the  devotees  of  the  god  Siva  dedi- 
cate themselves  to  his  sei-vice.  After  the 
morning  bathe  they  go  to  the  temple  to  renew 
their  caste  marks.  Touching  the  head,  they 
say:  "O  divine  spirit,  this  head  is  thine"; 
then  the  muscles  of  the  arms,  saying:  "0 
ditine  spirit,  this  strength  is  thine";  and 
lastly  the  chest,  over  the  heart,  saying:  "0 
divine  spirit,  these  feelings  are  thine."  That 
should  be  the  attitude  of  Christians  to  their 
Master— their  intellect,  their  strength,  their 
afiections  dedicated  to  His  service.. 
How  THE  League  Helps  in  the  Individual 
Life. 

The  first  paper  was  contributed  by  Miss 
Blenkam  (Guy's  Hospital),  and  was  read  by 
Miss  Learner,  of  the  London  Hospital. 
Amongst  the  helps  enumerated  were  that  the 
League  creates  a  bond  of  union  between 
members  in  the  same  hospital,  it  stirs  up  a 
keen  interest  in  missionary  work  at  home  and 
abroad,  and  makes  the  members  feel  their  in- 
dividual responsibility  for  that  work.  Lastly, 
it  gives  members  something  definite  to  work 
for,  something  definite  to  study. 

A  general  discussion  then  took  place,  in 
which  members  from  Guy's  Hospital,  the 
London  Hospital,  the  London  Temperance 
Hospital,  the  Mildmay  ^lission  Hospital,  the 
Great  Northern  Central  Hospital,  the  Prince 
of  Wales'  Hospital,  Tottenham,  and  others 
took  part. 


Preparation  for  Work  Abroad. 

Miss  H.  Y.  Richardson  then  enumerated  the 
principal  points  in  a  paper  contributed  by  Miss 
Bussby,  of  the  General  Hospital,  Nottingham, 
ou  the  help  of  the  League  in  preparation  for 
work  abroad.  The  usefulness  of  the  meetings 
for  Bible  study  was  emphasised,  and  the  fact 
that  the  courage  required  for  speaking  at  the 
small  meetings  of  the  League  in  hospital  would 
count  for  a  good  deal  when  the  active  work  of 
a  missionary  was  begun. 

Winning  Volunteers. 

The  next  paper  on  the  help  of  the  League 
in  Winning  Volunteers  was  by  Miss  Man- 
waring,  of  the  Prince  of  Wales'  Hospital,  Tot- 
tenham, and  read  by  Miss  McCracken,  of  the 
same  hospital,  both  sailing  members.  Miss 
^lanwaring  pointed  out  that  the  aim  of  the 
members  of  the  League  was  to  dedicate  their 
lives  to  Christ  and  to  the  extension  of  His  king- 
dom. Could  anyone  having  this  aim  with- 
stand the  appeal  for  volunteers  for  missionary 
work  abroad,  when  the  services  of  nurses  were 
so  sorely  needed  and  the  sufferings  of  women 
and  ciiildren  so  great? 

The  Outlook  of  the  Future. 

After  an  interval.  Mass  Overton  took  the 
chair,  and  Miss  J.  Macfee,  B.A.,  Editor  of 
XxiTses  Near  and  Far,  spoke  on  the  outlook  of 
the  future,  the  vision  of  what  the  League  ought 
to  be,  and  might  do.  The  reason,  she  thought, 
that  more  was  not  done  was  that  so  many  led 
such  normal  lives,  there  was  so  little  difference 
between  them  and  non-professing  Christians. 
People  should  be  startled  by  the  goodness  of 
the  lives  of  members  of  the  League,  which 
should  be  a  reflection  of  the  life  of  Jesus  Christ. 
Speaking  of  the  need  for  self-sacrifice  in 
nursing  work.  Miss  Macfee  said  that  in  the 
precincts  of  a  large  London  hospital  she  not 
long  ago  heard  one  nurse  ask  another  what  kind 
of  work  she  was  doing.  She  answered,  "  I'm 
on  the  district.."  The  reply  was:  "Oh,  you 
poor  thing,  how  perfectly  beastly.  I  hope 
you'll  soon  get  out  of  it." 

Looking  away  across  the  seas  to  the  distant 
mission  field.  Miss  Macfee  said  that  in  the 
East  nurses  were  called  upon  to  reproduce  and 
build  up  the  nursing  profession  and  to  train 
Christian  natives.  Further  missionary  work 
could  only  go  forward  in  proportion  as  the 
women  were  won. 

Again,  there  was  another  call  to  nurses  from 
the  Jlission  Field — the  call  of  the  medical  pro- 
fession. Had  nurses  any  right  to  allow  medical 
practitioners  to  go  back  to  their  work  without 
a  single  nurse  to  help  them?  Yet  that  vas 
being  done.  At  the  Edinburgh  Missionary 
Conference  the  cry  was:  "  Send  us  the  very 
best  nui-ses  vou  can  get.  but.  whatever  you  do, 


308 


^be  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRuvsinG. 


[Oct.  15,  1910 


send  us  muses,  for  we  cannot  get  on  without 
them." 

The  All-Sufficiency  of  God. 

The  closing  address  in  the  morning  was  given 
by  Miss  W.  Sedgwick,  Travelhng  Secretary  of 
the  Student  Christian  Movement,  and  was  a 
devotional  one  on  the  above  subject.  We  do 
not,  said  the  speaker,  i-eahse  our  own  insuf- 
ficiency because  we  do  not  venture  on  big 
enough  things,  but  keep  along  the  hne  of  least 
resistance.     If  we  realised  that 

•'  His  Grace  and  Power  are  such 
Xone  can  ever  ask  too  much.'' 
we   should  make  bigger  ventures  of  faith. 
The  Afterxoon  Coxvers.\zioxe. 

In  the  afternoon  the  guests  were  received  by 
Miss  Davies-Colley,  Matron  of  the  ^lildmay 
Memorial  Hospital,  and  the  Secretai-y,  Mis's 
Richardson. 

Tea  and  coffee,  music  and  recitations,  passed 
the  time  very  pleasantly,  and  many  members 
recorded  their  choice  in  regard  to  the  specimens 
for  a  Badge  for  the  League,  which  were  sub- 
mitted for  their  approval. 

The  speaker  of  the  afternoon  was  ^Irs. 
Scharlieb,  M.D.,  who  said  that  she  had  seen 
a  great  deal  of  missionary  work  in  India,  and 
once,  when  no  Matron  was  obtainable  nearer 
than  England,  had  done  Matron's  duties  for 
six  weeks.  It  was  an  experience  she  never  re- 
gietted,  as  it  had  given  her  a  practical  insight 
into  the  work  and  needs  of  nurses,  without 
which  she  would  never  have  -known  their  wants 
and  feehngs  so  well. 

Those  whom  she  was  addressing  had  heard 
the  call  of  the  Mission  Field,  but  it  might  be 
they  had  an  inward  call  to  work  for  which 
there  was  no  outward  call.  She  herself  would 
like  to  return  to  the  Mission  Field,  but  the  out- 
ward call  was  not  thsre.  Could  not  nurses  in 
a  similar  position  pass  on  the  call  to  someone 
else?  Nurses  had  more  influence  than  most 
people.  To  the  nurse  patients  and  their  friends 
turned  for  inspiration.  Perhaps  one  of  these 
might  doubt  capacity  and  vocation,  and  the 
nurse  might  help  to  smooth  the  way. 

^Irs.  Scharlieb  concluded  a  most  inspiring 
address  by  wishing  God  speed  to  the  members 
of  the  Nurses'  Missionary  League,  and  success 
as  evangelists  and  nurses. 

The  Evexing  Meeting. 

!Miss  Margaret  Outram  presided  at  the 
evening  meeting,  and  spoke  of  the  encouraging 
outlook.  The  first  time  the  League  met  to  bid 
farewell  to  its  sailing  members  they  numbered 
two.  That  night  17  were  about  to  sail  or  had 
already  sailed,  and  before  the  year  closed  it 
was  expected  they  would  number  28  or  29. 

Of  those  going  out,  five  wore  going  to  India, 
four  to  Chinn,  and   the  others  would  be  scat- 


tered singly,  but  what  of  the  many  places  to 
which  no  nurses  were  going  ?  For  instance.  Dr. 
Emmeline  Stuart  reported  that  when  she  first 
went  to  Persia  the  doors  were  practically 
closed;  there  was  no  hospital,  no  appliances; 
now  the  doors  were  open-  wide  and  hospitals 
ready,  but  there  was  no  nurse,  and  she  was 
alone.  The  Chairman  said  that  she  personally 
knew  thirty  lady  doctors  in  the  Mission  Field, 
and  all  wanted  more  helpers. 

Miss  Eichardsou  then  gave  an  interesting 
account  of  the  year's  work,  after  which  each  of 
the  sailing  members  spoke  a  few  words. 

Miss  Manwaring  (Prince  of  Wales'  Hospital, 
Tottenham),  proceeding  to  the  Punjab,  who 
said  that  the  suffering  in  hospitals  at  home, 
where  there  was  every  attention,  was  some- 
times almost  more  than  one  could  bear.  Was 
not  the  appeal  of  the  thousands  abroad  with- 
out any  one  to  relieve  them  irresistible? 

Miss  hacey  (Guy's),  proceeding  to  Peshawar, 
an  important  frontier  station,  where  her  work 
will,  she  explained,  lie  mostly  among  the 
Pathans. 

Miss  G.  Tapper  (Lambeth  Infirmary),  pro- 
ceeding to  Bengal,  who  urged  her  hearers 
not  to  shrink  from  ofiering  for  service 
abroad. 

Miss  E.  6.  Williams  (Mildmay  Mission  Hos- 
pital), proceeding  to  Gaza,  who  said  that  a 
missionary  had  written  home,  "sorrow  and 
trouble  are  here,  as  they  are  in  England,  but 
here  they  are  unrelieved." 
"  Go  to  those  who  need  you. 
Go  first  to  those  who  need  you  most." 

Miss  E.  F.  Pitt  (Mildmay  Mission  Hospital), 
proceeding  to  China,  who  said  that  words  failed 
to  express  her  feelings  when  she  recently  paid 
a  visit  to  Dublin,  and  a  member  of  the  Dublin 
University  ^lission  exclaimed:  "Here's  the 
nurse  we  have  been  waiting  for  for  three 
years." 

Miss  McCracken  (Prince  of  Wales'  Hospital, 
Tottenham),  proceeding  to  Tangiers,  who 
asked  the  prayers  of  the  League  not  only  for 
herself  but  for  those  she  was  leaving  behind. 

Miss  Scars  (General  Hospital.  Rugby"!,  pro- 
ceeding to  Turkey  in  Asia,  who  said  that  the 
day  was  one  of  the  happiest  in  her  life.  Her 
destination  had  only  been  decided  that  morn- 
ing, and  she  sailed  on  the  20th. 

Miss  Frodsham  (St.  Bartholomew's  Hos- 
pital), a  returned  member  from  Deri  Gaza 
Khan,  who  bore  the  marks  of  active  service, 
spoke  of  the  great  need  of  nurses.  The  nearest 
nurse  to  her  was  45  miles  away,  and  another 
large  centre  240  miles  distant  had  no  nurse 
at  all. 

The  Claims  of  the  Mission  Field. 

:\Iiss  Macfee  then  gave  a  graphic  account  of 


Oct.  15,  1910] 


ZtDC  36rUi0b  3oiiinal  of  H^urstncj. 


300 


the  Edinburgh  Missionary  Coufereuce,  which 
she  attended  as  the  delegate  of  the  League, 
and  which,  she  said,  had  given  her  a  new 
vision  of  what  the  Mission  Field  means.  China 
Ti  as  awakening  after  centuries  of  sleep ;  all 
countries  in  the  East  were  looking  to  Japan  as 
a  leader;  India  was  seething  with  new 
problems.  There  were  19,800  foreign  mission- 
aries, but  there  were  twelve  hundred  millions 
uon-Chri«tiaus  for  them  to  work  amongst. 

Dr.  Howard  Cook,  of  Uganda,  who  gave  the 
closing  address,  greeted  his  audience  as 
"  fellow-members  of  the  healing  profession." 
He  said  it  was  a  great  privilege  to  address 
those  nurses  who  were  going  out  to  the  Mis- 
sion Field.  He  wished  they  were  all  going  to 
Uganda.  He  gave  them  as  their  watchword 
the  words  "  Consider  Him,"  and  spoke  of  the 
revelation  which  European  nursing  is  to 
heathen  patients.  The  Lord  was  calling  for 
volunteers,  and  it  almost  seemed  sometimes 
as  if  He  was  calling  in  vain.  On  the  staS  of 
.  the  Church  Missioi>ary  Society  there  were  .57 
nurses  and  87  doctors.  In  a  hospital  at  home, 
which  he  had  recently  visited,  there  was  one 
nurse  to  every  two  beds.  In  Uganda  the  pro- 
portion was  five  nurses  to  125  beds,  and  they 
were  told  it  was  too  many.  Nurses  with  the 
capital  of  skill  and  knowledge,  which  they  pos- 
sessed, could  do  untold  good  in  the  Mission 
Field. 

The  day's  meetings  then  concluded,  but 
nsany  last  words  were  said  over  the  teacups 
before  those  present  finally  dispersed. 


ttbe  fIDatrons'  Council. 

The  next  meeting  of  the  ^Matrons'  Council 
will  be  held  at  4.31,  Oxford  Street,  London,  \Y., 
on  Wednesday,  October  26th,  at  3.30.  :\Ieni- 
bers  are  asked  to  note  the  date,  and  keep  it 
free,  as  besides  the  ordinary  business  meeting 
there  will  be  a  debate  upon  "  The  Supply  of 
Probationers."  (1)  Whether  the  women  who 
offer  themselves  for  training  at  the  present 
time  are  less  suitable  for  the  nureing  profes- 
sion than  those  who  applied  ten  or  fifteen  years 
ago.  (2)  If  so,  what  is  the  cause  and  the 
remedy?  The  debate,  which  will  be  private, 
will  be  opened  by  Miss  Mollett.  • 

M.  Andr^  Mesureur,  Chef  de  Service  and 
Admiriistrateur  de  I'Ecole  des  Infirmieres  of 
the  Administration  Generale  de  Assistance 
Publiqiic,  Paris,  has  intimated  the  intention  of 
that  bodj-  to  make  a  contribution  to  the  memo- 
rial fund  for  the  late  Miss  Isla  Stewart.  This 
recognition  of  Miss  Stewart's  work  by  a  French 
public  authority  will  be  gratefully  remembered 
by  British  nurses. 


tri)c  IRcw  Xcaiiuc  ot  the   1Ro\>at 
Jfrcc  1l505pital  H-lurscs. 

On  Saturday,  October  Sth,  a  meeting 
to  consider  the  foniiation  of  the  League  of  the 
Royal  Free  Hospital  Nurses  was  held  at  the 
Hospital,  by  kind  peniiissiou  of  the  authorities. 

The  meeting  was  in  every  way  a  most  suc- 
cessful one,  thanks  to  the  efforts  of  all  those 
engaged  in  arranging  preliminary  details. 

About  fifty  nurses,  all  holding  the  certificate 
of  the  Royal  Free  Hospital,  were  present. 
Some  had  completed  their  training  about 
twenty  years  ago.  Others  had  come  from  long 
distances  on  purjjose  to  be  present  at  the  meet- 
ing, and  many  had  not  visited  the  hospital  for 
very  many  years,  but  all  were  full  of  enthu- 
siasm for  their  old  training  school,  and  added 
greatly  to  the  success  of  the  meeting  by  their 
interest  and  cordiality. 

The  suggestion  for  the  formation  of  a  League 
was  unanimously  carried. 

Miss  Cox-Da  vies.  Matron  of  the  Royal  Free 
Hospital,  was  then  invited  to  become  its  first 
President;  and,  we  are  glad  to  say,  she  cordially 
accepted  the  invitation. 

Thanks  to  our  newly-elected  President,  a 
great  deal  of  business  was  carried  through.  A 
provisional  Committee  was  formed,  honorary 
officers  elected,  and  the  subscription  to  the 
League  an-anged. 

A  general  business  meeting  will  be  held,  we 
trust,  early  in  the  coming  year,  followed  by  a 
social  gathering. 

On  the  conclusion  of  the  business  all  present 
partook  of  tea  on  the  nurees'  roof,  which  had 
been  most  tastefully  decorated  by  those  Sisters 
of  the  Royal  Free  Hospital  who  had  received 
their  training  at  other  London  hospitals. 

A  resolution  was  passed  that  all  such  Sisters 
should  be  asked  to  join  the  League  of  the  Royal 
Free  Hospital  -Nurses  in  grateful  recognition  of 
their  valuable  services  in  this  hospital. 

^luch  interest  was  shown  in  the  new  theatres 
and  the  many  other  improvements  in  the  hospi- 
tal earned  through  during  recent  years. 

A  Ward  Sister. 

The  British  Journal  of  Nursing  offeis  its 
heartv  coucratulations. 


Ibealtb  an^  fTDovalit^  Conference. 

The  Editor  begs  to  acknowledge  a  number  of 
applications  for  tickets  for  the  private  Confer- 
ence on  Health  and  Morality  to  be  held  in  Lon- 
don on  November  23rd.  These  are  being  for- 
warded to  the  organiser  of  the  Conference,  who 
will  send  out  tickets  in  due  .course. 


310 


Zbc  Britisb  3ournaI  of  IRursina. 


:Oct.   15,  1910 


^be  treatment  of  tuberculosis. 

An  interesting  pamphlet  on  "  The  Efficient 
Treatment  of  Pulmonary  Tuberculosis  Among 
the  Poor,  with  Special  Reference  to  the  Class 
Method,"  by  Dr.  Joseph  H.  Pratt,  of  Boston, 
:s  published  by  the  Women's  National  Health 
Association  of  Ireland,  to  which  it  was  in  part 
delivered  as  an  address. 

Dr.  Pratt  states  that  "  the  essential  features 
in  the  modern  treatment  of  tuberculosis  are  so 
simple  that  the  wonder  is  they  are  neglected 
so  often.  '  Rest  in 
the  open  air  is  the 
medicine  that  cures 
consumption.'  This 
sentence  is  printed 
on  the  record  book 
of  each  of  '  our 
patients.  It  gives 
the  sum  substance 
of  the  successful 
treatment  of  con- 
sumption.  All 
other  things  are 
subsidiary  to  rest 
in  the  open  air. 
Too  much  insis- 
tence cannot  be 
laid  on  the  impor- 
tance of  absolute 
rest.  I  believe 
that  a  case  of  pul- 
monary tubercu- 
losis during  the 
active  stage  should 
be  given  the  same 
foiTD  of  rest  treat- 
ment that  is  em- 
ployed in  typhoid 
fever. ' ' 

Dr.  Pratt  believes 
that  the  high  mor- 
tality in  tubercu- 
losis is  due  in  no 
small  measure  to 
the  fact  that  the 
patient  feels  able  to  be  up  and  about  when  the 
temperature  is  high.  In  most  diseases  with  a 
corresponding  temperature  there  is  such  bodily 
discomfort  that  the  patient  voluntarily  takes 
to  his  bed.  He  points  out  that  the  importance 
of  rest  in  this  disease  is  not  appreciated  in 
England  and  America,  as  it  is  in  Germany  and 
France,  where  the  Liege-Halleti  form  so  im- 
portant a  part  of  the  equipment  of  the  sana- 
toria. The  views  of  many  English  and 
American  physicians  are,  he  believes,  expressed 
'II  the  statement  of  Dr.  H.  Weber,  "  Physical 


COVERED    BALCONY    USED    IN 
TREATMENT   OF 


exercise  forms  one  of  the  most  powerful  and 
most  important  therapeutic  measures,  and  I 
would  not  willingly  treat  a  phthis'cal  patient 
without  the  help  of  bodily  movement."  The 
views  of  the  opposite  schol  of  thought  are 
voiced  by  Penzoldt,  who  believes  such  a  method 
to  be  dangerous,  and  says:  "  I  would  not  wil- 
lingly treat  a  patient  without  rest,  and  would 
allow  exercise  only  in  exceptional  cases."  Dr. 
Pratt  goes  on  to  say:  "  The  majority  of  in- 
cipient cases  will  i-ecover  in  spite  of  exercise, 
but  if  good  results  are  to  be  obtained  in  the 
moderately  ad- 
vanced cases  in- 
sistence upon  rest 
is  necessary." 

The  writer  pro- 
ceeds to  describe 
the  day  camp 
treatment  which, 
used  with  con- 
siderable success 
in  Germany,  has 
spread  to  America. 
At  Springfield,  in 
^Massachusetts,  a 
day  camp  was 
started  in  19Q7, 
with  the  result 
that  the  patients 
were  so  comfort- 
able,'  and  so 
strongly  objected 
to  returning  to 
their  stufiy  homes 
at  night,  that  in  a 
few  months  the 
night  camp  was 
also  arranged,  thus 
converting  the  day 
camp  into  a  camp 
sanatorium.  Dr. 
P  r  a  1 1  considers 
that  patients  with 
active  disease 
should  b  e  kept 
in  the  camp 
night  and  day,  but  when  convalescent,  and 
moderate  exercise  is  no  longer  harmful,  they 
might  spend  their  days  in  the  camp  and  their 
nights  on  sleeping  balconies  at  home. 

The  illustration  which  we  publish  on  this 
page  is  of  a  covered  balcony,  the  cost  of  which 
is  .€3  15s.  It  is  thrown  out  from  a  bedroom, 
and  used  in  America  in  the  home  treatment 
of  consumption  very  effectively.  The  patient 
may  use  it  both  day  and  night,  only  going  into 
the  house  to  wash  and  dress. 

Tents  in  yards,   on  porches,    and  on  roofs 


AMERICA    FOR     THE 
CONSUMPTION. 


Oot.  13,   1910] 


Zhc  ©ntisb  3oiirnaI  of  iRiirslng. 


311 


have  been  largely  used  on  account  of  their 
cheapness,  but  balconies  are  better.  The  ad- 
vantages of  the  balcony  are  summed  up  by 
Dr.  1.  J.  Clarke  as  follows: — "It  is  more 
roomy,  secure,  and  sightly.  It  opens  directly 
out  of  the  home — a  warm  room,  if  you  like — 
where  the  patient  can  take  his  cold  sponge 
bath,  dress  or  undress  if  desired.  It  can  be  made 
large  enough  to  contain  ai-ticles  of  furniture 
that  give  it  a  home-like  appearance.  The 
patient  can  be  waited  upon  and  cared  for  much 
easier.  It  is  a  better  protection  from  hard  rains 
and  snow.  It  gives  women  better  protection 
from  intrusion.  It  is  more  cheerful,  and 
enables  patients  to  receive  callers  under  home- 
like conditions.  It  gives  better  ventilation 
than  some  tents." 

Dr.  Pratt  says  that  the  statement  is  often 
made  that  tuberculosis  cannot  be  successfully 
treated  at  home,  but  those  who  hold  this  view 
are  forgetful  of  the  fact  that  sanatorium  treat- 
ment must  be  followed  by  home  treatment  if 
definite  cure  is  to  be  effected.  If  an  adequate 
system  of  home  treatment  had  been  organised 
in  Gemiany,  he  thinks  that  the  good  results 
of  the  sanatorium  treatment  would  have  been 
much  more  favourable.  The  reason  for  the 
failure  of  the  home  treatment  in  the  past  is,  he 
believes,  lack  of  supervision  and  control  in  the 
details  of  the  patient's  life.  To  supply  the 
elements  lacking  in  the  ordinary  home  treat- 
ment, the  first  tuberculosis  class  was  organised 
in  connection  with  Emmanuel  Church,  Boston. 
Dr.  Pratt  saw  in  his  hospital  practice  men  and 
women  dying  whose  lives  might  be  saved  by  a 
little  care  and  money.  It  seemed  to  him  that 
here  was  work  for  the  churches.  Dr.  Wor- 
cester (the  Rector  of  this  rich  parish),  a  man 
of  original  and  independent  mind,  eager  to  do 
all  in  his  power  for  the  sick  poor,  was  willing 
to  make  the  experiment,  and  within  three 
months  the  success  of  the  plan  was  evident. 

In  the  class  method  supei-vision  is  main- 
tained (1)  by  the  record  book,  which  all  patients 
are  required  to  keep,  in  which  are  re- 
corded every  detail  of  their  daily  hfe,  in- 
cluding temperature  and  pulse-;  (21  by  the 
home  visitations  of  the  nurse;  (3)  by  the 
weekly  meeting  of  the  class,  apd  the  spirit  of 
hope  and  cheer  instilled  into  the  membere  at 
the  weekly  gathering  is  an  important  factor. 
Membership  of  the  class  is  kept  below  25, 
because  one  visitor  and  one  physician  cannot 
properly  attend  to  more  than  25  patients. 

When  the  signs  of  active  disease  have 
diminished,  graduated  exercise  is  given.  Ex- 
cept for  attending  the  weekly  meeting,  taking 
their  daily  bath,  and  going  to  the  table  for 
meals,  advanced  cases  are  sometimes  allowed 
no  e.^ercise  for  a  year  or  more. 


Iprisc  (Bivtiuj  b^  Xorb  Hmptbill. 

ROYAL  INFIRMARY,  EDINBURGH 
On  Friday,  the  7th  Octolxi ,  a  cliaimiug  cere- 
mony took  place  in  tlic  Kecreation  lioom  of  the 
Xui-see'  Home,  Edinhurgh  Royal  Infirmary,  when 
2J  prizes  were  distrihuted  by  Lord  Ampthill, 
G.C.S.I.,  G.C.I.E.,  in  connection  with  the  uui-ses' 
course  of  instruction.  Lord  ■  Provost  Brown,  who 
presided,  was  supported,  amongst  others,  by  the 
Lady  Susan  Gdmour,  Mrs.  Brown,  Miss  Brown, 
MiiS  Haldane,  Mrs.  Kerr,  Miss  Gill  (Lady  Superin- 
tendent), Mr.  ^^".  B.  Blaikie,  and  Colonel  Warbur- 
ton.  In  welcoming  Lord  Ampthill  the  Lord 
Provost  said  they  were  greatly  indebted  to  him 
lor  his  good  offices  in  the  House  of  Lortls  for  the 
geuei-ous  manner  in  which  he  had  chami)ioned  the 
cause  of  the  Registration  of  Nurses. 

PRIZE  LIST,  1909-10. 
SuRGiCiL  Nursing. 
1009. — 1st    prize,    Nurse     Duncan;    knd,   Nurse 
Hamilton ;  Srd  (equal),  Nurses  McRae  and  McMur- 
trie. 

19X0, — 1st  prize,  Nurse  M.  M.  Kerr;  2nd,  Nurse 
Lorimer. 

Gyn^cologic.\l  Nursing. 
1009. — 1st  prize,  Nurse  AVood ;  2nd,  Nurse  Pullar. 
1910. — 1st  prize,  Nurse    Chapman;    2nd,  Nurse 
Leith. 

Bandaging  and  Instruments. 
Bandaging. 
1909. — 1st  prizes:   1st  Division,  Nurse    McMur- 
trie;  2nd  Division,  Nurse  M.  Bain;  Srd  Division, 
Nurse  Williams;  ith  Division,  Nurse  M.  Simpson. 
Instruments. 
1909. — 1st  Division:    1st  prize.  Nurse  Roy;  2nd, 
Nurse  Aitken.     2nd  Division:    1st  (equal),   Nurse 
yi    T.  Kerr  and  Nurse  Gardner. 
General  Nursing. 
1009. — 1st    prize.    Nurse    Aitken;    2nd    (equal). 
Nurses  Brydie,  M.  T.  Kerr,  and  Westwater;  Srd, 
Nurse  Pole. 

Medical  Nursing. 
1909, — i,it     prize,   Nurse    Duncan;    2nd,    Nurse 
Chapman. 

Bacteriologt. 
1909. — 1st  prize,  Nurse  Boyd;  2nd,  Nurse  Swin- 
ton. 

LORD  AMPTHILL'S  ADDRESS. 
Nursing  Heroic  Work. 
After  distributing  the  prize.s  Ix>rd  Ampthill  said, 
in  his  inspiring  address,  that  times  were  changing. 
On  the  stage  men  used  to  impersonate  women,  but 
now  it  was  the  reverse.  Nursing,  however,  was 
women's  work  alone.  They  required  qualities  that 
were  in  men,  such  as  courage,  fortitude,  and  en- 
durance. These  were  essential  in  the  nursing  pro- 
fession. The  discipline  and  the  general  mode  of 
living  was  new  to  women,  and  used  to  bo  chietly 
associated  with  men.  He  was  reminded  o|  the 
wonderful  opjxirtuiiitie.s  they  would  have  in  the 
future  of  bringing  succour  and  relief  to  suffering 
humanity  ;  and  he  was  also  lomiiided  of  the  neces- 
sary and  important  position  tbev  occupied  and  the 
skill  and  character  they   requifed.      On   the  otlipr 


312 


Cbe  Mitisb  3oiun?.I  of  IRuisinii. 


[Oct.   15,  1910 


band  lie  recaMe<l  the  drawbacks — the  great  selt'- 
sacnficc  it  meant  to  thoNC  who  followed  their  pro- 
fession. But  the\'  must  have  weighed  these  things 
up  in  their  minds.  He  therefore  contented  him- 
self with  humble  admiration  for  every  woman  who 
bad  embarked  on  a  life  of  nursing.  To  bim  it  was  a 
noble  and  inspired  profession. 

NtJESING   AS   A   PkOFESSION. 

Nursing  had  become  a  profession  of  recent  yeais, 
he  said,  and  they  could  take  the  credit  for  having 
instituted  that  profession  as  a  nation  before  all 
other  nations  in  the  world.  Tlie  foundation  was 
laid  by  that  great  and  noble  spirit,  which  had  so 
recently  passed  away,  the  spirit  of  "the  gentle 
Lady  of  the  Lamp,"  Florence  Nightingale — one  of 
the  noblest  and  most  heroic  figures  of  the  Victorian 
Age.  Because  the  vocation  of  trained  nurses  w-as 
a  regular  jirofession  they  had  duties  towards  it  and 
towards  each  other.  When  they  finished  their 
training  there  they  would  go  out  into  the  world, 
and  would  fill  positions  in  the  various  branches  of 
their  profe.ssion.  But  they  were  not  to  for- 
get that  they  belonged  to  a  grsat  corps,  to 
which  tbey  owed  duties.  Their  position  wotild  com- 
pare to  the  lonely  sentinel  keeping  watch  over  the 
slumbering  army,  or  the  look-out  man  on  a  ship, 
upon  whom  depended  the  safety  of  numerous  per- 
sons. 

Registkation  op  Nurses. 
The  nursing  profession,  continued  Lord  Ampthill, 
required  to  be  still  further  orgam.sed.  They  needed 
the  protection  of  the  law  just  as  much  as  other 
professions.  Like  members  of  other  gi'eat  and 
honourable  professions,  they  were  everyone  natur- 
ally jealous  for  their  honour.  They  wished  nothing 
to  throw  discredit  upon  it.  The  only  way  to  pre- 
serve that  honour  was  to  insure  that  none  who 
were  not  worthy  were  allowed  to  join  their  body. 
They  had  rightly  a  feeling  of  self-interest ;  they 
wished  to  preserve  their  privileges.  They  were 
public-spirited  memt>ers  of  the  community,  anxious 
that  the  public  should  not  be  in  any  way  misled  by 
people  calling  themselves  fully-tiiained  nurses,  but 
who  had  not  taken  the  trouble  to  get  tue  required 
qualifications.  Protection  could  only  be  got  by  pro- 
tection under  the  law  of  the  land.  Wliy  should  they 
not  have  registration,  if  it  was  accorded  to  mitl- 
wives?  They  had  to  go  through  a  more  arduous 
training  than  midwives,  who  were,  generally  speak- 
ing, women  of  lees  intellectual  attainments  than 
thoroughly  trained  nur.ses.  It  was  tliought  neces- 
sary thart  they,  like  lawyers,  dentists,  doctors,  and 
otbei-s,  should  have  statutory  sanction  for  their 
position,  and  protection  of  the  law  for  their  rights. 
People  thought  that  iiur.ses  did  not  require  to  lie 
registered  by  statute  because  they  could  not 
register  good  character,  which  was  the  only  quality 
nee<le<l.  Tliose  who  had  been  working  for  tlio 
prizes  knew  better  than  that.  They  knew  that  pro- 
ficiency was  required  not  only  in  character  but  in 
technical  skill  as  well.  A  duty  which  devolved 
upon  thorn  was  jjonsonal  consideration  of  the  ques^ 
tion  of  registration. 

Lord  Amptliiir.s  address  was  greeted  with  en- 
thusiastic applau.se,  after  which  Airs.  Kerr  ex- 
pressc<l  the  sincere  r<'gret  of  all  her  fellow  workers 
at  the  loss  of  Miss  Bell,   who  was  leaving  the  In- 


firmaiy   to  take  up  the  important   appointment  of 
Matron  to  the  Mellwurne  Hospital. 

Jlr.  W.  B.  Blaikie,  in  moving  a  vote  of  thanks 
to  Lord  Ampthill,  .said  it  was  a  great  satisfaction 
to  him  to  know  that  they  had  added  a  new  Nurses' 
Home  to  the  Institution,  that  they  bad  increased 
the  dining-room  accommodation,  and  that  there  had 
been  instituted  a  pension  scheme,  inadequate  to  the 
services  of  the  profession,  but  less  inadequate  than 
any  ix^nsion  given  to  the  nui-ses  hitherto. 

The  Lord  Provost  was  thanked  for  presiding  on 
the  motion  of  Colonel  Warburton. 

FAREWELL  TO  MISS  BELL 

Aftet'  the  prize  giving  the  company  adjourned  to 
the  dining-room  for  tea,  and  greatly  admired  th^ 
proix)rtioiis  of  the  room,  which  has  been  recently 
much  enlarged,  and  was  re-oi>ened  on  the  occasion. 
The  whole  staff  of  nurses  came  to  tea  in  reJajiS, 
and  after  it  was  over  a  very  interesting  little  cere- 
mony took  place,  when  the  different  grades  of 
nui:ses  presented  addresses  and  a  beautiful  bouquet 
of  pink  carnations  and  white  heather  to  Miss  Bell, 
who  was  on  the  eve  of  leaving  for  her  journey  to 
Austiialia,  tliere  to  enter  on  her  new  appointment 
as  Lady  Suj)erintendent  of  the  Alelbourne  Hospital. 
The  nurses,  who  much  regretted  Miss  Bell's  de- 
parture, would  like  to  have  given  her  some  more 
substantial  proof  of  their  esteem  and  regret  had  the 
regulations  of  the  hospital  with  regard  to  collect- 
ing for  gifts  permitted  it. 

THE    NEW    PENSION    SCHEME. 

We  are  informed  that  with  regard  to  the  remark 
of  Mr.  Blaikie  re  the  pension  .scheme  for  nurses, 
it  should  be  explained  that  the  Managers  have  re- 
cently altered  the  existing  pension  scheme,  and 
that  under  the  new  scheme,  which  is  non-contribu- 
tory, Sisters  on  retiring  at  the  age  limit  of  55 
years,  will  receive  a  pen.sion  of    £40   per  annum. 


territorial   IRurses   at   tbc 
flDansion  H^onsc. 


The  Reception  at  the  Mansion  House  of  the 
Territorial  Force  Nursing  Service  of  the  City  and 
County  of  London,  on  Monday  evening  last,  was  a 
most  delightful  function,  and  the  hospitality  was 
on  the  generous  scale  for  which  the  Mansion  House 
is  renowned. 

The  guests  were  received  by  the  Lord  Mayor  and 
the  Lady  Mayoress,  who  was  a  most  charming 
hostess,  a  guard  of  honour  being  formed  by  ser- 
geants from  the  First  Division,  R..\.M.C.  The 
Lady  Mayoress  was  assisted  by  the  following  mem- 
bers of  the  Entertainment  Committee:  Lady  Dims- 
dale.  Lady  Mackinnon,  Lady  Ellis,  Airs.  George 
Bvron,  Mrs,  Bedford  Fenwick,  Miss  Sidney 
Browne,  R.R,C,  (Matron-in-Chicf,  T,F,N,S.),  Miss 
Cioodhuc  (Hon.  Secretary),  Colonel  Broome-Giles, 
Colonel  Harrison,  and  Colonel  Campbell  Hyslop. 
The  nurses  were  with  few  exceptions  in  indoor 
uniform,  and  looked  very  neat  and  trim,  the  red 
Army  cape  worn  by  some  adding  a  touch  of  mili- 
tary briglitness  to  the  scene. 

A  varied  and   <lelightful  entertainment  was  ar- 


Oct.   ]•'.,    lOldj 


he  5Si-itii?b  3onrnal  of  "HAursino. 


;,5i3 


2ud  Battalion  C'itv  of  Loiulun  Kogiiiioiit.  Uoyal 
Fusiliers  (Tcrritoiial)  woro  in  attondaiR'e,  and, 
conducted  by  Mr.  Tyler,  L.H.A.M.,  played  most 
inspiriting  and  delightful  music.  Amongst  those 
who  at  some  personal  inconvenience,  sometimes  be- 
t\een  other  engagements,  kindly  gave  their  ser- 
vices to  add  to  the  pleasure  of  the  evening,  were 
Miss  Aimee  Shergold  (,by  kind  permission  of  the 
Royal  Opera),  whose  first  song,  "  Melisando  in  tlie 
Woo<l,"  was  exquisitely  rendered,  and  who  later 
iu  the  e-.ening  sang  "  The  Land  of  Hope  and 
Glory,"'  with  the  refrain  in  which  those  present 
joined   most   lieartily. 

"  Land  of  Hope  and  Glory,  Mother  of  the  Free, 
How  shall  we  extol  thee  who  are  born  of  thee? 
Mightier  still  and  mightier  shall  thy  bounds  be  set ; 
God  who  made  thee  miglity,    make  thee  mightier 
yet." 

Miss  Margaret  Cooper's  charming  rendering  of  a 
coon  song  and  other  songs  was  most  enthusiastically 
received.  Professor  Anders  gave  some  wonder- 
fully clever  illustrations  of  sleight  of  hand,  and 
later  in  the  evening  amazed  everyone  by  his  mar- 
vellous scientific  thought  reading.  "  The  Terri- 
torial Army,"  by  AuscaJ  Tate,  most  exceKently 
rendered,  was  greatly  appreciated,  and  "  La 
Maison  Grise,"  and  "  Mattinati,"  sung  by  Mr. 
Bertram  Binyon,  were  a  rare  treat.  Mr.  L.  Paul 
caused  great  amusement  with  his  marionette 
'' Tintacks,''  which  sang  "The  Old  Brigade,"  and 
much  diverted  the  audience  by  his  apt  remarks  and 
rei-artee.  Miss  Eva  Moore's  recitation  of  the 
tragic  story  of  little  Jim   was  delightful. 

In  the  course  of  the  evening  Lady  Dimsdalc  as 
Vicp-Cliairraan  of  the  Committee  made  a  short 
speech  in  which  she  told  the  nurses  that  for  a  long 
time  the  Executive  Committee  had  wished  to  come 
into  touch  with  them.  Directly  it  was  .sug- 
gested that  this  should  be  arranged  the  Lady 
Slayoress  came  forward  and  offered  that  the  Recep- 
tion should  be  held  at  the  Mansion  House.  She 
was  sure  that  all  the  nurses  present  would  wish 
t  1  join  with  her  in  saying  how  very  grateful  they 
were  to  the  Lady  Mayoress  for  giving  the  Recep- 
tion, and  to  the  ladies  and  gentleman  who  had  so 
kindly  come  down  to  entertain  them.  Lady  Dims- 
dale's  speech  was  received  witJi  applause. 

As  the  evening  proceeded  detachments  of  the 
guests  found  their  way  to  the  supper  room,  where 
a  most  inviting  repast  was  provided,  and  when 
Miss  Goodhue  looked  after  the  welfare  of  every- 
one. 

Amongst  those  present  were  a  number  of  Matrons 
who  hold  official  positions  in  this  Xur.sing  Service, 
including  Miss  Rav  (King's),  ^fiss  Lloyd  Still  (Mid- 
dlesex), Miss  McCall  Anderson,  R.R.C.  (St. 
George's).  Miss  Cox  Davies  (Royal  Free),  Miss 
Finch  (L'niversity),  Miss  Davies  (St.  Mary's), 
Miss  Barton  (Chelsea),  also  Miss  Cutler,  Miss  Mar- 
con,  Mrs.  Wates  (St.  Bartholomew's).  In  all, 
some  400  nurses  were  present,  and  much  pleasure 
was  expressed  at  the  official  recognition  extended 
to  the  members  of  the  Service,  and  at  the  gracious- 
ness  and  cordiality  of  their  reception  by  the  Lady 
Mayoress. 


pvactical  ipoints. 

An     Italian     correspondent 
The  Sterilised        of  the  Lam-ct  writes  that  the 
Train.  "  Araministrazione  delle  Fer- 

rovio  <li  Stato "  is  laud- 
ably engaged  m  providing  for  the  comfort 
of  the  passenger  and  also  for  his  protection 
from  ri.sk  to  health.  In  txyth  '  resiX'Cts  there 
has  hitherto  been  much  to  l>e  desired ;  but  in 
blie  latter,  with  the  cholera  scare  menacing  the 
mainland  and  islands,  the  neces-sity  for  increased 
vigilance  in  the  prevention  of  contagious  or  in- 
fective disease  is,  literally,  a  prima  cnra.  To  en- 
sure the  custom  of  the  paying  traveller  who  is 
also  a  paying  guest,  there  mu.st  be  rigorous  ex- 
clusion of  that  other  type  of  traveller  and  guest 
(■■  non-paying  "  in  every  sense!)  which  has  hither- 
to found  a  place,  particularly  in  first  class  car- 
riages— the  microbe,  to  wit,  as  protean  in  its  form 
a?  it  is  noxious  in  its  effects.  "The  padded  arm- 
chairs," according  to  a  sub-alpine  authority  on 
'  hygiene,  ''  are  quite  a  preserve  or  hot-bed  of  ani- 
malcule life,  abounding  in  bacteria,  cocci,  vi- 
briones,  spirochset^,  to  mention  a  few  varieties, 
whose  contact  with  the  passenger,  prolonged  for 
hours  by  day  and  night,  is  about  as  risky  an  ex- 
perience as  he  can  encounter."  With  the  head 
resting  on  a  cushion  surcharged  with  these  mi- 
crobes (the  previous  "  fare  "  having  often  im- 
parted a  contribution  of  his  own),  the  unsuspecting 
passenger  exposes  himself  to  infection  of  every 
kind,  resulting  often  enough  (according  to  the 
medical  authority  above  referred  to)  in  "  precoce 
calvizie "  (premature  baldness)  from  continued 
pressure  against  the  said  cushion,  while  courting, 
among  other  bacilli,  that  of  tuberculosis  or  of 
diphtheria  itself.  The  overheating  of  the  train, 
the  indisposition,  not  to  say  the  positive  resistance, 
of  the  Continental,  particularly  the  Teutonic,  fel- 
low passenger  to  the  admi.ssion  of  fresh  air,  main- 
tains a  temperature  at  which  bacilli  of  every  kind 
are  at  their  maximum  of  infectivity.  To  this  cause 
was  attributed  during  the  last  winter  and  spring 
in  Italy  the  increase  of  victims  to  influenza,  many 
of  whom  traced  their  having  contracted  it  to  a  six 
or  seven  hours'' journey  in  a  stifling  atmosphere, 
itself  a  "  blend  "  of  all  manner  of  infective  agen- 
cies. "  To  travel  under  conditions  hygienically 
sound,  in  a  carriage  '  batteriologicamente  puro,' 
such  is  the  sine  qua  non  of  railway  transit." 

The     ordinary     method     of 
Right  Method  of     gargling  being  admittedly  very 
Gargling.  unsatisfactory,  save  as  regards 

the  tonsils,  the  soft  palate, 
the  uvula,  and  perhaps  the  back  of  the  pharynx  at 
the  level  of  the  mouth,  Dr.  Richter  suggests  in  the 
M'd'ual  Ttecord  a  method  of  gargling  which,  he 
asserts,  will  thoroughly  cleanse  the  nasopharynx 
and  also  the  nose.  The  head  should  be  bent  as 
far  backward  as  possible  and  the  tongue  protruded. 
In  this  position  an  attempt  is  made  to  swallon'the 
gargling  fluid,  which  causes  it  to  well  \ipward  into 
the  upper  nasopharynx  and  nostrils,  when  by  sud- 
denly throwing  the  head  forward  with  the  mouth 
closed  the  fluid  runs  out  of  the  nostrils,  thoroughly 
washing  the  entire  passages. 


314 


^bc  Britisb  3ournaI  of  IRursing. 


[Oct.  15,   1910 


appointments. 

Lady  Scperiniendeni. 

Bromhead  Institution  (or  Nurses,  Lincoln. — Miss  Susan 
Mary  Somerset  has  been  appointed  Lady  Superin- 
tendent. She  was  trained  at  tie  London  Hospital, 
E.,  where  she  has  recently  held  the  position  of  As- 
sistant Sister-in-Charge  of  the  private  nursing 
etafi. 

Matrons. 
West  Suffolk  General  Hospital,  Bury  St.  Edmunds. — Misa 
S.  A.  Brown  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  the  AVest  London  Hospital,  Hammer- 
smith, and  has  held  the  iwsition  of  ^'ight  Superin- 
tendent and  Assistant  Matron  at  the  Royal  Infir- 
mary, Bradford. 

Emergency  Hospital,  llford. — Miss  Lilian  Davies  has 
been  appointed  Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the 
London  Hospital,  E.,  where  she  has  held  the  posi- 
tion of  Sister. 

Dundee  Royal  Infirmary.  -Miss  Flora  G.  Pegg  has  been 
appointed  Matron.  She  was  trained  at  Guy's  Hos- 
pital, Loudon,  and  has  held  the  following  posi- 
tions:— Charge  Xui-se,  Xew  Hospital  for  Women, 
London ;  Staff  Nurse,  Netley  House  Nursing  Home, 
London;  Theatre  Sister,  Home  Sister,  and  Ma- 
tron's Deputy,  Wolverhampton  and  Staffordshire 
General  Hospital,  3 J  years;  Matron  and  Superin- 
tendent of  Nurses,  Salop  Infirmary,  Shrewsbury, 
4  years ;  and  present  position  Matron  and  Super- 
intendent of  Nurses,  the  District  Hospital,  West 
Bromwich,  held  over  3J  years. 

Frere  Hospital,  East  London,  South  Africa. — Miss  E. 
Clare  Jones  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Loudon  Hospital,  E.,  where  she  has 
been  Staff  Nurse.  Miss  Jones  has  experience  in 
mental  nursing  and  massage. 

SiSTEBS 
North       Lonsdale       Hospital,       Barrow-in-Furness Miss 

Esther  Brander  has  been  appointed  Sister  in 
Male  Wards.  She  was  trained  at  the  Royal  In- 
firmary, Aberdeen,  and  at  the  Knightswood  Hos- 
pital, Glasgow,  and  has  held  the  position  of  Sister 
at  the  General  Hospital,  Stroud.  She  has  also  had 
midwifery  training. 

Rqyal  Eye  Hospital,  Manchester. — Miss  Mary  Melville 
has  been  appointed  Sister.  She  was  trained  at  the 
Bt.otle  Borough  Hospital,  and  has  held  the  posi- 
tion of  Assistant  Nurse  at  the  Royal  Hospital, 
Chelsea,  and  the  Royal  London  Ophthalmic  Hos- 
pital, City  Road,  E.C. 

Ooncaster  Royal  Infirmary — Miss  A.  E.  Billington 
nnd  Miss  A.  E.  King  have  been  appointed  Sisters. 
Both  ladies  received  their  training  at  the  General 
Infirmary,  Leeds. 

ffledical  College  Hospital,  Calcutta. —Miss  Bell  Wright, 
traine<l  at  the  London  Hospital,  and  formerly 
Assistant  Home  Sister,  and  Miss  Craddock,  trained 
at  the  same  institution,  and  formerly  Holiday 
Sister,  have  boon  appointed  Senior  Nursing  Sist«rs 
at  the  Medical  College  Hospital,  Calcutta. 
Night  Sister. 

Fylde  Joint  Hospital,  Lytham.  — Aliss  Marion  Lewis 
Dagg  has  been  npi>oiiitcd  Night  Si.ster.  Slie  was 
trained"  at  the  Cruinpsall  Infirmary,  Manohestor, 
and  the  Fylde  Joint  Hospital,  Lythniii,  and  has 
hpo'i   «taff  Niir.<ie  at  the  Fever  Hospital,  Stoke-on- 


Trent,   and   Sistor  at    the    Sanatorium,     Hudders- 
field. 

School  Nurse. 
Cheshire  Education  Committee.  — MIm  Ada  Pritchard 
has  been  appointed  School  Nurse.  She  was  trained 
at  the  Mill  Road  Infirmary,  Liverpool,  where  she 
i>  at  present  working,  and  has  had  experience  of 
children's  nursing  at  the  Children's  Hospital,  Wal- 
ton Workhouse,  Liverpool. 


QUEEN    ALEXANDRAS    IMPERIAL    MILITARY 
NURSING   SERVICE. 

The  following  ladies  have  received  appointments 
as  Staff  Nurse: — Miss  M.  Jackson,  Miss  M.  L. 
Scott,  Miss  D.  J.  Macgregor,  Miss  V.  S.  Newman, 
Miss  E.  Griffiths,  Miss  E.  F.  Roberts,  Miss  C.  W. 
Mann,  Miss  G.  St.  G.  Home,  Miss  I.  M.  Wlyte. 

Postings  and  Transfers. — Matrons :  Miss  A.  S. 
Bond,  to  Egypt,  from  Military  Hospital,  Colches- 
ter. Sisters:  Miss  E.  M.  Lyde,  to  Egj'pt,  from 
Military  Hospital,  Tidworth ;  Miss  M.  E.  M.  Grier- 
son,  to  Egypt,  from  the  Queen  Alexandra  Mili- 
tary Hospital,  London,  S.W. 


QUEEN   VICTORIA'S  JUBILEE    INSTITUTE 
FOR     NURSES. 

Traiisjcrs  and  Appointments. — Miss  Alice 
Mitchell  is  appointed  Senior  Nurse,  Hanley ;  Miss 
Florence  Wheelwright,  to  Shoreditch;  Miss  A. 
Marion  Gibbs,  to  Heavitree ;  Miss  Maria  Laten- 
steiii,  to  Sick  Room  Helps;  Miss  Laura  Lockie,  to 
Coventry;  Miss  Gertrude  Green,  to  King's  Lynn; 
Miss  Katheriue  Lyne,  to   Newbury. 


PRESENTATIONS. 
Before  leaving  Lynn  to  take  up  her  present  posi- 
tion of  Superintendent  of  the  new  Nursing  Home 
at  Exeter,  Miss  Alice  Watson,  of  the  Lynn  Nursing 
Association,  who  was  most  jwpular,  was  presented 
with  some  charming  gifts.  These  included  a  silver 
tea-pot,  sug^r  basin,  and  cream  jug  on  an  oak 
tray  mounted  with  silver,  and  a  dozen  silver  tea- 
spoons and  sugar  tongs  in  a  leather  case.  The  tea- 
pot was  inscribed: — ''  Presented  to  Nurse  Watson 
by  her  friends  and  patients  in  King's  Lynn  as  a 
token  of  their  appreciation  of  her  excellent  work, 
1903-1910."  The  tea-pot,  sugar-basin,  and  cream- 
jug  bore  the  recipient's  initials. 

Tlie  Cheadle  and  Gatley  Nursing  Association  have 
presented  to  Miss  Smethurst  a  cheque  for  £110  and 
a  gold  watch,  accompanied  by  an  illuminated  ad- 
dress signed  by  leading  residents,  as  a  recognition 
of  twenty  years'  devoted  service  amongst  the  sick 
ixx)r  in  the  district  in  which  the  Association  work. 
The  Conimitt<?e  have  expressed  a  desire  that 
the  money  should  lie  u.sod  to  .start  a  fund  to  buy  an 
annuity  for  Miss  Smethurst  when  she  is  no  longer 
able  to  work — a  time  which  they  hope  may  be  far 
distant. 

Miss  E.  M.  Macdougall,  Sister  of  Ward 
.32  at  the  Glasgow  Royal  Infirmary,  to  which  ward 
the  men  injurtni  in  burning  and  scalding  accidents 
and  pit  explosions  are  oonveye<l,  on  the  occasion 
of  her  kMiving  Glasgow,  has  been  prcsent'cd  with  a 
cn.skot  of  silver-mounted  toilet  requisites  inscribed : 
"  Subscribed  for,  and  presented  to.  Nurse  E.  M. 
Macdougall  as  a  mark  of  appreciation  from  working 
men." 


Oct.  15,   1910] 


Cbc  iBritiC'b  journal  of  IRursinQ. 


3i: 


IRuisinfl  ]£cl)OC0. 

The  first  meeting  of  the 
Imperial  Memorial  to  the 
late  Miss  Florence  Nightin- 
gale, O.il.,  will  take  place  at 
Grosvenor  House,  by  permis- 
sion of  the  Duke  of  Westmin- 
ster, at  3  p.m.  on  Friday, 
October  28th.  Admission 
will  be  by  invitation,  but  ap- 
plication for  cards  should 
bo  addressed  to  the  hon.  sec, 
Florence  Nightingale  Memo- 
rial, 47b,  Welbeck  Street,  Cavendish  Square, 
W.  This  does  not  necessarily  exclude  p  nurses' 
memorial. 


A  very  useful  couree  of  lectures,  specially 
organised  in  the  interests  of  women  desirous  of 
qualifying  as  School  Nurses  or  Health  Visitors 
by  the  Koyal  Institute  of  Public  Health,  37, 
Russell  Square,  W.C,  will  commence  on  Tues- 
day, October  18th,  at  7  p.m.,  of  which  full  par- 
ticulars may  be  obtained  from  the  Hon.  Secre- 
tary, Dr.  James  Cantlie,  at  the  above  address. 
An  examination  will  be  held  at  the  conclusion 
of  the  course,  and  certificates  granted  to  suc- 
cessful candidates.  As  the  certificate  of  the 
Institute  is  recognised  by  the  Local  Govern- 
ment Board  in  connection  with  appointments 
as  Health  Visitors  made  under  its  authority  its 
importance  to  those  desirous  of  obtaining  such 
appointments  is  evident. 


Amongst  the  proposals  for  a  memorial  to  the 
late  King,  Mr.  Charles  E.  Newbon,  a  leading 
liveryman  of  the  City  of  Loudon,  has  addressed 
a  suggestion  to  the  Lord  ]\Iayor  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  hospital  or  hostel  for  the  middle 
classes.  Mr.  Newbon  states  that  "an  un- 
doubted need  exists  for  such  an  institution,  and 
its  provision  was  favoured  by  his  Majesty  a 
short  time  before  his  lamented  death."  The 
method  of  bringing  skilled  nursing  within  the 
reach  of  the  middle  classes  is  an  urgent  pro- 
blem. At  present  it  is  certain  that  the  poor 
are  far  better  provided  for. 

The  Chairman  of  the  London  Hospital  lays 
down  the  law  concerning  the  training  of  nurses 
in  the  London  Hospital  Gazette,  but  does  little 
to  disabuse  the  minds  of  just  persons  of  their 
conviction  that  with  short  term  training 
the  London  Hospital  undersells  the  three 
years'  certificate  nurse,  a  breach  of  honourable 
dealing  with  the  nursing  profession,  which 
would  not  be  tolerated  in  any  legally  consti- 
tuted profession  of  men  or  well-organised  trade. 


have  urged  the  London  Hospital  Committee  to 
make  enquiries  concerning  the  private  nursing 
business  for  which  they  are  responsible.  Mr. 
Holland  accuses  the  trained  imrses,  who  object 
to  the  unfair  competition  of  short  term  training 
of  "  making  capital  out  of  attacking  our  train- 
ing school. ' '  We  may  remind  him  and  hia  very 
astute  committee  that  after  they  have  sub- 
tracted 100  per  cent,  on  their  private  nurses' 
earnings  capital  is  at  vanishing  point. 


Mr.  Holland  concludes  :  — ' '  If  I  were  not  too 
full  of  the  Harrogate  sulphur  water  to  smile  at 
anything  I  could  smile  at  the  noisy  screechings 
of  those  who  are  jealous  of  our  success." 
Surely  that  private  nursing  balance  sheet, 
with  its  cosy  little  surplus  of  £9,500,  has  power 
to  tickle  his  risible  faculties?  Especially  as 
nurses  are  now  being  invited  to  find  the  funds 
to  build  themselves  an  almshouse  to  which  to 
retire  in  their  impoveiished  old  age. 

The  nursing  staff  of  the  Genera^  Infirmary, 
Leeds,  are  to  be  congratulated  on  the  presence 
of  mind  and  good  discipline  they  displayed  on 
the  morning  of  Oct.  7th,  when  a  fire  broke  out 
in  the  wing  containing  the  children's  ward,  the 
roof  of  which  fell  in  and  was  completely  de- 
stroyed. 


At  seven  o'clock  a  fireman  appeared  in  the 
children's  ward,  containing  thirty  cots,  and 
quietly  communicated  to  a  nurse  on  duty  that 
thf-  roof  was  ablaze  and  the  ward  must  be 
cleared.  Quickly  more  nurses  entered  the  ward 
and  set  about  the  work  of  removal,  and  in  reply 
to  the  inquiry  of  an  older  child  as  to  what  was 
the  matter,  a  nurse  replied  with  a  smile,  "  You 
are  all  going  to  another  ward."  With  the 
utmost  celerity  and  confidence  they  carried  out 
the  work,  in  which  porters,  maids,  dressers, 
and  doctors  assisted,  under  the  burning  roof 
which  they  knew  to  be  a  mass  of  flames,  the 
svme  work  of  rescue  being  carried  on  simul- 
taneously in  other  wards.  The  hissing  of  water, 
and  crackling  of  old  beams  warned  them  to  re- 
double their  efforts,  and  the  outer  roof  had  fal- 
len in  and  flames  were  shooting  down  through 
the  ceiling  as  the  nurses  earned  out  the  last 
little  patient  with  the  calmness  which  charac- 
terised their  work  throughout,  and  the  brief 
notice  affixed  to  the  gate  of  the  lufimiary,  "  All 
patients  are  safe,"  was  testimony  to  the  fact 
that  those  tried  in  the  ordeal  had  not  been 
found  wanting. 


We  are  glad  to  know  that  recent  criticisms 


The  incident  makes  Httle  stir.  T?he  public 
have  confidence  that  nurses  will  do  their  duty, 
and  the  nurses  would  be  the  first  to  own  that 
they  did  no  more.  But  let  the  public  con- 
sider what  the  work  of  rescue  iipplied.     Not 


316 


Zhc  Britisb  3ournaI  of  iRiirslng. 


[Oct.   15,   1910 


courage  alone,  in  which  women,  trained  or  un- 
trained, are  rarely  found  wanting,  but  discip- 
line, order,  precision,  without  which  the  pa- 
tients could  not  have  been  removed  in  the  few 
minutes  available  before  the  roof  fell. 


IReflcctions. 


The  Victoria  and  Bournemouth  Nurses' 
League  are  organising  a  sale  of  work  in  order 
to  raise  by  their  own  efforts,  and  those  of  their 
friends,  a  sum  of  money  to  be  added  to  the 
emergency  fund  to  which  members  of  the 
League  subscribe,  in  order  to  be  able  to  help 
their  fellow  members  in  any  sudden  trouble  or 
distress  which  may  overtake  them.  The  Emer- 
gency Fund  was  started  almost  as  soon  as  the 
League  was  formed,  but  so  many  of  the  mem- 
bers have  been  laid  aside  by  illness  that  its 
slender  resources  have  been  heavily  taxed. 
The  sale  will  take  place  at  the  Havergal  Hall 
on  February  16th  next,  and  Miss  Forrest,  Vic- 
toria Nurses'  Home,  4,  Cambridge  Eaad, 
Bournemouth,  will  gladly  receive  contributions 
for  sale.  Miss  F.  H.  Walker  is  tlie  Chairman 
of  the  Organising  Committee,  and  Sister  Dob- 
bin Secretary. 


The  Nurses'  Home  of  the  Exeter  District 
Nursing  Association,  22,  Dix's  Field,  Exeter, 
which  is  in  affiliation  with  Queen  Victoria's 
Jubilee  Institute  for  Nurses  was  opened 
recently  •  by  the  Eight  Worshipful  the 
Mayor,  Mr.  Henry  Wippell.  •  The  work  is  to  be 
conducted  on  a  provident  basis,  and  we  are 
glad  to  record  that  the  Mayor  emphasised  the 
fact  that  the  nurses  who  have  been  appointed 
are  fully  qualified  Queen's  nurses.  The  Super- 
intendent is  Miss  Alice  Watson,  and  she  will  be 
assisted  by  Miss  A.  S.  Bamett  and  Miss  A.  K. 
Baubhurst.  Dr.  Davy  congratulated  the 
Mayor  and  Mayoress  on  the  opening  of  the 
Home,  which,  he  said,  was  their  idea,  and  ilr. 
H  E.  Duke,  M.P.,  said  that  a  wonderful  work 
had  been  started  under  the  best  possible 
auspices. 


In  an  address  on  the  Super-Nurse  delivered 
by  Dr.  Pcarce-Bailcy  to  the  graduating  class  of 
the  Cockran  Training  School  for  Nurses,  Yon- 
kers,  N.Y.,  he  urged  them  to  cultivate  the 
spirit  of  optimism.  "  Hold  high  the  torch  of 
hope  for  yourself  and  others.  .  Encourage- 
ment has  a  higher  percentage  of  cures  to  its  cre- 
dit tlwn  serum  therapy,  and  cheerfulness  ha« 
prevented  more  disease  than  antiseptics.  Op- 
timism is  a  pride  in  our  accomplishments  which 
justifies  confidence  in  our  future."  It  is  this 
spirit  wliicli  has  inspired  the  leaders  of  the  re- 
gistration ])olicy  all  these  years. 


From  a  Board  Room  Mirror. 
Tho  King  and  Queen  have  become  patrons  of  the 
Queen  Victoria  Memorial  Hospital,  Nice,  and  the 
King  has  become  patron  of  the  Royal  National 
Sanatorium  for  Consumption  and  Diseases  of  the 
Chest,   Bournemouth. 

Mr.  John  Burns,  President  of  the  Local  Grovern- 
ment  Board,  will  oi^en  the  Wandsworth  new  Im- 
firmary  on  November  26th. 


At  the  annual  dinner  of  the  old  students  of  St. 
Thomas's  Hospital,  the  •  Treasurer,  Mr.  Wain- 
wright,  said  that  during  the  last  20  years  five 
empty  wards  had  been  filled,  two  children's  wards 
had  been  added,  and  a  debt  of  about  £40,000  had 
been  wiped  out.  That  day  a  new  maternity  ward 
had  been  opened.  They  were  troubled  by  the  very 
unsatisfactory  condition  of  the  out-jjatient  depart- 
ment, which  stood  as  it  did  in  1871.  Since  then 
all  the  other  departments  had  been  reorganised 
and  amplified.  To  make  that  department  as  it 
should  be  a  sum  of  about  £40,000  would  be  re- 
quired. 


In  connection  with  the  Town  Planning  Confer- 
ence, whicli  opened  on  Monday,  an  extensive  in- 
ternational exhibition  has  been  arrange<i  at  the 
Roval  Academy,  dnd  will  be  on  view  till  October 
22nd. 

Lady  Curzon-Howe,  who  was  accompanied  by 
Admiral  the  Hon.  Sir  A.  Cuxzon-Howe,  Comman- 
der-in-Chief, recently  opened  the  Nurses'  Home  at 
thfc  Royal  Portsmouth,  Portsea,  and  Gosport  Hos- 
pital. The  home,  which  forms  the  Portsmouth 
memorial  to  King  Edward,  provides  accommoda- 
tion for  53  nurses. 


The  treasurer  of  the  Royal  Halifax  Infirmary  has 
received  from  an  anonymous  donor  £1,000  for  the 
endowment  of  an  adult  bed.  At  a  recent  meeting 
of  the  Board  of  Management  £1,000  was  fixed  as 
the  sum  for  the  endowment  of  a  bed  or  cot  in  any 
of  the  wards,  and  the  gift  just  received  is  the  first 
that  lias  been  made  for  the  special  endowment  of 
an   adult  bed. 


Tho  magnificent  improvement  that  has  just  been 
completed  by  the  City  of  Westminster  in  the  light- 
ing of  all  the  streets  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Ken- 
sington Road  is  being  generally  commented  upon 
by  tho  residents  of  that  district  on  their  return 
to  town.  The  road  from  Knightsbridgo  Barracks 
to  Queen's  Gate  is  now  so  beautifully  and  evenly 
lighted,  with  an  entire  absence  of  glare,  that  it 
may  well  bo  described  as  one  of  the  best  lit  streets 
in  tho  world.  The  lighting  is  being  done  by  in- 
verted incandcsient  gas  burners,  the  tender  of  the 
electric  light  coniixinies  luiving  boon  GO  per  cent, 
higher  than  that  of  the  Gas  Light  and  Coke  Com- 
pany, w-ho  are  carrying  out  the  work. 


Oct.  lo.  uno- 


Cbc  aSiitisb  3om'nal  of  IHursing. 


817 


Z\K  lboi?pital  lUol•l^. 

CENTRAL  LONDON    SICK  ASYLUM,  HENDON 

The  Central  Loudon  Sick  Asylum  at  HiuJon, 
provided,  in  addition  to  the  asylum  in  Cleve- 
land Street,  for  the  care  and  treatment  of  the 
sick  poor  in  some  of  the  most  congested  areas 
in  London,  is  a 
fine  building  set 
in  the  midst  of 
country  sun-ound- 
ings,  and  swept 
by  the  pure  and 
health-giving  air 
which  blows  over 
Dollis  Hill  and 
H  e  n  d  on.  I  n- 
deed,  once  the 
patients  are  ad- 
mitted to  the 
Hendon  Infirmai-y 
they  seem  to  take 
on  a  new  lease  of 
life,  and  to  live 
ob  in  a  manner 
which      speaks 

volumes  for  the  care  and  attention  which  they 
receive. 

In  designing  and  equipping  the  building 
every  care  has  been  taken  to  bring  it  into  line 
with  modern  hospital  requirements.      Indeed, 


looui.  ;imJ  kitchen,  besides  a  small  -ward  in 
which  cases  unsuitable  for  tlie  general  wanU 
are  nursed.  The  later  wards,  which  are  ar- 
ranged on  the  pavilion  plan,  so  that  the  maxi- 
nuim  of  fresh  air,  light,  and  sunshine  ar.' 
secured,  are  bright  and  cheery  places  for  side 
people,  and  they  open  on  to  verandahs  or  bal- 
copies  on  whicii 
as  many  of  tln' 
patients  as  possi- 
ble lie  or  sit  out 
during  the  day- 
t  i  111  e.  Each 
ward  has  two 
baths,  a  more 
hheral  supply 
than  that  pro- 
vided in  the 
wai-ds  of  general 
hospitals  of  simi- 
lar size. 

The  Nurses' 
Home  is  a  separ- 
ate building,  con- 
nected with  the 
Infirm  a  i-y  by  a 
way,  by  which  means  the 
going  to  and  fro  get  the 
benefit  of  the  fresh  breezes.  The  Home 
is  designed  with  commendable  considera- 
tion   for   the    comfort    of    the     nurses,     who 


WARD. 

covered 
nurses 


NURSES     PLAYING     TENNIS      AND      CROQUET. 


many  Metropolitan  hospitals  have  not  the  con- 
veniences which  are  possible  in  an  institution 
further  from  the  centre  of  London,  where  land 
is  of  fabultJiis  value.  Thus,  annexed  to  each 
\\;tr.\    ■,};■  ]t<  own   spacious  linen-room,    store- 


have  a  spacious  and  comfortably  fuj'nished  sit- 
ting-room, as  well  as  a  smaller  room  m  which 
those  who  wish  to  write  or  study  can  be 
assured  of  cjuiet.  On  the  ground  floor  also,  at 
the  end  of  the  polished  corridor,  is  a  sick-room, 


318 


^be  Br(ti6b  3ournal  of  iRursinG, 


[Oct.   15,   1910 


where  sick  nurses  are  cared  for  and,  if  neces- 
sary, isolated.  Should  they  prove  to  be  suffer- 
ing from  an  infectious  disease,  they  can  be  re- 
moved without  passing  through  the  home. 
Each  nurse — probationers  included — has  a 
separate  bedroom,  and  very  trim  and  cosy 
these  sanctums  are.  It  is  difficult  for  nurses 
ill  these  more  fortunate  days  to  realise  how 
some  of  their  predecessors  suffered  from  the 
lack  of  privacy  and  quiet  resulting  from  sharing 
a  bedroom  with  others. 

When  we  visited  the  kitchen,  where  the 
cooking  is  done  for  300  patients  as  well  as  for 
the  staff,  the  preparation  of  dinner  was  in  pro- 
gress, but  nevertheless  everything  was  in 
apple-pie  order,  reflecting  the  greatest  credit 
on  the  domestic  supervision  and  on  the  manage- 
ment of  the  cook  responsible  for  its  control. 

The  Infii-mary  has  also  its  own  laundry  in 
the  grounds,  provided  with  every  modem 
appliance,  and  the  snowy  aprons  of  the  nursing 
staff  and  their  neat,  well-laundered  caps  afford 
a  practical  demonstration  of  the  efficiency  of 
this  department.  Indeed,,  high  standards  are 
evident  throughout  both  the  nursing  and 
domestic  departments,  a  testimony  to  the  able 
administration  of  the  capable  and  much-re- 
spected Matron,  Miss  Elma  Smith. 

Our  second  illustration  shows  that  the  nurs- 
ing staff'  have  every  opportunity  to  indulge  in 
outdoor  six>rts. 

On  Friday,  October  7th,  on  the  invitation 
of  its  President,  Miss  Elma  Smith,  Mrs. 
Bedford  Fenwick  addressed  the  Hendon 
Branch  of  the  Central  London  Sick  Asylum 
Nurses'  League,  on  the  subject  of  Nursing 
Organisation  and  State  Registration.  Other 
nurses  in  the  neigEbourhood  had  also  been  in- 
vited, and  a  very  interested  audience  listened 
attentively  to  an  address  which  might  have 
lasted  even  longer  but  for  the  imperative 
claims  of  patients,  to  whom  some  nurses  had 
to  hurry  back. 

In  introducing  Mrs.  Fenwick,  the  President 
said :  — 

I  need  hardly  say  with  what  great  pleasure 
1  introduce  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  to  our 
League  of  Nurses.  This  is  the  first  time  Mre. 
Fenwick  has  honoured  Hendon  with  a  visit, 
and  so  I  should  like  to  give  her 
M  most  hearty  welcome  from  ue  all.  We 
all  know  her '  as  one  of  the  hard- 
est workers  for  the  good  of  the  nursing 
profession,  and  a  pioneer  of  nursing  reform. 
We  also  know  with  what  unbounded  energy 
she  is  prepared  at  all  times  to  take  up  any 
fresh  piece  of  work  which  cQmes  to  hand,  and 
so  she  has  come  here  to  fell  us  what  is  being 
(lone  as  regards  State  Registration  and  the. 
^ir^niii'.TitifiM  .,f  inir!=ing,  and  no  one  will  dispute 


that  she  can  tell  us  more  about  this  subject 
than  any  one  else  who  could  come  here  for 
that  pui-pose.  She  is  an  indefatigable  worker 
herself,  she  has  all  the  details  of  the  work  at 
her  fingers'  ends,  and  is  always  ready  to  im- 
part her  knowledge  to  others.  We  ourselves 
are  a  very  youthful  organisation  but  a  very 
hopeful  one,  and  we  are  all  anxious  to  get 
forward  and  do  the  best  we  can  for  those  who 
follow  after  us. 

Mm.  Bedfprd  Fenwick  is  the  Matron  under- 
whom  I  had  the  privilege  of  being  trained, 
from  which  the  nurses  of  this  institution  have 
benefited.  It  is  with  the  greatest  possible 
pleasure  that  I  now  ask  her  to  address  you. 

Mrs.  Fenwick  then  addressed  the  meeting, 
showing  that  it  had  taken  the  medical  profes- 
sion fifty  years  to  get  the  Medical  Act  of  1858 
passed,  and  showed  that  this" Act,  with  a  later 
one  passed  in  1886,  had  brought  order  out  of 
the  chaos  of  medical  education,  and  that  the 
influence  of  organisation  upon  the  progress  of 
medicine  had  been  marvellous.  It  seemed  ap- 
parent that  a  system  which  had  proved  of  so 
much  benefit  to  medicine  must  also  be  good 
for  nursing.  She  then  described  the  move- 
ment for  the  State  Registration  of  Trained 
Nurses,  founded  twenty-three  years  ago,  and 
enumerated  the  economic  reasons  which  had 
led  to  the  opposition  to  so  reasonable  a  demand. 
She  also  explained  the  organisation  of  the 
National  and  International  Councils  of  Nurses, 
showing  that  through  membership  of  these 
bodies  trained  nurses  were  brought  into  co- 
operation with  their  professional  colleagues 
throughout  the  world. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  address,  a  cordial 
vot-e  of  thanks,  proposed  by  Miss  Schuller  and 
seconded  by  Miss  Trueman,  was  accorded  to- 
the  speaker. 

^ M.  B. 

RECIPROCAL  TRAINING  IN  NEW  ZEALAND. 
At  the  Conference  of  Delegates  to  the  first 
meeting  of  the  Central  Council  of  the  New 
Zealand  Trained  Nurses'  Association,  the 
opinion  was  expressed  that  the  scheme,  under 
the  now  Hospitals  and  Charitable  Institutions 
Act,  of  placing  all  the  institutions  for  the  care 
of  the  sick  under  one  Board,  would  largely  do 
away  with  the  difficulty  of  training  nurses  in 
some  of  the  smaller,  and  in  special,  hospitals. 
This  plan  has  already  had  a  start,  and  proved 
practicable.  From  two  of  the  principal  hos- 
pitals probationers  are  now  being  sent  for  a 
part  of  their  training  to  the  fever  hospital  of 
the  district,  which  is  now  an  adjunct  of  the 
main  hospital ;  and  to  the  consumptive  sana- 
toriums,  and  the  chronic  wards  of  the  old 
people's  homes. 


Oct.  15,   1010' 


Zbc  ISritisb  3oiirnal  of  mursiiiG. 


310 


©ur  Jforciqn  Xetter. 

My  Dear  Kditou, — It  is  somo  time  since  I  pro- 
inieed  you  "  si\a|)shots "  of  our  sunx)un<lings,  so 
now  enclose  a  few.  The  time  I'ero  passes  so  quickly 
that  it  is  difficult  to  believe  we  have  been  here 
seven  months.  AVe  starte<l  on  February  1.5th, 
1910.  The  work  still  keeps  bri.sk  and  refreshingly 
interesting.  The  natives  come  with  the  most  won- 
derful maladies,  and  our  M.O.  being  a  keen  sur- 
geon we  y;et  a  fioo<lly  numhcr  of  operations.  This 
year  our  o)>eration&have  been '229,  and  admissions  to 
hospital  1.58,  the  greater  proportion  of  operations 
to  admissions  being  due  to  the  fact  that  many  small 
operation  oases  are  sent  home  again.  "VVe  have  a 
good  amount  of  gynecological  work  and  abdominal 
sections,  in  fact  the  ward  has  never  been  without 
an  '■  alxlominal  "  in  it.  In  the  male  ward  we  get  a 
good  many  sui>erapubic  cases  for  "stone"  or 
prostatectomy,  and  the  joy  of  so  much  work  is 
that    the    healing 

seems    abnormally     

good.  AVe  have 
been  preparing 
skin  for  opera- 
tions entirely  witli 
the  iodine  methoil, 
and  results  ba\  < 
been  perfect.  The 
eighth  day  from 
the  operation,  we 
take  the  dressing 
off  to  find  a  nice 
dry  line  of  sutures 
rolling  off  if 
catgut,  and  if 
thread,  of  course 
they  are  cut  in 
the  usual  way. 
The  natives  seem 
to  consider  they 
are  much  more 
important  and 
civilised  after 
they  have  had  an 
oi-eration. 

I  enclose  photo  of  a  patient  named  "Khalo," 
who  had  carried  the  weight  of  20i  llis.  about  with 
him  for  years.  His  gratitude  was  very  touching 
after  the  M.O.  had  successfully  removed  it.  He  came 
up  to  see  us  a  month  after  he  left  hospital,  and  had 
got  very  fat  and  young  looking.     His  age  was  CS. 

We,  Sister  and  I,  still  find  our  greatest  work  is  in 
getting  work  rightly  done  without  doing  it  our- 
selves. The  natives  seem  to  take  most  kindly  to 
baths,  clean  sheets,  etc.  One  old  man  wo  had  who 
had  previously  worn  the  native  attire  of  a  blanket 
was  quite  injured  one  morning  because  his  clean 
shirt  had  a  button  off  the  wrist,  and  our  native 
laundress  has  a  weakness  for  knocking  them  off. 
Our  gardens  have  been  planted  with  trees — fruit, 
oak,  willow,  rose,  raspberry,  and  many  flowei-s — 
and  I  soon  exi>ect  to  have  tea  in  their  shade, 
things  gl-ow  so  quickly  here,  and  the  doctor  had 
little  trees  growing  in  boxes  waiting  for  the  new 
hospital  for  a  long  time  previous  to  our  coming. 

We  have  just  had  our  first  rains  and  all  nature 


soems  to  respond.  One  can  sec  signs  of  new  life, 
leaf,  aiul  growth  <laily.  Tlie  farmers  liave  been  in 
great  distress  for  rain,  cattle  liave  been  dying,  and 
for  the  time  things  appeared  at  a  standstill.  Now, 
all  is  excitement.  Seeds  are  being  sown,  gix)und  is 
being  dug  up — even  debts  are  promised  to  be  settled 
up.  For  the  last  four  weeks  we  have  had  most 
beautiful  sights  of  distant  grass  fires.  At  night 
they  look  grand,  and  to  me  thev  resemble  the 
"  Lights  of  I/ondon,"  and  at  other  times  the  sea, 
with  harl>our  lights  in  the  <leep  gloom  of  the 
night.  The  landsoajw,  with  fires  l>ehind  the  hills 
and  in  the  valleys,  fills  one  with  a  desire  for  toivn 
or  city,  but  I  supiMjse  to  each  individual  it  paints 
a  different  picture.  My  thoughts  always  fly  to 
England  and  its  coast  line,  then  I  am  no  longer 
alone  or  far  away,  and  retire  to  bed  feeling  most 
contente<l  with  the  world. 

I  enclose  the  "  snajishots "  from  my  camera.  I 
don't  tliink  I  have  mentioned  that  this  hospital 
has  20  beds,  two 
— 1  of  which  are  re- 
served for  Euro- 
peans, in  two 
small  wards,  and 
they  are  ,  usually 
occupied. 

I  now  send  my 
British  JotrKNAL 
to  a  married 
friend  in  Western 
Australia,  who 
still  likes  to  know 
what  we  are  all 
doing,  and  I,  with 
others,  feel  very 
grateful  for  the 
means  it  affords 
of  keeping  in 
touch  the  nursing 
world  of  Greater 
Britain. 

Adieu,     dear 
Editor,  with  many 
good     wishes     for 
health  and  strength  to  continue  in  your  good  work. 
Always  yours  sincerely, 

Jeaxnie   C.  Child. 
Government  Hospital,  Mohales  Hoek,  Basutoland. 
The  term  fibroma  is  sometimes  applied  to  a  con- 
dition in  which  tubercles  are  formed  by  the  white 
fibrous  tissue  of  the  skin. 


The  October  issue  of  the  .imericttTi.  Journal  of 
Xursing  has  been  dedicated  by  the  Directors  to  the 
memory  of  Isabel  Hampton  Robb,  and  space  is 
also  given  to  a  record  of  the  final  services  for 
Florence  Nightingale,  a  suitable  combination,  for 
Miss  Nightingale*  and  Mrs.  Robb«  knew  and 
honoured  each  other.  Many  nurses  will  wish  to 
possess  this  number  containing  personal  recollec- 
tions of  Mrs.  Robb  in  different  spheres  of  work  by 
those  who  knew  her  best,  as  well  as  some  interest-" 
ing  portraits.  '  A  gracious  and  forceful  personality 
the  fragrance  of  her  life  remains,  enriching  and  in- 
vigorating the  lives  of  the  members  of  her  pro- 
fession still  militant  here  on  earth. 


320 


Zbc  36riti5b  Journal  of  IRursing. 


[Oct.   15,   1910 


^be  Xon^on  fIl^e^(caI  lEybibition. 


The  Loudon  iledioal  Exliibitiou,  held  at  tli© 
Eoyal  Horticultural  Hall  last  week,  atti-acted  as 
visitors  many  members  of  the  medical  and  nursing 
professions,   and  was  deservedly  successful. 

The  Medical  Supply  Association,  228,  Gray's 
Inn  Road,  W.C.,  exhibited  "  Macdonald's 
Sterilizer,"  which  attracted  so  much  attention  at 
the  recent  exhibition  of  the  British  Medical 
Association;  also  the  "  Grevillite  Vitrenamel " 
Hospital  Furniture,  the  enamel  being  guaranteed 
absolutely  aseptic,  and  further,  it  does  not  chip. 

Charles  Zijemeemann  &  Co.,  9,  St.  Mary-at- 
Hill,  E.G.,  whose  disinfectant,  Lysol,  is  so  justly 
appreciated,  were  also  showing  their  Calogen 
Fireless  Fumigators,  and  a  convenient  four-hourly 
chart  for  a  week  supplied  to  nurses  and  luidwives. 

Jete's  Sanitary  Compound  Co.,  Ltd.,  showed 
the  many  refined  prepaiiations  of  Cyllin,  so  widely 
used  by  nui>>es  and  midwives.  We  specially 
noticed  some  Cyllin  antiseptic  throat  pastilles, 
which  are  said  to  ■te  very  efficacious. 

Newton.  Chambers,  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  331,  Gray's 
Inn  Road,  W.C..  showed  the  Izal  disinfectants  and 
soap,  and  also  distributed  cards  giving  plain  direc- 
tions for  cleansing  children's  heads  and  for  freeing 
the  hair  from  vermin,  useful' to  school  nurses. 

Faibchild  Bros.  &  Foster,  I/oudon,  E.G.,  were 
showing  the  Fairchild  Products,  which  are  of 
proved  -  efficiency  and  usefulness,  notably 
"  Panopeptoii,"  which  contains  the  nutritive 
values  of  lean  beef  and  the  best  wheat  flour  in  a 
soluble  and  jH^ptonised  form. 

Glaxo,  74,  South  Lambeth  Road,  London,  for 
which  Messrs.  Brand  are  the  sole  agents,  were 
showing  their  valuable  preparation,  which  is  a 
standardised  pure  desiccated  milk  to  which  cream 
and  lactose  are  added. 

Welford  &  Sons,  Ltd.,  Elgin  Avenue,  Maida 
Vale,  AV.,  were  exhibiting  their  humanised  and 
asses'  milk,  also  Koumiss,  Sauermilch,  and  Saner- 
milch  AVhey,  etc.,  for  the  satisfactory  preparation 
of  which  this  firm  has  a  well-deserved  reputation. 

The  Frame  Food  Co.,  Ltd.,  Southfields.  S.AV., 
had  on  view  their  Frame  Food  E-ssence,  which  is 
noted  for  its  richness  in  soluble  Albuminoids  and 
Organic  Mineiial  Compounds. 

BovETL,  Ltd.,  152,  Old  Street.  E.G.,  made  a 
special  feature  of  their  "  Invalid  Bovril,"  to  which 
the  attention  of  doctors  was  specially  drawn. 

Cadivury  Bros.,  Ltd.,  Bournville,  were  dispens- 
ing oocoa  made  with  their  far-famed  Cocoa  Essence. 
Saiijpl*^  of  the  'new  Bournville  Chocolate  and  Dairy 
Milk  Chocolate  were  also  given  away. 

WiNCARNis,  Norwich,  showed  their  valuable  pre- 
paration composed  of  choice  wine,  extract  of  meat, 
anfl  extract  of  malt  in  concentrated  form. 

Keen,  Roiiinson,  &  Co.,  Denmark  Street,  E., 
had  on  view  their  Patent  Barley  and  Gi'oats,  which 
need  no  commendation  to  nurses  and  midwives. 

Mi  srs.  E.  it  H.  Garrould,  1.50.  E<lgware  Road, 
"h  w  their  ootton  overalls  for  wearing  in  infec- 
ti(  i:~  .ises,  cotton  envelopers  for  the  head,  and 
iMji'V  other  s)>ccialitie«. 

T:ir  Gas  Lioht  it  Coke  Co.,  Horseferry  Road, 
S,^..  .showed  their  latest  stoves,  burners,  etc. 


©utsibc  tbc  (Bates. 

WOMEN. 
Lincoln   is  this  week   buzzing  with   members  of 
the  National  Union  of   Women   Workers,   and  the 
meetings  and   .social   functions   are     being    largely 
attended  and  thoroughly  enjoyed. 


In  1908  Bishop  Creighton  House,  Fulham,  was 
founded  in  memory  of  the  late  Bishop  of  London. 
It  is  situated  in  the  midst  of  the  poor  districts  of 
Fulham  and  Hammersmith,  where  Mrs'.  Creighton 
considers  work  of  all  kinds  is  quite  as  much  needed 
as  in  the  East -End.  The  liead  of  the  settlement  is 
Miss  Wickham,  davighter  of  the  late  Dean  of  Lin- 
coln, and  she  arranges  the  work  of  each  resident  in 
accordance  with  her  special  desires  and  capacities, 
and  they  are  privileged  to  assist  in  parochial  work 
of  every  sort.  They  also  take  part  in  C.O.S.  and 
Care  Committee  work,  they  help  in  a  School  for 
mothere,  in  provident  collecting,  and  in  health 
visiting.  The  house  is  bright  and  sunny,  overlook- 
ing a  public  park,  and  of  easy  access  from  all  parts 
of  Loudon,  and  the  residents  pay  2.5s.  a  week  for 
board  and  lodging.  Mrs.  Creighton  writes:— ^"  W" 
have  all  realised  the  danger  of  unti-ained  and 
ignorant  work  .  .  .  and  those  who  go  and 
work  at  Bishop  Creighton  House  wdl  find  alnindant 
opportunity  for  increasing  their  experience  and 
their  knowledge  of  social  work  of  all  kinds.''  Such 
trailing  would  1>e  very  valuable  to  tiiained  uui-ses 
preparing  for  social  service  work. 


A  joint  mass  meeting  and  demonstration  or- 
ganised by  the  Women's  Freedom  League,  to  de- 
mand facilities  for  passing  the  Conciliation  Bill, 
was  held  in  Trafalgar  Square  last  Saturday  after- 
noon. There  was  a  large  audience  round  each  plat- 
form, and  the  following  resolution  was  carried  :  — 
"  That,  wherea.s  the  enfranchisement  of  women 
is  a  matter  of  urgent  national  importance,  and 
whereas  Parliament,  by  a  majority  of  110,  has  de- 
clared in  its  favour,  this  meeting  calls  upon  the 
Prime  Minister  and  the  Government  to  give  effect 
to  their  democratic  pledges  by  granting  facilities 
for  the  passing  into  law  of  the  Conciliation  Bill 
now  before  the  House." 

Mrs.  Cobdcn  Saunderson  said  that  they  were 
living  in  revolutionary  times,  and  the  next  move 
would  be  to  pay  no  taxes — a  most  direct  and 
logical  reply  to  those  who  said  women  were  not 
good  enough  to  have  votes. 


Mrs.  Pankhurst,  speaking  in  Dublin,  said  they 
meant  to  have  a  great  peaceful  demonstration  ,if 
women,  a  real  procession  and  deputation  go  to  the 
House  of  Commons  in  the  coming  session  and  ask 
why  sufficient  time  has  not  been  given  to  the  con- 
sideration of  the  Woman  Suffrage  Bill,  It  might 
mean  arrest  and  imprisonment.  If  300  or  400 
women  were  arrested  and  put  in  prison  the  Govern-' 
nient  would  be  in  a  very  difficult  position. 


Before  Parliament  assembles  there  will  be  a  great 
constitutional  oampnign  all  over  the  country,  cul- 
minating in  a  deiuonstration  at  the  Albert  Hall  on 
November  10th. 


Oct.  15,  1910] 


Zbc  British  3ournaI  of  IRursino. 


321 


Bool?  of  tbc  l\Ilcc]\. 


THE  CREATORS* 

"  Gisborne,  R.A.,  was  a  solemn  egoist,  and  his 
picture  represented,  not  Jane  Holland,  but  Gis- 
boriie's  limited  idea  of  her.  A  face  with  a  straight 
drawn  mouth  and  eyes  prophetic  <if  tragedy,  a  face 
in  which  her  genius  brooded  dark,  prophetic, 
dumb.  .  .  .  If  .lane  had  had  the  face  which  Gistjorne 
gave  her  she  would  never  have  had  any  charm  for 
"^"aiiqueray.  Xot  a  hint  had  he  got  of  her  high 
levity,  of  her  look  when  the  bright  devil  of  comedy 
possessed  her,  not  a  flash  of  her  fiery  quality,  of 
her  eyes'  sudden  gold,  of  her  d«'licat6,  her  biil- 
liant  mouth,  its  fine  deliberate  sweep,  its  darting 
•ilt,   like  wings  lift<Kl  for  flight." 

So  much  for  Jane  Holland,  and  from  this  we 
.rather  at  once  that  she  will  require  some  living 
up  to.  Genius  is  distributed  broadcast  among  the 
characters  of  this  book,  in  a  manner  that  is  per- 
fectly exhausting;  but  Jane  is  the  deity  before 
which  they  all  cast  their  crowns. 

■'The  celebrities  pressed  round  her.  Of  course, 
if  .<.he  wasn't  going  they  wouldn't  go.  They  would 
sacrifice  a  thousand  pegs,  but  not  an  evening  with 
Jane  Holland.  They  bowed  before  her  in  all  tlu3 
postures  and  ceremonies  of  their  adoration,  and 
Jane  Holland  looked  at  them  curiously  with  her 
tired  eyes;  and  Tanqueray  looked  at  her." 

At  this  period  George  Tanqueray,  as  a  novelist, 
stood  almost  undiscovered  on  his  tremendous 
height. 

Broderick,  who  ultimately  marries  Jane,  is  editor 
of  the  "  Morning  Telegraph,"  and  though  far  less 
"  immense"  than  many  of  this  astonishingly  i'l- 
tcUoctual  circle,  "was  charged  with  a  formid-ii)le 
though  less  apparent  fire.  His  pei'sonal  appear- 
ance i&  described  as  follows: — '"A  man,  about 
thirty-five,  squarely  built,  with  a  toi-so  inclined  to 
a  somewhat  heavy  sleuderness,  and  a  face  with 
blunt  but  regular  features,  heavily  handsome.  One 
of  those  fair  Englishmen  who  grow  darker  after 
adolescence ;  hair,  moustache,  and  skin  acquiring  a 
dull  sombreness  in  fairness.  But  Broderick's  face 
gained  in  its  effect  from  tho  dusky  opacity  that  in- 
tensified the  peculiar  blueness  of  his  eyes.  As  he 
entered  they  were  fixed  on  Jane,  turning  sti-aight 
to  her  in  her  corner." 

Can  we  be  sui-pri.sed  after  this  that  at  the  classic 
moment  she  came  to  meet  him  "  with  shy  feet,  fear 
in  her  eyes,  and  the  desire  of  her  heart  on  her  lips, 
lifting  them  like  wings"  ? 

Jane  proves  a  complete  failure  as  a  housekeeper, 
but  Gertrude  Collet,  who,  before  their  marriage, 
had  kept  the  house,  at  the  same  time  teing  con- 
sumed with  love  for  Broderick,  returns  to  her 
former  duties,  and  henceforth  "  Indoors  all  fhing.s 
on  whicK  Gertrude  laid  her  nand  slid  sweetly  and 
inaudibly  into  their  place." 

As  it  is  obvious  Jane  could  have  but  one  hus- 
band, Tanquei-ay  consoles  himself  for  the  time 
being  with  the  daughter  of  his  landlady,  whom  he 
marries  quite  honourably,  tires  of  her  very  quickly, 
and  behaves  to  her  as  aicad.  Xo  doubt  it  was  try- 
ing to  possess  a  wife  who,  at  a  small  select  dinner 

*  By  May  Sinclair.  (Constable  and  Co.,  London.) 


of  literary  affinities,  gave  him  away  freely. 

Xicky  turned  to  the  little  w'oman. 

"Aren't  you  proud  of  him?  How  they're  all 
praising  him.*  " 

"  vSo  they'd  ought  to,"  s;iid  Rose.  "  'E's 
worked  'aid  enough  for  it.  The  way  'e  works!  He'll 
sit  think — thinkin'  for  hours  before  'e  seems  as  if 
'o  could  get  fair  'old  of  a  word." 

They  had  all  stopi^cd  talking  to  Tanqueray  and 
were  listening  to  Tauqueiiay's  wife. 

"  Then  'o'll  start  writin'  slow  Uk'e,  and  'e'll 
go  all  over  it  again,  a-scratohin'  out  and  u-scratch- 
iug  out  till  all  'is  paix>rs  is  a  marsk  of  ink." 

Rose  Ijecame  aware  that  George  was  trying  to 
scowl  her  into  silence. 

Still,  she  is  a  dear  little  woman,  and  quite  the 
nicest  character  in  the  book. 

In  spite  of  its  exaggerations  it  is  interesting, 
and  one  must  needs  finish  it ;  but  one  book  of  this 
stvle  in  a  goo<l  while  is  enough.  H.  H. 


A  GOOD  WIFE. 
Wise  yokel  foolish  King  excelleth  ;    • 
Grood  name  than  spikenard  sweeter  smelleth ! 
What's  gold  to  prudence  ?     Strength  to  grace  ? 
Man's  more  than  goods;  God  first  in  place. 

What  though  her  dowry  be  but  meagre. 
Far  better  wise.   God-fearing  Igir, 
Thau  yonder  vain  and  brainless  doll. 
Helpless  her  fortune  to  control. 

A  wife  that's  true  and  kind  and  sunny 
Is  better  than  a  mint  of  money ; 
Better  than  houses,  land  and  gold 
Or  pearls  and  gems  to  have  and  hold. 

A  ship  is  she  with  jewels  freighted. 
Her  price  beyond  all  rubies  rated. 
A  liundred-virtued  amulet 
To  such  as  her  in  marriage  get. 

Gold  pillar  in  a  silver  socket ; 

The  weakling's  tower  of  strength,  firm-locked 

Tlie  very  golden  crown  of  life ; 

Grace  upon  grace — a  virtuous  wife. 

By  T!car  Prichard 
(Translated  from  the  Welsh.) 


COMING    EVENTS. 

Ocfnhcr  l!,fh. — Central  I>ondon  Sick  Asylum. 
Cleveland  Street,  W.  Nurses'  Meeting.  Mrs.  Bed- 
ford Fenwick  will  speak  on  Nursing  Organisa- 
tion and  State  Registration.     5  p.m. 

Ocfohcr  ISth. — Royal  Institute  of  Public  Health, 
3",  Russell  Square,  W.C.  First  lecture  of  special 
course  for  women  desirous  of  qualifying  as  Health 
Visitors  and  School  Nurses,  7  p.m. 

October  ISth. — City  of  London  Lying-in  Hospi- 
tal, E.G.  The  Bishop  of  Stepney  dedicates-a  New 
Clapel.     5..30  pm. 

October  20th. — -Society  for  State  Registration  of 
Trained  Nurses.  Meeting  Executive  Committee, 
431,  Oxford  Street,   London,  W.,  4  p.m.     Tea.    ^ 

Ortober  26th. — Meeting;  JIatrons'  Council  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  431  Oxford  Street, 
London,  W.     3.30  p.m. 


32-2 


^be  JSritisb  3oiirnal  of  IHursino.         [Oct.  15,  i9U! 


Xettcrs  to  the  lEDitor. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  cojn- 
municationa  upon  all  subject) 
for  these  columns,  we  wish  it 
to  he  distinctly  understood 
that  we  do  not  in  ant  wai 
hold  ourselves  responsible  for 
the  opinions  expressed  by  our 
correspondents. 


A     NURSES'     MEMORIAL    TO     FLORENCE 

NIGHTINGALE 

To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  oi  "Sursinxj  " 

Dear  JIadam, — I  have  read  your  article  in  last 
week's  British  .Iocrxal  of  Nursing,  regarding 
the  proposed  memorial  by  nurses  to  Miss  Florence 
Nightingale,  and  I  entirely  agree  with  your  re-, 
marks.  Nothing  would  be  more  opposed  to  one's 
conception  of  Miss  Nightingale's  character  than 
a  memorial  in  ^he  form  of  a  nurses'  charitable  in- 
stitution. First  and  foremost,  I  feel  sure  nurses 
would  wish  to  honour  the  great  foundress  of  their 
profession  by  some  visible  and  outward  token  such 
33  a  statue  placed  in  some  beautiful  and  suitable 
spot.  Frankly,  when  tliat  is  done — and  I  would 
have  the  statue  a  worthy  and  noble  work  of  art — 
I  fail  to  see  the  need  for  any  further  memorial  from 
nurses.  It  would  be  surely  far  better  to  call  for 
small  subscriptions  from  many  than  large  ones  from 
the  few,  not  that  many  nurses  can  afford  large 
sums.  The  modern  craze  for  founding  institu- 
tions, pensions,  almshouses,  and  .so  forth  as 
memorials  has  never  appealed  to  me. 

I  do  not  think  nurses  really  want  to  present 
something  useful  to  their  ijrofession  as  a  memorial 
to  Miss  Nightingale.  Let  us  raise  a  statue  that 
shall  be  beautiful  and  true,  worthy  of  the  great 
organiser  of  a  great  woman's  jjrofcssion.  Let  it 
be  typical  not  only  of  our  homage  to  her  memory, 
but  also  an  ontwaid  and  visible  sign  of  our  affec- 
tion for  and  pride  in  the  noble  profession  to  which 
we  belong,  and  of  which  she  is  at  once  the  most 
striking  type  and  the  foundress — .something  future 
ages  can  point  to  and  say: — "Thus  the  nurses  of 
the  twentieth  century  honoured  the  memory  of 
the  woman  who  gave  them  their  work — of  the 
woman  who  founded  nKxlern  nursing." 

If  that  were  well  done  and  entirely  by  nnr.ses,  I 
should  say  no  more  was  necessary.  It  will  and 
should  be  costly  and   worthy. 

Tlie  memorials  given  by  others  would  not  concern 
us. 

I  can  imagine  nothing  more  suitable  for  nurses. 
Yours  faithfully, 

M.    Moi.I.F.TT. 

Royal  South  Hants  and  Southampton  Hospital. 

THE  STATUS  OF  FEVER  NURSPS. 
To  the  Editor  0]  the  "  liritish  Journal  of  I^ursinp." 
Dear  Maiiam, — With  reference  to  your  article 
ii-  last  week's  issue  on  "  The  Status  of 
Fever  Nurses."  I  should  like  strongly  to  .s\ipport 
all  thflt  you  say  on  this  question.  It  is  so  im- 
l)ortant  that   when  the   foundations  of  our  profcs-- 


siou  are  kid  that  they  should  l)e  "well  and  truly 
laid,"  and  however  it  may  be  for  the  tempoiiary 
convenience  of  the  fever  hospitals,  it  is  certainiy 
Jiot  to  the  advantage  of  the  iiui-ses,  and  therefore 
of  the  public,  whose  interests  are  bound  up  with 
theii-s  that  there  should  be  a  special  register  of 
fever  nurses.  The  registere  of  mental  and  of  male 
nui-ses  are  necessities,  and  will  be  evidence  that  in 
the  one  case,  in  caring  for  the  diseasetl  in  mind, 
and  in  the  other  for  such  ca.ses  of  general  disease 
as  can  suitably  be  nursed  by  men,  those  whosei 
names  appear  on  their  respective  registers  have  Jiad 
an  all-round  training. 

The  objection  to  the  State  certification  of  fever 
nurses  is  that  it  would  not  afford  evidence  of  an  all- 
round  training.  On  the  contrary,  it  would  only 
imply  the  ix>?.se6sion  of  a  training,  valuable  it  is 
true,  but  i>artial  and  incomplete.  Tlie  effect  would 
be  pernicious  in  two  ways.  If  nurses  could  obtain 
this  State  certificate  many  of  them  would  be  con- 
tent to  practise  nursing  without  obtaining  a 
general  training,  and  the  public  would  not  realise 
the  limitations  of  a  fever  nurse's  training  and  would 
credit  her  with  more  knowledge  than  she  possesses. 

I  am  glad  that  the  Fever  Nurses'  A.ssociation 
and  the  Central  Registration  Committee  have  set 
their  faces  against  the  registration  of  fever 
specialists  and  stand  for  the  registration  of  the 
extra  qualification,  and  hope  that  in  the  public 
interest  this  position  will  be  adhered  to. 
I  am,  dear  Madam, 

Yours  faithfullv. 

M.   A.   D. 


THE  NATIONALISATION   OF  THE   MEDICAL 
SERVICE. 

To  the  ]d\ti<r  of  fhr  "  British  Jo\irnnl  of  yursing." 
Dear  Madam, — I  was  inte!e8te<l  to  observe  that 
at  the  Conference  of  the  British  Hospitals  Associa- 
tion one  mend)er  held  that  "the  whole  hospital 
system  was  drifting  not  only  in  the  direction  of 
State  control  of  the  hospitals,  but  in  the 
nationalisation  of  the  whole  m<Klical  service." 
Surely  this  would  be  a  move  in  the  right  direction. 
The  public  owes  an  inestimable  debt  of  gratitude 
to  the  medical  profession,  but  the  medical  prac- 
titioner is  ill  the  unfortunate  position  that  the 
more  siicce«»iully  he  exercises  his  skill  the  less  will 
the  public  require  the  eserci.se  of  that  skill.  Surely 
there  should  be  .some  financial  recompense  for  mem- 
bere  of  the  medical  profession  who  maintain  the 
public  health  at  a  high  level,  as  well  as  for  those 
members  of  the  healing  art  who  cure  or  alleviate 
disease.  The  same  principle  applies  in  a  minor 
degree  to  trained  nurses  who.se  work  in  an  increas- 
ing degree  is  becoming  preventive. 
I  am,  d«>ar  Madam, 

Yours  truly, 

Hkalth  Visitor. 


IRoticce. 


OUR   PUZZLE  PRIZE. 
Rules   for  competing  for  the     Pictor:«I    Piixzli 
Prize  will  he  found  on  Advertisement  page  svi. 


Oct.  lo.  10101    (^f5c  British  3ournal  of  iHursino  Supplement. 

The    Midwife. 


323 


^l?c  Muvsino  of  General  an^ 
HDaternitv  Cases. 


At  the  Annual  Poor  Tjaw  Conference  for  the 
Soiith-Westeni  District,  including  the  counties 
of  Cornwall,  Devon,  Dorset,  Somerset,  ami 
Wilts,  held  at  Exeter,  and  presided  over  by 
Sir  Thomas  D\kc  Acland,  ]Mrs.  Heywood  John- 
stone, Vice-(  hairnian  of  the  .Midvvives'  Com- 
mittee, Cornwall  County  Council,  read  a  paper 
on  the  "  Treatment  of  the  Sick  Poor,  including 
Maternity  Cases."  The  speaker  said  that 
with  regard  to  maternity  work,  the  ^lid- 
wives'  Act  had  done  a  great  deal  for  the 
country,  especially  in  lowering  the  mortality 
from  puei-peral  fever.  In  most  cases  the  poor 
were,  she  thought,  able  to  pay  the  midwife's 
fee  but  they  could  not  always  pay  the  fee  of  the 
doctor  called  in  on  the  advice  of  a  midwife,  and 
some  provision  should  be  made  for  this  through 
the  Coimty  Council  or  the  Guardians.  A  great 
difficult}"  was  experienced  in  providing  mid- 
wives  for  the  sparsely  populated  country  dis- 
tricts, and  in  vei-y  poor  places  there  was  a  case 
for  ass'stance  from  the  Guardians  or  the  future 
Public  Assistance  Committees.  She  tEbught 
also  that  the  County  Councils  should  have 
larger  powei-s  to  give  grants  towards  the  train- 
ing of  village  nurses  and  midwives,  and  in  poor 
midwifery  cases  there  should  be  a  special  fund 
administered  through  the  Countj"  Council,  or 
Local  Supervising  Authority,  for  paying  the 
doctor  without  obliging  the  poor  to  receive  an 
order  as  for  Poor  Law  relief. 

The  organisation  of  nursing  and  midwifery 
through  County  Associations  is  a  convenient 
method,  but  the  danger  in  regard  to  nursing  is 
lest  an  inade<juate  standard  of  training  should 
be  recognised.  Midwives  are  now  compelled 
to  attain  a  certain  standard,  albeit  a  veiy 
modest  one,  before  they  can  legally  practise, 
and  in  rural  areas  there  is  a  temptation  to  give 
a  midwife  a  quite  inadequate  smattering  of 
nursing  knowledge,  and  then  call  her  a  trained 
nurse. 

Wherein  the  diseases  of  the  poor  in  rural  dis- 
tricts differ  from  those  of  their  fellow  sufferers 
in  the  towns,  where  the  need  for  the  employ- 
ment of  fully  trained  Queen's  Nurses  is  almost 
universally  recognised,  is  not  apparent.  More- 
over, in  the  towns  a  doctor  is  easily  accessible 
whereas  in  ^  rural  districts  he.  may  be  many 
miles  away.  The  fact  is  the  quality  of  the 
training  is  subordinated  to  the  economic  ques- 


tion  of  how  to  provide  the  salary  of  the  nurse. 
The  important  problem  before  the  philan- 
thropic public  is  how  to  provide  adequate  as- 
sistance to  the  sick  poor  without  relegating 
nursing  and  midwifery  to  the  status  of  sweated 
callings.  As  it  is  inadequately  trained  nurses 
are  frequently  eifijiloyed  because  no  ex- 
))erienced  nurse  would  accept  the  miserable 
salary  attached  to   a   rural  api)ointment. 


a  flDaternit^  Ibome  for  mairobi. 

The  proposal  of  the  South  African  Colonisa-' 
tion  Society  to  found  a  Maternity  Home  at 
Nairobi,  in  British  East  .\friea,'  where,  it  is 
stated,  the  need  for  such  a  home  is  keenly  felt 
owing  to  the  increase  of  European  settlement, 
does  not  commend  itself  to  Lady  Piggott, 
Founder  of  the  Colonial  Nursing  Association. 

Princess  Christian,  the  President,  and  other 
officials  of  the  South  African  Colonisation 
Society,  state  that  the  Government  Hospital  at 
Nairobi  cannot  admit  maternity  cases,  and 
that  the  need  for  a  properly  equipped  Home  is 
urgent,  and  their  scheme  has  the  support  of 
the  Earl  of  Crewe,  Secretary  of  State  for  the 
Colonies,  and  of  his  Department.  Lady  Piggott, 
on  the  other  hand,  claims  that  "  the  Colonial 
Nursing  Association  is  called  upon  by  the 
Colonial  OtKce  as  the  official  source  to  supply 
nurses  for  all  Government  hospitals  in  the 
Crown  Colonies  and  British  Dependencies,  not 
only  in  Afiica,  but  all  over  the  globe." 

The  Colonial  Nursing  Association  is  doing 
most  excellent  work  of  Imperial  value,  but  to 
claim  for  an  unofficial  and  unincorporated 
society  the  monopoly  of  meeting  all  the  needs 
of  Crown  Colonies  and  British  Dependencies,  is 
a  claim  which  cannot  be  supjxjrted,  and  which 
no  Government  Department  would  make  on 
its  own  behalf.  Moreover,  to  acknowledge  the 
monopoly  of  one  Association,  unless  that  Asso- 
ciation has  unlimited  funds  to  meet  the  needs 
oi  the  community  all  over  the  world,  would  be 
to  create  a.  dangerous  situation,  and  perhaps  to 
deprive  British  communities  abroad  of  the 
assistance  which  they  need. 

Lady  Piggott  maintains  that  "  it  does  not 
tend  to  success  abroad  when  nurses  from  two 
distinct  and  differing  sources  are  working  in 
close  proximity  in  a  station."  But  to  take  a 
concrete  example  in  East  Africa:  in  the  town 
of  Zanzibar  there  are  not  only  English,  French, 
and  German  hospitals,  and  a  hospital  main- 
tained by  the  Zanzibar  Govcmment,  but  there 


•'^21         ^bc  ffii'itisb  3ounial  ot  ll^urstno  Supplement,  foct.  is,  loio 


is  also  a  nurse,  selected  by  the  Colonial  Nursing 
Association  for  the  Forei<^  Office,  working  in 
the  town  amongst  the  Uritish  residents.  If  it 
is  possible  for  nurses  under  these  different 
auspices  to  work  hannoniously  side  by  side,  and 
with  advantage  to  the  community,  in  Zanzibar, 
why  should  it  be  impossible  on  tlie  neiglibour- 
ing  mainland  at  Nairolii? 

^be  Central  flDibwlves'  Boar^. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Central  IMidwives'  Board 
after  the  vacation  was  held  in  the  Board  Room, 
Caxton  House,  Westminster,  on  Thursday,  October 
6th    Sir  Francis  Champncys  presiding. 

\  letter  from  the  Clerk  of  the  Council  was  read 
transmitting   an  Order  in  Council  continuing  the 
Rules  of  the  Board  in  force  until  June  30th,  1911. 
Report  of  SxANDiriG  Committee. 

A^  letter  was  reported  from  the  Medical  Staff  of 
the  Royal  Derl.y  and  Derbyshire  Nursing  Institu- 
tion as  to  its  "suspension  as  a  training  school 
fo'  midwives.  The  Chairman  reported  that  he  had 
had  an  interview  with  Dr.  F.  Cassidi,  one  of  the 
medical  staff  of  the  Royal  Derby  and  Derbyshire 
Nursing  In.stitution,  and  •  had  promised  to  an- 
nounce'at  the  next  Board  meeting  that  the  institu- 
tion had  been,  since  July  28th,  in  a  position  to 
train  pupils  according  to  the  rules  of  the  Board. 
He  hopetl  the  press  would  take  cognisance  of  this, 
and  help  to  make  it  known. 

Letters  (addros.scd  to  the  Chairman)  were  read 
fioin  Mrs.  Diigdale,  of  Meeson  Hall,  Salop,  inquir- 
ing whether  midwives  were  to  be  subsidised  m 
sparsely  populated  rural  districts?  She  wrote  that 
for  soiiie  time  she  had  been  employing  one  mid- 
wife, subsidising  a  second,  and  was  about  to  estab- 
lish a  third.  Shu  considered  that  such  subsidies 
should  not  be  left  to  private  charity,  which  was 
a  precarious  metliod.  The  CTiairman  replied  that 
the  community  were  indebted  to  private  mdivi- 
drals  like  herself,  and  that  sub.sidies  from  a  public 
source  were  desirable.  The  Board  directed  the 
copies  of  previous  resolutions  on  the  subject  should 
be  sent  to  Mm.  Dugdale. 

Ai'PLicATiONS  FOR  Remov.\i.  From  .\nd  Restor.mion 
To  THE  Roll. 

Tho  removal  of  the  names  of  nine  midwives  from 
the  Roll  on  the  grounds  of  ill-health  or  old  age  was 
authorise<l  on  their  own  application. 

The  api>lication  of  a  woman  for  the  restoration 
of  her  name  to  the  Roll  after  voluntary  removal 
was  refused. 

.\l'l'UOV\L  AS  TkACIIER. 

The    application     of    Dr.     James    Robert     Hall 
Walker  for  ai>proval  as  a   teacher  was  granted. 
.\rritovAL  TO  Sign  Forms  III.  and  IV. 

The  apjdications  of  the  following  midwives  for 
approval  to  sign  Forms  111.  and  IV.  were  granted: 
Marv  r,U(ctta  Bu<kinan  (No.  10380),  IMary  Carter 
(No.'211H),  Gertrude  Davies  (No.  29355),  Elizabeth 
Griffin  (.\o.  7G03),  .\nnie  Mecsom  (No.  26H45),  Ruth 
Poulton    (No.    1902),   Jane  Webb   (No.   7231); 

The  date  of  the  ne.xt  nieedng  was  fixed  for 
November  21th. 


3nfrinGino  tbc  fllM^\vive9•  act. 

The  imposition  of  a  fine  of  £5  upon  a  woman 
named  Johnson  at  Leeds  for  illegally  practising 
as  a  midwife  <lraws  attention  to  the  fact  that  the 
practice  ol  midwifery  hy  unregistered  women  is 
now  piTohibit<Kl.  Attention  was  prolwibly  called  to 
Mre.  Johnson's  practice  by  the  fact  that  two  in- 
quests were  held  in  connection  with  erases  with 
which  she  w.-i«  connected  on  two  succc^ivo  days. 

The  inquest  w«s  held  in  the  first  instance  on  the 
body  of  a  child  burie<l  on  a  medical  certificate  that 
it  wa.s  still-lwrn,  whereas  it  died  three  houi-s  after 
its  birth.  It  was  stated  at  the  inquest  that  Mr.s. 
Johnson  (the  wife  of  a  miner)  attendetl  the  motiier 
and  advised  the  father  to  .send  for  a  doctor  as  the 
child  was  "  right  bad."  A  medical  student  from 
the  I.«eds  Iiifirmai-y  went  to  the  house  in  an.swer  to 
the  summons,  and  the  child  died  a  few  minutes 
after  Ins  arrival.  The  resident  obstetric  officer, 
who  wa.s  inl'ornie<l  by  the  student  that  the  child 
had  given  two  gasps  after  his  arrival,  but  that  his 
attempts  to  restore  respiration  by  artificial  methods 
had  failed,  inspected  the  body,  and  suljsequently 
gave  a  certificate  to  the  effect  that  the  child  was 
still-born,  ui>on  which  it  was  buried.  At  the  in- 
quest he  stated  that  he  did  this  because  the  child 
was  premature  and  could  not  have  lived.  The  jury 
returned  a  verdict  of  "  Death  from  natural  oausiee," 
and  tho  Coroner  refeiTed  to  the  possibility  of 
further  inquiry  l>cing  made  with  which  the  jury 
was  not  concerned.  In  that  event  a  further  ex- 
planation of  tho  circumstances  under  which  the 
certificate  was  given  will  no  doubt  be  made. 

The  following  day  an  inquest  was  held  on  the 
decca.sed  infant  of  Mre.  Johnson's  daughter,  the 
woman  being  summoned  for  registering  the  birth  of 
her  child  at  an  addr«\s.s  where  it  had  not  I>een  born. 
The  defendaiit'.s  explanation  was  that  she  regis- 
tered the  child  at  the  wix)ng  address  Iiecause  she 
did  not  wish  to  have  it  vaccinate<l,  but  it  was 
pointed  out  liy  the  prosecution  that  slie  was  de- 
livered at  Jlrs.  Johnson's  house,  and  that  the 
pix>l3ability  was  that  she  gave  tKe  wi-ong  address 
because  slie  did  not  wish  to  call  attention  to  her 
mother's  ilU^gal  practice  as  a  midwife. 

Subsequently  Mi-s.  Johnson  was  summoned  for 
practising  habitually  and  for  gain  as  a  midwife, 
when  it  was  >state<l  that  slie  had  practi.s<Hl  lietore 
the  pa-ssiiig  of  the  Midwiv**'  Act,  that  she  had 
not  succeetled  in  obtaining  registration  under  it, 
and  that  she  had  oontiniu>d  to  attend  confinenionts 
since  April  1st,  since  which  time  the  practice  of 
midwifery  by  unrogislon^l  women  was  illegal.  Tlie 
fact  that  .she  h«ul  atten<lod  <\)nfin<>ment8  on  two 
occasions  siiui'  that  date  was  proviMl.  Jliis.  .lohn- 
.sou's  def<'nce  was  that  she  was  paid  for  iiui-sing 
only  and  actwl  as  a  midwife  without  charge.  Tlie 
Court  inqKisetl  a  fine  of  £5,  but  made  an  oi-der  that 
it  was  not  to  be  onforcod  if  tho  defendant  desisted 
from  infringing  the  law. 

It  cannot  be  too  strongly  impressed  upon  women 
who  arc  not  registered  in  the  Midwives'  Roll  that 
they  lay  them.sj-lves  open  to  penalties  by  practising 
as  midwives. 


No.  1,177. 


THE 

m 

WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 

tuK  mamsiwi  wKcowm 

EDITED  BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


SATURDAY,    OCTOBER     22.     1910. 


EMtonal. 


A    GREAT    EDUCATIONALIST. 

A  professional  danger  wbicli  nurses  must 
recognise  and  combat  if  they  wish  to  main- 
tain a  dignilied  and  self-respecting  position, 
is  the  modern  tendency  to  depreciate  the 
financial  value  of  their  skilled  services  or 
to  utilise  a  considerable  portion  of  their 
earnings  for  so-called  charitable  purposes, 
and  then  to  i^resent  them  to  the  public  in 
the  form  of  needy  suppliants  for  alms. 

That  is  really  the  raison  d'etre  of  the 
demands  for  annuities,  almshouses  and 
pensions  for  nurses,  which  many  wealthy 
members  of  the  community  are  quite  pre- 
pared to  patronise— although  the  pension 
for  which  many  pay  heavily  throughout  their 
working  days,  is  really  a  form  of  self- 
insurance,  not  a  '■  pension  "  at  all,  which  is 
■'  an  annual  allowance  for  past  services." 

It  is  to  be  proposed  that  the  Imperial 
Memorial  to  Florence  Xightit3gale,  which 
is  to  be  inaugiirated  at  Grosvenor  House 
on  October  28th,  shall  take  the  form  of 
a  charity  for  the  nursing  profession, 
which  seems  the  more  inept  as  iliss 
Nightingale's  life-work  was  for  the  better 
education  of  nurses.  For  this  she  strove, 
for  this  she  organised  and  endowed — 
with  the  money  presented  to  her  by  the 
•  nation — the  Nightingale  Training  School 
at  St.  Thomas's  Hospital,  in  connection  with 
which  it  should  be  noted  that  the  proba- 
tioners have  always  paid  for  their  education. 

Any  Imperial  Memorial  to  commemorate 
the  value  of  iliss  Nightingale's  work  for 
the  community  should  commemorate  her 
unique  services  to  the  science  of  heal- 
ing. How  urgently  increased  educational 
facilities  for  nurses  are  needed  is  well 
known.  Other  professions  have  their  own 
endowment  funds.  There  are  many  such 
for  medical    education ;    medicine  has  its 


Royal  Colleges  and  School  ;  painting  its 
lio^-al  Academy  ;  music  its  Royal  College. 
Trained  nursing  alone  has  no  central  Col- 
lege ;  no  endowments  of  education.  Its 
standards  are  limited  to  the  requirements 
of  the  lay  managers  of  hospitals,  who  have 
no  special  interest  in  the  eificient  education 
of  nurses  for  duties  outside  institutions,  or  in 
the  needs  of  nursing  education  as  a  whole. 
Nowhere  can  candidates  for  probationers' 
posts  obtain  a  preliminary  course  of  instruc- 
tion to  fit  them  for  their  future  work,  though 
such  instruction  is  now  seen  to  be  so  essen- 
tial that  the  largest  hospitals  are  organising 
courses  for  their  own  accepted  pupils  ; 
nowhere  can  nurses  who  have  left  their 
training  schools  obtain  post-graduate  in- 
struction to  keep  themselves  abreast 
with  modern  developments  and  methods. 
If  a  spurious  philanthropy  demands  that 
nurses  shall  be  underpaid  in  their  working 
days,  and  maintained  by  charity  when  they 
can  work  no  longer,  at  least  let  the  public 
Memorial  to  the  Founder  of  modern  nursing 
commemoi"ate  her  as  a  great  educationalist. 
Miss  Nightingale's  "  Notes  on  Nitrsing," 
for  the  first  time,  defined  the  scientific 
principles  on  which  the  practice  of  modern 
nursing  is  based.  In  that  classic  work  she 
insisted  on  tiie  recognition  of  the  Matron 
as  the  Superintendent  of  the  training 
school,  the  i^rofessional  head  of  the  nursing 
staff  whom  she  supervises  ;  she  insisted 
further  on  the  supreme  importance  of 
thoi'oughness  in  the  preparation  of  the 
probationer  for  her  work ;  over  and  over 
again  she  dealt  with  the  organisation  of 
the  nurse's  training  from  the  standpoint  of 
tlie  cultured  educationalist,  and  it  was  for 
this  reason  that  so  great  an  impetus  was 
given  to  the  development  of  nursing.  The. 
most  fitting  Memorial  which  could  he 
devised  to  her  memory  would  therefore  be 
one  which  would  continue  that  development. 


326 


^be  IBritisb  Journal  of  IRursing, 


[Oct.  22,  1910 


flDeMcal  flDatters. 


THE  ROMANCE  OF  MEDICINE. 

Sir  Arthur  Conan  Doyle,  in  an  address  de- 
livered at  St.  Mary's  Hospital,  Paddington,  at 
the  opening  of  the  new  session,  as  reported  by 
the  Lancet,  said  in  part:  — 

With  a  knowledge  of  medicine  ycu  will  find 
that  you  bear  with  you  a  little  private  lantern 
vihich  throws  a  light  of  its  own. 

In  every  transaction  of  the  world,  you  are 
likely  to  find  medical  facts  down  at  the  root 
of  it,  influencing  its  origin  and  growth.  To 
take  an  obvious  example  of  what  I  mean,  for 
centuries  mankind  beautified  themselves  by 
means  of  wigs.  \Yhence  came  such  a  custom, 
unknown  to  antiquity  and  absurd  in  its  nature? 
Medical,  of  course.  A  skin  disease  on  the  top 
of  the  head  of  Francis  the  First  of  France, 
which  induced  alopecia,  or  bald  patches,  com- 
pelled him  to  cover  himself  with  artificial  hair ; 
his  courtiers  all  followed  suit,  exactly  as  they 
all  whispered  when  the  same  monarch  got 
laryngitis;  and  so,  the  custom  enduring  after 
the  true  cause  of  it  was  passed,  you  find  the 
explanation  for  all  your  tow-headed  ancestors. 
The  association  of  certain  diseases  with  certain 
characters  is  an  extraordinary  problem.  Julius 
Caesar  was,  I  believe,  at  all  times  of  his  life 
subject  to  fits.  Then  as  to  Mahomet,  we  know 
that  he  also  had  sudden  trance-like  fits,  quite 
apart  from  his  religious  visions,  so  that  even 
the  most  pious  Mahomedan  must  admit  them 
to  have  been  symptoms  of  disease.  Such  con- 
junction of  the  highest  human  qualities  with  a 
humiliating  disease  has  surely  both  its  patho- 
logical and  its  moral  interest.  Pathologically, 
one  might  suppose  that  there  is  a  limit  to  the 
point  to  which  the  keenness  of  the  spirit  can 
drive  the  body;  that  at  last  the  strain  tells, 
and  they  tear  away  from  each  other,  like  a 
racing  engine  which  has  got  out  of  control. 
Morally,  if  the  human  race  needed  anything 
else  to  keep  it  humble,  surely  it  could  find  it 
in  the  contemplation  of  the  limitations  of  its 
own  greatest  men.  I  would  further  adduce 
Napoleon  as  an  example  of  the  sidelights  and 
fresh  interests  which  a  medical  man  can  read 
ii-.to  history.  One  can  trace  for  many  years, 
certainly  from  1802,  the  inception  of  that 
disease  which  killed  him  at  St.  Helena  in  1821. 
In  1802  Bourrienne  said:  "  I  have  often  seen 
him  at  I\Ialmaison  lean  against  the  right  arm 
of  his  chair,  and  unbuttoning  his  coat  and 
waistcoat  exclaim.  '  What  pain  I  feel!'  "  That 
was"  perhaps  the  first  allusion  to  his  stomachic 
and  hepatic  trouble ;  b\it  from  then  onwards  it 
continually  appeared,  like  Banquo  at  the 
banquet.    He  could  scatter  the  hosts  of  Europe 


and  alter  its  kingdoms,  but  he  was  powerless 
against  the  mutinous  cells  of  his  own  mucous 
membrane.  Again  and  again  he  had  attacks  of 
lethargy,  amounting  almost  to  collapse,  at 
moments  when  all  his  energy  was  most  re- 
quired. At  the  crisis  of  Waterloo  he  had  such 
an  attaek,  and  sat  his  horse  like'Sa^man  dazed 
for  hours  of  the  action.  Finally,  the  six  years 
at  St.  Helena  furnish  a  clinical  study  of  gastric 
disease  which  was  all  explained  in  the  post- 
mortem examination  which  Hisclosed  cancer 
covering  the  whole  wall  of  the  stomach,  and 
actually  perforating  it  at  the  hepatic  border. 
Napoleon's  whole  career  was  profoundly  modi- 
fied by  his  complaint.  There  have  been  many 
criticisms — not  unnatural  ones — of  his  petty, 
querulous,  and  undignifiedtattitude  during  his 
captivity;  but  if  his  critics '^new' what  it  was 
to  digest  their  food  with  an  organ  which  ;had 
hardly  a  square  inch  of  healthy  tissue  upon  it 
they  would  take  a  more  geii^ous  view  of  the 
conduct  of  Napoleon.  For  my  own  part,  I 
think  that  his  fortitude  was  nevei"  inore  shown 
than  during  those  years — the  best' 'proof  of 
which  was.  that  his  guardians  had  no  notion 
how  ill  he  was  until  within  a  few  days  of  his 
actual  death. 

History  alwunds  with  examples  of  what  I 
have  called  the  romance  of  medicine — a  grim 
romance,  it  is  true,  but  a  realistic  and  an  absorb- 
ing one.  r^Iedicine  takes  you  down  to  the  deep 
springs  of  those  actions  which  appear  upon  the 
surface.  Look  at  the  men,  for  example,  who 
were  the  prime  movers  in  the  French  Revolu- 
tion. How  far  were  their  inhiunan  actions 
dependent  upon  their  own  complaints?  They 
were  a  diseased  company — a  pathological 
museum.  Was  ^larat's  view  of  life  tainted  by 
his  loathsome  skin  disease,  for  which. he  was 
taking  hot  baths  when  Charlotte  Corday  cut 
him  off'.'  Was  the  incorruptible  but  bilious 
Eobespicrre  the  victim  of  his  own  liver?  A 
man  whose  veins  are  green  in  colour  is  likely  to 
take  a  harsh  view  of  life.  Was  Couthon's  heart 
embittered  by  his  disfigured  limbs?  How 
many  times  do  the  most  important  historical 
developments  appear  to  depend  upon  small- 
physical  causes?  There  is,  for  example,  the 
case  of  the  Revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes. 
Now,  how  came  Louis  XI"V.,  who  had  always 
held  out  upon  this  point,  to  give  way  at  last 
to  the  pressure  of  Madame  de  Maintenon  and 
his  clerical  advisers  ?  The  answer  lay  in  one  of 
his  molar  teeth.  It  is  historical  that  he  had 
for  some  months  bad  toothache,  caries,  abscess 
of  the  jaw,  and  finally  a  sinus  which  required 
operation:  and  it  was  at  this  time,  when  he 
was  pathologically  abnormal  and  irrftable,  that 
he  took  the  step  which  has  modified  history. 


Oct.  22,  1910] 


^F)c  Britisb  3ournal  of  Hiursiiui. 


32-; 


Blnl>l^cvtc^ltv  au^  ita  Kclation!?  to 
School  IbxH^icnc. 

By  Lina  Mollett, 
Dircctora  del  Liceo  de  Nt/las  dc  Copiapo,  Chile. 


Ambidexterity  is  au  artificial  and  acquired 
art,  and  its  introduction  isnot>  infrequently  at- 
tended with  difficulties  and  even  active  opposi- 
tion. 

It  means  in  school  work  not  only  the  training 
of  both  hands,  but  the  training  of  all  corres- 
ponding nerve-centres  and  dependencies,  the 
development  of  the  two  hemispheres  of  the 
brain  to  a  perfect  whole.  e*ch  with  its  cor- 
responding attributes  harmoniously  developed 
and  properly  balanced.  It  means  to  its  disci- 
ples the  avoidance  of  various  forms  of  spina! 
complaints  by  a  proper  ]X)sturc  and  upright, 
vertical  writing,  the  avoidance  of  various  de- 
fects of  the  eyesight  by  the  avoidance  of  strain 
(inevitable  to  the  child  writing  a  slanting  handl. 
It  means  the  avoidance  of  fatigue  by  au 
organised  change  of  posture,  and  by  working 
alternately  right  and  left  hand  muscles  and 
nerves,  and  with  them  the  brain  centres. that 
direct  them. 

The  opposition  says  that  such  training  is  arti- 
ficial, and  the  opposition  is  right:  It  is. 

But  if  ambidexterity  is  artificial,  so  is  our 
20th'  centui-y  life,  so  is  our  modem  civilisation, 
our  literature,  our  joys  for  the  most  part,  and 
our  sorrows,  too.  We  ourselves  and  our  world 
grow  on  an  artificial  basis,  and  our  much- 
worked  brains  fonn  many  thought-centres  that 
nat\u-al  man  does  not  need.  Natural  man  (and 
Heaven  defend  us  from  him,  for  I  have  seen 
him  in  his  natural  state  in  the  wilds  of  Pata- 
gonia I^ — natural  man.  I  repeat  (and  still  more, 
natural  woman)  is  the  most  repulsive,  unclean, 
animal  creation  knows. 

We  want,  as  Mr.  Jackson,  the  great  cham- 
pion of  ambidexterity,  says,  "  we  want  every 
inch  of  our  brains."  So  save  us  from  the 
standard  of  natural  man  with  his  unformed. 
rudimentai-y  perceptions,  his  selfishness,  hi= 
cruplty.  his  low  pleasures,  and  mean  sorrows. 
Natural  man.  to  those  who  have  known  him. 
is  no  heroic  memory. 

Ambidexterity  is  no  new  science.  In  past 
ages,  in  prehistoric  times;  there  have  been  ex- 
traordinary nations  and  exceptional  individuals 
who  wer.^  bi-inanual. 

It  is  curious  to  note  that  the  nations  known 
to  have  been  bi-manual  always  had  moral,  in- 
ventive, artistic  qualities  that  raised  them 
above  the  mass  of  their  fellows. 

'  To  those  interest e<l  in  !in  extension  of  the  siib- 
ject  I  recommend  Mr.  .Tohn  Jackson's  book  "  Atii'ii- 
dexterity,"  jniblished  by  Kegan  Paul. — L.  M. 


Thus  early  drawinL;-  ot  tiiose  idealists  of  a 
lost  and  primitive  rac— the  cavern  dwellers  of 
Europe — show  in  their  details  signs  of  left  .and 
right-handedness.  The  Scythians,  a  people 
strong,  moral,  and  clean  above  their  age — were 
ambidextrous.  The  .Japanese,  the  most  hu- 
mane, healthy-minded  of  Orientals,  have  been 
ambidextrous  for  many  centuries.  The  bravest, 
most  able  -Jews  of  Old  Testament  fame,  mighty 
men  and  "  helpers  of  war,"  viz.,  the  700 
shngers  of  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  and  a  select 
and  highly-praised  section  of  King  David's 
arniv.  were  ambidextrous.  Yes.  The  Eev.  H. 
J.  Dunkinfield  Astley,  LitiD..  F.E.Hist.S.. 
gives  an  account  of  a  far-away  "Eolithic  race," 
prior  }o  the  Palseolithic  or  Neolithic  man,  who 
undoubtedly  made  right  and  left-hand  flint  in- 
struments, and  showed,  no  doubt,  pioneers  of 
progress  and  heralds  of  a  dawn  of  thought  and 
invention  that  must  have  placed  them  several 
degrees  above  the  human  brutes  of  their  own 
dark  ages. 

But  the  great  mass  of  humanity  has  been 
is.  and  protably  will  he,  right-handed. 

For  this — as  the  opponents  of  ambidexterity 
point  out — there  are  anatomical  reasons,  weil- 
recognised  by  all  students  of  the  subject,  be 
they  in  pro  or  in  contra,  and  these  objections 
are  based  on  facts  relating  to  the  circulatory  and 
respiratoi-y  organs,  and  even  to  the  relative 
weight  of  the  left  and  right  side  of  the  body, 
rendering  it  at  least  inconvenient  to  the  begin- 
ner to  use  his  left  hand  as  frequently  as  his 
right. 

This  fact  is,  as  I  said,  recognised,  and  will 
guide  the  teacher  of  ambidexterity  to  proceed 
gradually  and  carefully,  rather  to  suggest  than 
command,  to  note  signs  of  fatigue,  to  train 
cautiously  and  avoid  all  and  any  violent 
measure. 

Wherever  ambidexterity  has  been  education- 
ally utilised  the  results  have  been  favourable. 
In  Europe  and  America  numerous  schools  and 
studios  that  have  adopted  this  form  of  teachinsr 
testify  to  this  fact. 

From  practical  experience  I  have  seen  the 
most  happy  results  springing  from  judicious 
ambidextral  training. 

Children  taught  to  use  the  left  and  right 
hand  alternately  in  writing  and  drawing,  and 
even,  on  occasion,  to  use  both  hands  simul- 
taneously, are  less  liable  to  brain  fag  and, 
curiously  enough,  seem  to  have  their  inoral  in- 
stincts more  alert  than  children  not  so  trained. 
They  seem  to  profit  psychically  even  more  than 
physically. 

Among  hundreds  of  children  I  have  con-, 
stantly  observed,  only  a  very  few  are  natur.iJly 
and  by  instinct  ambidextral.  These  children 
are  invariablv  well-balanced    and    intellisent. 


328 


?rbc  Britisb  3ournaI  of  IRursincj, 


:Oct.  22,  1910 


3Iy  best  pupil,  a  girl  of  15,  told  me  the  other 
aay  she  had  never  had  a  headache,  and  was 
never  ill.  This  girl  can  easilyand  con-ectly  write 
a  composition  with  her  right  hand  and  work  out 
a  given  mathematical  problem  with  her  left, 
can  draw  different  subjects  with  either  hand, 
and  has  assured  me  that  such  exercises,  which, 
of  course,  are  exceptional,  do  not  tire  her  in 
the  least. 

She  is  a  leader  among  her  class-mates,  and 
has  a  strong  perception  of  justice  and  a  love  of 
order.  To  these  qualities  she  adds  fearlessness 
and  frankness  and  modesty,  altogether  a  pro- 
mising union  of  pereonal  qualities. 

All  normal  children  can  be  trained  to  use 
both  hands  alternately  for  writing  and  drawing, 
but  some  abnoniial  children  (and  these  are  the 
exceptional  few)  cannot  be  trained,  and  in  such 
cases  the  method  must  not  be  enforced. 

The  younger  children  are,  the  more  easily  are 
they  taught^ the  use  of  either  hand  impartially. 
The  first  steps  of  ambidextral  teaching  delay — 
and  should  delay — rapid  mental  education. 
But  as  rapid  education  is  not  desirable  in  any 
case,  and  "  quick  progress"  does  not  result  in 
final  hamiony,  this  is  a  decided  advantage. 

Once  the  balance  found,  development  and 
mental  growth  are  normal,  and  the  bi-manual 
child,  by  the  nature  of  its  training,  escapes 
many  physical  dangers  that  lie  in  wait  for  the 
lop-sided  scholar.  It  is  well-known  that  right- 
handed  workers  have  their  thought  centres  in 
the  left  side  of  the  brain,  and  that  as  soon  as 
the  left  hand  is  called  upon  to  perform  intellec- 
tual work,  new  thought  centres  are  formed  in 
the  right  hemisphere  of  the  brain.  An  educa- 
tion that  graduates  the  training  of  both  hands 
for  mtellectual  work  will,  therefore,  be,  at  the 
same  time,  training  both  hemispheres  of  the 
brain  to  become  thinking  well-exercised  organs. 

!Mr.  John  Jackson,  in  his  interesting  book  on 
"  Ambidexteiity,"  quotes  numerous  well- 
known  medical  men,  who  agree  "  in  asserting 
that  both  in  regard  to  speech  and  motor  capa- 
bilities the -right  brain  is  in  no  whit  inferior  to 
the  left,  but  that  it  has  been,  can,  and  may  be 
cultivated  or  educated  to  exactly  the  same 
degree  of  activity  or  functional  ability  as  its 
fellow,  the  left  brain." 

"  The  nerve-force  and  nen-e  fibres  which  pro- 
duce muscular  action  on  one  side  of  the  body 
have  their  oiigin  in  the  opposite  hemisphere 
of  the  brain."     (Dr.  W.  Cahall.  of  New  York.) 

Out  here  in  Chile  I  have  personally  con- 
sulted numerous  medical  n\ithoHt)es.  All  were 
in  favour  of  ambidextral  education,  more  espe- 
cially those  who  had  actual  connection  with 
educational  work,  cither  as  professors  of  hy- 
giene in  fiscal  sc' •  -  '-  r..-  ■,-  Mi-l'-fi'  'superin- 
tendents. 


Some  readers  of  the  British  Journal  of 
Nursing  will  not  have  forgotten  Miss  Eva 
Quezada  Achanau,  M.D.,  a  lady  whose  charm- 
ing pei'souality  is  only  equalled  by  her  hu- 
manity and  scientific  training,  and  who  be- 
came known  to  vai'ious  members  of  the  nursing 
profession  during  their  visit  to  the  Women's 
Congress  in  Berlin. 

This  lady  is  a  warm  supporter  of  ambidextral 
training,  and  has  been  inspired  to  champion 
bi-manual  education  by  her  mother,  a  highly- 
intellectual  and  hamiouious  woman,  whose 
children  have  all  been  distinguished  in  one  way 
or  another  by  physical,  mental,  and  moral 
superiority.  Apart  from  dedicatmg  hei-self  to 
her  more  directly  professional  duties,  j\Iiss 
Quezada  was  for  many  years  teacher  of  hygiene 
in  a  government  school. 

Those  who  have  seen  bi-manual  children  at 
work,  in  an  upright  natural  position,  their 
spines  in  no  danger  of  deformity,  their  eyes  un- 
strained by  a  false  position  (for  bi-manual  writ- 
ing is  upright)  cannot  question  the  advantages 
such  training  ofiers.  As  a  fact,  opposition  does 
not,  as  a  rule,  come  from  medical  quarters, 
but  from  teachers,  to  whom  the  system  natur- 
ally offers  difficulties. 

I  have  personally  been  fortunate  in  the  en- 
thusiastic support  of  my  staff,  and  recognise 
with  gratitude  that  our  own  success  in  'ambi- 
dextral education  is  due  to  their  efforts. 

As  to  the  pupils,  I  have  found  them  (with 
few  exceptions)  most  wiUing  to  learn  the  use  of 
both  hands.  As  I  said,  there  is  no  difficulty 
with  the  little  ones,  if  taken  gradually,  without 
hurry.  Older  beginners  have  the  same  diffi- 
culty every  beginner  has  in  using  any  set  of 
muscles  and  nei'ves  unused  to  certain  exercises. 
And  — as  in  all  exercises — so  in  these  care  is 
necessary  to,  avoid  exaggeration.  Time  must 
be  allowed  for  development,  rest  pauses  must 
be  frequent;  we  do  not  want  to  force,  but  to 
fortify  in  school-training.  The  object  is  not  the 
phenomenon  but  the  strengthening  of  human 
mechanisms  for  future  use,  the  storing  of  ener- 
gies for  good  and  happij  work  hereafter. 

Personal  experience  is  generally  worth  a  good 
deal  of  theory  :  I  mj-self  began  bimanual  work 
late  in  life,  trained  myself  on  a  system  of  my 
own,  and  succeeded,  without  a  headache,  in 
ambidextral  blackboard  drawing  and  colouring 
in  a  very  short  time.  Now  I  frequently  work 
with  the  left  hand  in  preference  to  the  right, 
in  all  that  relates  to  form  demonstration,  and 
find  my  left  band  work  "  fresher."  I  have 
never  succeeded  in  writing  "  pleasurably  " 
with  my  left  hand,  and  find  my  own  style 
stilted  and  unnatural  when  I  do  so. 

But  the  restfulness  of  a  change  of  hand  is 


Oct. 


1010 


TTbc  ^vitisb  Journal  of  H^iusln'^ 


3-20 


uudeuiable,  especially  (or  cut  aud  dried  office 
work. 

Some  of  my  staff  hav<.-  taken  up  bi-manual 
work  with  success  and  satisfaction  to  them- 
selves as  adult  women.  As  is  natural,  the 
younger  members  achieve  their  end  more 
quickly  and  perfectly  than  those  more  ad- 
\  iinced  in  age. 

Sever  has  any  physical  inconvenience  re- 
.--ulted  to  them  from  their  self-imposed  train- 
ing. Far  less  has  this  been  the  case  among  the 
jiupils,  whose  youth  makes  any  new  exercise 
■asier. 

The  history  of  bi-mauual  education  is 
riiriously  spasmodic.  At  various  intervals  we 
liave  seen  it  stait  into  life,  hailed  as  the  one 
thing  needful  at  the  most  diverse  jjeriods  of 
the  world's  chronicle,  and  by  the  most  diverse 
disciples. 

It  has  been  fanned  by  enthusiasts  and  has 
flared  into  life  like  a  straw-fire,  and,  like  a 
straw-fire,  burnt  out,  has  again  sunk  into 
(iblivion  to  rise  again,  and  again  to  sinK. 

It  remains  to  be  seen,  whether  our  own 
ct)oler,  calmer  acceptance  of  ambidexterity  as 
an  important  part  of  the  school  eumculum  will 
be  of  lasting  good,  whether  science  will  sup- 
port us,  teachers  (much  needed)  be  found  to 
carry  on  the  teaching  of  ambidexteritj"  cau- 
tiously and  consistently,  and  whether,  indeed, 
generations  to  come  will  benefit  by  our  efforts 
and  reap  what  we  have  sown. 

They  will  iiot  remember  us,  but,  with  the 
fresh  and  charming  egotism  of  youth,  glory 
seTf  contained  in  their  own  age,  and  their  more 
harmonious    culture. 


NATIONAL  FOOD   REFORM  ASSOCIATION. 

The  arrangements  for  tho  Conference  of  ^Ma- 
trous  of  Hospitals  and  similar  institutions, 
which  the  National  Food  Reform  Association  is 
convening  at  Caxton  Hall,  Westminster,  on 
Saturday  afternoon.  November  5th,  have  now- 
been  completed.,  iliss  Eosalind  Paget  will 
preside,  and  a  paper  on  the  "  Feeding  of 
Nurses,"  prepared  by  !Miss  Musson  (Matron, 
Birmingham  General  Hospital)  will  be  sub- 
mitted. The  discussion  will  be  opened  as  un- 
der:— General  Hu-^spHah  :  Miss  R.  Cox-Davies 
(Royal  Free  Hospitals :  Metropolitan  Asylums 
Board  Hospitals  :  Miss  Susan  A.  V.illiers  I'Park 
Fever  Hospital,  Lewishani) ;  District  Nurses' 
Homes  (Queen's  Nui"ses) :  Miss  Boge  CShore- 
ditch). 

Any  provincial  Matrons,  who  are  able  to  at- 
tend, are  invited  to  apply  for  cards  of  mem- 
bership to  the  Secretary.  National  Food  Re- 
form Association.  178,  St.  Stephen's  House, 
Westminster.^  The  arrangements  are  being 
?nade  by  a  representative  Committee. 


6cvman  IHuvsino  in  tbc  ann\? 
an^  THav\>. 

Bv  Sister  Agnes  Kakll, 
Pres'di  nt,  German  Surses'  Association. 

Our  times  have  produced  great  changes  in 
the  provision  for  the  sick  in  the  aimy,  during 
both  war  and  peace.  While,  for  exam- 
ple, we  must  allow  that  under  Frederick  the 
"Great  the  provision  for  the  wounded  in  time 
of  war,  certainly  not  of  a  high  quality,  was 
better  than  that  of  the  sick  in  time  of  peace, 
to-day  in  both  c&ses  the  same  great  care  is 
shown,  and  in  the  medical  system  is  continu- 
ally improving. 

in  Prussia,  in  1831,  during  the  occupation 
of  the  Russian-Polish  frontier,  there  were  such 
a  number  of  cases  in  the  lazarets,  that  the 
lack  of  a  trained  staff  made  itself  acutely  felt. 
The  result  was  that,  in  the  following 
year,  by  an  order  in  council,  an  institute  was 
founded  for  the  training  of  soldiers  as  nurses. 
They  were  given  the  name  of  surgeon-assist- 
ants. Fu'stly,  they  had  to  carry  out  the  doc- 
tor's orders,  and  to  help  the  doctor  in  the 
lazaret  and  on  the  battlefield,  but  they  were 
not  to  prescribe  themselves,  or  attempt  to 
administer  independently  to  the  sick;  secondly 
to  give  first  aid,  in  cases  of  imminent  danger 
of  loss  of  life,  until  the  doctor  should  arrive: 
thirdly,  to  do  the  regular  nursing  instead  of 
absent  relatives. 

The  following  definition  of  a  soldier  nurse's 
duties  is  taken  from  an  official  medical  report 
of  the  beginning  of  last  century. 

""  The  soldier  nuree  is  to  make  illness,  re- 
covery, nay,  even  death  easier  to  his  sick 
comrade  I  He  is  to  be  on  duty  as  a  brother 
of  mercj-  in  the  hospital  wards  by  day  and  by 
night." 

In  every  company  or  squadron  one  man  was 
to  be  trained  by  doctors  in  the  garrison  lazaret. 
On  being  selected  the  men  were  required  to  be 
respectable,  to  be  able  at  least  to  write  and 
do  accounts,  and  in  general,  to  be  mentally 
and  physically  such,  that  their  training  might 
be  expected  to  prove  successful.  Love  of  their 
vocation  was  also  required,  ".because  of  the 
disagreeable  impressions  connected  with  it." 
They  still  formed  part  of  the  active  troops,  as 
privates,  and  kept  their  regimentals. 

The  period  of  training  was  2  or  3  years  for 
those  who  remained  in  the  military  sei-vice  for 
a  longer  period,  for  those  who  left  the  army, 
after  senuug  their  time  of  compulsory  military 
service,  an  examinaton  was  held  durng  the 
firet  half  of  the  last  6  months  of  their  active 

*  Presented  to  the  International  Congrees  of 
Nurses,  London,  1909. 


330 


^be  Bvltisb  3ournal  of  IRurstna. 


:Oct.  22,  1910 


service,  to  prove  the  existence  of  the  qualifi- 
-cations  necessary  for  the  work  of  a  surgeon's 
assistant.  After  having  passed  the  examina- 
tion, they  passed  from  the  rank  of  an  appren- 
tice to  that  of  a  surgeon's  assistant,  with  the 
additional  rank  of  a  lance-corporal,  and  pay 
raised  to  correspond. 

After  a  year's  serv'ice  they  were  given  the 
rank  of  sergeant  and  corresponding  means  of 
support.  Twelve  years'  service,  which  in- 
cluded active  service,  were  necessary  for  the 
attainment  of  a  civil  appointment. 

Those  men,  who  had  left  the  active  service, 
were  made  use  of  during  mobilisation,  manoeu- 
vres, etc.,  or  if  a  sui-plus  existed,  they  were 
placed  under  arms  in  their  troop.  In  the  latter 
case,  however,  they  had  to  assist  the  doctors 
and  surgeons  on  any  given  occasion.  One  year 
later  each  battalion  was  furnished  with  ban- 
daging apparatus  for  the  men-nurses ;  again, 
■one  year  lafer,  a  book  of  instructions  was  com- 
piled, of  which 'each  nurse  received  a  copy. 

This  new  creation  of  the  Prussian  army  met 
with  the  highest  approval  of  the  authorities, 
even  before  it  had  been  put  to  the  test  by  a 
war;  this  happened  for  the  first  time  in  1848 
and  1849.  In  1852,  by  an  Order-in-Council, 
their  appellation  was  altered  into  that  of 
lazaret  assistants,  and  they  were  given  a 
uniform  to  correspond  to  their  services. 

At  the  same  time  a  sub-division  of  military 
nurses  was  foi-med,  20  men  to  each  army 
corps,  so  that  in  ease  of-  war  there  should  be 
a  larger  number  of  fairly  well  trained  nurses 
to  dispose  of. 

Two  years  later  companies  of  stretcher- 
bearers  were  foiTned,  4-5  to  each  army  corps. 
A  constant  improvement  took  place  in  the  in- 
struction and  in  the  jDosition  of  the  lazaret 
assistants,  especially  when  renewed  wars 
showed  the  importance  of  these  institutions. 
Their  military  appointments  were  threefold,  as 
first  they  had  to  serve  in  the  army  for  six 
months  before  offering  themselves  voluntarily 
for  medical  training  in  nin-sing. 

It  was  in  the  war  of  1870-71  that  they  imder- 
went  the  crucial  test.  8,336  lazaret  assistants 
were  on  duty  in  the  German  army,  and  had 
to  give  first  help  to  468,687  sick  men,  and  to 
116,821  wounded,  not  reckoning  the  number 
of  wounded  belonging  to  the  French  army. 
107  Prussian  lazaret  assistants  laid  down  their 
lives,  16  died  a  brave  death  on  the  battlefield, 
9  afterwards  succumbed  to  their  wounds. 

A  further  improvement  of  the  provision  for 
the  sick,  during  time  of  war,  was  made  by  the 
creation  of  a  medical  staff- corps.  This  altered 
the  military  rank  of- doctors  from  officials  into 
olHcers,    which    consequently    influenced    the 


training  system  for  the  lazaret-assistants  and 
soldier-nurses. 

In  1885  hospital  wards  were  an-anged  in  the 
baiTacks,  where  amidst  the  soldiers,  instead 
of  only  in  separate  lazarets,  lazaret  assistants 
could  better  provide  for  cases  of  slight  illness, 
than  had  been  the  case  hitherto. 

In  1886  the  last  edition  of  the  book  of  in- 
structions for  the  soldier-nurses  was  published, 
but  next  year  it  is  to  be  followed  by  a  new 
one,  as  an  addition  to  the  plan  of  instruction 
for  the  state  examination. 

Since  1891  separate  medical  schools-  have 
been  opened  in  the  large  lazarets,  to  provide  a 
uniform,  common  training  of  the  soldier- 
nurses;  also  the  bandaging  materials  are  pre- 
pared by  them  in  special  institutions. 

In  1892,  1893,  and  1894  great  numbers  of 
lazaret  assistants  were  ordered  out  to  combat 
the  great  cholera  epidemic  in  Hamburg  and  its 
extension  to  the  Rhine,  Elbe,  Oder,  and  Vis- 
tula; they  stood  the  test  admirably,  as  was 
proved  in  many  cases  by  the  bestowal  of  a 
badge  of  honour. 

In  the  other  German  kingdoms  the  develop- 
ment of  the  nureing  system  had,  in  part,  be- 
gun later  and  proceeded  in  a  somewhat  differ- 
ent manner,  but  it  was  similar  enough  to 
easily  fit  in  with  the  main  system,  when  the 
union  of  the  Gemian  armj-  took  place  after 
our  last  war.  In  our  recently'  developed  navy 
it  was  also  neeessarj-  to  adopt  this  system  to 
the  special  conditions. 

(To  be  concluded.) 


Xcaouc  1Re\V5. 

llie  first  general  meeting  of  the  Cleveland 
Street  branch  of  the  Central  London  Sick 
Asylum  Nurses'  League  was  held  at  that 
institution  on  Friday,  October  14th.  The  Pre- 
sident, Miss  C.  B.  Leigh,  was  in  the  chair,  and 
the  crowded  room  testified  to  the  enthusiasm 
of  the  jnembers,  as  well  as  to  their  interest 
in  the  subject  of  Nursing  Organisation  and 
State  Eogistration,  on  which  an  address  was 
given  by  ^Irs.  Bedford  Feuwick. 

In  introducing  the  speaker.  Miss  C.  B.  Leigh 
remarked  that  it  Vv^as  sometimes  said  that  the 
Cleveland  Street  Infirmary  was  dreary  outside, 
but  those  who  visited  it  were  sure  of  a  warm 
welcome  within.  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  was 
well  known  to  them  as  a  real  friend  to  all 
nurses,  and  they  wt-re  proud,  as  a  League,  that 
she  should  be  the  first  speaker  to  come  to  ad- 
dress them. 

Mrs.  Fenwick  then  described  the  movement 
for  the  State  Registration  of  Nurses,  and 
showed  how,  although  much  has  been  accom- 


Oct. 


1910' 


Zbc  Brltisb  3oiirnaI  or  iHurslno. 


331 


plislied  for  the  iiupiov<.iin.'iit  ui  luir^iuy  tuuca- 
tion,  and  certain  systems  of  training  evolved, 
yet  these  at  present  are  unequal,  individual, 
personal,  and  that  the  establishment  by  the 
State  of  an  expert  central  body,  or  Nursing 
Council,  is  necessary  to  co-ordinate  nursing 
education,  and  to  maintain  nursing  standards 
and  disciphne. 

In  connection  with  the  movement  for  regis- 
irstion  and  the  opposition  it  had  inevitably 
aroused,  she  showed  the  economic  reasons  for 
this,  and  said  that  though  some  nurses  were 
inclined  to  imitate  the  modest  violet, 
which  keeps  under  its  leaves,  all  should 
jome  forward  to  help  in  the  organi- 
-  ition  of  their  profession,  as  some  10,000 
;  their  colleagues  in  the  United  Kingdom  have 
nii-eady  done.  She  concluded  by  congratulating 
tlie  members  present  on  having  formed  their 
League,  by  which  means,  tluough  membership 
of  the  National  and  International  Councils  of 
Nurses,  they  could  enter  into  professional  rela- 
iions   with  their  colleagues  in  this  and  other 

■untries. 

A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  to  Mrs. 
Ir'enwick,  on  the  conclusion  of  her  address, 
moved  by  Miss  M.  Punchard,  Hon.  Secretary 
of  the  League,  and  seconded  by  Miss  Farries, 
Editor  of  the  League  Xews.  The  members 
resident  in  the  Infirmary  were  in  indoor  uni- 
form, looking  very  neat  and  trim,  and  wore 
their  Badge,  which  is  tastefully  er.rried  out  in 
blue  enamel,  and  bears  the  name  of  the 
League. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  meeting  some  of 
those  present  visited  the  wards.  If  the  proof  of 
good  nursing  is  that  the  patients  are  comfort- 
able, then  the  standard  of  imrsing  at  the  Cleve- 
land Street  Infinnary  is  a  high  one.  .The  fabric 
of  the  Infinnary  is  many  yeare  old, 
but  the  air  in  the  wards  was  fresh,  the  fires 
bright,  the  patients  evidently  happy  and  con- 
tent'Cd,  and  everything, ,  including  the  linen 
cupboards,  in  excellent  order.  The  operating 
theatre  and  the  manner  in  which  it  is  kept  re- 
flect the  highest  credit  on  the  nurses  respon- 
sible. 

There  may  be  an  aristocracy  in  nursing,  to 
which  those  who  hold  positions  in  the  hospital 
world  lay  claim,  but  the  sick  poor  in  this  coun- 
try, as  well  as  the  nursing  profession,  owe  a 
deep  debt  of  gratitude  to  those  who,  like  Miss 
Leigh,  have  come  forward  during  this  transi- 
tion period  to  take  up  the  ixjsitions  of  ^Matrons 
in  Poor  Law  Infirmaries,  and  to  organise  and 
maintain  a  standard  of  nursing  which,  tested 
by  that  which  obtains  ''n  general  hospitals,  will 
not  be  found  wanting. 

M.  B. 


State  IRcotstration  in  l^ictoria. 

.U  ilic  ivcLUt  AunuLil  fleeting  of  the  Eoyal 
Victorian  Trained  Nurses'  Association  at  Mel- 
bourne, Dr.  E.  H.  Fetherston  moved  the  fol- 
lowing  Kesolution :  — 

'•  Tliat  the  Association  is  in  favour  of  Registration 
by  the  State  of  Xurses ;  and,  if  carried,  that  tlie 
Council  take  sucli  steps  as  it  may  think  necessary 
to  give  effect  to  the  above." 

Di'i  Fetherston  said  that  for  a  long  time  he 
had  been  of  opinion  that  a  system  of  State 
Eegistration  would  be  of  great  advantage  to 
trained  nurses,  and  particularly  to  the  public. 
He  quoted  the  example  of  New  Zealand,  which 
he  said  had  ven,"  advanced  legislation,  and  had 
a  Nurses'  Eegistration  Act  on  the  Statute 
Book.  He  pointed  out  that  the  consideration 
of  the  question  by  Victorian  nurses  was  im- 
portant because  a  Bill  was  to  be  laid  before 
the  Victorian  Parliament  to  register  midwifery 
nurses  and  private  hospitals.  If  this  Bill 
passed  it  would  take  the  midwifery  examina- 
tion out  of  the  hands  of  the  Association,  and 
the  Midwifery  Board  of  Examiners  would  have 
the  power  to  strike  ofi  the  rolls  trained  nurses 
who  misconducted  themselves.  He  thought 
if  the  Assocl-ation  approved  it  would  be  an 
admirable  plan  to  get  that  Bill  extended  to  in- 
clude general  as  well  as  midwifery  work.  He 
said  that  he  had  communicated  with  Miss  Mc- 
Lean, formerly  ^Matron  of  the  Women's  Hos- 
pital, Melbourne,  and  now  Assistant  Inspector 
of  Hospitals  and  Eegistrar  in  New  Zealand, 
who  wrote  :  — 

' '  ily  opinion  formed  after  three  years'  work  in 
New  Zealand,  is  that  a  good  Registration  Act  for 
Nurses,  providing  for  professional  (both  medical  and 
surgical)  demonstration,  is  the  best  thing  that  can 
be  devisetl  for  imx)rovemeut  in  their  own  status  and 
in  their  usefulness  to  the  public ;  that  this  legal 
recognition,  though  not  so  necessary  where  volun- 
tary associations  Have  accomplished  so  much  in 
Australia,  yet  would  give  a  stability  and  a  certainty 
to  the  profession  which  cau  be  obtained  in  no 
other  way." 

The  resolution  was  seconded  by  Miss  Madge 
Jones,  who  said  that  the  New  Zealand  nurses 
she  had  met  had  spoken  most  enthusiastically 
of  State  Eegistration. 

The  President,  Dr.  Springthorpe,  then  fur- 
ther explained  the  effect  of  a  Eegistration  Act, 
and  Dr.  Fethcrston's  resolution,  on  being  put 
to  the  meeting,  was  carried  unanimously. 

This  is  very  satisfactory.  We  have  also  re- 
cently had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  Dr.  Felix  . 
Meyer,  until  recently  the  Editor  of  Una,  tbe 
official  organ  of  the  E. V.T.N. A.,  who  is 
strongly  in  favour  of  a  system  of  Eegistration 
of  nurj^cs.  bv    the    State,  for  Australia.       Dr. 


332 


Cfcc  IBritigb  3oiirnal  of  IRursing, 


[Oct.  22,  1910 


Meyer  has  watched  with  keen  interest  the 
Eegistration  movement  in  this  country,  and  is 
of.  opinion  that  the  nurses  of  the  United  King- 
dom will  have  their  Eegistration  Bill  in  the 
not  far  distant  future. 

3nsb  IHuvscs*  association. 

The  first  business  meeting  of  the  season  of 
the  Irish  Nurses'  Asociation  was  held  on  Octo- 
ber 8th,  at  86,  Lower  Leeson  Street,  Dublin, 
and  was  well  attended.  It  was  agreed  to  post- 
pone the  usual  opening  social  meeting  for  a 
short  time.  The  winter  work  and  lectures  were 
discussed,  and  it  is  hoped  soon  to  have  ar- 
ranged an  attractive  and  varied  programme 
for  the  session.  Several  new  members  were 
admitted. 


The  Ulster  Branch  of  the  Irish  Nurses'  As- 
sociation had  a  very  enjoyable  social  meeting 
on  Thursday  in  last  week  (the  first  of  the  win- 
ter programme),  whioh  w'as  held  at  the  Deaf 
and  Dumb  Institute,  College  Square,  Belfast. 
Other  social  meetings  will  be  held  on  Novem- 
ber 24th  and  February  16th  next.  On  October 
20th,  Dr.  G.  A.  H'cks  will  lecture  to  members 
of  the  Association  on  the  "  Physiology  of  the 
Abdominal  Organs,"  illustrated  by  models,  at 
the  Eoj'al  Victoria  Hospital.  On  December 
6th.  Dr.  V.  G.  Fielden  will  lecture  to  the  As- 
sociation on  "  Preventive  Medicine,"  and  in 
Jamiary,  en  a  date  to  be  fixed  later,  Dr.  Cory 
Bigger  \vill  address  the  Association  on  the 
State   Eegistration  of  Nurses. 

Xibert^  of  Conscience 

Now  that  October  is  here,  renewed  activity 
is  evident  in  all  the  women's  societies.  The 
Nurses  will,  let  us  hope,  throw  all  their  spare 
energies  into  the  registration  campaign — a 
campaign  which  makes  for  professional  justice. 
in  the  present  j-ear  we  have  received  sad 
evidence  of  the  ingratitude  of  men  for  the 
life-long  devotion  to  duty  of  a  noble  woman, 
together  with  the  openly  expressed  detei-- 
miuation  to  deprive  women  of  professional 
promotion  who  dare  to  act  according  to  con- 
science. Nothing  but  State  protection  for 
nurses  can  prevent  the  repetition  of  this  tyran- 
nical exercise  of  power  upon  the  part  of  hos- 
pital governors  who  now  control  their 
daily  lives.  Once  and  for  all,  those 
who  stand  aside  now  from  this 
stirring  fight  for  right  are  unworthy.  To 
all  nurses  who  v&lue  honour  we  would  say, 
Come  out,  stand  up,  speak  out.  go  ahead,  and 
win.  Liberty  of  conscience  is  at  stake.  Starve 
rjitlier  than  relinquish  it. 


Iproposet)    riDemorial   to  the  late 
HDiss  Jf  lorence  IRigbtingale,  ©.flD. 

The  organisers  of  the  proposed  Imperial 
Memorial  to  Miss  Florence  Nightingale,  O.M., 
have  anticipated  the  pubhc  meeting  to  be  held 
at  Grosvenor  House  on  October  28th,  to  dis- 
cuss the  form  which  this  Memorial  shall  take, 
by  issuing  the  statement  which  we  pubUsh 
below.  This  action  is  the  more  significant  as, 
although  it  has  been  widely  cir.culated  amongst 
women's  societies,  and  the  general  public,  it 
has  not  been  sent  to  the  Organised  Societies  of 
Trained  Nurses.  It  is  not  surprising,  there- 
fore, that  amongst  the  printed  list  of  sup- 
porters the  names  of  no  professional  nurses 
appear,  with  the  exception  of  that  of  the 
Acting  Hon.  Secretary.  We  print  the  pro- 
posed Scheme  which  is  being  sent  out  with  the 
following  circular  letter: — ■ 

Temporary  Offices : 

21,  Little  Welbeck  Street, 

Cavendish  Square,  AV. 

Madaai, — I  am  enclosing  you  a  paper  which  out- 
lines the  proposed  Imperial  Memorial  to  the  late 
Miss  Florence,  Nightingale,  O.M.,  in  connection 
'.vith  which  liis  Grace  the  Duke  of  Westminster  has 
kindly  allowed  a  meeting  to  take  place  at  Gros- 
venor House  on  Friday,  October  28th,  at  3  p.m. 

Should  the  scheme  meet  with  your  sympathy, 
may  I  ask  you  to  bo  so  good  as  to  sign  the  en- 
closed paper. 

A  list  of  those  who  are  supporting  the  move- 
ment is  enclosed,  and  I  need  scarcely  add  how 
much  your  patronage  would  be  appreciated  by  the 
organisers  of  the  Memorial. 

1  have  the  honour  to  remain. 
Your  obedient  servant, 

Ethel  McC.'Icl, 
Acting  Honorary  Secretary. 

PROPOSED  SCHEME. 

Men  and  women  of  the  Empire,  and  without 
class  distinction,  are  under  a  deep  obligation  to 
the  Pioneer  of  Nursing.  The  privileged  classes 
and  the  masses  have  benefited  alike  through 
the  battlefields  and  hospitals  of  the  Crimea. 
But  victories  glorious  to  the  Nation  must  pale 
before  the  great  conquest  achieved  solely  by 
a  noble  woman's  efforts.  Florence  Nightingale 
fulfilled  a  mission  so  great  that  it  will  only 
be  fully  comprehended  as  time  moves  on. 

An  adequate  Memorial,  which  sliould  com- 
ply with  the  wisiies  of  the  great  but  simple- 
hearted  dead,  should  be  of  lasting  benefit  to 
the  living,  and  thus  pei^petuate  the  memory  of 
this  heroic  ^^•on■lan. 

It  is  tl'.eroforo  proposed  to  ask  for  National 
sujiport  for  a  fund  to  he  raised  to  the  menioi-y 
of  the  late  Miss  Niglitingcle,  to  reiu'u'r  pecu- 
iiiarv   assistance  to  aged  Nurses,  or  those  in- 


1010 


She  BritisI)  3oiirnal  of  "Wm-sino. 


333 


capacitated  through  ill-liealth  from  continuing 
their  uui-siug  career. 

It  is  not  generally  known  that  there  are  yefc 
four  sun'ivoi"s  who  accompanied  Miss  Night- 
ingale to  the  Crimea.  One  of  these  women,  it 
is  almost  incredible  to  believe,  is  in  the  work- 
house, through  no,  fault  of  her  own;  others 
there  are  who  entered  the  calling  when  it 
seemed  to  hold  out  little  prospect  of  adequate 
payment,  but  whose  early  and  devoted  ser- 
vices are  reflected  in  standards  of  modern 
nursing,  while  many  of  those  now  advancing 
in  years  will  stand  very  near  this  perilous 
position  unless  they  can  be  provided  for. 

Even  at  middle  age  there  are  few  appoint- 
ments open  to  nurses  .who  have  spent  their 
time  in  public  service.  A  nurse's  career  is 
necessarily  short,  as  the  public  demand  the 
services  of  a  young  and  up-to-date  woman, 
and  this  leaves  small  margin  for  even  a 
thrifty  woman  to  provide  a  pension  of,  say, 
£30  a  year,  and  near  relations  often  claim  the 
L'reater  portion  of  her  earnings. 

It  is  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  Hospital 
Traine  1  Elderly  Nurses  that  a  Committee  is 
being  formed  to  promote  a  ^Memorial  to  benefit 
such  women,  to  be  known  as  the  "  Florence 
Niditingale  Trust." 


To  this  ^Memorandum  is  attached  a  per- 
forated slip  inviting  the  recipients  to  signify 
their  intention  of  giving  their  names  in  support 
of  the  Scheme. 

practical  point. 

In  the  past  tragic'   results 
Safety  Devices  for   Lave  occurred  from  undue  es- 
X-Rays.             posure  to  the  X-rays.    Opera- 
tore  can  now  be  sheltered  from 
the  rays  by  means  of  lead-lined  cabinets,  in  whicli 
the   patients  are  put  duriua;  the    operation,    and 
observe  their  "cases"  through  windows  whose  glass 
has  lead  in  it.     These  safety  devices  are  now  being 
extensively   provided  in  the  up-to-date  X-ray   de- 
partments of  hospitals^^ 

Xcoal  flDattci's. 

AN  OVERDOSE  OF  STRYCHNINE. 
Xn  almost  inconceivable  laxity  in  the  disp>>nsiiig 
and  control  of  a  poisonous  amount  of  strychnine 
r.  suited  in  the  death  of  a  scarlet  fever  patient,  a 
<  hild  of  four,  at  the  West  Heath  Fever  Hospital, 
loar  Birmingham.  At  the  subsequent  inquest  the 
Aight  Nurse,  Nurse  Rudge,  deposed  that  in  in- 
tructions  written  in  the  report  book  she  was 
hrected  to  give  a  dose  of  strychnine  mixture  to 
•ho  deceased- every  four  hours.  She  got  the  bottle 
•isually  containing  the  mixture  from  the  kitchen, 
and  administered  the  prescribed  dose  at  10..5-5  p.m. 
Shortly   afterwards   she    found    the  deceased   blue 


and  ooiivulsi'd.  She  summoned  assistance,  but  the 
c)iild  died  at  11.15  p.m.  The  strychnine  should  be 
diluted  with  quinine,  and  she  believed  this  was  the 
day  sister's  duty.  The  Matron,  Miss  Cooper,  said 
tlie  doctor  dispensed  the  medicines,  and  she  put 
the  bottles  out  for  the  nurses  to  take  to  their 
wards.  She  put  the  bottle  containing  the  strych- 
nine into  the  window  sill  in  the  passage,  knowing 
that  Sister   Foley  was  upstairs. 

Ur.  Green  said  that  he  did  the  dispensing,  and 
measured  out  1  drachm  of  strychnine  into  a 
bottle.  It  was  the  duty  ol  the  day  sister  to  fill  it 
up  with  quinine.  The  Coroner  remarked  that  to 
send  out  medicines  half  dispensed  could  not  be 
defended  for  a  moment. 

Nurse  Jephcott  said  she  took  the  bottle  from 
the  window  sill  and  took  it  up  to  the  kitchen  of 
AVard  4,  but  did  not  tell  the  Sister  that  she  had . 
done  so. 

The  Coroner,  in  summing  up,  said  he  did  not 
see  that  they  could  blame  the  Night  Nurse.  How 
such  a  loose  system  could  have  been  in  operation 
passed  !iis  comprohension.  He  considered  the 
doctor  responsible,  as  he  had  no  business  to  send 
out  medicine  half  dispensed. 

The  jury  returned  a  verdict  of  "death  from 
misadventure."  They  asked  the  Coroner  to  cen- 
sure the  doctor,  and  exonerated  the  Night  Nurse 
from  blame. 


RESIGNATIONS    AND    APPOINTMENTS    AT  THE 
SALPETRIERE  SCHOOL  OF  NURSING,  PARIS. 


:Madame  Jacques,  the  INIatron  of  the  School  for 
Nurses  of  the  Assistance  Publique  de  Paris  at  the 
Salpetriere,  has  resigned  in  order  to  take  a  post 
as  midwife  in  the  Administration,  a  position  she 
formerly  held.  She  has  been  replaced  by  a  Sister 
iiom  tlie  Hospital  "  La  Pitie,"  Miss  Clement,  who 
has  been  for  more  than  ten  years  at  the  head  of 
hospital  wards. 

Miss  Clement,  who  is  a  perfect  type  of  the 
"  hospitaliere,"  unfortunately  cannot  take  up  her 
finctions  for  some  weeks;  she  is  replaced  by  her 
under  ilatron,  Jliss  Grenier,  who  has  been  for 
several  months 'directing  the  School  ad  inierim. 
and  who  has  shown  herself  quite  equal  to  this 
laborious  task.  Miss  Grenier  has  been  at  the 
School  since  the  foundation.  She  is  assisted  by 
four  monitresses;  two.  Miss  Bordet  and  Miss  Dan- 
viray,  have  been  chosen  from  among  the  pupils  who 
were  certificated  in  1910 ;  they  are — like  their  col- 
leagues. Miss  GosseHn  and  Miss  Fraval— pupils  who 
underwent  a  probation  at  St:  Bartholomew's  Hos- 
pital. Finally,  at  the  reopening  of  the. School  this 
October,  97  new  pupils  were  chosen  as  probationers. 

The  retirement  of  Mme.  Jacques  from  the  super- 
intendence of  the  School,  is  a  great  loss  to  the  in- 
stitution, and  will  be  much  regretted  by  the  pupils, 
by  whom  slie  is  highly  esteemtyl.  Mme.  Jacques  .is 
well  known  to  many  of  her  colleagues  in  .this 
country,  and  they  will,  we  feel  sure,  desire  us  to 
convey  to  her  their  good  wishes  for  her  success  in 
the  new  work  which  she  is  uniiertaK'i'ug,  and  to  the 
new  Matron  of  the  Nursing  ^chool  at  the  Sal- 
petriere on  succeeding  to  this  important  position. 


334 


tlbe  Biitisb  Journal  of  IRursina. 


LOct.  22,  1910 


appointments. 

Matrons. 
Children's   Convalescent    Home,    West    Kirby Miss      A. 

Bryant  has  beeu  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  the  East  Loudon  Hospital  for  Children, 
Shadwell,  and  at  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital, 
E.G.,  where  she  was  gold  medallist  of  her  year. 
She  at  present  holds  the  position  of  Sister  in 
Stanley  Ward.  Miss  Bi-yant's  depa.rture  from  St. 
Bartholomew's  will  be  greatly  regretted  by  her 
colleagues  there.  She  was  selected  for  her  present 
l>ositiou  out  of  171  candidates. 

Sisteh-in-Ch.\rge. 

Dr.  Altounyan's  Hospital,  Aleppo,  Syria. — Miss  D.  Tar- 
gctt  Fry  has  beeu  appointed  Sister-in-Charge.  She 
V.  as  trained  at  the  Leicester  Infirmary,  has  worked 
,as  a  Holiday  Staff  Xurse  at  St.  George's  Hospital. 
Hyde  Park  Corner,  S.W.,  and  has  also  done 
prirate  nursing. 

Sisters. 

East  London  Hospital  for  Children,  Shadwell,   E Miss 

Mnbelle  E.  Fussell  has  been  appointed  Sister  of  the 
Isolation  Block.  She  was  trained  at  the  Leicester 
Infirmary,  and  has  held  the  position  of  Sister  at 
the  Belfast  Children's  Hospital,  and  of  Sister  at 
the  Royal  Hants  County  Hospital,  Winchester. 

Stockton  and  Thornaby  Hospital — Miss  C.  Henderson 
has  been  appointefl  .Sister  of  the  Theatre  and  Men's 
Ward.  She  was  trained  at  the  Royal  Southern  Hos- 
pital, Liverpool,  and  has  held  the  position  of 
.Sister  at  the  Kent  and  Canterbury  Hospital,  and 
oi  Night  Sister  at  the  Stockton  and  Thornaby 
Hospital. 

The  Children's  Infirmary,  Carshalton.  ]Hiss  Gladys  K. 
Thewles  has  been  appointed  Sister.  She  was  trained 
at  King's  College  Hospital.  London,  and  has  had 
experience  in  private  nursing. 

Mile  End  Infirmary,  E.  ;Miss  Lily  Rae,  and  Miss 
Mabel  Brown,  who  at  present  hold  positions  as 
Staff  Nurses  at  the  Children's  Infirmary,  Carshal- 
ton, have  been  appointed  Sisters  at  the  Mile  End 
Infirmary. 

Night  Sister. 

Hospital  for  Women  and  Children,  Leeds.   -Miss        Maud 

Boon  has  been  ajipointcd  .Viuht  Sister.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Victoria  Hospital,  Burnley,  and 
has  held  the  positions  of  Staff  Nurse  at  the  Hos- 
pital for  Sick  Children,  Great  Ormond  Street, 
W.C..  Sister  at  the  Royal  Hospital  for  Sick  Chil- 
'lien.  Gl,is,LCow,  and  lias  acted  as  Matron's  Deputy 

.t  the  Nottingham  Children's  Hospital,  and  done 
holiday  duty  at  Queen  Charlotte's  Hospital.  She 
is  a  certified  midwife. 

.S(  iiooi.  Nurse  and  Health  Visitor. 

City  of  Rochester — ^[igs  Frances  Martha  Jump  has 
bi,  n  appointed  School  Nurse  and  Health  Visitor. 
She  holds  the  certificate  of  the  Royal  Sanitary  In- 
stitute for  Advanced  Hygiene  and  Physiology,  and 
has  also  the  St.  John's  Ambulance  Association 
First  .Aid  and  Nursing  certificates,  and  medallion. 
Ladv  Health  Visitor. 

Brlghouse  Corporation Miss    Marcia   G.    Cook     has 

been  apixiintcd  Lady  Health  Visitor  under  the 
Brighouse  Corporation.  Miss  C(X)k  was  trained 
at   the  Liimbi'th   Infirmarv.  and  for  the  List   nine 


mouths  has   worked  as  School    Nurse    under  the 
London  County  Council. 


[:  QUEEN    ALEXANDRA'S    IMPERIAL    MILITARY 
NURSING   SERVICE. 
The  undermentioned   Staff   Nurses    resign  their 
appointments:- — Miss     M.    Black,     Mi&s     G.     M. 

Griffiths  (October  19th). 


QUEEN  VICTORIAS  JUBILEE  INSTITUTE 
FOR  NURSES. 
Transfers  and  Appointments. — Miss  Annie  Gra- 
ham is  aijpointed  Superintendent,  Carlisle ;  Miss 
Norah  Terry  is  apjjointed  Assistant  Superinten- 
dent, Three  Towns;  Miss  Adelaide  Dixon,  to 
Bacup ;  Miss  Amy  Awre,  to  Bacup ;  Miss  Emily 
Jordan,  to  Shoreditch;  Miss  Julia  Fraser,  to 
Sheeruess;  Miss  Emma  Fechtman,   to   Brighton. 


iprcsentations. 

Jliss  Napper,  who  has  held  the  position  of 
Matron  of  the  Surrey  Convalescent  Home  for  Men 
at  Seaford  since  its  foundation  19  years  ago,  has 
recently  resigned,  and  last  week  at  a  largely 
attended  meeting  at  Guildford  she  was  presented 
by  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  on  behalf  of  the  sub- 
scribers, with  a  cheque  for  £126,  a  card  case  and 
an  album  in  appreciation  of  her  work.  Amongst 
the  subscribers  were  the  Lord  Lieutenant  of  the 
County,  the  Lord  Chief  Justice,  the  Earl  of  Onslow, 
Viscount  jMidleton,  Viscount  Knutsford,  and  the 
High  Sheriff  for  Surrey.  In  making  the  jiresenta- 
tion,  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence  said  that  no  fewer  than 
10,784  patients  had  passed  through  the  Home  since 
Miss  Napper  had  been  Matron. 


An  interesting  little  ceremony  took  place  at  the 
Edmonton  Infirmary  on  October  8th,  when  Jliss 
Alice  Franklin  (the  Superintendent  Nui-se)  was  pre- 
sented with  a  handsome  silver  ink.stand,  a  silver 
tea-caddy  and  six)on,  and  a  hot-water  jug,  also  of 
solid  silver,  given  by  past  and  present  membere  of 
the  me<lioal  and  nursing  staff  and  others,  in  token 
of  their  appreciation  of  lier  long  and  faithful  ser- 
vice, on  the  occasion  of  her  resignation.  She  nas 
also  received  a  pretty  little  silver  clock  iiom  the 
patients. 

Dr.  Benjafield  (the  late  Medical  Snperiutendeiiti 
made  the  presentation  with  a  suitable  speech,  in 
which  he  voicvd  the  feelings  already  "  writ  large 
on  the  faces  ot  all  present— viz.,  the  sorrow  and  re- 
gret of  tliose  who  knew  her  worth.  She  will  be 
greatly  missed  by  all  the  .staff  and  also  by  the 
patients,  who  loved  her  much,  for  in  her  they  feel 
they  have  lost  a  friend. 

jMiss  Franklin  goes  to  take  up  duties,  pro  torn,  as 
the  head  of  tlie  Sunderland  Infirmary,  one  ol  the 
best  training  .schools  in  the  North  of  England.  She 
has  l>eeii  asked  to  fill  this  po.-.t  during  the  illness  of 
the  present  Supeiiutondent  Nur.se.  Tlio  nnmcs  are 
Hearing  their  final  examination  and  nee<l  someone 
to  coacli  them  and  continue  their  t«^aching.  Slie 
carries  with   her   to   her   new  sphere   of   work   the 


Oct.  2-2,  I'.Ud 


;:i3;:  3Srittgb  3oiu'nal  of  IRiuaiiio. 


33.3 


IRurstnG  JEcbocs. 


We  hear  that  the  resigua- 
tions  of  several  Sisters  at 
St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital 
arc  iiiipfuding,  and  likely  to 
take  place  at  any  early  date. 
So  many  resignations  have 
been  tendered  during  the 
last  six  mouths  that  foi-mer 
nurses  of  the  hospital  find  it 
greatly  changed  on  visiting 
the  wards  where  the  happy 
davs  of   their  training   were 


spent  a  few  years  ago. 


We  are  pleased  to  note  that  Liverpool  has 
decided  not  to  pauperise  its  lun-ses  as  a  memo- 
rial to  iMiss  Nightingale,  although  the  Rev.  T. 
W.  M.  Lund,  seconded  by  Sir  James  Barr, 
very  nearly  succeeded  in  persuading  the  meet- 
ing at  the  Liveiixx>l  Town  Hall  to  perpetuate 
her  memory  bj'  erecting  a  home  for  aged  and 
worn-out  nurses,  instead  of  by  creating  a 
seventh  nursing  home  in  the  city  to  be  kuow"u 
by  her  name.  Mr.  Lund's  amendment  was  re- 
jected by  the  narrow  majority  of  two. 


Nursing  sentiment  will  be  with  ilr.  John 
Lea,  who  felt  that  at  the  end  of  their  days 
Queen's  nurses  should  not  have  to  look  for- 
ward to  living  in  homes  "for  worn-out 
nurees,"  but  should  receive  just  remuneration 
for  their  hard  work,  or  should  have  adequate 
pensions  to  enable  them  to  live  where  and  how 
they  please. 


^fr.  H.  R.  Rathbone  said  tiiat  nurses  were 
badly  paid,  but  nearly  all  women's  work  was 
badly  paid,  and  tuu'ses  were  no  worse"  ofi  than 
otlu'i-s.  Sir  .James  BaiT  said  many  nurses  had 
nothing  but  aprospect  of  the  workhouse  before 
them  when  too  old  to  work. 


Mr.  N.  Fitzpatrick,  writing  in  the  Liverpool 
Dailij  Post,  states  that  "  manj-  are  tke  cases 
which  have  come  to  my  knowledge  of  aged 
nurses,  crippled  or  invalided,  who  have  spent 
their  declining  years  in  one  room  trying  to 
exist  on  a  bare  pittance,  often  on  the  charity 
o'  friends,  and  these  women,  the  majority  of 
them  brought  up  in  refinement,  suffer  the  more 
acutely  because  in  silence." 


What  other  result  can  be  expected  from  an 
economic  system  which  jissesses  a  certificated 
nurse's  salary  at  £30  a  year,  and  a  rural 
nurse's  at  nothing.  As  the  few  shillings  paid 
the  latter  are  insufficient  for  food  and  comfort- 


able personal  needs,  nothing  can  be  reckoned 
as  salary.  This  sweating  of  district  nurses  and 
midwives  is  of  urgent  economic  import- 
ance, and  it  is  high  time  that  the  wholesale 
manufacture  of  women  paupers  in  the  name 
of  philanthropy  should  be  stopped.  The 
Liveipool  memorial  meeting  jifforded  a  very 
useful  opportunity  for  giving  publicity  to  this 
question,  and  let  us  hope  it  will  touch  up  the 
public  conscience. 


It  has  been  decided  that  the  Brighton  Me- 
morial to  the  late  King,  to  be  provided  by 
public  subscription,  shall  take  the  form  (1)  of 
a  permanent  memorial  to  be  placed  in  a  suit- 
able position  in  the  town,  and  (2)  of  the  pro- 
vision of  a  building  for  a  Home  for  the  Queen's 
Nurses  in  Brighton,  and  that-  any  sum  col- 
lected in  excess  of  these  requirements  shall  be 
applied  to  the  endowment  of  the  local  branch 
of  Queen's  Nurses.  High  testimony  was  paid 
by  Mr.  G.  S.  Godfree,  sen.,  who  proposed  the 
resolution  embodying  these  suggestions,  to  the 
splendid  work  done  by  the  Queen's  Nurses  in 
Brighton,  and  the  decision  to  build  the  Home 
will  be  generally  approved. 


The  medical  inspection  of  school  children 
does  not  appear  to  commend  itself  to  some  of 
the  mothers  of  Belper,  who  also  resent  the 
classification  of  children  by  the  school  nurse  as 
"verminous."  To  demonstrate  their  disap- 
proval a  number  of  the  mothers  recently  as- 
sembled outside  the  Pottery  Schools  armed 
with  tin  pans  and  other  like  implements  and 
beat  a  metallic  tattoo  during  the  nurse's  visit 
to  the  school,  in  consequence  of  which  she  was 
detained  for  some  time.  A  detachment  of  in- 
dignant mothers  also  assembled  outside  an- 
other school,  but  the  Chainnan  of  the  School 
Council,  ]\Iiss,Deacon,  with  other  officials,  ap- 
peared on  the  scene,  and  induced  the  women, 
to  disperse  by  warning  them  of  the  serious  con- 
sequences of  their  conduct  if  they  persisted  in 
it.  The  names  of  several  of  the  ringleaders 
were  taken,  and  it  is  possible  that  proceedings 
in  the  police  court  may  follow.  The  life  of  a 
school  nurse  is  not  all  roses.  Caimot  some 
tactful  person  put  it  to  tlie  mothers  whether 
they  consider  it  worse  for  children  to  be  ver- 
minous or  to  be  classified  as  such. 


The  question  of  soliciting  subscriptions  in  an 
mstitution  for  gifts  to  officials,  from  nurses 
and  members  of  the  domestic  staff,  is  a  dAat- 
able  one.  When  a  Matron,  Assistant  Matron, 
or  Sister  retires  who  has  held  office  for  many 
}-ears  there  may  be  a  genera]  and  spontaneous 
desire  on  the  part  of  the  nursing  staff  to  pre- 


336 


JTbe  Britisb  Journal  of  IRursiuG. 


[Oct.  22,  1910 


sent  her  with  a  mark  of  afiection,  and  a  rule 
prohibiting  all  such  gifts  may  press  hardly  at 
times.  On  the  other  hand,  if  any  latitude  is 
allowed,  it  is  very  apt  to  exceed  legitimate 
limits  and  Christmas  and  birthday  gifts  to 
those  in  high  places  may  become  an  annual 
tax  on  slender  purses  which  nurses  and  proba- 
tioners feel  would  be  ungracious  to  refuse,  but 
which  many  of  them  can  ill  afford.  The  rule 
in  force  at  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Edinburgh,  to 
which  we  referred  last  week,  which  prohibits 
collections  within  the  institution  for  gifts  to 
officials,  commends  itself  to  many  people  as 
the  correct  attitude.-  But,  whatever  may  be 
said  for  and  against  its  rigorous  enforcement 
in  all  cases,  there  can  be  no  question  whatever 
that  collections  amongst  patients  in  a  ward, 
for  gifts  to  the  Sister  or  nurees  of  the  ward, 
should  not  be  permitted.  We  notice  that  such 
a  collection,  followed  by  a  presentation,  has 
been  made  to  the  Sister  of  a  ward  in  a  pro- 
vincial hospital  on  more  than  one  occasion, 
and  we  are  of  opinion  that  a  regulation  pro- 
hibiting any  such  gifts  from  patients  to  nurses 
in  future,  should  be  enforced  at  once  by  the 
committee. 


The  Special  Committee  appointed  by  the 
Hull  City  Council  are  holding  meetings,  but  do 
not  appear  to  be  very  detei-mined  upon  re- 
forms. The  first  thing  to  do  is  to  appoint  a 
highly  qualified  Matron,  and  support  her  in 
the  administration  of  discipline.  If  needs  be 
fill  vacancies  by  the  employment  of  qualified 
private  nurses,  until  such  time  as  an  efficient 
selection  can  be  made  to  complete  the  full 
nursing  staff.  To  beg  those  who  have  resigned 
to  reconsider  their  resignations  can  only  pro- 
long the  chaotic  condition  of  the  institution. 
This  has  been  the  weak  policy  of  the  Chairman. 


The  vexed  question  of  the  nurses'  dietary 
scheme  again  came  up  for  consideration  at 
the  recent  meeting  of  the  Belfast  Board  of 
( ruardians. 

Mr.  .Joseph  IMitchell  moved:  — 

■'  That  the  resohitions  of  this  Board  of 
Guardians,  adopted  at  their  meetings  on  6th  Sep- 
tember, amending  the  nurses'  dietary,  and  on  the 
20th  .September  amending  the  dietary  for  nurses 
and  officers,  and  discontinuing  the  luncheon  to 
nurses,  be  and  are  hereby  rescinded,  and  I  now 
move  that  tlie  entire  matter  be  reconsidered  by  the 
Board- of  Guardians." 

He  said  the  proposed  changes  in  the  dietary 
\\er&  a  mistake,  and  ought  to  be  rescinded. 

:Mr.  Fee  seconded. 


provemeuts  had  been  made,  such  as  building  a 
new  home  for  the  nurses,  and  giving  them  a 
salary  of  £5  instead  of  nothing,  it  was  un- 
reasonable upon  the  part  of  the  staff  to  express 
an  opinion  concerning  the  discontinuance  of 
the  ligiit  lunch  formerly  allowed. 


Mr.  David  Adams  was  more  logical  when  he 
said:  "  Beyond  these  facts,  which  could  not 
be  disputed  by  anyone,  there  was  the  larger 
question,  and  that  was.  Were  they  as  elected 
representatives  to  govern  and  manage  that 
institution  or  were  the  officers  to  do  so?  If 
they  that  daj'  reversed  their  own  decision  as  to 
the  diet  scales  it  would  be  the  worst  day  he 
had  experienced  during  his  nine  years  as  a 
Guardian,  and  their  governing  officials  would 
not  be  heard  or  obeyed  to  the  extent  that  they 
should." 


The  Chairman  denied  that  the  suggestion  of 
a  change  oiiginated  in  him,  and  "  blamed  it 
on  to  Eve."  He  said  it  was  made  by  the  new 
Housekeeper,  and  then  he  consulted  some  of 
the  Charge  Nurses  on  the  subject,  and  they 
agreed.  A  verbal  report  was  brought  in  sub- 
sequently by  the  Lady  Superintendent  and 
Lady  Housekeeper,  stating  that  the  change 
was  essential  and  should  be  tried. 

Ultimately  eighteen  votes  were  given,  as 
against  ten,  for  the  motion  to  rescind.  This 
part  of  the  resolution  was  declared  carried, 
and  the  consideration  of  the  question  by  the 
Board  in  committee  was  agreed  to. 


Let  us  hope  the  nurses  will  be  permitted  to 
enjoy  their  little  lunch  in  peace.  We  well  re- 
member, in  probationary  days,  the  discomfort 
of  the  vacuum  which  resulted  from  a  hurried 
breakfast  at  6.-lo,  followed  by  four  or  five 
hours'  exhausting  ward  work,  before  a  mid-day 
dinner.  If  it  had  not  been  for  the  surrepti- 
tiously baked  potato — but  that  is  another  tale  ! 


The  new  regulat'ons  for  the  examination  of 
candidates  for  the  Medico-Psychological  Asso- 
ciation's Nursing  Certificate  will  for  the 
future  involve  two  examinations,  but  candi- 
dates who  began  their  training  before  Novem- 
ber, 1909,  will  only  be  required  to  take  one 
as  heretofore.  The  first  of  the  new  preliminary 
examinations  will  be  held  next  Mav. 


The  Chairman  spoke  at  length  on  the  ques- 
I  i.r.  and  ajipeared   to  argue  that  because  im- 


Tho  Annual  Conference  of  the  Association 
of  Nursing  Superintendents  of  India  is  to  be 
held  at  the  Victoria  Memorial  Hospital, 
Benares,  on  December  14th,  15th,  and  16th. 
The  arrangements  are  in  the  hands  of  Miss 
.V.   I{.  rroighton,  of  .Jaunpur. 


Oct.  22,  1010' 


Sbc  Britisf)  Journal  of  iMm!?iiu3, 


337 


iRcflcctions. 


From  a  Board  Room  Mirror. 
Princess  Homy  ot  Rat tonlierg:  will  pre*iilo  at  ilif 
geiioral  meeting  of  tlio  Ladios'  Association  Woik 
,  GiiiW  of  the  Queen's  Hospital  for  Children  in  Hack- 
ni-y  Road  on  Thiii-sday,  November  3rd,  at  3  p.m., 
at  the  hospital,  when  the  work  contx'ibiited  duiing 
the  vear  will  be  on  view. 


Tlie  programme  of  the  Duke  and  Duchess  of 
Connaught  during  their  visit  to  South  Africa  in- 
cludes the  presentation  of  St.  John  Ambulance 
certificates  by  His  Royal  Highness  and  the  laying 
of  the  foundation-stone  of  University  Hall  at  Cape 
Tcwn,  a  visit  to  the  hospital  at  Livingstone,  a  visit 
t.>  the  hospital  and  schools  at  Buluwayo,  and  the 
laying  of  the  foundation-stone  of  the  new  univer- 
sity building  at  Pieterniaritzburg. 


The  Bishop  of  Oxford,  a  son  of  tne  late  Sir  James 
Paget,  when  distributing  the  prizes  to  the  students 
of  the  Royal  Dental  Hospital,  Leicester  Square, 
said  he  remembered  his  father  telling  him  that  sur- 
gery gained  more  and  more  strength  and  dignity 
for  its  position  as  it  became  more  and  more 
scientific.  There  was  the  first  grea.t  principle  of  tlip 
advance  of  surgery.  .Second,  was  the  high  .standaid 
of  pi'i-sonal  honour  and  generosity.  There  was  one 
other  trreat  power  for  the  advancement  of  the  pro- 
fe-ssioii,  and  that  was  that  the  stuf^ent  exercised 
in  it  charity  and  kindness.  He  urged  them  to 
"  play  the  game."  Xo  one  knew  the  power  that 
l<indness  exercised  in  the  world. 


Lady  Aberdare  has  informed  the  Committee  of 
the  Cardiff  Infirmary  that  she  has  instructed  her 
bankers  to  pay  €1.0-50  to  the  Cardiff  Infinnai;y 
I.fgaoy  Fund,  which  is  to  be  used  solely  as  an  en- 
dowinent  of  a  bed  in  the  new  ward  for  women 
(Thompson's  Ward").  In  addition  Lord  and  Lady 
Aherr^are  have  also  personally  contributed  £1.500 
towards  the  new  pathological  tBeatre,  and  collected 
a  large  sum  of  money  for  the  same  departnient.  It 
is  hoped  Lady  Aljerdare  will  perform  the  opening 
ceremony  when  the  pathological  theatre  is  ready 
for  use. 

iVn  important  addition  has  been  made  to  the 
e<liiinment  of  Edinburgh  Royal  Infirmary  by  the 
fstablishment  of  a  clinical  medicine  laboratory,  the 
2:ift  of  an  anonymous  donor.  Two  rooms  have  been 
iot  apart  for  use  as  the  laboratory,  and  the  appa- 
ratus provided  comprises  the  most  modern  ap- 
pliances for  the  physical  examination  of  patients. 
These  include  a  very  sensitive  recording  galvano- 
meter which  registers  the  electric  currents  pro- 
ducc<l  by  each  beat  of  the  heart:  there  are  instru- 
n-f-nts  for  the  study  of  blood  pressure,  and  there 
has  been  installed  a  powerful  apparatus  for  the 
SI  reen  examination  by  X-rays  of  various  internal 
diseases.  In  addition  to  providing  for  laboratory 
work.  theVlonor  has  suii|ilie<l  for  use  in  the  clinical 
niiMljcine  theatre  an  ilaborate  Leitz  projection 
l,:iitcrn  which  can  be  nsod  to  demonstrate  micro- 
srr.ric  specimens,  solid  objix-ts,  and  diagrams,  as 
\iell  as  ordinarv  lantf-rn  slides. 


IP  lire  jf  oo^. 

The  question  of  a  pure  food  supply  is  one  of 
ptisonal  iuferest  to  every  member  of  the  com- 
mi;nity ;  to  the  sick  it  is  a  vital  one,  and  may  turn 
the  balance  "between  death  and  recovery.  It  is 
one,  therefore,  to  wliich  those  resiionsible  for  buy- 
ing in  provisions  for  hospitals  and  infirmaries  should 
give  their  earnest  attention.  Tnie,  contracts  are 
usually  entered  into  for  hospital  supplies,  but  this 
afTords  an  opportunity  to  have  samples  submitted 
and  tested  before  goods  are  accepted,  and  when 
such  goods  are  delivered  they  should  from  time  to 
time  be  tested  to  ensure  that  they  are  up  to  sample. 

That  great  vigilance  is  needed,  and  that  even 
then  it  is  diflacult  for  consumers  to  protect  them- 
sehes  from  fraudulent  dealers,  must  have  im- 
pressed every  one  who  attended  a  lecture  on  the 
subject  of  the  Food  and  Drugs 'Acts,  delivered  by 
Mr.  John  Foot,  Chief  Inspector  for  the  Borough 
of  .Bethnal  Green,  at  38,  Russell  Square,  by  per- 
mission of  Mrs.  C.  Leigh  Hunt  Wallace,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Xational  Pure  Food  Association. 
True,  Parliament  passed  an  Adulteration  Act  in 
1875,  but  when  local  authorities  conscientiously 
endeavoured  to  put  this  Act  into  force,  and  in- 
spectors purchased  samples  of  foods  in  order  to  test 
their  purity  or  the  reverse,  the  High  Courts  in 
their  wisdom  ruled  that  an  inspector  purchasing 
saiT'ples  for  the  purpose  of  detecting  adulteration 
was  not  prejudicially  affected  by  the  purchase,  and 
in  consequence  no  one  could  be  imnished  for  selling 
adulterated  goods  so  purchased.  In  consequence 
the  Act  was  useless,  and  an  Amendment  Act  was 
passed  in  1879  and  another  in  1883.  In  spite  of 
these,  however,  when  a  case  was  tried  involving 
the  sale  of  butter  versus  butteriue  three  judges  of 
the  High  Courts  were  unable  to  say  what  butter 
was  or  what  it  shotild  be.  An  intelligent  dairy- 
maid, said  Mr.  Foot,  could  have  told  them  inside 
of  ten  minutes,  but  the  law  was  never  made  for 
practical  people  like  that.  The  consequence  was 
that  a  fourth  Act  of  Parliament,  known  as  the 
Margarine  -let,  was  passed  in  1887,  and  therefore 
four  conflict'ing  statutes  as  to  the  sale  of 
adulterated  food  had  to  be  applied. 

In  1898  Parliament  began  to  deal  with  the  ques- 
tion all  over  again ;  a  Royal  Commission  was 
appointed  for  about  the  tenth  time,  and  in  due 
time  reported  to  the  House  of  Commons,  with  the 
rtsult  that  the  Act  which  is  a  compound  essence  of 
all  the  others,  the  Sale  of  Drugs  and  Foods  Act, 
187.5-1899,  was  passed,  which  left  the  position  much 
the  same  as  before. 

Referring  to  adulterations  practised,  Mr.  Foot 
instauce<l  that  of  wjiite  pepper  with  rice  flour, 
olive  oil  had,  he  said,  not  necessarily  any  oon- 
r.ection  with  olives,  Demerara  sugar  might  consist 
largely  of  crystals  colourwl  with  aniline  dyo, -but 
perhaps  the  top  limit  w?.i  reached  in  connection 
with  jams.  To  keep  within  the  law  purveyors  of 
even  so-called  high-class  j.mi  notify  that  they  are 
"improved  with  choice  fruit  juices";  in  plain 
English,  they  consist  largely  ff  the  pulp  of  apples, 
tiifnips.  and  marrows.  The  analysis  of  such  a  jam 
had  proved  it  to  contain  40  i>er  cent,  of  pulp.  '10  ;;er 


338 


Sbe  3l6ritisb  3ournal  of  IRursing. 


[Oct.  22,  1910 


cent,  of  sugar  or  syrup,  and  1  per  cent,  of  flavouring 
matter,  chemicals,  and  oolouriug. 

Again,  adulterated  milk  nud  skim  condensed  milk 
are,  as  we  all  know,  largely  responsible  for  tile 
heavy  death-rate  amongst  children.  Daii-ymen's 
vehicles  might,  said  Mr.  Foot,  bear  as  legends  the 
hoary  old  fables,  "  Pure  milk  as  the  oow  gives  it," 
and  "  Si>ecial  cows  kept  for  invalids  and  children," 
without  their  possessing  any  such  speciality,  and  in 
spite  of  the  fact  that  they  sold  a  mixture  coloured 
with  annatto.  True  adulterated  milk  must  not  be  ex- 
IK>sed  for  sale  as  i>urc  milk,  but  the  difficulties  in 
bringing  home  the  sale  of  adultei-ated  milk  to  the 
offender  weie  many.  The  inspectors  became  known 
in  the  districts  in  which  tliey  n|j)rked,  so  that  it  was 
easy  for  the  milk  vendor  to  circuniveut  them.  Thus, 
in  the  case  of  a  vendor  who,  recognising  au  in- 
6i)ector,  darted  out  and  said,  "There's  a  little 
something  in  that,"  it  was  held  that  this  was  suf- 
ficient notice  to  put  the  purchaser  on  his  guard.  In 
another  instance  the  fact  that  the  vendor  dashed 
out  and  said  to  the  inspector:  "This  is  country 
milk,  and  I  cannot  guarantee  it,"  was  sufficient  to 
protect  him  from  penalty,  and  although  it  was 
proved  that  tlie  same  milk  ]iad  been  sold  to  other 
customers  without  warning  being  given,  that  fact 
was  held  to  be  irrelevant  to  the  case  which  was  be- 
fore the  court. 

Again,  some  fraudulent  dealers  send  7X)und  a 
hand-can  of  pure  milk  from  which  to  serve  inspec- 
tors or  unknown  customers,  while  mauy  shops  keep 
two  milk-i>ans,  a  small  one  on  the  counter,  and  a 
large  one  beneath  it,  from  which  customers  are 
.served.  The  reason  for  this  is  obvious ;  the  con- 
tents of  the  large  one  are  not  legally  "exposed  for 
sale,"  and  so  tie  vendor  can  adulterate  them  with 
iLiipunity. 

There  are,  of  coui-sc,  Mr.  Foot  pointed  out,  many 
honourable  exceptions,  but  as  the  law  at  present 
stands  the  honourable  trader  competes  at  a  dis- 
advantage with  the  trickster. 

Referring  to  the  (|ue.stion  of  food  preservatives, 
Mr.  Foot  stated  that  the  reix>rt  of  the  Depart- 
mental Committee  on  preservatives  i>roved  tliat 
formalin  and  boric  acid  were  largely  used  in  the 
preservation  of  milk,  cream,  butter,  ham,  soups, 
sausages,  oorne<l  beef,  and  other  articles  of  diet ; 
in  fact  at  almost  every  meal  we  are  consuming 
chemical  preservatives,  not  as  drugs,  but  concealed 
in  our  food.  He  submitted  that  the  butter-factor, 
the  grocer,  and  the  oilman  were  not  proper  persons 
to  drug  the  public. 

nio  Chairman  of  the  meeting,  Mr.  E.  J.  ,Shep- 
pard,  F.R.M.S.,  spoke  of  the  public  craze  for  a 
white  loaf,  wliich  meant  a  loaf  made  from  grain 
crushe<l  between  steel  rollers,  by  which  means  tlie 
nutritive  portion  was  eliminat<H].  Flour  should  be 
stone  ground  and  only  whole  meal  flour  used. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Association,  Mr.  Alfred 
E.  Moore,  followed,  and  referred  to  the  admission  of 
a  flour  merolinnt  that  plaster  of  Paris  was  incor- 
porated witli  some  self-raising  ,  floui-s.  He  also 
j>ointe<l  out  that  .salicylie  acid  i,s  much  used  as  a 
food  preservative,  a  drug  whicli  forms  the  chief 
basis  of  corn  solvents.  He  left  his  hearere  to  judge 
if  it  is  able  to  oat  through  tJieso  callosities  on  the 


feet  what  its  action  is  likely  to  be  on  the  mucous 
membrane  of  the  stomach.  We  think  we  have  said 
enough  to  prove  to  nurses  the  intimate  relation  be- 
tween the  welfare  of  their  patients  and  the  puiity 
of  their  food  supply,  and  the  importance,  luerefore, 
for  them  to  inform  themselves  on  this  subject. 

In  conclusion  we  may  remind  them  that  not 
many  years  ago  the  makers  of  a  well-known  meat 
juice  were  proved  to  have  employed  putrid  livers  in 
its  concoction.  When  it  is  remembered  that  this 
special  article  was  sold  at  a  high  price,  and  u.sed 
almost  exclusively  in  the  sick  room  as  a  specially 
concentrated  and  nourishing  article  of  diet  for 
patients  so  desperately  ill  as  to  require  feeding  in 
teaspoouful  doses,  the  enormity  of  such  methods  is 
apparent. 

JEYES'  FLUID. 
The  proprietors  of  .leyes'  Fluid  have  had  the 
honour  to  receive  the  only  Warrant  of  Appoint- 
ment to  His  Majesty  King  George  V.  for  disinfec- 
tants. !Messrs.  Jeyes'  have  received  no  less  than 
13-5  gold  medals  and  other  awards,  and  have  also 
held  the  Royal  Appointments  to  Her  Majesty  Queen 
Victoria  and  His  Majesty  King  Edward   VII. 


jforeiQu  Xcttei*. 

FftOM    HOLLAND 


De,\r 

Editor, 
A  long 
time  has 
passed  since 
I  sent  you 
my  last  let- 
t  e  r,  and 
even  to-day 
1  can  only 
give    you     a 

survey  of  the  present  position  of  nursing  in  Hol- 
land, 

As  yet  the  Board  of  Health  has  not  given  any 
decision  about  the  petitions  yosokomos  addres.sed 
to  the  GovernnK'nt  in  1907.  So  matters  are  still 
in  abeyance,  and  we  can  only  hope  that  the  de- 
cision eventually  will  be  favourable  to  State  regis- 
tration ;  meanwhile  we  are  working  to  arouse 
public  opinion  in  our   favour. 

But  there  are  two  factors,  which  prevent  our 
work  from  being  very  effective,  and  even  thwart  it. 
These  are  on  the  one  side  the  apathy  of  Matrons  and 
nurses,  and  their  unpardonable  indifference  to  all 
matters  concerning  their  training  and  profession; 
on  the  other  side  the  opposition  to  State  registra- 
tion from  the  side  of  the  medical  superintondoi\ts 
of  hospitals  and  asylums.  There  is  no  feeling  of 
solidarity  amongst  our  nurses;  they  are  not  inter- 
ested in  their  profession  as  a  profession.  Many 
of  them,  especially  the  better  educated  ones,  are 
to.i  conservative  to  grasp  the  idea  of  solidarity, 
and  regard  membership  of  an  ns.-i<>ciation  the  aim 
of  whicli  is  more  social  than  pliilnnthropic  as  un- 
dignified, as  a  thing  good  for  working  people,  but 
not  for  gentlewomen.     .\!so  there  is  the  view  that 


Oct. 


1910] 


Zbc  36riti6b  Journal  of  IHursina. 


339 


nursing  demands  the  sacrifice  of  all  worldly  plea- 
sures and  interests  which  is  a  remnant  of  the  early 
religious  character  of  nursing.  Both  these  views 
are  fostered  by  the  authorities  who  like  drudges, 
ami  can  better  ignoro  the  gently  murmured  com- 
plaints of  the  individual  tlian  the  boldly  uttered 
criticism"  of  an  association.  Such  conditions  are 
partly  a  result  of  the  system  of  nui-se  training, 
which  eliminates  all  subjects  of  social  importance, 
and  are  partly  due  to  the  previous  education  of 
many  nurses,  which  does  not  seriously  prepare 
tkem  for  the  exercise  of  a  profession,  as  is  con- 
sidered necessary  in  tlie  case  of  boys,  while  girls 
are  led  to  look  forward  to  marriage.  This  last  fact 
makes  it  most  difficult  to  organise  women ;  they 
certainly  work  hard  and  con-scientiously  while  in  a 
profession,  bnt  don't  consider  it  as  a  life  task,  only 
a  temporary  occupation.  As  to  the  nurses  re- 
cruited from  the  lower  classes  (and  there  are  a 
good  many,  because  every  girl  who  has  been  at 
school  till  her  twelfth  year,  is  eligible  for  training), 
they  enter  the  profession  for  the  most  pai-t  to  gain 
more  money  than  is  possible  in  service,  or  to  get 
a  higher  position  in  society ;  these  ii'Urses  are  not 
sufficiently  educated  to  see  the  more  ethical  side  of 
the  matter,  they  have  few  ideals.  Of  course,  there 
are  exceptions  in  both  groups,  really  splendid 
women,  working  with  all  their  might  for  the  good 
of  the  profession ;  but  they  aro  such  a  small  group 
that  all  their  endeavours  to  rouse  their  colleagues 
to  a  better  understanding  of  their  real  interests 
often  seem  hopeless.  As  to  the  opposition  of  the 
medical  superintendents  of  hospitals  and  asylums 
■this  is  due  to  two  causes.  In  t';:?  first  place,  they 
do  not  want  any  State  interference  in  the  training 
of  their  nurses,  which  at  present  is  everybody's 
private  business,  and  they  consider  it  should  re- 
main so.  In  the  second  place  they  do  not  want  to 
give  their  nurses  the  broad,  full  training  we  want 
them  to  have ;  they  don't  want  first-class  women 
foi  nur.ses.  And  why  not?  Because  a  woman  who 
is  not  very  well  educated  and  has  not  had  much 
teaching  at  school,  whose  professional  knowledge  is 
not  very  extensive,  is  submissive.  She  looks  up 
to  the  doctor  as  to  a  god ;  she  is  his  slave ;  she 
fawns  upon  him.  Whereas  the  well-educated  gen- 
tlewoman strictly  obeys  medical  orders,  but  also 
fotms  her  own  judgment,  and  in  all  matters  out- 
side her  work  feels  herself  his  equal.  Here,  also, 
there  are  exceptions  to  be  found.  Amongst  medi- 
cal superintendents  of  small  hospitals,  and  physi- 
■c:'ans  in  private  practice,  there  are  broad-minded 
laen,  who  fully  appreciate  intelligent,  well-trained 
nurses,  women  of  refined  character,  but  they  are 
powerless  to  make  radical  improvements  in  the 
present  mode  of  training.  The  medical  superinten- 
dents of  the  large  hospitals  and  asylums  are  as  yet 
omnipotent.  That  is  the  reason  of  the  opposition 
;o  State  registration  from  the  side  of  men  whose 
<luty  should  be  to  do  everything  in  their  power  to 
improve  conditions. 

It  seems  to  me  that  the  same  conditions  may  be 
observed  in  other  countries.  In  the  Canadian 
.Ywrse  I  read  a  few  weeks  ago  serious  complaints 
of  the  indifference  of  the  nurses  in  all  matters 
concerning  their  profession,  and  as  to  that  dis- 
gi-aceful  affair  at  l^t.  Bartholomew's  Hospital.  T/on- 


<lon,  has  it  not  been  caused  by  the  wish  of  men  to 
retain  their  power  over  women  ? 

I  have  come  to  the  conchision  that  for  our  coun- 
try at  least  the  only  possible  remedy  is  women's 
suffrage;  not  only  will  it  confer  on  women  the  right 
to  v^ote,  but  also  the  educating,  stimulating  in- 
fluence of  exercising  the  suffrage  will  compel  the 
nurses  to  take  interest  in  many  things  besides 
nursing,  it  will  broaden  their  minds,  and  heighten 
their  self-confidence,  and  their  feeling  of  dignity. 

I  am  working  for  women  suffrage  very  hard;  >t 
is  rather  a  roundabout  way  to  come  in  touch  with 
the  nurses,  the  hospitals,  and  asylums,  but  it  seems 
to  mo  the  right  one,  because  the  only  possible  one. 
A  medical  superintendent  who  forbids  the  mem- 
bership of  our  association  to  his  nurses  can  hardly 
prohibit  their  joining  the  Society  for  Women's 
Suffrage,  the  movement  has  become  too  large  and 
too  powerful.  The  dependent  position  in  which 
all  women  live  nowadays  is  humiliating.  Nurses  by 
reason  of  their  being  absolutely  .dependent  on  hos- 
pital authorities  for  their  training,  their  examina- 
tion, their  certificate,  their  credentials  (all  these 
being  private  matters  not  under  State  control)  are 
specially  submissive,  and  like  the  slaves  of  old  they 
flatter  their  masters  to  obtain  what  they  want. 
Suffrage  will  be  one  of  the  means,  and  a  very 
powerful  one,  to  develop  their  feeling  of  dignity, 
to  arouse  in  them  a  proper  pride.  .\s  long  as  in 
the  more  important  things  of  life  the  opinion  of 
women  is  not  asked,  as  long  as  they  are  treated  like 
children,  the  nurses  will  not  realise  that  they  have 
t  >  take  matters  in  hand  themselves  in  order  to 
obtain  improvements,  they  will  submit  passively  to 
every  authority.  But  once  it  is  their  duty  to  take 
their  part  in  the  management  of  public  affairs, 
then  the  nurses  will  realise  also  that  good  results 
can  only  be  expected  when  they  themselves  work 
for  the  improvement  of  their  profession,  instead  of 
leaving  it  to  others,  to  whom  the  interests  of  the 
nvrsing  profession  are  only  of  secondary  import- 
ance. 

J.  C.  VAN  Lanschot  Hubrecht. 


A  FRIEND  IN  NEED. 
We  have  pleasure  in  drawing  attention  to  tho 
excellent  worl^,  and  extremely  moderate  prices,  of 
the  Universal  Hair  Co.,  80-84,  Foxberry  Road, 
Biockley,  S.E.  Complete  transformations  are  sup- 
r'  ed  in  the  finest  quality  of  human  hair  at  30s., 
and  partial  ones  at  correspondingly  low  rates. 
AM'ile  so  long  as  a  woman  has  a  sufficiency  of  hair 
she  will  usually  prefer  to  be  content  with  her  own, 
yet  many,  as  they  advance  in  life,  require  some 
artificial  aid,  and  to  such  the  Universal  Hair  Co. 
comes  as  a  friend  in  need.  There  is  no  doubt  that 
Che  constant  wearing  of  caps  by  nursfes  is  prejudi- 
cial to  tho  welfare  of  hair,  which  requires  fresh  air 
and  sunshine ;  also  to  busy  workers,  who  can  spare 
little  time  in  which  to  dress  for  an  evening  func- 
tion, the  aid  of  a  transformation  is  often  most  con- 
venient. The  private  establishment  of  the  ab>>^e 
Company  is  only  two  minutes'  walk  from  th5  Lon- 
don and  Brighton  and  the  Chatham  and  Dover 
Stations  at  Brockley,  and  the  Manageress  will  be 
plea,sed  to  advise  clients  between  10  a.m.  and 
J   p.m.,  Saturdays  excepted,   t 


340 


Zhc  Britisb  3oiirnal  of  IRursiiuj.         [o^t.  22,  1910 


©utsi^c  tbe  iBatcs. 


WOMEN. 

The  Bureau  Circular 
i.ssue<l  thk  moiitli  by  the 
Society  of  Women 
Journalists  ajipeare  in  a 
more  imix)sing  form.  It 
opens  with  a  Foreword 
written  by  Mm.  Bul- 
.st  rode . 


"Many  things  have  happened,"  slie  says,  "since 
the  .Society  migrated  from  the  little  basement  office 
in  Arundel  Street  to  its  present  quarters,  with  their 
atmosphere  of  history  and  romance — a  most 
modern  society  in  a  setting  <:jj_autiquity,  and  in 
watching  the  progress  of  the  Society  for  quite  an 
apjyeciable  jjeriod  of  its  existence  the  development 
'■'■  ivomen's  work  in  journalism  has  provided  con- 
sideraljle  food  for  reflection.  Their  litei-ary  ideals, 
it  1  may  say  so,  seem  to  have  shared  in  the  general 
awakening  and  advance  that  has  affected  the  sphere 
of  the  sex,  and  with  that  expan.sion  the  scope  for 
their  efforts  has  .surely  enlarged,  not  only  in  respect 
of  the  writers,  but  in  relation  to  the  readers  as 
well.  ...  A  fine  ment.^1  digestion,  '  coupled 
•\Vith  an  insatiable  api>etite  for  a  jKibulum  of  general 
knowledge,  is  not  imjirobably  a  sine  qua  non  to  the 
physiology  of  the  successful  woman  journalist  of  to- 
morrow. Is  it  too  lofty  an  ideal  to  hojje  that  one 
of  the  results  of  this  little  publication  of  our 
Society  may  l)e  to  exercise  a  broadening  influence 
in  that  direction  and  thus  tend  to  inerea.se  the  .sum 
total  of  the  knowledge  and  impulses  conveyed  by  a 
perusal  of  women's  writings." 


At  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  National  Council 
Of  AVomen  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  the 
Govt=rning  Body  of  the  National  Cuion  of  Women 
A\  orkers,  held  at  Lincoln  last  week.  Lady  Laura 
Ridding  was  re-elected  President  of  the  Union.  A 
discussion  took  jilace  on  a  resolution,  proposed  by 
Jirs.  Greenlees,  on  behalf  of  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee of  the  Scottish  Unions  of  Women  Workers, 
as  to  tlio  advisability  of  substituting  the  name 
"Nation.al  Council  of  AVonien  "  for  that  of  "Na- 
tional Union  of  AVomcn  Workers."  !Mrs.  Green- 
Ices  said  that  the  most  important  reason  for  tbe 
change  was  the  constant  confusion  and  misunder- 
standing arising  from  the  Union  being  mistaken 
for  a  trade  union.  Another  reason  was  that  it 
vould  bring  them  into  line  with  other  Councils  of 
wcmon  all  over  the  world  affiliated  to  the  Inter- 
national Council  of  Women.  Eventually,  on  the 
Sfgticstioii  of  Lady  Laura  Ridding,  it  was  de- 
cided that  some  change  in  the  name  was  desired 
and  the  matter  was  referred  to  tbe  Executive  to 
consider,  and  report  upon  to  .i  futun  nuLti?i2:  of 
the  Council. 

In  conjunction  with  other  ,  inni. m  ,-.i,,.ia-.  (.->.r 
George  H.  Darwin  of  Cambridge,  Herr ,  Arnold 
liang  of  Zurich,  and  Profes,sor  Boelim  von  Bawerk 
oi  ViennaV,  Mine.  Curie,  of  Paris,  the  discoverer 
of  radium,  has  been  elected  a  member  of  the 
Swedish  Acndemv  of  Sciences. 


Chicago  has  just  recently  made  a  rather  unusual 
depart uieiu  apix)inting  a  woman  as  Superintendent 
of  its  entire  city  school  .system,  ilre.  Ella  Flagg 
Young,  the  \\e\Y  Sui>erintendent,  is  considerably 
over  sixty,  and  has  i>een  teaching  since  1862.  and 
the  fact  that  she  is  considered  equal  to  such  a  task 
shows  that  in  Chicago  she  is  looked  uix)u  as  some- 
thing quite  out  of  the  ordinary.  Her  whole 
career  has  been  abnormal.  She  was  princijxil  of  the 
Chicago  Normal  College  for  eight  years,  has  been 
District  Superintendent  of  schools  for  twelve  years, 
and  was  professor  of  education  in  Chicago  Univer- 
sity from  1809  to  1905.  It  is  very  unusual  tor  a 
woman  to  hold  any  of  these  jxists.  and  that  she 
should  be  offered  that  of  Suix-rintendent  of  the 
svstem  is  a  great  honour  vtill. 


Boof?  of  tbe  Meek. 


clerk 


THE  SINS  OF  THE    CHILDREN  * 

We  have  set  before  us  in  this  chronicle 
in  the  employ  of  tiie  Great  Western  Railway  at  a 
salary  of  one  hundred  and  seventy  pounds  a  year, 
and  his  inotherle.ss  little  daughter,  Jeannie. 

"  AATien  he  was  at  home  he  hated  her  out  of  his 
sight.  .  .  .  His  fir.st  gi'ey  hairs  api^eared  after 
a  rather  sharp  attack  of  measles  she  caught  at 
school.  It  was  of  -Saturday  afternoons  that  Jeannie 
had  particularly  hajjjjy  memories.  In  those  tar- 
ofF  days  there  were  'actually  fisli  to  be  caught  in  tbi' 
river  between  Hammersmith  and  Putney.  On  most 
Saturdays  when  fishing  was  in  season  a  long  line 
of  anglers  would  be  seen  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
the  latter  place,  of  which  Joe,  invariably  accom- 
panied by  Jeannie,  who  carried  the  bait  can,  wa.s 
a   patient   unit.  .     .     He  loved  Jeannie  to  in- 

vite her  school  friends  to  the  house,  when,  with  a 
seemingly  unlimited  fund  of  comic  resource,  he 
would  go  down  on  all  fouis  and  imitate  various 
animals  to  the  life.  .  .  .  Until  Jeannie  was 
sixteen  she  had  attended  a  school  of  no  account  in 
Putney,  but  when  she  reached  that  age  Joe,  per- 
haps foolishly.  l>ut  with  the  best  intentions  in  the 
world,  sent  his  tall  daughter  to  Clarence  College, 
an  "establishment  for  the  education  of  tb<' 
daughters  of  gentlemen."  as  it  was  grandiloquently 
termed  by  the  proprietor. 

And  thon  the  father's  supremacy,  in  her  heart, 
begins  to  decline,  for  .she  is  wooed  and  married  by 
the  brother  of  one  of  her  school  friends.  Tlie  mar- 
riage is  considoronl  a  mi-mlliantc  by  her  husband's 
jieople.  and  he  has  little  more  to  offer  Jeannie  than 
she  had  enjoyed  witb'.lier  kind,  homely  father. 
Aft«rthe  birth  of  her  first  child  she  l)egins  to  have 
twinges  of  remorse  aI>out  her  recent  neglect  of  her 
parent,  and  is  resolving  to  show  him  the  attention 
and  aftoction  ho  deserves  when  she  is  liastily  .sum- 
moned to  his  -sick  b«d. 

"  The  telegram  was  sent  from  Putney,  and  all 
it  said  was :  '  Come  at  onoe !  ' 

"Directly  .slio  arrived  at  (he  house  she  had  gone 
up  to  her  father's  room,  to  find  him  unconscious. 
Although  Joe's  extremity  cut  her  to  the  quick  there 
race  W.   C.   Newt©. 


♦  By  I 

London.) 


(Mills  and  Boon.. 


Oct. 


1910] 


Z.\yc  Bntieb  3ournal  ci  iRiutjino. 


341 


ii«il  l)cen  no  titiie  to  iiiclulge  her  griefs.  .  .  .  She 
L«kI  made  the  l)ed  coiiitortahlo  and  tenderly  kissed 
his  now  wliito  head.  .  .  .  When  it  became  too 
dark  to  see  she  forebore  to  liave  the  lamp,  pre- 
ferring the  firelight  till  she  porpeivetl  it  had  the 
effect  of  contrasting  Joe's  hair  with  the  darkness 
about  him,  and  thus  emphasised  its  whiteness. 

This  apiHwling  witness  of  her  long  neglect  tugged 
at  her  heart  strings.  .  .  .  .'^he  had  come  in  the 
smai-t  frock  she  had  got  ready  for  the  luncheon 
party.  She  took  it  off  carefully  before  getting  into 
a  dressing-gown  she  had  brought  with  her.  -Vs  she 
was  doing  this  she  fancied  tiiat  Joe  shivered  ;  she 
was  about  to  put  more  clothing  on  the  be<l  when 
an  idea  occurred  to  lier  whereby  she  could  make  a 
trifling  atonement  to  her  father.  She  caught  up 
her  smart  bodice  and  skirt  and  wrappe<l  them 
tenderly  about  his  shouldei-s." 

But  her  "teai-s  of  penance  come  too  late  tor 
grace,"  and  kind  old  Joe  dies  without  recovering 
eonseiousness.  Her  neglect  is  again  brought  home 
to  her  when,  later  in  life,  she  in  her  turn  suffers 
from  the  ingratitude  of  her  own  son. 

We  are  not  enamoured  of  the  book  as  a  whole. 
It  is  disconnected  and  lacks  power.  Moreover  it  is 
too  obviously  padded  with  irrelevant  material. 

H.  H. 

COMING     EVENTS. 

OcfohiT  J.fflt. — Central  Midwives"  Board.  Ex- 
amination.   London   and  Provinces. 

Ocfoher  25th.  26th.  27th,  and  2Sth.— City  of 
London  School,  Victoria  Embankment.  E.C. 
Oresliain  Lectures:  Ancient  and  Moflern  Surgery, 
by  Prof.  F.  M.  Sandwith.  6  p.m.   .\dmission  free. 

(htobcT  26th. — Opening  of  "Wandsworth  In- 
firmary, by  the  Right  Hon.  John  Burns,  JI.P., 
President  Local   Government  Board. 

October  26th. — Meeting,  Matrons'  Council  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland.  Business  meeting, 
■■).30  p.m.  To  be  followe<l  by  a  discussion  on  "  The 
Supply  of  Probationers."  431,  Oxford  Street,  W. 
Tea. 

Ocfoher  27th. — St.  John's  House  Xurses'  League, 
General  Meeting.     3  p.m. 

October  2Sth. — Meeting  to  consider  a  scheme  for 
an  Imperial  Memorial  to  the  late  5Iies  Florence 
Xightrngale,  Grosvenor  House.  W.  Admission  by 
ticket,  to  be  obtained  from  Hon.  Secretary,  21. 
Little  Welbeck  Street,  Cavendish  Square,  Lou- 
don, "W.,  3  p.m, 

yovcmher  1st. — Xurses'  Missionary  League.  Lec- 
ture: "Work  in  a  Home  and  Foreign  Hospital 
Contrasted,"  by  Miss  C.  F.  Tippet,  Shcmsi.  X. 
China.  University  Hall,  Gordon  Square,  W.C., 
10.30  a.m. 

yovember  1st  to  ■5th. — Cookery  and  Food  Ex- 
hibition, Royal  Horticultural  Hall,  S.W.  Xurses' 
Invalid  Tra.vs  on  view  on  3rd  and  4th  pros. 

yoremhcr  J/th . — Xational  Council  of  Xurses  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  -\nnual  Meeting,  431, 
Oxford  Street.  London.  AV.     4  p.m.     Tea. 

yorciiiher  5fh. — Xational  Food  Reform  Associa- 
tion. Conference  on  the  Feeding  of  Nurses.  Cax- 
tnn  Hall,  S.W.     2.30  p.m. 


Uctteis  to  tbe  £Mtor. 


U/iiJst  cordially  inviting  conv' 
munications  upon  all  subject* 
/or  these  columns,  xce  wish  it 
to  be  distinctly  undersiooa 
that  we  do  not  in  any  wa^ 
hold  ourselves  responsible  for 
the  opinions,  expressed  by  our 
correspondents. 


OUR  GUINEA  PRIZE. 
T.J  the  Editor  of  the  •Jiritinh  -Journal  o/Xursingr." 
De.vr  M.vdam, — Many  thanks  for  the  cheque  for 
£1  Is.  for  Puzzle  Prize  for  September,  which  I  have 
ji.st  received.  It  was  a  very  pleasant  surprise 
to   me.  " 

Yours  very  sincerely, 

M.    COOPEB. 

Western    District  Hospital,   Haddington. 


"    WORD    FOR   THE   WEEK. 

If   thou   desire   to    iirnfit,    read    with     humility. 
simplicity,   and  faithfulness. 


SUPPLEMENTARY    REGISTER  FOR  FEVER 
NURSES. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  "  Briiish  .Journal  of  yursing." 

Madam, — I  am  sure  that  you  will,  in  fairness, 
allow  me  space  for  a  few  words  in  reply  to  the 
criticisms  of  my  position  by  "  E.  G.  F.  "  and 
Miss  E.  A.  Stevenson,  which  have  appeared  in 
recent  issues  of  the  Journal. 

Briefly,  I  do  uot  "control  "  any  fever  hospital. 
I  have  entered  upon  this  controversy  simply  out 
of  a  desire  to  see  fair  play,  and  in  a  spirit  of  loyalty 
to  my  colleagues  in  the  public  health  service — the 
fever  nurses,  whose  unstinted  devotion  to  duty 
and  self-sacrificing  labours  have  won  my  heart^felt 
esteem  and  admiration  during  the  period  in  which 
I  have  been  associated  with  them.  One  of  the 
Xurses'  Registration  Bills  of  last  year  accorded 
them  a  place  on  a  separate  or  supplementary  regis- 
ter, on  their  undergoing  a  suitaole  training  and 
passing  the  necessary  State  examinations.  I  and 
those  who  act  with  me  are  in  hearty  sympath.v 
with  the  movement  for  the  State  Registration  of 
Xurses,  most  of  us  have  relatives  in  the  profession, 
and  all  of  us  are  desirous  of  doing  what  lies  in  our 
power  to  secure  the  end  in  view.  But  we  are  not 
prepared  to  see  the  boon  to  fever  nurses  which  was 
offered  in  last  year's  Bill  withdrawn  at  the  in- 
stance of  a  narrow-minded  section,  whose  desire — 
in  whatever  cloud  of  words  they  cloak  their  inten- 
tions— is  quite  evidently  to  keep  fever  nurses  in 
a  humWe  and  subordinate  position.  It  is  a  pity 
that  the  passing  of  the  Nurses'  Registration  Bill 
should  be  imperilled  by  the  impracticability  of 
this  section. 

I  am  in  entire  harmony  with  "  E.  G.  F.'s  "  view 
that  "once  State  Registration  is  in  force,  no  suffi- 
cient number  of  intelligent  women-  will  place 
themselves  in  the  ambiguous  position  of  working 
for  '  statutory  certificates '  which  are  not  regis- 
trable." But  that  "  ambiguous  position  "  is  what 
is  offered  in  the  Bill  which  she  supports,  and  what 
Miss  Stevenson  in  the  Gla.^ijou-  Herald  commends 
to  fever  nurses. 

I  leave  Miss  Stevenson  and  Dr.  Robertson,  both 
of  the  Scottish  Nurses'  Association,  to  deal  as 
faithfullv    with  one   another'as    thev   have    been 


342 


Zhc  3Siiti6b  3ournaI  of  IHursing. 


[Oct.  22,  1910 


doing  in  your  columns  and  in  the  Glasgow  Herald. 
only  noting  in  passing  that  Miss  Stevenson  believes 
"that  fever  training  should  not  be  compulsory" 
(may  providence  preserve  the  fever  patients!),  and 
that  she  is  satisfied  that  "  a  suijplementary  fever 
Tegist^2r  could  no  more  cause  confusion  than  the 
mental  nurses'  register  or  the  male  nurses'  re- 
gister " — a  view  for  the  expression  of  whiOh  in 
tha  Glasgow  Herald  I  have  been  covered  with  con- 
fusion by  Miss  Stevenson's  colleagues. 
Yours  faithfully, 

A.    C.4MPBELL  MtTNRO,    M.B.,   D.Sc. 

[A'  letter  dealing  with  this  question  from  Miss 
Stevenson  is  held  over  for  want  of  space ;  it  will 
appear  next  week,  when  E.  G.  F.  will  reply  to  Dr. 
A..   Campbell  Munro. — Ed.] 


POLICY  HOLDERS   NO   POWER. 
To  the  Editor  oi  tlie  "  British  Jour/ial  of  Nnrsing." 

Dear  Madam, — Having  read  in  your  issue  of 
October  8th  your  allusion  to  the  proposed  Memorial 
Home  for  Aged  A'urees,  for  which  Sir  Evemard 
Hambro,  Chairman  of  the  Royal  National  Pension 
Fund,  is  raising'funds,  may  I  give  my  esjierience  ? 
I  have  been  a  member  of  the  Pension  Fund  for  over 
nine  years,  but  have  only  lately  invc:;tigated,  in 
any  degree,  the  business  methods  of  this  Fund.  On 
making  inquiries,  however,  I  find  that  the  x>olicy . 
holders  of  this  Insunance  Company  are  inadequately 
represented,  and  that  they  have  i^ractically  no  con- 
trol over  the  administration  of  the  funds. 

On  receiving  the  subscription  form  for  the  pro- 
posed memorial  I  wTote  to  Sir  E.  Hambro  inquiring 
how  many  votes  a  guinea  would  entitle  a  subscriber 
to.  I  was  informed  in  reply,  by  the  Pension  Fund 
Secretary  (who  seems  to  be  the  only  source  of  in- 
formation from  whom  there  is  no  api>eal)  that  the 
details  had  not  yet  been  decided,  but  that  it  was 
unlikely  that  the  system  of  admission  by  votes  will 
be  adopted. 

Presuming  that  the  Memorial  Fund  (as  is  the 
case  in  the  Pension  Fund)  will  not  be  (in  any 
degiee)  administered  by  the  nurses,  I  am  waiting 
until  details  are  decided  upon  l>efore  subscribing : 
and,  if  I  may  suggest,  it  would  be  well  for  any  of 
your  readers  who  contemplate  subscribing  to  in- 
vestigate fui-ther  before  doing  so,  and  to  insist  on 
having  a  voice  in  the  administration  of  any  funds 
they  may  contribute. 

I  enclose  my  card  and  l)eg  to  remain. 
Yours  faithfully, 

Mabel  E.  Atees. 

13,  Stock  Orchard  Crescent, 
Hollow  ay,  N. 


THE  OPENINGS  FOR   NURSES  IN   THE 

MISSION    FIELD. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  "British  Journal  of  Nursing." 

Dear  AIadaji, — It  was  with  great  interest  that  I 
read  the  iicconnt  in  my  British  Jourkal  of 
KimsixG  this  week  of  the  meetings  of  the  Nurses' 
Missionary  League.  Having  lived  abroad.  I  know 
how  .so'roly  tlio  services  of  nur.ses  are  needed,  they 
are  so  few  in  i>ro]iortion  to  the  millions  of  people 
who  suffi T  i!(cdlp!4.sly  for  want  of  skilled  help. 

I  think  that  partly  the  nnfses  in  the  Mission 
Field   are   few   lieoauso  it  is  only  of   recent   veal's 


that  the  great  missionary  societies  have  appealed 
for  nurses.  They  have  concentrated  themselves 
upon  the  command  of  their  Divine  Master  to 
"  preach  the  gospel,"  and  forgotten  the  equally 
imperative  command  to  "heal  the  sick."  In  con- 
sequence their  ^\ork  has  suffered.  In  my  exjierience 
the  mission  work  is  most  successful .  in  which  pro- 
minence is  given  to  both  these  branches.  The 
medical  missionary  and  the  evangelist  must  work 
side  by  side  if  the  people  are  to  be  reached,  and  the 
doctor  and  the  nurse  are  the  evangelist's  great 
ally.  AVhen  we  consider  how  great  a  portion  of 
our  Lord's  ministry  on  earth  was  devoted  to  the 
relief  of  suffering  and  the  healing  of  disease,  it  is 
strange  indeed  how  slow  His  professed  disciples 
have  been  to  adopt  His  methods.  But  the  outlook 
for  the  future  is  more  hopeful. 
I  am.  Dear  Madam, 
Youri  faithfully, 

A  MissiON.iRT  Nurse, 


THE  NURSES'  GOSPEL  LEAGUE. 
To  tlie  Editor  of  the  "British  JournaJ  of  Nursing." 
Dk.\b  Madam, — It  is  proposed  to  form  a  Society 
to  be  known  as  "The  Xui-ses'  Gospel  League," 
aud  its  object  to  be  the  free  distribution  of  the 
gospel  and  gospel  literature  to  the  patients  in  the 
hosi)itals.  Its  finances  will  partly  be  provided  by 
a  weekly  "  penny  "  fund  among  nurses  and  partly 
by  subscriptions,  etc.  Will  those  who  have  the 
love  of  Jesus  within  their  hearts,  and  are  interested 
in  saving  the  souls  of  others,  kindly  send  me  their 
opinion  of  the  proposed  League,  and  any  sugges- 
tions they  can  make  for  the  advancement  of 
Christ's  Kingdom  among  the  sick  ? 
I  am. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Howard  Baker. 
27,  Xorthwood  Street,  Birmingham, 


(Eominents  anb  TReplics. 

Colbnial  Niirsc.  London. — To  prevent  the  bites 
of  mosquitoes,  and  therefore  the  danger  of  malaria, 
it  is  a  good  ])lan  to  wear  two  pairs  of  thin  stock- 
ings, rather  than  one  thicker  pair,  which,  as  you 
say,  mosquitoes  bite  through.  The  reason  of  this 
is  that  the  mesh  of  the  stockings  is  rarely  the 
same,  and  they  thus  form  a  much  more  effective 
barrier  than  a  single  pair  of  stockings  of  much 
thicker  texture. 

Enquirer,  Glasgow. — The  Central  Committee  for 
Registration  of  Nurses  is  composed  of  delegates  of 
all  the  national  societies  supporting  the  principle 
of  registration,  under  the  chairmanship  of  Ix)rd 
Ampthill :  it  thus  focusses  professional  opinion  on 
the  registration  movement.  The  Association  for 
the  Promotion  of  Registration  of  »\urses  in  Scot- 
land is  represented  upon  it. 


IMoticcs. 


OUR  PUZZLE  PRIZE. 
Rules    for  comi)eting  for  the     Pictorial    Puzzle 
Prize  will  be  found  on  Advertisement  page  xii. 


Oct.  i^.  19101    ^|5^  Bi'ltidb  3oiunal  cf  iRursino  Supplement. 


343 


The    Midwife. 


Banana  If  lour  as  foo^  for  3nfant5. 

Dr.  Eric  Pritcliard,  Assistant  Physician  to 
the  Queen's  Hospital  for  Children,  speaking 
m  the  section  of  Diseases  of  Children  at  the 
Annual  Meeting  of  the  British  jNIedical  Associa- 
tion, said,  as  reported  in  the  British  Medical 
Journal: — For  many  years  past  I  have  recom- 
mended the  addition  of  mashed  banana  to  the 
mill:  mixtures  of  artificially  fed  infants ;  for  I 
have  found  its  antiscorbutic  properties  of  value 
in  the  maintenance  of  nutrition.  More  re- 
cently I  have  been  making  experiments  with 
banana  meal  made  into  a  gruel  or  decoction  as 
a  substitute  for  the  more  expensive  proprietary 
infant  foods.  The  results  so  far  have  proved 
quite  satisfactory.  The  chief  objections  to  pro- 
prietary foods  are,  firet,  that  they  are  expen- 
sive, and  secondly,  that  they  are  either  em- 
ployed as  substitutes  for  cow's  milk,  or  added 
in  too  large  quantities.  It  is  of  great  impor- 
tance that  infante  should  be  taught  early  to 
digest  cow's  milk;  artificial  substitutes  for 
cow's  milk  do  not  achieve  that  end,  for  they 
are  mostly  predigested.  The  digestion  of  cow's 
milk  is  undoubtedly  made  easier  for  the  infant 
by  the  addition  of  cereal  decoctions  and  solu- 
tion of  gum  or  gelatine.  The  recent  studies  of 
Alexander  and  Bullowa  on  the  protective  action 
of  colloids  in  milk  have  afforded  a  scientific 
explanation  of  the  empirical  experience  that 
gum,  gelatine,  or  cereal  gruels,  added  to  milk, 
facilitate  the  digestion  of  casein. 

It  is,  however,  cf  importance,  if  cereal  gruels 
are  employed  for  this  pui-pose,  that  they  should 
not  be  given  in  excessive  quantities  before  the 
infant  has  developed  its  power  of  diastatic 
digestion.  Very  thin  gruels  should  be  em- 
ployed at  first,  and  their  strength  progressively 
increased;  if  this  precaution  is  taken  the  cereal 
gruel  serves  the  double  pui-pose  of  promoting 
the  digestion  by  casein  and  of  developing  the 
irJant's  power  of  diastatic  digestion.  As  cereal 
giuels  I  have  employed  barley  water,  bread 
jelly,  oatmeal  jelly,  and  barley  jelly ;  all  these 
are  excellent  in  their  way,  but  the  time  and 
trouble  required  to  prepare  them  '^Foperly  de- 
ters many  a  poor  mother  from  using  these  par- 
ticular diluents.  A  decoction  of  banana  gruel 
can  be  made  more  expeditiously  owing  to  the 
solubility  of  the  major  portion  of  the  carbo- 
hydrate elements.  A  satisfactory  gruel  can  be 
made  in  .a  few  minutes  by  rubbing  up  a  heaped 
tablespoonful  (1  oz.)  of  banana  flour  with  a 
pint  of  water,  and  then  boiling  for  five  minutes. 


A  gruel  made  in  this  way  has  excellent  col- 
loidal properties  when  added  to  milk  in  equal 
quantity;  it  fhickens  the  milk,   and  prevents 
formation  of   a  leathery  coagulum  of  casein, 
and   satisfies  the    appetite   of  hungry   infants 
more  effectually  than  simple    milk  dilutions. 
The  decoction  made  in  this  way  has  not  an 
attractive  appearance,  for  it  is  of  a  light  choco- 
late colour,  owing  to  the  presence  of  a  pigment 
which  tenaciously  adheres  to  the  starch  mole- 
cules, and   which   cannot   be   bleached  by  or- 
dinary bleaching  reagents.     It  has  been  urged 
against  bananas  and  banana  flour  that  the  con- 
tained fibre  has  an  injurious  influence  on  the* 
delicate  mucous  membrane  of  the  infant's  in- 
testine.    I  cannot  say   that  my   personal  ex- 
perience supports  this  view.     And  I  prefer  the 
ciude  flour  to  the  more  Irghly  refined  prepara- 
tions which   are    sold    under    fancy  names  as 
benana  meal  fi-eed  from  all  fibre.     The  white- 
ness of  these  preparations    and  their  general 
character  leads  me  to  suspect  that  they  contain 
very  little  of  the  original  banana,  and  a  large 
proportion  of  ordinary  cereal  flour. 

The  nutritive  properties  of  banana  flour  are 
high,    as  is   shown  by   the   following   figures, 
which  represent  those  of  an  analysis  made  by 
Pi'ofessor  A.  H.  Church  of  a  sample  of  banana 
meal  (-Jamaica) :  — 

Water  ...         ...         ...     15.5  per  cent. 

Albuminoids  ...         ...       2.5         ,. 

Starch,  sugar,  gum.  ite  ...      77.7 

Oil  1.0 

Fibre  0.7 

Ash  2.7 

Many  analyses  give  a  higher  value  for  the 
albuminoids;  this,  accox'ding  to  Professor 
Church,  is  due  to  the  fact  that  the  whole  of  the 
nitrogen  presi^'nt  in  banana  meal  does  not  exist 
in  albuminoid  form,  but  part  in  the  form  of 
amides,  and  allowance  for  this  has  not  been 
made  by  those  who  have  conducted  the 
aralyses. 

With  the  exception  of  the  lower  proteid  con- 
tent, banana  meal  compares  favourably  as  a 
food  with  most  cereal  floui's.  Although  occa- 
sionally used  in  the  West  Indies  as  an  exclu- 
sive food  for  infants,  it  is  obviously  highly  un- 
suited  to  this  purpose,  but  in  the  form  of  a 
decoction  it  is  an  excellent  diluent  of  cow's 
milk. 

In  reply  to  questions  as  to  the  age  at  which 
starchy foodsmightsafely begiven,Dr.Pritchard  . 
replied  that  in  small  doses  they  might  be  begun 
when  the  child  was  a  week  or  two  old. 


344        ^be  Bvitisb  Journal  ot  IRursing  Supplement,    [o^t.  22, 1910 


Cit^  of  Xonbon  Xvnng*in  Ibospital. 

It  was  a  happy  thought  to  invite  Dr.  Luke 
Paget,  the  Bishop  of  Stepney,  and  the  son  of 
the  famous  Sir  James  Paget,  to  dedicate  on 
the  Festival  of  "Luke,  the  Beloved  Physi- 
cian," the  new  Chapel  of  the  Lying-in  Hospi- 
tal, City  Eoad,  E.C.  Certainly  the  hospital 
management  are  to  be  congratulated  on  their 
little  place  of  worship.  Its  interkir  is  painted 
and  stencilled  with  deheate  colours  and  ec- 
clesiastical designs ;  the  marble  font,  where  we 
were  infoi-med  some  700  baptisms  are  ad- 
ministered in  the  year,  was  presented  by  the 
ilatron,  Staff,  and  past  pupils,  and  bears  an 
inscription  to  that  effect.  Like  the  altar,  it 
was  decorated  for  the  Dedication  with  choice 
white  flowers.  Other  gifts  wore  from  anony- 
mous donors.  Over  the  entrance  a  brass  tablet 
bears  the  following  inscription:  "To  the 
gloi7  of  God,  and  in  memory  of  Rebecca  Ivey, 
and  Eliza  Owthwaite,  this  Chapel  was  com- 
pleted August,  1910,  by  their  respective  hus- 
l)ands."  (A  Governor  and  the  Secretary  of 
the  Hospital.) 

The  service  opened  with  a  processional 
hymn,  and  the  coloured  hoods  of  the  Bishop, 
clergy,  and  medical  staH  made  a  most  effec- 
tive spectacle. 

After  the  dedication  the  Bishop  gave  a  short 
and  characteristic  address.  His  remai'ks 
showed  a  wide  insight  into,  and  sympathy  with 
hospital  life.  He  referred  to  the  happiness  he 
had  experienced  in  acting  as  Chaplain,  for 
some  time,  to  the  "New  Hospital  for  Wo- 
men." He  asked  his  hearers  to  consider,  if 
they  knew  anything  of  the  enormous  strain, 
weariness,  and  incessant  toil  of  a  nurse's  life, 
what  a  privilege  their  little  Chapel  would  be 
to  them,  where  they  could  have,  if  only  five 
minutes,  quiet,  and  where  they  could  simply 
Jay  their  weariness  down. 

In  the  very  attractive  wards,  which  many 
present  visited  after  the  service,  the  mothers 
m  varying  stages  of  convalescence  were 
pioudly  exhibiting  their  infants,  the  centre  of 
attraction  being  the  youngest  of  the  family, 
who  WHS  only  a  few  hours  old. 

The  bathrooms  arranged  for  the  bathing  of 
eiglit  infants  at  one  time,  arc  quite  all  that 
can  be  desired,  and  the  wisdom  of  having  two 
labom-  wards  used  alternately  for  a  fortnight 
at  a  time,  and  then  closed  for  cleaning,  is 
much  to  be  commended.  This  same  arrange- 
ment-also  applies  to  the  general  wards.  We 
were  interested  also  to  see  the  private  wards, 
for  which  a  charge  of  ,£'3  3s.  a  week  is  made, 
and  we  feel  sure  that  they  must  meet  a  vci-y 
real  need,  and  ought  to  be  more  widely  known. 


THE  CENTRAL  MIDWIVES'  BOARD. 

The  next  examination  of  the  Central  Midwives' 
Board  will  be  held  on  October  24th  in  London,  at 
the  Examination  Hall,  Victoria  Embankment, 
W.C. ;  in  Birmingham,  Leeds,  and  Manchester  at 
their  respective  Universities ;  and  at  Newoastle- 
on-Tj-ne  at  the  University  of  Durham  College  of 
Medicine.  

THE  NATIONAL  ASSOCIATION  OF  MiDWIVES. 

Under  the  auspices  of  the  National  Association  of 
Jlidnives,  9,  Albert  .Square,  Manchester,  a  branch 
was  formed  at  Rotherham  on  October  6th.  The 
chair  was  taken  by  Councillor  Caine.  Vice-Chair- 
man  of  the  Rotherham  Supervising  Midwives'  Com- 
mittee. Mrs.  Lawson  (President  of  the  above  As- 
sociation) addressed  the  meeting,  and  pointed  out 
the  necessity  of  combination.  Mrs.  Williamson, 
Secretary  of  the  Sheffield  Branch,  also  addressed 
the  meeting.  The  speakers  were  listened  to  with 
interest,  and  at  the  close  every  midwife  present 
joined.  The  National  Association  has  been  doing 
seme  strenuous  work  this  last  six  months.  There 
lias  not  been  much  time  to  keep  the  public  posted 
up  with  details,  but  we  have  held  meeting  after 
meeting,  and  had  success  all  along  the  line.  With- 
in the  last  three  months  five  new  branches  have 
been  formed,  our  membership  is  increasing,  and 
our  friends  the  enemy  are  deploring  the  growth  of 
trades  unionism  amongst  midwives,  while  we  are 
rejoicing  that  the  midwives  are  beginning  to  realise 
the  need  of  unity,  and  that  the  surest  way  to  get 
jelp  is  to  help  themselves. 

E.  GiLROT,  Secrefart/. 


COMMISSIONS  TO   MiDWIVES. 

The  correspondent  of  a  medical  contemporary 
states  that  a  certificated  midwife  recently  called 
upon  him  to  inquire  what  commission  he  was  pre- 
pared to  give  her  for  cases  to  wliich  she  called  liim 
in,  and  was  quite  surprised  when  he  pointed  out 
to  her  "  the  enormity  of  the  offence,"  and  said  she 
thought  there  was  nothing  wrong  in  taking  com- 
missions. 

The  medical  practitioner  acquainted  the  Medical 
Officer  of  Health  for  his  district  with  the  incident, 
who  said  he  could  do  nothing  without  evidence, 
but  promised  to  notify  the  certified  midwives  under 
his  control  that  it  was  illegal  for  them  to  accept 
bribes  (under  the  name  of  commissions)  from  doctors 
for  work  uitro<luce<l.  At  the  same  time  he  ix>int©d 
out  quite  rightly  that  it  was  the  oftctors  who  were 
the  sinners,  and  said  that  he  had  suspected  for 
some  time  that  the  practice  had  been  going  on. 

There  can  lie  no  doubt  that  the  practice  is  a 
pernicious  one,  and  should  be  stopped.  It  is  not 
entirely  surprising  that  midwives  who  live  so  near 
the  starvation  line  should  be  willing  to  take  a 
quid  pro  quo  for  any  "  patronage  "  they  may 
bestow,  but  it  is  certainly  inconsistent  with  the 
dignity  of  the  medical  profession,  as  well  as  unfair 
to  the  ordinary  medical  attendants  of  patients,  to 
enter  into  a  compact  of  this  nature  «"ith  midwives, 
added  to  which  there  is  the  danger  lest  a  midwife 
should  unnecessarily  advise  a  doctor  to  be  called 
in  in  order  to  get  the  commission,  thus  placing  an 
unfair  financial  burden  either  on  the  patient  or 
the  ratepayers. 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 

JC  ltUIISm(€  RECOUP 

EDITED  BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


No.  1.178. 


SATURDAY,     OCTOBER     29,      1910. 


EMtonal. 


GAMES    FOR    NURSES. 

One  of  the  features  of  the  present  century 
is  that  we  are  realising  tiie  wisdom  and 
necessity  of  a  liealthy  method  of  life  for  all 
sections  of  the  comnuinity,  and  the  idea  is 
penetrating  even  into  the  almost  cloistered 
seclusion  of  our  Nnrses'  Homes  that  pro- 
fessional keenness  is  not  incompatible  with 
interest  in  other  pursuits,  that  it  is  not 
necessary  to  min  one's  own  health  to  prove 
one's  devotion  to  the  sick,  and  that  it  is 
unnecessary  and  inexpedient  that  the  health 
of  nurses  should  be  broken  down  in  order 
to  restore  that  of  the  patients.  The  modern 
niirse  realises  that  her  duty  to  her  patients 
and  herself  demands  that  she  should  not 
ignore  but  preserve  her  own  health  ;  that 
the  effect  of  a  life  spent  in  wards  full  of 
sick  people,  and  of  segregation  in  close 
quarters  in  a  Nurses'  Home  must  be  counter- 
balanced by  exercise  in  the  fresh  air — 
exercise  which  the  modern  nurse  misses  the 
more  because,  before  she  entered  a  hospital 
she  probably  lived  the  healthy  life  of  the 
normal  girl  and  enjoyed,  with  zest,  the 
tennis,  hockey,  croquet,  and  golf,  which  both 
at  school  and  at  home  had  place  in  her  dailv 
life. 

Further,  the  demands  of  modern  nm-sing 
make  a  constant  tax  on  the  mental  powers 
of  the  nurse.  Physically  her  duties  are 
much  less  exacting  than  they  were  a  quarter 
of  a  centurj-  ago,  but  so  long  as  she  is  on 
duty  she  undergoes  severe  mental  tension, 
for  which  the  best  antidote  is  physical  exer- 
cise. In  the  past  the  craving  for  physical 
exertion  has  been  demonstrated  in  the  well- 
known  love  of  nurses  for  dancing.  After 
a  long  day's  exhausting  work  in  the  wards, 
dance  music  has  only  to  be  played  in  the 
Nurses'  Home  after  duty  hours  to  meet 
with  an  immediate  response,  and  feet  which 


for  many  long  hours  have  moved  sedately, 
and  sometimes  wearilj',  up  and  down  the 
wards,  will  be  twinkling  in  unison  with 
the  rhythm  of  the  music.  But  at  best 
dancing  is  e.Kercise  in  a  somewhat  close 
environment,  and  the  present  day  love  of 
exercise  in  the  open  is  much  to  be  en- 
couraged. 

In  another  column  we  refer  to  the  keen- 
ness with  which  some  nurses  play  hockey 
in  their  off  duty  hours,  others  again  take 
up  swimming  con  amove.  In  London,  of 
coiirse,  they  are  restricted  to  swimming 
baths,  and  the  nurses  of  Guy's  Hospital 
have  the  joy  of  a  fine  swimming  bath  in 
their  own  home,  and  certificates  are  granted 
to  two  classes,  (a)  those  who  can  swim  two 
lengths  of  the  bath  loithoiit  resting,  and  (b) 
those  who  can  swim  twice  the  distance 
between  the  rope  and  the  shallow  end,  and 
there  is  keen  competition  to  gain  these 
certificates  gi-anted. 

The  Chelsea  Infirmary  nurses  have  now 
adopted  swimming  as  a  I'ecreation,  and 
have  organised  a  swimming  club  in  connec- 
tion with  their  Leagvie.  No  recreation  could 
be  more  delightful  or  health  giving,  and 
for  nurses  who  live  or  take  their  holidays 
near  rivers,  lakes,  and  the  sea,  its  pleasure 
is  intensified. 

Cycling,  tennis,  and  golf  are  other 
healthy  forms  of  recreation  enjoyed. 
Nurses  have  been  so  occupied  in  the  past 
in  developing  their  work  that  they  have 
had  little  time  to  think  of  play,  or  more 
accurate!}'  perhaps  of  necessary  recreation, 
but  now  that  their  duties  are  better  defined 
and  their  hours  in  hospitals  shorter,  they 
will  no  douljt,  in  increasing  numbers  turn 
their  attention  to  maintaining  the  viens 
saiia  in  corpore  mno,  and  enjoy  outdoor 
sports  with  the  keenness  which  they  bring 
to  bear  upon  their  professional  work  when 
on  duty. 


346 


^bc  Brittsb  Journal  of  IRurslng, 


[Oct.  29,  1910 


riDcMcal  fiDatters. 


AN    IMPROVED    METHOD  OF    PREPARING 
CATGUT   LIGATURES,* 

By  Ellice  McDonald,  M.D.,  New  York. 


Good  ligatures  are  an  essential  in  surgery. 
The  ideal  ligature  should  be  strong,  sterile  and 
soft.  It  should  be  capable  of  preservation  for 
a  long  period  of  time  without  loss  of  strength 
or  sterility.  That  numerous  methods  have 
been  devised  for  the  presei-\'ation  of  catgut  is 
evidence  of  the  lack  of  satisfaction  which  they 
give.  There  are  certain  requirements  for  a  pro- 
per method  of  preparation  :  it  should  be  simple, 
so  that  an  inexperienced  person  can  carry  it 
out ;  there  should  be  no  handling  of  the  gut 
after  sterilisation  has  begun  :  the  ligature  should 
be  placed  in  a  single  container  at  the  beginning 
of  the  process  and  should  not  be  removed  there- 
from until  it  is  needed  at  the  operation;  the 
method  should  be  inexpensive. 

These  conditions  are  best  fulfilled  by  the 
Claudius  iodine-alcohol  method  of  catgut  sterili- 
sation, but  this  method  has  certain  disadvan- 
tages :  (1)  the  Claudius  gut  does  not  keep  well, 
but  becomes  fragile  and  frangible ;  (2)  the  alco- 
hol is  not  a  fat  solvent,  and  sterilisation  cannot 
be  complete  unless  a  good  fat  solvent  is  used 
to  wash  the  fat  from  the  crevices  of  the  gut ; 

(3)  the  gut  is  a  little  hard  for  manipulation : 

(4)  the  alcohol,  containing  water,  swells  the  gut 
a  trifle  in  size.  Catgut  .will  readily  extract 
water  from  alcohol. 

For  these  reasons,^  after  .considerable  experi- 
mentation    in     catgut     sterilisation,     I    have 
adopted   the    following    method   of    preparing 
catgut : — 
■    I.    Iodine,  4  per  cent,  in  acetone,  8  days. 

II.  Wash  in  acetone,  4  days. 

III.  Preiserving  solution,  acetone  8-5  per 
cent.,  Columbian  spirits  10  per  cent.,  glycerine 
5  per  cent.  The  glycerine  should  first  be  dis- 
solved in  the  alcohol  and  then  added  to  the 
acetone,  as  acetone  itself  is  not  a  solvent  of 
glycerine. 

This  method  has  the  following  advantages  :  — 
The  solutions  are  fat  solvents  and  anti- 
septics; the  iodine  is  used  in  greater  strength 
than  in  Claudius'  method,  and  it  impregnates 
the  gut  so  that  the  ligatures  are  black  and  well 
satin-ated  with  iodine  when  they  are  placed  in 
the  clear  acetone  solution.  The  pure  acetone 
abstracts  the  excess  of  iodine  from  the  gut, 
leaving  the  gut  clear  and  white.  The  presei-v- 
ing  solution  of  acetone,  alcohol  and  glycerine 
completes  the  bleaching  and  at  the  same  time 


*  From  American  Jninnnl  nf  Sun^ 


7'  'II 


(Abridged.) 


softens  the  gut,  which  is  not  much  softened  by 
the  pure  acetone.  The  latter,  however,  does 
not  harden  the  gut,  but  abstracts  the  water 
from  it,  and  leaves  it  of  the  same  flexibiUty  as 
gut  that  has  been  preserved  in  chloroform,  as 
in  the  well-known  commercial  process.  The 
addition  of  the  glycerine  and  alcohol  to  the 
acetone  in  the  preserving  solution  is  sufficient 
in  amount  to  soften  the  catgut ;  at  the  same 
time  the  dehydrating  power  of  the  acetone  pre- 
vents the  gut  from  swelling  up,  as  it  does  when 
'it  is  placed  in  alcohol  solution. 

The  acetone  bleaches,  tans  and  softens  the 
gut  and  increases  its  tensile  strength. 

Acetone  is  antiseptic  and  comparatively 
cheap  ;  it  abstracts  water  and  absorbs  fat  from 
the  gut.  Water  and  fat  have  no  place  in  per- 
fect catgut — fat  means  imperfect  sterilisation, 
for  bacteria  may  exist  in  a  mass  of  fat  un- 
touched by  the  antiseptics;  water  swells  the 
gut  and  softens  it. 

The  preserving  solution  of  the  mixture  of 
acetone,  alcohol  and  glycerine  is  one  which 
softens  the  gut,  and  at  the  same  time  does  not 
swell  it  in  size.  It  is  essential  that  catgut 
should  be  as  small  as  possible  for  perfect  sur- 
gery. The  gut  may  be  presen-ed  in  this  solu- 
tion indefinitely.  The  finally  prepared  catgut 
contains  but  little  iodine,  and  if  it  is  desired  to 
have  a  catgut  containing  iodine,  as  does  the 
Claudius  gut,  it  would  be  well  to  transfer  the 
gut  from  the  preserving  fluid  to  one  of  a  similar 
composition  with  the  addition  of  i  per  cent,  of 
iodine  before  it  is  required  for  use.  Catgut 
cannot  be  preserved  for  more  than  a  month  in 
iodine'solutions  without  lessening  the  strength, 
on  account  of  the  action  of  the  iodine  on  the 
gut. 

The  catgut  should  be  cut  in  the  required 
lengths  and  wound  in  coils  with  three  or  four 
ligatures  in  a  coil,  and  held  hj"  wrapping  the 
ends  four  times  around.  In  this  way  several 
ligatures  can  be  taken  out  at  once  and  less 
handling  is  required.  The  ligatures  should  be 
placed  in  wide-topped  glass  jars  with  ground 
glass  tops,  and  should  not  be  taken  out  of  the 
jar  until  required  at  the  operation.  Jars  7 
inches  high  and  3  inches  across  are  used,  and 
enough  for  one  operation  is  placed  in  each  jar. 
The  solution  may  be  poured  off  without  disturb- 
ing the  gut.  The  jars  are  previously  boiled. 
No  gut  is  wasted,  as  the  excess  not  used  in 
operation  may  be  resterilised  without  loss  in 
strength.  If  the  jni-s  are  required  outside  the 
hospital  the  solution  may  be  poured  off  before 
packing,  in  ofder  to  lighten  the  weight.  The 
catgut  may  be  readily  picked  out  of  the  jar  at 
the  time  of  the  operation  by  means  of  sterile 
forceps. 


Oct.  29, 1910]        ^c  aSritisb  3oiirnaI  of  1Riu-5tng» 


347 


Scbool  Snspcctlon  in  Toronto. 

Dr.  Helen  !MaoMurchy,  who  is  well  known  to 
nurses  as  the  Editor — with  the  assistance  of  a 
board  of  nurses — of  the  Canadian  Nurse,  hai 
recently  been  appointed  a  medical  inspector  of 
school  children  under  the  Board  of  Education 
in  Toronto.  Dr.  ^lacMurchy  has  found  certain 
difficulties  in  coouection  with  the  work  which 
prevent  the  adequate  performance  of  her 
duties,  and  she  has  embodied,  in  a  letter  to  the 
Board,  a  most  straightforward  and  lucrQ  sum- 
mary of  the  position.  It  is  evident  that  the 
Board  has  a  most  valuable  officer  in  her,  aud 
we  sincerely  hope  that  it  will  sever  the  res'  '•i;-:- 
iug  red  tape  which  is  at  present  imped'ng  her 
usefulness. 

Dr.  MacMurchy  proceeds  to  demonstrate 
that  her  letter  of  instructions  shows  that  it  is 
the  intention  of  an  official  of  the  Board  that 
she  and  her  colleague  shall  be  placed  in  a  subor- 
dinate position,  both  to  the  Chief  Inspector  of 
Public  Schools,  and  possibly  also  to  the  School 
Nurees.  Before  these  instructions  are  passed 
by  the  Management  Committee,  the  Board  if 
Education,  or  the  Board  of  Inspectors,  she  de- 
sires to  lay.  before  the  Board  of  Education  some 
considerations  relative  to  the  practical  working 
out  of  these  instructions,  which  would  in- 
stantly occur  to  any  expert  in  school  hygiene, 
and  gives  as  her  reason,  "  I  cannot  satisfy  my- 
self that  it  would  be  right  for  me  to  keep  silence 
upon  a  matter  so  important  as  the  welfare  of 
the  children  and  the  city,  when  I  have  the 
knowledge  that  in  the  opinion  of  those  quali- 
fied to  judge  entitles  me  to  speak.  .  .  No- 
thing but  a  sense  of  duty  could  have  induced 
me  to  take  the  step  I  now  take  in  addressin:g 
the  Board." 

The  jMedic.\l  Officers'  Instructions. 

The  instructions  received  by  Dr.  MacMurchy 
work  out  as  follows  :  — 

1.  The  teacher  decides  whether  or  not  a  child 
requires  attention. 

2.  The  teacher  reports  the  names  of  tho;3  re- 
quiring attention  to  the  principal. 

3.  The  priticipal  reports  the  names  to  th? 
Chief  Inspector. 

4.  The  Chief  Inspector  decides  whether  or 
not  the  case  should  be  dealt  with  afc  all. 

5.  If  the  Chief  Inspector  decides  in  the 
affirmative  these  cases  will,  except  in  special  cir- 
cumstances, be  fii-st  investigated  by  the  stafi 
of  nurses. 

6.  The  Superintendent  of  Nurses  will  then 
report  to  the  Chief  Inspector  daily  the  cases 
which  should  be  attended  by  the  medical 
officers  when  the  names  of  the  boys  will  be 
sent  to  Dr.  Graham,  and  of  the  girls  to  Dr. 


Mac^Iurchy.  Further  cards  are  to  be  sent  to 
notify  parents  of  matters  requiring  their  atten- 
tion, the  principals  are  to  report  once  a  week  to 
the  Chief  Inspector  the  names  of  parents  to 
whom  cards  have  been  sent,  the  cases  are  to  be 
given  once  more  to  the  nui"ses  to  ascertain  what 
has  been  done,  the  nurses,  if  they  consider  it 
necessary  the  child  should  have  special  treat- 
ment, communicate  with  theiu  Superintendent, 
who  notifies  the  Chief  Inspector,  who  communi- 
cates with  a  hospital  or  dispensary,  etc. 

It  all  sounds  rather  like  Dickens'  Circum- 
locution Office,  but  the  usefulness  of  the  Medi- 
cal Inspectors  under  such  circumstances  is  not 
very  apparent. 

How  THE  System  Works. 

Dr.  MacMurchy  proceeds  to  point  out  how 
the  system  works.  She  shows  how  in  one  in- 
stance when  she  was  in  a  school  a  little  girl 
asked  the  principal  if  she  need  go  swimming 
as  it  made  her  ears  bad.  The  principal  replied, 
"  Yes,  you  must  all  go;  but  here  is  the  doctor, 
go  and  ask  her."  This  was  entirely  improper 
according  to  the  doctor's  instructions,  but  if 
she  had  waited  it  might  have  been  too  late,  as 
in  the  case  of  perforation  of  the  drum  of  the  ear 
septic  infection  and  death  might  follow  immer- 
sion. She  therefore  examined  the  child,  found 
a  perforation,  and  advised  against  the  swim- 
ming. 

Dr.  MacMm'chy  says  that  small  as'  is  the 
sum  paid  to  the  Medical  Inspectors  she  very 
much  doubts  if  the  citizens  of  Toronto  are  get- 
ting value  for  their  money.  "If,"  she  asks, 
"  the  Chief  Public  School  Inspector  and  the 
nurses  are  to  decide,  what  is  the  use  of  having 
a  doctor  at  all?"  She  further  considers  that 
in  addition  to  the  School  Medical  Officer  there 
should  be  a  leader  in  school  hygiene.  She  de- 
plores the  fact  that  an  unrivalled  opportunity 
to  provide  an  Open  Air  Piecovery  School  (the 
most  hopeful  product  of  the  school  hygiene 
movement)  has  recently  been  allowed  to  pass, 
and  says  that  the  benefit  to  delicate  children 
from  a  six  months'  stay  in  such  a  school  is 
almost  magical,  bu?  the  school  needs  careful 
medical  supervision.  She  further  points  out 
that  the  instructions  of  the  School  iledical 
Officer  do  not  afford  any  opportunity  of  real 
usefulness  to  children  needing  special  classes. 
Modern  IMovements. 

Again,  Dr.   Mac^Iurchy  writes: — 

"  Your  medical  officer  should  De  conversant 
with  the  most  recent  movements,  and  dis- 
coveries in  school  hygiene  all  over  the  world. 

To  take  a  simple  bi^t  most  important  exam- 
ple :  The  craze  for  the  removal  of  tonsils  very 
slightly  enlarged  and  small  adenoid  growths 
which  will  disappear  of  themselves  is  passing 


348 


(Tbc  Britlsb  3ournaI  of  IRurslng. 


[Oct.  29,  1910 


away.  Instead,  those  who  have  the  gift  of 
medical  and  scientific  common  sense  are  now- 
looking  out  for  the  ultimate  causes  of  obstruc- 
tion to  nasal  breathing,  and  one  has  been  dis- 
covered. 

The  Ultimate  Causes  of  Obstruction. 
"  This  discovery  is  as  simple  as  the  discovei-y 
of  America  now  seems.  Any  cause  which  tends 
to  close  the  nostrils  will  prevent  the  free  circu- 
lation of  air  in  the  nose  and  naso-pharynx.  If 
the  air  does  not  circulate  freely,  these  parts 
lack  opportunity  to  exercise  their  functions, 
and  this  favours  the  growth  of  adenoids.  Now, 
what  is  the  commonest  obstruction  in  the  nose 
of  a  httle  child?  j\lucus,  of  course.  The  child 
must  be  taught  to  use  the  handkerchief,  and 
keep  the  nose  clean.  I  have  recently  put  this 
to  the  test,  and  I  find  that  many  little  children 
with  enlarged  tonsils  and  adenoids  have  also 
an  uncared  for,  dirty  nose,  blocked  with  mucus, 
often  black,  indicating  how  long  it  has  been 
there.  This  excellent  and  sensible  idea  should 
at  once  be  made  available  to  teachers,  children, 
and  parents,  and  the  school  doctor,  if  in  touch 
with  teachers,  children,  and  parents,  is  the  one 
who  could  do  it. 

Handkerchiefs  a  Factor  in  Promoting 

Health 
"  We  may  find  out  that  the  handkerchief  is 
second  only  to  the  tooth  brush  in  promoting 
health.     It  is  in   the  many   matters  of  which 
these   are  only  examples,    that    the     medical 
officer  of  your  Board  may  justify  his  or  her 
existence — and,   incidentally,    earn  his  or  her 
salary.     But  the  instructions  do  not  contem- 
plate this. 
Medical  Eesponsieilities   Should  Not  be 
Placed  on  Schocil  Teachers. 
Moreover,   the  initial   work  and  responsi- 
bility  of  medical   inspection  should  not  rest 
as  is  apparently  intended  by  the  insti-uctions, 
upon  the  teachers,  already    hard-worked    and 
without  medical  knowledge.     Cases  of  cardiac 
disease,  of    pulmonary    disease,  of  infectious 
disease  in  a  very  early  stage,  etc.,  cannot  be 
discovered  by  anyone  except  a  physician.    Here 
is  a  case  in  point,  quoted  by  an  English  autho- 
rity.    The  school  doctor  went  into  the  class- 
room,  and  w-hile    there   said    to     tlie      head- 
mistress :  — 

"  'I  think  I  had  better  see  that  pale  httle 
girl-' 

Oh  !  '  said  the  headmistress,  '  it  is  no  use 
you  seeing  that  child.  That  family  are  all  the 
same.  They  are  starved ;  that  is  the  trouble. 
"  Nct  doubt  she  was  right  enough  about  the 
starvation.  But  when  the  school  doctor  ex- 
amined the  chest  the  poor  girl  was  found  to  be 
the  victim  of  an  incurable  and  I'apidly  fatal 
form  of  heart  disease,  and  must  have  suffered 


needless  pain  from  compulsory  school  attend- 
ance.    She  died  within  three  months." 

Lack  of  space  forbids  us  to  quote  furth-^r 
from  this  interesting  letter,  but  it  will  be 
realised  that  Dr.  Mac^Murehy  has  submitted  to 
the  Board  of  Education  a  very  expert  and  valu- 
able opinion,  and  her  patriotic  feeling  is  evi- 
denced by  the  conclusion  of  her  letter  where 
she  writes  ;  "I  was  born  a  citizen  of  Toronto, 
and  I  would  die  happier  if  I  could  think  that  I 
had  done  something  for  the  children  in  the  dear 
city  of  my  home.  .  .  I  have  laid  this  mat- 
ter before  you  because  if  I  am  to  do  my  best  for 
the  Board  of  Education  and  for  the  city  of 
Toronto  I  must  have  some  liberty  of  action." 

It  is  impossible  to  doubt  that  this  liberty  will 
be  conceded. 

(Tbe  Societv^  for  tbe  State  IReais* 
tration  of  ^rainc^  IHiu-ees. 

A  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee  of 
the  Society  for  the  State  Registration  of 
Trained  Nurses  was  held  on  Thui-sday,  20th 
inst.,  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick,  President,  in  the 
chair.  After  the  minutes  were  confinned,  the 
following  report  was  presented. 

THE  PRESIDENT'S  REPORT. 

Since  our  last  meeting  on  July  8th  your  Presi- 
dent has  addressed  meetings  of  niu-ses  at  the 
General  Hospital,  Birmingham,  the  Stobhill  Hos- 
pital, Glasgow,  the  Central  London  Sick  Asylum. 
Hendon,  and  the  Central  London  Sick  Asylum, 
Cleveland  Street,  AV.,  and  on  each  occasion  the 
audiences  expressed  themselves  as  very  interested 
and  sympathetic. 

The  Pbess. 

A  considerable  amount  of  interest  has  been 
aroused  in  the  press  on  the  Registration  question. 
A  prolonged  correspondence  has  been  published 
in  the  Gla.'tgoir  H(  raid  and  the  Scofsinan  chiefly  in 
relation  to  the  registration  of  Fever  Nurses:  and 
the  Birm'ingli'im  Daily  Gazctfc  also  published  a 
sympathetic  article  on  the  question,  followed  by 
some  correspondence.  The  admirable  article  in 
the  Forfni/ikflij  liciucw  in  July  by  the  Hon.  Al- 
binia  Brodrick,  entitled  "  Thou  Shalt  do  no  Mur- 
der," was  a  most  convincing  argument  in  favour 
of  State  Registration,  the  weight  of  which  may 
be  estimated  by  the  hostile  criticism  to  which  tha 
article  has  been  subjected. 

The  yinp.tcriitli  Century  and  After  for  August 
containetl  an  article  by  Lord  Ampthill  ably  sum- 
marising the  articles  by  your  President  and  tlie 
Hon.  Sydney  Holland  which  appeared  in  the  two 
previous  issues,  proving  with  convincing  logic  the 
case  for  State  Registration. 

Support  of  British  Medical  Association. 

At  the  Annual   Representative  Meeting   of   the 
British    Medical    .Vssocintion,    held    in    London    in 
July,  the  following  Resolution   was  moved  by  Dr.  . 
E.   W.    Goodall,   seconded   by   Sir   Victor    Horsloy, 
and  carried  nem  eon. 


Oct.   -J'.",   I'.an 


tTbc  36riti6b  3ournaI  of  IHursino. 


349 


"  Tliat  this  iiUH.'tiut;  ot  tlu-  Koi)roseutatives  ot 
the  British  Medical  Association  re-affiiius  its 
opinion  tliat  the  State  Registration  of  Trained 
Nurses  is  desirable,  and  ai)|)rovt's  of  the  Bill 
which  has  recently  been  intr<KluccHl  by  the  Right 
Hon.  U.  C.  Munro  Ferguson,  and  that  a  copy  of 
this  Resolution  be  forwarded  to  the  Prime  Minis- 
ter and  the  President  of  the  Local  Government 
Board.'" 

This  is  the  fourth  occasion  on  which  the  British 
Medical  Association  has  passed  a  Resolution  in 
support  of  State  Registration  of  Nurses  at  an  An- 
nual Meeting. 

The  Central  Registr.\tion  Committee. 

In  connection  with  letters  from  the  Intirmarr 
Medical  Superintendents'  Society,  the  Convention 
of  Royal  Burghs,  and  on  behalf  of  the  Medical 
Officers  of  Health  iu  Scotland,  in  relation  to  points 
in  the  Nurses'  Registration  Bill,  of  which  they 
desired  alteration  or  ameudmeut,  these  letters 
were  brought  before  a  small  meeting  of  members 
deputed  to  attend  by  the  societies  affiliated  to  the 
Central  Registration  Committee.  It  was  de- 
cided that  the  letters  should  be  considered  by 
the  whole  Committee,  and  it  is  probable  that  a 
meeting  will  be  held  at  the  end  of  this  month  for 
this  purpose. 

ReGISTR.WIOX   in   An8TBAL.4SI.\. 

At  the  recent  annual  meeting  of  the  Royal  Vic- 
torian Trained  Nurses'  Association  the  following 
Resolution  was  proposed  by  Dr.  R.  H.  Fetherston, 
and  carried  unanimously:  — 

■■  That  the  Association  is  in  favour  of  Regis- 
tration by  the  State  of  Nurses;  iind,  if  carried, 
that  the  Council  take  such  steps  as  it  may  think 
necessary  to  give  effect  to  the  above." 

In  proposing  the  Resolution  Dr.  Fetherston 
quoted  a  letter  which  he  had  received  from  Miss 
H.  ilaclean,  Assistant  Inspector  of  Hospitals  and 
Registrar  in  New   Zealand,   who  wrote:  — 

"  My  opinion  formed  after  three  years'  work  in 
New  Zealand,  is  that  a  good  Registration  Act  for 
Nurses,  providing  for  professional  (both  medical  and 
surgicall  demonstration,  is  the  best  thing  that  can 
be  devised  for  improvement  in  their  own  status  and 
in  their  usefulness  to  the  public ;  that  this  legal 
recognition,  though  not  so  necessary  where  volun- 
tary associations  have  accomplished  so  much  in. 
Australia,  yet  would  give  a  stability  and  a  certainty 
to  the  pix)fession  which  can  be  obtained  in  no 
other  way." 

Miss  Madge  Jones,  who  seconded  the  Resolu- 
tion, said  that  the  New  Zealand  nurses  whom  slie 
had  met  has  spoken  most  enthusiastically  of  State 
Registration. 

As  the  Australasian  Trained  Nurses'  Association 
is  already  promoting  a  Bill  in  New  South  AVales 
with  the  same  object,  it  seems  likely  that,  before 
long,  the  Commonwealth  of  Australia  will  be 
added  to  those  countries  which  have  organised  the 
education  and  regi-straiion  of  nurses  under  the 
authority  of  the  -State. 

Imperial  Memorial  to   Miss   Nightingale. 

In  connection  with  a  Scheme  for  an  Imperial 
Memorial  to  Miss  Florence  Nightingale,  to  be 
considered  at  a  meeting  at  Grosvenor  House  on 
the  28th   inst.,   it   is   proi^osed  to   raise   a  fund  to 


rendi'r  pi-cuiiiary  assistance  to  aged  or  incapaci- 
tated nurses.  The  f;ict  that  Mi.ss  Nightingale  de- 
voted the  fund  raised  by  the  Nation  after  the 
Crimean  War,  as  a  memorial  of  her  services,  to 
the  foundation  of  the  Nightingale  Training  School 
for  Nurses  at  St.  Thomas's  Hospital— wli^ch  was 
organised  on  a  sound  financial  basis,  the  proba- 
tioners paying  for  their  own  training — proves  that 
her  chief  interest  was  in  the  dii'cH-tion  of  nursing 
education.  It  will  be  very  regrettable,  therefore, 
if  tlK-  present  opiwrtunity  is  missed,  and  the  fund 
rai.sed  is  devoted  to  a  philanthropic  scheme,  which 
we  may  hope  will,  in  the  future,  touch  an  infini- 
tesimal number  of  indigent  nurses,  rather  than  to 
evolving  a  comprehensive  scheme  for  the  exten- 
sion of  nursing  education,  and  which  would,  in 
consequence,  improve  the  economic  condition  of 
the  whole  nursing  profession,  thus  retaining  the 
spirit  of  Miss  -Nightingale's  great  work  for 
humanity,  and  for  the  nursing  profession. 
Nurses'  Memori.u,  to  Miss  Nightingale. 
There  is  apparently  a  concensus  of  opinion 
amongst  nurses  that  a  "Nurses'  Memorial"  to 
the  Founder  of  their  Profession  should  be  raised, 
and  that  it  should  take  the  form  of  a  beautiful 
statue  to  be  erected  in  a  prominent  position  i:i 
London,  the  Metropolis  of  the  Empire. 

Loss  to  the  SociEir. 

I  have  to  record  with  great  regret  the  death  of 
Dr.  William  Berry,  of  Wigau,  for  many  years  a 
Vice-President  of   this  Society. 

After  the  adoption  of  the  Eeport,  a  discus- 
siou  ensued  on  the  question  of  a  ilemorial  to 
Miss  Nightingale,  and  the  following  Resolution 
was  passed  unanimouslj",  the  Hon.  Secretary 
being  requested  to  forward  a  copy  of  it  to  the 
Hon.  Secretary  of  the  proposed  Imperial 
ilemorial. 

Resolution. 

"  The  Executive  Committee  of  the  Society  tor 
the  State  Registration  of  Trained  Nui«es,  com- 
X>rising  nearly  3,000  certificated  matrons  and 
nurses,  considers  that  any  Imperial  Memorial  to 
the  late  Miss  Florence  Nightingale,  O.M.,  the 
Founder  of  Professional  Nursing,  might  appro- 
priately inoorpoiiate  a  scheme  for  the  extension  ot 
nureing  education,  and  in  consequence  for  the  im- 
provement of  the  economic  position  of  the  whole 
nui-sing  iMofession,  rather  than  lor  the  establish- 
ment of  any  scheme  of  a  philanthropic  nature, 
which,  it  may  be  hoi)ed,  would  only  benefit  a  few  in- 
dividual nurses. 

"  This  Committee  considers  that  Miss  Nightin- 
gale's claim  to  the  gratitude  of  the  world  is  based 
uiKJii  her  genius  as  a  scientific  e<lucationalist. 

'■  The  financial  relief  of  indigent  nurses,  an  object 
admirable  in  itself,  might  well  l)e  extended  by  in- 
creased support  of  existing  societies  having  this 
philanthropic  object." 

Tiie  Committee  expressed  itself  in  favour  of 
supporting  a  scheme  for  the  erection  of  a 
statue  of  Miss  Xightingale  in  London  as  a 
Xurses"  Memorial,  and  i^  it  was  not  adopted 
bv  committees  having  the  finatter  of  memorials 


350 


Zbc  Britisb  3outnaI  of  IRursfng. 


[Oct.  29,  1910 


in  hand,  it  was  decided  to  call  a  meeting  of 
trained  nurees  to  carry  it  out. 

A  Hegistration  Eeunion. 
The  President  proposed  that  a  Social  Ee- 
union in  support  of  the  Bill  for  the  State  Re- 
gistration of  Nurses  should  be  held  in  London 
just  before  the  opening  of  Parhament,  1911, 
and  that  the  Central  Eegistration  of  Nurses 
Committee  be  approached  upon  the  matter  at 
its  forthcoming  meeting  in  November.  Owing 
to  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  a  suite  of  rooms 
sufficiently  large  for  the  purpose  without  some 
months'  notice,  the  President  had  upon  her 
own  initiative  taken  steps  to  secure  the  mag- 
nificent Connaught  Eooms  in  Great  Queen 
Street,  W.C,  built  upon  the  site  of  the  old 
Freemasons'  Tavern,  which  are  most  centrally 
and  conveniently  situated  for  such  a  purpose, 
for  a  date  early  in  February.  It  was  agreed 
that  the  Committee  would  do  all  in  its  power 
to  co-operate  fvith  others  to  make  the  occasion 
a  great  success. 

Votes  of  Thanks. 
Votes  of  thanks  were  passed  to  Lord 
Ampthill,  for  his  admirable  article  in  the 
Nineteenth  Century  and  After;  and  to  Mr. 
Wray-Skilbeck,  the  Editor,  for  his  courtesy 
in  granting  most  valuable  space  in  the  leading 
Eeview,  in  three  successive  issues,  for  the  dis- 
cussion of  the  question  of  State  Eegistration 
•of  Nurses. 

New  Members. 
The  following  new  members  were  elected  :  — 
Xo.  Name.  Where  Trained. 

2907     Miss  M.  L.  Muriel,  cert.,  St.  Bartholomew's 
Hosp. ;  Assistant  Matron,    Queen  Victoria 
Nursing   Institution,  Wolverhampton. 
Miss  M.  Atkey,  cert.,  Guy's  Hosp;   Matron, 

Newport  and  Monmouth  Hospital. 
Miss  M.  G.  Williams,  cert..  New  Infirmary, 

Burnley. 
Miss  G.   Button,     cert.,     Wandsworth   Inf., 

Matron,  Cottage  Hosp.,  Ashburton. 
Miss  F.  M.  Hughes,  cert..  Royal  Devon  and 

Exeter  Hosp. 
Miss  F.  Brindley,  cert.,  Mile  End  Inf. 
Miss  L.  M.   Bauchope,  cert.,  Hackney  Inf. 
Miss  S.  L.  Heppel,  cert.,  St.  Mary's  Inf. 
Miss  H.  M.  Perkins,    cert.,    Ingham     Inf., 

South   Shields. 
Miss  E.  S.  Holt,  cert.,   St.  Pancras  Inf. 
Miss  C.  Speer,  cert..  Hackney  Inf. 
Miss   M.    Haslett,   cert.,  Crumpsall  Inf. 
Mies  M.   A.  E.  Gavin,  cert.,  Lewisham  Inf. 
Miss  I.  Haslett,  cert.,  Crumpsall  Inf. 
Miss  M.  Jackson,   cert.,  ,,         ,, 

Miss  E.   E.   Hansford,    cert.,    St.     George's 
-     Inf.,  S.W. 
Miss  K.  M.  Vant,  cert..  Royal  South  Hants 

ll<psp..  S(jiithanipton. 
Miss   K.    E.    Hayes,  cert.,   Croydon  Inf. 
Miss  K.  H.  Allardyce,  cert., Royal  Inf., Edin- 
burgh ;  Matron,  H.M.  Prison,  Glasgow. 


2908 

2909 

2910 

2911 

2912 
2913 
2914 
2915 


2916 
2917 
2918 
2919 
2920 
2921 
2922 

292.3 

2924 
2925 


2926  Miss  M.  C.  R.  Bere,  cert.,  St.  Bartholomew's 

Hosp. 

2927  Miss  F.  E.  S.  Roberts,    cert.,  Metropolitan 

Hosp.,  N.E. ;  Lady  Superintendent,  Crip- 
ples' Home,  Surbiton. 

2928  Miss  H.  Ison,  cert..  Queen's  Hosp.,  Birming- 

ham. 

2929  Miss  E.  Ellis,  cert.,  „  „  „ 

2930  Miss  E.   M.  Pollard,  cert.,  „  „ 

2931  Miss  L.  Pumphrey,  cert.  „  ,, 

Assistant  Matron. 

2932  Miss  A.  R.  Todd,  cert.       „  „  „ 

2933  Miss  M.  E.  Cox,  cert.,       „  „  „ 

2934  Miss  G.   Smith,  cert.,       „ 

2935  Miss  M.   Lokier  „  „  „ 

2936  Miss  E.  L.  Haines,  cert.,  ,,  „ 

2937  Miss  J.   Johnston,  cert.,  ,,  „ 

2938  Miss  D.   Jones,   cert.,       ,,  ,,  „ 

2939  Miss  E.   Lindsay,  cert.,     ,,  „  „ 

2940  Miss  E.  M.  Bradshaw,  cert.,        „  ,, 

2941  Miss  E.  Phillips,  cert.,  Rotherham  Hosp. 

2942  Miss  C.  A.  Evans,  cert.,  St.  Mary's  Hosp. 

2943  Miss  A.   M.    Mayhew,    cert.,    St.    Bartholo- 

mew's Hosp. ;    Assistant  Matron,  Alexan- 
dra Hosp.,  Queen  Stiuare. 

2944  Miss  A.     E.    King,    cert..    County    Hosp., 

Lincoln. 

2945  Miss  A.   M.  Richford,   cert..  King's  College 

Hosp. 

2946  Miss  E.  C.  Humphrev,  cert.,         ,,  ., 

2947  Miss  D.    M.    Tuthill,   cert.,   The    Infirmary, 

Kidderm'inster. 

2948  Miss  L.  France,  cert..  Central  London  Sick 

Asylum,  Cleveland  Street,  W. 

2949  Miss  M.  Punchard,  cert.,  ,,  ,, 

2950  Miss  R.  J.  Smith,  cert.,  ,, 

2951  Miss  E.  Hill,   cert., 

2952  Miss  E.    Tippell,  cert.,     ,, 

29.53     Miss  M.  A.  G.  Mitchell,  cert.,  Dumfries  and 

Galloway  Royal  Inf. 
2954     Miss  E.  Brooke,  cert..  Central  London  Sick 

Asylum,  Cleveland  Street,  W. 
29-55     Miss  R.    Punchard,   cert..   Central    London 

Sick  Asylum,  Hendon. 
29.56     Miss  A.  S.   Brown,  cert.  ,,  ,,  ,, 

The  meeting  then  teiTiiinated. 

Marg.\ret  Breay, 

Hon.  Secretary. 


MORE  SCHOOL  NURSES  NEEDED. 

The  Eduration  Committee  of  the  London 
County  Council,  in  their  report  to  that  body  on 
Monday  last,  recommended  that  28  additional 
school  doctors  should  be  added  to  the  rota, 
bringing  the  staff  up  to  100.  This  Committee 
also  pointed  out  that  the  increase  in  the  num- 
ber of  doctors  would  involve  an  increase  in  the 
number  of  nurses,  that  the  present  nursing 
staff  consists  of  a  Superintendent,  two  Assist- 
ants to  the  Superintendent,  and  69  School 
Nurses.  After  careful  consideration  of  their 
existing  duties  they  considered  that  20  addi- 
tional nurses  were  necessary. 


Oct.  20,  1910] 


Zbc  3Briti5b  3oiirnal  of  IRursino. 


351 


IPl*opao^n^a  Ln:  poster. 

Our  morning  papers  prove  to  us  daily  how 
much  information  can  be  conveyed  in  an  at- 
tractive form  by  means  of  j)ictures,  and  espe- 
cially is  this  the  ease  with  illiterate  people  and 
children,  as  nurees  are  well  aware.  The 
National  Association  for  the  Prevention  of  Con- 
sumption, 20,  Hanover  Square,  London,  W., 
have  utilised  this  method  of  instruction  xo  fur- 
ther their  propaganda,  and  by  the  courtesy  of 
Messrs.  David  Allen  and  Sous,  Ltd.,  of  Weald- 
stone,  we  are  able  to  reproduce  a  beautiful 
poster,  of  which  the  central  figure  is  an  adap- 
tion of  Sir  Joshua  Eeynolds"  celebrated  figure 


German  IRursimj  in  tfce  Hrm^ 
anb  IRavv 

Bv  SiSTF.K  Agnes  Kaull, 
President,  German  Xurses'  Association. 


of  "  Faith."  This  is  designed  to  aid  the  educa- 
tional cmsade  of  the  National  Association,  and 
also  to  appeal  for  funds  to  continue  the  work 
of  the  Special  Appeal  Committee.  The  poster 
measures  10  feet  by  7  feet  6  inches,  and  Messrs. 
Allen  have  undertaken  to  provide  30,000  at 
cost  price.  The  London  Billstickers'  Protec- 
tion Association,  with  the  United  Bill  Posters' 
Association,  are  also  giving  valuable  aid  for 
three  or  six  months.  The  handling  of  these 
bills,  weighing  several  tons  of  paper,  cut  into 
some  millions  of  sheets,  is  a  tremendous  under- 
taking, and  the  value  of  the  space  at  the  posting 
stations   represents   a  huge  sum. 


{Concluded  from  Page.  330.) 

Of  course  it  is  the  part  which  the  trained, 
nurse  takes  in  the  nursing  of  the  sick  in  the 
amiy  and  navy  which  particularly  interests  our 
Congress.  We  find  that  this  has  constantly 
increased  since  the  foundation  was  laid,  during 
the  great  wars,  by  the  Red  Cross. 

At  such  times  the  help  of  voluntary,  un- 
trained nurses  proved  so  unsatisfactory,  in 
spite  of  the  excellent  work  done  by  many,  that 
since  then  a  comprehensive  organisation  was 
founded,  whose  centre  was  the  Central  Com- 
mittee of  the  Pied  Cross  in  Berlin,  which  has 
subdivisions  all  over  the  country. 

Preparation  of  all  the  nursing  system — of  the 
men  and  civil  assistants,  of  the  inland  lazarets, 
in  which,  in  Prussia  alone,  there  are  24,000 
beds,  and  the  organisation  of  the  trained 
women  nurses — these  are  its  duties,  for  which 
the  Prussian  division  has  in  reserve  a  sum  of 
li  million  of  marks.  The  Committee  places 
about  3,000 — 3,500  trainednui-ses  at  the  army's 
disposal,  in  case  of  war,  to  which  may  be  added 
about  1,-500 — 2,000  assistant  nurses,  who  have 
acquired  some  theoretical  and  practical  know- 
ledge in  courses  of  6-13  weeks. 

To  these  we  must  add,  besides,  about  1,500 
Johauniter  Sisters  and  about  1,500  women 
members  of  the  ^Maltese  Order,  who,  together 
with  the  Bavarian  Knights  of  St.  George,  do 
helpful  work  in  military  and  civil  nursing, 
during  times  of  peace  or  war,  either  by  found- 
ing hospitals  or  organising  the  training  of  their 
Sisters  in  those  hospitals  or  in  Deaconess 
houses.  L'p  to  now  this  training  has  lasted  six 
months  for  the  Sisters  belonging  to  those- 
Orders,  they  being  also  obliged  to  act  as  sub- 
stitutes at  least  six  weeks  everj-  year.  After 
that  period  of  training  many  devoted  them- 
selves altogether  to  hospital  work;  at  any  rate, 
all  these  Sisters  were  required  never  to  receive 
payment  for  their  work,  with  the  exception  of 
!Mk.  20,  monthly  pocket-money;  they  were, 
however,  always  expected  to  work  for  the 
common  good. 

The  number  of  Sisters  who  have  appoint- 
meints  in  the  army  is  not  great.  The  excellent 
work  which  Roman  Catholic  Order  Sisters  did 
in  the  war  of  1864  led  to  their  lasting  appbint- 
ment  in  JMiinster,  in  two  Berlin  lazarets  in 
1871,  and  in  Coblenz  and  in  Cologne. 

*  Presented  to  the  International  Congiess  of 
Nurses,  London,  1909. 


352 


^be  Britlsb  3ournal  of  IRurstng. 


'Oct.  29,  1910 


Since  then  in  ten  more  lazarets  there  are  be- 
sides these  46  Eoman  Cathohc  Sisters,  of  whom 
six  have  the  management  of  the  kitchen,  30 
Protestant  Deaconesses,  and  in  two  places  o 
Red  Cross  Sisters. 

Recently  the  army  created  a  new  institu- 
tion, "  Anny  Sisters,"  of  whom  already  44  are 
appointed,  and  whose  number  will  be  raised  as 
soon  as  possible  to  80.  These  Army  Sisters 
belong  chiefly  to  different  Red  Cross  mother 
houses,  to  which  the  anny  pays  corresponding 
sums  for  the  supply  of  Sisters :  for  Eoman 
Catholic  Order  Sisters  150  to  300  marks 
annually.  The  Eoman  Catholic  and  Deaconess 
Sisters  wear  the  unifonns  of  their  mother 
houses  in  the  lazarets :  only  the  AiTny  Sisters 
have  received  military  unifomi,  which,  it  is 
thought,  renders  the  maintenance  of  discipline 
easier  for  Sisters  not  belonging  to  Religious 
Orders.  The  authorities  have  been  kind  enough 
to  lend  this  uniform  for  our  exhibition. 

Up  till  now  the  navy  has  not  yet  availed 
itself  of  the  help  of  Sisters  in  its  eight  home 
lazarets  or  in  the  lazarets  on  board  the  men 
of  war. 

In  the  foreign  lazarets  it  has,  in  Yokohama, 
Japanese  men  nurses,  in  the  Government 
lazaret  of  Tsingtau  four  Sisters  of  the  Colonial 
Nursing  Association,  which  in  Gemian  colonies 
supphes  the  lazarets  and  hospitals  with  42 
Sisters  in  all. 

But  in  our  principal  military-  ports  the  navy 
has  appointed  one  Sister  at  each  to  help  the 
doctors  in  the  care  of  the  crew's  families.  A 
similar  airangement  has  also  been  made  by  the 
military  parishes  in  many  garrisons,  by  which 
Deaconesses  and  also  professional  nurses  are 
appointed  for  the  nursing  of  the  men's  families. 

The  families  which  come  under  their  care 
principally  belong  to  the  married  non-commis- 
sioned officers  and  military  officials.  These 
Sisters,  too,  are  often  called  in  by  the  doctors 
to  help  in  the  lazarets. 


fbocfic^  an&  Ibealtb. 

Have  you  ever  sllu  nurses  play  a  game  of 
hockey?  If  not,  try  to  do  so,  it  is  a  hopeful 
sight.  Twenty-two  bi-ight  young  \Vomen,  full 
of  vigorous  purpose,  gaiety,  and  good  temper, 
sensibly,  yet  picturesquely,  dressed  for  the 
part,  contesting  every  stroke  of  an  opponent, 
and  as  eager  for  victory  as  if  the  universe  de- 
pended -tipou  it,  keenness  and  self-control  in 
evidence,  commendable  attributes  and  sure 
sources  of  success,  whatever  the  object  for 
which  they  are  exercised. 

.\t  Finsbur}-  Park  on  ^londay  last  a  match 
wiks  played  Ixfween  teams  of  nurses  from  the 


Western  Hospital,  Fulham  (where  the  Matron, 
!Miss  Eoss,  is  a  great  advocate  for  healthy  out- 
door sports  for  women)  and  the  Xorth-Eastem 
Hospital. 

The  teams  were  composed  as  follows:  — 

North-Eastern  Hospital :  Misses  MacCay 
(Captain),  Derham,  Bellerby,  Holt,  Hall, 
Blandford,  Roberts,  Richardson,  Rookley, 
Smith,  and  Richard. 

Western  Hospital :  blisses  Goodman  (Cap- 
tain), Partridge,  Holliday,  Hams,  Keen,  Torr, 
White,  Brooks,  Barber,  Cass,  and  Clough. 

The  teams  wore  their  distinctive  unifonns. 
The  North-Eastern  dark  blue  skirts  trimmed 
with  red  braid,  white  woollen  blouses,  and  red 
ties  and  belts ;  the  Western  the  same  dress 
with  yellow  as  their  distinctive  colour. 

Dr.  Gofie  acted  as  umpire,  and  the  game 
was  well  contested  from  start  to  finish,  both 
sides  being  very  keen.  The  victors,  however, 
showed  the  better  combination. 

During  the  second  half  of  the  game  the  Wes- 
tern forwards  frequently  attacked,  but  the 
sound  defence  of  the  North-Eastem  backs  frus- 
trated their  efforts.  Misses  Hams,  Barber, 
Keen,  and  Goodman  were  prominent  on  the 
Western  side.  INIisses  Bellerby,  Holt,  Bland- 
ford,  and  Richardson  played  well  for  the  North 
Eastern. 

The  North-Eastern  Hospital  won  by  5  goals 
to  nil. 

.\t  the  end  of  the  game  the  teams  took 
tea  in  Seven  Sisters  Road,  together  with 
Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  and  Miss  Ross,  who  had 
been  specially  invited  to  see  the  match.  Dr. 
Gofle  said  all  sorts  of  kind  and  llattering  things, 
and  Mrs.  Fenwick,  in  expressing  thanks  for  the 
courtesy  extended  to  her,  said  how  greatly  she 
had  enjoyed  the  invigorating  sight  of  so  much 
skill  and  energy  upon  the  part  of  the  players — 
how  necessan'  it  had  become  for  workers  whose 
arduous  duties  necessitated  so  much  mental 
strain  and  effort — to  seek  healthy  physical  re- 
lief in  outdoor  exercise  and  games  of  skill. 
Mrs.  Fenwick  hoped  that,  following  in  the 
steps  of  men  students,  the  nurses  would  soon 
be  found  taking  an  increased  interest  in 
healthy  recreation,  and  that  the  Leagues  of 
Nurees  would  receive  every  encouragement 
from  the  ]\Iatrons  of  hospitals  to  do  so.  To 
maintain  a  just  equilibrium  between  healthy 
mental  and  physical  development  games  for 
nurses  should  receive  organised  consideration. 
In  conclusion,  Mrs.  Fenwick  spoke  a  word  in 
season :  Let  all  trained  nurs'?s  come  out  and 
support  just  professional  legislation ;  once 
niu-sing  was  a  legalised  profession,  registered 
nurses  through  co-operation  would  have  a  fine 
and  expansive  future  before  them. 


Oct.  29,  1910] 


JTbc  British  3ournaI  of  IRursinG. 


353 


^\K  IRiirt-ct?'  nDcmoiial  to  Ikino 
)e^\val•^  the  Scvcntb. 


We  regret  that  the  followiug  paragraph  was 
received  last  week  too  late  for  insertion:  — 

"  A  meeting  of  Matrons,  representing  the 
nursing  profession  in  London  and  the  provinces, 
was  held  at  \Yestminster  Hospital  on  Tuesday, 
October  18th,  to  consider  the  proposed  Nurses' 
Memorial  to  King  Edward  VII. 

"  Sir  Everard  Hambro  (Chairman  of  the 
Eoyal  National  Pension  Fund),  attended  the 
meeting  and  explained  his  scheme  for  the 
establishment  of  King  Edward  the 
Seventh  Homes  for  Nurses  no  longer 
able  to  work.  After  it  was  ascer- 
tained from  Sir  Everard  Hambro  that  his 
scheme  was  intended  to  include  all  nurses, 
whether  policy  holders  or  not,  the  meeting 
decided  to  do  all  in  their  power  to  further  the 
scheme  propounded,  and  steps  will  immediately 
be  taken  to  communicate  with  all  interested  to 
this  efifect. 

"  Stipulation  is  made  that  those  entitled  to 
share  in  the  benefits  of  these  Homes  should  be 
in  a  position  to  support  themselves  while  in 
the  Homes,  as  it  is  not  thought  advisable  to 
establish  almshouses.  The  charges  for  rooms 
will  be  fixed  at  the  discretion  of  the  Committee, 
and  will  be  made  as  low  as  is  consistent  with 
the  self-supporting  principle  of  the  scheme. 

"  It  was  also  settled  that  this  Committee  will 
be  entitled  to  nominate  representatives  to 
serve  upon  the  Committee  of  Management  of 
the  Homes." 

Since  we  received  this  paragraph  our  repre- 
sentative has  interviewed  the  Acting  Hon.  Sec- 
retaiy,  Miss  Mabel  Cave,  Matron  of  the  West- 
minster Hospital,  who  kindly  furnished  the  fol- 
lowing information. 

The  Committee  is  at  present  formed  of  the 
following  Matrons  and  others: — Miss  Hamil- 
ton (St.  Thomas's),  Miss  Haughton 
'  (Guy's),  Miss  Mcintosh  (St.  Bartholomew's), 
Miss  Eay  (King's),  iMiss  Cave  (Westminster), 
Miss  McCall  Anderson  (St.  George's),  Miss 
Heather-Bigg  (Charing  Cross),  Miss  Pinch 
(University),  Miss  Davies  (St.  Mary's),  ]Miss 
Cox-Uavies  (Eoyal  Free),  Miss  Lloyd  Still 
(Middlesex).  ^liss  Morgan  (Northern  Hospital, 
M.A.B.),  Miss  Vincent  (late  Matron,  ^laryle- 
bone  Infirmary),  Miss  Becher  (Matron-in- 
Chief,  Q.A.I.M^N.S.),  Miss  Stansfeld  (Chief 
W"oman  Inspector  Local  Government.  Board), 
Miss  Swift  (late  Matron  of  Guy's),  Mrs.  Lucas 
(Nurses'  Co-operation),  Mrs.  Minet  and  Miss 
Peterkin  (Q.V.J.I.),  ^Miss  Eogers  (Leicester), 
Miss  Musson  (Birmingham),   Miss    Sparshott 


(^Manchester),  Miss  Bailey  (Bristol),  Miss  Her- 
uert  (Worcester),  and  Miss  Gill  (Edinburgh). 

In  reply  to  an  enquiry  as  to  whether  th3 
public  would  be  asked  to  subscribe,  Miss  Cav«> 
replied  that  donations  from  the  public  would 
not  be  refused;  it  was  probable  that  they 
would  be  invited. 

In  regard  to  the  charge  for  rooms,  she  state! 
that  this  must  depend  upon  the  funds  in  the 
hands  of  the  Committee,  but  it  was  hoped  to 
make  a  low  charge,  and  to  provide  a  central 
kitchen  from  which  food  could  be  obtained  at 
cost  price. 

The  Committee  knew  so  many  nurses  who 
were  living  on  10s.  a  week  that  it  was  thought 
it  would  be  very  helpful  if  they  could  be  pro- 
vided with  comfortable  rooms  at  a  low  cost. 
The  scheme  would  be  administered  from  th3 
Pension  Fund  Ofiice,  representatives  of  the 
present  Committee  being  appointed  to  work 
with  members  of  the  Committee  of  the  Fimi. 
Miss  Cave  was  particularly  anxious,  however, 
for  it  to  be  understood  that  participation  in  the 
scheme  would  not  be  confined  to  policy  holders 
in  the  E.N.P.F. 

On  enquiry  as  to  the  method  by  which  the 
recent  meeting  represented  the  nursing  profes- 
sion, as  many  Societies  and  Leagues  of  Nurses 
had  so  far  not  been  consulted,  Miss  Cave  said 
that  the  scheme  was  still  in  its  infancy,  and 
seemed  to  think  that  the  hurses  in  these 
societies  would  be  approached  through  the 
Matrons  of  their  respective  hospitals.  The 
Matrons  were  now  acquainted  with  the 
scheme,  and  would,  no  doubt,  put  it 
before  them. 

In  regard  to  the  localities  in  which  Homes 
would  be  provided,  ^liss  Cave  mentioned 
London  and  Edinburgh  as  probable  centres  at 
first.  Ireland  had  so  far  not  come  into  line,  as 
it  had  its  own  scTieme.  The  extension  of  the 
Homes  depended  upon  the  funds  at  the  com- 
mand of  the  Committee. 


IHurscs'  Social  Union. 

By  the  kindness  of  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Wyatt- 
Edgell,  a  meeting  was  recently  held  at  Cowley 
House  to  start  a  branch  of  the  Nurses'  Social 
Union  for  Exeter  and  district.  Lady  Acland 
was  in  the  chair.  Miss  Eden,  the  central  or- 
ganiser, from  Taunton,  gave  a  most  interesting 
address  on  the  work  and  aims  of  the  Union. 
This  was  followed  by  tea,  and  an  entertain- 
ment given  by  Miss  Wyatt-Edgell's  Moms 
dancers.  A  most  enjoyable  afternoon  '  was 
spent.  Eighteen  nurses  sent  in  their  names  as 
wishing  to  join.  A  committee  was  formed, 
with  Miss  Alice  Saundei-s*  of  The  Cottage, 
Alphington,  as  hen.  secretary. 


354 


^be  56ritlsb  3onrnal  oi  IRursing. 


[Oct.  29,  1910 


^bc   florencc    IRiobtinoalc 
fTDcmovial. 


Xo  little  confusion  has  arisen  in  the  public 
mind  between  the  separate  committees  -n-hich 
are  taking  action  in  promoting  memorials  to 
the  late  Miss  Florence  Nightingale — that  pro- 
moted by  Mr.  J.  G.  Wainwright,  Treasurer  of 
St.  Thomas's  Hospital,  and  another  by  Miss 
Ethel  McCaul.  We  may  say  at  once  that  we 
consider  the  authorities  of  St.  Thomas's  Hos- 
pital have  a  prescriptive  right  owing  to  their 
intimate  association  with  Aliss  Nightingale 
through  her  School  of  Nursing  attached  to  the 
hospital,  to  organise  a  suitable  memorial,  and 
that,  it  is  a  pity  to  divide  the  public  int-erest 
and  subscriptions  in  support  of  two  separate 
schemes. 

The  Nurses'  Memorial. 

On    August    19th    Mr.   David    Williamson, 
writing  from  the  National  Liberal  Club,  sug- 
gested   that   a   public   monument    should     be . 
erected  in  London. 

"  Except,"  he  says,  "  for  a  few  statues  of  Queen 
Victoria  and  Queen  Alexandra,  there  has  been 
hardly  any  commemoration  of  the  noble  women  of 
our  day.  '  Sister  Dora  '  has  a  statue  in  the  Nortli 
of'  England.  Why  should  not  Florence  Nightin- 
gale stand  in  the  i)oetry  of  marble  to  inspire  a 
future  generation  to  an  emulation  of  her  great 
deeds  as  a  pioneer  ? 

"  In  America  a  statue  of  Frances  "VVillard  was  un- 
veiled recently,  and  in  France  and  Germany  there 
are  fine  memorials  of  women.  Let  us  erect  a  statue 
to  Florence  Nightingale,  if  possible  near  to  St. 
Thomas's  Hospital,  where  she  founded  her  nursing 
institute.  There  will  be  monuments  of  her,  doubt- 
less, in  St.  Paul's  or  Westminster  Abbey.  But 
we  ought  to  give  the  Londoners  of  the  future — and, 
indeed,  the  world  which  comes  to  the  centre  of  the 
Empire — the  chance  of  looking  on  a  permanent 
presentment  of  one  of  the  greatest  women  who 
have  blessed  our  Empire." 

This  suggestion  was  that  already  privately 
approved  by  many  nurses,  who  wished  to  erect 
their  own  Memorial  to  the  Founder  of  their 
Profession.  The  proposal  made  by  the  Hon. 
Sydney  Holland  that  the  vacant  pedestal  in 
Trafalgar  Square  should  be  utilised  for  this 
purpose,  could  not  be  improved  upon. 

Mn.  Waixwhight's  Proposal. 

In  his  first  letter  to  the  press  on  August  29th 
Mr.  Wainwright  wrote: — "  There  seems  to  be 
an  almost  utumimous  feeling  existent  that  the 
best  way  of  honouring  so  dear  a  memory  as 
that  we  treasure  for  our  late  chief  is  the  foun- 
dation of  a  fund  for  the  assistance  of  trained 
nurses." 

In  the  Evriiliuj  Shmdnrd  of  8th  September, 
Mr.  Wainwright  is  reported  to  have  said,  "  We 


do  not  want  to  spend  the  money  we  get  in 
marble."  .  .  .  My  own  idea  is  to  form  a 
fund  which  will  assist  nurses  who  have  fallen 
upon  bad  times,  and  which  will .  also  provide 
money  for  the  educational  propaganda  that  is 
going  on.  .  .  We  want  something  which 
will  act  as  a  permanent  benefit  to  trained 
nurses,  and  I  expect  the  ultimate  decision  of 
the  Coinmittee  will  be  very  much  on  the  lines 
I 'have  advocated." 

On  October  20th  Mr.  Wainwright  communi- 
cated to  the  Press  the  names  of  his  Committee, 
which  is  composed  of  the  majority  of  the  Chair- 
men and  Matrons  of  the  ^letropolitan  hospi- 
tals with  medical  schools  attached,  the  heads 
of  the  medical  and  nursing  departments  of  the 
Navy  and  Army,  and  a  few  others,  and  an- 
nounced that  the  fh'st  meeting  of  the  Commit- 
tee will  be  held  at  3.30  p.m.  on  Tuesday, 
November  1st,  in  the  Grand  Committee  Room 
of  St.  Thomas's  Hospital,  S.W. 

Miss  Ethel  McCaul's  Proposal. 

Miss  McCaul's  first  suggestion  was,  we  be- 
lieve, to  organise  an  international  hostel,  but 
at  the  meeting  to  be  held  at  Grosvenor  House 
on  Friday,  the  28th  inst.,  the  proposal  is  to  be 
made  to  organise  an  Imperial  ^lemorial  "  to 
render  pecuniary  assistance  to  aged  hospital 
nurses  or  those  incapacitated  through  ill-health 
from  continuing  their  nursing  career,"  As  this 
scheme  approximates  so  closely  to  that  sug- 
gested by  Mr.  Wainwright,  it  is  thus  that  the 
confusion  in  the  public  mind  has  arisen.  We 
have  never  favoured  any  charity  scheme  for 
the  nursing  profession  in  connection  with  the 
name  of  our  great  teacher  and  leader.  It  ap- 
pears to  us  beneath  the  dignity  of  the  nursing 
profession  to  accept  it. 

Let  the  whole  world  realise  how  we  look 
upon  our  Law  Giver,  when  they  behold  her 
beautiful  statue  in  the  centre  of  the  ]\Ietropolis 
of  the  Empire,  side  by  side  with  the  great 
national  heroes  we  all  revere.  Equally  heroic, 
her  genius  has  inspired  greater  victories  than 
those  won  bv  force  of  anns. 


IcGal  fIDatteis. 


THE  DEATH  OF  A  BABY  AT  ST.  MARY  S 
HOSPITAL,  MANCHESTER. 
The  de«th  of  a  child.  ag<><l  I'J  months,  at  St. 
Mary's  Hospital.  .Manclicstcr,  wjis  the  .subject  ot  an 
inquest  by  the  Mancluvitt>r  Coroner  (Mr,  Ernest 
Gibson)  Inst  WiH-U,  when  it  npiK>ared  that  the  baby, 
who  was  suffering  from  biionchitis,  was  p\it  in  a 
swing  cot,  this  InMug  later  .surrounded  by  a  tent 
twtempori.sed  with  screens;  «  spirit  lamp  was 
used  for  the  purpose  of  generating  the 
va|x>ur.  Tlie  <lay  Sister,  Miss  Florence  Dnn- 
ster,  stated  that  when  she  left  the  ward 
the    lamp    was    binning    pioi)er!y.      Tile    cot     wa.s 


Oct.  29,  1910] 


ZThc  Brltisb  journal  of  IRursinG, 


between  the  lavatory  <loor  and  the  fire-place,  and 
if  the  door  was  oix-ned  tJiere  would  be  s  draught. 
Miss  Mal)el  Robiuivon,  a  probationary  nurse,  said 
that  the  lamp  was  alwut  a  foot  and  a-lialf  away 
from  the  child's  cot  ;  after  slio  came  on  duty  she 
o[xmrh1  the  lavatory  d<x>r,  wliich  caused  a  draught, 
and  wliile  attending  to  another  jxitient  noticed  that 
the  cot  occiipie<l  by  tlie  child  Woodhall  was  on  fire. 
She  t<K>k  up  the  child  and  gave  the  alarm,  and 
anotlier  nurtse  put  oiit  the  flames.  Miss  Mary 
Stevenson,  w  lio  extinguished  the  flaniee.  also  gave 
evidence,  and  the  house  .surgeon.  Dr.  Ixicey,  said 
that  the  ctiild  die<l  from  bronchitis,  accelerated  by 
sliock  due  to  the  burns.  He  could  not  account  lor 
the  cot  getting  on  tire.  The  Coroner  said  that  lue 
draught  from  the  lavatory  door  was  a  possible  ex- 
planation. 

The  jury  found  that  the  child's  death  had  been 
accelerated  by  shock  due  to  the  liurns,  but  left  it 
an  open  matter  as  to  how  the  fire  was  caused. 

Two  points  will  strike  most  nurses  in  this  rejwrt — 
namely  (1)  the  unsafe  position  of  the  cot,  l)otli  for 
a  child  suffering  from  bronchitis  and  because  of  the 
passibility  of  the  screen  cover  being  blown  towards 
the  lamp  when  the  lavatory  door  was  opened,  and 
(2)  the  fact  that  apixarently  a  probationer  and  not 
a  ,stafF  nurse  was  in  chaige  of  the  case. 
Spirit  lamps  are  always  a  source  of  anxiety, 
and  at  the  present  day,  when  most  bos- 
piial  wards  are  provided  with  electricity,  it  might 
u.setully  be  the  rule  that  all  steam  kettles  should  be 
heated  bv  this  method. 


ACTION    AGAINST  A  HOSPITAL. 

In  the  Court  of  Session,  Greenock,  Mrs.  J.  M. 
Brown,  wife  of  ilr.  E.  Rosedon  Foote,  .53, 
Aigburth  Mansions,  Hacktord  Road,  Brixton,  S."V\'., 
recently  raised  an  action  against  Sir  Hugh 
Shaw  Stewart,  Bart.,  President  of  the 
Greenock  Hospital  and  Infirmary,  and  the 
ofiBce-bearers  and  directors  of  the  Institution,  in 
which  she  claimed  £1,000  damages.  Mi-s.  Brown 
allege<l  that  she  has  lived  aixart  from  lier  husband 
for  many  years,  and  earne<l  her  living  by  acting, 
teaching  dancing,  and  acting  as  a  subject  for  cine- 
matograph pictures:  that  on  February  19th  ult., 
while  at  Greenock,  she  fell  and  fractured  her  thigh. 
and  on  the  advice  of  her  medical  attendant  was 
treated  a:  the  Gregory  Infirmary,  She  alleges  that 
she  was  wrongly  treated  for  sprain  of  the  knee 
joint  and  .synovitis,  and  discharged  on  March  21st, 
and  that  the  authorities  culpably  and  negligently 
failed  to  discover  that  her  thigh  was  fractured,  with 
the  result  that  the  in]ure<l  leg  is  markedly  shorter 
than  the  other,  and  that  she  will  not  be  able  to 
earn  money  by  her  former  occupations.  She  has 
bad  to  give  up  contracts  in  which  she  was  engaged 
as  an  actress,  and  is  also  unable  to  teach  dancing 
or  to  appear  «.s  a  subject  for  pictures. 

The  defendei-s  a.'.sert  that  >ii-s.  Brown,  who  occu- 
pied a  private  ward,  left  against  the  doctor's  advice  ; 
they  deny  that  she  was  unskilfully  treated;  and  in 
any  event  maintain  that  the  damages  claimed  are 
excessive. 

Lord  Skerrington  ordered  i,ssues  for  t..c  trial  of 
the  case. 


Ipractical  ipointe. 

We  have  much  pleasure  in 

"  The  Kirby  "        drawing  the  attention  of  our 

Feeding    Cup.       readers     to      a     feeding     cup 

recently      brought      out      by 

Messrs.    H.    and    T.    Kirby    and     Co.,    Ltd.,    14, 

Newman  Street,  W.,  which  is  designed  on  scientific 

principles    for     the     administration     of     food    or 

meclicine  to  the  sick.     The  feeding  cup  was  shown 

by    this  firm   at   the   I/Ondon   Medical    Exhibition, 

and  nurses  who  saw  it  must  have  been  struck  by 

its  practical  usefulness,  and  its  superiority  to  the 

old-fashioned  feeder,   the  spout  of  which  is  almost 

impossible  to  keep  clean.     The  Kirby  Feeding  Cup 

consists  of  two  separate  portions  (1)  the  cup,  and 

(2)  the  container.     The  food  to  be  administered   is 


placed  in  the  graduated  cup.  The  whole  device  is 
then  tilted  backwards,  thus  allowing  a  measured 
quantity  to  escape  into  the  container,  which  is  then 
easily  administered  in  the  ordinary  way  from  the 
spoon-like  end  of  the  container.  Some  of  the 
advantages  of  this  appliance  are  that  only  a  pre- 
determined quantity  can  be  taken  by  the  patient 
at  a  time ;  the  food  can  lie  measured  and  ad- 
m^inistered  while  the  nurse  is  supporting  the 
patient;  rejected  ijortions  cannot  re-enter  the  cup 
and  thus  contaminate  the  remainder ;  the 
graduated  cup  by  itself  can  be  used  for  the  ad- 
ministration of  medicine  without  fear  of  any  being 
spilt  by  an  unexpected  movement  on  the  part  of 
the  patient.  The  price  of  the  cup  is  3s.,  or  3s.  6<1. 
post  free. 


QUEEN    ALEXANDRAS     IMPERIAL    MILITARY 
NURSING    SERVICE. 

Miss   Elizahoth    .\.    Dowse,    R.R.C.,    Matron,    is 
placed  on  retired  pay.     Dated  October  20th,   1910. 

The  undermentioned  Staff  Nurses  are  confirmed 
in  their  appointments,  their  periods  of  provisional 
service  having  expired :  Miss  Mary  T.  Casswell,  ' 
Miss  Mabel  L.  Cntfield,  Miss  Eveline  J.  Frencli, 
Miss  Evelyn  S.  Killery,  Miss  Elizabeth  Lowe,  Miss 
Marion  McCormick,  Miss  Mary  McNaughtan,  Mi.sa 
Joan  D.  C.  McPherson,  Miss  Evelyn  L.  JIurray, 
Miss  Jane  Todd,  Miss  Frances  L.  ffrotter,  and  Miss 
Dorothv  Turner. 


356 


Cbe  Britisb  3ournaI  of  IRurslng. 


[Oct.  29,  1910 


appointments. 


Matrons. 

SouUiwark  Infirmary,  East  Dulwich.  —  Miss  Rose  E. 
AVallace  ha*  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  the  \Vhit-echapel  Infirmary  and  has  held 
the  position  of  Sister,  Superintendent  Nurse,  and 
Assistant  ilatron  at  the  Camlx^rwell  Infirmary. 
Sisters 

Union  Infirmary,     Waltefleld Mrs.    E.    Munton    has 

been  appointed  Sister.  She  was  trained  at  the 
Union  Infirmary,  Rotherham,  where  she  has  held 
the  position  of  Charge  Nurse. 

Royal  Victoria  Hospital,  Bournemouth.  — Mies  Florence 
Knobel  has  been  appointed  Sister.  She  was  trained 
at  the  Royal  Sea-Bathing  Infirmary,  Margate,  and 
the  St.  Marylebone  Infirmary,  and  has  held  the 
position  of  Sister  at  the  Birkenhead  Borough  Hos- 
pital. 

Sheffield  Union  Hospital. — Miss  Kathleen  O'Connell 
has  been  appoiHte<l  Sister.  She  was  trained  at  the 
Sheffield  Union  Hospital,  and  has  held  the  positions 
of  Charge  Nurse  at  the  Brook  Hospital,  Shooters' 
HiU;  District  Nurse  in  connection  with  the  District 
NuiTsing  Association,  Stockton-on-Tees ;  Sister  at 
a  private  hospital  in  the  same  place ;  and  Charge 
Nui-se  at  the  Middlesbrough  Union  Hospital. 

Miss  Ruby  A.  Bedford  has  been  appointed 
Sister  in  the  same  hospital.  She  was  trained  at  St. 
Mary  Abbott's  Infirmary.  Kensington,  and  has 
held  the  position  of  Charge  Nurse  at  the  Eastern 
Fever  Hospital,  London,  and  Staff  Nurse  at 
Charing  Cross  Hospital,  London.  She  has  also  Had 
experience  of  private  nursing  at  home  and  abroad. 

Miss  Jane  C.  Stevenson  has  also  been  appointed 
Sister  in  the  same  institution.  She  was  trained 
at  the  Royal  Victoria  Hospital,  Belfast,  and  has 
held  the  jxksitions  of  Assistant  Nurse  at  Nantwich 
Union  Infirmaiy,  and  at  Cheadle  Infirmary,  Staffs.  ; 
and  of  Charge  Nurse  at  the  South-Eastern  Hos- 
pital, London. 

Middle  Ward  Hospital,  Motherwell,  N.B.  MissE.Wood 
has  been  appointed  Sister.  She  was  trained  at  the 
Meath  Hospital  and  County  Dublin  Infirmary,  and 
took  temporary  Sister's  duty  in  the  accident  ward, 
and  also  bad  charge  of  the  Special  Dispensary  for 
Diseases  of  Women  in  the  same  hospital.  She  has 
also  had  experience  of  private  nursing. 

Night  Sister. 
Middle  Ward    Hospital,   Motherwell,  N.B Miss  Davinn 

R.  Duncan  has  been  appointed  Night  Sister.  She 
was  traii>ed  at  the  Fiucliill  Hospital,  Glasgow,  and 
the  General  Hospital,  Leith,  and  has  held  the 
position  of  Sist«r  at  Rnchill  Hospital  for  two  years 
since  receiving  her  general  training.  She  has  also 
had  experience  of  private  nursing. 


NURSES'   EXAMINATIONS— ST.   BARTHOLO- 
MEW'S HOSPITAL 
Final  Examination. 

The  following  nurses  at  St.  Bartholomew's  Hos- 
pital have  successfully  passed  their  final  esamina^ 
tion  and  gained  their,  certificates: — 

1,  Miss  Clara  C.  Eyles  (Gold  Medal) ;  2,  Misses 
Hunter  and  D.  Llovd  (equal) ;  3,  Carthew ;  4, 
Elwell ;  b,  E.  AV.  Taylor ;  6,  P.  A.  Pearse ;  7,  Gold- 
smith ;  8,  Moger ;  9,  Adams ;  10,  Dorothy  Storrs ; 
11,  Grieg;  12,  M.  G.  Gibson;  13,  Bradshaw ;  14, 
Mockler;  15,  Coulthurst ;  16,  M.  B.  Nicholson;  17, 
Ethel  Baker;  18,  Hills;  19,  M.  E.  C.  Storr ;  20, 
Courtenay;  21,  Dawson;  22,  Johnson;  23,  A.  E. 
Taylor;  24,  Livock;  25,  Fovargue;  26,  Stephenson- 
Jellie;  27,  Watson. 

Examination  of  First  Year  Probationers. 

1,  Miss  Helen  Bains  (who  has  won  the  Cloth- 
workers'  Company's  Prize  of  books) ;  2,  Misses 
Eager;  3,  Pilling;  4,  Atkins;  5,  Ironsides;  6,  A.  0. 
Gibson ;  7,  Scott;  8,  M.  A.  Jones;  9,  D.  K.  Cole  and 
Dey  (equal);  10,  Cryer ;  11,  Tice ;  12,  Harrison 
13,  Dutton  and  Thurlow  Prior  (equal) ;  14,  Har 
court;  15,  K.  Pryer ;  16,  E.  A.  Smith;  17,  A.  Cole 
18,  Hirsch  ;  19,  Mudie  ;  20,  Nicholson  ;  21,  Perkins 
22,  Faning;  23,  Humphreys;  24,  Norrish ;  25,  Fau- 
torr;  26,  Sybil  Jarvis;  27,  Lloyd  Edwards  and 
Northwood  (equal);  28,  Lewis;  29,  A.  M.  Jones. 


PRESENTATION. 
Miss  Macfarlane,  Matron  of  the  Victoria  In- 
firmary, Glasgow,  who  is  retiring  from  her  ix)st, 
was  last  week  the  recipient  of  many  handsome 
gifts.  The  visiting  surgeons,  physicians,  and  resi- 
■  dents  gave  a  purse  of  sovereigns;  a  solid  silver  tea 
service  and  pui-se  of  sovereigns  was  the  gift  of  the 
nurses,  in  which  many  of  the  former  residents  and 
nui'ses  also  joined.  Dr.  Ales.  Napier  spoke  on  be- 
half of  the  medical  staff,  and  ^Ire.  Napier  made  the 
presentation.  Dr.  M'Grcgor,  in  the  name  of  the 
nui'ses,  asked  Miss  Macfarlane  to  accept  their 
gifts.  Dr.  Eben.  Duncan  and  the  Rev.  G.  Yuille 
also  spoke.  All  the  speakers  testified  in  terms  of 
warm  appreciation  to  the  respect  and  e,steein  in 
which  Miss  Macfarlane  was  held,  and  to  her  unfail- 
ing courtesy,  kindness,  and  geniality  in  her  deal- 
ings with  all  with  whom  she  came  in  contact. 


In  our  account  last  week  of  the  presentation  to 
Miss  Franklin  at  the  Edn\<inton  Infirmary,  on 
leaving  to  take  up  duties  at  the  Sunderland  In- 
firmary it  sliould  be  underetood  that  this  referred 
to  the  Union  Infirmary,  not  the  General  Infirmary 


QUEEN  VICTORIAS  JUBILEE   INSTITUTE 

Trmmfers  and  Appointments. — Miss  Elizabeth 
M.  HayticK,  to  Somerset,  as  Second  Assistant 
Coiinty  Sujierintendent;  Miss  Edith  M.  Goddard, 
to  Lincoln  City;  Miss  Mabel  Voller,  to  Glossop  ; 
Mi.ss  Maud  Macdonald,  to  Shrewsbury;  Miss  Han- 
nah Walton,  to  Hirmingham  (.Moselcy  Road^ ;  Miss 
Agnes  Fry,  to  St^arisbrick ;  Miss  Mary  jMnlseed,  to 
Deerness  Valley;  Miss  Jessie  Rodniel),  to  Hull. 


THE  PASSING  BELL. 
Many  nurses  will  l«\irn  with  regret  that  Sister 
Cornock,  who  was  for  35  ywirs  in  charge  of  a 
me<lical  wai-d  at  the  Wolverhampton  General 
Hospital,  and  retired  in  September,  1908,  on  a 
"retaining"  allowance,  has  passed  away  at  the 
vt«i(IeMce  of  lior  nioc<>  in  Gloucestershire  after  an 
atttack  of  pneumonia.  At  the  oi>ening  of  tlie 
Nur,ses'  Home  in  1907  Sister  Cornock  was  pre- 
sented by  the  Chairman  of  the  Hospital  with  a 
gold  me<ial  in  recognition  of  her  long  and  valued 
services. 


Oct.  J9,  IJtlO] 


ZlK  :i6iiti0b  3ournaI  of  iRiusino. 


301 


IHursiufl  Echoes. 

The  proposal  to  convene 
a  great  SoL-ial  Reunion  of 
Registratiouists  early  in  Feb- 
ruary, in  support  of  the 
Xurses'  Registration  Bill  is 
arousing  much  interest 
amongst  societies  of  nurses 
in  favour  of  organised  •=>(iu- 
cation.  Nothing  can  be  ar- 
ranged for  a  few  weeks,  but 
the  splendid  suite  of  Con- 
naught  Rooms  in  Old 
Queen  Street,  Ivingsway,  W.C,  have  been 
secured  for  the  evening  of  February  2nd.  It 
is  hoped  to  have  quite  an  original  gathering; 
indeed,  why  should  we  not  have  the  pleasure 
of  meeting  some  of  those  devoted  pioneers  of 
past  centuries  who  did  their  part  so  heroically 
in  the  evolution  of  modem  nursing.  Indeed, 
there  are  quite  a  number  of  clever  and  dehght- 
ful  people  with  whom  we  should  like  to  shake 
hands,  whose  devoted  sei-vices  to  humanity 
take  us  back  to  prehistoric  times.  Why  should 
we  not  meet  Beautiful  Hygeia,  Goddess  of 
Health,  and  the  attendant  elements,  Eai'th, 
Air,  Fire,  and  Water,  a  sufficiency  of  which 
we  recognise  in  these  daj's  of  social  reform  as 
necessary  for  the  maintenance  of  physical 
fitness?  A  Pageant  of  the  Evolution 
of  Scientific  Nursing  has  wonderful  possibili- 
ties. We  wonder  if  the  modem  nurse  has  the 
es-prit  to  organise  it. 


At  the  Guildhall  :\Ir.  H.  Dixon  Kimber,  the 
Chairman  of  the  Special  Committee  appointed 
by  the  Corporation  to  receive  and  entertain 
the  delegates  attending  the  International  Law 
Associated  Conference,  was  last  week 
presented  by  his  colleagues  with  a 
pair  of  Crown  Derby  vases  in  recog- 
nition of  his  services.  Mr.  Kimber  is 
rapidly  becoming  kno\^-n  as  the  nurses'  legal 
champion.  He  saved  Nurse  Bellamy  from  out- 
rageous injustice  in  the  Hemel  Hempstead  In- 
firmary case,  and  all  "Bart's"  nurses  owe 
him  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  for  his  suppoii 
during  their  recent  protest  against  the  depre- 
ciation of  their  three  vears'  certificate. 


A  writer  in  the  Liverpool  Courier  suggests 
that  part  of  the  memorial  to  Florence  Nightin- 
gale should  take  the  form  of  the  augmentation 
of  the  nursing  staffs  in  the  Livei-pool  hospitals, 
and  asserts  that  in  one  of  the  most  important 
hospitals  in  Eiverpool  the  nurses  work  inces- 
santly from  seven  in  the  morning  till  nine  at 
night,  with  two  hours  off  duty  (frequently  cur- 
tailed), with  a  whole  day  once  a  month,  five 


hours   free   once   a    fortnight,    and   two  extra 
hours  once  a  week. 

It  seems  rather  like  a  reversion  to  thirty 
yeai-s  ago  to  read  that  the  only  desire  of  many 
of  the  nurses  in  their  free  time  is  to  sleep 
(which  is  against  the  rules).  We  well  re- 
member in  our  early  nursing  days- .that  our  first 
requirement  when  off  duty  was  a  good  meal, 
and  the  second  to  sleep  almost  until  it  was 
time  to  return  again  to  the  hospital. 


The  finance  of  County  Nursing  Associations 
is  sometimes  misleading,  for  instance,  take 
the  balance  sheet  of  the  Cumberland  Nursing 
Association.  With  a  staff  of  fifty-one  nurses 
now  at  work  in  the  county,  only  ten  are 
thoroughly  trained  women  holding  a  three 
years'  certificat-e  of  training,  and  nine  months' 
district  training.  These  nurses  cost  from  £90 
to  £100  a  year.  Eight  of  the  staff  have  more 
or  less  hospital  experience,  and  the  33  village 
nurses,  with  a  few  months'  training  at  Plais- 
tow  or  Govan,  are  estimated  to  cost  £50  to 
£.55  per  annum.  The  fact  that  each  one  of 
these  workers  costs  the  Association  £48  to  £50 
tor  their  very  limited  and  insufficient  training 
is  apparently  lost  sight  of.  We  presume  they 
are  bound  for  a  term  of  three  years'  service 
after  training,  so  if  £16  per  annum  is  added  to 
the  £50,  though  ill-paid,  village  nurses  are  not 
as  cheap  as  at  first  appears. 


Dr.  Core  recently  presided  at  a  meeting  at 
Stobhill  Hospital,  Glasgow,  where  a  Nurses' 
Temperance  Union  is  being  formed,  when  an 
interesting  and  impressive  address  was  given 
by  Dr.  W.  S.  Reid.  Dr.  Reid  pointed  out  to 
the  nurses  that  a  cup  of  hot  soup  or  milk  would 
do  more  for  them  when  tired  and  overworked 
than  any  amount  of  alcohol. 

The  Chaimian;  in  thanking  Dr.  Reid  for  his 
address,  mentioned  that  those  of  his  college 
friends  who  had  been  most  successful  in  the 
world  had  been  total  abstainers. 


We  leani  from  La  Garde  Malade  Hospitalierc 
that  the  pupils  of  the  Nursing  School  of  the 
Toudu  Hospital,  Bordeaux,  recently  had  the 
honour  of  being  presented  to  the  President  of 
the  Republic.  iM.  Fallieres  warmly  congratu- 
lated Dr.  Lande,  Yiee-President  of  the  Ad- 
ministrative Committee  of  Hospitals,  and 
founder  of  the  School,  and  said  to  the  pupil 
nurses  that  they  had  earned  general  respect 
and  gratitude.  At  the  request  of  ^Ille.  Irasque, 
the  Assistant  Directrice  of  the  Hospital,  the 
President  signed  his  name  in  the  golden  book  of 
the  School,  which  contains  nj^ny  illustrious 
names.  In  the  military  hospital  which  he 
visited  on  the  same  dav  M.  Fallieres  saw  sub- 


3.58 


Z\K  3Briit6b  aournal  of  IRursincj.        [o^t.  29,  loio 


sequently  the  work  of  three  of  the  certificated 
nurses  of  the  School. 


The  Minister  of  \Yar  has  conferred  the 
houorarj-  distinction  of  the  bronze  medal  for 
epidemics  upon  Mile.  Eoullet,  and  Mme.  Len- 
hard,  who  are  "attached  to  the  infectious  ser- 
vice in  the  IVIilitary  Hospital  at  Belfort,  and 
have  exhibit-ed  the  greatest  devotion  on  all 
occasions  to  the  sick  in  their  charge.  Both 
were  trained  at  the  Tondu  Hospital,  and  are 
amongst  the  first  members  of  the  Military 
Nursing  Service,  having  joined  it  in  1908. 


An  interesting  development  in  Spain  is  the 
foundation  of  a  training  school  for  Spanish 
nurses  in  Madrid,  where  illle.  Zomak  is  Direc- 
triee  of  the  Piubio  Institute,  where  a  three 
years'  term  of  training  has  been  inaugurated, 
the  first  for  lay  nurses  in  Spain.  The  Insti- 
tute takes  its  name  from  its  founder.  Dr. 
Eubio,  a  pioneer  of  modem  surgery  in  that 
country.  The  wards"  contain  twenty-four 
beds  for  women,  and  the  same  number  for 
men,  and  all  its  arrangements  are  in  every  way 
most  up-to-date.  One  thing  is  missing,  how- 
ever :  there  is  not  a  chair  in  the  wards.  Is, 
Mile.  Zomak  asks,  Dom  Frederico  Eubio  a 
disciple  of  Diogenes,  who  also  had  no  love 
for  useless  things?  But  she  thinks  Diogenes 
would  have  disowned  his  pui)il  for  his  love  of 
water.  When  an  infant  is  admitted,  the 
mother  comes,  too,  for  Spanish  mothers  in- 
variably nurse  their  babies,  and  the  feeding 
bottle  is  unknown. 


Spanish  women,  we  are  told,  are  far  from 
aspiring  to  independence,  their  reason  being 
that  they  expect  to  marry.  A  woman  of  the 
people  rarely  adopts  a  profession,  a  woman  of 
education  never.  She  considers  it  beneath  her 
dignity  to  earn  her  living,  and  prefers  to  eat 
the  bread  of  charity,  provided  by  an  aunt,  a 
brother,  an  uncle,  a  married  sister,  or,  if  she 
has  no  relations,  she  enters  a  convent. 


Mile.  Zomak  has  at  present  12  pupils,  and 
hopes  that  they  will  be  rapidly  increased.  They 
still  wear  sandals,  a  relic  of  the  days  of  "  reli- 
gious "  nursing,  but  in  the  coming  winter 
their  Dircetrice  hopes  for  woollen  stockings  and 
leather  shoes  I  The  King  will  shortly  lay  the 
foundation  stone  of  a  new  pavilion  of  this  most 
interesting  institution. 


Miss  E.  Barton,  Matron  of  Chelsea  In- 
firmar\%  will  speak  in  the  opening  of  the  dis- 
cussion on  Miss  Musson's  paper,  "The  Feed- 
ing of  Nurses,"  at  the  Caxton  Hall,  "^'estmin- 
ster,  on  November  5th. 


^be  IHurses'  3ntcrnationaI  Club. 

The  Nurses'  International  Club,  8,  Porches- 
ter  Square,  London,  W.,  which  has  recently 
been  opened,  is  intended  to  provide  a  central, 
convenient,  and  inexpensive  club  for  nurses 
and  others  interested  in  the  Nursing  Profession. 
It  is  a  proprietary  club,  the  organisers  bein^r 
Miss  Thomas  Moore,  Lady  Sunperintendent  of 
the  Duchess  Nursing  Home,  Duchess  Street, 
Portland  Place,  Miss  Hartnell,  Matron  of  thi 
Trained  Nurses'  Institute,  214,  Gloucester  Ter 
race,  and  ;\Iiss  Lloyd,  late  Matron  of  the  Os 
westry  Hospital  and  Trained  Nurses'  Institute. 
These  ladies  will  foiTn  the  Committee,  with 
Miss  Halhday,  Matron  of  the  Eoyal  Hospital 
for  Children  and  Women,  Waterloo  Bridge 
Koad,  and  one  or  more  representatives  to  be 
elected  by  the  members  of  the  Club.  The^ 
Duchess  of  Norfolk,  the  Duchess  of  Leeds, 
Lady  Harlech,  and  Lady  Sibbald  have  con- 
sented to  become  Vice-Presidents. 

The  position  of  the  Club  has  been  happilv 
chosen.  No.  8,  Porchester  Square,  is  a  substan- 
tial comer  house,  which  has  been  freshly 
painted  and  looks  very  attractive.  It  is  withiu 
a  short  distance  of  Paddington  Station,  the 
Metropolitan  Underground,  and  the  maia 
omnibus  routes  from  the  Koyal  Oak,  so  that 
private  nurses  who  are  members  will  find  them- 
selves extremely  conveniently  placed.  Theri 
is  also  a  telephone  for  the  exclusive  use  of 
members,  in  addition  to  the  one  used  by  the 
officials.  The  entrance  fee  is  £1  Is.,  the  annual 
subscription  £1  Is.,  and  the  tariff  extremely 
moderate,  thus  board  and  lodging  for  the  week 
cost  only  £1  Is.,  including  bath  (except  be- 
tween 11  a.m.  and  6  p.m.)  if  a  cubicle  is  occu- 
pied. A  single  bedroom  with  board  costs  30s. 
per  week,  or  25s.  if  taken  permanently.  Thero 
is  a  comfortable  general  sitting  room  where 
rhembers  can  receive  their  friends,  and  a  res 
taurant  where  they  can  entertain  them.  On 
Saturdays  gentlemen  may  be  introduced  into 
the  Club.  The  members'  own  sitting  room  is 
very  restful,  and  provided  with  plenty  of  easy 
chairs.  There  is  also  a  writing  room  where 
silence  can  be  maintained  if  desired. 

The  house  has  been  entirely  re-decoratei, 
and  newly  furnished.  The  cubicles  are  divided 
with  wooden  partitions,  and,  though  small,  ar* 
attractive-looking  and  cosy.  In  the  scheme  of 
decoration  green  walls  and  white  paint  have 
been  largely  employed,  and  the  stairs  are 
covered  with  a  thick  coeoanut  matting  which 
deadens  sound  very  completely. 

We  iiear  that  a  good  many  nui-ses  have 
already  an-anged  to  join  the  club,  and  we  wish 
it  ail  success. 


Oct.  29,  1910] 


Zbc  Brttlsb  3ournal  rr  iRurstiiG. 


359 


IKcflcctions. 


the   movemt'iit   had  sprc-ad   to  Su  iizti  land,   C'liina, 
Turkey,  aud  South  Atrica. 


From  a  Board  Room  Mirror. 
By  the  doath  ol  His  Seii'iic  Highuees  Piiiioo 
Francis  of  Ti-ek  the  Middlesex  Hospital  suffers  a 
severe  loess.  As  Cluiirniau  of  the  Hospital,  the  Prince 
was  indefatigable  in  his  efforts  tor  its  welfare,  aud 
raised  £20,000  to  free  it  from  tlebt.  The  patients 
at  tile  hospital,  with  whom  Prince  Fi^ancis  was  a 
great  favourite,  are  subscribing  for  a  wreath  to  be 
sent  to  Windsor  Castle  tor  the  funeral.  There  is 
univeiisal  sorrow  for  her  ilajesty  the  Queen  in  her 
sad  and  unexpected  bereavement. 

The  King  and  Queen  have  bi-come  patrons  of  the 
Victoria  Hospital  for  Children.  Chelsea,  and  his 
Majesty  has  lieoome  patron  of  the  Ix)ndon  Lock 
Hospital  and  Rescue  Home,  Harrow  Road,  W. 


Prince  Arthur  of  Counaught  has  accepted  the 
office  of  Presitlent  of  St.  Mary's  Hospital,  Padding- 
ton,  and  was  formally  elected  at  a  quai-terly  Board 
of  Governors  held  at  the  Hospital  last  week. 


Princess  Henry  of  Batteuberg  recently  motored 
from  Osborne  Cottage  to  St.  Lawrence,  and  saw  the 
Royal  National  Hospital  for  Consumptives  at  Vent- 
iior,  of  which  the  King  is  Patron.  Her  Royal  High- 
ness made  a  thorough  inspection  of  the  Hospital, 
aud  also  visited  the  chapel  and  grounds.  She  was 
specially  interested  in  the  treatment  by  graduated 
work,  which  was  seen  ill  operation. 


The  Treasurers  of  the  Middle.vx  Hospital  Cancer 
Charity  have  received  the  sum  of  £1,000  from  Mrs. 
Clara  Cumines  to  name  a  bed  in  perpetuity. 


We  are  not  surprised  to  find  Sir  William  Collins 
writing  to  the  Times  to  call  attention  to  the  urgent 
need  for  an  efficient  ambulance  service  for  dealing 
promptly  with  accidents  in  the  streets  within  the 
Count}-  of  London.  By  the  Metropolitan  Ambulances 
Act,  which  Sir  William  was  fortunate  in  piloting 
through  Parliament  last  session,  the  London  County 
Council  is  now  in  a  position  to  establish  and  main- 
tain an  efiBcient  service  for  the  County  like  that 
which  has  worked  so  well  in  the  City.  When  is  the 
L.C.C.  going  to  put  into  action  the  powers  which  it 
has  possesse<l  since  October,  1909?  Considering  that 
from  a  return  recently  published  it  appears  that 
vehicular  acci<lents  alone  amounted  in  1909  to  over 
12,000  in  the  Metropolitan  district  exclusive  of  the 
City,  it  is  indeed  time  that  public  opinion  should 
make  itself  felt  in  relation  to  tliis  question. 


This  year's  Nobel  Prize  for  Medicine  has  been 
awarded  to  Professor  Albrecht  Koesel,  the 
physiologist  of  Heidelberg.  ISach  prize  will  amount 
on  this  occa.sion  to  193,.360f.  (£7,7.34). 


The  Bishop  of  Kensington,  speaking  at  tlio 
Church  House,  at  a  meeting  in  celebration  of  the 
White  Cross  Jvcague,  said  that  its  aim  was  to  lay 
the  question  of  social  and  personal  purity  upon  the 
lieart  and  conscience  of  the  whole  Church.  A  repre- 
sentative of  the  German  White  Cross  League  said 
there  were  now  327  grouiis  in  Germany,   and  that 


SCIENCE  IN  MODERN  LIFE, 
Every  comfort,  e\  ery  neccissity  of  modern  life, 
hinges  upon  science.  No  person  can  read  hand- 
books upon  all  the  sciences,  yet  every  intelligent 
being  wishes  to  know  something  about  modern  dis^ 
coveries  wliich  are  likely  to  lead  to  inventions  and 
discoveries  greater  than  those  we  yet  even  dream 
of.  A  woman — Madame  Curie — succeeded  in 
separating  a  small  fraction  of  a  gramme  of  radium 
from  one  ton  of  pitch-blend.  The  ultimate  results 
of  this  great  work  are  hidden  in  the  future. 

The  story  of  the  transformation  of  one  element 
into  another  reads  like  a  fascinating  romance,  and 
at  the  same  time  convinces  us  that  nothing  is  ever 
lost. 

"  When  the  atoms  part  from  a  substance 
That   suffers,  loss;        but    another    is   gaining   an 

increase ; 
So  that  as  one  thing  wanes,   another  bursts  into 

blossom. 
Soon   in   its  turn  to  be    left.       Thus    turns    the 

Universe  always — 
Gain  out  of  loss."- 

The  sixth  and  last  volume  deals  with  Engineer- 
ing. The  educational  value  of  the  work  cannot  be 
over-estimated,  and  the  hope  may  be  expressed  that 
it  will  find  a  place  on  the  shelves  of  not  a  few 
nurses'  libraries.  The  publishers  are  The  Gresham 
Publishing  Company.  E.  A.  S. 

INFANT  CONSULTATIONS. 

A  Society  of  Officers  of  "  Infant  Consultations" 
has  been  formed  at  a  meeting  held  at  the  ^laryle- 
bone  Dispensary,  77,  Welbeck  Street,  London,  W., 
the  objects  of  which  are  (a)  to  bring  into  closer 
relationship  all  those  engaged  or  interested  in  the 
work  of  such  institutions ;  (6)  to  promote  the 
establishment  of  similar  institutions  and  to  advise 
as  to  their  organisation  ;  (c)  from  time  to  time  to 
hold  meetings  for  the  reading  of  papers  and  the 
hclding  of  discussions  on  subjects  germane  to  the 
work  of  "infant  consultations";  (d)  for  the  re- 
cording of  experience  gained  by  individuals 
eiigaged  in  the  work;  (c)  for  the  collection  of 
literature,  statistics,  and  reports  bearing  on  the 
subject.  Dr.  Wyiiter  Blyth  presided  at  last  week's 
meeting,  and  the  speakers  were  Dr.  Eric  Pritchard 
and  Dr.  Sykes. 

A  SEA  BATH  AT  HOME. 
Many  people  who  have  returned  home  from  holi- 
days at  the  sea  mis,s  the  invigorating  plunge  into 
the  life-giving  salt  water,  which  was  a  daily  luxury. 
But  they  forget  that  through  the  medium  of  Tid- 
man's  Sea  Salt  this  luxury  is  attainaUe  in  their 
own  homes  at  a  most  moderate  expense.  Five 
ounces  of  Tidman's  Sea  Salt  to  a  gallon  of  water  will 
make  a  solution  which  is  the  same  as  real  sea  water, 
n  solution  which  is  constantly  recommended  by  the 
irtdical  profession,  and  which  in  use  is  found  to 
be  not  only  a  luxury  to  the  healthy,  but  of.un- 
doubte<l  therapeutic  benefit  in  cases  of  weakness, 
and  want  of  tone,  as  well  as  for  those  oonipUiints 
for  whu'h  sea  bathing  is  frequently  prescribed. 
Tidman's  Sea  Salt  can  1m»  obtained,  through  chemists, 
grccers  and  storekeepers,  as  well  as  a  sea  soap 
specially  prepared  for  use  with  it. 


860 


Hhc  Bdtisb  journal  of  IRursing, 


[Oct.   29.  1910 


©III-  Jforeion  Xctter. 

FROM   ROME. 

The  summer  is  now  Tirtuallv  over,  although  the 
heat  is  still  at  times  greater  than  is  entirely  agree- 
able. But  the  dread  in.spired  by  the  idea  ot  a  real 
baking  temperature  has  proved — mercifully — to 
have  been  unfounded.  In  fact,  the  old-fashioued 
real  southern  summer,  like  the  old-fashioned  real 
northern  winter,  seems  to  be  a  thing  of  the  past. 

With  '■  Peter  Pan  "  instead  of  ''  Ambulance  ' 
collars,  and  a  minimum  of  underclothing,  uniform 
has  been  quite  compatible  with  work,  and  though 
the  nurses,  foreign  and  native,  appreciated  a  siesta 
when  off-duty  from  1.30  to  4. .30,  yet  the  wards 
were  never  unbearablv  hot,   even  during  the  mid- 


ai>plause  evidently  of  British  loyalty,  which  had- 
already  been  expressed  when  we  wore  the  crape 
band  for  our  late  King. 

Real  holidays  have  also  been  fitted  in,  apart 
from  the  month  which  each  will  have  within  the 
year;  seven  to  t€n  days'  pension  was  also  offered 
by  an  anonymous  giver  through  Princess  Doria,  to 
the  English  nurses  and  those  probationers  who 
had  no  home  to  go  to. 

The  longing  for  the  sea  drew  most  of  the  Eng- 
lish to  Anzio  or  Naples;  one  went  even  as  far  as 
Capri.  At  Anzio,  being  September,  and  therefore 
late  for  Italians  (who  only  bathe  in  warm  water 
as  a  rule),  two  nurses  obtained  a  small  flat  look- 
ing on  the  sea.  and  with  picnic  breakfasts  and 
suppers,  and  dining  at  a  restaurant,  incurred  no 
greater  expense  than  had  they  put  up  at  a  pension ; 


SISTER    IN     BED.SITTINC-ROOM. 


day  hours,  and  the  sea  breeze,  which  regularly 
visits  Rome  Iwtli  morning  and  evening,  prevented 
the  air  being  ever  stagnantly  oppressive. 

After  supper  a  turn  in  the  grounds  was  niuoh 
apprcciato<l  by  the  probationers,  and  a  moonlight 
visit  to  the  Coliseum,  or  to  listen  to  the  band  in 
Piazza  d'Esedra  (as  an  exceptional  treat  ices  we-e 
eaten),  made  the  months  pa,ss  even  more  quickly 
than  wh<'n  marked  only  by  changes  in  work  and 
the  weekly  half  day  off. 

4^  rather  amusing  incident  occurred  over  the 
band-playing  one  evening,  when  there  witli  only 
the  staff.  They  suddenly  started  ''God  Save  thr> 
King,"  when — va  sans  dirr — we  all  instantly  an'i 
instinctively  rose  (including  our  one  Italian  col- 
league), and  though  they  elected  to  play  it  twice 
over,  W"  stood,  continuing  to  finish  oiir  ices.  On 
Bitting  down,  applause  .soundi'd   from  many  tables. 


whilst  conceive  the  joy  of  utter  freedom!  ''No- 
bell  to  call  one  to  meals,"  one  of  them  wrote  me, 
"  no  servants  to  tip  (the  landlord's  little  girl  came 
to  sweep),  but  just  to  do  and  go  what  and  whera 
fancy  called,''  and  pour  comhle.  to  be  able  to 
dress  ( I")  in  bathing  gown  and  with  a  dust  coat 
just  run  across  the  strip  of  sand  (no  low  tides  on 
the  Meiliterranean)  and  bathe  or  boat  whenever 
the  desire  moved. 

Naples  was  also  very  ecstatically  successful; 
rooms  looking  on  the  sen  with  its  peri)etual  move- 
ment of  shipping,  and  the  glorious  September 
moon  at  nights.  Pompeii,  Pozauoli,  etc.,  etc.,  to 
visit  by  trams,  Capri  and  tlie  Blue  Grotto  by  boat, 
and  there  also  the  absence  of  pension  meals  (so 
great  a  dra;;  on  liberty),  returned  us  three  very 
ardent  admirers  of  tlie  rival  city,  professing  com- 
l>reheiision   <il     the     old     saying     of     its     natives. 


Oct.  29,  1910] 


Qbc  3Bi*iti5b  3ournal  of  IRursino. 


361 


■  v«Hler  Xapdli  e  morir." 

Whilst  they  were  onjoyiiit:  tlioinselvos  tliero  rf- 
ports  betjaii  to  circulate  in  the  Italian  newspapers 
rf  cholera.  First  it  was  reported  to  be  only  in 
towns  and  villages  in  Puglie,  but  rumours  began 
of  cases — termed  gastro-enteritis — occurring  also 
in  Naples,  and  the  day  before  our  nurses  were  ex- 
pected the  papers  declared  that  medical  surveil- 
lance during  five  days  would  be  exacted  of  all 
who  came  from  that  town. 

Nothing  could  be  done :  they  were  due  at  mid- 
night ;  even  by  going  to  the  station  I  knew  not  if 
one  could  have  reached  them  before  they  wer.^  ex- 
aminetl.  So  we  had  to  leave  it  to  Fate,  who  proved 
most  kind ;  for  beyond  the  delay  of  about  an  hour 
(whilst  everyone  was  being  interrogated  as  to 
whence  he  came  and  where  he  was  going)  nothing 
happened  to  our  nurses.  They  simply  stated  that 
they  came  from  Naples  and  were  going  to  the  Poli- 
clinico.  On  being  asked,  'To  which  pavilion;' 
they  replied,  "  To  the  Scuola  Convitto  Regina 
Elena,'  when  the  doctor  remarked,  '  Souo  le  sig- 
nore  inglesi  che  insegnano  ' — '  the  English  ladies 
who  teach  ' — and  no  word  was  said  of  having  to 
report  themselves  at  the  Office  of  Hygiene  during 
five  days,  which  was  what  the  papers  had  said 
would  be  exacted. 

Apropos  of  cholera — which  is  now,  by  careful 
isolation,  being  stamped  out  in  Naples  and  else- 
where— we  were  applied  to  for  two  English  nurses 
by  the  doctor  in  charge  of  the  Molfetta  Lazzaretto. 
He  promised  "■  every  consideration  and  care  for 
these  admirable  ladies,'  and,  having  seen  them  at 
work  here,  the  request  was  a  genuine  compliment. 

The  idea  that  one  duty  seriously  undertaken 
may  not  be  abandoned  even  for  another  without 
necessity  seemed  new  out  here  (and  not  here  only). 
But  Miss  Snell,  I  knew,  admitted  no  doubts  on 
this  moral  question,  so  I  explained  as  best  I  could 

to   Dr.    B that   desire    to   be  of   use    under 

tragic  and  dangerous  circumstances  coiild  never 
be  a  reason  for  leaving  less  tragic  and  less  exciting 
service  to  which  one  had  bound  oneself ;  and  that 
much  as  our  nurses  would  like  to  nurse  the  cholera 
patients  they  were  too  much  needed  by  the  Poli- 
clinico  ones.  v 

During  the  summer  two  of  Miss  Baxter's  gra- 
duates (Signorina  Catapano  and  Signorina  Cita- 
rella)  have  been  helping  to  give  the  staff  holidays, 
but,  to  our  mutual  regret,  they  have  had  to  re- 
turn to  previous  appointments,  Naples  needing 
all  the  "  Croce  Azzurites  "  herself. 

In  case  some  reader  feels  the  desire  to  join  us, 
I  repeat  the  conditions. 

The  School  is  to  train  Ifalian  probationers  on 
what  are  termed  "Florence  Nightingale  lines"  to 
as  great  an  extent  as  is  possible. 

Matron,  Miss  D.  A.  Snell;  Assistant  Matron  and 
Home  Sister:  five  Ward  Sisters,  and  seven  .Staff 
Nurses — all  English  except  one  Italian  nurse 
trained  in  America — for  a  surgical  pavilion  of  iS 
to  80  beds.  A  medical  pavilion  is  to  be  taken  over 
shortly,  and  three  Sisters  and  six  Staff  Nurses 
added. 

Doctors  and  patients  as  well  as  probationers  all 
Italian. 


.Sister's  stipend:  8j  francs  per  month;  £42  per 
annuii). 

Staff  Nurse's  stipend  :  65  francs  per  month  ;  £32 
per  annum. 

Journey  allowance:    175  francs  =  £7. 

Uniform   allowance:    125  franc5  =  £5  yearly. 

Vacancies  for  promotion  to  the  post  of  Sister 
will  occasionally  occur  and  be  given  at  Miss  Snell'i 
discretion.  Doubtless  also  many  of  those  nurses 
who  learn  Italian  well  and  grow  really  interested 
in  the  work  will  eventually  be  offered  Matronships 
in  other  hospitals,  as  the  aim  of  the  Roman  School 
is  to  create  a  standard  of  hospital  nursing  which 
other   towns  should   imitate. 

M.    A.   TUBTON. 


®uts(^e  the  (Bates. 


WOMEN. 
The  private  Conference  on  Hygiene  in  Rela- 
tion to  Rescue  Work,  to  be  held  at  Cax- 
ton  Hall,  S.W'.,  on  November  23rd,  has  been 
organised  by  the  Public  Health  and  Pre- 
ventive and  Rescue  Committees  of  the  National 
Union  of  Womon  Workers.  A  sub-committee  formed 
of  representatives  of  the  Ladies'  National  Associa- 
tion and  its  London  Branch,  the  British  Committee 
of  the  International  Abolitionist  Federation,  and 
the  National  Vigilance  Association,  together  wilh 
the  N.U.W.W.,  have  the  arrangements  in  hand. 
Medical  women,  trained  uui-ses,  women  Poor-l^aw 
Guardians,  and  lescue  workers,  can  obtain  tickets 
for  the  Conference  from  Miss  Emily  .Janes, 
Organising  Secretary,  N.U.W.W.,  Parliament 
Buildings,  Victoria  Street,  S.W. 


The  recent  death  of  Julia  Ward  Howe,  the  in- 
spired writer  of  "  The  Battle  Hymn  of  the  Repub- 
lic "  at  Rhode  Island,  U.S.A.,  reminds  us  of  tuat 
never-to-be-forgotten  Congress  of  Rei^resentative 
Women,  held  at  Chicago  in  1893  in  conjunction  wicli 
the  wonderful  World's  Fair.  At  one  meeting  we 
had  the  marvellous  good  fortune  to  speak  with 
Mrs.  Ward  Howe,  Mrs.  Cady  Stanton,  Mrs.  Lucy 
.Stone,  and  Miss  Susan  B.  Anthony,  four  of  the  most 
blessed  and  forceful  women  in  the  world.  Alas! 
with  the  death  of  Julia  Ward  Howe  this  quartette 
of  great  and  good  'women  have  now  all  passed  from 
earth,  but  their  works  live  after  them.  They  uad 
all  been  touched  with  the  wand  of  genius,  and  were 
inspired  with  lovely-  modesty  and  self-respect. 
Needless  to  say  they  were  of  the  stuff  from  wnich 
great  citizens  are  culled — lovers  of  grace  and 
litjerty,  and  ardent  Suffragists  one  and  all. 


>Irs.  Ward  Howe  spoke  in  public  on  Woman 
.Suffrage  when  she  was  in  her  90th  y«ar,  and 
described  how  she  had  firet  become  interested  in  it 
in  consequence  of  the  vote  having  been  given  to 
the  negroes  at  the  time  of  the  Civil  War.  "  .-vtter 
holding  the  door  oi^en  for  the  negro,"  she  said, 
"  we  might  at  least  have  been  allowed  to  go  in  anter 
him."  -Aind  when  questione<l  what  was  her  cliiwf 
reason  for  her  ardent  advocacy  of  AVoman  Suffrage, 
she  replie<l :  "I  regard  the  vote  for  women  as  an 
integral  part  of  Christianity  itself."    The  pity  of  it, 


362 


^bc  5Sritisb  3ournaI  or  iHursing. 


[Oct.  29,  191' 


tliat  these  glorious  explorers,  wlio  have  marched  on 
and  ever  upward  through  the  night,  will  pot  t;e 
with  us  when,  following  in  their  footsteps,  we  step 
into  the  light.  Strong,  beautiful,  motherly  beings, 
we  are  grateful  our  eyes  lighted  upon  them,  that 
we  touched  their  hands,  and  that  we  heard  the 
music  of  their  speech. 

The  National  Union  of  Women's  Suffrage  Socie- 
ties is  arranging  a  Suffrage  Demonstration  week  in 
London  from  Monday,  November  7th,  to  Saturday, 
November  12th  inclusive.  All  societies  which  ad- 
vocate women's  suffrage  have  been  invited  to  co- 
operate, and  the  "Women's  Freedom  League,  the 
Conservative  and  Unionist  Women's  Franchise  As- 
sociation, the  new  Constitutional  Society  tor 
Women's  Suffrage  (in  combination  with  the 
National  Industrial  and  Professional  Women's  Suf- 
frage Society),  and  the  Men's  League  have  arranged 
public  meetings.  The  Actresses'  Franchise  League 
are  arranging  a  matinee,  and  it  is  proposed  to 
ihold  a  joint  demonstration  of  all  the  co-operating 
societies  in  the  Albert  Hall  on  Saturday  evening, 
November  13th.  Mr.  George  Alexander  has 
placed  the  St.  James's  Theatre  at  the  disposal  of 
the  Conservative  and  Unionist  Women's  Franchise 
Association  for  their  meeting  on  the  afternoon  of 
Tuesday,  November  8th,  at  which  Lady  Selborue 
wili  preside,  tickets  for  which  can  be  obtained  from 
the  lipad  office  of  the  Association,  48,  Dover  Street, 

W.  , 

COMING     EVENTS. 

October  2Sth. — Territorial  Force  Nursing  Ser- 
vice. Meeting  of  Executive  Committee,  Mansion 
House,  3  p.m. 

October  2Sth. — Meeting  to  consider  a  scheme  for 
an  Imperial  Memorial  to  the  late  Miss  Florence 
Nightingale,  Grosveuor  House,  W.  Admission  by 
ticket,  to  be  obtained  from  Hon.  Secretary,  21, 
Little  Welbeck  Street,  Cavendish  Square,  Lon- 
don, AV.,  3  p.m. 

November  1st. — Nurses'  Missionary  League.  Lec- 
ture:  "Work  in  a  Home  and  Foreign  Hospital 
Contrasted,"  by  Miss  C.  F.  Tippet,  Shomsi,  N. 
China.  University  Hall,  Gordon  Square,  W.C, 
10..30  a.m. 

November  Xst. — Memorial  to  the  late  Miss 
Florence  Nightingale.  First  Meeting  of  Com- 
mittee, Grand  Committee  Room,  St.  Thomas's 
Hospital,  S.W.     3.30  p.m. 

A'or ember  1st  to  5th. — Cookery  and  Food  Ex- 
hibition, Royal  Horticultural  Hall,  S.W.  Nurses' 
Invalid  Trays  on  view  on  3rcl  and  4th  nrox. 

yovcmhrr  ith. — National  Council  of  Nurses  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland.  Annual  Meeting,  431, 
Oxford  Street,  London,  W.     4  p.m.     Tea. 

November  5th. — National  Food  Reform  Associa- 
tion. Conference  on  the  Feeding  of  Nurses.  Cax- 
ton  Hall,  S.W.    2.30  p.m. 

Norcmher  Sfh. — Nurses'  Missionary  League. 
Lecture:  "Difficulties  and  Pos.sibilities  in  a 
Nurses'  Life,"  by  Miss  Haughton,  Matron,  Guy's 
Hospital.  University  Hall,  Gordon  Square,  W.C. 
7.15  p.m. 

November  9th. — Royal  Infirmary,  Edinburgh. 
Lecture  on  "  Surgical  Nur,sing  outside  of  Hospi- 
tal," by  Mr.  John  D.  Dowden.  F.R.C.S.E.  All 
trained  nur.ses  cordially  invited.  Extra-Murnl 
Arr.llr.il   Tbcntre,   4. .30  p.m. 


Xetters  to  tbe  CMtor. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  coin- 
munications  upon  all  lubjectf 
for  these  columns,  we  wish  it 
to  be  distinctly  understood 
that  we  do  not  in  ant  w.\i 
hold  ourselves  responsible  for 
the  opinions  expressed  by  our 
correspondents. 


THE  DEFENCE  OF  NURSING  STANDARDS 
COMMITTEE. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  .Journal  of  Nursing." 
Dear  Madam, — I  should  be  obliged  if  you  would 
kindly  peri'-it  me  to  make  a  statement  in  the 
Beitish  Journal  of  Nursing  concerning  the 
"  Defence  of  Nui-sing  Standards  Committee," 
which  held  its  final  meeting  on  October  21st. 

I  have  received  in  donations  £-57  7s.  9d.,  and 
have  had  many  kind  offers  of  further  help  should 
it  have  been  required.  JNIight  I,  as  Secretary,  take 
this  opix>rtuuity  of  thanking  those  friends  who 
have  so  generously  helped  the  oause  of  tie 
"  Defence  of  Nureing  Standards." 

It    was  decided    unanimously   at     the    executive 
meeting  to  hand  over  the  balance  of  £3  10s.  to  the 
Society  for  State  Registration  of  Ti-aine<l  Nui'ses, 
OS  its  work  is  on  parallel  lines. 
1  am,  dear  Madam, 

Yours  sincerely, 

Ellen  Shutee, 

Hon^   Secretary. 
[We  are  iiifoimed  that  this  donation  will  be  used 
in  support  of  t\te  Registration  Reunion,  to  be  held 
in   February. — Ed.] 


REGISTRATION  OF   NURSES  iSTATUS    OF   FEVER 

NURSES). 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 

De.\r  Madam, — Your  remarks  on  the  Status  of 
Fever  Nurses  have,  without  doubt,  cleared  the  air 
CI  some  registrational  impurities. 

It  is  well  to  hear  all  sides  of  a  question,  and  so 
long  as  argument  is  conducted  fairly  no  exception 
can  be  taken.  Nurses — for  as  I  have  said  before,  the 
registration  of  nurses  is  essentially  a  nurses'  ques- 
tion— welcome  the  opinion  of  individual  members 
of  the  medical  profe.ssion.  Nurses  do,  however,  re- 
sent those  who  are  "  awakening  supporters  of  legal 
status  for  nurses  "  undertaking  to  frame  laws  for 
the  government  of  their  profession  and,  what  is 
more,  trying  to  undo  the  work  which  has  been  ac- 
complished by  nurses  and  those  members  of  the 
medical  profession  who  have  given  their  staunch 
support  and  valuable  advice  and  help  for  years  past. 
Nurses  hnre  been  the  promatir.-!  nf  rroisfrntieoi. 
They  hdvc  ii-orked  for  it  and  the)/  have  jmid  for  ^t. 
These  are  facts  which  are  perhaps  not  fully  known  or 
realised  by  hospitid  boards,  public  health  committees, 
and  the  gonernl  public;  but  the  time  has  now  oome 
when  they  should  be  made  known. 

In  a  letter  to  tbe  GIns/ion-  Hrrold  in  reference 
to  my  remark  that  a  separate  fever  register  would 
be  exceedingly  injurious  to  the  best  interests  of  fever 


Oct.   20.  1010- 


Zlic  SSrittsb  3oumal  of  ■Wiu^mH 


363 


nurses  aud  the  public.  Dr.  Munro  says:  "  It  would 
hi  a  very  singular  thing  if  medii-al  officers  of  health 
who  have  very  definite  duties  associating  them  with 
fever  nurses,  very  definite  duties  in  safeguarding 
the  interests  of  the  public  in  relation  to  fever  hos- 
pitals, should  be  found  advocating  a  coarse  which 
was  ■  exceedingly  injurious  to  fever  nurses  and  the 
public,'  so  singular  as  to  be  unthinkable."  This  is 
all  very  well,  but  it  would  be  equally  singular  if 
trained  nurses  who  have  very  wide  experience  in 
the  training  of  fever  nurses,  very  deep  interest  in 
the  professional  advancement  of  fever  nurses  (and 
consequently  in  the  efficient  nui-sing  and  welfare  of 
those  who  are  nursed  by  them)  should  hold  views 
similar  to  mine  without  very  sure,  very  certain, 
and  very  definite  foundation. 

A  separate  fever  register  would  fix  and  cramp 
the  future  of  the  fever  nurse :  therefore,  an  inferior 
type  of  woman  would  enter  the  fever  hospitals.  It, 
therefore,  follows  clearly  that  the  public  wouid 
suffer.  Dr.  Munro  says  :  "  We  must  have  the  posi- 
tion defined  in  the  Bill.  "  Imagine  medical  officers 
of  health  working  to-day  under  a  ''  position  defined  " 
under  the  Medical  Act  of  18-58!  It  is  impossible 
that  everything  can  be  defined  under  an  Act  of  Par- 
liament. The  requirements  of  modem  medicine 
necessitate  many  changes  in  the  training  and  work 
of  nurses. 

Public  health  committees  are  iisually  composed 
of  business  men;  business  men  are  usually  '"level- 
headed'" men;  ■level-headed''  men  are  usually 
just  men.  As  laymen,  however,  they  have  disad- 
vantages, and  may  be  unwittingly  influenced  some- 
times by  whispers  of  "cheaper  labour"  and  "less 
trouble  "  from  certain  official  lips.  Business  men 
know  that  cheapness  does  not  mean  economy  in  all 
cases,  aud  that  economies  might  be  practised  in 
other  directions  than  upon  the  nxirsesl 

Fever  nurses  will  do  well,  therefore,  to  stand  to 
their  guns  and  resist  all  attempts  to  interfere  with 
their  rights,  and  the  liberties  of  their  profession. 
They  will  have  to  be  on  the  alert  however. 

The  "awakening  supporters  '  are,  after  all.  a 
small  body  in  comparison  with  the  overwhelming 
numbers  of  the  nursing  profession.  This  fact  will, 
no  doubt,  be  taken  into  serious  account  by  hospital 
boards,  who  cannot  afford  to  allow  o£Bcialdom  to  ride 
rough-shod  over  the  interests  of  the  nursing  profes- 
sion. 

Xurses'  Registration  BiU-mending  appears  to  be 
a  popular  pastime  among  a  small  section  of  registra- 
tionists  at  the  present  time:  bu:  "  awakening  sup- 
porters "  have  yet  to  master  many  of  the  most  ele- 
mentary principles  of  a  question  which  has  ab- 
sorbed time,  trouble,  and  thought,  among  those 
who  have  been  working  for  State  Registration  for 
years  past. 

Much  as  I  have  disagreed  with  Dr.  Munro,  I 
greatly  appreciate  his  remark  in  regard  to  "statu- 
tory certificates."  "  If  a  certificate  is  satisfactory," 
he  says.  "  why  are  general  trained  nurses  pressing; 
for  registration?"  Statutory  certificates,  advo- 
cated bv  Dr.  P.  H.  Robertson,  would  render  fever 
nurses  "  neither  fish,  flesh,  nor  good  red  herring." 
Such  certificates  would  cause  general  and  much 
confusion  in  the  mind  of  the  public  who  could  not  he 


expected  to  distinguish  between  State  certification 
and  State  registration. 

I  am,  yours  faithfully, 

E.  A.  Stbve>-so>-. 


A  HISTORY   OF   NURSING 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "BritUh  Journal  of  yursing." 

Dear  Madam. — In  the  third  paragraph  on  page 
129  of  your  issue  of  August  13th  you  say : — 

'"'  A.S  time  goes  on  the  first  two  'volumes  of  "A 
History  of  Nursing."  written  by  iliss  Dock  and  Mj£s 
Xutting.  are  becoming  widely  known,  and  finding 
their  way  into  the  hands  of  nurses  all  over  the 
world." 

You  must  please  except  Australia.  A  copy  of 
the  two-volume  issue  was  apparently  snppUed  to  the 
Editor  of  the  Australasian  Nursei'  Journal,  the 
official  organ  of  the  Australasian  Trained  Nurses' 
Association,  where  it  was  favourably  reviewed,  but 
so  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain  no  copy  of 
the  book  has  been  sent  for  sale  either  to  Brisbane, 
Sydney,  or  Melbourne.  Up  to  some  six  months  ago 
the  Melbourne  Agent  (that  is,  the  Agent  for  Aus- 
tralia) of  the  firm  who  published  the  book  bad  never 
seen  it.  His  representative  informed  me  later  that 
owing  to  my  representation  to  the  publishers  a 
copy  was  on  the  way  to  him,  and  would  be  sent 
here  on  approval  immediately  it  arrived.  It  has  not 
yet  reached  us.  We  very  much  wanted  to  see  it, 
with  a  view  to  adopting  it  as  a  prize  book  for  the 
annual  examination.  Of  course,  this  class  of  book 
is  not  ordered  from  New  York  or  London  without 
some  previoiis  knowledge  of  its  contents  and  suit- 
ability. I  told  Messrs.  Putnams  that  it  they  sent 
a  copy  to  each  of  the  large  nursing  schools  (of 
which  there  are.  say,  five  out  here)  it  might  lead  to 
sales. 

I  think  your  statement,   quoted  above,  must  be 
qualified   unless  possibly  we  here   are  regarded  as 
■•  out  of  the  world  altogether,  dont-cher-know.' 
Yours  faithfuU.v. 

A.  P.  Patttb. 

Secretary. 

Brisbane  Hospital. 


[We  should  adviise  all  hospitals  in  Australia  to 
obtain  the  two  volumes  of  this  History  of  Nursing 
from  Messrs.  Putiiams.  24.  Bedford  Street.  Strand. 
London.  W.C,  price  £1  Is.,  for  the  nurses' 
libraries.  They  can  hardly  be  expected  to  supply 
the  hospitals  throughout  the  world  with  this 
valuable  publication,  though  it  ought  to  be  on 
sale     in     Australia.  So     far     the     nurses    of 

Federated  Australia  have  not  shown  a  great  deal 
of  interest  in  nursing  affairs  outside  their  own  con- 
tinent, nor  have  they  entered  into  professional  re- 
lations with  their  colleagues  of  other  nations,  as 
nurses  in  Canada  and  New  Zealand  have  done, 
through  the  International  Council  of  Nurses.  Ac- 
quaintance with  the  history  of  their  profession 
would  certainly  stimulate  and  broaden  their  out- 
lix)k  and  interest. — Ed.] 


OUR  PUZZLE  PRIZE. 
Rules    for  competing   for   t'  r     T»irtor:«l    PuzzU 
Prize  will  be  found  on  Advertisement  page  xu. 


364 


;ibe  Britlsb  3ounial  ot  IRurslno  Supplement,    [o^t.  29,  mo 

The    Midwife. 


Zbc  OLciccster  flDaternit\?  Ibospltal. 

A  meeting  in  suj^port  of  the  Leicester  and 
Leicestershire  Maternity  Home  was  held  last 
week  at  the  County  Assembly  Rooms,  Leices- 
ter. The  President,  Mr.  T.  Cope,  J. P.,  and 
later  the  :\Iayor  (Councillor  G.  Chitham)  pre- 
sided. Amongst  the  speakers  were  Sir  Francis 
H.  Champneys,  Miss  Lucy  Eobinson,  and  Mrs. 
Wallace  Bruce  (London),  and  Dr.  Thomas 
Wilson  (Binningiiam). 

The  President  said  that  they  had  met  to- 
gether to  further  a  great  scheme  for  the  train- 
ing of  midwives,  and  with  regard  to  the  Ma- 
teraity  Hospital  for  Women.  The  hospital  was 
opened  in  Jane,  1905,  to  accommodate  five 
patients.  It  had  now  22  beds,  and  during  the 
present  year  had  received  240  patients. 

Before  the  Mid  wives'  Act  came  into  force 
there  were  370  midwives  in  the  county ;  at  the 
present  time  there  were  110,  rather  a  startling 
difference,  but  women  were  now  required  to 
undergo  a  careful  course  of  technical  training. 
He  hoped  that  those  present  would  help  for- 
ward the  great  movement,  which  had  for  its 
object  the  promotion  of  the  physical  and  in- 
tellectual health  of  the  rising  generation. 

Dr.  Killick  Millard,  Medical  Officer  of  Health 
for  the  borough,  said  that  in  Leicester  the 
sanitary  conditions  under  which  children  were 
bom  compared  favourably  with  those  in  many 
other  places.  Nevertheless  they  were  far  from 
ideal.  In  the  near  future  the  community  would 
be  obliged  to  give  more  consideration  to  the 
child-bearing  mother  than  had  been  done  in 
the  past.  He  testified  to  the  excellent  work 
done  by  the  Mafemity  Hospital  in  the  care  of 
patients  and  the  training  of  pupils.  The 
patients  spoke  in  the  highest  terms  of  the 
treatment  they  received. 


Central  ^I^t^\vlve5  36oar&. 


flDaternit^  tTraintno  in  IRcw 
Zealand. 


The.  Editor  of  Kai  Tiald  says:— "We 
do  not  consider  that  it  is  possible 
to  include  obstetric  nursing  in  any  but 
a  systematic  post-graduate  course.  Six 
months,  at  least,  is  needed  to  become  suffi- 
ciently familiar  with  the  many  aspects  of  this 
work — this  for  qualifiod  nurses;  for  others,  at 
least  twelve  months.  Therefore  we  dismiss  the 
idea  of  nurses  going  through  their  general  train- 
ing attempting  at  the  same  time  to  study  mid- 
wifery." 


Examination  Paper. 
The   following  questions  were  set  for  the  candi- 
dates  at   the   examination    held    on   October    24th 
in  London  and  the  provinces:  — 

1.  AVhat  are  the  symptoms  and  signs  of  preg- 
nancy at  the  fifth  month  ? 

In  what  circumstances  might  it  be  necessary  to 
send  for  medical  assistance  at  this  stage  of  preg- 
nancy!' 

2.  Describe  in  detail  your  method  of  making 
a   vaginal  examination. 

To  what  points  would  you  pay  special  attention 
in  making  a  vaginal  examination  of  a  patient  in 
the  first  stage  of  labour  ? 

3.  State  the  chief  causes  of  "  glove-iinger  pro- 
trusion "  of   the  membranes. 

AVhat  complications  may  arise  after  the  rupture 
of  membranes  which  protrude  in  this  shape? 

4.  AVhat  is  meant  by  "  Inertia  of  the  I'terus  "  ? 
How   would   you  recognise   it   and   what    are    its 

dangers? 

•5.  How  would  you  deal  with  the  umbilical  cord 
from  the  moment  of  birth  till  its  sep  ition  from 
the  child  ? 

What  dangers  to  the  child  may  arise  if  proper 
precautions  are  not  taken  ? 

6.  AVhat  is  the  meaning  of  "  Involution  of  the 
Uterus  "  ? 

AVhat  causes  will  lead  to  delay  of  this  process, 
and  how  would  you  recognise  this  complication? 


Salting  Babies. 

The  strange  custom  of  salting  new-born  babies  is, 
says  the  D'miit'ic  and  Hyoifnic  Gazette,  quoting 
from  a  contemi>orary.  still  practiced  in  c<>itain 
regions  of  Europe  and  Asia.  Tlie  method  vanes 
with  the  different  nationalities  of  the  peoples  cm- 
ploying  it.  The  Armenians  of  Russia  cover  the 
entire  skin  of  the  infant  with  a  very  fine  salt,  xuis 
is  left  on  the  l>aby  for  three  hours  or  more,  when 
it  is  waslunl  off  with  warm  water.  A  mountain 
tribe  of  Asia  Minor  are  even  more  peculiar  in  tnis 
regard  than  the  Armenians,  for  they  are  allege<l  to 
keep  their  new-born  tmbies  coverwl  with  salt  tor  a 
period  of  24  hours.  The  modern  Greeks  also  sprinkle 
their  babies  with  salt  ;  and  even  in  certain  {tortious 
of  Germany  salt  is  .still  used  on  a  child  at  bn-th. 
Tlie  mothers  imagine  that  this  practice  brings  health 
and  strength  to  their  offspring,  and  serves  as  well 
to  keep  away  evil  spirits. 

Dr.  Herman  states  that  in  puerperal  e<-lampsia 
the  position  of  the  patient  is  very  important,  as 
if  she  is  left  on  her  back  there  is  danger  of  the 
air  passages  becoming  clogged  hith  secretion,  etc. 
.She  should  be  put  in  the  semi-prone  position  with 
the  left  hand  behind  her  back. 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 
EDITED  BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK      


SATURDAY,     NOVEMBER     5,     1910. 


]E^itOl•ial. 


A     CANKER     AT     THE     ROOT. 

From  time  to  time  the  physical  deterior- 
ation of  the  nation  is  discussed  in  the 
public  press,  but  so  I'ar  few  practical  steps 
have  been  taken  to  touch  the  root  of  the 
evil.  These  subjects  are  unpleasant,  they 
are  ignored.  We  must  keep  the  youth  of 
the  nation  innocent — innocence  being  in 
the  minds  of  many  synonymous  with  ignor- 
ance— so  in  our  midst  a  festering  sore 
saps  the  life  blood  of  the  nation,  while 
those  who  might  help  are  silent.  But  it 
is  time  for  all  false  prudery  to  be  p\it  aside, 
and  for  every  one  who  has  the  love  of 
humanity  at  heart  to  do  all  in  his  or 
her  power  to  make  known  that  disease, 
terrible,  insidious,  tmmentioned,  is  ram- 
pant. 

This  fact  has  been  forcibly  brought  home 
to  lis  by  the  report,  published  in  a  new 
paper  for  women,  -V)'.9.  Bull,  that  at  the 
Hospital  for  Sick  Children  in  Clreat 
Ormond  Street,  two  little  girls  who  were 
admitted  to  the  hospital  for  other  diseases 
were  sent  home  suffering  from  a  foul  dis- 
charge, and  incidentally  with  dirtj-  heads. 
The  charges  were  so  serious  that  we  fou- 
sidered  it  essential  to  call  at  the  hospital 
and  ask  for  precise  information,  which  was 
willingly  given  to  us  by  the  Secretaiy,  ilr. 
E.  Stewart  Johnson. 

We  learn  that  two  children  admitted  to 
the  hospital  have  undoubtedly  developed 
gonnorhopal  vaginitis,  f 'ne  who  was  sent 
to  Cromwell  Hoixse,  Highgate — the  Con- 
valescent Home— was  readmitted  to  the 
hospital,  the  second  was  found  on  her 
return  home  to  be  suffering  from  an 
unnoticed  discharge,  and  it  is  suggested 
as  just  possible,  though  scarcely  proljable, 
that  it  may  have  come  on  after  the  cliild 
left   the   Home.      As   to   the   charge    that 


the  children  were  sent  home  with  their 
heads  in  a  dirty  condition  this  is  absolutely 
denied.  The  head  of  every  child  admitted 
is  combed  daily  with  a  fine  comb,  and,  if 
lice  are  found,  appropriate  remedies  are 
applied. 

But  the  most  important  and  appalling 
revelation  in  connection  with  this  matter 
is  not  even  that  cases  of  vaginitis  have 
occurred  in  the  hospital,  but  the  condition 
of  the  children  outside  the  wards.  "  We 
live,"  said  the  Secretary,  "in  constant  dread 
of  infection.  In  the  out-patient  department 
this  disease  is  the  commonest  possible  ;  it 
is  perhaps  a  facon  cle  parlev  when  one  of 
our  medical  officers  says  that  '  eveiy  other 
little  girl  seen  in  the  out-patient  depart- 
ment is  suffering  from  it ' ;  but  it  is  a  fact 
that  we  constantly  have  to  refuse  to  admit 
sick  children  to  the  wards  because  they  are 
suffering  from  this  contagious  disease." 
Asked  what  became  of  these  children,  the 
Secretary  said  he  supposed  they  went  home. 
"  Of  course,"  he  added,  "  in  case  of  an  acute 
illness  we  have  to  admit  them,  open  a 
special  ward,  and  isolate  them.  Our  pre- 
sent trouble  is  due  to  the  fact  that  an  acute 
appendicitis  case  was  admitted,  and  the  dis- 
charge present  was  supposed  to  be  con- 
nected with  her  illness.  The  routine  practice 
of  the  hospital  is  that  when  a  child,  admitted 
the  wards,  is  found  to  have  a  suspicious 
discharge,  an  infectious  card  is  put  over 
her  bed  as  a  precautionary  measure,  a  swab 
taken,  and  if  it  is  found  that  she  is  suffering 
from  an  infectious  disease  she  is  at  once 
isolated." 

How  infection  spreads  is  uncertain,  but 
the  Medical  Superintendent  considers  that 
the  thermometers  used  in  taking  rectal  t,pra- 
peratures  may  be  a  source  of  danger.  Do 
we  realise  what  it  means  ?  The  little  girls 
of  the  poorer  classes  of  the  metropolis — the 
future  mothers  of  its  citi/ens — infected  in 


366 


^be  JSrltfsb  3oiirnaI  of  IKlursino. 


[Nov.  5,  1910 


early  childhood  with  so  temble  a  disease, 
infected  manifestly  from  towels,  bed- 
clothing,  etc.,  used  by  parents  already 
infected  ;  or  a  more  horrible  possibility  still, 
by  direct  infection.  It  is  a  revelation  of  a 
canker  in  our  midst  of  incredible  danger, 
needing  strong  measures  to  eradicate. 


Clinical  IRotcs  on  Some  Common 
ailments. 


Bv  A.  KxYVETT  Gordon,  M.B.,  Cantab. 

CONSTIPATION. 

This  is,  of  com-se,  a  very  wide  subject,  inas- 
much as  there  is  probably  no  complaint  which 
is  more  common  at  all  ages  of  life,  or  about 
which  so  many  mistakes  are  made  at  one  time 
or  another  in  treatment :  moreover,  it  is  a 
condition  for  which  the  patient  generally  treats 
himself — with  rather  unsatisfactory  results, 
except  in  so  far  as  the  dividends  of  the  patent 
medicine  companies  are  concerned. 

Constipation  is  both  a  disease,  and  a  symp- 
tom of  other  diseases,  that  is  to  say,  while  it 
is  sometimes  itself  the  cause  of  many  ail- 
ments with  which  it  might  not,  at  first  "sight, 
seem  to  be  vei-y  closely  connected,  it  is  also 
not  infrequently  due  to  other  diseases,  it  being 
then  necessary  to  treat  the  original  malady, 
and  not  only  the  constipation  itself. 

In  this  article  no  attempt  will  be  made  to 
give  an  exhaustive  list  of  .the  diseases  of  which 
constipation  is  a  symptom,  but  some  of  the 
more  common  causes  of  the  condition  itself 
will  be  described  in  so  far  as  they  bear  on  the 
methods  which  are  employed  for  its  treatment. 

Constipation  may  be  defined  as  an  inability 
on  the  part  of  the  patient  to  empty  his  lower 
bowel,  and  this  defect  may  be  either  occasional 
or  habitual — incidentally,  a  very  important 
distinction.  Before  we  go  any  further,  it  will 
be  necessary  to  note,  firetly,  how  the  normal 
contents  of  the  bowel  get  there,  and  then,  how 
they  get  out  again. 

In  theoi-y,  and  under  ideal  conditions,  there 
should  not  be  any  contents  of  the  lower  bowel 
at  all.  If  we  could  always  eat  nothing  but  what 
was  completely  digestible  and  absorbable,  and 
in  the  exact  quantity  necessary  to  maintain 
Hfe  and  satisfy  the  requirements  of  the  body, 
by  the  time  the  food  had  reached  the  lower 
bowel,  it  would  all  have  been  made  soluble  and 
have  passed  through  the  walls  of  the  small  in- 
testine into  the  blood.  This,  however,  is  mani- 
festly im])ossible,  and  we  all  eiT  as  regards  our 
food  in  two  directions ;  we  eat  mattew;  that  are 
not  .useful  to  the  body  at  all,  and  we  do  not 
take   the   ideal  quantity  of  nourishing  things, 


so,  by  the  time  the  food  has  reached  the  large 
intestine  there  is  a  mass,  which  consists  of  en- 
tirely indigestible  residue,  together  with  the 
excess  of  nourishing  matter  which  is  not  at 
that  particular  time  required.  Under  normal 
conditions  there  should  be  just  enough  water 
in  this  mass  to  soften  it  so  that  it  can  easily 
pass  out  through  the  rectum. 

For  the  expulsion  of  the  fteces,  it  is  neces- 
sary that  the  intestine  itself  should  be  moving 
with  sufficient  vigour;  so  it  is  obvious,  there- 
fore, that  retention  of  matter  in  the  lower 
bowel  may  be  due  either  to  the  mass  being  too 
hard  and  dry  to  be  easily  passed,  or  to  the 
bowel  itself  being  in  a  sluggish  condition  and 
not  moving  sufficiently  quickly  or  strongly  to 
expel  its  contents;  sometimes  both  causes  are 
present  together. 

In  practice  the  first  of  these  conditions  is  the 
most  common,  and  we  may  say  at  once  that 
the  real  reason  for  this  is  not  very  evident. 
Water  is  excreted  by  a  healthy  person  in  two 
ways,  by  the  kidneys  and  by  the  bowel,  and  in 
people  who  sufier  from  habitually  dry  bowels, 
the  quantity  of  urine  passed  is  almost  alway.s 
excessive,  so  there  is  a  want  of  balance  between 
the  two  methods  by  which  wat«r  leaves  the 
body;  further  than  this,  however,  we  cannot 
go;  we  do  not  know  why  this  should  be, 
though  there  have  been  many  reasons  given  for 
the  occurrence. 

Deficiency  of  movement  may  occur  in  matiy 
states,  the  most  common  of  which  is  anaemia, 
but  tight  lacing,  pregnancy,  and  deficiency  of 
general  muscular  movement  also  cause  consti- 
pation, and  are  responsible  for  the  fact  that  the 
condition  is  very  much  more  common  in  women 
than  in  men.  Women  who  do  not  wear  cor- 
sets, and  ^ho  take  exercise,  do  not  suffer  from 
constipation,  and  effete  men,  who  are  wearied 
by  a  walk  of  a  hundred  yards,  do.  Deficiency  ^ 
of  intestinal  movement  is  also  sometimes  due 
to  organic  disease  such  as  a  naiTowiug  of  the 
bowel  itself  from  a  growth  or  adhesions  (as  in 
pelvic  inflammation)  or  to  paralysis  from 
disease  of  the  brain  or  the  spinal  cord. 

Coming  no^\-  to  the  results  of  the  retention 
of  ffeces  in  the  large  bowel,  it  is  important  to 
remember  that  the  numerous  ills  which  con- 
stipation brings  in  its  train  are  due  to  absorp- 
tion of  the  excess  of  nutritious  matter,  and  no*" 
to  the  more  retention  of  the  useless  part  of  the 
food  in  the  large  bowel ;  beyond  distending  the 
gut,  and  weighing  it  down  into  the  pelvis  so 
that  it  becomes  weaker,  no  very  great  harm 
is  done,  but  the  effects  of  the  absorption  into 
the  blood  of  Tuore  nutritious  material  than  the 
body  wants  arc  very  grave  indeed,  because,  in- 
stead of  being  used  up  for  replacing  tissue,  and 
for  the   production  of  heat  and  energy,   it  is 


Nov.  5,  1010] 


dhc  Brttisb  3ournal  of  H-lursino, 


367 


converted  into  various  toxins  which  circulate 
all  over  the  body,  and  have  poisonous  effects 
on  the  various  tissues.  Of  this  toxsemia,  the 
symptoms  are  primarily  dyspepsia,  vomit- 
ing, and  giddiness;  lat.r  on  the  patient 
passes  into  a  melancholic  condition,  so 
that  his  life  is  a  nuisance  to  himself, 
and  by  reason  of  the  parading  of  his 
real  and  imaginary  ailments  in  which  he  almost 
invariably  indulges,  to  his  fellows  also.  We  all 
know  the  sallow,  morose  individual,  with  a 
muddy  complexion  and  a  furred  tongue,  and  a 
firm  belief  that  he  or  she  is  suffering  from  heart 
disease  or  cancer,  who  bulks  so  largely  in  our 
medical  out-patient  departments,  and  who 
seems  to  exist  on  a  nourishing  diet  of  tea  and 
ill-natured  scandal.  There  is,  after  all,  some- 
thing to  be  said  for  Mrs.  Squeers'  method  of 
compulsory  purification  of  the  blood,  thougli 
in  this  respect  there  should  also  have  been  a 
female  department  at  Dotheboys  Hall. 

Many  symptoms  of  seemingly  obscure  origin 
are  really  due  to  constipation.  It  is  one  of  the 
forerunners  of  high  arterial  tension  with  its 
attendant  evils,  and  in  babies  is  often  respon- 
sible for  convulsions,  which  are  usually  erro- 
neously attributed  to  teething.  In  older  chil- 
dren, night  terrors  are  generally  due  to  this 
cause  also. 

The  treatment  of  constipation  is  usually  un- 
dertaken in  the  first  instance  by  the  sufferers 
themselves,  and  takes  the  form  of  investing 
in  boxes  of  patent  pills.  So  long  as  these  are 
taken  only  for  occasional  constipation,  no 
damage  results,  as  they  generally  contain  no- 
thing more  harmful  than  aloes  and  soap,  with 
a  little  ginger,  which  may  or  may  not  have  the 
desired  effect,  but  if  the  constipation  is  of  the 
habitual  variety,  no  good  is  done,  but  rather 
hami,  in  that  the  bowels  get  into  the  habit 
of  not  acting  without  them,  and  the  treatment 
come  to  rather  resembles  the  equally  popular 
method  of  relieving  mental  depression  by  re- 
peated doses  of  whisky  and  soda.  The  reme- 
dies that  are  suitable  for  the  occasional  consti- 
pation are  distinctly  harmful  when  the  trouble 
is  chronic. 

TjCt  us  take  occasional  constipation  first ; 
there  are  three  remedies  which  are  useful,  and 
the  first  is  castor  oil,  which,  as  an  occasional 
purgative,  still  holds  its  own,  amidst  the  multi- 
tude of  substitutes  which  have  been  devised 
for  it.  It  has  the  advantage  that  it  can  be 
iriven  at  all  ages  and  to  all  types  of  patient,  but 
it  is  undoubtedly  nasty ;  to  children  it  may  be 
given  mixed  with  honey,  and  adults  can  often 
take  it  easily  if  it  is  floated  on  the  surface  of 
a  small  cupful  of  strong  coffee.  If  the  consti- 
pation is  due  to  a  sluggish  liver,  calomel,  pre- 
ferablv  given   in  small   doses  of  half  a   grain 


repeated  until  two  or  three  grains  have  been 
taken,  is  a  very  useful  drug.  The  third 
measure,  which  is  especially  suitable  when  the 
others  have  failed,  is  a  simple  enema,  which 
may  often  be  usefully  preceded  by  a  few  ounces 
of  olive  oil  given  also  per  rectum. 

In  chronic  constipation,  the  first  essential  is 
to  discover  the  cause  of  the  trouble,  and  then 
to  remedy  it,  if  possible,  by  modifying  the 
habits  of  the  patient  without  recourse  to  drugs. 

Two  factore  are  often  at  the  bottom  of  tlie 
trouble :  the  patient  takes  too  little  exercise, 
and  drinks  too  little  fluid  with  his  meals.  It 
is  also  imperative  that  he  should  make  an  at- 
tempt, to  empty  the  bowels  at  a  stated  time 
each  day,  preferably  after  breakfast.  The 
modern  practice  of  including  in  the  diet  articles 
like  brown  bread  and  oatmeal  porridge,  which 
act  as  gentle  irritants  to  the  intestine  (though 
useful  for  a  short  time,  and  for  some  persons) 
has  the  grave  disadvantage  that  the  insoluble 
residue  in  the  bowel  is  increased  often  to  a 
considerable  extent,  and  that  the  bowel  very 
soon  becomes  accustomed,  and  fails  to  respond, 
to  the  additional  stimulus.    ' 

But  we  cannot  always  modify  the  habits  of 
patients,  and  attempts  to  do  so  often  resemble 
the  efforts  of  the  newly  elected  house  physician 
who  advises  the  mother  of  the  out-patient  baby 
to  give  it  two  pints  of  fresh  milk  per  diem, 
when  she  herself  has  fifteen  shillings  a  week 
and  a  family  of  six  children  !  So  we  are  often 
driven  to  the  use  of  drugs,  and  the  first  essen- 
tial is  that  they  shall  be  varied,  so  that  the 
bowel  does  not  get  accustomed  to  any  one  of 
them.  We  have  two  indications  to  fulfil,  to 
increase  the  amount  of  water  excreted  by  the 
bowel — as  opposed  to  the  kidney — and  to 
strengthen  the  movements  of  the  intestine. 
For  the  first  purpose,  the  most  genei-ally  useful 
drug  is  sulphate  of  magnesia,  or  Epsom  salts, 
and  for  the  second,  strychnine,  or  nux  vomica; 
they  must  be  combined,  as  either  alone  pro- 
duces griping.  Cascara  may  be  substituted  for 
the  strychnine,  especially  in  excitable  people. 
If  the  patient  is  well  to  do,  we  send  him  to  a 
spa,  where  the  interjections  appropriate  to  the 
nauseous  taste  of  the  water  are  silenced  by  the 
strains  of  a  brass  band.  If  he  cannot  afford 
this,  we  advise  him  to  take  the  aforesaid  com- 
bination of  drugs  on  rising,  in  a  tumblerful  of 
hot  water,  and  to  satisfy  his  craving  for  music 
at  other  times.  The  name  of  laxative  drugs 
is  legion,  but  they  all  fall  into  the  two  divi- 
sions I  have  described,  so  that  a  variety  in  pre- 
scribing is  possible  and  indeed  essential.  The 
important  point  is  to  treat  the  individual  pa- 
tient, and  not  only  the  complaint  from  which 
he  is  sufieiing. 


368 


tCbc  Buitisb  3outnal  of  IRursiiui.  [^o^-  s-  i^io 


Z  be  ilDatrons'  Council  ot  ^Brcat 
Britain  an^  3relanb. 

A  meeting  of  the  Ma- 
trons' Council  was  held  at 
431,  Oxford  Street,  on 
Wednesday,  October  26th. 
The  President,  Miss 
Heather-Bigg,  was  in  the 
chair,  there  was  a  good 
attendance  of  members, 
and  some  twenty  mem- 
bers wrote  regretting  their 
inability  to  be  present. 

The  first    business    was 
the  annual  election  of  the 
Hon.     Secretary,     and    as 
Miss  Mollett  consented  to 
act  again,   she  was  unani- 
mously re-elected. 
Four  ladies  were  nominated,  subject  to  their 
consent  to  act,  to  fill  the  additional  positions 
as  Vice-Presidents  provided  for  under  the  new 
Bye-laws. 

The  meeting  then  discussed  the  attitude  of 
the  Matrons'  Council  with  regai-d  to  the  pro- 
posed memorials  to  Miss  Florence  Nightingale. 
Those  present  were  unanimously  of  opinion 
that  the  first  care  of  trained  nui-ses  must 
be  that  a  statue  of  Miss  Nightingale  shall  be 
placed  in  a  prominent  position  in  the  Metro- 
polis, and  that  any  further,  memorial  should 
be  of  an  educational  character,  as  most  suit- 
ably commemorating  Miss  Nightingale's  life 
and  work. 

It  was  decided  to  forward  the  following  Ee- 
solution  to  Mr.  J.  Q.  Wainwright,  Treasurer  of 
St;   Thomas's  Hospital. 

RESOLUTION. 

The  Matrons'  Coiinci!  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland  is  of  the  opinion  tliat  the  Nurses' 
Memorial  to  Florence  Nightingale  should  take  the 
form  of  a  statue,  to  be  erected  in  some  suitable 
position,  as  a  permanent  Memorial  and  a  lasting 
sign  to  future  ages  of  the  admiration  and  apprecia- 
tion of  the  TSventieth  Century  nurses  for  the  gi'eat 
Foundress  of  their  Profession.  The  Matron.?' 
Council  depreoat'es  the  idea  of  placing  in  the  tore- 
front  of  tho  Nur.ses'  Memorial  a  scheme,  however 
praiseworthy,  for  tho  pei-sonal  benefit  of  nurses 
themselves. 

Tt  was  decided  that  the  January  meeting  of 
the  Matrons'  Council  should  be  hold  in  Lon- 
don, and  the  April  and  July  meetings  in  the 
provinces. 

The  business  meeting  then  terminated. 

M.    ]M0LLETT, 

Hon.  Sccreiary. 

After  an  interval  for  tea,  Miss  Mollett 
opened  a  discussion  on  The  Supply  of  Proba- 
tioners. 


THE  SUPPLY  OF   PROBATIONERS. 

The  discussion  of  this  question  was  sug- 
gested under  two  heads: — (1)  Whether  the 
women  who  offer  themselves  for  training  at  the 
present  time  are  less  suitable  tor  the  Nursing 
Profession  than  those  who  applied  ten  or 
fifteen  years  ago.  (2)  If  so,  what  is  the  cause 
and  the  remedy  ? 

In  opening  the  discussion,  Miss  Mollet1>  re- 
lated a  story  of  Charles  II.,  who  requested  the 
Eoyal  Society  to  decide  why  a  fish  weighed 
more  in  water  than  out  of  it.  The  question 
was  discussed  with  due  solemnity  until  one 
member  discovered  that  it  weighed  the  same 
in  both  instances. 

One  point  to  be  considered,  said  Miss  Mol- 
lett, was  that  "*  there  is  more  of  the  pro." 
Thirty  years  ago  very  few  hospitals  took  pro- 
bationers and  professed,  or  pretended,  to  train 
them.  Now  every  hospital,  big  and  little,  was 
full  of  probationers.  It  was  sometimes  thought 
that  the  present  type  of  probationers  was  not 
as  good  as  it  used  to  be,  because  now  there 
were  so  many  other  openings  for  women.  Miss 
Mollett  was  of  opinion  that  this  did  not  affect 
the  nursing  profession  so  much  as  was  some- 
times thought,  as  it  was  counterbalanced  by 
the  fact  that  so  .many  more  women  than  for- 
merly wished  to  work. 

In  regard  to  the  qualities  desirable  in  a  pro- 
bationer, every  Matron  had  her  ideal,  which 
certainly  included  excellent  health,  physique, 
good  appearance,  suitable  temperament,  and 
aptitude,  which  implied  the  "  born  nurse,"  for 
without  such  aptitude  no  amount  of  training 
would  make  a  woman    a  really    good    nurse. 

Then  she  should  have  a  fair  education.  A 
hospital  was  neither  a  national  school  nor  an 
infants'  school.  In  the  future  no  doubt  the 
nuraiug  profession  would  be  able  to  estabhsh 
tests  of  preliminary  education.  Another  essen- 
tial quahty  was  good  breeding,  not  that  con- 
fined to  any  particular  class,  but  good  manners 
and  refined  ways  should  be  learnt  when  young ; 
they  could  not  be  taught  for  the  first  time 
when  a  women  entered  a  hospital.  She  was 
not  refening  to  poverty,  but  to  the  type  of 
woman  who  appeared  in  Merry  Widow  hats 
and  handsome  dresses  and  had  only  two 
changes  of  under-linen. 

One  member  said  that  she  had  great  and 
increasing  diffictdty  in  filling  vacancies  for  pro- 
bationers with  M-omou  of  a  type  whom  she 
cared  to  take. 

Amongst  the  present  day  characteristics 
mentioned  by  another  speaker  were  an  altera- 
tion in  the  national  character.  She  tliought 
that  generally  there  was  less  sense  of  duty, 
lower  ideals  than  formerly,  and  this  was  shown 
in  the  training  school  by  the  desire  for  as  much 
time  off  duty  as  possible. 


Nov.  5,  1910" 


^bc  aentieb  journal  ot  iRursing. 


360 


Mrs.  Bedford  Feuwick  said  that  as  buijeriu- 
teudent  of  a  Co-operation  of  private  nurses  she 
inter\'iewed  nurses  from  the  majority  of  Lon- 
don hospitals,  and  some  of  them  appeared  to 
be  very  poor  stuff.  That  the  type  of  proba- 
tioner was  changing  was  due  in  part  to 
evolution,  .which  was  bound  to  have  some 
effect  upon  both  men  and  women.  For  in- 
stance, the  young  women  who  took  a  daily  con- 
stitutional in  the  past  did  not  come  back  in  the 
same  frame  of  mind  as  the  one  who  now  skims 
away  on  a  bicycle.  Then  character  was  not 
built  up  in  the  home  in  the  same  way  as  for- 
merly ;  few  daughters  now  had  any  home 
duties. 

ilrs.  Feuwick  did  not  think  nurses  were 
treated  entirely  justly  with  regard  to  their 
training,  too  much  was  expected  of  them.  The 
cumeulum  of  their  education  was  often  not  de- 
vised to  meet  their  requirements.  In  reply  to 
questions,  nurses  holding  three  years'  certifi- 
cates had  told  her  that  therapeutics  had  some- 
thing to  do  with  operations.  They  did  not 
know  the  meaning  of  materia  mediea,  could 
not  repeat  the  scale  of  weights  and  measures, 
or  saywhat  was  used  to  disinfect  a  room.  On 
the  whole,  the  raw  material  was  probably. as 
good,  but  required  different  manipulation  in 
th'j  home  and  the  hospitals. 

Miss  Waind  suggested  that  one  of  the 
reasons  why  the  right  type  of  probationers  did 
not  a])ply  for  training  was  that  ;Matrons  often 
dissuaded  their  best  nurses  from  taking  up 
private  nursing.  If  second  rate  women  were 
sent  into  private  houses,  then  the  daughters  in 
those  homes  were  not  inspired  to  adopt  nurs- 
ing as  a  profes.sion.  She  thought  private  nurs- 
ing sliould  be  regarded  as  valuable  experience 
for  nurses,  and  that  they  should  be  welcomed 
back  to  their  training  schools  either  to  take 
up  posts,  or  for  post-graduate  work. 

Amongst  the  points  raised  by  other  speakei-s 
were  the  lack  of  professional  status,  the 
poverty  of  outlook,  and  the  lack  of  ideals. 

Miss  Mollett  said  that  the  outcome  of  the  dis- 
cussion seemed  to  be  the  clay  was  just  as  good 
as  ever,  if  not  better,  different  but  just  as  train- 
able, but  that  the  training  was  not  as  good  as  it 
should  be.  The  President  said  that  she 
thought  the  average  of  fine-  characters  was 
higher,  and  for  that  reason  individuals  did  not 
stand  out  so  much. 

There  appeared  to  be  a  concensus  of  opinion 
that  nurees  were  not  satisfied  with  their  train- 
ing facilities  and  economic  condition,  and  that 
this  spirit  naturally  reacted  upon  their  attitude 
to  nursing  generally. 

A  class  must  be  justly  treated  if  it  is  to  be 
absolutelv  loyal. 

M.  B. 


four 


Icaouc  11^c\V5. 

The  Chelsea  Infimiary  Nurses'  League  held 
their  annual  meeting  on  October  •26th,  and  the 
business  meeting  was  followed  by  a  «)cial 
gathering,  known  as  the  "  penny  party,"  as 
everyone  was  expected  to  bring  something 
costing  a  penny.  In  the  evening  the  Han-est 
Festival  took  place  in  the  infirmary  chapel, 
and  subsequently  Mr.  Head,  the  Mayor  of 
Chelsea,  presented  prizes  to  the  nurses  who 
had  been  successful  in  the  swimming  competi- 
tions, and  in  a  very  happy  speech  com- 
mended swimming  as  excellent  exercise  for 
nurses.    . 

The  following  prizes   were  awarded  :- 
For  winning   the  race  for    swimming 
lengths  of  the  baths  :   Sister  Grace. 

For  winning  the  handicap  and  the  race  for 
those  who  had  learnt  to  swim  this  year :  iMiss 
Kathleen  .Johnson. 

For  winning  an  apple  scramble,  the  com- 
petition being  to  pick  up  the  greatest  quan- 
tity of  apples  and  put  them  in  a  basket  at  the 
side  :   Sister  Grace. 

For  swimming  across  the  baths  in  fewest 
strokes :  Miss  Payne. 

For  balancing  a  hat  wliilst  swimming :  Miss 
Nankivil. 

For  winning  the  tortoise  race :  Miss  Nan- 
kivil. 

After  that  those  present  voted  as  to  who  had 
brought  the  best  pennyworth  in  the  afternoon. 
The  prize  was  awarded  to  the  competitor  who 
brought  a  large  plateful  of  the  following  goods  : 
A  farthing's  worth  of  soda,  a  farthing's  worth 
of  salt,  and  a  half  penny- worth  of  soap.  It  was 
extraordinary  how  large  an  amount  could  be 
procured  for  Id. 


LEAGUE  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  HOUSE  NURSES. 

At  the  General  Meeting  of  the  League  of 
St.  John's  House  Nurses,  held  on  Thursday, 
October  •27th,  a  letter  was  read  from  the  Presi- 
dent, Sister  Charlotte,  regretting  her  absence, 
and  expressing  her  thanks  to  the  members  for 
their  loyal  support  during  the  past  nine  years, 
and  asking  for  the  same  for  her  successor, 
whose  election  was  a  part  of  the  business  of  the 
meeting. 

There  were  three  members  nominated  for  the 
position  of  President,  and  ^liss  Laura  Baker, 
Lady  Superintendent  of  the  Howard  de  Walden 
Nurses'  Home,  received  the  majority  of  the 
votes  and  was  duly  elected  the  future  President 
of  our  League. 

Miss  Baker  will  not  assume  office  until  Sister 
Charlotte  leaves  St.  John's  House,  as  it  was  the 
unanimous  wish  of  the  njembers  to  keep  their 


70 


Zbc  Britieb  Journal  of  iRurslng, 


[Nov. 


1910 


President  as  long  as  j^ossible.  A  slight  altera- 
tion was  made  in  the  working  arrangements, 
which  is  hoped  will  minimise  the  office  work 
somewhat.  A  short  resume  of  the  progress  of 
State  Registration  was  given  by  Miss  Breay, 
who  spoke  of  the  proposed  Reunion  to  be  held 
in  London  in  February. 

Hearty-  votes  of  thanks  were  passed  to  the 
Hon.  Officers  for  their  work  during  the  past 
year,  and  the  meeting  resolved  itself  into  a 
Social  Gathering. 

M.  Burr, 

Hon.   Secretary. 

1Ro\?al  IRecoonition  for  IHurses. 

On  Wednesday,  the  26th  ult.,  the  Iving  and 
Queen  received  at  Marlborough  House  Miss 
Clara  Nelson  Smith,  IMatron  of  the  Nursing 
Home,  15,  Weibeck  Street,  W.,  in  which  the 
late  Prince  Francis  of  Teck  was  operated  upon, 
and  thanked  her  for  all  she  had  done.  ffis 
-Majesty  bestowed  upon  her  the  Royal  Vic- 
torian medal.  The  Queen  has  presented 
brooches  to  all  the  nurses  who  were  in  attend- 
ance on  her  brother  at  the;  home.  The 
brooches  are  of  dark  blue  or  green  enamel,  sur- 
mounted by  a  Royal  Crown  insci'ibed  with  the 
initials  "  G.   and  M." 


Conference  on  JfeeDino  of  IRurses. 

We  understand  that  the  Conference  on  the 
Feeding  of  Nurses,  to  be  held  at  Caxton  Hall 
■on  Saturday,  November  5th,  at  2.30  p.m.,  has 
aroused  great  enthusiasm,  and  that  a  large  and 
representative  gathering  is  assured.  Miss 
Rosalind  Paget  will  preside.  Matrons 
desiring  to  be  enrolled  as  members  of  the  Con- 
ference, and  individual  nurses  and  others  in- 
terested, wishful  to  obtain  visitors'  tickets, 
should  make  early  application  to  the  Secretai-y, 
National  Food  Reform  Association,  178,  St. 
Stephen's  House,  Westminster,  since  the  ac- 
commodation is  necessarily  limited. 


^be  jfoo&  anb  Cooher^  lEybibition. 

The  21si  Universal  Food  and  Cookery  Exhibi- 
tion was  opened  at  the  Royal  Horticultural 
"Hall,  Westminster,  S.W., on  Tuesday,  Nov.  1st, 
and  will  remain  open  until  Saturday,  Novem- 
ber 5th.  The  invalid  trays  shown  by  trained 
nurses  are  not  to  be  on  view  until  Thunsday 
and  Friday,  too  late  to  be  described  in  this 
issue.  A  number  of  dainty  trays  were  ex- 
liibited  on  Tui-sday  and  Wednesday,  in  Class 
83,  and  some  nurses  competed  in  this  general 
class,  and  also  in  Class  33a,  restricted  to  meat- 
less dishes. 


Morf;  in  a  1l3onie  anb  Jforeign 
Ibospital  Contrastct). 

The  first  of  a  series  of  &\e  lectures  on  "A 
Nurse's  Equipment  for  Service  at  Home  and 
Abroad,"  organised  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Nurses'  Missionary  League,  was  delivered  on 
Tuesday  morning  last  at  University  Hall,  Gor- 
don Square,  by  Miss  C.  F.  Tippet,  who  is  now 
working  at  the  Wilson  ^Memorial  Hospital,  at 
Pingyangfu,  Shansi,  N.  China.  The  hospital 
is  a  memorial  of  Dr.  William  ^Millar  Wilson, 
his  wife  Christine,  and  their  infant  son,  who 
suffered  martvrdom  at  Taiyuanfu  in  the  Boxer 
rising  in  1900'^ 

Miss  Tippet  spoke  as  follows  :  — 

I  have  been  asked  to  speak  to  you  this  morn- 
ing on  the  contrasts  in  the  work  of  a  home  and 
foreign  hospital,  and  at  Pingyangfu,  in  Nor- 
thern China,  where  I  wor-k,  the  contrast  is  very 
great.  At  some  of  the  hospitals  on  the  coast 
the  conditions  approximate  more  nearly  to 
those  at  home,  but  not  in  the  interior.  First 
there  is  environment.  We  are  foreigners  in  a 
foreign  country,  a  huge,  tremendous  counti^y 
it  must  be  remembered,  and  one  of  our  first 
difficulties  is  that  of  transport.  Then  there  is 
the  dust;  we  have  terrible  dust  storms,  and 
sometimes  when  everything  in  the  theatre  is 
ready  for  an  operation  a  dust  storm  comes  on, 
and  there  can  be  no  operation  because  every 
crevice  of  theatre,  and  our  own  mouths,  ears, 
and  noses  are  filled  with  it.  Again,  there  are 
the  Chinese  manners  and  customs  to  be  con- 
sidered ;  it  is  not  wise  or  right  to  ride  roughshod 
over  these.  To  insist  upon  the  observance  of 
our  own  customs  in  unimportant  matters  is  to 
damage  and  interfere  with  the  woi'k. 

In  regard  to  the  climate  it  is  a  very  fine  one 
for  those  whose  heads  can  stand  it,  but  the 
high  altitude  causes  sleeplessness  with  some 
people. 

The  language  is  one  of  our  difficulties,  but  it 
is  exceedingly  interesting,  and  I  have  never 
known  anyone  sent  back  on  this  account. 
God's  commands  are  His  enablings,  and  if  He 
calls  you  to  work  in  China  He  will  help  you 
to  speak  to  the  jieople  in  their  own  tongue. 

As  to  the  people,  they  are  very  ignorant  and 
very  dirty,  but  those  are  conditions  not  un- 
known at  home,  and  you  must  remember  that 
water  is  very  scarce ;  in  the  hospital  we  have- 
to  buy  evei-y  drop  of  water,  which  is  brought 
to  us  in  a  cart,  and  when  I  am  doing  district 
work  it  is  a  real  consideration  whether  I  shall 
wash  mj-  face  once  or  twice  a  day,  especially 
when  there  is  a  drought. 

The  people,  then,  arc  ignorant,  dirty,  super- 
stitious, fearful,  they  hear  strange  tales  of  us, 
of  our  scooping  out  eyes,  aiKl  taking  out  heai^ts, 


.\. 


1010" 


Cbe  3Bi1t(sb  3ournal  of  IRuising. 


371 


buc  wlieu  once  they  trii>t  us  they  are  very 
grateful,  faithful,  aud  lovable,  and  splendid 
material  to  work  amongst.  This  is  important 
when  we  remember  that  the  future  doctors  and 
nurses  of  China  must  bo  fashioned  from  it. 
Once  you  gain  the  confidence  of  the  people  they 
are  easy  to  train. 

The  hospital  in  which  I  have  worked  for 
years  has  been  a  native  building  adapted  for 
the  purpose.  In  China  the  men  and  women's 
work  must  be  kept  absolutely  distinct,  and  one 
of  my  great  resiwnsibilities  is  to  see  that  no 
man  enters  the  women's  hospital,  for  if  we  did 
not  confonn  to  the  national  custom,  the  hospi- 
tal would  get  a  bad  name,  and  then  the  pa- 
tients whom  we  want  to  get  hold  of  would  not 
come.  The  patients  sleep  on  a  brick  elevation, 
a  kind  of  brick  bed  known  as  a  k'ang.  On  one 
side  of  the  ward  is  the  fireplace,  on  the  other 
the  chimney,  between  them  the  k'ang, 
and  underneath,  connecting  flues,  by  which 
means  the  k'ang  is  heated.  On  it  are  placed 
the  mats  covered  with  felt,  which  sei-ve  for 
beds,  but  the  patients  must  be  exceedingly  ill 
to  lie  upon  them,  they  are  much  more  com- 
fortable sitting  up  crossed  legged.  For  the  new 
hospital  wooden  beds  are  provided,  but  we 
should  never  get  a  Chinese  patient  to  sleep  on 
a  spring  bed. 

One  of  the  greatest  contrasts  between  work 
at  home  and  in  China  is  the  difference  in  the 
provision  of  hospitals,  doctors,  and  nurses  for 
the  sick.  In  Shansi,  which  is  as  large  as  Great 
Britain,  with  its  12,000.000  people,  we  have 
four  hospitals  and  a  small  dispensary ;  remem- 
ber, too,  there  are  no  railway  communications, 
and  yet  Shansi  is  supposed  to  be  fairly  well 
provided  for. 

In  the  hospital  where  I  work,  which  serves 
a  population  of  3,000,000,  and  to  which  our 
patients  come  in  spring  carts,  on  donkeys,  or 
in  mule  litters  which  swing  and  jog,  our  stafi 
consists  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Can-  and  myself. 

There  are  native  doctors,  but  they  need  not 
necessarily  have  had  any  trainihg.  Their  chief 
implements  are  needles,  which  may  be  of  gold 
or  silver,  but  more  usually  are  of  rough  steel. 
With  these  they  puncture  the  body,  there 
being  200  spots  where  such  punctures  are  made. 
In  one  case  a  native  doctor  treated  a  patient 
by  puncture,  pocketed  his  heavy  fee,  and  gave 
instructions  that  the  man  was  to  be  kept  abso- 
lutely quiet,  and  no  one  was  to  go  near  him. 
When  the  friends  at  last  went  in  they  found 
the  patient  dead  with  a  puncture  in  his  heart. 
Keeognising  what  he  had  done  the  doctor  had 
■secured  time  for  his  escape. 

In  their  confinements  the  women  are  cruelly 
treated :  they  are  seated  upon  straw,  not 
allowed  to  go  to  sleep,  and  are  held  up  during 


labour  by  their  hair.  ?il;iuy  of  the  \yomen  iri 
the  hospital  date  their  illnesses  from  their  con- 
finements. Only  the  child  is  considered  valu- 
able; the  mother's  life  is;  unimportant.  In 
addition,  the  midwives  are  a  terrible  class,  with 
long  nails,  never  cut  or  cleaned,  so  that  if  thf 
mission  doctor  is  called  in  to  a  case  it  is 
generally  septic  first.  Ah,  nurses,  China  needs 
our  sympathy  and  help. 

Again,  there  are  no  asylums  in  the  interior: 
so  very  oft«n  lunatics  aire  put  out  of  the  way, 
or  chained  to  mill  stones  aud  left.  The  more 
acute  their  mania,  the  more  harshly  they  are 
treated.     They  also  need  our  help. 

In  China  it  is  the  young  women  who  have  a 
hard  time.     The  old  women  rule  the  roost. 

As  to  treatment,  our  patients  really  love  a 
plaster — anything  that  sticks;  also  ointments, 
gargles,  and  tonics. 

At  the  hospital  in  Pingyaugfu  the  outpatients 
attend  twice  a'  week,  and  the  medical  mission 
work  is  the  most  powerful  of  evangelistic 
agencies.  In  the  outpatient  hall  all  sorts  and 
conditions  of  women,  and  of  diseases,  are  to  be 
found — ladies  in  elegant  silks,  shopkeepers' 
wives,  countrywomen,  and  slave  girls.  It  is 
worth  going  to  China  to  see  them  listening  to 
the  old,  old  story.  We  have  a  wonderful  Bibk- 
womau,  Mrs.  Han,  who  is  worth  her  weight  in 
gold,  and  who  gives  each  patient  a  numbered 
strip  of  bamboo  on  arrival  and  endeavours 
to  keep  order  and  send  each  in  in  her  turn.  How 
are  all  these  suffering  people  to  be  attended, 
helped,  saved?  The  ci-y  of  China  is  ringing 
over  the  land,  and  until  the  Church  of  God  at 
home  realises  the  need,  many  will  suffer  need- 
lessly because  there  is  no  one  to  help  them. 
If  once  you  do  go  the  need  vnll  be  burnt  into 
your  heart  for  ever.  There  are  the  women 
with  their  poor  bound  feet,  often  rotten,  the 
blind  who  are  literally  made  to  see,  and  the 
lame  to  walk.     Is  it  not  worth  while? 

Again,  there  is  the  opium  refuge  work.  The 
women  come  in  opium  sots,  emaciated,  with 
contracted  pupils.  After  a  stay  of  a  month, 
and  treatment  with  liquor  moi-phia  acetate — 
sometimes  800  to  400  minims  a  day  at  fii-st 
and  gradually  lessened — they  go  out  with  the 
habit  broken,  and  many  of  our  best  Christians 
are  former  opium  patients. 

Would  to  God  nurses  would  wake  to  th. 
awful  need  of  China  and  to  their  own  respon- 
sibiUty,  to  the  joy  of  carrying  there  the  Word 
of  Life  and  the  Gift  of  Healing.  I  thank  God 
I  was  called  to  China ;  if  I  had  twenty  lives 
they  should  all  be  spent  there.  Do  you  ivi: 
hear  the  call:  "  Whom  shall  I  send  and  who 
will  go  for  us?"  Will  you  not  answer:  "  Here 
am  I,  send  me?  "  - 


372 


Zhc  Britisb  3ouinal  of  IRursing. 


;Xov.  5,  1910 


riDmc.  3acciue5'  jfarcwell  to  her 
pupils. 

We  have  received  from  Mme.  Jacques,  late 
Matron  of  the  Nursing  School  at  the  Salpetrifere 
Hospital.  Paris,  a  copy  of  her  Farewell  Letter 
to  the  Association  of  the  former  certificated 
pupils  of  the  School.  Mme.  Jacques  wrote  as 
follows :  — 

Madame  President  of  the  Association  of  Former 
Certificated  Pupils  of  the  Nursing  School  of 
the  Assistance  Publique. 

Dear  Madam, — I  have  addressed  a  Farewell 
Letter  to  your  young  comrades  still  resident  in  the 
School  of  which  I  have  the  pleasure  of  enclosing 
a  copy. 

Mesdemoiselles  and  dear  pupils, — I  have  left  the 


sideration  of  those  with  whom  you  come  in  contact, 
and  who  see  you  at  your  work,  without  discipline. 
That  is  external,  that  is  on  the  surface,  but  there 
is  another  point  which  must  not  be  neglected,  and 
that  is  feeling.  A  nurse  whose  soul  is  hard  is  not 
a  nurse  at  all.  You  may  care  for  your  patients  per- 
fectly, scientifically,  but  you  will  never  truly  nurse 
a  sick  person  if  you  have  not  strengthened  his  mind 
at  a  time  when  ebbing  courage  leaves  him  without 
elasticity,  tired  of  life. 

But  to  accomplish  this  task — noble  above  all 
others — it  is  necessary  that  you  should  have  within 
you  a  will,  a  force,  constantly  sustained  and  re- 
newed. I  should  at  this  point  like  to  recall  to  you 
the  admirable  lectures  of  M.  le  Professor  Darlu  in 
order  that  his  words  may  He  engraved  on  your 
minds,  for  they  form  a  pure  catechism  of  goodness 
which  alone  can  make  your  consciences  tranquil  and 
liapp.v. 


MADAME   JACQUES, 
Late   Matron  of   the   Nursing   School   of  the  Assistance  Publique,   Paris. 


.Nursing  School  of  the  Assistance  Publique  to  re- 
sume my  profession  (of  midwifery)  which  I  relin- 
(|Mished  for  a  time. 

From  respect  for  tradition  I  do  not  wish  to  fail 
in  addressing  to  you  some  counsels,  and  at  the 
same  time  to  express  my  thanks  to  you.  That 
which  more  than  anything  else  has  produced  the 
results  which  we  have  obtained  is  discipline.  It 
is  very  tlifficult  for  a  French  girl  of  twenty  years 
of  age  to  submit  to  discipline,  but  it  is  neverthe- 
less necessary  for  you  to  understand  that 
without  a  strict  rule,  observed  by  all,  it  is  impos- 
sible to  have  a  school,  you  cannot  have  that  pro- 
li-ssional  worth  by  which  you  will  be  everywhere 
iiK-ognised,  you  cannot  have  the  respect  and  con- 


To  conclude  my  thanks  to  you,  you  have  given 
me  great  joy  at  those  times  when  you  have  not 
shrunk  from  extraordinary  effort  in  order  to  ac- 
complish your  work.  For  that  I  thank  you  with 
all  my  heart.  I  pursued  an  end.  You  have  lieli)©d 
rao  to  attain  it  to  the  extent  which  I  desired.  For 
that  I  thank  you  once  more. 

Do  not,  I  beg  you,  banish  from  your  young  heads 
the  remembrance  of  the  excellent  ethics  which  iv« 
have  repeated  together  for  the  last  time. 

And  I  conclude  by  addressing  to  all  of  .vou  the 
assurance  of  my  affectionate  regards. 


To   you,    Madame,    who    represent     the  former 
pupils,  1  have  something  nSore  to  add.     It  seems  to 


Nov.  5,  1910] 


Cljc  Bi-itlsb  3ournal  of  IHursing. 


173 


me  that  between  you  and  nic  there  must  be  some- 
thing more,  for  together  we  have  struggled  through 
the  difficult  hours  which  have  led  at  last  to  your 
graduation. 

And  then  I  must  speak  briefly  of  your  duties  as 
seniors.  Treat  your  juniors  with  consideration. 
Remember  always  your  own  joy  during  your  term 
of  training,  where  you  founil  a  sympathetic  per- 
son to  guide  and  help  you,  without  brusqueness,  to 
take  the  first  steps  in  the  hard  profession  which 
is  yours. 

Ever  keep  before  you  the  necessity  for  .^setting 
an  example,  and  remember  always  those  who  have 
been  martyrs  to  duty,  for,  alas,  your  School  has 
already  paid  its  contribution. 

I  wish,  with  all  my  heart,  to  everyone  of  you,  a 
happy    life,    and    that    those   amongst  whom    you 
work  will  say  of  you  "  these  are  good  nurses.' 
With  kindest  regards, 
I  am,  dear  Madam, 

Yours  sincerely, 

M.  Jacqites. 

Iproevcss  of  State  IReoistration. 

Lord  Ampthill  will  preside  at  a  meeting  of 
the  Central  Committee  for  Registration  on  the 
19th  of  November,  to  be  held  in  the  Council 
Room,  at  the  British  Medical  Association's 
Offices,  329,  Strand,  Loudon,  W.C. 


3ustice  to  ifever  IRurses. 

In  pleading  for  a  separate  Register  for  Fever 
Nurses,  Dr.  A.  Campbell  Munro,  Medical 
Officer  of  Health,  Port  Glasgow,  stated  in  a 
letter  iii  our  columns  recently  that  he  had 
entered  upon  the  registration  controversy 
simply  to  see  fair  play  and  in  a  spirit  of  loyalty 
to  his  colleagues  in  the  Public  Health  Service 
and  to  fever  nurses. 

In  our  opinion,  the  only  "  fair  play  "  so  far 
as  Fever  Nurses  are  concerned  is  to  give  them 
a  thorough  theoretical  and  practical  training 
in  general  nursing,  supplemented  and  com- 
bined with  the  same  advantages  in  the  nursing 
of  infectious  diseases.  This  would  qualify  them 
to  caiTy  out  the  directions  of  medical  practi- 
tioners— and  especially  those  in  the  Public 
Health  Sel•^"ice — who  have  themselves  been 
professionally  educated  in  general  medicine, 
for  the  safety  of  sick  persons. 

"Fair,  play"  for  nurses  engaged  in  the 
care  of  infectious  diseases,  does  not  consist  in 
training  them  in  one  special  branch  of  medical 
nursing  alone,  and  thus  disqualifying  them 
from  earning  their  living  in  competition  with 
general  trained  nurses.  The  nursing,  like  the 
treatment,"of  infectious  diseases,  must  be  based 
on  general  principles.  Dr.  Campbell  Munro 
speaks  of  a  separate  Register  as  "  a  boon  to 


fever  nurses,"  and  accuses  those,  like  our- 
selves, who  oppose  it  of  a  narrow-minded 
desire,  "  in  whatever  cloud  of  words  they 
cloak  their  intentions,  to  keep  fever  nurses  in 
a  humble  and  subordinate  position."  With  all 
due  deference  to  Dr.  Munro,  this  is  untrue. 
The  only  means  by  which  workers  can  be  kept 
in  a  subordinate  position  is  byhalf  educating 
them,  when  their  services  will  only  be  worth 
half  price.  A  Fever  Nurses'  Register  would 
place  the  iusufficicntly  trained  women  on  it  at 
an  economic  disadvantage,  and  at  the  mercy  of 
Municipal  bodies  who  govern  fever  hospitals, 
who  are  not  nursing  experts  or  educationalists, 
and  whose  duty  is  to  provide  a  staff  of  nurses 
to  care  for  the  patients  in  their  charge  only, 
witliout  reference  to  nursing  standards  as  a 
whole. 

Dr.  Campbell  Munro  is  under  a  misappre- 
hension in  stating  that  the  position  of  fever 
nursing  is  ' '  ambiguous, ' '  as  provided  for  in  the 
Nurses'  Registration  Bill.  It  quite  clearly 
claims  power  for  the  registration  of  a  fever 
nursing  qualification,  in  addition  to,  or  in  con- 
junction with,  a  general  nursing  qualification. 

Nursing  is  the  practical  handmaid  of  medi- 
cine ;  it  must  be  based  educationally  on  the 
same  principles.  Until  the  General  Medical 
Council  institutes  a  special  Register  for  fever 
practitioners,  let  us  be  sufficiently  liberal 
minded  in  organising  nursing  standards  to  pro- 
tect nui-ses  working  in  infectious  diseases  hos- 
pitals from  such  disadvantageous  legislation  as 
a  restrictive  special  Register. 

E.  G.  F. 


IProposcb  3mpcrial  flDcmovial   to 
fIDiss  jflorencc  IBigbttuQalc,  ©.HD. 

Tlie  public  meeting  convened  to  consider  the  pro- 
posed Imperial  Memorial  to  the  late  Miss  Florence 
Nightingale  was  held  at  Grosvenor  House  on  October 
28th,  by  permission  of  the  Duke  of  Westminster. 

It  was  previously  announced  in  the  public  press 
that  "  the  Imperial  Memorial  is  being  organised  to 
render  pecuiiiarj'  assistance  to  agetl  hospital  nurses, 
or  those  incapacitated  through  ill  health  from  con- 
tinuing their  nursing  career,"  but  the  Piovisional 
Committee  evidently  recognised  tlie  weight  ot  a 
letter  which  appeare<l  in  the  press  oh  Thursday. 
October  27th,  signed  by  the  Duke  of  Devonshire, 
the  liarl  of  Pembixjke  (son  of  Mr.  Sidney  Jlerbert, 
aft«nvards  Lord  Herbert  of  Lea,  the  Secretary  at 
War  at  the  time  of  the  Crimean  War),  the  Earl  of 
Crewe  (on©  of  her  truste<«),  and  Mr.  L.  H.  Sliore 
Nightingale  (lier  nephew).  These  gentremen 
I)ointe<l  out  that  "Those  who  are  acquainted  with 
the  views  of  Miss  Nightingale  as  to  i)ensions  for 
uui-ses,  and  those,  on  the  other  hand,  who  have  con- 
sidere<l  the  sum  of  money  re(fliired  for  the  estab- 


374 


Cbe  Britisb  3ournaI  of  Cursing. 


[Nov.  5,  1910 


lisLmeiit  of  a  pension  fund  on  an  effective  scale,  will 
have  grave  doubts  as  to  the  success  of  tiis  project 
on  any  lines  which  Miss  Xightingale  would  have 
approved."  Then  they  suggested  that  "the 
Grosveuor  House  meeting  would  be  more  likely  to 
carry  the  pui-pose  of  its  promoters  to  a  successful 
issue  if  they  would,  in  the  first  instance,  proceed 
only  to  appoint  an  impartial,  representative  com- 
mittee to  oousider  and  report  on  the  best  method  of 
commemorating  the  life  and  work  of  Miss  Xiglitin- 
gale.  The  proposal  then  put  I>efore  them  mignt 
be  ultimately  adopted,  but  only  after  full  con- 
sideration and  comparison  with  other  moans  of 
effecting  the  object  Ib  view." 

Admiral  Lord  Charles  Beresford,  K.C.tJ., 
G.C.V.O.,  who  presided,  explained  that  the  object 
of  convening  the  meeting  was  to  endeavour  to  for- 
mulate a  practical  and  appropriate  scheme  by  which 
to  honour  the  memory  of  Florence  Xightingale,  one 
of  the  greatest  women  ever  born  to  the  Empire.  To 
tliLs  end  it  was  suggested  that  au  impartial  x>m- 
mittee  should  t>e  formed  to  coiisider  and  report  upon 
the  various  sclysmes  proposed.  The  Committee  ror 
the  Imperial  Scheme  thus  practically  adopted  the 
suggestion  contained  in  the  foregoing  letter. 

The  first  speaker  was  Mre.  Josceline  Bagot. 
R.R.C.,  who  most  eloquently  explained  why  jiiss 
Nightingale  was  worthy  of- a  great  national  tribute. 
She  demonstrated  how  her  genius  showed  itself  in 
everything  she  undertook,  whether  in  organisa- 
tion of  the  Crimean  hospitals,  where,  solely  thanks 
to  her  strength  of  character,  trouble  and  de- 
nioralisation  were  averted,  or  in  her  subsequent 
work  for  nuising  education,  by  which  the  whole 
system  of  nurse  training  had  l)een  raised. 

What  nurse  was  there,  she  asked,  in  the  wjiole 
Empire,  who  did  not  admit  that  Aliss  Xightingale 
was  her  ideal  ?  It  was  the  thought  of  her  which  in- 
spired nurses  in  the  terrible  tyi>hoid  epidemic 
during  the  South  African  war.  and  many  a  little 
nui-se  drew  her  last  breath  still  smiling  because  of 
Florence  Xightingale.  You  may  say,  concluded  the 
speaker,  that  she  has  immortalised  hei-self.  but 
don't  you  want  to  have  a  hand  in  commemorating, 
in  a  permanent  and  humane  way.  one  who  was  first 
of  all  a  woman,  and  after  that  the  greatest  genius 
who  adorne<l  the  Victorian  Eva  ? 

llajor  Mark  Sykes,  in  supix)rtiiig  the  memorial, 
said  that  in  the  Crimea  Miss  Xightingale  saved 
thousands  of  lives.  In  the  last  fifty  years  she  had 
saved  millions  through  the  l)etter  system  of  nursing 
which  she  inaugurated. 

Mrs.  Dacro  Craven,  who  said  that  she  was  the 
oldest  living  Nightingale  probationer  in  the  world, 
related  that  the  late  Empress  Frederick  of  Ger- 
many had  once  said  to  her  that  Miss  Nightingale 
did  not  belong  to  England  but  to  the  world.  She 
quoted  extracts  fi-om  letters  she  had  received  from 
her  great  leader  showing  hor  keen  interest  in  all 
that  contvrned  nur.sing,  and  the  maxim  sent  by 
her  in  a  time  of  discouragement  that  "degenera- 
tion, not  disappointment,  is  to  Ije  feared." 
Resolution. 

The  following  i-esolution  was  then  move<l  trom 
the  chair  by  Jyord  Charles  Beresford : — 

"That  an  impartial  representative  committee 
should  be  formed  to  consider  and  reix>rt  on  the 
various  projects  recently  put  forward  to  perpetuate 
the  memory  of  the  late  Miss  Florence  Nightingale, 


and  that  the  wishes  of  the  nation  should  be  ascer- 
tained by  inviting  deputies  from  public  bodies  to 
attend." 

In  moving  the  resolution  he  paid  a  warm  tribute 
to  the  work  of  the  .Sisters  of  the  Royal  Xaval 
Xursing  Service,  who  had  saved  many  lives  by  their 
unselfish,  unweaTying  attenrtion.  There  were 
heroes  and  heroines  of  the  medical  and  nursing 
professions  of  whom  very  little  was  heard.  Ht 
owed  his  own  life  to  the  skill  and  care  of  trained 
nurses,   and  they  had  his  sircere  gratitude. 

Tlie  Resolution  was  seconded  by  Sir  William 
Treloar,  who  said  that  all  would  agree  that  the 
memorial  should  be  an  Imperial  one,  that  it  should 
be  something  tor  the  benefit  of  nui'ses  who  were  in 
want  in  their  old  age  appealed  to  hira  more  than 
any  other  object,  and  he  asked  those  present  io 
•  do  their  best  for  those  who  had  been  nurses  all 
their  lives. 

Sir  Joseph  Dimsdale  said  that  the  meeting  iiad 
come  together  to  consider  a  worthy  and  Imperial 
memorial  to  Miss  Xightingale,  but  Sir  Willia.u 
Treloar"s  speech  pointed  to  a  particular  object. 
He  then  read  a  letter  from  Mr.  H.  Bonham-Carter 
saying  that  having  regard  to  the  difference  of 
opinion  amongst  those  whose  opinions  deserve  con- 
sideration, he  considered  it  premature  to  appeal 
to  the  public  on  behalf  of  a  special  object.  Also  f. 
letter  from  the  Earl  of  Pembroke,  stating  that 
he  was  strongly  of  opinion  that  those  promoting 
the  scheme  should  be  guided  by  the  advice  of  Mr. 
Bonham-Carter,  and  from  Mr.  Shore  Nightingale, 
who  pointed  out  that  many  schemes  had  been 
proposed  and  suggestions  made,  and  that  it  was 
"  going  too  quick  "  to  give  sympathy  to  any  special 
scheme  at  present.  Sir  Joseph  Dimsdale  proposed 
as  an  amendment  that  a  committee  should  be 
formed  comprising  Mr.  Haldaue,  the  Earl  of 
Crewe,  the  Earl  of  Pembroke,  the  Earl  of  Selborn3, 
Sir  Thomas  Barlow,  Mr.  Butlin,  Mr.  Shore  Xightin- 
f,ale,  and  Miss  McC'aul. 

.Sir  William  Tielcar  criticised  the  remarks  of  the 
last  speaker  and  objected  to  a  cut-and-dried  list  of 
names  being  sprung  upon  the  meeting. 

Sir  Dyce  Duckworth  said  he  thought  the  motion 
by  Sir  Jose])!)  Dimsdale  ha<l  clarified  tue 
atmospliei"e.  There  was  no  animosity  intended,  and 
no  clashing ;  he  therefore  seconded  the  amend- 
ment. pioiKising  at  the  same  time  the  addition  of 
the  names  of  liord  Charles  Beresford,  Sir  Joseph 
Dim.sdale,  ami  .Sir  William  Treloar. 

Mrs.  Be<iford  Fenwick  propose<l  that  the  words 
'•  with  ix)wer  to  a<ld  to  their  number  "  be  added  to 
the  second  ix'solution  constituting  a  committee.  As 
President  of  Nurses'  Societies  comprising  upwards 
of  .3,000  trained  nurses,  she  claimed  that  before  the 
character  of  the  memorial  was  decide<l  upon  tue 
views  of  the  nurses  should  Ih?  ascertained.  She  re- 
minded the  nu-eting  that  the  £30.000  bestowed 
ui)on  Miss  Nightingale  by  the  nation  in  recognition 
of  her  great  national  work  during  the  Crimean  \\"«r 
was  not  used  by  her  for  any  scheme  ot  philan- 
thro))y,  but  with  it  she  founded  an  educational  in- 
stitution—  the  Xightingale  School  for  Xui-se.s  in 
connection  with  St.  Thomas'  Hospital — surely  an 
indication  of  work  in  which  she  was  primarily 
intoresteil.  The  speaker,  said  that  many  self-r^ 
specting   nui-sos  objected  to  any  scheme  advanced 


N'ov.  .'),  1910] 


Zhc  Britisb  3oiu*nal  of  IHursiug. 


in  tlie  iinmo  ot  Kloioiicf  Nightingale  calcuiato<l 
to  |>auiK>iis«»  their  profession:  it  was  entirely  con- 
trary to  all  her  teaching,  ll  niii>eii  were  better 
e<Iiicated  tor  their,  work,  and  better  paid,  tliey 
would  not  be  found  in  the  workhouse. 

The  nui-ses  most  ardently  deMred  that  a  statue  of 
the  Founder  of  Scientific  Nursing  should  be  erected 
in  a  prominent  position  in  the  Metropolis.  Tliere 
could  be  nothing  imperial  in  devoting  the  Fund 
raised  thi-ougUout  the  Euipin-  to  the  relief  -j\  in- 
digent nurses   in  the  Uiiite<l    Kingdom. 

Muriel  Viscountess  Hemsley  seconded  the  amend- 
ment and  expre6sc<l  tlie  opinion  that  the  names  of 
women  prominent  in  the  nursing  world  sUoukl  be 
added  to  those  proposed. 

The  motion  was  adopted,  and  a  vote  of  thanks  to 
the  very  genial  chairman  terminated  the  proceed- 
ings. 

fIDcctiiuj  at  St.  Clbonias'  Ibosp.tal. 

An  influential  private  meeting  was  held  on  Tues- 
day, November  1st,  in  the  Court  Room,  of  St. 
Thomas'  Hospital,  to  consider  the  establishment 
of  a  Memorial  to  Miss  Florence  Nightingale. 

Telegrams  were  received  expressing  regret  at 
being  detained  from  the  meeting  from  Lord  Sand- 
hurst, Treasurer  of  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital, 
Lord  Chevlesmore,  Chairman  of  Brompton  Hospital, 
and  from  Lord  Goschen,  Treasurer  of  Guy's  Hos- 
pital. 

The  following  ladies  and  gentlemen  connected 
with  London  hospitals  and  Government  ser- 
vices were  present: — Mr.  J.  G.  Wainwright,  Trea- 
surer, St.  Thomas'  :  Mr.  Holroyd  Chaplin,  Chair- 
man, Koval  Free:  Miss  R.  A.  Cox-Davies,  Roval 
Free;  Miss  E.  H.  Becher,  Q.A.I.M.N.S.  :  Miss 
Mabel  H.  Cave,  Westminster;  Miss  A.  Mcintosh, 
St.  Bartholomew's;  Miss  M.  L.  Davies,  St.  Mary's; 
Mr.  Edmund  Boulnois,  Nightingale  Training  School : 
Miss  A.  Lloyd-Still,  Middlesex  :  Miss  A.  Macnab, 
Brompton  :  Miss  I.  C.  Bennett.  Metropolitan  ;  Miss 
L.  V.  Haughton,  Guy's;  Miss  D.  Finch,  University 
College  ;  Hon.  Sydney  Holland,  Chairman,  London  ; 
Mr.  Henry  T.  Butlin,  President,  Royal  College  of 
Surgeons;  Miss  E.  Harte,  Roval  Hospital,  Haslar : 
Sir  J.  Wolfe-Barry,  K.C.B.,  Westminster;  Miss  G. 
Payne,  Hospital  for  Sick  Children;  Sir  Henry  C. 
Burdett,  K.C.B.  ;  Mr.  W.  Austen  Leigh,  St.  Mary's  ; 
Miss  A.  M.  Hall,  Seamen's :  Mrs.  Florence  Lucas, 
Nurses'  Co-operation  :  Sir  James  Porter,  Inspector 
Director  General,  R.N. ;  Surgeon-General  W.  L. 
Gubl)ins,  Director  General,  A. M.S. ;  Mr.  Perceval 
A.  Nairne,  Seamen's;  Mr.  A.  William  West,  St. 
George's. 

Mr.  J.  G.  WainwTight,  in  a  few  introductory  re- 
marks, said  that  it  was  certainly  wonderful  that 
unaided  by  anyone,  if  Mrs.  Wardroper  were  ex- 
cepted, Miss  Nightingale  was  gifted  with  the  power 
and  foresight  to  initiate,  construct,  develop, 
and  lay  down  the  right  lines  for  nurse 
training.  He  proposed,  and  it  was  iinani- 
mously  agreed  "  That  a  fund  for  i)rovidiiig 
a  Memorial  to  Miss  Florence  Nightingale, 
O.M.,  be  established,  and  that  contributions  be  in- 
vited from  all  parts  of  the  Empire." 

On    the    motion    of    the    Hon.  Sydney    Holland, 


seconded  by  Mr.  H.  T.  Butlin,  P.R.C.S.,.it  was 
then  unanimously  agreed  "  That  a  statue  shall  be 
erected  as  a  part  of  the  Memorial." 

On  the  motion  of  Miss  Hamilton,  seconded  by 
Miss  Mcintosh,  a  Sub-Committio  was  appointed  to 
i-arry  out  the  above  resolution  and  to  consider  what 
further  form  the  Memorial  to  Miss  Nightingale  shall 
take. 

On  the  proposal  of  Sir  .lames  Wolfe-Barry, 
seconded  by  Mr.  H.  T.  Butlin,  it  was  unanimously 
decided  that  this  Committee  should  confer  with  the 
Committee  recently  appointed  by  a  meeting  held  at 
Grosvenor  House,  which  aims  at  establishing  a 
Memorial  to  Miss  Nightingale,  with  a  view  to  com- 
bination, and,  if  possible,  a  common  course  of  action. 

The  following  were  nominated  to  serve  on  this 
Sub-Committee: — Mr.  J.  G.  Wainwright ;  Sir 
Thomas  Barlow ;  Mr.  H.  T.  Butlin ;  Sir  J.  Wolfe- 
Barry,  K.C.B. ;  Mr.  A.  William  West ;  Sir  James 
Porter,  K.C.B.  ;  Surgeon-General  W.-  L.  Gubbins  ; 
Miss  Mcintosh;  Miss  L.  V.  Houghton;  Miss 
Liickes ;  Miss  Hamilton;  Miss  Bec'her;  Miss  E. 
Harte  ;    Miss  Sidney  Browne. 

A  cordial  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Wainwright  for 
calling  and  presiding  at  the  meeting  was  passed. 


ni>i5i5  IRigbtiiujalct-  ^ill 

The  net  personal  estate  of  the  late  Miss 
Florence  Xightingale  is  sworn  at  £35,649.  No- 
thing is  bequeathed  to  charitable  institutions, 
but  subject  to  numerous  specific  and  pecuniary 
bequests  in  favour  of  relatives  and  friends  the 
residue  is  left  to  the  children  of  the  late  i\Ir. 
William  Shore  Nightingale  in  equal  shares. 

Among  the  legacies  are  the  following,  as  re- 
ported in  the  Times  :  — 

To  J.  J.  Frederick,  Secretary  of  the  Army 
Sanitary  Commission,  £300. 

To  Mother  Stanislaus,  Rev.  Mother  of  the  Uos- 
])ital  Sisters  in  Great  Ormond  Street,  for  her 
objects,   £2.50. 

To  the  Mother  Superior  of  the  Devonport  Sistere 
of  Mercy,  £2.50. 

To  Jli&s  Cix>sa.laud.  late  Home  Sister  of  the 
Niglitingale  Training  School  at  St.  Thomas's  Hos- 
pital, an  annuity  of  £60. 

To  iliss  Vincent,  late  Matron  of  St.  Marylebone 
Infirmary,  an  annuity  of  £30, 

To  iliss  Styring,  late  Matron  of  Paddington  In- 
firmary. £100. 

To  Mme.  Caroline  Werckncr,  who  nursed  the 
French  prisoners  in  the  Franco-German  War  at 
Breslau,  £100. 

To  the  Managers  of  the  Reading  Room  at  Her- 
bert Hospital  or  at  Neltey  or  at  Aldershbt,  or  at 
some  other  place  where  soldiers  may  see  them,  as 
the  executors  may  decide,  the  jewels  from  Queen 
Victoria  and  the  bracelet  from  the  Sultan, 
and  the  other  medals  and  ordei-s.  together  with  aii 
ongiiaving  of  the  ground  round  Seba.stopol. 

To  her  executora  for  division  amongst  tTie 
Nightingale  Tiiaining  Schools  for  Nurses  and  those 
connected  therewith,  as  the  ex«ciitors  may  decide, 
all  hor  prints,   framed  or  other\fis6  (not  otherwise 


376 


Zhc  Srltlsb  3oiirnal  ot  iRursing. 


rxov. 


1910 


disposed  of),  including  those  of  Queen  Victoria  and 
Prince  Albert,  given  her  by  the  Queen  at  Balmoral 
in  1856,  and  ot  Landseer's  Highland  Nui-ses. 

To  the  said  J.  J.  Frederick  such  Blue  Books,  War 
Office,  India,  and  Statistical  and  Hospital  Reports 
and  book.s  as  he  .shall  choose. 

To  the  .said  Mother  Stanislaus,  certain  Roman 
Catholic  books  in  Euglisli  oi'  French. 

To  the  Managers  of  the  Reading  Room  at 
Herbert  Hcspital,  or  at  Xetley,  or  Aldershot,  or 
elsewhere,  as  aforesaid,  the  bust  of  her  given  to  her 
by  the  soldiers. 

®ur  Guinea  prise. 

We  have  pleasure  in  announcing  that  Miss  Maud 
Earl,  Theatre  Sister,  St.   Bartholomew's  Hospital, 
London,  has  won  the  Guinea  Prize  for  October. 
KjET  TO  Puzzles   for  Octobeh. 

No.  1. — Izal. 

Eyes — haul 

No.  2. — Frame  Food, 
frame   food 

No.  3. — Clinical  Thermometer. 
C — line — eye — C — awl 
TH — arm — 0 — meat — ear 

No.  4,— Old  False  Teeth  Bought:  Eraser. 
Old  Falls  Tee— TH  B— ought  [0] 
F — razor. 

The  following  competitors  have  also  solved  the 
puzzles  correctly: — E,  A.  Leeds,  London;  B. 
Sheard,  Chislehurst ;  B.  Howard,  London;  T.  Fos- 
ter, Aboyne;  C.  C.  D.  Cheshire,  Woking;  W,  Havi- 
land,  London;  M.  Tooth,  Morehampton ;  H.  V. 
Villiers,  Longsight;  E.  M.  Dickson,  Bromley;  E. 
Tompkins,  Hull;  E.  Kinsey,  .Greenwich;  S.  S,  Sills, 
Oakham ;  M.  Poole,  Chester ;  R.  Rafferty,  Dublin  ; 
E.  Burnett,  Pontypridd;  M.  Dempster,  Ealing;  T. 
^lacdonald,  Greenock;  C.  C.  Longcroft.  Caiildford  ; 
A,  Massey,  Limerick;  A.  G.  Layton.  London;  R. 
Scott,  Edinburgh;  L.  C.  Coojier,  London;  F.  Shep- 
pard,  Tunbridge  Wells;  T.  Burrell,  Harrogate;  E. 
Macfarlane,  and  N.  Hunter,  London  ;  E.  Wilson, 
Lcwisham ;  —  Deverill,  Birkdale ;  F.  Lane, 
Ventnor;  M.  Chester,  Brighton;  E.  M.  Snow, 
Eltham  ;  F.  Boiichurch,  London;  H.  S.  Duncan, 
Jodburgh ;  V.  Taplow,  Sheffield;  A.  M.  Shoesmith. 
Durham ;  F.  Macnaghten,  Liveri>ool ;  B,  Atkins, 
Brighton;  R.  Conway,  Bournemouth;  J.  Cook, 
Portland ;  C.  Rae,  Glasgow ;  E.  Dinnie,  Harrow  ; 
M,  Kcmi>,  Petersfield;  C.  A.  Money,  London;  H. 
Mackintosh,  Gla,sgow ;  M.  Woodward.  Retlhill ;  P. 
White,  \raybolo;  H.  Cobb,  Attleboi-ough ;  C. 
Dunne,  Belfast;  A.  Jary,  Fakenham ;  E.  ^I. 
Walker,  Putney;  D.  MacAlister,  Edinburgh;  M.  H. 
McCosh,  Rutherglen;  M.  Tweed,  Manchester;  F. 
T^ang,  I/ondon ;  C.  F.  Mackay.  Aberdeen,  P. 
DougIa.s,  Carli.sle ;  E.  Marshall,  Tx>ndon ;  M.  C, 
Munro,  Ea.st  Hani  ;  F.  Coster,  Newi>ort  ;  A.  Clinton, 
Northampton ;  D.  Day,  London  ;  C.  M.  l^ent, 
TruiT>;  P.  F.  Jfastei-s,  Norwich;  E.  Trueman,  JiOn- 
don  ;  B.  I/jinghnm,  Xottingbam;  S.  O'Connell, 
MarylM)i.)ngli;  W.  AVard,  Belfast  :  K.  Conyere, 
Margate;  H.  Dudley,  Gloucester ;  C.  Glynn,  J)ub- 
lin  ;  B.  F.  Brown.  Ije<Kls. 

The  Rules  for  Prize  Puzzles  remain  the  same,  and 
will   be  found  on  page  xii. 


appointments. 


Matkon. 

Victoria  Infirmary,  Northwich. — Miss  Alice  Keeble 
lia,s  been  ai>iK>iutetl  Matron,  She  was  trained  at  the 
Royal  Albert  Edward  Infirmary.  Wiij;an,  where  sne 
held  the  jxisition  of  Ward  Sister  for  three  years, 
and  of  Theatre  Sister  for  a  simDar  period.  She 
has  also  been  Matron  of  the  Cottage  Hospital, 
Tetbury,  for  three  and  a  half  years. 
Nurse  Matron. 

Cottage  Hospital,  Moreton  Hampstead.  — Miss  A.  M. 
Fulham  has  been  appointed  Nurse  Matron.  She 
was  trained  at  the  General  Hospital,  Altrincham, 
Cheshire,  where  she  has  held  the  position  of  Sister. 
She  has  also  held  a  similar  position  at  the  General 
Hospital,  Great  Yarmouth.  She  is  a  certified 
midwife. 

^  Assistant   Matiiox, 

Royal  Infirmary,  Bradford. — Miss  Margaret  H.  Crooke 
has  been  appointed  A.ssistant  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  the  David  Lewis  Northern  Hospital, 
Liverpool,  and  has  held  the  i>osition  of  AVard 
Sister,  Night  Sister,  and  Home  Sister  in  the.  same 
institution. 

Sisters. 

Belvidere  Hospital,  Glasgow. — Miss  Anna  J.  Arm- 
strong has  been  appointed  Sister.  Slie  was  trained 
at  the  Infirmary,  Falkirk,  and  the  Belvidere  Hos- 
pital, Glasgow. 

Royal  Albert  Edward  Infirmary,  Wigan. — Miss  Lucy  M. 
Dashwood  has  been  appointed  Sister.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Middlesex  Hospital,  and  has  held 
the  position  of  Sister  at  the  Alesandi-a  Hip  Jios- 
pital.  Queen  Square,  and  of  Sister  at  the  Infants' 
Hospital,  Vincent  Square,  London.  She  is  a 
certified  midwife. 

Massage  Sister. 

Fulham  Infirmary,  Hammersmith. — Miss  Sophie  Bevan 
has  been  apix)inted  Massage  Sister.  She  was  trained 
at  Guy's  Hospital,  w'here  .she  worked  on  the 
private  nursing  staff  for  two  years,  and  holds  tJie 
Guy's  medal.  She  also  is  a  certificated .  masseuse 
and  a  certifie<l  midwife. 

QUEEN    ALEXANDRA'S     IMPERIAL    MILITARY 
NURSING   SERVICE. 

The  uiider-inentione<l  ladies  to  lie  Staff  Nurses 
(provisionally) :  Miss  Evelyn  Griffiths,  dated  Octo- 
ber l-5tli,  1910;  Miss  Gladys  St.  George  Home, 
dated  October  loth,  1910;  Miss  lealnd  Mary  Whyto, 
dated  October  17th,  1910. 

Miss  E.  Ferguson,  Matron,  is  jilaced  on  retired 
pay  (Xoveinber  1st).  The  undermentioned  ladies 
to  be  Staff  Nurses  (provisionally) :  — Miss  M.  L. 
Scott  (October  ].5th).  Miss  C.  W.  Mann  (October 
:.'Oth>. 

QUEEN   VICTORIA'S  JUBILEE    INSTITUTE 

Trnitsfi'is  and  .[pp<iintiiin>f.t. — Mi.ss  Mary  Sim])- 
son,  to  Manchester  (Ardwick),  as  .\s«iistant  Super- 
intendent; Miss  Ada  Gil>son,  to  Hastings,  as 
Superintendent  temporarily;  Miss  Joanie  Main, 
to  Beccles;  Miss  Con.stance  Deering,  to  Norwich; 
Miss  Lily  Boyden,  to  Darlington;  Miss  Isabel  Joly, 
to  Haslemore;  iliss  Jenny  Jones,  to  Ystaiyfera ; 
Miss  PMleu  L,  Wells,  to  Southampton ; 
Miss  Lena  Milford,  to  Coin  St.  Aldwyn ;  Miss 
Mnbd    Knight,   to   Neath. 


Nov. 


1010] 


^c  BUtisb  3ournai  of  IRiiisino, 


PRESENTATION   OF  MEDALS    AND    CERTIFI- 
CATES 

Mr.  Morgan  Thomas  picsidLtl  at  the  meeting  of 
tho  Cardiff  Mental  Hospital  Committee  on  Thurs- 
day, 27th  lilt.,  when  Sisters  Beatrice  Tayler, 
fc".lsie  Drew,  and  Ueatrico  Jenkins,  Nurse  Kate 
M'tiovern,  Attendants  Sidney  Miller,  D.  G.  \\  il- 
liams,  George  Fluck,  and  Edgar  Francis  were  pre- 
sented with  the  Medioo-Psyohological  Association's 
me<lols  (silrer)  and  certitit\ate«i,  having  successfully 
passed   the  qualifying  examinations. 

In  making  the  presentations  and  congratulating 
the  successful  candidates,  the  Chairman  said  tli' 
Medical  Superintendent  (Dr.  Goodall)  made  a 
point  of  encouraging  all  his  stafE  to  pass  this  ex- 
amination, with  the  result  that  they  got  the  best 
class  of  nurses  and  attendants  possible,  besides 
adding  to  the  reputation  of  the  institution.  The 
benefit  was  also  felt  by  the  patients  in  receiving 
bettor  and  more  intelligent  treatment,  and  the 
ratf^iiayers  stood  to  gain  by  quicker  and  more 
sound  cures,  with  early  discharge  of  patients 
chargeable  to  the  rates. 

PRESENTATIONS. 

"^^iss  Bremner,  who  ha.s  been  for  a  number  of 
years  Matron  of  the  Nairn  Hospital,  N.B.,  has 
been  presented  with  a  handsome  solid  silver  tea 
service  on  the  occasion  of  her  resignation.  Mr.  J. 
S.  Robertson,  Chairman  of  the  Directors,  pre- 
sided, and  in  presenting  the  gift  in  the  name  of 
the  me<lical  officers  and  directors,  referred  to  the  ex- 
cellent work  done  by  Miss  Bremner  during  her 
connection  with  the  hospital,  and  wished  her  every 
liappiness  in  her  future  life. 


At  tlie  ofteuing  ceremony  of  Aberfeldy's  new 
Cottage  Hospital,  which  has  been  built  at  a  cost  of 
£'2.300,  Lady  Bieadall>aue  x>erforme<l  a  vei-y  in- 
teresting ceremony — the  presentation  to  Miss  Mac- 
I.ieod,  the  Matron  of  the  Hospital,  of  a  handsome 
writing  table  and  a  purse  of  sovereigns  subscribed 
•■  by  friends  and  )>atients  in  gratitude  and  apprecia- 
tion of  her  twenty  years'  devote<l  and  untiring  ser- 
vice as  Matron  of  the  Cottage  Hospital."  In  a 
graceful  speech  Lady  Breadalbane  remaiketl  that 
they  all  knew  the  enormous  and  valuable  work  i)er- 
formed  by  the  nursing  profession,  and  uow  in 
almost  every  district  of  the  United  Kingdom  they 
would  find  those  excellent  ladies  doing  good  service. 
J[i,<>s  MacTjeod  had  dischargo<l  her  duties  with  tact, 
kindliness,  and  helpfulness. 


THE  PASSING  BELL. 
We  record  with  sorrow  the  death  from  septicee- 
mia  poisoning  of  Miss  Gertrude  Annie  Talbot,  a 
ycning  probationer  at  the  Northwieh  Infirmary, 
where  she  has  only  been  working  since  last  iiarch. 
Some  weeks  ago  she  acted  as  assistant  during  the 
nni-sing  of  an  acci<lent  case  in  which  poisoning  nad 
set  in,  and  probably  removed  the  soile<l  baiulnges 
.\lK>nt  a  week  afterwards  she  found  she  had  a  little 
sore  in  her  thumb.  She  sterili<<e<l  a  needle,  pricked 
it,  and  used  anfi,sei>tic  dressing.  Septicfemia  -.iiper- 
veiied.  Everything  medical  science  could  do  was 
<lone  to  save  life,  but  all  remedies  failed.  Her  loss 
IS  deeply  deplored  by  all  h(-r  fellow  workers. 


Il^ur5liu3  lEcbocs. 

We  have  received  several 
letters  from  nurees  inter- 
ested in  the  fonnation  of  an 
Elizabeth  Fi-y  League,  vfith 
I  lie  object  of  iniproving  the 
nursing  in  prisons.  Mrs.  L. 
M.  St.  John,  E.E.C., 
the  Hon.  Treasurer  of  the 
Penal  Reform  League, writes 
that  she  is  in  sympathj-  with 
our  suggestion  that  the  Ma- 
trons of  prisons  should  be 
The  general  object  of 
her  excellent  society  is  "To  interest  the 
public  in  the  right  treatment  of  criminals ;  and 
to  promote  effective  measures  for  their  cure 
and  rehabitation,  and  for  the  prevention  of 
crime."  The  fifth  item  in  its  programme  pro- 
vides "For  better  selection  and  training  of 
staff,  and  general  raising  of  their  status  and 
ideals."  Perhaps,  if  this  Society,  which  has 
such  work  in  hand,  organised  a  meeting  to  dis- 
cuss how  to  carry  out  effectively  Clause  No.  5 
on  their  present  programme,  some  beneficent 
progress  might  be  made. 


trained      nurses. 


The  Nurses"  International  Club,  8,  Porches- 
ter  Square,  W'.,  last  week  received  an  informal 
visit  from  the  Duchess  of  Marlborough,  wlio 
inspected  the  whole  building  from  the  top 
storey  to  the  basement.  Her  Grace  expressed 
herself  as  delighted  with  the  arrangements  of 
the  Club. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Carmarthen  District 
Nursing  Association,  at  which  the  Mayor  (Aid. 
Walter  Lloyd)  was  in  the  chair,  Dr.  Bowen 
Jones,  ^ledical  Officer  of  Health  for  the 
borough,  stated  that  an  agreement  with  a  view 
to  co-operation  ought  to  be  entered  into  be- 
tween the  nursing  association  and  the  mid- 
wives.  Infant  mortahty  was  too  high.  In  the 
colliery  district  it  might  be  explained  by  the 
conditions  of  life  there,  but  it  ought  not  to  exist 
in  the  rural  districts.  The  great  cause  was  * 
want  of  knowledge  in  the  matter  of  the  feeding 
and  clothiii.i,'  of  infants.  Children  were  being 
dressed  up  in  a  ridiculous  number  of  garments. 
He  would  like  to  see  a  prize  offered  at  the  Na- 
tional Eisteddfod  for  the  best  set  of  clothes  for 
a   babv. 


At  Friday's  meeting  of  the  Chichester  Board 
of  Guardians  the  Chaii-man  read  a  letter  from 
Proliationan-  Nurse  Knaggs,  yho  stated  that 
shf  should  not  think  of  wastin^three  years  at 
the  institution.     There  was  no  training  what- 


378 


Cbe  3Siitisb  3ournal  of  iRursiiiQ. 


[Nov.  5,  1910 


ever,  and  she  thought  it  was  "  an  abominable 
shame"  for  the  Board  to  advertise  for  proba- 
tioners. The  advertisement  was  deceiving. 
Several  of  the  Guardians  considered  the  letter 
very  impertinent,  but  Councillor  Butler  re- 
marked that  he  did  not  know  what  the  nurse 
would  have  said  had  she  come  there  when  the 
.  probationers  were  charged  £5.  He  said  he  was 
very  glad  such  a  letter  had  been  written,  and 
suggested  that  the  Board  should  insert  it  when 
again  advertising  for  probationers,  and  add : 
"  I  have  told  you  for  years  that  it  is  a  swin- 
dle."— Mrs.  Webb:  "A  very  rude  letter." — 
Councillor  Butler:    "  A  very  just  letter." 


All  such  discussions  would  "be  at  an  end  if 
there  was  a  central  nursing  authority  to  dis- 
criminate between  institutions  which  can 
train  nurses  and  those  which  cannot,  and  to 
define  the  curriculum  required.  At  present  it 
is  cheap  to  nurse  patients  with  probationers, 
and  evei-y  institution,  whether  suitable  or  not, 
assumes  the  status  of  a   training  school. 


The  Queen's  Ntirses'  Journal  for  October  has 
as  frontispiece  a  lifelike  portrait  of  Miss  Cow: 
per.  Superintendent  of  Scottish  Branch, 
Queen  Victoria's  Jubilee  Institute,  which  many 
friends  will  like  to  possess.  The  Queen's 
Nurses'  tribute,  a  chaplet  of  flowers  sent  to  the 
funeral  of  the  late  iliss  Florence  Nightingale  is 
also  reproduced.  Nothing  could  be  more  in- 
structive than  the  letter  from  Miss  Nightingale 
on  the  Establishment  of  the  Queen's  Institute, 
written  from  South  Street,  in  1896,  to  the 
Duke  of  Westminster,  one  of  the  Ti-ustees. 
She  writes; — "We  look  upon  the  District 
Nurse,  if  she  is  what  she  should  be,  and  if  we 
give  her  the  training  she  should  have,  as  the 
great  civili:5er  of  the  poor,  training  as  well  as 
nursing  them  out  of  ill  health  iiito  good  health 
(Health  Missioners),  out  of  drink  into  self-con- 
trol; but  all  without  preaching,  without 
patronising,  as  friends  in  sympathy.  But  let 
them  hold   the  standard  high   as  nurses." 


Surely  if  this  means  anything  it  means  that 
District  Nurses  should  be  highly  cidtured 
women  as  well  as  highly  trained — a  standard, 
more's  the  pity,  which  has  been  sadly  lowered 
by  the  craze  for  cheap  philanthropy  where  the 
rural  poor  are  concerned. 

The  Magazine  is  full  of  good  things,  and 
we  should  have  imagined  inspired  as  it  is  with 
a  high  ethical  tone,  full  of  excellent  articles, 
news,  and  helpfulness,  and  the  four  issues  only 
costing  Is.  6d.,  including  postage — that  every 
Queen's  Nurse  in  the  world  would  subscribe  for 


it,  and  yet  how  disheartening  to  read  the 
Editor's  note  to  the  efEect  that  the  future  fate 
of  this  most  excellent  magazine  is  uncertain. 
"  There  is  again  a  deficit  this  year,  and  the 
position  will  have  to  be  seriously  considered." 
We  do  most  earnestly  advise  those  interested 
in  District  Nursing  to  send  a  postcard  to  the 
Editor  without  delay,  informing  her  that  they 
intend  to  become  subscribers.  Clandeboye,  co. 
Down,  Ireland,  will  find  her. 


There  is  to  be  a  great  Healtheries  Exhibition 
held  in  Dublin  next  May.  The  section  dealing 
with  District  Nursing  is  to  be  one  of  its  chief 
features,  and  will  no  doubt  be  a  great  success. 
The  Exhibition  will  be  known  as  Um  Braisil — 
the  Isle  of  the  Blest' — the  presumption  being 
that  where  the  laws  of  sanitation  and  hygiene 
rule  there  will  be  found  a  healthy  and  happy 
communitv. 


The  Australasian  Nurses'  Journal  says  that 
Miss  Amy  Hughes,  who  has  returned  to 
England,  left  Australia  ^  before  she  was 
able  to  see  the  initiation  of  the  proposed  Dis- 
trict Nursing  scheme,  and  although  Miss 
Hughes'  visit  has  not  had  all  the  result  that 
was  hoped,  all  those  who  know  the  work  she 
has  done  agree  that  in  all  parts  of  Australia 
much  has  been  leamt  from  her  of  District 
Nursing,  its  methods,  uses,  and  possibilities. 
"  It  is  not  an  easy  thing  to  found  an  Associa- 
tion which  shall  be  acceptable  to,  and  workable 
in,  a  number  of  States  covering  a  whole  con- 
tinent^ and  differing  so  widely  in  conditions. 
It  seems  probable  that  the  simpler  way 
will  be  for  each  State  to  establish  a  County 
District  Nui-sing  Association  of  its  own,  using 
as  a  basis  the  rules  and  regulations  which  have 
been  so  thoroughly  threshed  out  by  those  work- 
ing with  Lady  Dudley  during  the  last  few 
months,  and  for  federal  union  to  follow  and 
combine  such  kindred  associations  instead  of 
preceding  them." 

The  Journal  promises  to  keep  the  nurses  in- 
formed as  soon  as  any  authoritative  body  is 
fonned  in  any  State. 


The  public  generally  fear  the  great  expense 
entailed  by  the  organisation  of  a  Federal  Dis- 
trict Nvu-sing  Association,  on  just  economic 
principles,  as  the  Nurses'  Associations  are 
deteiinined  to  maintain  the  three  years'  stan- 
dard of  training,  and  it  is  estimated  that  each 
nurse  would  cost  at  least  £150  a  year  instead 
of  £90,  her  salary  to  be  estimated  at  £100'  in- 
stead of  £35.  as  in  the  T'nited  Kingdom  ;  more- 
over, no  underselling  by  insufficiently  trained 
women,  with  a  few  months'  experience  only,  is 
to  be  peniiitted.   " 


Nov.  5,  1910: 


Zbc  rnitisb  3ounial  of  IRurslno. 


379 


iRcflcctioniJ. 


FnoM  A  Board  Room  Mirror. 
Prince  Aloxttiulfr  ot  Took  lies  acceptod  the  iii- 
Titation  ot  tlio  Uoveiiior*  of  the  Middlesex  Hos- 
pital to  Aucce«l  his  late-lamented  l.rother  as  Chair- 
man. As  it  was  the  anibition  of  the  late  Prince 
Francis  to  raise  an  emlowment  fund  adequate  to 
meet  the  nnnnal  expenditure  of  the  hospital,  sucJi  a 
fund  will  be  raised  to  his  memory.  Prince 
Alexander  is  determined  to  carry  out  the  work 
which  was  so  dear  to  his  bix>ther,  and  has  alreadj 
ri>oeiTed  donations  of  £"10o  from  the  King  and  ilOO 
from  the  Queen. 

Amongst  tie  representatives  ot  the  Middlesex 
Hospital  invited  to  attend  the  funeral  of  the  late 
Chairman.  Prince  Francis  of  Teck.  at  Windsor,  by 
command  of  the  King,  was  Miss  A.  Lloyd  Still,  the 
Lady  Superintendent.  Miss  C.  Xolson  Smith  and 
the  nurses  who  attendetl  the  Prince  at  lo,  Welbeck 
Street  were  also  honoured  bv  the  same  command. 


The  King  ha.s  become  jxitron  of  the  West  London 
Hospital,  Hammersmith  Road,  W. 


We  are  asked  by  Sir  William  Treloar  to  remind 
our  readers  of  the  distribution  of  Christmas 
hampei-s  and  clothing  to  poor  crippled  children  in 
tlie  Metropolis  through  his  Little  Cripples  Clirist- 
mas  Hamper  and  Clothing  Fund,  donations  toward 
which  may  be  sent  to  iiim.  addressed  to  the  Fund, 
at  69,  Ludgate  Hill,  London,  E.C.  Every  year  for 
the  last  sixteen  years  Sir  Will  ■  '  Treloar  has.  at 
Christmas  time,  entertained  ■  u;e  1,200  poor 
children  at  the  Guildhall,  and  <lespatches  the  wel- 
come hampers  to  his  little  clients  on  the  morning 
of  the  day  when  the  Annual  Banquet  is  held.  His 
Majesty  the  King  is  again  this  year  continuing  uis 
annual  subscription  to  the  fund. 


At  the  quarterly  meeting  of  the  Governors  of 
Leicester  Infirmary,  at  which  the  Chairman,  Sir 
Edward  Wood,  who  has  done  so  much  for  the  insti- 
tution, presided,  in  the  Recreation  Room  of  the 
Nurses'  Home  called  by  his  name,  the  House 
Governor.  Mr.  Harry  Johnson,  reported  that  the 
"Gertrude  Rogers  Ward."  named  after  Miss  G.  A. 
Rogers,  who  for  26  years  had  served  the  institution 
most  faithfully  as  Lady  .Superintendent,  had  now 
been  opened  for  the  reception  of  surgical  cases. 

Mr.  C.  J.  Bond,  who  supported  the  a/doption  of 
the  report  moved  by  the  Chairman,  remarked  that 
the  only  way  in  which  the  enormous  exp>ensc  of 
keeping  up  a  large  hospital  could  l>e  limited  was  by 
providing  more  home  hospitals  for  patients  of 
moderate  means. 


The  Dundee  Woman's  Hospital  Bazaar  iias 
brought  in  a  tidy  sum  for  the  I>enefit  of  the  in- 
stitution. The  total  drawings  for  the  two  days 
were  £1,743  14s.  8d. 


The  delegates  to  the  Fourth  International  WTiite 
Slave  Congress,  held  last  week  at  Madrid,  had 
a  most  courteous  welcome,  being  received  at  the 
Royal  Palace  by  the  King  and  Queen.  The  next 
Congress  will  l)e  held  in  London  in  1913. 


®ur  Jforcion  letter. 

CALAMITOUS    LEGISLATION    IN    NEW  YORK. 

Dear  M^vdam, 
For  a  long 
time  I  have 
bej;n  trying 
to  snatch  tlie 
time  to  seiul 
you  some 
word      about 

•    --  ,   *'**'-"«'^i««s^ —         — ='-^      '  ^^        extra- 
\  \    N^*-— -'~~*~"  ordinary 

>l- —  piece   of     re- 

action that  we  have  had  here  in  social  matters.  Your 
recent  editorial  shows  that  you  have  received  printed 
matter  relating  the  story  of  the  calamitous  legisla- 
tion which  was  enacted  last  winter  by  the  New  York 
Legislature — nothing  more  or  less  than  State  regida- 
tion  and  certification  of  prostitution  for  the  City  of 
New  York.    As  yet  it  only  applies  to  this  one  city. 

Is  it  not  a  severe  leflection  on  the  boasted  in- 
telligence of  our  people  that  we  arc  able  to  learn 
nothing  from  the  exx)erience  of  other  countries?  It 
does  seem  as  if  the  testimony  on  state  regulated 
vice  was  strong  and  ample  enough  to  permit  its 
classification  as  a  fact,  no  longer  disputable,  such  as 
that  fire  burns,  water  drowns,  etc.  But  this  is  not 
the  case.  It  is  true  that  this  piece  of  legislation  was 
somewhat  surreptitiously  introduced ;  nevertheless, 
a  good  many  social  workers  did  know  about  it,  and 
some  tried  to  stop  it,  but  the  stupefying  thing  was 
that  a  number  of  the  most  prominent  philan- 
thropists, including  settlement  workers,  women  and 
men.  and  almost  all  of  tie  Charity  Organisation 
•Society  leader^f.,  approved  and  supported  it  warmly, 
and  still  do  so,  although  a  hot  fire  is  pouring  upon 
them.  So  it  is  actually  true  that  this  vile  legisla- 
tion, passed  to  the  joy  and  comfort  of  vile  elements, 
and  received  with  the  greatest  satisfaction  by 
■'  men  about  town."  has  owed  its  success  to  the 
suppprt  of  some  of  the  most  influential  workers  for 
what  is  called  "social  betterment."  Is  not  that  a 
strange  situation? 

This  instance  confirfns  a  belief  I  have  long  held — 
namely,  that  all  that  is  bad  and  wrong  in  the  world 
is  the  fault  of  the  good  people.  Good  people  are 
pusillanimous,  or  dull,  or  conceited,  or  illogical, 
and  therefore  they  block  real  progress,  and  are 
entirely  unable  to  prevent  the  strongly  selfish  but 
perfectly  logical  and  systematic  progress  of  those 
who  work  frankly  for  what  they  want,  irrespective 
of  theories  or  "social  uplift." 

Another  lesson  that  has  been  vividly  borne  in 
upon  me  is  the  warning  against  taking  one's.self 
too  seriously.  A  specialist  in  one  line,  becoming 
gradually  convince<l  of  his  own  infallibility  in  that 
line,  presently  thinks  he  is  capable  of  infallibility 
in  every  other  line,  whether  ho  knows  the  subject  or 
not.  I  am  sure  now  that  one  of  the  highest  de- 
velopments of  intelligence  is  in  knowing  upon  wliat 
subjects  one  is  not  an  infallible  expert,  and  in 
having  the  information  of  where  to  look  for  the 
particular  kind  of  expert  that  is  necked  in  a  given 
case. 


380 


^Tbc  Biitieb  3ournal  of  IRursinG. 


[Nov.  5,  1910 


For  myself,  1  do  not  claim  to  be  an  expert  iu  tliis. 
subject,  but  I  do  humbly  believe  that  mv  studies 
la«t  summer  in  the  libra'iy  of  the  British"  Museum 
taught  me  where  to  look  tor  the  authoritative  mes- 
sage ui>on  this  sad  subject.  Our  Charity  Organisa- 
tion people  think  that  thing.'i  will  work  out  dif- 
ferently in  thi,?  country— the  same  things  that  liave 
always  worked  one  way  in  other  countries.  That 
was  also  claimed  for  England  -n  hen  she  establi«.lie(I 
her  Contagious  Diseases  Acts.  Because  we  are 
America  results  «-ill  not  logically  foUon-  causes,  but 
something  diflterent  will  happen.  As  a  matt-er  of 
fact  the  fulfilment  of  the  law  so  far  shows  a  hori-ible 
logic  of  results,  as  you  will  see  by  a  report  which  I 
shall  soon  send  you.  Last  Friday  a  large  meeting 
of  women  from  various  organisations  was  lield  to 
consider  stei»  for  attacking  the  clause  of  the  law 
that  provides  for  the  medical  inspection.  Little  uy 
little  the  opposition  will  be  well  organised  and  -Hiil 
gain  momentum.  A  legal  contest  is  first  l:H?ing 
planned  for.  Our  woman  lawyer  is  at  work  pre- 
paring to  attack  the  constitutionality  of  the  law ; 
a  Legislative  Committee  is  formed  to  carry  on 
work  of  rejieal  in  the  Legislature :  women's  "clubs 
and  organisations  are  being  aroused,  and  there  will 
be  opportunitie.s  continually  to  speak  ))efore  them. 
They  are  ]>assing  resolutions  against  tlie  clause  and 
are  calling  uixm  the  medical  profession  to  come 
forth  openly  in  a  campaign  of  education. 

None  of  the  daily  pajiers  M'ill  print  our  letters  or 
articles  of  explanation  about  the  opposition  to  the 
prostitute's  examination,  nor  will  they  reixu-t  the 
meetings  of  discussion  or  give  publicity  in  any  way 
to  the  movement.  One  or  two  weekly  journals  of 
radical  or  progressive  tendencies  alone  will  mention 
the  subject  at  all.  This,.  I  .suppose,  has  been  ex- 
I)erienced  everywhore. 

The  pamphlet  prepared  by  the  nurses  of  the 
Social  Union  at  Taunton,  for  private  circulation 
among  nurses  as  an  educational  leaflet,  has  found  a 
great  demand.  I  have  daily  requests  for  it.  and 
the  first  consignment  of  fifty  copies  has  not  nearly 
reached  around.  It  is  admirably  done  and  fills  a 
deep  need.  Then  nurses  are  everywhere  arousing 
to  the  vital  necessity,  and  are  anxious  to  prei>are 
themselves  for  giving  help  to  mother  and  young 
pei^sons.  I  have  asketl  for  another  hundred  to  be 
sent  over,  as  I  know  they  will  be  rapidly  taken  up, 
LAvixx.i  L,  Dock. 


©utsibc  tbc  (Bates. 


THE  CARE  OF  CRIPPLED  CHILDREN. 
The  rec|uirements  and  care  of  the  invalid  child  are 
receiving  -ever-increasing  consideration,  and  we 
are  pleased  to  bring  to  the  notice  of  the  kind  and 
wise  i)eoplc  who  eainestly  desire  to  brighten  tlie 
lives  of  those  poor  handicapped  children,  a  little 
publication,  "  The  Carp  of  Invalid  and  Crippled 
Cliildrnn  in  School,"  by  R.  C.  Elmslie.  M.S,. 
F_.]l,C.S.,  and  issued  at  Is.  by  the  School  Hygiene 
Publication  Co.,  2,  Cliarlotte"  Street,  W,  It  con- 
tains four  lectures  which  were  delivered  to  the 
School  Nurses  attached  to  the  London  County 
Council  Invalid  Schools.  The  subjects  discussed 
wero  (1)  Disea.so  and  Deformity  of  the  Spine,  (2) 
of  the  Hip  Joint,  (3)  of  the  Nervous  System,  and 
(4)  Rickets,   Heart  Disease,  Cliorea.  etc. 


WOMEN. 

The  Women's  Local 
Gcovernment  Society  have- 
issued  in  pamphlet  form, 
price  2d.,  the  speeches 
made  at  the  Local 
Government  Section  at 
the  Japan-British  Ex- 
hibition ill  June.  It  is 
full  of  most  valuable 
information  for  all  concerned  in  social  service. 


Speaking  at  a  meeting  in  Wynyard  Park  in  con- 
nection with  the  scheme  for  providing,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  British  Red  Cross  Society,  volun- 
tary medical  aid  detachments  for  the  Territorial 
Forces,  Lady  Londonderry  said  the  ideal  state  of 
things  would  be  for  every  man  to  leam  to  defend 
himself,  and  for  every  woman  to  be  a  trained  uui-se 
or  a  cook.  We  could  wish  that  every  woman  could 
also  Ije  taught  to  defend  herself  in  time  of  war. 
Why  not? 

Lady  Frances  Balfour,  speaking  in  support  of 
Woman  .Suffrage  at  Guildford  last  Saturday, 
poked  fine  fun  both  at  the  dcsjwtic  male  "anti" 
and  at  the  sul>servient  women  who  attend  meetings 
to  hear  their  sex  and  intelligence  depreciated.  The 
anti-Suffragists  declared  that  women  were  on  a 
pedestal  and  politics  (the  -science  of  government) 
were  beneath  them !  Then  Lord  Cromer  came  along 
and  told  them  they  were  not  good  enough  to  have 
any  part  in  government  ''  because  they  were  given 
to  vague  generalisation  and  weak  sentimentality.  ' 
How  thoroughly  the  women  who  attende<l  his 
meeting  must  have  enjoyed  it ! 

The  JIanchester  City  Council  after  a  full  debate 
has  decided  by  a  four-fifths  majority  to  petition 
Parliament  in  favour  of  the  Conciliation  Com- 
mittee's Suffrage  Bill.  It  was  urged  in  the  course 
of  the  discussion  that  a  city  council  is  direct  repre- 
sentative of  women  ratepayers,  that  this  Bill  aims 
at  conferring  the  Parliamentary  vote  precisely  on 
this  class,  and  that  while  the  council  refuses  to 
intervene  in  party  politics,  this  Bill,  promoted  as 
it  is  by  suffragists  of  all  parties,  could  not  be  re- 
garded as  a  party  measure.  Similar  petitions  have 
already  boeu  sent  up  to  Parliament  in  favour  of 
this  Bill  by  the  Dublin  Corporation,  the  Glasgow 
City  Council,  and  the  town  councils  of  Dundee, 
Pcrtli,  Hawick,  and  some  11  of  the  smaller  Scottish 
burglis.  Notice  of  motions  to  move  for  similar 
petitions  are  before  a  number  of  other  town  coun- 
cils. The  motion  in  Glasgow,  Dublin,  and  Dundee 
was  carried  unanimously. 

Lady  '\\Tornher  has  issued  invitations  for  a 
priva.to  view  of  dolls  dressed  for  the  Children's 
H.ipp.v  Evenings  Association  which  is  to  take  place 
on  Tuesday,  November  8th,  at  Bath  House,  Picca- 
dilly, The  Exhibition  itself  will  be  opened  on  the 
following  day.  The  Queen  is  greatly  interested  in 
this  association,  and  always  sends  a  number  of 
beautifully-dressed  dolls  for  the  show,  which  are- 
afterwards  distributed  amongst  the  children. 


Nov.  o,  1910] 


Zbc  36i-itisb  3ournal  of  TRursino, 


381 


Book  Of  the  lUccI'*. 


THE  REST   CURE* 

A  lK)<>k  tliat  Riips.  II r.  Maxw.41  diwws  with  cou- 
-iiininato  skill  «n<l  <locisivo  .strok<«  the  history  of 
John  Baninid,  and  it  is  to  tho  marvellous  per- 
sonality ot  this  man  that  the  Inwik  owes  its  power. 

John  Barnard,  JI.P.,  on  the  road  to  make  a  for- 
tune in  rubber,  "  full  of  health,  full  of  strength, 
full  of  eonfidence,  lie  alniost  wislunl  the  world  was 
larger,  so  that  he  might  have  more  to  conquer." 
At  the  close  of  his  life  he  confes<«'s:  "  It  was  all  for 
myself — not  gieediness  for  money — but  &  selfish, 
blind  delight  in  the  personal  struggle." 

At  thirty-five  "  lie  lived  in  si>ucious  rooms,  be- 
longed to  good  clubs,  enjoyed  a  steadily  expand- 
ing income,  and  had  saved  exactly  ten  tliousand 
{>ounds. 

He  gave  the  ten  thousand  pounds  as  e  free  gift 
to  his  mother.  And  he  could  be  happy  after  tJiis 
in  comfortably  reflecting  that  he  had  fulfilled  aa 
obligations.  It  was  fine  in  a  seiK^e,  because  the  gift 
of  all  liis  hoard  showed  such  resolute  self-confidence. 
It  left  him  again  with  nothing — except  his  brain 
and  his  health.  But  with  these  possessions  he  felt 
absolutely  safe. 

After  his  mother's  death,  "when  she  reposed 
mutely  under  the  granite  slabs  and  iix>n  chains 
paid  for  by  him,  he  felt  he  had  finished  the  bu.sine6S. 
•'If  he  ever  thought  of  his  family  again  me 
thought  need  l>e  no  more  distracting  than  when  he 
remembere<l  some  docketed,  pigeon-holed,  stamped 
and  receipted  account." 

His  sheer  masterfulness  compels  Lord  Rathkeale, 
an  Irish  i>eer.  to  consent  to  his  marriage  with  his 
daughter,   Lady  Edith. 

"  I  promise  you,"  he  said,  with  conviction.  "  that 
Edith  shan't  be  ashamed  of  me  if  she  gives  me  time 
to  work  out  the  career  that  lies  before  me." 

"  Really,"  said  Lord  Rathkeale,  "you  must  not 
-speak  of  her  as  Edith,  don't  you  know,  as  if  im- 
plying your  right  to  do  so  had  been  in  any  way 
counteuance<l.  No — honestly,  I  am  afraid  you 
mustn't  think  of  that  idea  any  more." 

"  But  I  assure  you  I  shall  never  think  of  any- 
thing else." 

"  My  dear  fellow,  dismiss  it  from  your  mind.  Xot 
to  l>e  thought  of.  Go  to  any  parent  of  an  attractive 
girl  like  Edith— brought  up  as  Edith  lias  been 
brought  up — with  certain  advantage.s — well,  of 
birth,  and  so  on — and  tell  him  you  can  only  offer  a 
settlement  of— what  was  it?  Eighteen  thousand 
pounds?  " 

"No,"  said  Barnard,  firmly.  "I  never  offered 
to  settle  anything.  That  is  my  working  capitf.l.  ' 

But  he  marries  Edith  all  the  same. 

During  the  honeymoon  at  Mentone,  we  are  told 
"that  everyone  seemed  instinctively  aware  of  the 
touch  of  a  masterful  hand."  They  liked  him,  these 
humble  folk.  He  might  be  abrupt,  or  angry,  or 
really  rude,  and  they  t>ore  him  no  malice." 

The  hist  of  work  grows  on  him  and  slowly  but 
surely  estranges  the  wife,  to  whom  he  is  really  de- 
voteci,  from  hinu    The  severe  strain  on  his  nervous 

*  By  W.  B.  Maxwell.  (Methuen  and  Co.,  Ltd., 
liondon.) 


system  from  the  hi;4h  pre,vsuio  ,it  which  he  lives 
ends  in  a  complete  breakdown,  from  whicu  lie 
emerges  a  pliysioal  wreek,  "  liko  a  foundered  race- 
hors(i,  a  run-down  clock,  a  stove-in  lioat,  like  any- 
thing broken,  worn  out,  and  utterly  done  for." 

The  incidents  relating  to  the  cIom?  of  hi.s  life  are 
related  very  touchingly.  La<ly  F/dith  and  he  are 
once  again  united,  and  all  their  early  love  re- 
stored, but  in  his  dying  agony  she  is.  constrainetl 
to  confess  to  him  that  which  his  amazing  in- 
tuition has  already  suspecte<l — tliat  .she  has  been 
unfaithful  to  him. 

Ho  remained  passive  in  lier  arms,  with  his  head 
against  her  neck. 

"  Jack,  do  you  hear  me?  " 

"  Yes," 

"  Am  I  forgiven?     Do  you  forgive?" 

■'  Yes — yes."  The  word  was  a  faint  whisper,  re- 
peated again  and  again  as  he  drew  the  faint 
breaths.     ... 

"  Edie.  I'm  so  tired.  .  .  .  Giye  me  rest. 
Let  me  rest." 

She  was  holding  him  as  a  mother  holds  a  sick 
child,  and  his  breathing  was  like  a  child's — very 
rapid,  very  faint. 

•'Yes,"  she  whisi^ered ;  "rest,  my  darling — 
rest."  H-  IN- 


COMING   EVENTS. 

yovember  1st  to  5th. — Cookery  and  Food  Ex- 
hibition, Royal  Horticultural  Hall,  S.W.  Nurses' 
Invalid  Trays  on  view  on  3rd  and  4th  prox. 

yovemher  jf.'i.- National  Council  of  Nurses  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland.  Annual  Meeting,  431, 
Oxford  Street,  London,  W,    4  p.m.    Tea. 

November  oth. — National  Food  Reform  Associa- 
tion. Conference  on  the  Feeding  of  Nurses.  Cax- 
ton  Hall,  S.W.    2.30  p.m. 

November  Sth. — Nurses'  Missionary  League. 
Lecture:  "Difficulties  and  Possibilities  in  a 
Nurses'  Life,"  by  Miss  Haughton,  Matron,  Guy's 
Hospital.  University  Hall,  Gordon  Square,  W.C. 
7.15  p.m. 

Novemher  Oth. — Royal  Infirmary,  Edinburgh. 
Lecture  on  "  Surgical  Nursing  outside  of  Hospi- 
tal," by  Mr.  John  D.  Dowden.  F.R.C.S.E.  All 
trained  nurses  cordially  invited.  Extra-Mural 
Medical  Theatre,  4.30  p.m. 

November  19th. — Meeting  of  the  Central  Com- 
mittee for  Registration  of  Nur&ee,  CouncU  Room, 
British  Medical  Association  Office,  329,  Strand, 
Ivondon.  The  Right  Hon.  the  Lord  Ampthill, 
G.C.I.E.,  will  preside,  3  p.m. 

NUESES'    MlSSI0N.\RT    LEAGUE. 

The  Sale  of  Work  will  take  place  at  52,  Lower 
Sloane  Street.  S.W.,  on  19th  November,  11.30— 
6  p.m.  Parcels  are  already  coming  in ;  butarticles 
need  not  be  sent  till  November  12th.  The  General 
Secretary,  Miss  H.  Y.  Richardson,  will  be  grateful 
if  all  members  will  do  their  best  to  send  things  for 
sale,  and  to  come  themselves,  and  bring  their 
friends  to  buy. 

WORD    FOR   THE    WEEK. 
More  pain  is  inflicted  in  the  slaughter-houses  m 
one  day  than  in  the  laboratories  in  a  year. 

J  Dr.    OstER. 


382 


Sbe  Brltfsb  3oiu*naI  of  imursino. 


[Nov.  5,  1910 


Xctters  to  tbe  EMtor. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  com- 
munications upon  all  subjects 
for  these  columns,  we  tvish  it 
to  be  distinctly  understooa 
that  xve  do  not  in  ant  wai 
hold  ourselves  responsible  for 
the  opinions  expressed  by  our 
correspondents. 


A    LITTLE  LOPSIDED. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "British  Journal  of  Nursing.'' 

Dear  Madam, — Beiug  very  keenly  interested  m 
the  proposed  memorial  to  the  late  Miss  Florence 
Nightingale  I  attended  the  meeting  convened  at 
Grosvenor  House  on  Friday  last.  Wiilst  entirely 
approving  of  the  resolution  which  was  passed,  to 
the  effect  that  an  Imperial  ISIemorial  shoulu  ue 
organised,  I  oould  not  help  smiling  at  the  con- 
stitution of^the  Committee  nominated.  Ten  or 
eleven  men  and  one  woman  to  decide  upon  a  suit- 
ahlc  memorial  to  a  woman,  and  which  is  pre- 
.sumably  to  be  used  for  the  benefit  of  women! 

It  is  to  be  lioped  that  representative  women  will 
not  l>e  excluded  from  the  Committee  of  Manage- 
ment of  any  scheme  to  honour  the  memory  of  the 
most  noble  of  their  sex ;  in  my  opinion  they  should 
predominate  upon  it. 

I  remain,  dear  Madam. 

Yours  faithfully, 

Mart  Burr. 


THE   NURSING   PROFESSION. 

To  the  Editiir  of  fhr  '•  British  .Journal  of  yursing.'' 
Dear  Madam, — I  notice  it  is  .stated  that  the 
Matrons  composing,  or  in  part  composing,  various 
committees  to  arrange  national  memorials,  are 
described  as  "  representing  the  nursing  profes- 
sion." It  is  a  little  difficult  to  undeiistand  how  a 
self-elected  committoe  represents  anybody. 
Further,  as  the  Army  authorities  have  had  to  learn 
that  the  Army  oonsist.s  not  only  of  generals  and 
officom,  but  of  tlie  rank  and  file  also:  so  perhai>s  in 
time  fJie  ".heads  of  the  nui-sing  profession  "  wdl 
appreciate  tlie  fact  that  to  be  a  head  yon  mu.st 
liave  a  Iiody  to  1>e  head  of,  tiiat  our  piofession  does 
not  cousi.st  s.olely  of  mations.  and  that  nurses  also 
are  entitled  to  express  an  opinion  as  to  the  form 
wljich  they  desire  the  memorials  to  wliich  they  sub- 
scril)e  to  take.  Or  will  the  matrons  \vho  exclu.sively 
manage  these  memorials  finance  them  also."  So  far 
the  existcnoG  of  the  cei'tific'ated  uui-se  seems  to  l)e 
ignored. 

Youi-s.   with  some  curiosity. 

A  Mere  Xrn.sE. 


THE   NURSES'  GOSPEL  LEAGUE. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  .Journal  of  Nursing." 
Dear  Madam, — A  correspondent  aslcs  for  opinions 
as  to  the  formation  of  a  Nui-ses'  Gospel  League. 
"  for  the  free  distribution  of  the  Gosiiel  and  Gosix>l 
Jitonaturo  to  the  patients  i~n  hospitals."  It  must, 
liowover,  lie  remembered  that  the  )>atients  in  a  hos- 
pital include  those  of  many  branches  of  tlie 
Cliti'tirm     C'hiM-<-li        Von -conformists.      BitabtislKxl. 


Konian,  etc.,  and  the  free  distribution  of  Ifleiia- 
ture  is  no  part  of  a  nurse's  province.  All  hospitals 
have  their  duly  appointed  chaplains,  beyond  which 
it  is  the  duty  of  a  nurse  to  ascertain  if  her 
l)atient  desires  to  see  any  special  priest  or  minister, 
to  acquaint  any  such  with  his  desire  for  their  ser- 
vices when  expressed,  and  do  her  utmost  to  secure 
their  ministrations,  but  proselytising  on  the  part  of 
a  nurse  is  neither  desirable  nor  permissible.  Short 
of  this,  ho^^■ever,  "  if  there  be  first  the  willing 
mind,"  there  are  many  ways  in  which  a  nuree  can 
help  the  i)atients  in  her  charge. 

Youre  faithfully, 

Ward  Sister. 


REFORM   IN   SLAUGHTER-HOUSES. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  "  Briti.ih  Journal  of  Nursing.'' 
Madam. — Everybody  knows  that  the  advantage 
of  the  public  over  the  private  slaughter-house  has 
been  repeatedly  demonstrated  in  this  and  other 
countries,  and  very  important  recommendations  in 
favour  of  well-ordered  abattoirs  have  repeatedly 
been  made,  for  instance,  by  the  Royal  Commission  on 
Tuberculosis, the  Admiralty  Commission  on  Humane 
Slaughtering,  the  Public  Health  Committee  of  the 
iiondon  County  Council,  and  like  authorities.  The 
establishment  of  properly  registered  abattoirs  un- 
der the  inspection  of  veterinary  officers  and  open 
always  to  the  observation  of  humane  people,  is  in- 
deed the  only_possible  T\ay  of  securing  the  merciful 
slaughter  of  animals :  yet,  owing  to  the  unaccount- 
able apathy  of  the  general  public,  the  realisation 
of  a  rational  method  of  slaughter  is  apparently  lo 
nearer  coming  to  pass  than  it  was  2j  years  ago, 
when  the  late  Sir  Benjamin  Ward  Richardson  first 
urged  its  adoption,  and  we  still  remain  the  only 
civilised  people  in  Europe,  if  not  in  the  world,  with- 
out a  genuine  abattoir  system.  "  It  is  astounding," 
writes  Mr.  C.  Cash,  B.A.,  in  his  comprehensive  book, 
'  Our  Slaughterhouse  System  '  (which  all  who  are 
interested  in  this  important  humanitarian  question 
should  read),  "that  in  a  country  where  there  is  so 
much  sensitiveness — «e  might  say  hyper-sensitive- 
ness— with  regard  to  animal  suffering,  where,  for  in- 
.stance,  the  law  has  interfered  to  prohibit  traction 
by  dogs  on  the  score  of  cruelty,  tlie  needless  and 
systematic  cruelty  of  our  slaughtering  methods 
should  have  been  ignored." 

In  this  connection  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  no 
more  definite  recommendation  was  made  by  the  Ad- 
miralty Commission  with  regard  to  the  use  of  some 
more  modern  and  less  barbarous  appliance  th.iu . 
the  pole-axe,  which  is  put  to  shame  by  the  splendid 
equipment  and  mechanical  contrivances  now  in  use 
in  many  Cmitinental  abattoirs,  and  wc  should  do 
well  to  follow  their  lead  in  this  as  in  other  par- 
ticulars. 

Yours,  etc., 

Joseph  Collinson. 


IRotlccs. 


OUR  PUZZLE  PRIZE. 
Rules    for   competing   for   t'  e     Pictorial    Puzzli 
Prize  will  l.e  found  on  .Vdvcrtisement  page  xii. 


Che  JCnitisb  3oiunnl  ot  ll-liirsino  SiUHMcincut. 


383 


The    Midwife. 


Z\K  Iprcvcntion  of  3nfantUc 
ni>oi-taUt\\ 


Di-.  H.  Lowenburg,  in  a  lecture  delivered 
before  the  isouth-East  Branch  of  the  Phila- 
delphia County  iledical  Assoi'iation,  and  pub- 
lished in  the  Dieteiic  and  Hygienic  Gazette, 
says  iii  eomiectiou  with  the  problem  of  infant 
mortality,  and  the  physician's  resix)usibility  in 
preventing  it,  that  his  responsibility  antedates 
the  birth  of  the  child.  It  often  has  to  do  with 
its  parents,  if  not  its  parents'  parents.  He 
supports  the  dictum  of  an  eminent  neurologist 
that  "  it  pays  to  come  of  good  stock,"  and 
tliinks  that  there  should  be  less  sentiment  and 
more  practical  sense  in  the  matter  of  mating, 
that  the  State  should  control  marriages,  and 
should  withhold  its  license  until  both  parties 
present  a  clean  bill  of  health,  as  certified  to  by 
a  competent  medical  attendant.  The  pui-pose  of 
marriage,  is,  he  says,  to  increase  and  multiply, 
not  tuberculosis,  not  syphilis,  not  dwarfs,  not 
criminals,  not  the  insane,  but  robust,  healthy, 
disease  free  men  and  women,  and  in  order  to 
accomplish  this  we  must  have  healthy  infants, 
and  to  have  healthy  infants  we  must  have 
healthy  parents. 

With  the  birth  of  the  child  the  physician's 
fight  against  disease  and  death  begins  with  the 
proper  care  of  the  umbilical  cord  and  the  eyes. 
It  may  be  worth  our  while  to  consider  for  a 
moment  the  most  frequent  causes  of  death  as 
they  are  operative  in  infancy  and  childliood. 
Ten  per  cent,  of  all  infants  bom  succumb 
during  the  first  month  of  their  existence  from 
causes  varying  from  general  debility,  pneu- 
monia and  dian-hcea  to  the  various  congenital 
defoi-mities  and  nialformations  of  the  intejnal 
organs.  According  to  Holt,  one-fourth  of  all 
deaths  occurs  during  the  first  year  and  one- 
third  duiing  the  first  two  years.  The  first  two 
years  constitute  the  most  dangerous  period  of 
existence.  During  the  first  year  the  vast 
majority  of  deaths  amongst  both  the  rich  and 
the  poor  are  due  to  gastro-intestinal  diseases 
and  marasmus,  which  are  dependent  directly 
uix>n  dietetic  mistakes  or  infections  produced 
by  food.  Next  follow  the  acute  diseases  of  the 
respiratory  tract  and  the  acute  infectious 
diseases,  of  which  pertussis  is  the  most  fatal, 
with  measles  following  as  a  close  second, 
though  it  is ^compartively  rare  at  this  age. 
Tuberculosis  is  not  a  frequent  cause  of  death 
during  this  period.     During   the  second  year 


gastro-intestinal  and  pulmonary  diseases  still 
head  the  list,  followed  by  the  acute  infectious 
diseases,  esi^eciallj'  measles,  diphtheria,  and 
whoo])ing  cough.  General  tuberculosis  and 
tubercular  meningitis  occur  more  commonly 
during  this  time.  Those  children  whosuffer  from 
rifkets,  itself  a  disease  of  malnutrition,  suc- 
cumb rapidly  to  the  acute  infections.  From 
the  second  to  the  fifth  year  the  majority  of 
deaths  are  due  to  the  infectious  diseases,  espe- 
cially diphtheria  and  scarlet  fever.  Tubercu- 
losis occui-s  not  infrequently  during  this  period. 

Contemplating  these  statements  with  refer- 
ence to  mortality,  we  as  physicians  can  come 
to  but  one  conclusion  ad  to  in  which  direction 
our  duty  lies  and  as  to  wTiat  are  the  means  at 
our  command  to  remedy  the  condition.  Proper 
nutriment  and  the  prevention  of  infection  con- 
stitute our  only  prophylaxis.  Theoretically  it 
should  be  an  easy  matter  to  secure  both,  but 
practically  it  is  decidedly  difficult,  as  will  be 
seen  as  we  proceed.  Proper  nutriment  means 
maternal  milk  during  the  entire  first  year,  and, 
this  failing,  properly  adapted  clean  cow's  milk. 
Briefly,  it  may  be  stated  without  fear  of  con- 
tradiction that  if  every  infant  were  breast-fed 
infant  mortaHty  would  at  once  be  reduced  50 
per  cent.  Therefore  our  responsibility  is  plain 
\Ve  must  do  everything  within  our  power  to 
conserve  the  maternal  milk  supply.  Before 
delivery,  at  the  very  beginning  of  conception, 
the  medical  attendant  must  inculcate  within 
the  mother  a  keen  desire  to  nurse  her  young. 
She  must  be  taught  to  look  upon  this  act  as  a 
privileged  joy  to  be  sought,  not  a  burden  to  be 
shunned. 

Igxor.^xce,   Supekstitiox,    .vnd  Filth. 

Dr.  Lowenburg  points  out  that  the  greatest 
enemies  to  the  prevention  of  infantile  mortality 
are  ignorance,  superstition,  and  filth.  He  ad- 
vocates the  foiTnation  of  physician's  clubs,  to 
which  the  poor  should  be  specially  invited.  The 
physician  should  teach  that  poverty  is 
no  excuse  for  filth,  and  the  advantages  of 
household  and  personal  cleanliness.  In  their 
true  etymologic  sense  the  majority  of  poor 
foreigners  suffer  from  hydrophobia  and  aero- 
phobia— the  fear  of  water  and  of  air. 
Northrop 's  description  of  how  to  kill  a  baby 
witii  pneumonia  well  illustrates  this.  How 
often  are  we,  who  do  hospital  and  dispensayj" 
work  among  the  poor,  asked  whether  it  will 
hurt  to  bathe  the  baby,  when  the  poor,  suffer- 
ing youngster  is  covered  with  filth  and  has  a 
crust  of  inspissated  epitheliuiy'  upon  its  pate 


384 


^be  Britisb  3ournal  cf  IRursing  Supplement,  lnov.  5, 1910 


a  quarter  t'!  an  inch  thick.  At  these  public 
lectures  we  could  teach  the  poor  the  danger 
of  contagion  and  of  overcrowding,  the  value  of 
the  daily  bath,  the  good  of  hospitals,  and  at 
times  the  need  for  urgent  surgical  operation. 
They  must  be  taught  the  necessity  for  isolation 
and  the  fallacy  of  the  idea  that  because  one 
baby  of  a  large  family  has  measles,  or  pertussis, 
it  is  the  correct  thing  to  expose  the  rest  of  the 
children  to  it  by  putting  them  all  in  one  room 
We  must  make  clear  to  the  mother  the  danger 
of  food  contamination,  especially  in  summer, 
and  that  after  she  receives  clean  milk  for  her 
babe  she  must  keep  it  clean  and  not  con- 
taminate it  with  dirty  nipples  and  bottle,  long 
nursing  tubes  and  infected  water,  'ihese  and 
a  thousand  and  one  other  methods  of  praven- 
tion  could  be  taken  up  at  these  meetings,  and 
in  a  brief  space  of  time  much  could  be  accom- 
plished. In 'order  to  arouse  the  enthusiasm  of 
the  people,  a  great  wave  of  enthusiasm  must 
take  hold  of  the  profession  in  this  matter  of 
education,  which  though  at  best  slow  is  the 
only  means  at  our  command  of  bettering  the 
physical  and  moral  conditions  of  the  poor. 

THE  MIDWIVES'  ACT  AMENDING  BILL,  No.  2. 
We  have  received  from  the  Incorporated  Mid- 
wives'  Institute  a  Memorandum  in  which  it  defines 
its  strong  objection  to  certain  Clauses  in  the  new 
3J11,  which  cannot  fail,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Insti- 
tute, to  minimise  the  good  which  has  resulted  from 
the  working  of  the  present  Act.  The  Clauses  are 
(7)  Fees  for  keeping  name  on  Roll,  (11  (1))  Notifi- 
cation of  Practice,  (13)  Power  of  Local  Supervising 
Authorities  in  regard  to  Grants,  (15)  Powers  ct 
Entry,  (17)  Payment  of  Fees  to  Medical  Practi- 
tioners called  in  on  the  advice  of  midwives. 


A    BABIES'    CONVALESCENT    HOME. 

The  Superioress  of  the  Convalescent  Home 
for  Invalid  Babies,  Buiy  St.  Edmunds,  pleading  in 
the  pre.ss  for  financial  help,  writes ; — 

Would  you  perhaps  draw  the  attention  of  your 
readers  to  the  need  there  is  for  a  convalescent  home 
entirely  for  infants — infants  of  the  very  poor,  who, 
on  leaving  hospital  after  a  serious  illness,  for  their 
frequently  ono-roomod  homes,  have  no  prospect  of 
nursing,  fresh  air,  and  good  food  to  recover  strength  ? 

It  is  over  a  year  now  since  a  Ix>ndon  doctor  told 
me  there  was  no  convalescent  home  in  England  ex- 
clusively for  infants,  or  w^here  the  latter  could  Ive 
sent,  unless  acoompanied  by  their  motbei-s;  «nd 
having  had  some  experience  with  ca.ses  of  p«rfllysis 
and  rickets,  we  few  nursing  sist«'i-s  l>egan  to  take  in 
some  invalid  babies  from  Hoxton.  Twenty-one 
are  here  now,  but  the  house  is  unsuitable,  in  a  street 
and.witb  only  a  yard  for  out-d(X)r  treatment. 

I  have  .seen  a  very  good  locality  at  Hunstanton, 
«n  ide«l  ]>lace  for  such  cases  as  oui-s;  but,  alas!  we 
are  greatly  in  want  of  funds  for  the  move  aiul  tlio 
initial  exjwnses  for  opoii-air  slielters.  Dr.  Stork, 
the  Medical  Officer  of  Health  in  Bury,  and  also  I)r. 
Cornish,  of  Kew,  will  be  perfectly  willing  to  give 
information  with  regard  to  our  work. 


a  HDibwives'  Bill  foi*  Scotlal\^. 

It  will  te  remembered  that  at  the  Annual  Con- 
gress of  the  Incorporated  Sanitary  Association  of 
Scotland,  held  in  Elgin  in  September,  a  resolution 
was  proposed  urging  the  advisability  of  a  Midwives' 
Act  for  Scotland.  We  understand  that  a  Bill  lia.s 
now  been  dnafted  by  the  Society  of  Medical  Officei-s 
of  Health  in  that  country.  It  is,  of  course,  impos- 
sible that  midwives  in  Scotland  should  remain 
unorganised  when  those  in  England  and  Ireland  are 
registered  under  State  authority,  but  we  bope 
that  Scottish  midwives  will  study  the  proposed  JJiU 
vei-y  carefully,  and  take  steps  to  protect  their  own 
interests  by  securing  representation  on  any  Central 
Authority  set  up  to  control  their  profession.  Eng- 
lish midwives  are  feeling  keenly  their  difiabiliti<'<i 
from  the  lack  of  direct  representative.s  on  their 
governing  body,  and  it  will  be  very  regrettable  if 
this  mistake  is  made  in  framing  an  Act  for  Scotland, 


Jnspccttori  i^n&ei'  tbe  flDl^wtves' 

act. 

Amongst  the  interesting  speeches  made  at  the 
Local  Government  Section  of  the  Women's  Con- 
gress at  the  Jai)an-British  Exhibition,  in  .June  last, 
and  now  published  by  the  AVomen'.s  Local  Govern- 
ment Society,  17,  Tothill  Street,  Westminster,  in 
pamphlet  form,  price  2d.,  was  one  by  Miss  Burn- 
side,  Senior  Insi>ector  of  Midwives  in  Hertford- 
shire, who  said  that  the  work  of  inspecting  mid- 
wives  was  at  present  very  much  in  its  infancy.  She 
rightly  considere<l  that  the  chief  qualification  tor 
an  Inspector  of  ilidwives  should  be  that  she  was 
a  qualified  and  tiiained  midwife,  having  had  prac- 
tical experience  of  the  work  to  enable  her  to 
realise  the  many  difficulties  with  which  midwives 
have  to  co|>e.  It  was  also  a  great  advantage  if  she 
were  a  tiiained  nurse  and  had  had  experience  in 
sanitary  work  and  health  visiting.  By  far  the  most 
imix>rtant  duty  of  an  Inspector  of  Midwives  was 
"  to  report  from  time  to  time  as  to  the  sufficiency 
of  the  provision  of  mi<lwives,  and  the  methods  to  be 
adopted  for  impi-oving  and  training  the  midwives 
already  in  practice,  and  for  obtaining  such  in- 
crease in  the  number  of  midwives  as  may  be  neces- 
sai-y,"  a  duty  placed  upon  her  on  her  appointment. 

Miss  Burnside  i>ointe<l  out  that  an  Inspector  lias 
women  of  all  classes,  ages,  and  degrees  of  education 
to  deal  with.  Many  of  those  in  bona-fide  praciioe 
prior  to  July.  1901.  can  neither  read  nor  write.  She 
ha.s  had  to  teach  these  women  to  scrub  up  and  di.v 
infect  their  liaiids  Ix-fore  her,  and  in  several  ca.ses 
had  to  take  the  scissors  and  cut  their  nails  atter- 
wanls.  The  chief  fact  prove<l  in  Hertfordshire  is 
that  a  living  cannot  be  gained  by  midwives  in 
agricultural  counties.  The  fees  charged  vary  from 
2s.  6d.  to  21s.  One  old  woman  in  a  seatteivd  <lis- 
trict,  who  charges  the  former  fee,  and  is  reqiiiitHl 
by  the  Act  to  visit  her  patients  daily  for  ten  days, 
some  of  whom  are  three  miles  distant,  has  thus  to 
walk  60  miles,  lK>sides  doing  all  the  work,  to  earn 
that  2s.  fid. 

.\  <lifficulty  in  connection  with  the  invostigati.-M 
of  cliargcfs  of  malpractice  was  that  people  would  not 
make  a  statement  and  stick  to  it. 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 
EDITED  BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


No.  1,180. 


SATURDAY,     NOVEMBER     12,     1910. 


EMtonal. 


CO-OPERATIVE     CATERING. 

The  present  age  is  one  in  which  the  indi- 
vidual worker  must  Join  hands  with  others 
if  he  is  to  maintain  his  elliciency,  and  in  no 
sphere  of  work  is  the  need  for  this  more 
evident  than  in  the  catering  departments  of 
our  hospitals.  <)n  the  purity  of  the  food 
supply  the  nutrition  of  the  patient  depends, 
and  his  adequate  nutrition  may  determine 
the  balance  between  life  aod  death.  The 
health  of  the  resident  medical,  nursing, 
and  domestic  staffs  also  depends  greatly 
upon  their  proper  nutrition,  and  therefore 
the  importance  of  this  department  cannot 
be  over-rated.  Yet  it  is  generally  con- 
sidered sufficient  in  smaller  hospitals  that 
the  Matron — -usually  a  very  overworked 
official,  responsible  for  the  supervision  of 
the  nursing,  the  training  of  the  nursing 
staff,  and  a  multitude  of  other  duties — 
should  also  act  as  housekeeper,  and  be 
responsible  for  ihe  catering.  In  the  largest 
hospitals  an  Assistant-Matron,  Home  Sister, 
or  Housekeeper  may  relieve  her  of  the 
details  of  the  work,  but  in  few  cases  have 
these  officials  had  adequate  instruction  in 
food  values  and  dietetics,  in  the  art  of 
(•atering,  and  in  the  pitfalls  which  beset 
the  most  conscientious  amateur  by  the 
supply  of  worthless  substitutes.  Three 
months'  insight  into  the  housekeeping  de- 
partment of  a  hospital  is  usually  all  the 
housekeeping  experience  available  for  a 
trained  nurse  taking  up  such  a  position, 
and  her  subsequent  value  as  housekeeper, 
is  equivalent  to  that  of  a  three  months' 
probationer  in  the  wards.  In  the  wards 
the  Matron  is  provided  with  higlily  trained 
Sisters  as  expert  assistants,  why  not  with 
skilled  helpers  on  the  housekeeping  side? 
If  food  is  to  be  pxire,  and  a  caterer  successful 
;ind  economical,  a  thorough  apprenticeship 
is  essential. 


We  print  in  another  column  the  report  of 
an  interesting  Conference  convened  by  the 
National  Food  Re!orm  Association,  and  in 
a  recent  issue  we  published  an  address  by 
;Mr.  .John  Foot,  Chief  Inspector  for  the 
Borough  of  Bethnal  Green,  before  the 
National  Pure  Food  Association,  in  which 
he  showed  the  exceeding  difficulty  of 
securing  an  unadulterated  food  supply. 
Thus  "high  class"  jams  are  adulterated 
with  the  pulp  of  apples,  turnips,  and 
marrows,  Demerara  sugar  with  crystals 
coloured  with  aniline  dye,  pepper  with 
rice  flour,  white  flour  is  ground  in  a  way 
which  deprives  it  of  its  chief  nutriment, 
and  mixed  with  alum,  groimd  bones,  and 
sometimes  plaster  of  Paris,  while  boracic 
and  salicylic  acid  are  in  constant  use  as 
preservatives,  so  that  with  almost  every 
meal  in  milk,  cream,  butter,  sausages, 
corned  beef  and  other  articles  of  diet, 
we  are  being  drugged  bj-  the  butter 
factor,  the  grocer  and  other  tradesmen 
from  whom  we  olitain  our  food  supply. 

Why  should  not  the  hospitals  of  the 
iletropolis  cooperate  to  obtain  a  pure  fooil 
supply  through  a  central  expert  agency, 
supplied  with  home  grown  meat,  with 
poiiltry,  milk,  eggs,  and  jams  from  the 
pi'oducts  of  its  own  farms,  and  with  bread, 
cakes,  flour,  groceries  and  other  necessaries, 
the  purity  of  which  has  been,  in  the 
interests  of  the  hospitals  committees,  tested 
and  guaranteed  b\-  trained  experts  at  the 
central  dep<Jt  y 

We  commend  to  notice  the  action  of  the 
Committee  of  the  Infants'  Hospital,  Vincent 
Square,  S.W.,  who — in  order  to„ obtain  the 
pure  milk  supply,  which  is  the  staple  food 
of  the  little  patients — liave  arranged  for  its 
supply  from  a  farm  established  by.  the 
Treasurer,  Mr.  Robert  .Mond,  under  the 
direct  control  of  the  Conunittee  and  iledical 
Staff.  Why  should  not  this  principle  of 
securing   pure    food     l^e     applietl     to    all 


386 


Cbe  Kritisb  3ournal  ci  iRursina. 


i.N. 


12,  1910 


fharitable  institutions.  From  whence 
will  arise  the  philanthropic  Moses  who 
will  organise  this  great  commissariat 
department  ? 

flDedtcal   fiDatters. 


HOSPITAL  TREATMENT  OF  THE  INSANE. 

At  a  clinical  meeting  of  the  Northern 
Counties  of  Scotland  Branch  of  the  British 
Medical  Association,  held  at  the  District 
Asylum,  Inverness,  Dr.  T.  C.  Mackenzie. 
Medical  Superintendent,  presented  an  interest- 
ing paper  on  the  above  subject,  which  is  pub- 
lished in  the  supplement  to  the  British  Medical 
Journal.     He  said,  in  part:  — 

The  treatment  of  the  certified  insane 
in  our  public  asylums  is  a  subject  with 
fairly  well  defined  limits,  and  I  should  like  to 
ofier  the  following  iew  remark-  upon  the  hos- 
pital treatment  of  the  insane  as  it  afiects  (li 
the  patient,  (2)  the  nurse,  (3>  the  physician, 
(4)  the  public. 

If  it  is  asked  what  is  meant  by  the  hospital 
treatment  of  the  insane,  the  answer  is  that  the 
patient  on  admission  to  an  asylum  is  put  t-o 
bed  in  a  ward  staffed  by  trained  nurses,  that  - 
his  physical  condition  is  carefully  examined 
and  recorded,  and  also  his  mental  state.  Thus 
he  is  placed  in  the  circumstances  most  favour- 
able to  the  study  of  the  particular  requirements 
of  his  case,  and  obtains  the  most  suitable 
means  of  treatment  at  the  hands  of  skilled  and 
careful  attendants. 

Treatment  in  bed  is  desirable  in  all  such 
cases  and  is  possible  in  most.  The  rest  in  bed 
is  good  in  itself. 

It  is  not,  however,  only  the  acute  and  re- 
cently admitted  cases  of  mental  disease  that 
are  interested  in  and  benefited  by  the  hospital 
treatment  of  the  insane.  The  sick  ward  is  in- 
tended for  such,  but  its  usefulness  extends  to 
two  other  quite  distinct  and  separate  classes  of 
asylum  patient.  There  is  first  the  patient  who 
is  permanently  enfeebled  in  mind  but  able- 
bodied,  and  who  suffers  from  some  intercuixent 
organic  disease,  such  as  an  attack  of  lobar 
pneumonia,  lumbago,  etc.,  or  who  sustains 
some  injury,  such  as  a  broken  leg.  that  requires 
confinement  to  bed,  with  careful  nursing  and 
supervision.  Such  a  patient  is  also  given  his 
or  lier  place  in  the  sick  ward,  and  there  receives 
exactly  the  same  treatment  as  would  be  pro- 
vided in  the  wards  of  a  general  hospital  or 
infinnaiy. 

Tlicactual  carrying  out  of  treatment  in  such 
cases  is  liable  to  be  complicated  and  often 
rendered  more  difficult  by  the  mental  condition 
of     the  pnlient,   hut   such    difficulties   are   not 


allowed  to  frustrate  or  prevent  the  endeavour 
to  treat  the  case  as  it  deserves. 

Food  may  be  refused  or  it  may  be  rejected 
after  it  has  reached  the  stomach.  A  case  who 
has  been  operated  on  for  appendicitis  may  re- 
quire physical  restraint  in  some  form  to  pre- 
vent the  removal  of  bandage  dressings  and 
stitches,  and  a  man  with  fracture  of  both  bones 
of  the  leg  may  remove  his  splints  and  jump 
out  of  bed  and  give  some  trouble  before  he  is 
caught,  as  I  once  saw  happen  in  the  case  of 
an  epileptic  patient.  Such  difficulties,  how- 
ever, only  call  for  high  qualities  in  the  asylum 
nurse  and  attendant,  and  are  not  allowed  to 
interfere  with  the  proper  treatment  of  the 
patient. 

The  second  class  of  patient  who  benefits  is 
to  be  found  among  those  who  are  subject  to 
recurrent  attacks  of  mental  disorder  associated 
with  some  change  in  their  bodily  condition. 
There  is  a  jjatient  in  this  asylum  who  periodi- 
cally becomes  acutely  excited  and  dangerously 
impulsive.  Associated  with  this  change  in 
conduct  there  is  always  to  be  found,  if  it  is 
looked  for.  a  very  foul  condition  of  the  tongue 
and  breath,  and  the  best  treatment  for  the 
case,  and  the  best  sedative  for  the  excitement, 
is  a  large  dose  of  castor  oil. 

There  is  yet  another  and  apparently  in- 
creasing class  of  asylum  patient  whose  position 
has  been  improved  since  the  introduction  of 
hospital  methods  into  asyhmi  practice.  I  refer 
to  the  senile  insane,  many  of  whom  are  bed- 
ridden. If  the  doctor  can  do  little  for  them, 
the  nurse  can  do  very  much.  I  have  been 
assistant  physician  in  an  asylum  in  which  the 
aggregate  age  at  death  in  twelve  consecutive 
deaths  amounted  to  900  years — an  average  of 
75  years  per  patient.  The  declining  years  of 
these  patients  were  soothed  and  their  sufferings 
diminished  by  the  devotion  and  attention  of 
nurses  who  were  dealing  with  one  of  the  most 
trying  and  exacting  class  of  patients  with 
which  any  nurse  can  have  to  do — the  com- 
plaining and  failing  and  querulous  old  man  or 
\^oman. 

There  is  a  further  aspect  of  the  hospital  treat- 
ment of  the  insane  as  it  a£fect«  the  patient  that 
merits  attention.  It  is  what  I  may  be  allowed 
to  call  the  reflex  effect  upon  the  patient  if  lie  or 
she  is  sufficiently  conscious  to  be  capable  of 
ap2)reciating  their  surroundings.  They  realise 
that  they  are  in  bed;  that  their  surroundings 
are  those  of  a  hospital:  that  they  are  attended 
by  nurses,  and  that  they  have  fellow- 
patients,  that  they  have  a  medical  atten- 
dant who  takes  an  interest  in  them  indivi- 
dually; and  that,  in  short,  they  are  treated  as 
patients  and  not  as  prisoners. 


Nov.  rj.  I'.'ii 


Zibc  Jfiiitieb  Sournal  of  H^ursino. 


SSI 


It  is  a  fallacy,  ol  wliu'h  tlio  public  iiiiud  is 
not  yet  altogether  disabused,  that  there  is  but' 
little  difference  between  an  asylum  and  u 
prison.  The  tendency  of  asylum  development 
is  towards  the  hospital  and  away  from  the 
prison.  To  what  extent  the  prison  should 
follow  the  asylum  is  another  question,  but  the 
time  is  jJast  for  any  such  idea  as  that  the  two 
are  ranch  the  same. 

The  develoiHiient  of  the  hospital  idea  in 
asylum  work  has  produced  almost  equally  far- 
reaching  changes  and  improvements  in  the 
duties  and  training  of  the  asylum  nurse  and 
attendant. 

The  principles  adopted  and  practised  in  the 
hospital  and  sick  wards  of  the  asylum,  and  the 
training  received  therefrom  by  the  members  of 
the  staff,  make  their  influence  felt  throughout 
the  whole  institution,  and  liave  a  most  impor- 
tant bearing  upon  the  health  of  every  member 
of  the  asylum  community,  both  patients  and 
staff.  The  advance  of  medical  science  in  the 
department  of  mental  disease  now  requires  the 
successful  asylum  attendant  to  possess  higli 
qualifications  in  technical  knowledge  and 
training  as  compared  with  the  requirements  of 
twenty  years  ago,  but  something  else,  even 
more  important,  is  essential,  and  must  not  be 
lost  sight  of.  Nothing,  1  think,  can  ever  take 
the  place  in  asylum  work  of  such  qualities  as 
good  temper,  cheerfulness,  unwearying 
patience  and  forbearance,  constant  watchful- 
ness and  forethought,  sagacity  and  kindly 
sympathy,  etc.  If  these  are  absent,  it  is  of  no 
avail  to  know  the  number  of  red  blood  cor- 
puscles per  cubic  centimetre,  or  to  write 
learnedly  on  the  structure  of  the  cerebral  cortex 
or  the  nature  and  use  of  antiseptics.  The  ideal 
asylum  nurse  or  attendant  requires  the  double 
qualification. 

IIIQIP  jfacts. 

We  quote  the  following  paragraphs  from  The 
Diftttic  (uul  Hygienic  Gazette  for  the  benefit 
of  hospital  managers  generally,  and  more  espe- 
cial'y  for  those  resix)nsible  for  the  poor  little 
patients  in  the  Children's  Hospitals. 

When-  is  a  Syphilitic  xot  Dangerous? 

It  goes  without  saying  that  the  patient  with 
an  open  lesion  is  infectious.  The  virulence  and 
the  possibilities  of  contagion  lessen  with  time 
and  treatment.  It  is  a  safe  rule  to  regard  all 
case^  as  dangerous  during  the  first  two  years. 

— E.    O.    S.MITH. 

Onci:  Syphilitic,  Alw'.ws  Syphilitic. 
Once  you  are  s,vphiHtic,  you  will  always  live 
syphilitic,  you  will  die  syphilitic,   and  on  the 
day  of  judgment  your  ghost  will  be  syphilitic. — 
Zeisse. 


Z\K  JfeeMuG  of  IWuvscs. 

A  L'<jnlcrciice  nil  llie  i'ecdiiig  ol  Nurses  «  as- 
held  at  Caxton  Hall  on  Saturday,  November 
5th,  under  the  auspices  of  the  National  Food 
Eefonii  Association.  Miss  Rosalind  Paget  pre- 
sided, and  proved  "  an  inspiration  to  reluctant 
speakers."' 

Miss  Paget  first  called  on  Mr.  Charles  E. 
Hecht,  the  courteous  secretary  of  the  National 
Food  Eefonn  Association,  to  read  apologies 
from  those  unable  to  attend,  including  a  tele- 
gram from  Miss  Villiers  (Matron,  Park  Hospi- 
tal) who  was  to  have  taken  part  in  the  discus- 
sion, but  was  detained  owing  to  an  unespectf^'J 
visit  from  Mv.  John  Burns  to  the  hospital. 

In  a  few  introductory  remarks.  Miss  Paget 
said  that  the  object  of  the  Conference  was  to 
discuss  Diet  Eeform  on  the  broadest  lines,  not 
to  hear  the  views  of  faddists.  The  Chairman 
said  she  had  great  sympathy  with  the  aims  ol 
the  Conference,  as  she  had  for  a  time  per- 
formed the  duties  of  Home  Sister  in  a  large 
London  hospital,  and  knew  the  awful  responsi- 
bility of  providing  20  .meals  in  the  24  hours, 
and  remembered  her  repulsion  to  viewing  the 
cold  remains  next  morning.  A  good  deal  was 
heard  at  the  present  time  about  "made 
dishes."  the  taste  of  nurses  might  have  altered 
now.  but  on  one  occasion  when  she  offered  a 
nurse  a  lielpiiig  from  a  made  dish  the  reply  was 
"  No  thank  you.  Sister;  I  like  to  know  what  I 
am  eating." 

Miss  Musson,  who  had  prepared  an  exhaus- 
tive paper,  which  was  in  the  hands  of  many 
of  those  present,  emphasised  its  principal 
points  in  the  following  paper:  — 

FOOD  IN  HOSPITALS. 

The  question  of.  food  in  hospitals  is  one  to 
which  most  of  us  devot*  many  anxious  hours. 
Lest  there  should  be  any  misunderstanding.  I 
should  like  to  say  that  the  opinions,  which  I 
have  endeavoured  to  express,  though  in  very 
sketchy  and  incomplete  form ,  in  the  paper  you 
have  before  you,  are  based  upon  17  years'  per- 
sonal experience  in  four  hospitals,  varying  in 
size  from  60  to  670  beds,  and  have  been  con- 
fii-med  or  modified  by  the  reports  of  ^Matrons 
and  Nurses  from  other  institutions,  and  by 
notes  kindly  supplied  to  me  by  Miss  Laurence 
and  !Miss  Bann.  As  I  am  at  present  so  fortu- 
nate as  to  have  an  assistant  who  gives  most  of 
her  time  to  the  catering,  and  as  the  kitchens 
and  store  rooms  at  the  hospital  of  which  I 
have  the  honour  to  be  Matron  are  modem  and 
convenient,  I  am  conscious  of  advantages 
which  many  of  my  colleagues  do  not  enjoy,  and 
am  able  to  speak  with  all  the  greater  freedom 
of  scane  difl&eulties,  because  they  are  no  longer 


Zhc  Britisb  3curnal  ot  irturslna. 


:Xov.  12,  1910 


my  particular  dimciuMes.  1  liave  tnt-d  to 
Avrite  from  a  general  point,  of  view. 

There  is  no  need  .for  exaggeration  in  the 
matter,  it  is  one  for  calm  and  sane  eonsidera- 
'ion,  and  though  sure  that  in  many  hospitals 
the  nurses  are  not  fed  really  well  and  adc- 
rjuately,  I  do  not  believe  that  there  are  many 
now  in  which  they  are  fed  badly. 

That  the  food  is  not  always  satisfying  is 
shown  in  eagerness  to  obtain  other  food,  the 
frequency  with  which  it  is  supplemented  even 
by  nurses  with  very  little  money  to  spare. 
Hunger  does  not  seem  to  be  really  appeased 
and  the  same  nurse  who  has  groaned  at 
'"  everlasting  beef  and  mutton  "  at  mid-day, 
may  be  heard  towards  evening  to  express  a 
craving  for  a  "  good  meat  meal,"  grown  women 
appear  to  return  to  their  school-days,  when  a 
hamper  from  home  was  eagerly  looked  for. 

That  it  is  not  always  to  the  taste  of  the 
consumers  is  shown  by  the  great  pleastu-e 
given  by  an  occasional  luxury,  and  by  the 
addition  of  pickles,  vinegar,  and  large  quanti- 
ties of  pepper,  salt,  and  mustard  (or  with  pud- 
dings, sugar)  to  "help  it  down."  It  is  re- 
markable how  much  .sugar  will  sometimes  be 
taken  by  women  who  have  formerly  had  no 
liking  for  sweets. 

Xo  one  in  hospital  deserves  more  sympathy 
and  encouragement  than  does  the  housekeeper, 
and  no  one  receives  more  undeserved  blame 
than  she,  undeserved  because  she  is  often'  ex-, 
pected  to  do  the  impossible,  i.e.,  to  please 
everyone,  in  spite  of  inconvenient  kitchens,  in- 
efficient kitchen  staff,  and  limited  expenditure. 

I  like  to  think,  what  I  am  sure  is  tact,  that 
the  improvement  which  has  taken  place  of  late 
years  is  due  in  very  small  degree,  if  at  all,  to 
complaints  from  nui-ses  themselves.  They  ax-e 
usually  wonderfully  contented,  and  loyal  to 
■  their  training  schools.  It  is  due  much  more  to 
the  fact  that  for  some  years  past  Matrons  have 
been  fully  trained  nurses  themselves,  and  re- 
member the  strain  and  fatigue  of  the  three  or 
lour  years'  training  and  tl^e  places  where  the 
"  shoe  pinched  "  most.  We  have  come  to  a 
stage  when  we  may  vyith  advantage  unite  to 
educate  public  opinion  on  the  matter,  for  until 
we  have  uprooted  the  idea  that  nurses  can  be 
adequately  fed  on  something  considerably  less 
than  Is.  a  day  per  head,  we  cannot  do  very 
iiiuch  more.  1  say  adequately  because  it  is,  of 
••>inse,  possible  to  feed  a  woman  on  less,  but 
t  is  doubtful  if  it  can  be  done  really  well  for 
one  who  expends  as  much  mental  and  physical 
energy  on  her  daily  work  as  does  a  nurse  in  a 
busy' hospital. 

I  believe  that  really  good  and  varied  plain 
food  can  be  suyjplietl  at  tlje  rate  of  Is.  a  day 
per  liead  fat  any  rate. in  Iwge  institutions),  pix>- 


vided  tile  housekeeper  has  time  to  devote  to 
inspection  and  supervision,  and  that  the  cook 
knows  how  to  cook  and  has  time  to  do  it  pro- 
perly. Some  think  Is.  a  day  too  much,  but, 
taking  all  the  drawbacks  of  a  nurse's  life  into 
consideration,  I  cannot  think  so.  A  nurse  has 
'  to  perfonn  duties  which  tax  each  muscle  and 
strain  every  nerve,  not  on  one  occasion,  but  day 
after  day.  She  begins  her  training  with  the 
ordThary  strength  of  a  girl  of  20  and  odd  years, 
and  with  absolutely  no  knowledge  of  the  theory 
■  or  p'ractice  of  nursing.  Muscle  and  brain  must 
alike  develop  rapidly  if  she  is  to  attain  to  even 
a  moderate  standard  of  efficiency  in  three 
years.  She  theiefore  requires  a  greater  amount 
of  nouiisluiieiit  than  she  would  had  she  re- 
mained at  home,  leading  an  ordinary  quiet 
home  life.  A  man  who  is  preparing  for  great 
exertion  in  the  way  of  sports  or  races  is  care- 
fully trained  and  dieted.  He  would  be  thought 
foolish  to  compete  otherwise.  The  same  sort 
of  consideration,  in  modified  degree,  should  be 
devoted  to  the  physical  training  of  a  proba- 
tioner. As  t<:>  what  kind  of  food  would  be  most 
suitable  for  this  purpose,  how  should  I  dare  to 
give  an  opinion  on  a  matt-er  where  doctors  dis- 
agree. One  advocates  "more  proteid,"  an- 
other "less  proteid."  another  an  increased 
supply  of  ■  carbo-hydrates."  and  while  one 
says  "  give  plenty  of  fats,"  another  says  "  re- 
duce them."  One  advises  hght,  easily-digested 
meals  given  frequently,  and  another  briefly  ex- 
presses the  opinion  that  nurses  should  be  fed 
"  like  fighting  cocks."  We  might,  however, 
study  with  advaiitage  some  of  the  modern 
works  on  dietetics,  written  by  men  who  have 
devoted  themselves  to  the  subject,  and  whose 
theories  have  been  confirmed  by  chemical  and 
physiological  research.  With  scientific  know- 
ledge added  to  common  sense  we  might  arrive 
at  more  satisfactory  results,  and  the  study  is 
an  interesting  one. 

It  is  w  ell  known  that  the  new  probationer 
thinks  that  she  does  the  lion's  share  of  the 
work  of  a  ward,  but  we  know  that  she  is  really 
not  doing  as  much  as  the  senior  nui-ses.  Her 
muscles,  being  flabby,  she  finds  it  hard,  and 
does  it  slowly,  and  she  has  no  energy  to  spare 
for  developing  her  mental  powers,  so  that  she 
is  usually  foinid  to  be  forgetful  and  unobser- 
vant. .\.s  her  physical  powers  become  accus- 
tomed to  doing  the  work  more  easily  and 
quickly,  her  powei^s  of  obseiTation  and 
memory  l^egin  to  develop.  The  mental  strain 
and  the  respc>nsibility  increase  with  each  pro- 
motion, and  nurses  are  often  obsei-ved  to  get 
thinner  as  tlie  final  examination  draws  near. 
The  outfiut  of  energy  all  the  time  is  very  great. 

.\fter  reading  some  treatises  on  food,  we  can 
almost   imagine  that  as   we  become  more  en- 


Xov.  1-2,  lull 


^bc  aSritisb  3ournal  of  IHursing, 


389 


liglitiMjcJ  siuil  seientitic,  tln'i-c  lui-'lit  lie  a 
lutKlificatiou  of  the  diet  duriug  traiuiug,  aiul 
that  tables  for  niuscle-niakiiig  pros,  and  tables 
for  braiu-workiug  Sistei-s  and  Staff  Nuitseo 
might  become  the  order  of  the  day,  or  that 
uiirses  who  did  badly  in  examination  niigiit  be 
treated  to  a  special  diet !  Meanwhile,  the  best 
ti:ing  to  do  is  to  supply  a  varied  diet  and  leave 
the  individuals  to  use  it  as  required.  1  think 
we  require  variety  in  l;ind  of  food,  us  well  as 
in  dishes,  and  it  is  the  recollection  of  nurses 
with  a  tendency  to  rheumatism,  biliousness, 
and  other  affections  who  are  told  not  to  eat 
much  red  meat,  which  turns  my  thoughts  to 
nourishing  dishes  made  with  httle  or  no  meat. 
At  present  this  class  of  dish  is  represented  al- 
most entirely  by  macaroni  cheese,  which  is 
generally  popular.  Foreign  cookery  would  not 
be  altogether  suitable  for  our  climate,  but  we 
have  a  good  deal  to  leam  in  the  use  of  maca- 
roni, spagiietti,  maize,  rice,  etc.,  from  the 
French  and  Italians,  and  also,  I  am  told,  from 
the  Americans.  We  also  make  very  little  use 
of  our  vegetables,  both  green  and  root,  com- 
pared to  the  use  made  of  them  by  our  Conti- 
nental neighbours.  From  the  Gennans  we 
might  also  learn  something  of  sweets.  A  real 
stccct  would  sometimes  be  better  than  an  or- 
dinary pudding. 

Very  little  is  usually  given  in  the  way  oi 
sweets,  and  it  is  often  noticed  that  nurses  eat 
a  great  deal  of  sugar,  so  much  so  that  it  is 
evidently  a  Want  in  the  dietary.  Old  estab- 
lished ideas  as  to  the  relative  expense  of  cer- 
tain ingredients  are  in  need  of  modification.. 
Some  are  looked  ujx>n  as  luxuries  quite  un- 
necessarily, and  one  can  but  think  that  in  the 
inaking  of  dishes,  the  cook  often  "  six)ils  the 
ship  for  a  ha'porth  o'  tar."  The  saving  of  au 
egg  here  and  a  little  butter  there  is  not  worth 
while  if  the  dish  is  to  be  less  appetising,  or,  if 
by  adding  them  to  cheap  food  like  ibeains  or 
macaroni,  a  tasty  nourishing  dish  can  be  made 
and  the  meat  bill  reduced. 

The  cooking  is  more  at  fault  than  the  in- 
gredients, as  it  is  in  hundreds  of  private  houses. 
i  have  lately  seen  a  suggestion  that  hospital 
managers  might  learn  that  "  quite  uninstructed 
women  "'  could  be  taught  to  prepare  deliiMous 
dishes.  No  doubt,  but  not  in  .a  busy  hospital : 
there  is  no  one  at  liberty  to  teach,  and  the 
diners  cannot  wait  while  the  cook  learns  her 
work.  In  no  place  is  a  small  error  in  cooking 
more  disastrous,  for  it  affects  so  many  people, 
and  the  small  failure  which  is  passed  over  in 
court-eous  silence  in  a  private  house  may  be 
the  occasion  of  much  trouble  in  a  large  insti- 
tution.   - 

I  am  sure  that  better  cooking  is  the  thing 
tti»>':t  rerjuivf^'l.  -in''  i^Iiit  if  n-]]]  bo  b^cf  obtained 


i)v  ruiploying  more  highly  edueated  women  a* 
head  cooks.  More  hands  are  also  deeded'  to  pre- 
pare it,  and  more  time  in  which  to  consume  it. 
Better  instruction  in  the  art-  of  catering  should 
be  available,  for  those  who  take  up  institution 
management,  and  more  time  for  supervision, 
which  is  the  only  way  to  prevent  wastefulness. 
I  am  ready  and  williog  to  adopt  any  justifi- 
able and  real  economy,  and  -nurses  do  not 
expect  luxuries,  but  I  am  sure  that  it  is  false 
economy  to  relieve  one  section  of  the  com- 
munity at  the  expense  of  the  health  of  another. 

Discussion. 

Miss  Cox-Davies,  Matron,  Royal  Free  Hospital, 
wild  opened  the  discussion,  said  that  the  considera- 
tion of  the  daily  diet  sheet  so  that  it  might  give 
variety  without  increasing  expenditure  occupied  a 
great  deal  of  a  Matron's  time.  From  some  state- 
ments in  the  Press  it  would  almost  appear  that  tlie 
public-  believed  that  nurses  were  fed  on  almo.st 
prison  diet,  and  that  the  Matron  of  a  hospital  was 
a  lazv  official.  .She  believed  few  nurses  were  not 
readv  to  sav  that  the  food  supplied  to  them  was 
as  appetising  as  that  they  were  accustomed  to  at 
home,  but  the  point  was  that  their  work  was  so 
exacting  that  they  required  better  food.  She  re- 
feiH-ed  to  the  difficulty  of  serving  food  daintily, 
quickly,  and  efficiently,  and  contrasted  the  service  of 
the  present  day  with  the  meal  provided  in  a  small 
provincial  hospital  twenty-one  years  ago,  where 
black-handled  knives  and  forks  were  supplied  to  eat 
the  cold  potato-pie  an<l  the  loaf  was  placed  on  the 
table-cloth.  The  comment  of  the  staff  nurse  to  the 
new  probationer  was,  '  It's  no  good  to  look  dainty: 
what  is  good  enough  for  me  is  good  enough  for  you. 
and  if  you  don't  like  it  you  can  go  without." 

•She  spoke  of  a  useful  piece  of  work  by  the  Ladies' 
Committee  at  the  Boyal  Free  Hospital,  which  pro- 
vides the  hospital  w  ith  hampers  of  fresh  vegetables 
dailv  from  a  circle  of  forty-five  country  friends.  The 
scheme  has  now  been  working  admirably  for  four 
vears.  and  the  speaker  suggested  that  included  in 
such  schemes  might  be  the  supply  of  new-laid  eggs 
and  home-made  jam. 

Miss  B.vrtos,  Matron,  Chelsea  Infirmary,  said 
that  under  the  Poor  Law  the  officers  had  rations, 
and  the  higher  the  position  of  the  official  the  larger 
his  supposed  appetite :  thus  the  Matron  was  sup- 
posed to  eat  much  more  than  the  probationers.  The 
food  was  good,  and  there  was  plenty  of  it,  "but  in 
many  Poor  Law  institutions  the  catering  was  done 
in  the  steward's  office,  and  nurses'  food  was  a 
woman's  question.  At  Chelsea  Infirmary  a  slate 
was  placed  on  the  mantelpiece  inviting  suggestions 
from  the  nurses  as  to  variations  in  their  diet,  but 
they  did  not  often  make  them ;  it  w^s  easier  to 
grumble  than  suggest. 

Miss  E.  M.  Boge,  Superintendent,  Q.V.J. I., 
Shoreditch.  said  that  the  feeding  of  district  nurses 
approximated  to  that  of  a  private  family.  She'had 
nurses  from  many  hospitals,  and  the  general  testi- 
mony was  that  the  food  was  admirable :  but  there 
was  some  monotony,  and  good  food  might  be  badly 
,  o.iked       All  nur^f^  needed  a  good  meat  dinner  in 


390 


Zbc  IBi'itish  3ournaI  of  IRursmg, 


[Nov.  12,  1910 


the  middle  of  the  dav,  either  a  joint  or  a  made  dish. 
She  thought  more  made  and  vegetable  dishes  would 
be  appreciated.  In  the  East  End  fruit  and  veget- 
ables were  cheap,  and  at  the  Shoreditch  Home  they 
always  had  two  vegetables  every  day. 

She  concluded  with  a  story  of  her  probationer 
days,  when  a  wonderful  pudding  was  served.  The 
Matron  ate  her  portion  ivithout  comment,  the  Sis- 
ters did  their  best,  and  the  probationers  vaiulv 
struggled  with  theirs.  Afterwards  they  instituted 
inquiries  as  to  the  composition  of  the  pudding  and 
found  that  the  plaster  of  Paris  tin  had  been  rele- 
gated to  the  storeroom  as  the  driest  place,  and  its 
contents  had  been  used  in  mistake  for  ground  rice. 

:\fiss  Morgan.  M..\.B.  Matron,  said  that  the 
dietary  scale  in  ^Metropolitan  Asylums  Board  hospi- 
tals was  a  liberal  one,  and  the  post  of  housekeeper 
an  important  one.  She  agreed  that  more  made 
dishes  were  desirable,  but  if  a  choice  of  dishes  were 
offered  all  the  nurses  often  went  for  the  same  one 
and  there  was  not  enough  to  go  round. 

Miss  B.ix.v,  M.A.B.  Matron,  thought  that  nurses 
should  be  educated  in  food  values;  the  subject  was 
very  much  neglected. 

Miss  M.uiQrARDT.  Matron,  Camberwell  Infir- 
mary, thought  it  would  be  helpful  if  the  Committee 
of  the  National  Food  Reform  Association  would 
form  a  list  of  meals  outside  those  to  which  nurses 
were  already  accustomed,  at  a  cost  which  could  be 
afforded  by  institutions. 

-Mrs.  Bedford  Fexwick  said,  presumably,  in  the 
future,  when  a  curriculum  for  Matrons  was  defined, 
they  would  be  expert  dietetians  as  well  as  nurses ; 
but  for  Superintendents  of  educational  establish- 
ments to  attend  in  detail  to  the  duties  of  caterer 
and  steward  appeared  e.\cessive,  although  the 
Matron  should  certainly  be  the  Superintendent  of 
every  domestic  department  in  a  hospital.  Economv 
played  so  important  a  part  in  the  organisation  of 
charitable  institutions  that  the  cook  was  seldom 
adequately  paid  to  secure  fir.st-class  service.  She 
suggested  the  possibility  of  making  some  central 
society,  expert  in  tlie  catering  and  culinary  arts, 
responsible  for  the  catering  and  cooking  in  our  large 
public  in.stitutions.  Such  work  should  be  done  by 
experts  and  not  by  amateurs. 

iliss  Hf;ATHi:R  Hic.a.  Charing  Cross,  said  that 
Matrons  were  much  handicapped  by  the  provision 
I  if  inferior  food  by  contractors.  Even  if  a  cook  were 
fairly  good  she  could  not  obtain  satisfactory  results 
with  inferior  material.  The  food  should  be  as  good 
as  was  compatible  with  necessary  economy.  She 
thought  the  rivalry  between  institutions  to  show 
an  economical  balance  sheet  had  a  prejudicial 
effect  upon  the  food :  and  a  later  speaker  (Miss 
Hinton)  emphasised  the  same  point. 

^Iiss  Hmghtox.  fiuy'-.  Hospital,  said  variety 
was  difficult  when  200  to  300  people  had  to  be  catered 
for.  Dishes  which  took  much  time  to  prepare  were 
impossible. 

Miss  Buckingham  (Queen's  Hospital,  Birming- 
liani),  "Mi.ss  Curtis  (Q.V..I.I.  Superintendent, 
Hanimcrsniith),  .Miss  E.  C.  I.anrcnrp  ((  liclsia 
Hospital  for  AVonieni,  Miss  Hulme  (Lady  Superin- 
tendent, Xurses'  Lodgei,  Mrs.  Parnell  (Lady 
Superintendent,  Home  for  Mothers  and  Babies, 
Woolwich!,   Miss  Hinton   (who  has  acted   as   Home 


Sister  at  the  London  Temperance  Hospital),  and 
Miss  Dodds  (Bethnal  Green  Infirmary)  also  took  part 
in  the  discussion. 

^Iiss  ^lussoN  then  replied  to  the  various  points 
raised  with  admirable  lucidity,  and  said  that  the 
ideal  of  a  Matron  should  be  to  send  out  nurses  at 
the  conclusion  of  their  training  as  strong  as  when 
they  entered  it  as  probationers. 

The  meeting  terminated  with  votes  of  thanks  to 
the  Chairman  and  to  Mr.  Hecht. 


Ebc  35la  Stewart  ©ration. 

The  report  of  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the 
National  Council  of  Xurses  of  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland,  at  which  much  interesting  -work 
was  considered,  will  appear  in  full  next  week. 
We  may  announce,  however,  that  the  sugges- 
tion made  by  the  President  from  the  chair  that 
the  life's  work  and  fragrant  memory  of  Miss 
Isla  Stewart  be  kept  before  coming  generations 
of  nurses,  by  instituting  an  annual  Oration  in 
her  honour,  was  received  with  the  warmest 
sympathy,  and  agreed  to  by  those  present.  It 
was  agreed  that  the  Oration  should  be  gi\'en 
annually,  for  which  an  honorarium  of  £5  would 
be  donated,  and  that  this  special  Memorial,  by 
the  Xational  ('oinicil  of  Xurses,  should  be  en- 
dowed. 


a  IRursing  pageant. 

The  proposal  that  a  Eegistration  Reunion 
should  be  held  in  London  early  in  the  new  j'ear 
and  that  registrationists  should  demonstrate 
their  wishes  in  spectacular  form,  appears  to 
commend  itself  to  the  nurses'  societies.  The 
possibilities  of  a  Nursing  Pageant  appear  extra- 
ordinarily interesting.  At  meetings  of  the 
Matrons'  C'ouncil  and  the  Xational  Council  of 
Nurses,  the  suggestion  has  been  warmly  ap- 
proved. It  nuaiis  no  end  of  work.  The  Editor 
Vvill  be  pleased  to  hear  from  those  willing  to 
help  to  make  such  a  function  a  success,  and 
hopes  that  every  registrationist  will  book  the 
evening  of  February  ■2nd,  1911  as  an  engage- 
ment \\iiicli  sliould  be  cancelled  only  by  profes- 
sional lint  v. 


3rlsb1Hur5C5'fls50CtationXcctiucs 

The  Irish  Nin-ses"  Association  held  its  usual 
monthly  meeting  on  November  5th,  and  the 
following  i)rogramme  of  Lecttn-es,  arranged  to 
be  given  in  November  and  December,  was 
ajijiroved :  — 

1."  Tlte  Resistance  of  the  Body  to  ^Microbial 
Invasion,""  by  W.  M.  Crofton."  Esq.,  M.B. 
•2.  "  Some  Points  of  Interest  in  Tlnx?at,  Nose, 
ami  Ear,"'  by  T.  0.  Graham,  Esq..  M.D. 
8.  /■  Massage  and  Its  Use  in  Common  .\il- 
ments,"  bv  T.  Douglas  Good,  Esq..  M.D. 
4.  "  Tile  Spill,'. ■■  by  T.  E.  Gordon,  Esq.,  M.B. 


Nov.  12,  V.'\>> 


Zr^-c  ISvUisb  3oiunal  ot  IRursiuG. 


•6U\ 


O 


Xcapuc  TRcwo. 

THE  SCHOOL   NURSES    LEAGUE. 

Tile  touith  meetioy  ol  the 
above  League  was  held  on  Wed- 
U' sdav,  'iud  November,  1910, 
the  Library,  L.C.C.  Offices 
toi'ia  Embankment ;  it  was 
'.  I  earlier  in  the  year  than 
ml.  the  date  being  previously 
;,M.d  for  ii'th  November;  but  as 
two  of  the  members  were  lea\ing 
it  was  arranged  for  the  iiid  to  enable  them  to 
b'J  present.  After  a  very  welcome  tea.  which 
was  thoroughly  enjoyed  b\  ail  the  early  comers, 
the  President,  Miss  ipears.-.  addressed  the  mem- 
bers, calling  attention  to 
the  special  importance 
which  the  evening  had.  in 
that  Miss  Griffin,  who  had 
been  Secretary"  since  the 
fomiation  of  the  League  in 
1908,  was  leaving  to  take 
up  new  work  in  Kent,  but 
as  she  would  not  be  ver\ 
far  off  we  should  all  hop- 
to  see  her  amongst  u- 
again.  The  other  memher 
we  were  losing,  Miss  Par- 
fitt,  was  going  to  be  mar- 
ried, and  then  leaving  ftr 
Australia,  so  that  we  couli 
not  hope  to  have  occasional 
visits  from  her;  however, 
everyone  wished  them  botl' 
very  good  luck. 

Miss  Griffin,  as  Hon. 
Secretary,  then  read  the 
minutes  of  the  last  genera! 
meeting,  and  these  were 
unanimously  passed  and 
signed  by  the  Presi- 
dent. 

The  voting  sheet  was  then  passed  round  for 
the  election  of  the  new  Secretary,  each  nurse 
affixing  a  cross  to  one  of  the  four  names  of  the 
chosen  candidates.  When  the  count  was  told, 
it  was  found  that  iliss  Downing  had  success- 
fully carried  the  poll,  ami  amidst  hand-clapping 
she  took  the  secretarial  chair,  .and  began  her 
new  duties. 

The  President  then  proposed  that,  as  there 
was  also  a  vacancy  tor  a  delegate  on  the 
National  Council  of  Trained  Nurses,  ^lioS 
Downing  should  also  be  asked  to  fill  this  posi- 
tion, as  there  was  much  to  be  done  for  the  next 
Ir.ternational  Congress  of  Nurses  to  be  held  in 
Cologne  in""  1912.  which  could  only  be  done  by 
the  Secretary.  This  was  also  unanimously 
carried,  and  in  a  few  well  chosen  words,  Miss 
Downing  accepted  the  p<3st  also.    The  business 


MISS      LAU 

sident-Elect,    Lea 
House 


bciiii-euncluded,  .Mi.-.-  V-.  ai-'  -■u^^  .-In.-  iiad  c'jii.. 
to  a  very  pleasant  part  "f  tli-  (.roceediugs,  ami 
had  much  pleasure  on  belialt  of  many  rnem- 
bei'ii  of  the  League  in  making  two  presenta- 
tions :  Firstly,  of  a  leather  case  containing  a 
gold  watch'  inscribed  with  the  initials 
■'  L.  M.  G."  outside,  and  "  Presented  by  the 
S.N.L.,  2nd  November.  lOln."  inside,  to  Miss 
Griffin :  secondly,  of  a  silver-mounted  leather 
bag  with  fittings  to  Miss  Parfitt. 

The  gifts  gave,  we  hope,  much  pleasure  to 
the  recipients,  wlio,  in  turn,  each  spoke  a  few 
words  of  thanks,  to  tiiose  assembled. 

The  members  dispersed  after  having  spent  » 
very  enjoyable  evening.  .    .-,    j 

LEAGUE  OF  ST.  JOHN'S 

HOUSE  NURSES. 
Miss  Laura  Baker,  who 
ha*  been  elected  President 
of  tlie  League  of  St.  John's 
House  Nurses,  was  trained 
and  Certificated  by  St. 
■John's  House,  and  gahied 
liLT  practical. experience  at 
tile  ^iletropolitan  Hospital, 
Ivingsland  Road,  the  Nortli- 
Eastern  Fever  Hospital 
iM.A.B.).  and  University 
College  Hospital.  In  189'« 
she  joined  the  Nurses'  Co- 
operation, 8,  New  Caven- 
dish Street,  in  connection 
with  which,  until  1903,  she 
had  a  wide  experience  ot 
private  nursing,  and  during 
the  South  African  War 
nursed  in  the  Refugee 
Camps.  Since  1903  she  has 
been  Home  Sister  at  the 
Howard  de  Walden  Nurses" 
Home,  Langham  Street, 
W'.,  the  Residential  Home 
of  the  nurses  of  ihe  Co-operation,  an  office 
which  she  has  discharged  with  conspicuous 
ability  both  on  the  financial  side,  and  with  re- 
gard to  the  comfort  of  the  nurses. 

Miss  Baker  is  interested  in  the  movement 
for  State  Registration  of  Trained  Nurses,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Society  formed  to  obtain  it. 
It  is.  indeed,  essential  that  members  of  the  St. 
Johns  House  League  should  be  registration- 
ists,  as  one  of  the  objects  %t  the  League  is  to 
promote  such  Registration.  We  congratulate 
the  new  President  on  her  election,  and  wish  her 
all  success.  She  will  assume  rjffice  when  the 
present  President,  Sister  Charlotte,  C.S.P., 
leaves  St.  John's  House.  Sister  Charlotte 
founded  the  League,  and  has  taken  the  keeneet 
interest  in  its  welfare  troxxi  ^.^  foimdation  to  the 
present  time. 


RA      BAKER, 
gue    ol    St.    John' 
Nurses. 


392 


Cbe  Britisb  3ournaI  of  iHursing.        lx<>v.  12, 1910 


^hc  SXificuUics  anb  iposslbilitics 
in  a  IRuisc's  Xite. 

By  Miss  L.  V.  Haughtox, 
Matron     of     Guy's     Hospital. 


In  speaking  to  you  this  evening!  have  no  in- 
tention of  enumerating  all  the  difficulties  in  a 
nurse's  life.  Let  us  rather  consider  why  we 
have  so  manj-,  though  not  more  probably  than 
other  working  women.  Is  it  not  often  because 
we  will  not  or  cannot  rise  above  the  pettiness 
of  our  own  selfish  natures,  because  we  will  not 
take  a  broad  outlook,  because  we  will  not  realise 
with  Browning  "  God's  in  His  Heaven,  all's 
right  with  the  world." 

In  our  training  we  prepare  ourselves  to  be- 
come servants  of  the  public,  rich  and  poor;  it 
matters  not  whether  our  patients  are  in  hos- 
2)ital  or  in  their  own  houses,  whether  they  are 
black,  white,  red,  or  yellow  in  colour,  we  are 
set  apart  to  help  them  in  their  hour  of  need, 
an  hour  which  comes  surely  and  certainly  to 
each  one.  of  us,  no  matter  what  our  statioji  in 
life  may  be. 

In  living  this  life  of  service  among  our  fel- 
lows we  are  placed  in  many  different  and  diffi- 
cult positions,  and  we  must  strive  to  do  our 
duty  honourably  and  well.  As  private  nurses 
we  are  brought  into  the  closest  possible  rela- 
tionship with  our  patients.  On  the  regular 
staff  of  a  hospital  oiu-  difficulties  lie  not  so 
inuch  with  the  personal  life  of  the  patient  as 
with  our  often  apparently  fruitless  endeavoin-s 
to  get  really  good  work  out  of  the  nurses  in 
training,  whom  we  are  teaching.  By  good  work 
I  do  not  mean  driving  them  to  fit  the  largest 
possible  amount  of  manual  labour  into  the 
hours  on  duty,  but  I  do  mean  the  difficulty 
of  making  each  woman  reahse  how  much  she  is 
capable  of  doing  in  the  best  way ;  of  develop- 
ing her  good  points  until  we  can  honestly  feel 
we  have  made  the  best  of  the  material  given 
us  to  work  with.  Then,  in  district  work  we  get 
M  real  insight  into  the  lives  of  the  poor,  and 
how  often  they  make  us  ashamed  of  our  own 
actions  by  their  unselfishness  and  kindness  to 
each  other  1 

We  have  chosen  to  train  as  niu'ses  in  order 
to  help  many  different  kinds  of  sick  people  to 
become  good  citizens,  and  incidentally  to  earn 
f)ur  own  living.  It  behoves  us  to  remember 
that  it  takes  all  kinds  to  make  a  world,  for 
many  difficulties  arise  because  we  forget  or 
ignore'  this  fact,  because  we  want  those  with 
whom  we  come  in  contact  to  think  and  live  as 
^^■e  do. 

*  Read  before  the  Nurses'  Missionary  League, 
Xt.vember  8th,  1910. 


The  posver  of  adaptability  to  the  ways  and 
environment  of  others  is  a  most  valuable  asset 
for  a  nurse,  and  a  knowledge  of  human  nature 
and  of  the  world  is  of  the  greatest  i^ossible  use, 
and  should  be  cultivated  by  reading  well- 
written  books  desciibing  modern  life,  and  by 
using  every  opportunity  for  mixing  with  people 
of  all  social  positions  at  home  and  abroad.  Few 
nurses  can  afford  expensive  holidays  abroad, 
but  they  often  get  the  chance  of  takmg  a 
patient  on  the  Continent  or  of  getting  an  ap- 
pointment in  the  South  of  France,  Italy,  or 
Egypt  for  the  winter.  Thus  they  are  able  to  see 
some  of  the  beautiful  places  on  God's  earth, 
and  to  learn  more  of  the  wonders  of  nature. 
One  way  and  another  I  have  travelled  a  good 
deal,  and  the  knowledge  thus  gained  has  been 
a  great  help  to  me.  Have  jou  ever  read  the 
Psalms  with  the  idea  of  finding  out  what  David 
thought  of  the  wondei-s  of  God  as  sho\\Ti  in 
Nature?  David  lived  in  a  comparatively  small 
country  where  the  hills  are  not  very  high  nor 
the  rivers  very  large,  but  when  he  says,  "  I 
will  lift  up  my  eyes  unto  the  hills  from  whence 
Cometh  my  help  "  he  shows  how  the  hills  in 
their  dignity  and  majesty  may  also  help  us. 
To  enable  us  to  think  little  of  our  difficulties 
and  to  increase  our  possibilities  of  successful 
work,  we  should  take  every  opportunity  of 
studying  the  world  in  its  Divine  beauty  in  the 
places  where  man  cannot  spoil  it. 

This  year  I  spent  some  time  in  the  Highlands 
of  Bavaria,  v.'here  the  j)eople  are  charmingly 
delightful,  and  I  felt  I  could  learn  many  lessons 
from  their  cheery  good  temper  and  uniform 
politeness. 

I  do  not  intend  to  enumerate  all  the  possibili- 
ties any  niore  than  all  the  difficulties  in  a 
nurse's  life,  but  they  are  euonnous.  I  do  not 
think  most  nurses  realise  while  training  that 
the  possibilites  in  their  after  life  will  be  so 
great  as  we  know  them  to  be.  and  the  conse- 
quent necessity  for  stern  preparation  if  they  are 
to  be  readj-  to  meet  them.  Also  the  public 
imdoubtedly  expect  a  higher  standard  of  nurses 
than  of  other  people,  and  little  things  which 
would  be  passed  unnoticed  in  others  are  cen- 
sured in  a  nurse.  A  nurse  is  expected  to  be 
absolutely  upright  and  thoroughly  honest  in  all 
she  says  and  does,  and  it  not  only  harms  her 
own  hospital,  but  her  whole  profession  if  she 
falls  short  of  what  is  expected  of  her.  As  the 
wajs  of  our  life  open  out  to  us  we  realise  in- 
creasingly its  great  possibilities,  and  if  we 
assimilate  Charles  Kingsley's  maxim,  "Do 
the  work  that's  nearest,  though  it's  dull  at 
whiles,"  we  shall  find  that  the  possibilities 
Itefore  us  in  our  cliosen  profession  are  practi- 
eallv  endless. 


Nov.  1-2,  1010' 


Cbc  36iitit3b  3ournal  of  murstno. 


393 


3n   Ibonour   of    Jfloixncc 
IRlGbtinoale. 

A  special  meeting  with  this  object  was  held,  by 
the  kind  permission  of  Mis.  Denebas,  at  her  houso 
at  34,  Elgin  Crescent,  La.lbroke  Grove,  on  Wednes- 
day, November  2nd,  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Women's  Freedom  League. 

Mrs.  How  Martin  presided. 

The  audience  had  the  pleasure  and  privilege  of 
listening  to  Surgeon-General  Evatt.  who  was  a  per- 
gonal friend  of  Florence  Nightingale.  He  held  the 
attention  of  his  hearers  by  the  impassioned  way 
ill  which  he  spoke  of  tlie  genius  and  the  under- 
standing heart  of  this  wonderful  woman. 

What  was  the  secret  of  her  success?  he  asked. 
Pithily  came  the  answer — 

"  She  kiwr  her  joh."  This  was  his  te>ii,  and  from 
it  he  showed  that  education  and  efficiency  are  the 
mainsprings  of  success. 

Florence  Nightingale  was  highly  educated ;  she 
had  a  brain  and  knew  how  to  use  it ;  her  success 
was  due  to  her  education  rightly  directed.  The 
speaker  insisted,  w  ith  great  vigour  of  thought,  upon 
the  value  of  eiticiency  and  accuracy.  General  Evatt 
had  asked  her  what  was  her  chief  impression  at 
Scutari.  The  reply  had  been:  ■' The  absence  of  an 
authority  that  knew  aiuitluifi."  In  order  to  infuse 
some  of  his  own  earnest  admiration  for  Florence 
Nightingale  into  his  hearers,  he  made  use  of  some 
distinguishing  metaphors.  "She  was  like  an  ice- 
breaker ;  she  was  like  a  torpedo,  thrusting  her  way 
through  the  darkness,  bringing  light  and  space. 
The  stupidity  of  those  in  authority  caused  the 
blunders  that  she  had  to  rectify."  But  the  very 
essence  of  this  good  woman's  work  was  her  practical 
sympathy,  which  made  her  realise  the  importance 
of  the  value  of  the  "  ultimate  man."  Officialism 
and  red-tape  appear  to  have  been  of  more  value 
than  human  life.     This  she  could  not  tolerate. 

Twenty  thousand  soldiers  died,  and  only  three 
thousand  from  their  wounds. 

■yATiy  did  the  men  suffer  so  terribly  from  dysen- 
tery?    Because  they  were  so  brutally  fed. 

■Why  did  they  drink?  Because  they  were  so 
abominally  housed. 

Into  the  midst  of  this  mass  of  stupidity  and  ignor- 
ance Florence  Nightingale  came,  bringing  Light  and 
Life  and  Space,  the  products  of  sympathy,  common 
sense,  and  education. 

General  Evatt  cleverly  adapted  the  word  Scutari 
to  symbolise  official  muddle  and  disorder ;  he  re- 
minded his  hearers  that  we  still  have  our  "  Scu- 
taris  ''  among  us  to-day,  and,  lest  we  should  be 
unduly  puffed  up  with  the  complacent  thought  of 
accomplished  reform,  he  added,  ''"'  Why  do  infants 
die  ?  " 

[Why,  indeed?  To  a  great  extent  because  as 
civilisation  increases  the  instinctive  knowledge  which 
enables  primitive  races  to  rear  and  protect  their 
young  diminishes,  and,  so  far,  the  education  which 
should  replace  it  is  miserably  inadequate.] 

Miss  Hare  also  spoke. 

After  the  meeting  dainty  refreshments  were 
served  by  the  kind  hospitality  of  the  hostess. 

B.  K. 


IPvactical  Ipoints. 

We  commend  to  the  notice 
A     Hand'  of    our    readers    the    Miiller 

Shower  Bath.  Hand  Shower  Bath,  illus- 
trated on  this  page.  Shower 
baths  art)  not  uiifrequently  ordered,  and  are  found 
to  be  of  considerable  therapeutic  value  in  certain 
cases,  but  are  not  always  readily  available.  The 
present  bath  obviates  the  difficulty.        The  vessel 


depicted  is  strongly  made  of  metal,  and  can  easily 
be  filled  with  water  of  any  temperature  desired. 
By  merely  inverting  it  the  contents  escape  in  a 
well  formed  shower.  It  is  supplied  by  Messrs. 
Ewart,  Seym"t)ur,  and  Co.,  Ltd.,  12,  Burleigh 
Street,   Strand.  AV.C. 


I  think  few  maternity 
Baby  Carrier.  nui-ses  know  of  the  "Baby 
.  A  Simple  Sling.  Carrier."  It  i.s  simply  a  sling, 
worn  by  the  nurse,  in  which 
the  baby  lies.  The  sling  supports  the  baby  from 
under  the  arms  to  under  the  knees ;  the  nurse  sup- 
ports the  baby's  head  with  her  left  arm,  leaving 
her  right  hand  free  to  carry  a  parasol,  or  hold  up 
her  dress  over  a  muddy  crossing.  The  weight  of 
the  child  is  all  on  the  nurse's  shoulder,  over  which 
the  sling  passes ;  and  this  is  much  less  fatiguing 
than  the  usual  way,  when  the  arms  have  to  carry 
all  the  weight. 

The  sling  is  not  seen  at  all,  the  strap  passing 
over  Tihe  nurse's  shoulder  being  hidden  by  her  cape. 
The  net  in  which  the  child  lies  is  covered  by  the 
cape  of  its  cloak,  or  the  end  of  its  shawl  can  be 
draped  over  it.  M.  H. 


The    old    East    Indian    me- 
Massage   for        thod  of  giving  scientific  mas- 
Tired  Feet.  sage     to  the     feet    has    been 
taken   up    again,   and  is  con- 
sidered of  great  value  to  those  who  are  fatigued. 

First — The  hands  are  moved  upward,  one  after 
the  other,  on  the  raised  feet,  so  that  the  blood 
is  driven  upward. 

Second — The  hand  is  moved  in  a  rotary  way  from 
side  to  side,  beginning  at  the  toes  and  stopping  at 
the  middle  of  the  calf. 

Third — The  palm  of  the  hand  and  the  tips  of 
fingers  are  applied  in  a  rotary  '  movement  with 
great  force  and  pressure. 

Throughout  all  the  massage  the  feet  must  be 
raised  and  supported.  It  is  useless  to  do  it  when 
thev  are  on  a   level  with  the  head. 


394 


Zbc  Brltisb  3ournaI  of  IRurstng, 


[Nov.  12.  1910 


When  the  feet  are  biirniiig.  alcohol  is  one  of  the 
best  tonics  for  them.  It  cools,  the  skin  and  stimu- 
lates tile  muscles. 


Treatment  of 

Phthisis  by 

Intratracheal 

Injections. 


A  manual  issued  to  those 
professionally  interested  lu 
the  medical  uses  of  Izal  in- 
cludes, an  ab-stract  ot  a  i>ai)er 
hy  Dr.  Colin  Campbell  ou  the 
tieatment  ot  phthisis  by 
intratracheal  injection  of  a  solution  of  Izal 
in  glycerine.  Dr.  Campbell  point.s  out  that 
the  fact  that  open  air  cannot  in  it.self  Kill 
the  bacillus  is  proved  by  the  course  of  lupus: 
the  object  of  the  treatment  is  the  destruction 
of  the  tubercle  bacilli  in  their  hatching  place. 
He  explains  that  glycerine,  when  injected  through 
the  trachea,  causes  a  greatly  increased  flow  of  pul- 
monary secretions.  He  finds  that  it  is  possible  to 
inject  one,  two,  or  even  three  ounces  of  fluid  at  a 
single  sitting.  Referring  to  the  researches  of  Dele- 
pine  on  the  bactericidal  action  of  Izal,  he  shows 
that  Delepine  anti  Coutts  used  emulsions  of  Izal 
oil  in  the  strengths  of  1  in  2.j,  1  in  50,  1  in  12.5,  and 
I  in  250,  mixed  in  equal  parts  (save  in  two  ca.ses) 
with  sputum  teeming  with  tubercle  bacilli,  and 
the  mixture  was  injected  into,  guinea-pigs  after  one 
hour.  It  appears  that  up  to  1  in  12-5  Izal  oil  is 
capable  of  destroying  tubercle  bacilli  in  one  hour. 
The  application  of  this  drug  for  intratracheal  iii- 
jections  in  the  hands  of  Dr.  Colin  Campbell  ha^ 
given  excellent  results.  He  finds  that,  although 
three  ounces  of  fluid  can  be  injected  at  a  single 
sitting,  it  is  not  necessary  to  administer  more  than 
from  6  to  16  drachms  at  a  sitting.  After  the  dose 
has  been  administered,  he  dii'ects  his  patients  to 
take  deep  inspirations.  This  is  followed  by  a  sen- 
sation of  heat  travelling  through  the  lungs,  and 
later  by  a  greatly  increased  flow  of  expectoration. 
I'l  this  way,  the  lungs  wash  themselves  out,  by  the 
action  of  the  vehicle — glycerine.  In  conclu,sion. 
lie  states  that  it  is  best  to  give  two  injecfions  a 
day-:-one  to  wash  out  the  lungs,  and  the  second 
"  to  go  to  the  bottom.""  He  claims  that  by  the  de- 
struction of  the  germs  in  the  lungs  he  not  only 
disinfects  the  sputum  before  it  is  discharged,  but 
actually  gets  a  curative  effect  at  one  and  the  same 
time. 


.\ccording    to   the   observa- 
Oisinfection  of      tions  of    Prof.  Schumburg,  a 
Hands.  surgeon   on  the   general   staff 

of  the  German  Army,  re- 
ported in  the  'Deiiischf  iledisinisrhi'  Worhen- 
schrift.  washing  the  hands  with  strong  alcohol  is 
a  most  offe<tive  means  of  removiijg  all  infection 
and  rendering  any  bacteria  innocuous.  This 
author  states  that  200  c.cm.  of  alcohol  applied  with 
•1  pledget  of  cotton  wool  are  sufficient  to  disinfect 
the  hands  to  the  extent  of  90  per  cent,  or  more  of 
-ill  bacteria  present.  Ordinary  methylated  spirit 
i^  quite  effective.  It  is  found  that  bacteria  which 
still  adhere  to  the  hands  after  they  have  been 
Hashed  with  soap  and  water  are  easily  removed  bv 
this  method. 


Ipiises  for  3nv>alib  Cooher^. 

The  Invalid  Cookery  Section  (Class  32)  at  the 
Food  and  Cookery  Exhibition,  held  last  week  at  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Hall,  is  'open  only  to  certi- 
ficated nurses."'  but  it  would  seem  more  accurate  to 
say  it  is  open  to  those  in  training  also,  since  many 
of  the  competitors  are  probationers. 

There  were  thirty-six  entries  in  this  class,  many 
of  the  trays  were  daintily  arranged,  and  the  food 
looked  appetising  and  was  attractively  served.  On 
each  tray  a  few  choice  flowers  were  arranged,  and 
in  some  instances  these  were  renewed  each  day. 
The  uniform  dark  green  trays  sent  by  the  London 
Hospital  nurses  had  in  each  instance  dainty  little 
etchings  of  bears  as  menu  cards. 

(rohl  Medal. — The  Gold  Medal  was  awarded  to 
Mi&s  M.  Gregory,  of  Charing  Cross  Hospital,  who 
selected  as  her  exhibits  .Scotch  broth,  which,  seen 
cold,  was  a  solid  jelly  containing  pearl  barley  and 
vegetables,  the  wing  of  a  boiled  chicken  covered 
with  white  sauce,  decorated  with  fragments  of  the 
yolk  of  a  hard-f>oiled  egg  passed  through  a  sieve, 
|X>tato  crocjuette.  spinach  on  tiny  circles  of  toast, 
baked  cu.stard.  and  barley  water.  The  meal  wa-s 
served  on  white  china  with  a  green  border  of  obk- 
leaf  and  acorn  pattern,  and  the  flow-el's  selected  tor 
decorating  the  tray  were  a  few  deep  crimson  carna- 
tions. 

Silver  Medals. — ^Sjlver  Medals  were  awarded  to 
the  following  nurses: — Misses  X.  Cooper  ("West- 
minster), L.  A.  Paul  (diabetic  tray).  K.  Hodkgin- 
son,  M.  Mackenzie  Kennedy.  M.  McLaren,  and  li. 
Oldshaw  (all  of  Guy"s).  M.  M!arston  (diabetic  tray)  . 
(London). 

Bronze  Medal.i. — blisses  Y.  Govanlock  (Charing 
Cross),  F.  Jagger  (Guy's),  E.  King,  M.  Waller,  and 
G.  Roberts  (London"!. 

Certificates  of  .l/^rlf .— Miiwes  E.  G.  Gower  (St. 
Bartholomew  "s),  M.  !5pedding  (Charing  Cross),  E. 
Schlagentweit,  and  E.  Grant  (Guy"s),  R.  Gordon, 
H.  Lugg.  M.  Laugford,  F.  Jewitt.  L.  Mclvinley 
(London),  and  A.  B.  X.  Hadfield  (Westminsteri. 

The  hospitals  trom  which  nurses  competed  in  this 
section  were  Guy"s.  "VX'est minster,  St.  Bartholo- 
mew "s,  Charing  Cros.s,  and  the  Loudon.  St. 
Thomas"s  Hospital  has  a  class  in  invalid  cookery 
for  it.s  pupils,  who  are  .sulxsequently  examined  by 
Mr.  C.  Herman  Senn,  Managing  Director  of  the 
I'niversal  Food  Association,  but  they  did  not  send 
<-xhibits  to  the  Cookery  and  Food  Exhibition. 

The  two  diabetic  trays  were  of  si)ecial  interest, 
and  would  certainly  tempt  any  invalid.  Miss  Paul 
(Guy's).  select«Kl  Haugh  tea,  mutton  chops,  salad, 
savoury  custard,  light  pu<lding.  and  imperial  drink 
as  her  exhibit.^.  an<l  Mi,s.s  M.  Mai-ston  (London) 
Clear  soup,  fish  mayonnaise,  egg  jelly,  diabetu- 
bi'ead.  and  lemonade.  Taken  as  a  whole  the  ex- 
cellence of  the  trays  certainly  equalled,  if  they  did 
not  excel.  thos*>  ot  prece<Ung  yars. 

The  Xaval  anfl  Army  Cookery  Com[)etitions  l>e- 
tween  cooks  in  H.M.  Navy  and  c^wk.s  of  the  Army 
.Service  Cort)s.  and  some  of  the  Military  Hospitals, 
excited  considerable  interest.  The  .School  Children's 
Cookery  Competition  was  also  a  very  popular  one. 


111.   r.iln 


V^y  Bi'Uisb  3onrnai  of  IRursinG. 


30." 


t'liiw  ;W  ot  tlie  Invalid  ('onkeiv  >iTtiuii.  lu  uliuli 
tlie  exhibits  also  cuusi»tud  of  invalid  traKS,  was  open 
to  fieneral  competition.  Private  Uluudell  won  a 
Silver  Medal  in  this  class,  and  Miss  K.  Osmond. 
Charing  Cro.ss  Hospital,  a  certihi-ate  of  merit. 

In  Class  33<!  (meatless  invalitl  trays)  the  following 
nurses  gained  distinction  : — Miss  L.  Stroud,  the  Gold 
Badge,  and  .Miss  ('.  Graham,  the  Silver  Uadge, 
given  by  the  X'egetarian  Association.  Miss  Dorrit 
was  also  awarded  a  Bronze  Medal. 


Zbc  ^5cltl•u^c  1RoncT6  'llIlal•^  of 
tbc  Xciccc^tcr  3nftnnar\>. 

Subsequent  to  the  weekly  meeting  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  the  Infirmary  last  week  Mrs.  Fielding 
.Johnson,  at  tlie  request  of  the  Committee,  per- 
formed a  pleasing  ceremony  when  she  unveiled 
the  tablet  to  Miss  Rogers  which  had  been  placed  in 
the  ward  dedicated  to  her. 

Tlie  tablet  is  of  polished  Hopton  Wood  marble, 
upon  which  the  inscription  is  cut  on  the  surface  of 
the  stone.  It  is  surrounded  by  a  dark  polished, 
mottled  Ashburnham  marble  border,  and  was  de- 
signed by  the  architects  and  cut  by  Mr.  Agar,  of 
Syston.     The  following  is  the  inscription: — 

"The  Gertrude  Rogers  AVard.  As  a  permanent 
memorial  of  valued  service  the  wards  on  this  floor 
were  named  after  Miss  Gertrude  Anna  Rogers,  Lady 
Superintendent  of  this  Intirmary  from  1883." 


prises  at  tbc  General  Ibospital, 
Bristol. 


The  prizes  uivarded  annually  at  the  Bristol 
General  Hospital  to  third  year  nurses  were  presented 
to  them  la.st  week  by  the  President,  Mr.  J.  Storrs 
Fry.  The  prize-w inners  were  : — Miss  Edith  Will- 
more  (gold  medal).  Miss  Mary  Pattick  (silver  medal). 
and  Misses  Annie  Jones,  M.  Parsons,  and  Annie 
Wright  (certificates  of  efficiency).  Agues  Morgan 
(first  prize  surgical  nursing),  Violet  Perry 
(second  prize  surgical  nursing),  Agnes  Morgan  and 
M.  Lansdown  (first  prize  for  examination  in  medical 
nursing),  Kathleen  Delsley  (first  for  anatomy),  B. 
Taylor  (second  for  anatomy),  Kathleen  Delsley  (first 
for  physiology).  Rose  Ayland  (second  prize). 

iSluecn  alcran^ra's  3nipcrial  flDili* 
tarv  IHursinG  Service. 

The  following  ladies  have  received  appointments 
as  Staff  Xurse:  Misses  R.  C.  S.  Carleton,  E.  M. 
Moore,  I.  McM.  Beaton.  1.  .1.  Taunton,  M.  E. 
Davis,  L.  E.  James. 

Transfers  to  staliims  ahrimil. — Sistns:  Miss  M.  S. 
Ram,  to  South  Africa,  from  Royal  Herbert  Hospi- 
tal, Woolwich:  Mis-ses  K.  Coxon  and  G.  S.  Jacob, 
to  South  Afri<a,  from  the  Alexandra  Hospital, 
Cosham  :  Miss  G.  M.  Allen,  to  South  Africa,  fi-oni 
Cambridge  Hospital,  Aldershot.  •SVn/'/'  Xurses: 
Miss  M.  Tedmau.  to  Malta,  from  Military  Hospital, 
t'urragh:  Miss  L.  A.  Ephgrave,  to  Malta,  from 
Military  Hospital,  Cork  :  Miss  J.  H.  Congleton,  to 
Malta,   from   Military  Hospital.  Tidworth. 


apponitmcuts. 


.Math. IN. 

Croydon  Hospital,  Felixstowe — Mi.s.s  Marjoric  Bill 
hii..  biiii  apixiinti'd  Matron.  .She  was  trained  at 
the  (JciKTrtl  Infiruiaiy.  Chester,  and  has  held  the 
IHjsitions  of  .*>taff  Xur.se  at  the  Norwood  Cottage 
Hospital,  and  Theatre  .Sister  at  the  We.st  Xorfoik 
and  I.ymi  H<»ipital.  King's  Lynn. 

Charterhouse  Almshouse,  Hull. — Mi.ss  Helllietta 
Whitcloid  luis  Ikh.ii  wpiKjinted  Elation.  She  was 
trained  «t  tin-  Ivoiulon  Hospital,  and  has  held  the 
jKXiition  of  !^ister  at  the  Colonial  Hospital,  l.iii- 
raltar,  and  the  East  Dulwich  Infirmary.  She 
worked  in  the  typhoid  epidemic  at  Maidstone,  and 
has  .s»-eii  active  service  in  the  Gra>c-o-Turkish  and 
Siouth  .\friciiii  wars.  .She  has  also  done  private 
uiiLsiiit;  iii    1/oiuloii  and   tlic  piovince.s. 

Town   and   County   Hosoital,   Nairn,   N.B Misis      Ruby 

Meikle  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  has  re- 
cently held  the  position  of  Xight  Sister  at  the  Royal 
Hospital,  Chelsea. 

West  Bromwich  District  Hospital. — 3Iiss  Ifary  Haw- 
kins has  lieen  appointed  Matron.  She  was  trained 
at  the  Xorth  Staffordshire  Infirmary,  Stoke-on- 
Trent,  where  she  subsequently  held  the  position 
of  Sister.  She  has  aLso  been  Sister  at  the  Royal 
Victoria  Hospital,  Belfast,  and  since  June,  18fW, 
Assistant  Matron  at  the  Birmingham  and  Midland 
Hiispital  for  Women. 

SiSTKH-IX-t  H ARGE. 

Training  Ship  Cornwall,  Purfleet. — ^Miss  Blanche  Kiii^ 
has    liecii    ajipointed    Si.ster-in-Charge.  She    was 

trained  at  the  London  Hospital,  and  has  worke<l  on 
the  Private  Xursing  .Staff  of  that  institution. 
Night  Sister. 

Royal  Hospital,  Chelsea,  S.W. — Miss  Marion  Paul  has 
been  appointed  Xight  Sister.  She  was  trained  at 
St.  Thomas'  Hospital  and  was  for  four  years  Sister 
at  the  Chelsea  Infirmary,  after  which  she  returned 
to  St.  Thomas'  Hospital  and  nursed  in  the  Home  for 
private  patients.  She  has  since  been  Xight  Sister 
at  the  Infants  Hospital,  Vincent  Square,  S.W. 

General  Hospital,  Cheltenham. — Miss  Hannah  Mal- 
linson  has  been  appointed  Night  .Sister.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Royal  Intirmary,  Derby,  and  has 
Held  the  position  of  Sister  in  the  Children's  Ward 
at  the  Essex  County  Hospital,  Colchester,  and  of 
Sister  in  male  and  female  medical  and  surgical  wards 
at  the  General  Hospital,  Yarmouth. 

SiSTEBS. 

Guest  Hospital,  Dudley. — Miss  B.  Crowley  has  been 
apiwiiitml  Sister.  .She  was  trained  at  Brownlow 
Hill  liifirniHry.  Liveri)ool,  and  the  West-End  tlas- 
pital.  Welbeck  .Street.  I<oiidon,  and  has  held  the 
IX)sitioii  of  Sister  on  Wtli  day  and  night  duty  at 
Brownlow  Hill  Infirniary.  .She  is  a  certified  miO- 
wife. 

District  Hospital,  Yeovil.  -Aliss  Hannah  Cai-stairs 
lia.s  Ih-cii  ap|X)inte<l  Sister.  She  wa.s  trained  at  the 
iliddleiiex  Hospital.  I>ondon.  and  has  held  the 
ixisition  of  Sister  at  the  Shirley  Warren  Infirniary! 
.Southampton  :  of  Xight  Si.ster  and  Dispenser  at 
Lord  .Mayor  Treloar's  Cripples  Home  and  Conege, 
.\ltoii  :  and  of  Home  Sister  at  the  Middlesex  Con- 
valescent Home. 


396 


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[Nov.  12,  1910 


School  Xirse. 
County  of  Kent  Education  Committee. — MiE6  L.  M. 
Griffin  has  been  appointed  School  Nurse  in  the 
County  of  Kent.  She  wa«  trained  at  the  Genenal 
Hospital,  Wolverhampton,  and  was  tor  two  years 
Sister  in  the  Children's  Department.  She  has 
liad  experience  of  private  nursing  at  Eastbourne, 
and  in  connection  witli  the  Nurses'  Co-operation, 
London.  She  has  also  been  Charge  Xui'se  at  the 
Western  Hospital,  Fuihani.  and  School  Nurse,  first 
in  c-onnection  with  the  original  London  .School 
Nur.se  .Society,  and  for  tlie  last  seven  yeare  under 
the  London  County  Council.  She  has  also  ueen 
Secietary  of  the  School  X'urses'  League  since  its 
foundation. 

-S-tNiT.tRY  Inspector  .^nd  Health  Visitor. 
City  cf  Chester.  ^ — Miss  Ethel  Margaret  Cohen  B.Sc, 
and  an  Associate  of  the  Royal  Sanitary  Institute, 
London,  has  been  appointed  Sanitary  Inspector  and 
Health  Visitor.  She  was  trained  by  the  X'ational 
Health  Society,  the  Royal  Sanitary  Institute,  and 
King's  College,  London,  and  has  done  voluntary 
work  in  Tottenham,  as  Health  Visitor  and  Sanitary 
Inspector,  under  Dr.  Butler  Hogan,  and  has  been 
Health  Visitor  under  the  Kettering  Urban  District 
Council  for  the  last  two  years. 


QUEEN  VICTORIA'S  JUBILEE  INSTITUTE 
Tian/fii."  and  Appointments. — -Miss  Lizzie 
A'arley,  to  Glossop  ;  .Miss  Mary  McGrath,  to  Hanley  : 
Miss  .leanie  Main,  to  Beccles ;  Miss  Isabel  Sailly,  to 
AVelwyn  :  Miss  Angelina  Roberts,  to  Stockport ;  Miss 
Wilhehnina  Mathieson,  to  Adliugton ;  Miss  Harriet 
Atliya,  to  Manchester  (Harpurheyh  Miss  Dorothy 
Kingspark,  to  Westminster;  Miss  Jane  Workman, 
to  Limpsfield  ;  Miss  Lucy  Marshall,  to  Ashford  ;  Miss 
Emily  Whitehead,  to  Hungerford ;  Miss  Clara  Still, 
to  Chatham  ;  Miss  Catherine  Wilcox,  to  >rorton-in- 
the-JIoors ;  Miss  Ada  Pauli,  to  Swansea  (as  Mid- 
wifel;  .Miss  Ada  Milner.  to  Great  Harwood. 


IProcrcss  of  State  IRegistration. 

The  Bill  for  the  State  Registration  of  Trained 
Nurses  in  Denmark  has  been  approved  by  the  Com- 
mission appointed  to  consider  its  provisions.  Among 
the  principles  incorporated  in  it  are  (1)  the  restric- 
tion of  the  use  of  the  term  '"  registered  sick  nurse,  " 
and  the  limitation  of  State  recognition  to  those  who 
have  obtained  the  State  certificate ;  (2)  only  women 
holding  the  .State  certificate  may  be  appointed  to 
responsible  positions  in  institutions  which  are  train- 
ing schools  for  nurses.  The  curriculum  includes  two 
months'  preliminary  training  and  three  years  in  an 
institution  connected  with  one  of  the  State- 
recognised  hospitals.  It  provides  for  a  two  years' 
period  of  grace  after  the  passing  of  the  Act,  and 
for  its  revision  within  five  years  of  its  passing.  The 
working  of  the  Act  is  placed  in  the  hands  of  Com- 
mittees of  Public  Health.  The  Bill  at  present  recog- 
nises a  year's  liospital  training  as  a  qualification  (in 
additicm  to  preliminary  trainiugi  for  district  nurses, 
but  we  hope  this  may  be  altered  before  it 
becomes  law,  ami  the  same  standard  be  adopted  for 
all  nurses. 


IHursino  lEcboes. 

.\morig  the  recent  addi- 
tions to  the  National  Por- 
trait Gallerj'  is  a  small  por- 
trait in  oil  by  Augustus  Egg, 
R.A.,of  I\Iiss  Florence  Night- 
ingale, apparently  painted 
about  the  year  1840.  It  has 
)eeu  presented  by  Mrs.  Wil- 
liam Rathbone,  of  Liver- 
pool, in  accordance  with 
the  wishes  of  her  late 
husband.  In  this  case  the 
Trustees  agreed  to  waive  their  usual 
rule  as  to  tlfe  expiration  of  ten  years 
from  the  date  of  decease.  The  i^icture  is 
now  placed  on  a  screen  in  Eoom  XXII.,  where 
no  doubt  many  nurses  will  pay  it  a  visit. 


Further  extracts  from  !Miss  Nightingale's 
will  have  appeared  in  the  press,  amongst  them 
several  touching  references  to  friends  now 
dead.  It  will  interest  nurses  to  know  how  deep 
was  her  innate  love  of  science,  which  is  proved 
by  the  following  clause  in  her  will :  — 

■'I  give  my' body  for  dissection  or  ixxst-mortem 
examination  for  the  purposes  of  medical  science, 
and  I  request  that  the  directions  about  my  funerial, 
given  by  me  to  ray  uncle,  the  late  Samuel  Smith, 
l)e  observed.  My  original  request  wae,  that  no 
memorial  whatever  should  mark  the  place  where  lies 
my  '  Mortal  Coil.'  I  much  desiie  this,  but  -should 
the  expression  of  such  wish  render  invalid  my  otlier 
wishes,  I  limit  myself  to  the  above-mentioned  direc- 
tions, prayiuji  tliat  my  Inxly  may  be  carried  to  the 
nearest  convenient  burial  ground,  acoomi)anie<l  O.v 
not  more  than  two  persons,  without  trappings,  and 
that  a  simple  cross  with  only  my  initials,  date  of 
birth  and  of  death,  mark  the  spot." 


The  decision  of  the  Committee  which  met  at 
St.  Thomas's  Hospital  last  week  to  erect  a 
statue  to  Miss  Nightingale  will  have  given  great 
satisfaction  througliout  the  nursing  world. 
From  the  beginning  nurses  have  claimed  that 
whate\er  oticer  fonn  of  Memorial  was  selected 
a  statue  they  would  have.  It  will  be  well  to 
keep  the  schemes  separate,  so  that  those  who 
subscribe  will  have  the  choice  of  giving  to  the 
scheme  of  which  they  approve. 


The  London  County  Council  has  received  an 
offer  from  an  anonymous  donor,  through  Mr. 
W.  Runciman,  M.P.,  to  erect  a  statue  of  Eliza- 
beth Fry,  and  has  accepted  the  gift.  The  site 
selectt>d  is  the  shallow  garden  close  to  the  Tate 
Gallery  on  the  site  of  the  old  Millbank  Pri.son. 
There  is  a  peculiar  appropriateness  in  this  pc*;i- 
tion,  as  it  was  the  scene  of  many  of  Elizabeth 
Fry's  prison  ministrations.  Mr.  Alfred  Dniry, 
.\.R.A.,  is  the  sculptor  selected,  and  it  is  to 


Nov.  12,  1010] 


^bc  Britisb  Sournal  of  IRursing. 


3'J7 


be  cut  i-ather  larger  than  life  size  from  one 
block  of  marble.  The  figure  will  be  in  Quaker 
dress.  Elizabeth  Fry  was  lovely  and  great,  and 
many  will  be  the  worshippers  at  her  shrine. 


At  a  meeting  held  to  discuss  the  after-care 
and  employment  of  consumptives  from  sana- 
toria, held  at  Denison  House,  S.W.,  Dr.  -Jane 
Walker,  of  Mailings  Fai-m  Sanatorium,  said 
that  the  process  of  curing  consumptives  did  not 
end  with  their  residence  in  sanatoria,  but  prac- 
tically only  just  began  there.  No  sanatorium 
was  doing  its  duty  unless  it  was  giving  para- 
mount importance  to  the  future  of  the  con- 
sumptives. She  thought  that  the  best  work 
was  that  they  had  been  doing  before.  For 
men,  motor- 
driving  seemci.! 
an  excellent  oc- 
cupation, au'l 
she  also  sug- 
gested garden- 
ing and  laundry 
work.  Dr.  Bur- 
ton Fanning,  oi 
the  K  e  1 1  i  n  g 
S  a  aa  t  orimn. 
Norfolk,  stated 
that  absolute 
hard  n  a  v  v  y 
w  <>  r  k  t'ornu'd 
an  excellent 
part  of  treat- 
ment, and  the 
vei-y  best  per- 
centage of  main- 
tained arrested 
disease  had 
been  in  the  case 
•of  people  accus- 
tomed to  indoor 
work  who  had 
now  gone  on  to 
the  land.  Other 
experts  stated 
that  the  ditfi- 
<!ulty  was  to 
get  there,  as 
many  patients  used  to  indoor  employment  have 
no  knowledge  of  the  work.  Dr.  McGuire,  of 
Brompton  Hospital,  expressed  the  opinion  that 
the  infection  scare  had  gone  too  far. 


inspires  confidence  with  the  Chinese  women. 
On  her  left  is  Mrs.  Han,  a  native  convert,  now 
an  invaluable  Bible- woman,  who  suffered  for 
her  faith  in  the  Boxer  riots  in  1900,  and  had  a 
cross  seared  on  her  forehead,  so  she  remained 
faithful  to  the  -^ign  made  on  the  forehead  of 
those  admitted  to  Christian  baptism,  "  in  token 
that  hereafter  they  shall  not  be  ashamed  to  con- 
fess the  faith  of  Christian  cmcified."  The  old 
man,  with  the  exception  of  the  doctor,  is  the 
only  niiui  admitted  within  the  precincts  of  the 
women's  hospital. 

The  Walsall  and  District  Hospital  must 
alwaj's  have  an  exceptional  interest  for  nurses 
from  the  fact  that  it  was  in  that  institution  that 
the  late  Sister 
J^ora  rendered 
such  devoted 
service.  It  is, 
therefore,  sad  to 
leam  that  two 
new  wards,  pre- 
sented to  the 
hospital  some 
two  or  three 
years  ago,  have 
had  to  be  closed 
for  lack  of  funds 
with  which  to 
maintain  them. 
R  e  c  ently  the 
Countess  of 
Bradford 
opened  a  "  His- 
toric "  Bazaar 
at  the  Town 
Hall,  not,  we 
regret  to  say,  to 
provide  funds 
for  reopening  the 
wards,  but  to 
pav  off  the  debt 
of  £2,049  on  the 
ni  an  agement 
fund  principally 
attribiitable  to 
tlie  expenditure 
In  addition, 
£1,000  to  be 
.pital  for  future 


MISS    C.    F.    TIPPET, 
Wilson    Memorial    Hospital,   Pingyangtu.   Shansi.    North 
China,   and  the   Hospital   Staff. 


Our  illustration  of  Miss  C.  F.  Tippet,  of  the 
Wilson  Memorial  Hospital,  Pingyangfu,  will  be 
appreciated  by  many  members  of  the  Nui-ses' 
ilissionai-j-  -I^eague.  to  whom  she  is  well- 
known.  Miss  Tippet,  with  her  native  "  body- 
guard," appears  in  native  dress,  which  she 
finds  very  suitable  foi-  hospital  work,  and  which 


the      new      wards      entailed. 
the     committee      hope      for 
placed  to  the  credit  of  the  li 
use,  including,  if  possible,  the  opening  of  addi- 
tional beds. 


The  Countess  of  Bradford,  in  declaring  .the 
bazaar  open,  said  that  although  more  than  a 
generation  had  passed  since  Sister  Dora  ren- 
dered such  devoted  sei^vice  to  the  hospital,  her 
name,  still  lent  enthusiasm  t<^any  work  in  con- 
nection with  it.    She  would  bereniembered  for 


396 


Cbe  36iitisb  3ournal  of  iRursing, 


[\ov.  12,  1910 


all  time  as  a  model  of  sclf-sacrifico,  self-devo- 
tion, and  saintliuess.  The  hospital  was  au 
everlasting  memorial_  to  Sister  Dora,  whoso 
example  still  inspired  otliers  to  make  sacrifices 
for  it. 


TReflcctions. 


An  informal  Association  of  Matrons  for  con- 
sultative purposes  has  been  fonned  iu  the 
counties  of  Wai-wickshire,  Worcestershire,  and 
Staffordshire.  We  feel  sure  their  meetings  will 
result  in  furthering  nureing  interests. 


.According  to  the  quarterly  report  just  issued 
of  ihe  work  of  the  Scottish  Branch  of  Queen 
Victoria's  Jubilee  Institute,  there  are  now  345 
Queen's  Nurses  in  Scotland  working  under  216 
district  nursing  associations  afihliated  to  the 
Scottish  Branch  of  the  Institute.  The  Scot- 
tish Council  are  directly  responsible  for  the 
staff,  for  the  superintendence,  training,  and  in- 
spection of  all  the  nurses  who  have  passed 
tluough  the  Scottish  District  Ti-aining  Home; 
also  for  four  Queen's  Nurses  and  twenty-one 
Queen's  candidates  who  are  at  present  under- 
going special  training  in  district  nursing.  Eight 
candidates  during  this  period  completed  the  six 
months'  special  training,  and  were  engaged  by 
committees  of  affiliated  associations  at 
Strachur,  Maud,  Praserburgh,  Lochawe,  Elgin, 
Kilchoman  (Islay),  and  Inverness,  and  a  nurse 
was  appointed  to  work  as  Health  Visitor  in 
the  Middle  Ward  of  Lanarkshire  under  the 
direction  of  the  Medical  Officer  of  Health.  An 
immense  amount  of  good  work  has  been  done 
in  Edinburgh  from  the  Central  Home,  and  we 
arc  glad  to  note  that  "  One  who  has  helped  the 
Institute  before  "  has  given  a  donation  of 
£1,000,  as  the  necessary  expenditure  exceeds 
the  receipts. 

Bray  will  have  the  distinction  of  being  the 
first  district  in  Ireland  to  promote  a  movement 
for  the  protection  of  infantile  life  by  providing 
a  nurse  specially  trained  in  the  feeding  of 
babies  for  the  district.  In  recommending  the 
sciieme  to  a  meeting  at  Old  Connaught,  Lady 
Plunket  said  that  thousands  of  pounds  were 
spent  in  hospitals,  asylums,  and  unions  in 
patching  up  and  mending  constitutions  that 
were  born  healthy  and  normal,  and  which 
had  been  ruined  by  the  ignorance  of  mothers  in 
feeding  in  infancy.  The  idea  was  to  have  in 
the  district  a  fully  qualified  Catholic  nurse 
trainetl  in  Vincent's  Children's  Hospital,  Lon- 
don, who  would  give  her  whole  time  to  the 
babies  of  Bray,  and  ti'ach  tlie  mothers  how  to 
feed  them.  All  the  s])ealcers  agreed  that  the 
l>crcentage  of  infantile  mortality  in  civilised 
countries  was  absolutely  indefensible,  and 
wished  St.  Monica's  I'.ahv  Chih  everv  success. 


From  a  Bo.^rd  Room  Mirror. 
Princess  Henry  ot  Battenberg  visited  the  Queen's- 
Ho.spital  for  Children  at  Hackney,  recently,  when  a. 
meeting  of  the  Ladies'  Association  AVork  Guild  was 
held.  Mr.  Charles  Port,  Chairman,  stated  that 
sufficient  clothing  had  been  given  for  the  wants  of 
the  hospital  for  the  year,  a  great  saving  to  the 
general  funds.  This  excellent  hospital  is  greatly 
in  need  of  financial  support — there  is  a  debt  of 
£8,o00  and  great  need  for  a  new  out-patients' 
department. 


A  meeting  was  held  at  tlie  Town  Hall,  Maidstone, 
at  a  recent  date,  to  consider  a  Memorial  to  his 
late  Majesty  King  Kdward.  The  Memorial  pro- 
posed is  a  scheme  to  extend  the  West  Kent  General 
Hospital,  and  to  increase  the  accommodation  from 
67  to  100  beds;  with  a  suggestion  that  such  addi- 
tional building,  or  beds,  should  be  called  the  "  King 
Edward  Wing,"  or  the  "Edward  Beds."  The  hos- 
pital receives  patients  from  ninety  parishes,  com- 
pi-isiug  a  population  of  82,000  persons.  A  sum  of 
£20,000  is  necessary  for  the  building  and  endowment 
of  the  new  wing.  Several  substantial  sums  were 
proniised  at  tlie  meeting. 

It  has  been  decided  to  build  a  new  ont-[>atients' 
department  at  the  Royal  South  Hants  Hospital, 
.Southampton.  Al>out  £7,000  will  be  requiitxl  !<>r 
the   purpose. 


We  sympathise  entirely  with  the  views  of  Lord 
Ilkeston  in  a  letter  to  Tin/  Times  in  which  he 
se\erely  takes  the  Government  to  task  for  its  re- 
fusal to  take  part  in  the  International  Congress  of 
Hygiene,  to  be  held  in  Dresden  in  1911. 

That  the  exhibition  is  to  be  truly  international  is 
shown  by  the  fact  that  Russia  is  building,  at  a  cost 
of  some  £20,000,  a  national  pavilion,  which  is  after- 
wards to  be  removed  to  Moscow  as  a  permanent 
nniseum.  France  has  also  voted  a  considerable  sum 
of  money  for  a  national  pavilion,  as  have  Austria. 
Switzerland,  Italy,  Japan,  China,  and,  indeed,  every 
civilised  State  of  importance-save  Great   Britain! 

Lord  Ilkeston  says  the  true  reason  of  the  refusal 
of  the  Government  to  spend  money  on  this  exhibi- 
tion seems  to  be  simply  its  failure  to  recognise  the 
claims  of  science  on  public  support.  This  action 
on  the  part  of  the  English  Foreign  Office  is  tactless 
and  obtuse,  and  has  aroused  ill-feeliuK  in  Germanv. 


Itv  till'  ili'iitli  of  Henri  Dunant,  founder  of  the 
Hed  Cro.ss  movement,  the  world  has  lost  one  who  has 
done  more  to  mitigate  the, horrors  of  war  than  any 
other  individual,  unless  it  be  F'lorence  Nightingale. 
Tender  the  banner  of  the  Red  Cross,  doctors,  nurses, 
civilian  helpers,  and  sick  and  wounded  were  ac- 
corded protection  on  the  battlefield  by  the  signing 
of  the  famous  Geneva  Convention.  Of  ample 
means  in  his  youth,  he  lost  his  fortune  in  later  life, 
and  was  onlv  relieved  from  pmertv  l.\  the  award 
of  the  Xobel'Pri/.e  in  1901. 


Xov.  12.  1010^ 


Zhc  ^Britisb  Journal  of  iRureino. 


"Ill  Bieasail." 

The  organisation  ol  li  Hreasail,"  the  great 
Health  and  Industrie^.  .Sluiw  in  connection  with  the 
Women's  National  Health  -Association  of  Ireland, 
in  the  grounds  of  Ballsbridge,  Dublin,  from  May 
24th  to  June  7th,  1911,  is  already  making  satisfac- 
tory progress,  and  a  coniprehensire  programme  is 
being  arranged.  The  Countess  of  Carrick  has  con- 
sented to  be  general  manager,  and  has  enlisted 
valuable  voluntary  helpers  to  assist  her  at  the  head 
office,  and  Mrs.  Owen  Lewis  has  undertaken  the 
position  of  Cieneral  Secretary  of  the  Attractions 
Section . 

The  general  idea  is  to  organise  a  show  where  all 
movements  and  enterprises  which  may  conduce  to 
the  health  and  prosperity  of  Ireland  will  be 
illustrated,  as  well  as  a  programme  of  amusements 
and  attractions  which  will  add  to  its  popularity,  and 
thus  raise  a  substantial  sum  for  the  Central  Fund 
of  the  Women's  National  Health  Association. 

The  Exhibition  will  include  the  following  sections : 
Health,  Industrial,  Local  Government  Board  Ex- 
hibits, Department  of  Agriculture  and  Technical 
instruction  Exhibits,  Congested  Board  District 
Exhibits,  Industrial  Schools,  Attractions  Section, 
Sports  Section,  Conferences,  Town  and  Village 
Entertainment  Competitions. 

The  Health  Section  will  include  a  series  of  attrac- 
tive object  lessons  bearing  on  the  various  depart- 
ments of  health  work  under  the  following  headings : 
1 1 1  BoWm.— Babies'  Clubs,  Babies'  Foods,  Babies' 
Nursery  Appliances,  Babies'  Clothes,  Babies'  Toys, 
etc.  [2)  Milk. — Production.  <l  !■  tiibution,  and  pre- 
servation; pasteurised,  humaiu^fd,  and  dried  milk; 
models  of  dairies  and  cowsheds  ;  exhibits  illustrating 
milk  supply  and  distribution  in  different  countries. 
(3»  Nursing  Krhibit,  showing  all  that  bears  upon 
the  training  and  work  of  Hospital  and  District 
Nurses,  and  models  of  cottage  hospitals  and  nurses' 
cottages.  (4)  Food. — Exhibits  of  all  kinds  bearing 
upon  wise  selection  and  attractive  preparation  of 
inexpensive,  nourishing  foods,  and  especially  those 
which  can  be  grown  at  home,  (o)  Coohiiuj,  including 
the  cooking  of  inexpensive  menus,  with  utensils  of 
the  simplest  description.  (6)  School  Meals. — Ex- 
hibits and  Demonstrations  of  how  to  prepare  and 
distribute  inexpensive  school  meals.  (7)  Cleaning 
and  Disinfection. — Exhibits  showing  simple  and 
effective  methods  of  cleaning  and  disinfecting,  ap- 
plied to  homes,  schools,  sanatoria,  clothing,  etc. 
(?>  Home-mahinq.—  Exhibits  showing  how  all  homes, 
including  the  simplest,  can  be  made  bright,  healthy, 
and  comfortable.  (9)  Model  Houses  and  Cotfaycs, 
together  with  labour-saving  appliances  and  exhibits, 
showing  sanitary  and  water  supply,  provisions  for 
dwellings.  (lOl  Models  of  Inexpensive  Sanatoria, 
Shelters,  Chalets  and  Appliances  for  Home  Treat- 
ment of  Tuberculosis  Patients.  (11)  Clothing.  (12) 
Schools  and  Sch'iol  Hijgieiie. — Models  of  healthy 
schools  and  school  appliances,  and  furniture  suitable 
for  children,  contrasted  with  unsuitable  school  sur- 
roundings and  furniture.  il3)  Demon.^^trations  of 
(>licn  Air  Schools.  (14)  Srhoul  Cardening.  (lo)  Boy.^' 
Health     Battalions     and     Cirls'    Guilds     of    Go'd 

Health.    (16)  Little  Moth.'-'    '<.-L,.r.U  /  (■;„-<-  — 

Demonstrations. 


licnnin  an^  flMaouc. 

At  a  meeting  called  by  the  Society  lor  the  Destruc- 
tion of  Nermin,  which  dealt  with  vermin  and  plague, 
it  was  agreed  that  ruthless  and  relentless  war  on  all 
vermin  was  a  matter  of  national  rather  than  local 
importance.  Kats  in  particular  must  be  destroyed 
simiiltanuoMsly  throughout  the  couotry.  Dr.  L. 
\V.  .Sanibou,  who  has  devoted  much  research  to 
tropical  medicine  un<l  pal^asitologJ•,  exhibited  on 
the  screen  a  remarkable  series  of  pictures  dluK- 
trating  the  jKirasitic  carriers  of  disease  and  the 
methods  by  which  the  virus  of  contagion  is  trans- 
mitted to  the  human  subject.  These  processes  tr«> 
<iueutly  involve  iransmutation  from  animal  to 
animal  before  the  bacillus  finally  finds  its  '"host'' 
in  the  human  organism.  The  common  house-fly. 
Dr.  Samlxni  i^aid,  is  now  known  to  be  the  means  of 
the  conveyance  of  a  large  number  of  diseases,  in- 
cluding enteric  fever  and  cholera.  Yellow  fever  :s 
an  insect-borne  disease,  and  fleas  convey  tape-«orm 
as  well  as  the  l>acillus  of  plague.  Cats  and  dogs, 
said  Dr.  Samlxm,  were  extremely  useful  to  keep 
down  the  number  of  rats,  but  they  were  not  useful 
in  an  area  where  the  virvis  of  plague  had  entered 
into  the  body  of  the  rat,  t>ecause  the  cats  and  dogs 
(>ecame  infected  themselves,  and  as  dome^itic  pets 
brought  disease  direct  into  the  homes  of  the  jjeople. 
In  the  Jliddle  Ages,  when  plague  was  rampant  in 
this  country,  cats  and  dogs  were  destroyed  whole- 
sale. Certain  fleas  were  parasites  peculiar  to  the 
rat,  and  a  flea  on  a  plague-in fectetl  rat  was  capable 
of  conveying  the  virus  to  man  if  it  should  find  a 
lodgment  on  his  body.  Although  pulex  -irrifans- 
was  generally  recognised  as  the  flea  which  attacke<l 
the  human  subject,  other  fleas  which  had  been  m 
contact  with  animals  infected  with  plague  mignt 
attack  man  as  a  ''■'host." 

Zbc  Bacteria  of  Consumption. 

••  More  than  one-seventh  of  all  the  people  who 
die  are  carried  off  prematurely  by  consumption 
or  tuberculosis,"  says  Dr.  T.  Mitchell  Prudden  in 
his  little  book,  "The  Story  of  the  Bacteria  and 
their  Relation  to 'Health  and  Disease,"  of  which 
Messrs.  Putnam  have  just  published  a  second 
edition,  revised,  enlarged,  and  illustrated.  Un- 
fortunately, this  is  a  statement  which  cannot  be 
denied ;  but  the  renewed  effort  which  is  being  made 
to  stay  the  advance  of  the  ravaging  bacilli  should 
do  much  to  break  the  dread  power  of  this  relentless 
scourge.  Dr.  Prudden's  book  will  prove' of  con- 
siderable use  to  the  doctor,  while  the  sound  and 
sensible  advice  which  the  author  offers  in  non- 
technical language  makes  it  highly  valuable  to 
everyone.'  This  will  be  obvious,  judging  from  the 
titles  of  some  of  the  chapters:' — 

'■  The  bacteria  as  man's  invisible  foe." 

"Typhoid  fever  and  its  relatives." 

■■  Pneumonia,  Influenza-  and  Colds,"  , 

"Safeguards  for  the  body  against  disease." 

""  Water  and  ice  as  sources  of  infection." 

••  Hazards  of  the  air,''  etc. 

The  book  is  published  at  3s.  *d.   net.     Too  wide 

publicity  cannot  be  given  to  tTiis  work. 


400 


^be  :©i1t(6b  3ournal  of  IHursing. 


[Nov.  12,  1910 


®utsl&c  tbc  (Bates. 


THE  SOCIETY  OF  WOMEN  JOURNALISTS. 

The  Society  ot  'Women 
Journalists  held  the  six- 
teenth annual  meeting, 
followed  by  a  delightful 
reception  at  Essex  Hall. 
W.C,  on  Thursday,  the 
3rd  inst.  Lady  Mc- 
Laren, the  retiring  Pre- 
sident, nas  in  the  chair, 
and  Mrs.  Willoiighby  Hodgson  (the  Hon.  Secre- 
tary) presented  a  most  hojieful  report.  Fort>- 
one  new  members  have  joined  the  Society 
during  the  year,  bringing  the  membership  roll 
to  upwards  of  300.  One  feature  of  the  year's 
events  has  been  the  members'  teas  at  the  quaint  old 
rooms  at  Clifford's  Inn,  where  the  office  of  the 
Society  is  located.  The  list  of  hostesses  and  speakers 
includes  the^iames  of  many  of  our  leading  women 
journalists.  The  resignation  of  Miss  Mary  Fraser, 
one  of  the  Hon.  .Seci'etaries,  who  for  the  past  four 
years  has  spared  no  pains  to  advance  the  interests 
of  the  Society,  was  received  with  ret;iet.  and  she 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Council 


Lady  McLaren  introduced  the  new  Pi'esident. 
Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick,  and  in  her  smiling  and 
gracious  manner  transferred  the  President's  Badge 
of  Office  to  her  successor.  She  then  delivered  an 
earnest  farewell  address,  in  «hich  she  touched  on 
questions  of  vital  interest  to  women  to  be  found 
incorporated  in  ''The  Women's  Charter  " — legisla- 
tive measures  by  which  she  hopes  to  lessen  the 
imperfections  of  the  exceedingly  complex  social 
organisation  of  modern  days. 


Lady  McLaren  said  she  wished  to  recommend  to 
•  every  woman  journalist  the  women's  cause.  The 
more  attention  they  gave  to  this  question  the  more 
they  saw  the  pressure  of  injustice  upon  women.  A 
great  part  of  their  struggle  was  not  due  to  incom- 
petence or  want  of  talent,  but  to  prejudice  against 
sex.  She  hoped  every  woman  jouinalist  would  study 
the  law  and  see  where  it  pressed  hardly  npo» 
women,  and  that  they  would  not  rest,  until  those 
laws  were  amended.  They  had  such .  pow.er  with 
their  pens  that  she  hoped  they  would  do  their  be.st 
to  bring  those  injustices  into  the  light  Of  publicity, 
and  when  they  were  so  expounded  there  was  at 
least  a  good  chance  that  those  wrongs  might  be  re- 
dressed. The  attention  of  women  .should  always  be 
directed  to  any  unfair  attack  made  upon  them.  Re- 
marks had  recently  been  made  about  the  attendance 
of  women  in  court  and  the  di-ess  they  wore  there. 
.She  urged  them  to  attend  the  courts  and  to  stiidy 
the  "administration  of  ju.stice :  and.  in  regard  to 
dress,  they  did  not  need  sackcloth  and  ashes  to  hear 
a  prisoner  tried.  If  there  was  one  ridiculous  head- 
dress in  court,  it  was  not  worn  by  a  woman,  but  by 
a  judge,  and  she  was  sure  the  severity  of  counsel 
towards  witnesses  and  their  anger  towards  each 
other  were  due  to  the  fact  that  their  brains  were 


unduly  heated  by  their  head-gear.  She  advised 
a  wet  towel  as  a  substitute  for  a  mass  of  horse- 
hair if  members  of  the  Bar  felt  it  necessary 
to  cover  their  heads.  Lady  McLaren  said  she 
should  remember  with  the  sincerest  pleasure  her 
association  as  President  with  tlie  Women 
.Tourualist^'   Societv. 


Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  said  how  deeply  she  ap- 
preciated the  signal  honour  which  had  been  con- 
ferred upon  her  by  her  election  as  President  of  the 
Society  of  Women  Journalists,  and  that  it  would  be 
her  pride  and  pleasure  during  her  year  of  office  to 
do  all  in  her  power  to  reciprocate  the  kindness  of 
her  colleagues.  Her  election  «as  a  surprise,  be- 
cause she  had  not  instinctively  adopted  the  honour- 
able work  of  journalism  as  a  profession,  but  as  a 
means  to  an  end.  She  had  become  a  journalist  be- 
cause she  desired  to  see  the  profession  of  her  choice 
— .Scientific  Xursing — elevated  and  legally  consti- 
tuted by  Act  of  Parliament,  and.  without  a  voice 
in  the  press  dedicated  to  the  education  of  the 
public,  the  views  and  aspirations  of  trained  nurses 
could  find  no  expression.  There  at  once  one  realised 
the  power  and  value  of  journalism,  in  which  she 
had  become  intensely  interested.  The  responsibility 
and  pleasures  of  journalism  were  manifold — and 
women  were  peculiarly  adapted  for  it,  as  they 
possessed  so  many  faculties  the  profession  demanded. 
Women  had  in 'journalism  a  profession  of  illimitable 
possibilities — scope  for  all  carefully  cultivated 
talents,  a  profession  worthy  of  a  thorough  proba- 
tion, without  which  no  work  was  worth  a  row  of  pins. 

Let  junior  journalists  be  encouraged  to  study 
deeply,  to  become  founts  of  accurate  information. 
They  would  then  obtain  access  to  the  press  because 
their  work  h  ould  be  of  economic  value. 

The  Society  of  Women  Journalists,  which  in  the 
past  had  done  so  much  to  place  high  ideals  before 
its  members,  would  in  the  future  continuously  in- 
crease its  sphere  of  usefulness.  ''Let  us  believe," 
said  Mrs.  Fenwick,  "  in  ourselves  and  our  destiny. 
We  women  journalists  must  take  spacious  views  of 
the  world  generally  and  realise  that  the  affairs  of 
the  whole  n  orld  are  ours.' ' 

"•The  vote   of  thanks  to  the  chair   was  proposed 
^by  Miss  Nora  Vyniie  in  a  very  happy  vein. 
■--  •  Thk  Reception. 

■'  The  Reception  lioNl  later  brought  together  many 
members  and  their  guests,  and  the  dainty  t«a  and 
delightful   entertainment   were  greatly  enjoyed. 

The  Ladies'  Army  and  Navy  Club  Trio  is  a  unique 
and  most  musical  band  ;  the  recitatio.is  of  Miss  Elsa 
Davis,  who  possesses  a  delicate  art  all  her  own,  the 
'cello  solo  of  Mr.  Frank  Ivimey,  and  the  fine  sing- 
ing of  Mr.  H.  Hilliard,  gave  unqualified  pleasure 
to  all  present. 

There  appears  to  be  a  very  happy  and  useful 
future  before  this  societv  of  talented  women. 


On  the  occasion  of'  the  C-ent.«nary  of  the  poli- 
tical liberation  of  Chile,  the  Government  Lyceum 
diixM'teil  by  Miss  Lina  Mollett,  was  awarded  a  firsj 
prize  diploma  and  gold  medal.  Miss  Lina  Mollett 
is  sister  to  Miss  Jlollett,  of  Southampton. 


Nov.  1-2,  I'.Udi 


^bc  ffiiitisb  3ournaI  of  IRursino, 


4(11 


Book  ot  the  lUlccI^. 


THE    OSBORNES* 
A  prospei-oiis  SlietfieM  iiiercliant  ami  his  family, 
with    all    their    vulgarities    and    little    weaknesses 
mercilessly  exposed,  are  the  subject  of  Mr.   E.  F. 
Benson's  book. 

True,  at  the  conclusion  he  invites  us  to  look 
below  the  surface  and  see  the  real  Stirling  worth 
underlying  their  impossibleness,  but  as  throughout 
the  volume  he  has  made  them  targets  for  his  satii-e, 
it  is  asking  rather  much  of  us  to  believe  that  Lady 
Dora  is  satisfactorily  mated  with  Claude  Osborne, 
albeit  he  has  been  educated  at  Eton  and  Christ- 
church.  Before  their  engagement  she  was  able  to 
criticise  him  as  follows  : — 

■'  It  is  coming  to  a  crisis,  you  see.  Mr.  Osborne's 
<all  on  mother  is  of  a  formal  nature.  He  is  going 
to  ask  permission  for  Claude  to  pay  his  addresses 
to  me ;  he  will  use  those  very  words.  And  then  I 
shall  have  to  make  up  my  mind.  He  thrills  me. 
Isn't  it  awful  ?  But  he  does.  Thrills  1  I  don't  be- 
lieve any  boy  was  ever  so  good-looking.  And  then 
suddenly,  in  the  midst  of  my  thrill,  it  all  stops  with 
a  jerk,  just  because  he  says  somebody  is  a  very 
•  handsome  lady.'  Wliy  shouldn't  he  say  '  handsome 
lady  '  ?  He  said  he  thought  mother  \\as  such  a 
handsome  lady,  and  I  nearly  groaned  out  loud.  And 
then  I  looked  at  him  again,  or  something,  and  I 
didn't  care  what  lie  said  ....  Am  I  in  love  with 
him'?  For  heaven's  sake,  tell  me."  After  the 
dinner  party  given  by  Claude's  parents  in  honour 
of  the  engagement,  the  bride-elect's  mother  and 
brother  discuss  theii-  future  connections  in  a  way 
that  is  peculiarly  Mr.  Benson's  own,  and  the  sum- 
ming up  by  Jim  exactly  hits  them  off. 

"'  I  find  Mr.  and  ilrs.  0.  quite  delightful,"  Jim 
said.  "  I  do  really.  There  isn't  one  particle  of 
humbug  about  them,  an  J  they  have  the  perfect  ease 
and  naturalness  of  good  bleeding."  Lady  Anstell 
tossed  her  head.  'That  word  again,"  she  said. 
■  You  seem  to  judge  everybody  by  the  standard  of 
a  certain  superficial  veneer  which  you  call  breed- 
ing." 

■"  I  know  :  one  can't  help  it.  I  grant  you  lots  of 
well-bred  people  are  rude  and  greedy,  but  there  is 
a  certain  way  of  being  rude  and  greedy  which  is 
all  right.  I'm  lude;  I  don't  get  up  when  you  come 
into  the  room  and  open  the  door  for  you.  Claude — 
bi  other  Claude — does  all  these  things,  and  yet  he's 
a  cad." 

"I  consider  Claude  a  perfect  gentleman."'  said 
Lady  Austell.  ''I  know  that  'perfect'  is  exactly 
what  is  the  matter  with  him,"  said  Jim,  medita- 
tively. ■■  Now  Mr.  Osborne  is  a  frank  cad — and 
Clavide  a  subtle  one.  That's  -vvhy  I  can't  stand  him. 
He  simply  bristles  with  good  points,  but  he  gives 
one  such  shocks.  He  goes  on  swimmingly  for  a 
time,  then  says  that  the  carpet  is  '  tasteful  '  or 
'  superior.'  STow  Mr.  Osborne  doesn't  give  one 
shocks;  you  know  what  to  expect  and  you  get  it  all 
the  time." 


One  cannot  be  surprised  that  before  the  first  six 
months  of  married  life  had  passed  Dora  could  ''  look 
undazzled  at  the  materials  out  of  which  hef  romance 
had  been  constructed  and  analyse  them.  There  was 
his  character,  which  was  sterling ;  his  qualities, 
which  were  excellent:  his  kindness,  his  safeness — 
his  wealth,  and  his  vulgarity. 

•  The  word  was  coined.  Her  thought  for  the  first 
time  definitely  allowed  it  to  pa.ss  into  currency,  and 
she  had  to  reckon  with  it." 

Yet  in  spite  of  this  dangerous  frame  of  mind,  a 
turn  of  the  wand  convinces  her  that  it  was  Claude 
who  said  and  did  all  that  was  symbolised  under  the 
title  of  "  handsome  lady,"  and,  since  it  was  Claude, 
it  was  a  thing  to  be  kissed,  though  laughter  came, 
too.'' 

XVe  confess  we  cannot  understand  this  attitude 
to  a  husband. 

The  old  Osbornes  are  delightful  people,  and  their 
accession  to  the  peerage  fills  them  with  unaffected 
joy  and  pride. 

"  My  lady,"  he  said,  acrcss  the  table  to  his  wife, 
■' this' 11  interest  vou.  List  of  honours:  Peerages, 
Edward  Osborne,  Esq.,  M.P. 

'As  if  by  a  conjuring  trick,  he  produced  from 
under  the  tablecloth  an  all-round  tiara  of  immense 
diamonds,  which  had  been  previously  balanced  on 
his  knees." 

II  faut  s'nmtiser;  therefore  read  Mr.  Benson's 
latest.  H.  H. 


*  By    E.    F. 

London.)    » 


Benson.      (Smith,    Elder    A-    Co., 


COMING    EVENTS. 

yovember  7th — 13th.— Suffrage  Week. 

Xovember  10th. — Great  meeting  organised  by  the 
Women's  Social  and  Political  Union.  Chairman, 
Mrs.  Pankhurst.     Royal  Albert  Hall,  8  p.m. 

yovrmher  l^th.^Great  united  mass  meeting  of 
•Suffrage  Societies.  Chauman,  Mrs.  Fawcett,  LL.D. 
Royal  Albert  HaU,  7.30  p.m. 

Suviniber  1.5th. — Xurses'  Missionary  League. 
Lecture  :  •  The  Xurse  in  Relation  to  Her  Patient," 
by  Miss  C.  M.  Ironside,  M.B.Lond.,  3.15  p.m. 

Xuvemher  19th. — Nurses'  Missionary  League. 
Sale  of  Work,  52,  Lower  Sloane  Street,  S. W.  11 .30 
a.m.  to  6  p.m. 

yovember  19th. — Meeting  of  the  Central  Com- 
mittee for  Registration  of  Xunses,  Council  Room, 
British  Medicjtl  Association  Office,  429,  Strand, 
London.  The  Right  Hon.  the  Lord  AmptluU, 
G.C.I.E.,  will  preside.  3  p.m. 

yovember  J.'ith. — National  Union  of  Women 
Workers  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland.  Private 
Conference  on  "  Hygiene  in  Relation  to  Rescue 
Work,"  Caxton  Hall,  S.W.  Admission  by  ticket 
only.     10.30  a.nl.  to  1  p.m.  ;  2.30  p.m.  to  4.30  p.m. 

yovember  3ith. — .Association  for  Promoting  the 
Training  and  Supply  of  Midwives.  Meeting  of  the 
Council,  2,  Cromwell  Houses  (23,  Crdmwell  Road, 
S.W.),  3  p.m. 

Xovember  2.',th. — Central  Midwives'  Board.  Caz- 
ton  House,  S.W.,  2.45  p.m. 

December  7th. — Royal  Infirmary,  Edinburgh. 
Lecture  on  "  The  Nursing  of  Neurasthenic  and 
Hysterical  Patients,"  by  Dr.  Edwin  Bramwelf.  XI] 
trained  nurses  cordially  invited.  Extra-Mural 
Medical  Theatre.    4.30  p.m. 


402 


Zhc  British  Journal  of  IHursiriG, 


^Xov.  12,  1910 


Xetters  to  the  le^itor. 


Whilst  cordially  invilhiij  mm- 
munications  upon  all  subjecff 
fnr  these  columns,  ve  uish  it 
to  be  distinctly  understood 
that  we  do  not  in  ant  WAt 
hold  ourselves  responsible  for 
the  opinions  expressed  by  out 
correspondents. 


A  CANKER  AT  THE  ROOT. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 
Dear  Madam. — The  gratittide  of  all  who  liave  the 
welfare  of  the  nation  at  heart  is  due  to  yovi  for  tne 
article,  "A  Canker  at  the  Root,"'  in  your  Xovem- 
ber  5th  number.  In  les*  than  a  fortnight  1  re- 
ceived applications  for  help  in  the  following  cases — 
two  maternity  oases  of  13  yeai-s  okl,  two  lock 
cases  of  10^  and  12  yeai-s.  and  t«X)  children  under 
14  who  had  Ijeeu  criminally  assaulted.  Tliese 
children,  with  their  knowledge  of  evil,  are 
"educated  "  with  children  from  clean  and  resi)ect- 
nble  honie.s.  Can  we  wonder  it  the  evil  is  spread? 
The  children  are  innocent  of  the  sinfulness  of  im- 
morality :  no  one  tells  them  of  this,  through  a  lalse 
idea  of  modesty.  l)ut  the_  children  will  talk  of  such 
things  amongst  themselves,  and  tiy  to,  and  tio, 
practise  evil. 

I  have  leceiied  letters  from  all  ]>arts  of  tlie 
Kingdonj  from  Rescue  Workers,  giving  cases  known 
to  them,  with  ages  and  other  details.  The  number 
of  cases  reported  from  one  town  of  children  who 
had  been  assaulted  under  16  yeai-s  of  age  during 
three  years  was  7G.  From  another  town  the  Rescue 
Worker  reported  that  children  would  even 
".solicit."  The  evil  is  widespread.  We  are  trying 
to  start  sjjecial  homes  for  these  little  ones,  but  re- 
ceive little  sui)poit  or  help  l)ecanse  people  refuse  to 
believe  what  we  know  to  be  facts.  May  your 
article  help  us  in  this  campaign — it  ought  *o. 
Thanking  you  sincerely. 
Believe  me. 

Yours  faithfully. 

Thomas  Geo.  Ceee. 
Hon.  Sec,  C.P.A..  Incorporated. 
Chiircli  Penitentiary  A,ssociation.  Incorptd., 
Churcli  House,  Deans  Yard. 
Westminster,  S.W. 

A  HISTORY  OF  NURSING. 

fo  the  Editor  of  the  "British  Journal  of  Nrtrsing." 
Deau  Madam, — Our  attention  has  l>een  called  to 
the  letter  from  A.  P.  Payne  in  your  issue  of 
Octoljer  29th.  complaining  that  Miss  Dock's  "  His- 
tory- of  Kui-sing."  published  by  ourselves,  lias  not 
been  proj)erly  presented  to  Australian  readers.  We 
are  obliged  to  vou  for  your  friendly  and  sensible 
ooniment. 

Your  correspondent  mentions  that  n  copy 
of  the  book  was  sent  "to  the  Editor  of  the 
.iustralasifiii  Siirses'  Journal,  which  i.-;  the  official 
organ  of  the  Australasian  Trained  Nume-s'  .\^^socia- 
tion,  where  it  was  favotirabl>,  reviewed."  We  con- 
sider that  such  a  revi<!W  constitutes  a  satisfactory 
guarantee,  so  that  ii  should   not   be  necessary   tor 


fui'tlier  siyx-imen  copies  ot  this  somewhat  expensive 
book  to  Ix'  .sent  from  London  for  the  examination 
ot  the  Australasian  Nursing  Schools. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  we  have  filled  a  fair  number 
of  ordere  in  Australia,  so  that  the  book  cannot,  as 
your  correspondent  .supposes,  be  entirely  unknown 
there. 

We  have,  as  yon  know,  a  number  of  nursing 
books  on  our  list,  by  Miss  Dock  and  other 
authoritative  writers.  Many  of  these  are  issued  at 
lX)pular  prices.  They  are  all  described  in  a  little 
circular  which  we  ore  distributing  in  large  quan- 
tities all  ovei-  the  English-speaking  world.  We  are 
^ery  glad  to  say  that  both  we  and  our  enterprising 
Australian  representative  are  encouraged  to  be- 
lieve that  the  profession  in  Australia  is  taking  a 
keener  interest  in  these  subjects,  and  we  are  hope- 
ful that  in  a  short  time  such  a  letter  as  A.  P. 
Payne's  will  no  longer  be  possible. 
Y'ours  very  truly. 

G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons. 

24.  Bedford  Street.  W.C. 


ORGANISED  GAMES  FOR   NURSES. 

To  tin-  Editor  of  the  "  Britif:h  Journal  of  Nursing.'' 
Dear  Madam, — I  am  sorry  t-o  see  the  British 
Journal  of  Nursing  advocating  organised  games 
for  nurses.  In  my  opinion  nowadays  it  is  no  work 
and  all  play.  A  little  more  sense  of  duty  and  less  ■ 
self-indulgence  are  badly  needed  in  hospitals. 

A  Nineteenth  Century  Matron. 
[All  work  and  no  play  makes  Jack  a  dull  boy,  and 
has  just  the  same  effect  upon  Jill. — Ed.] 


Coninients  anb  IRepIies. 


Certificated  Provincial  Nurse. — Can  you  not  bring 
your  desire,  and  that  of  your  colleagues,  before  the 
Matron  of  your  training  school  and  ask  her  to  take 
the  initial  steps  in  forming  a  League  of  its  certifi- 
cated nurses? 

NOTICE. 

The  British  JonnNAL  of  Nursing  is  the  official 
organ  of  the  following  important  Nursing  socie- 
ties :  — 

The  Society  for  the  State  Registration  of 
Trained  Nurses. 

The  Registered  Nurses'   Society. 

The  School  Nurses'  League. 

The  International  Council  of  Nurses. 

The  National  Council  of  Trained  Nurses  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland. 

The  Matrons'  Council  of  Great  Britain  and' 
Ireland. 

IHoticcs. 


CONTRIBUTIONS. 
The  Editor  will  at  all  times  be  pleased  to  consider 
articles  of   a  suitable   nature   for  insertion   in   this 
Journal— those   on    practical   nursing   are   specially 
invited. 

OUR  PUZZLE  PRIZE. 
Rules    for   competing   for   t' r     Pictorial    Puzzii 
Prize  will  Lo  found  on  Advertisement  pace  sii. 


Nov.  li.  i.Mn     j£|,^.  Britisb  3ournal  ot  IHurstno  Supplement.        "^3 

The    Midwife. 


riDv  flat  Bat>\>. 

..;--  >uiiiuiLr  1  huJ  a  '■  i'lal  "  babj".  I  do 
not  mean  that  he  was  flat,  quite  the  contrary ; 
he  was  a  fat.  round  little  man.  But  he  lived 
iu  a  tlat,  and  one  of  the  drawbacks  to  a  flat  is 
that  there  is  no  di'ving  ground,  and  if  all  the 
wasliing  is  sent  out  a  haby  is  likely  to  prove  an 
expensive  treasure,  so  the  only  alternative  is 
to  have  vei-y  little  washing  to  do.  I  have  had 
babies  who  wore  only  a  flannel  binder,  a  nap- 
kin, and  a  nightgown,  but  that  seems  rather 
scanty.  My  flat  baby  wore  a  flannel  binder,  a 
woven  woollen  vest  with  long  sleeves,  a  Turkish 
towelling  napkin,  a  flannel  square  over  that, 
and  lastly  a  nun's  veiling  nightdress  made  24 
ins.  long,  with  a  yoke,  and  plain  straight  sleeves 
dra«-n  in  at  the  wrist  with  narrow  ribbon.  His 
whole  wardrobe  consisted  of  3  vests,  6  flannel 
squaies,  4  binders,  6  gowns,  24  Turkish  nap- 
kins. The  first  merit  of  such  an  outfit  was  its 
small  cost,  the  second  the  small  amount  of 
time  spent  in  making,  the  binders  being  simply 
torn  and  left  with  raw  edges,  the  vests  are 
bought  ready  made,  the  najjkins  only  require 
ovt-ieasting,  the  flannel  squares  were  hemmed 
with  a  sewing  machine.  The  little  gowns  took 
the  longest,  for  they  had  fancy  stitching  on  the 
yokes  and  round  the  hem,  which  was  3  inches 
deep.  But  the  greatest  merit  of  such  a  ward- 
robe is  the  ease  with  which  it  can  be  washed, 
even  in  a  flat,  by  quite  an  amateur  laundress. 
The  ordinarj'  cotton  gowns  will  cost  for  \\ash- 
ing  from  3d.  to  Is.  6d.  each.  My  flat  baby  did 
not  cost  anything,  beyond  the  price  of  the  soap 
with  which  his  things  were  washed.  If  he  had 
worn  the  ordinary  embroidered  or  be-laced 
gowns  they  must  have  been  sent  to  a  laundry, 
as  they  never  look  nice  if  not  properly  washed, 
and  very  carefully  ironed.  Then  as  to  com- 
fort, my  flat  baby  was  as  good  as  a  baby  could 
be.  and  he  never  had  even  the  slightest  chill. 
He  was  from  his  earliest  days  a  great  kicker,  I 
feel  sure  the  ordinary  long  clothes  would  have 
worried  him,  and  prevented  him  from  taking 
the  amount  of  exercise  he  thought  necessary. 

When  he  attained  the  great  age  of  8  weeks, 
he  discarded  flannel  squares  and  wore  flannel 
petticoats,  and  woven  woollen  belts  took  the 
j)lace  of  the  flannel  binder.  Another  point  in 
favour  of  this  method  of  dressing  is  that  he  is 
still  wearing,  with  the  two  exceptions  above 
mentioned,  his  first  outfit,  although  he  is  now 
nearly  five  months  old,  and  nowadays  very  few 
babies  wear  fheir  first  clothes  for  more  than 
three  months,   many  not   even  so  long.       Of 


coui-se,  1  would  not  advise  this  manner  of  dress- 
ing for  a  rich  baby  for  laundresses  must  live 
and  so  must  the  makere  of  fine  baby  clothes. 

The  baby  may  not  be  so  comfortable  in  his 
fine  clothes,  but  he  can  get  a  little  satisfaction 
from  the  knowledge  that  he  or  rather  his  gar- 
ments are  much  admired  by  all  his  lady  friends 
and  relations.  True,  he  may  hear  the  mere 
male  person  make  rude  remarks  about  the 
length  of  his  clothes,  and  the  shortness  of  him- 
self, but  he  need  not  listen;  and  after  all  it  may 
only  be  envy  because  the  man  wears  such  ugly 
things. 

Zbc  1Rotun^a  Ibospital,  Dublin. 

PRESENTATION  TO   DR.  HASTINGS  TWEEDY. 

Miss  Ramsden,  the  Lady  Superintendent 
and  Nursing  Staff  of  the  Eotunda  Hospital, 
Dublin,  recently  entertained  at  tea  a  number 
of  guests  prior  to  a  presentation  of  plate  to 
Dr.  Hastings  Tweedy,  the  retiring  Master,  on 
behalf  of  many  past  and  present  nurses,  by  Dr. 
•James  Little.  They  were  received  by  Miss 
Eamsden  and  the  blaster. 

Jlr.  C.  L.  Matheson,  K.C.,  who  presided, 
paid  a  warm  tribute  to  Dr.  Tweedy 's  work  dur- 
ing his  seven  years'  tenure  of  office,  and  Dr. 
Little,  who  made  the  presentation,  said  he 
appeared  for  210  cUents,  some  of  whom  were 
spreading  the  reputation  of  the  hospital  in  dis- 
tant parts  of  India.  He  detailed  the  work 
done  by  Dr.  Tweedy,  and  on  behalf  of  the 
nurses  thanked  him  for  the  painstaking  in- 
struction he  had  given,  and  the  interest  he  had 
taken  in  their  being  well  and  comfortably 
housed.  He  had  also  pursued  a  most  rigorous 
system  of  antisepsis,  and  the  diseases  which 
has  formerly  attacked  nurees,  sometimes  in- 
volving permanent  ill-health,  were  now  alnaost 
a  thing  of  the  past.  Dr.  Tweedy  had  splen- 
didly and  worthily  performed  the  ofiice  of  Mas- 
ter of  the  Rotunda. 

Dr.  Little,  on  behalf  of  past  and  present 
members  of  the  nursing  staff,  then  presented 
Dr.  Tweedy  with  a  beautiful  silver  tray  of 
Celtic  design,  octagonal  in  shape,  aii  album 
containing  the  names  of  the  subscribers,  and 
a  watch  for  Mrs.  Tweedy. 

"  Th.\t  H.\TEn   Bo.ARD." 

Dr.  Tweedy,  who  was  loudly  cheered, 
warmly  thanked  the  donoi-s  on  Mrs.  Tweedy.'s 
behalf,  and  his  own.  He  also  detailed  the  im- 
provements made  by  the  Governors  during  his 
tenn  of  office.     In  conclusion.  Dr.  Tweedy  r<^- 


404 


^he  Brittsb  3ournal  ct  iRursino  Supplement.  [^' 


ov.  12,  1910 


feiTed  to  "  that  hated  Board,"  the  Central  IMid- 
wives'  Board  of  England.  Thanks  to  Mr. 
Matheson,  he  thought  the  time  was  coming 
when  they  would  be  able  to  shake  off  the  yoke 
of  the  Board. 

Sir  Wilham  Smyly  said  that  the  English  pro- 
moters of  the  Midwives'  Act  Amending  Bill 
would  not  have  Ireland  included  in  the  Act, 
but  said  they  would  allow  the  Rotunda  to  put 
its  midwives  on  their  Register  without  under- 
going the  examination. 

Mr.  Matheson,  who  said  that  he  had  always 
regarded  the  state  of  affairs  with  regard  to 
the  ^Midwives'  Act  as  a  shocking  injustice,  an- 
nounced that  the  Government  had  uudertaken 
to  pass  a  Bill  for  Ireland  next  year. 


ZY)C  IRational  association  of 
(TDibwives. 

The  National  Association  of  Midwives,  which  has 
its  headquarters  at  9,  Albert  Square,  Manchester, 
held  a  most  successful  meeting  in  the  Temperance 
Hall,  Temple  Street,  Birmingham,  on  Wednesday, 
26th  October.  There  was  a  crowded  attendance,  and 
at  the  close  a  large  riumber  joined. 

Mrs.  Lawson,  the  President  of  the  Association, 
addressed  the  meeting  on  the  new  Midwifery  Bill, 
and  pointed  ovit  the  need  of  the  midwife  to  be  up 
and  doing.  She  also  dealt  with  the  objectionable 
C'lau.se  (17)  from  the  midwives"  point  of  view,  and 
clearly  illustrated  how  the  said  clause  will  militate 
against  the  employment  of  the  midwife. 

Mrs.  Kddie  (a  member  of  the  Executive)  also 
spoke,  and  pointed  out  various  other  objectionable 
features  of  the  BUI,  Clause  7  being  one ;  and 
although  there  are  embodied  in  the  Bill  some  recom- 
mendations which  the  National  Associati(m  for- 
warded to  the  Departmental  Committee,  yet  they 
are  not  made  compulsory.  Tlierefore  the  evil  in  the 
Kill  far  outweighs  the  good.  Various  other  business 
was  discu.ssed,  and  at  the  close  it  was  resolved  to 
hold  another  meeting  at  an  early  date. 


The  Ashton  and  Di.strict  Branch  of  the  above 
Association  held  a  tea  party  and  social  gathering  in 
the  Masonic  Hall,  Church  Street,  Asliton-under- 
Lyne,  on  Tuesday,  October  '2.")tli.  There  was  a  good 
attendance,  over  90  sitting  down  to  tea.  But  the 
feature  of  the  evening  was  the  zest  with  which  the 
members  of  this  branch  entered  into  the  dancing, 
showing  tliat  those  in  this  district  know  how  to  enjoy 
tbemselves  when  off  duty.  Songs  were  rendered  by 
Niuses  Lawton,  Hromley,  Christian,  Britner, 
Powell,  and  Mrs.  Hickey.  A  lively  .sketch  in  the 
Lancashire  dialect,  entitled  the  Lancashire  Lasses, 
was  given  by  the  Misses  Chorlton,  Clark,  (Jnddard, 
and  Hilton.  The  President  of  the  A.ssociation  .spoke 
a.few  words  of  congr.atulation,  and  hoped  the  Branch 
would  go  on  growing  as  it  has  done  this  last  year, 
and  that  we  might  have  many  an  enjoj'able  evening 
together.  After  a  most  successful  and  enjoyable 
evening  the  members  dispersed  witli  the  audible  -.v  ish 
that  we  should  have  another  as  happy  before  long. 


The  Social  Committee  were  Mrs.  Britner,  Mrs. 
Nuttall,  and  Mrs.  Dunkerley. 

E.  GrcROY,  Secretary. 

Ebe  Babe's  Bottle. 

THE  AGRIPPA  TEAT  AND  VALVE. 

When  a  liaby  has  for  any  reason  to  be  put  upon 
the  Ijottle  every  luu'se  and  midwife  knows  that  its 
perils  are  greatly  increased  thereby.  First,  because 
no  food  can  ever  take  the  place  of  the  child's 
natural  birthright,  secondly  because  of  the  difficulty 
of  obtaining  a  milk  supply  the  purity  of  which  is 
beyond  question,  and  thirdly,  because  of  the  danger 
arising  from  the  use  of  unsuitable  bottles,  and 
of  malformation  of  the  mouth  from  the  infant's 
efforts  to  secure  sufficient  nutriment  through 
an  unsuitable  teat,  and  also  becautic  most  rubber 
teats  will  not  bear  boiling,  and  therefore  .sterilisa- 
tion cannot  be  assured  with  certainty,  however 
scru|5ulous  the  nurse  may  be.  Further,  the  effect 
of  strong  suction  on  the  part  of  the  infant,  com- 
l)in(Hl  with  the  slackness  resulting  from  the  con- 
ritant  removal  and  replacement  of  the  nipple,  may 
be  that  the  teat  is  detached  from  the  bottle  when 
the  contents  may  be  spilled  over  the  infant. 

All  these  points  have  been  appreciated  by  Mes.srs. 
.1.  G.  Ingram  and  .Sons,  the  London  Indiarubber 
Works,  Hackney  Wick,  N.E.,  wlio  have  directed 
their  attention  to  devising  a  Band  Teat  and  Valve, 


Nkw  Style.  Old  Style. 

known  as  "  Ingram's  •  Agrippa  '  Band  Teat  and 
Valve,''  wliich  shall  be  absolutely  secure  fittings, 
and  wbicli  can  be  applied  to  «ny  make  of  feeding 
liottle;  pains  have  moreover  been  taken  to  ensure 
that  the  teat,  so  far  as  feeding  facilities  are  con- 
cerned, shall  approximate  as  closely  to  nature  as 
possilile. 

The  points  to  be  noted  about  the  '  Agrippa  '  are 
that  it  has  a  deep  rubber  band  which  tits  round  the 
top  of  the  feeding  bottle,  which  is  fitted  with  a 
casing  subjected  to  a  new  process  which  makes  it 
extremely  tough  and  rigid,  and  which  grips  .so- 
ciuely.  .\t  the  liase  of  the  teat  is  a  flat  eu.shion  of 
rubber  which  comes  close  tip  to  the  mouth  of  the  baby 
like  the  natural  breast.  Tlie  teat  can  be  repeatedly 
boiled  without  injury.  Si)ecial  attention  has  also 
been  jiaid  to  the  nUH'hanism  of  the  valve,  so  that  it 
may  reiiulate  the  How  of  food  to  porfoction. 

For  these  reasons  nurses  and  mothers  riHiuiring 
a  feeding  Ijottle  should  make  a  point  of  trying  one 
which  is  litted  with  the  ''  -Vgrippa  "  Band  Teat  and 
Valve. 


No.   1,181. 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 
EDITED  BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


SATURDAY,     NOVEMBER     19,     1910. 


lEMtonal. 


THE    CARE    OF    PRISONERS. 

The  need  of  trained  nurses  in  prisons,  and 
of  home   special   instruction    for    warders 
and  wardresses  in  the  care  of  the  mentally 
afflicted    and    feeble-minded,    is    apparent 
from  the  Report  of  the   Commissioners  of 
Prisons  and  the  Directors  of  Convict  Prisons, 
for  the  year  ending  ^March  olst,  1!)10,  re- 
cently issued  as  a  Blue  Rook,  from  which 
we  learn  that  the  number  of  prisoners  certi- 
fied insane  in  local  prisons  last  year  was 
118 — 106  men  and  12  women.     The  ratio 
of  prisoners  found  to  be  insane  on  recep- 
tion to  the  total  number  certified,  is  fairly 
stationary.     Two  points  are  evident  in  this 
Report :  (1)  the  need  for  a  better  system  of 
investigation  of   the   mental    condition  of 
accused  persons,  in  order  to  minimise  the 
danger  and  scandal  of  sending  persons  who 
are  certifiably  insane  to  prison  ;  and  i2)  the 
need  for  the  education  of  prison  ollicials  in 
the  symptoms  of  incipient  and  aclual  in- 
sanity,  in    order   that   prisoners   sutt'ering 
from  mental  derangement  may  not  be  re- 
garded   as    refractory    and    punished    for 
insubordination.     The    Medical    Inspector 
points  out  that  even  with  existing  machi- 
nery  much   more  might  be   done,    if   the 
practice  were  extended  which  is   increas- 
ingly   adopted    in    the    larger   centres,    of 
remanding  prisoners  for  tlie  expert  exami- 
nation of  the  prison  medical  officer. 

In  the  Metropolis,  during  the  period  under 
consideraftion,  the  mental  condition  of  nearly 
IKtd  accused  persons  was  medically  investi- 
gated, and  a  considerable  proportion  of 
these  were  found  to  l)e  certifiably  insane. 
Further,  all  prisoners  committed  to  Brixton 
and  lloUo^jvay  prisons,  for  trial  at  assizes 
and  quarter  sessions,  are  specially  examined 
with  regard  to  their  mental  condition,  and 


evidence  thereon  is  furnished  to  the  courts. 
As  a  result,  the  proportion  of  cases  in  metro- 
politan prisons  in  which  insanity  is  not 
recognised  until  after  the  prisoner  has  been 
sentenced  is  far  below  the  average  for  the 
coxmtry  at  large. 

Thus  Hollowaj-  is  only  responsible  for 
1.3  per  cent,  of  the  cases  of  insanity  recog- 
nised after  conviction.  But  over  60  per 
cent,  of  the  women  on  remand  who  were 
reported  as  insane  to  courts  of  summary 
jurisdiction  were  so  recognised  at  Hollo- 
way. 

Besides  the  acutely  insane,  the  prison 
population  includes  a  proportion  of  feeble- 
minded, and,  during  the  year  reported  on 
in  the  Bhie  Book  now  under  disciission, 
322  convicted  prisoners  were  dealt  with 
under  the  modified  rules  for  prisoners  so 
feeble-minded  as  to  be  unfit  for  ordinary 
penal  discipline.  It  is  hopeful  sign  that 
the  Commissioners  announce  that,  in  com- 
pliance with  the  desire  of  the  Secretary  of 
State,  they  have  submitted  definite  pro- 
jjosals  for  dealing  with  the  feeble-minded 
offender,  and  ihey  propose  that  the  Home 
Secretary  should  be  legally  empowered  to 
transfer  mentally  defective  prisoners  to 
special  institutions,  on  medical  certificate 
that  they  are  unable  to  take  ordinary  care 
of  themselves,  and  are  likely  to  revert  to 
crime  on  their  discharge  unless  special 
means  are  taken  for  their  supervision. 

Xo  one  who  has  visited  one  of  our  great 
metropolitan  prisons,  with  eyes  trained  to 
see,  can  fail  to  realise  that  the  proljlem  of 
the  criminal  classes  is  one  which  must  be 
solved  by  the  medical  as  well  as  the  legal 
profession.  Written  large  on  many  of  ^th'e 
faces  is  a  history  of  mental  instability,  of 
feeble-mindedness,  of  disease,  of  chronic 
alcoholism,  demanding  rg_straint  and  treat- 
ment under  medical  super\'tsion  and  nursing 


406 


tlbe  Britisb  Journal  ot  IRurslng. 


[Nov.  19,  1910 


care,  rather  than  under  tlie  strict  prison 
discipline.  Were  carefullj-selected  trained 
nurses,  who  have  passed  through  a  special 
training  to  fit  them  for  this  important  work, 
appointed  to  positions  of  responsibility  in 
our  prisons  and  kindred  institutions,  they 
would  be  able  to  render  most  important 
public  service,  and  to  bring  some  hope  into 
the  lives  of  a  most  hopeless  section  of  the 
community. 

fIDcMcal  flDattcrs. 


ACROMEGALY. 

Professor  Ai-thur  Keith  lectured  last  week  at 
the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons  on  a  disease 
known  as  acromegaly,  when  he  said  that  those 
who  are  the, subjects  of  this  disease  find  that 
their  hands  and  feet  increase  slowly  in  size. 
The  face  also  grows,  especially  the  lower  parts, 
and  the  ridges  over  the  eyes  become  more  pro- 
minent. The  necessity  for  larger  sizes  in 
boots,  gloves,  hats  and  collars  may  draw  the 
patient's  attention  to  these  changes,  but  the 
enlargements  usually  occur  so  gradually  that 
the  subject  is  unconscious  of  them.  Attention 
was  first  drawn  to  the  disease  in  1886  by  Dr. 
Pierre  Marie,  a  well  known  French  physician, 
and  there  are  probably  50  subjects  or  more  of 
this  disease  in  Ijondon  at  the  present  time. 
The  prototype  of  Punch  is,  said  the  Professor, 
supposed  by  some  to  have  been  subject  to  this 
disease ;  the  diagnosis,  however,  is  evidently 
wrong,  for,  altliough  the  ample  nose,  the 
massive  lower  jaw,  projecting  chin,  and 
dorsal  hump  bear  some  resemblance 
to  symptoms  of  the  real  disease,  yet 
the  lively  humour,  small  hands,  thin 
iips,  and  well-fitting  teeth  are  against  the 
theoi-j-.  Enlargement  of  the  pituitary  body,  a 
small  gland  at  the  base  of  the  brain,  supposed 
l)y  the  ancients  to  be  the  seat  of  the  soul,  and 
by  many  modern  persons  as  .a  functionless 
structure,  is  characteristic  of  acromegaly. 
Recentij',  its  form,  use,  and  diseases  have 
been  the  subjects  of  many  inquiries,  and  it  is 
l>ecoming  evident  that  its  secretion  is  closely 
concerned  in  regulating  and  co-ordinating  the 
growth  of  various  parts  of  the  body.  It  is  be- 
lieved that  further  study  of  the  effects  pro- 
duced by  over-growths  of  this  gland  will  pro- 
vide a  key  to  many  of  the  factors  which  deter- 
mine-the  pliysical  confonnation  of  the  body, 
and  lead  to  the  establishment  of  physical  an- 
ihro])ology  on  a  scientific  basis. 

We  are  luamiug  to  disci'edit  the  assump- 
tion that  any  organ  of  the  body  is  functionless. 
Usually  onr  own  knowledge  is  at  fault. 


Surflical  IRureino  ©utsibe  of 
Ibospitals. 

By  Mr.  John  D.  Dowden,  F.E.C.S.E. 

Mr.  John  D.  Dowden,  F.E.C.S.E.,  lec- 
tured to  trained  nurses  in  the  Royal  Infirmary, 
Edinburgh,  on  Wednesday,  November  9th, 
taking  for  his  subject  "  Surgical  Nursing  Out- 
side of  Hospitals." 

In  opening  his  lecture,  Mr.  Dowden  said  he 
had  drawn  up  a  scheme  to  assist  nurses  at 
private  operations.  (1)  Before  and  (2)  after 
operation. 

He  instanced  preparation  for  a  major  opera- 
tion— carcinoma  of  mammae. 

Preliminary  Preparations. 
In  Relation  to  the  Patient. — General. — Tem- 
perature to  be  taken  four  hourly  and  charted. 
The  importance  of  this  is  that  the  sui-geon  can 
then  compare  the  temperature  before  and  after 
the  operation. 

Alimentary  System. — Teeth  to  be  thoroughly 
cleansed.  The  nurse  to  inquire  of  surgeon 
what  diet  and  laxative  he  desires  given ;  also 
as  to  the  administration  of  an  enema,  etc. 

Circulatory  System. — Pulse  to  be  taken 
every  four  hours. 

Genito-urinary  System. — Urine  to  be 
measured,  the  amount  passed  in  24  houi^s  to  be 
recorded,  a  sample  to  be  put  in  an  absolutely 
clean  bottle,  labelled  with  name  and  addi'ess 
of  patient,  then  sent  to  surgeon. 

Integumentary  System. — P.atient  to  have 
a  bath  and  warm  clothing,  clean. 

Nervous  System. — If  the  patient  is  very  ner- 
vous, the  surgeon  will  probably  order  bromide- 
or  rnoi-phia;  if  the  latter,  j\lr.  Dowden  re- 
marked, the  patient  must  not  know,  as  fre- 
quently morphia  given  with  the  knowledge  of 
patients  has  caused  them  to  contract  the  mor- 
phia habit   subsequently. 

Respiratory  System. — Respirations  to  be 
taken  and  recorded  every  four  hours;  room  to 
be  well  ventilated. 

Local  Preparation. — Area  to  be  cleansed,  the 
whole  of  chest  down  to  umbilicus,  under  both 
amis,  the  neck,  shoulders,  and  down  to  lower 
part  of  back;  method,  washing  with  Lysol, 
spirits  of  soap;  use  a  hberal  supply  of  swabs  of 
gauze,  throwing  the  soiled  ones  away;  shave; 
when  tiie  prescribed  area  is  thoroughly  cleansed 
cover  with  dry  sterile  towels  kept  in  place  with 
domette  bandages. 

The  Operation  Room. — When  the  surgeon  has 
selected  tiio  operation  room,  remove  the  carpet 
and  all  furniture  and  pictmos  possible.  If  the 
room  is  dark,  hang  up  white  sheets,  a  clothes 
iiorse  can  be  covered  with  white  sheets,  and 
will  answer  two  purposes — to  help  to  give  light 


Nov.  19, 1910]        triv  5.5ritisb  3ournal  of  UAitrsina 


407 


and  to  screen  off  the  bed  for  patient ;  the  oper- 
ation table  to  be  covered  with  blankets :  sheets 
or  newRpajicrs  to  be  spread  on  floor;  foot-st<x>is 
should  be  provided  to  help  the  patient  to  get  on 
to  the  talde  :  a  tray  for  soiled  di'essinss  must 
be  provided. 

For  the  Use  of  the  Surgeon  and  Assistant.^ 
Three  basins  should  he  i>ro\ided  on  wooden 
chairs,  two  pails  for  water,  table  for  instni- 
ments,  covered  with  clean  cloths,  two  or  more 
basins  or  deep  bowls  for  lotion.  Prepare 
boiled  wat^er  to  cool  for  operation. 

Saline. — Prepare  .two  or  more  clean  quart 
bottles.  .\dd  1  table-spoonful  of  salt  to  a  quart 
of  sterile  water  and  label  "  Saline  double 
strength." 

Lotions. — The  surgeon  will  say  which  of  the 
following  articles  he  requires: — Carbolic,  cor- 
rosive sublimate,  lysol,  spirits  of  soap,  spirits 
of  iodine,  wool,  bandages,  pins,  nail  brushes, 
sterilised  towels,  wet  or  dry,  gauze  (boil  for 
half  an  horn-). 

For  the  Use  of  the  Anaesthetist. — There  should 
be  at  hand :  Chloroform,  ether,  bicarbonate 
of  potash,  chair  for  i)ersonal  use,  table  for  ac- 
cessories, bowl  (in  case  patient  vomits),  towel, 
tablespoon,  sterile  water,  handkerchief. 
TiCE  Day  of  OrEUAxioN. 

In  Relation  to  the  Patient. — Teeth  and  mouth 
to  be  thoroughly  cleansed.  Soup,  given  if  or- 
dered by  surgeon,  or  nutrient  enema.  See  that 
bladder  is  empty.  Plait  hair  (if  the  patient 
is  a  woman) :  see  that  the  operation  area  is 
protected;  put  on  warm  clothing,  including  a 
flannel  jacket  fastened  behind,  warm  stockinirs 
put  on  early.  A  nurse  should  accompan* 
the  patient  to  the  operating  table,  and  stay 
till  patient  is  under  the  anjesthetic. 

In  the  Operation  Room. — There  shoiild  be  a  fire 
in  the  room,  which  should  be  provided  with  a 
large  saucepan  of  boiling  v>'ater,  a  kettle  of  boil- 
ing water,  two  jugs  of  hot  boiled  water.  The 
windows  should  be  thoroughly  soaped  to  ren- 
der the  room  private. 

For  the  Surgeon  and  Assistant. — Instruments 
shouhl  be  rolled  iu  a  towel,  and  boiled  for  half 
an  hour,  knives  must  not  be  boiled,  sterile 
gauze  soaked  in  lysol  should  be  wrapped  round 
blades  anrl  handles. 

For  the  Anxsthetist. — The  nurse  should  as- 
certain and  mention  whether  the  patient  wears 
false  teeth  or  not:  the  condition  of  the  pulse; 
and  if  the  ))atient  has  had  hypodennic  injection 
of  ni(irphi;i. 

The  Operation. — At  the  time  of  operation  re- 
move handi^ges;  arrange  mackintoshes;  pro- 
vide bowls  of  water  for  cleansing,  and  spirit 
and  iodine,  if  required  by  surgeon. 

The  Nurse  at  Operations. — The  nurse  mu>t 


wear  rubber  gloves ;  she  should  first  wash  her 
hands  thoroughly,  then  dip  them  in  a  saucer 
containing  glycerine,  and  draw  on  the  gloves. 
If  required  to  get  anything  not  immediately  in 
contact  with  the  <i])eration,  she  should  remove 
the  gloves;  she  should  cover  her  nose  and 
mouth  with  a  piece  of  gauze,  and  her  arms 
should  be  bare. 

.l/7r/-  Oprration. — The  bed  must  be  warmed, 
but  hot  bottles  should  be  removed  before  the 
patient's  return  to  bed.  Mr.  Dowden  spoke 
strongly  on  this  point,  so  many  serious  and 
fatal  accidents  were,  he  said,  caused  by  the 
use  of  hot  bottles.  Wami  blankets  are 
useful.  Shock  may  be  combatted  by  con- 
tinuous saline    injections. 

Local  Hemorrhage. — The  lecturer  said  that 
nurses  should  always  inspect  the  seat  of  in- 
jury, and  not  be  content  to  fee!  for  haemor- 
rhage ;  in  case  of  heemorrhage  the  blood  should 
be  driven  from  the  extremities  and  abdomen 
(where  it  collects  in  large  quantities)  to  the 
heart'. 

General  Points. — If  the  nurse  were  ques- 
tioned by  the  patient  as  to  the  operation,  the 
lecturer  suggested  she  should  advise  the 
patient  to  speak  to  the  surgeon ;  the  chart 
should  not  be  put  where  the  patient  can  see  it ; 
any  rise  of  temperature  should  be  notified  to 
the   surgeon  before   he  sees  his  patient. 

Dr.  Dowden  gave  practical  demonstrations 
of  improvising  necessaries  out  of  simple  avail- 
able materials.  His  lecture  was  greatly  ap- 
preciated. 

Z\K  35la  Stewart  Scbolar. 

Miss  M.  S.  Eundle,  the  '•  Isla  Stewart 
Scholar  "  at  Teachers'  College,  Ck)lumbia 
University,  New  York,  has  received  the  un- 
expected honour  of  the  award  of  a  scholarship 
of  100  dollare.  The  news  that  this  had  been 
conferred  upon  her  was  communicated  to  ]\liss 
Eundle  by  the  Dean  of  the  College.  It  is  part 
of  a  scholarship  of  250  dollars  endowed  by 
Mrs.  Helen  Hartley  -Tenkins  for  the  coming 
year,  in  memory  of  j\Ii-s.  Hampton  Eobb,  and 
has  been  divided  between  an  American  student 
and  Miss  Eundle.  It  is  an  honour  indeed  to 
hold  scholarships  endowed  in  memory  of  our 
two  noble  and  revered  leaders  on  both  sides 
of  the  Atlantic. 


THE  ISLA  STEWART  ORATION 

Miss  Cox-Davies.  the  President  of  the  League 
of  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital  Nurses,  and  one 
of  Miss  Stewart's  most  distinguished  pupils, 
has  consented  to  deliver  the  first  Oration  on 
March  6th.  1911,  if  possible** 


lOs 


^be  ibritisb  3oiu-nal  of  IHursino. 


Xf 


19.  1910 


^be  IHational  Council  of  IHurscs 
of  C5i"cat  Britain  an&  3rcIanD. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  above  Council  was 
held  on  Friday,  November  4th,  at  431,  Oxford 
Street,  at  4  p.m. 

The  President,  Mrs.  Bedford  Fen  wick,  upon 
taking  the  chair,  read  a  letter  of  regret  from 
!Miss  Cutler,  the  Hon.  Secretary,  expressing 
regret  at  not  being  able  to  be  present  owing  to 
hospital  duty.  Miss  M.  Breay  then  read  the 
minutes,  which  were  confirmed. 

Rising,  the  President  said :  ' '  Before  re- 
porting on  the  work  which  was  re- 
ferred to  the  Council  by  Eesolu- 
tions  passed  at  the  International  Con- 
gress of  Nurses  in  1909,  I  desire  to  express  our 
sense  of  the  iiTeparable  loss  which  has  been  sus- 
tained by  the  nurses  of  the  world  by  the  deaths 
of  -Misslsla  Stewart,  ■Mrs.  Hampton  Eobb,  and 
Miss  Florence  Nightingale,  and  I  would  ask  you 
to  signify  our  sorrow  hy  a  rising  and  silent 
vote ! 

'  ■  I  hope  that  this  Council  will  help  to  i^er- 
petuate  the  memory  of  Miss  Isla  Stewart  by 
some  special  form  of  commemoration  entirely 
its  own." 

Those  present  then  rose,  and,  having  re- 
sumed their  seats,  the  following  Eeport  was 
presented  :  — 

The  President's  Eeport. 

1. 

Intkrnational   Standabd   of   Nursing   EdtjCATIOX. 

lu  accordance  with  a  Besolution  passed  at  the 
International  Congress  of  Nurses,  an  International 
Committee  for  the  Organisation  of  an  International 
Standard  of  Nursing  Education  was  founded,  of 
■which  the  late  Jlrs.  Hampton  Robb  was  appointed 
Chairman  and  Miss  .T.  C.  van  Lanschot-Hubrecht 
Hon.  Secretary.  Miss  van  Lanschot-Hubrecht  has 
forwarded  a  memorandum  in  regard  to  preliminary 
education  for  nurses,  concerning  which  information 
is  sought  by  this  Committee,  tlu'ougli  the  various 
National  Councils,  whicli  will  be  submitted  for  your 
coii'^ideration  at  a  later  stage.  . 
II. 
Mentai,  Nursing. 

It  wa.s  propo.sed  that,  in  view  of  the  introduction 
of  a  Nurses'  Registration  Bill  into  the  House  of 
Commons,  those  responsible  for  the  education  and 
examination  of  mental  nurses  should  convene  a 
conference  on  mental  nursing  in  London.  Thi.s,  .so 
far.  has  not  been  done. 

HI. 
Morality  a.nd  Public  Health. 

The  third  Resohition  advised  that  in  every 
country  there  slionld  be  a  Standing  Committee  on 
Public  Health.  Tlie  Hon.  Albinia  Urodrick  early  in 
the  year  ac<'epted  the  ihairman.ship  of  a  propo.se(l 
Committee  to  deal  with  tlie  question  of  inornlity  and 
public  liealtli.  but  finds  it  impo.s';ible  to  carrv  on 
the   duti.-    ..f    this    ..frir-,-    in    i  fni  junction    witli'   h,.|- 


hospital  work  in  the  West  of  Ireland.  Great  in- 
terest, however,  has  been  aroused  in  this  important 
question.  Miss  Brodrick's  paper  on  '  Morality  in 
Relation  to  Health,"  read  at  the  International  Con- 
gress of  Nurses  last  year,  has  been  reprinted  in 
pamphlet  form,  and  Miss  L.  L.  Dock  has  published 
a  book,  "Hygiene  and  MoraUty,"  admirably 
adapted  for  the  use  of  nurses  and  others  interested 
in  this  ((Uestion,  which  vitally  affects  the  health  of 
the  nation.  An  admirable  paper  appeared  in  the 
British  Journal  of  Nursing  of  September  3rd, 
1910,  on  '■  Nurses  as  Health  Missioners,"  by  Miss 
M.  Burr,  and  Miss  E.  L.  C.  Eden,  Central  Organiser 
of  the  Nurses'  Social  Fnion^  has  also  published  a 
pamphlet  entitled  "  Suggestions  for  Nurses  on  some 
Special  Points  in  connection  with  floral  and  Physi- 
cal Health/'  i  '"''h  is  being  eagerly  bought  at  home 
and  ir.  the  Unitfa  States.  The  question  has  also 
be' 11  brought  before  the  National  ITnion  of  AVomen 
Workers  through  us  Rescue  Committee,  with  the 
result  that  a  private  conference  on  "  Hygiene  in 
Relation  to  Rescue  Work"  is  to  be  held  at  Caxton 
Hall  on  November  24th,  for  which  tickets  can  be 
obtained  by  trained  nurses. 

Tlie  widespread  prevalence  of  gonnorhoeal  vagini- 
tis among  young  children  recently  revealed  in  con- 
nection with  the  infection  of  children  at  a  Hospital 
for  Sick  Children  shows  that  this  disease  is  a 
menace  to  the  national  health,  and  that  measures  to 
combat  it  are  an  urgent  necessity. 
IV. 
Nursing  in  Prisons. 

In  connection  with  the  Prison  Nursing  Standing 
Committee,  I  have  been  in  communication  with 
several  ladies  on  the  subject  of  prison  nursing.  The 
Penal  Reform  League  has  as  its  lifth  object  "  Action 
for  the  better  selection  and  training  of  staff  and 
general  raising  of  their  status  and  ideals."  It  might 
be  advisable  to  ask  this  League  to  co-operate  with 
this  Council  to  carry  into  effect  our  suggestion  that 
prison  officials  should  receive  systematic  instruction 
in  the  elements  of  general  and  personal  hygiene  and 
in  the  underlying  principles  of  physical  and  psychi- 
cal nursing,  and  that  the  position  of  Matron  in  His 
Maje.sty's  prisons  should  be  held  by  a  certificated 
nurse. 

Recent  legislation  has  indicated  a  desire  on  the 
part  of  the  Government  to  ameliorate  the  condi- 
tion of  ]>risoners.  In  this  connection  the  Penal 
Reform  League  will  hold  its  annual  meeting  on  No- 
vember 29th  at  Caxton  Hull,  at  8  p.m.,  when 
Ca])tain  Arthur  .1.  St.  John,  the  Hon.  Secretary, 
who  recently  attended  the  International  Prison  Con- 
gress at  Washington  to  stii(\v  American  methods, 
preventive  and  reformative,  will  give  an  account  of 
his  impressions.  As  this  meeting  is  open  to  visitor 
those  interested  can  be  ]iresent. 
V. 

FoiiMATui.N  OF  .Vf.w  I,kagvi:s  and  Associ.vtions. 

Since  the  last  meeting  of  the  Council  three 
Leagues  of  Nurses  have  been  formed— one  upon  the 
initiative  of  Miss  Cox-Davies,  Matron  of  the  Royal 
Free  Hospital,  for  Royal  Free  nurses;  one  by  Miss 
Elma  Smith,  Matron  of  the  Hendon  Branch  of  the 
Central    London    f^ick    Asvlum  ;    and    one    bv    .Mi.ss 


Nov.  1'.),  lOKV 


^bc  Brittsb  3ournal  of  HAurslno. 


409 


Leigh,  Matron  of  the  Cleveland  St.  Branch  of  the 
Central  London  Sick  Asylum. 

In  Scotland  two  Associations  have  been  formed, 
membership  of  which  is  open  to  registered  medical 
practitioners  and  nurses,  and  an  Association  of  Hos- 
pital Matrons,  entitled  the  Scottish  Matrons'  Asso- 
ciation, has  also  been  organised. 

I   am    pleased    to   report   that   the   two   Leagues 

in  connection  with  the  Central  London  Sick  Asylum 

are  to-day  applying  for  affiliation  with  our  Council. 

VI. 

The  Interx.\tio.nai.  Coincil  of  Nurses. 

Our  relations  with  the  International  Council  of 
Nurses  continue  to  be  mo.st  corclial,  and  next  year 
we  shall  again  come  into  active  communication  with 
the  nurses  of  the  world  in  helping  the  President, 
Sister  Agnes  Karll,  with  the  preliminary  organisa- 
tion of  the  coming  triennial  meeting  to  be  held  at 
Cologne  in  1912,  when  it  is  to  be  hoped  our  Coun- 
cil will  take  as  active  a  part  in  Germany  as  the 
German  Nurses'  Association  took  in  London  in  1909. 
It  is  satisfactory  to  learn  that  the  organised  Nurses' 
Associations  in  several  covintries  have  already  noti- 
fied their  desire  to  enter  and  affiliate  with  the  Inter- 
national Council  of  Nurses. 
VII. 
Ax  Inter N-\TioNAL  Nfrsing  Libr.\ry. 

One  of  the  most  important  pieces  of  work  which 
has  been  undertaken  bv  this  Council  is  the  forma- 
tion of  an  Tntern.Ttionnl  Nursing  Library  to  provide 
for  future  generations  of  nurses  a  complete  record 
of  the  evolution  of  nursing  in  the  various  countries. 
Tliis  work  is  in  the  hands  of  Mrs.  Stabb.  as  Chair- 
man of  the  Librarv  Standing  Committee,  and  I  am 
pleased  to  report  that  we  are  receiving  copies  of  a 
large  number  of  professional  nursing  journals. 

Miss  M.  M.  Cureton  has  presented  a  complete  file 
to  date  of  the  British  .Totrnal  of  Nursing,  44 
rolumes,  and  your  President  a  complete  file  of  the 
Amcrlcnn  .Tmnnol  of  Kvrsinrj.  which  she  intends 
to  have  bound,  also  a  complete  file  of  bound  copies 
of  the  oflicial  organ  of  the  Royal  British  Nurses' 
Association,  the  yur.^rs'  Jntirnal,  20  volumes. 
Personally,  I  consider  this  the  most  important  piece 
of  work  which  the  Council  has  undertaken. 
VIII. 
The  Work  of  the  Council. 

The  work  of  the  Council  during  the  past  year  has 
not  been  so  active  as  we  might  have  desired,  but 
all  forceful  movements  take  long  to  gain  public  con- 
fidence and  support,  and  the  nunses  of  the  United 
Kingdom  have  ranged  against  their  justifiable  right 
of  association  strong  and  rich  vested  interests, 
which  have  exercised  the  reactionary  pressure  which 
can  alwavs  be  brought  to  bear  upon  the  economic 
condition  of  a  class  of  woman  workers. 

But,  when  as.sociated  with  courage  and  loyalty 
to  professional  ideals,  the  law  of  evolution  grinds 
all  petty  tyrannies  beneath  its  progressive  wheel, 
and  it  is  our  duty  to  ensure  that  it  grinds  exceed- 
ingly small. 

Ethel  G.  Fenwick. 

The  adoption  of  the  report  was  proposed  by 
Miss  Cox-Dflvies,  and  seconded  by  Miss  Mus- 
son.    The  report  was  then  discussed. 


The  President  pro])osed  that  the  Council 
should  institute  in  memorj'  of  their  dear  friend, 
Miss  Isla  Stewart,  a  yearly  I.,ecture  or  Oration 
dedicated  to  the  work  to  which  she  devoted  her 
life  and  splendid  talents. 

This  proposal  was  most  warmly  received,  and 
was  Seconded  by  Miss  Cox-Davies,  and  sup- 
ported by  Miss  Mussou,  Mrs.  Andrews,  Miss 
Kingsford,  Miss  Forrest,  and  othere,  and,  hav- 
ing been  unanimously  agreed  to  by  the  meeting, 
it  was  also  arranged  that  an  honorarium  of  £5 
should  be  paid  to  the  Lecturer  to  cover  ex- 
penses. 

Miss  Cox-Davies  further  proposed,  and  it 
was  agreed,  that  the  Isla  Stewart  Oration 
should  be  endowed,  so  that  its  continuance 
should  be  secured.  It  was  decided  that  the 
Oration  should  be  delivered  annually  on  the 
anniversary  of  her  lamented  death,  if  possible. 

It  was  agreed  that  consideration'of  the  com- 
munication from  Miss  van  Lanschot  Hubrecht 
should  be  deferred  so  that  the  information  de- 
sired should  be  as  up-to-date  as  possib',?  for 
the  triennial  meeting  in  1912. 

HVGIKNF.   .-iND    M0R.\LITY. 

An  interesting  discussion  took  place  on  this 
topic,  and  it  was  agreed  that  a  short  course  of 
lectures  should  be  arranged  for  nurses  on  "  The 
Nursing  of  Venereal  Diseases,"  to  be  held  in 
London  during  the  winter,  the  an-angements  to 
be  left  to  the  President  and  Miss  Cox-Davies. 
Nursing  in  Prisons. 

It  was  agreedthat  the  President  should  com- 
municate with  Mrs.  St.  .John,  R.E.C.,  of  the 
Penal  Refonn  League,  who  had  expressed  sym- 
pathy with  the  suggestions  of  the  Council  on 
prison  nursing  reform  with  a  view  to  co-opera- 
tion. 

FiN.\Nci.\L  Report. 

Miss  Forrest,  Hon.  Treasurer,  presented  the 
Financial  Report,  which  showed  a  balance  in 
hand  of  £22  4s..  3d. 

The  Reports  were  then  adopted. 

Election  of  Hon.  Officers. 

Miss  Beatrice  Cutler  and  Miss  Forrest  were 
unanimously  re-elected  Hon.  Secretary  and 
Hon.  Treasurer  respectively. 

Mrs.  Kildare  Treacy,  a  retiring  Director,  was 
elected  Vice-President,  and  l\Iiss  Kelly,  Lady 
Superintendent,  Dr.  Steevens'  Hospital,  Dub- 
lin, and  Miss  Cox-Davies,  Matron,  Royal  Free 
Hospital,  were  elected  Directors  in  th*  places 
of  ^Ii"?.  Kildare  Treacy  and  Miss  Todd. 

AprLIC.\TIONS  FOR  AFFILIATION. 

The  Central  London  Sick  Asylum  Nurse.?-' 
League,  Hendon  Branch,  membership  f)l ; 
President,  Miss  Elm  a  Smith:  and  the  Central 
London  Sick  Asylum  Niu-ses'  League,  Cleve- 
land   Street   Branch,   mem^jfrship   59,   Presi- 


410 


Zbc  Britisb  3ournal  ot  iHursfna.        1^°^-  iQ,  i9io 


dent,  iliss  Leigh,  applied  for  affiliatiou.     Both 
Leagues  were  elected  to  membership. 

The  President  welcomed  Miss  Leigh,  who 
was  present,  ajid  hoped  both  she  and  Miss 
Elnia  Smith  would  take  their  rx-officio  scats  on 
the  Grand  Council,  and  that  each  League  would 
nominate  t*o  delegates  to  serve  upou  it  at  their 
next  meeting. 

The  Nightixgale  Memorial. 

A  discussion  took  place  on  the  proposed 
riuiiional  to  the  late  Miss  Florence  Nightingale, 
and  a  resolution  was  unanimously  adopted' 
which  it  was  agreed  the  Presidents" of  the  six- 
teen affiliated  societies  of  nurses  should  be  in- 
%ited  to  sign,  and  that  it  should  be  submitted  to 
those  responsible  for  the  choice  of  a  memorial. 
TuE  Eegistration  Reunion. 

The  President  brought  before  the  meeting  the 
pro))osal  to  hold  a  Eeuniou  in  London  on  the 
2ud  of  Febj.;uary  next,  in  support  of  the  Nurses' 
Registration  Bill,  and  that  the  reasons  why 
nui-ses  desired  legislation  should  be  presented 
in  spectacular  form.  She  suggested  how  this 
could  be  carried  out. in  an  extremely  interest- 
ing manner.  The  suggestion  received  the 
hearty  approval  of  those  present,  and  Miss  Cox- 
Davies  moved  that  the  constituent  societies 
do  all  in  their  power  to  make  the  scheme 
a  success. 

The  Meeting  then  tei-minated. 

AI.  Breay, 
Pro  B.  Cutler. 

a  TRuigtng'ipagcant. 

In  order  to  test  the  amount  of  interest  and 
supix)rt  likely  to  be  forthcoming  for  the  or- 
ganisation of  a  Pageant  of  the  Evolution  of 
Trained  Nursing,  :\Irs.  Bedford  Fenwick  placed 
an  outhne  of  the  scheme  suggested  before  an 
informal  meeting  of  membere  of  nureing 
associations  and  societies  held  last 
Saturday  at  431,  Oxford  Street.  So  much 
interest  was  evinced  that  it  was  decided  that 
such  a  pageant  should  be  arranged,  and  several 
Superintendents  and  Matrons  expressed  their 
willingness  to  take  the  initiative  in  organis- 
ing sections.  We  hope  next  week  to  be  able 
to  give  some  details  of  the  scope  of  the  scheme, 
and  to  enlist  professional  and  public  interest 
in  making  it  a  success.    . 


A  Dance  under  the  auspices  of  the  Scottish 
N'urses'  Association  will  be  held  at  the  Charing 
Cross  Halls,  Glasgow,  on  the  evening  of  Wed- 
nesday, November  23rd.  I,ady  Ailsa  will  re- 
ceive the  guests,  and  the  President  of  the 
Association,  Sir  William., :\racEwen,  and  Dr. 
McGregor  Robertson,  are  ihteresting  thoni- 
sidvf's  in  its  success. 


Zbc  miirse  in  IRcIation  to  bcr 
IPatient. 

By  Miss  C.   M.  Ironside,   M.B. 

We  have  before  us  tliis  afternoon  that  most 
maportflnt  and  interesting  subject — personal 
influence;  the  relation  of  an  individual  life  to 
other  lives.  Every  life  affects  other  lives.  I 
suppose  we  all  acknowledge  this.  True,  a  large 
amount  of  the  influence  of  any  life  is  uninten- 
tional and  unconscious,  but  it" is  none  the  less 
real  and  forceful  for  that.' 

Have  you  ever  considered  upon  what  this 
personal  influence  depends?  It  depends  upon 
the  read  character  of  the  person.  The  in- 
•fluence  that  really  tells  is  not  what  we  say  or 
do,  l)ut  what  we  are.  Not  what  we  seem  to 
be,  nor  even  what  we  wish  to  be,  but  what 
we  really  are.  Is  not  this  a  very  heart- 
searching  thought,  however  apparently  small 
our  sphere  of  influence  may  be? 

But  you  to  whom  I  speak  have  not  a  small 
sphere,  but  a  great,  wide,  noble  sphere.  Each 
of  your  lives  touches  many  other  lives;  touches 
them,  too,  under  circumstances  that  make 
them  specially  susceptible  to  your  influence. 
^  What  do  you  desire  should"be  the  effect  of 
this  special  relationship  to  othei-s?  Do  vou 
want  your  influence  to  be  an  uphfting  and  "en- 
nobling one,  or  the  reverse?  Surely,  there  can 
be  only  one  answer.  We  all  wish  to  do  the 
best  we  can  with  our  lives. 

But  how  attain  to  our  desire?  How  be  so 
pure  and  true,  so  unselfish  and  full  of  sym- 
pathy, and  withal  so  natural  and  human,  that 
weak,  erring,  shallow  human  souls  who  feel 
our  influence  shall  be  strengthened  and  deep- 
ened and  raised  to  a  life  worth  living? 

Of  whom  do  these  words  remind  you? 
"  Pure — true — unselfish — full  of  sympathy — 
and  so  human  "? 

They  remind  me  of  One  who  has  exerted  the 
profoundest,  the  .most  uplifting,  and  the  ten- 
derest  influence  on  mankind  that  we  know  of. 
What  if  wc  could  live  Christ's  life?  What  if 
we  could  be  something  of  what  He  was — and  is 
— to  men  ?  Does  not  this  express  all,  and  more 
than  all,  of  what  we  desire  our  personal  in- 
fluence to  be? 

In  the  midst  of  endless  diflScuIties,  doubt- 
ings,  disputings,  men  and  women  everywhere 
unite  in  reverent  admiration  of  the  Pei-sonalitv 
of  Jesus  Christ,  and  many  who  do  not  owii 
Hini  Lord  and  :Master  would  fain  copy  that 
life,   and  see  it  lived   again  on   earth.        But 

*  Read  before  the  Nurses'  Missionary  League, 
November  1.5tb,  1010. 


Nov.  I'.i,  KHii 


Cbc  Britisb  3oiirnal  of  iRurslno^ 


111 


Christ's  life  must  be  in  us  buforc  we  can  live 
it  out.  And,  you  know.  He  only  gives  Him- 
self to  those  who  give  tliemselves  to  Him. 
We  cannot  live  the  life  of  Christ,  however 
mucli  we  admire  and  desire  to  copy,  uiiless  we 
liave  the  Spirit  of  Christ,  the  Holy  Spirit  living 
witiiiu  us,  and  tluit  means  a  clean  sweep  of  all 
known  sin  and  of  self — if  He  is  to  conn  in  and 
control  the  life.  Is  Jesus  Christ  worth  know- 
ing'.' And  would  it  lie  worth  wliilc  to  re- 
produce Him  in  our  daily  lives?  It  is  posxiblc 
— feeble  and  faint  though  the  likeness  be ;  but 
it  will  cost  something — is  it  worth  the  cost  1' 

Are  some  of  you  thinking  that  we  have  got 
a  long  way  from  our  subject — "  The  Nurse  In 
Relation  to  Her  Patient  " '.'  I  think  not.  We 
ivere  considering  how  a  nurse,  in  this  special 
relation,  with  its  great  and  far-reaching  oppor- 
tunities, could  be  an  influence  to  lift  upward 
and  Godward.  And  to  me  the  simple  answer 
to  the  problem  is — live  Jesus  Christ,  and  draw 
men  and  women  to  Him.  And  you  can't  do 
this  unless  you  know  Him  yourself — inti- 
mately (I  say  this  very  reverently),  and  unless 
you  have  His  Spirit  in  you. 

This  is  no  emotional  dream,  but  a  reality 
and  power  that  will  send  you  into  the  hospital 
ward,  to  the  trying  private  case,  or  out  into 
the  district  in  the  slums  with  a  deep  sym- 
pathy, a  clear  discernment,  and  a  capability 
of  seeing  the  bright  side  of  things  that  will  act 
on  the  souls  and  minds  of  your  patients  as 
sunshine  and  fresh  air  act  on  a  stuffy  room. 
Yes,  and  it  will  malve  it  impossible  for  you  to 
do  anything  but  the  tx.sf  work  in  your  profes- 
sion. Don't  let  it  be  said  that  the  Christian 
nurses,  are  not  among  the  best  professionally. 
It  is  most  practical,  for  it  enters  into  everyday 
life  and  work.  One  other  thought.  Do  you 
not  desire,  not  only  that  your  influence  should 
be.  for  good  and  for  God,  but  also  that  it  should 
be  exerted  where  it  will  count  most,  where  the 
need  is  greatest?  Let  us  be  quite  clear  about 
this.  The  place  where  your  life  will  count 
most  is  in  the  place  which  God  shall  choose 
for  you.  But  1  do  ask  you  to  consider  the 
places  where  the  need  for  Christian  nurses  is 
greatest.  The  vast  heathen  .and  Mohamme- 
dan world,  where  no  scientific  treatment  and 
care  of  the  sick  is  known,  e.xcept  such  as  is 
given  by  Christian  doctors  and  ■  nurses  (and 
they  are  so  few),  who  go  to  those  lands.  Lands 
where  anyone  can  set  up  as  a  doctor,  without 
the  sUghtest  knowledge  of  the  most  elemen- 
tary facts  of  anatomy  and  physiology,  their 
treatment  being  far  worse  to  the  poor  patient 
than  the  disease  in  many  cases.  Lands,  too, 
where  the  spiritual  darkness  and  hopelessness 
is  even  greater  than  the  physical.  Is  not  God 
caUing  some  of  you  to  those  most  needy  places? 


But  if  it  is  true  liere  at  home  that  we  can- 
not live  Christ  unless  we  have  Him  ourselves, 
most  surely  it  is  true  in  these  non-Christian 
lauds.  And  remember  only  He  can  raise  and 
enable  fallen,  helpless  men.  They  need  Him. 
.\nd  wliL-n  we  plead  for  nurses  for  our  mission 
hospitals,  we  do  not  ask  for  those  who  have 
never  yet  given  their  own  lives  to  Christ,  and 
could  not  take  Him  to  others. 

Now,  I  want  to  ask  you  a  qu'estion.  Did 
you  ever  get  to  know  anyone  with  whom  you 
had  no  communication?  No  talk,  no  fellow- 
ship in  work,  no  in.terehange  of  thought?  And 
has  your  life  and  character  been  moulded,  at 
all  percei)til)ly,  by  a  mere  bowing  acquaint- 
ance, shall  we  say? 

How  can  we  expect  to  know  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  to  understand  Him,  and  to  grow  like 
Him,  if  we  do  not  find  time  for  communio)) 
with  Him? — Interchange  of  thought,  listening 
to  Him  as  well  as  talking  to,  and  asking  things 
from  Him?  In  simple  language,  if  we  do  not 
study  our  Bibles  and  give  time  to  prayer?  This 
means  daily  plodding  effort,  but  without  it  we 
are  very  little  use  as  Christians,  to  our  Master 
or  to  others.  And  if  the  result  really  will  be  a 
life  more  like  Christ's,  winning  other  lives  to 
Him,  is  it  worth  wJiile?  Worth  while  to  start 
with  what  lies  so  near  at  hand,  a  simple  practi- 
cal way  of  preparing  for  larger  service  whether 
at  home  or  abroad — that  we  may  be  ready  for 
opportunities  when  they  come.  We  do  not 
want  to  think  too  highly  of  our  own  powers, 
but  we  cannot  regard  lightly  the  responsibility 
of  a  nurse's  influence.  You  hnow  that  your 
word,  and  still  more  your  life,  has  weight  with 
your  patients  when  they  will  take  no  notice  of 
anyone  else.  In  rich  homes  and  poor,  and  spe- 
cially with  your  fellow-women,  what  oppor- 
tunities you  have.  I  was  a  nurse  before  I  be- 
came a  doctor,  and  the  hardest  thing  to  me  m 
this  change  of  woi'k  was  the  loss  of  that  close 
personal  bond  with  other  hearts  and  lives  that 
no  one,  not  even  a  doctor,  has  in  the  measure 
that  a  nurse  has  in  relation  to  her  patient.  Do 
not  lose,  either  through  thoughtlessness  or 
lack  of  preparation,  the  great  opportunities 
thus  given  to  you. 

Four  nurses  from  the  Suffolk  Nurses'  Home 
have  volunteered  for  plague  duty,  and  have 
consented  to  be  inoculated  with  plagu,e  vaccine 
as  a  precautionary  measure.  The  East  Suffolk 
Health  Committee  at  a  meeting  last  week  at 
Ipswich  agreed  to  remunerate  the  nurses  dur- 
ing the  time  which  they  will  be  ill  as  a  result 
of  the  inoculation,  and  expressed  their  appre- 
elation  of  the  nurses'  public  spirit  and  courage. 
Nurses  are  never  found  lacking  in  either  of 
these  qualities. 


412 


tTbe  Biitisb  3ournaI  of  mursino. 


[Nov.  19,  1910 


(Bcncral  IFjospital,  Birminoham, 
IRurses'  Xcague. 

The  winter  meeting  of  the  League  was  held 
on  Saturday,  November  12th,  in  the  Lecture 
Theatre  of  the  Hospital,  over  fifty  members 
being  present;  Miss  Musson,  Pi-esident,  in  the 
chair. 

Before  the  business  of  the  meeting  began, 
the  President  referred  to  the  death  of  Sliss 
Florence  Nightingale,  and  proposed  that  the 
members  should  record  on  the  minutes  their 
earnest  devotion  and  respect  for  the  great 
Founder  of  their  profession,  and  their  deter- 
mination to  carry  on  to  the  best  of  their  jxiwer 
the  work  which  she  had  begun.  This  was 
carried  in  silence,  all  standing. 

The  short  business  programme  was  soon 
concluded,  and  was  followed  by  an  address 
from  Dr.  Auden,  Medical  Officer  to  the  Bir- 
mingham Education  Board,  on  "  Medical  In- 
spection in  Schools  and  its  Possibihties. "  The 
subject  as  put  forward  by  Dr.  Auden  proved 
to  be  most  interesting,  and  inspired  the 
audience  with  a  wish  to  leam  more  of  this 
vei-y  important  branch  of  social  work.  The  im- 
]5ortance  of  securing  the  interest  of  the  chil- 
dren's parents,  and  the  need  for  co-operation 
between  the  various  charitable  agencies  and 
institutions  were  emphasised,  and  also  the 
necessity  for  personal  sei"vice. 

A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  Dr.  Auden  was 
passed,  on  the  proposal  of  Miss  Mossop, 
seconded  by   Miss  Hannath. 

The  members  then  adjourned  to  the  Board 
Room,  where  tea  was  served,  and  a  pleasant 
hour  was  passed  in  chatting  to  old  friends. 


^be  Scbool  IRurses'  Xeaouc. 

A  very  successful  and  enjoyable  dance  was 
held  on  Friday,  11th  November,  at  St.  Bride's 
Institute,  in  connection  with  the  School 
Nurses'  League  Benevolent  Fund,  when  most 
of  those  present  were  garbed  in  most  charming 
and  varied  fancy  dress,  and  a  very  brilliant 
assembly  it  was.  Dancing  began  at  8  p.m.  to 
the  strains  of  Mr.  Philimore's  excellent  orches- 
tra. There  were  many  more  ladies  than  gen- 
tlemen present,  but  the  fomier  were  in  no  wise 
dismayed,  and  gaily  trod  the  light  fantastic 
toe  with  one  another.  Mr.Nettleficld  had  under- 
taken the  onerous  duties  of  Master  of  the  Cere- 
monies, which  was  no  easy  task,  but  with 
courage  in  both  hands,  he  whipped  up  the 
available  partners  and  introduced  them  to  the 
many  colleens,  fish  wives,  geisha  and  .Tapan- 
ese  girls,  and  all  the  flowers  of  the  flock,  who 
surrendered     their     programmes     cheerfully. 


After  the  interval,  when  refreshments  were 
partaken  of,  and  very  much  appreciated,  the 
band  struck  up  a  processional  march  and  a 
gorgeous  cavalcade  filed  past  the  judges — Miss 
Pearse,  Miss  Nettlefield,  and  ^Ir.  Lofi^ — who 
had  a  difficult  task  to  perform.  The  leader  of 
the  company  was  a  lady  in  verdant  green  as 
"  Keep  off  the  Grass,"  who  was  closely  fol- 
lowed by  "  The  Blue  Bird,"  "  Ophelia,"  ""  A 
Witch,"  "Entente  Cordiale,"  PieiTot  and 
Pierrette,  a  Toreador  with  a  gay  Spanish  girl, 
an  Italian  sailor  with  Red  Eiding  Hood,  Dick 
Turpin,  with  a  Gipsy  Fortune-teller,  "  Pride 
and  Prejudice,"  with  a  stately  Grecian  lady,  a 
nodding  ^Mandarin  and  a  black-hatted  Welsh 
woman,  "  GheiTy  Ripe,"  a  dear  little  PieiTot 
and  a  dainty  mite  as  "  Spring,"  the  Duchess 
of  Devonshire  wended  her  stately  way  beside  a 
coal  black  "  Dinah,"  Mi-s.  Jarley  and  Mrs.  Ed- 
wards' Desiccated  Soup  were  close  together,  a 
Doctor  of  Law  escorted  Aunt  Martha,  radiant 
in  a  poke  bonnet,  over  her  curls,  whilst  a  Col- 
legiate girl  was  seen-  in  striking  contrast  to  an 
Eastern  lady  in  Indian  dress  and  a  Tete 
Masquee.  There  were  also  Dutch  men  and 
girls  in  sabots,  a  Bre tonne  fish  girl  in  clogs,  a 
yachtswoman  with  her  own  "ship  ahoy  I  " 
and  a  most  charming  trio  of  babies,  two  girls 
and  a  boy,  who  said  he  was  a  "  foundling," 
but  was  evidently  not  sufficiently  trained,  as 
he  could  not  do  without  his  comforter. 


The  prizes  were  offered  for  the  best  dresses 
in  each  of  three  classes: — (1)  For  the  prettiest 
dress  Miss  Wilkins  won  a  pendant  and  chain 
for  her  costume  as  a  Spanish  dancer,  and  well 
deserved  to  can-y  off  the  palm,  and  Mv.  Nettle- 
field  was  awarded  a  silver  cigarette  case  for  his 
costume  as  a  fully  equipped  Bandeliero.  (2) 
For  the  most  original  dress  iMiss  Clapp  was 
presented  with  a  purse ;  she  looked  as  if  she 
had  stepped  down  from  Mrs.  Bull's  poster, 
"  Mrs.  Brown  on  the  situation,"  and  Mr. 
Hitchman  received  a  silver-mounted  letter- 
case  for  his  costume  as  a  phlegmatic  Dutch- 
man. (3)  For  the  most  comical  characters  :  In 
this  class  Miss  Williams  was  an  easy  first  as 
"  Dinah  "  and  won  a  fitted  bag,  and  Mr.  Lan- 
caster deserved  his  prize  of  a  silver  match-box 
for  his  clever  impersonation  and  dress  of  a 
jester.  The  "  Foundling  "  was  highly  com- 
mended, as  was  also  "  Hard  Times,"  a  dress 
made  entirely  of  brown  paper.  Mr.  Ix>ft  also 
acted  as  ^Laster  of  the  Ceremonies  for  the  pro- 
gressive wliist  party,  which  was  held  in  the  ad- 
joining hall.  'I'he  winners  for  the  game  were 
Miss  Macintosh,  whose  prize  was  a  silver- 
mounted  scent  bottle,  and  Miss  Ethel  Clapp. 
who  gained  a  tiump-markor. 

A.  G.  L. 


Nov.  I'J,  HUUj 


ZiK  Biitisb  3oiunai  ot  iiuusma. 


413 


Cbc  je^ucation  an^  Ciaimiuj  ot 
iHui5c=»at5si0tants. 


The  (-'oinniitteo  appointed  by  the  Americau 
Hospital  Association  to  investigate  the  iiuiising 
of  people  of  limited  nuaus  in  tlieir  homes,  aud 
the  education  and  training  of  uurses  for  this 
work,  presented  the  following  report  at  the 
twelfth  annual  meeting  of  the  Association,  aud 
we  quote  it  fi-om  the  Intirnutional  Hvnintal 
Hicvrd. 

Keport  of  the  Committee. 

The  Committee  discussed  the  pi'oblem  by 
considering  the  following  ways  in  which 
patients  of  moderate  means  are  being  at  pre- 
sent cared  for  in  various  places  ;  — 

1.  Trained  attendants. 

2.  Individual  hourly  nursing. 

3.  Individual  experienced  nursing. 

4.  Insurance. 

5.  Under  graduate  nursing. 

6.  Graduate  nurses  under  endowment. 

1. — Trained  Attend-^nt.  The  attendant 
performs  an  excellent  service  for  the  com- 
munity so  long  as  she  does  only  the  work  for 
which  she  is  trained.  The  difficulty  appears 
to  be,  according  to  the  evidence  of  her  teachers 
and  the  registries  under  whose  supervision  she 
works,  that  she  is  likely  to  overstep  the  boun- 
dary of  her  legitimate  field  and  encroach  upon 
the  work  of  the  graduate  nurse.  As  she  gains 
the  confidence  of  the  community  and  the  doc- 
tor, her  charges  and  her  self-confidence  gra- 
dually increase,  and  she  is  caring  for  acute 
cases  aud  othei"s  for  which  she  has  not  received 
the  proper  training. 

There  seems  to  be  a  use  for  these  attendants. 
One  practical  way  of  managing  them  is  to  have 
them  work  under  the  supervision  of  graduate 
nurses.  Where  a  state  has  a  proper  registration 
law,  and  a  suitable  directory  where  both 
nurses  and  attendants  may  register,  it  is 
feasible  for  the  pereon  in  charge  to  carefully 
explain  the  difference  between  nurses  and  at- 
tendants to  people  applying  for  nurses,  aud  be 
sure  that  the  physicians  understand  which  they 
are  getting.  In  this  way  the  responsibility  is 
placed  upon  the  physician  and  family  of  the 
patient.  A  method  by  which  the  services  of 
attendants  may  be  utilised  under  supervision 
will  be  discussed  later. 

2. — Hourly  Xursino  by  Individuals. — This 
seems  to  be  impractical  for  the  individual 
nurse  owing  to  the  expense  involved  in  its  busi- 
ness management.  Tlie  hourly  nurse  needs  to 
have  a  capable  person  always  on  hand  to  an- 
swer calls,  arrange  conflicting  dates,  and  exert 
jt  per'^onarinfluence  in  the  general  arrangement 
of  the  work.    The  onlv  case  we  have  found  of 


successful  individual  hourly  nursing  is  where 
the  nurse  is  working  among  wealthy  patients, 
with  her  iiome  conditions  favourable  to  a  re- 
duced expense  account. 

3. — Individual  Experienced  Nursing. — By 
the  term  "  experienced  uuree,"  we  mean  one 
who  lias  had  no  hospital  training,  but  who  has 
acquired  some  experience  through  caring  for 
sickness  in  her  own  or  in  other  households  un- 
der the  doctor's  direction.  She  will  be  con- 
sidered later  with  the  trained  attendant,  under 
the  supervision  of  the  graduate  nurse. 

4. — Insurance. — A  form  of  insurance  which 
would  mean  the  payment  by  an  insurance  com- 
pany of  the  wages  of  a  graduate  nurse  during 
the  illness  of  the  policy-holder  or  his  family. 

From  the  evidence  we  have  obtained  from 
people  of  authority  in  large  insurance  com- 
panies, we  do  not  believe  that  responsible  in- 
surance companies  would  interest  themselves 
in  this,  owing  to  the  lack  of  morbidity  statis- 
tics, the  possibihties  of  malingering,  the  lack 
of  knowledge  of  the  individual,  and  the  general 
difficulties  of  its  business  management.  Possi- 
bly local  or  fraternal  organisations  could  make 
a  success  of  it  because  of  their  intimate  know- 
ledge of  their  members. 

5. — Undergraduate  Nurses.  —  Undergra- 
duate nurses,  under  the  supervision  of  their 
training  schools,  are  being  used  in  small  cities 
where  the  families  to  which  they  are  sent  are 
kno\\n,  or  information  about  them  is  easily 
obtainable.  It  does  not  seem  a  f)ractical  plan 
for  the  large  city  or  manufacturing  community, 
where  the  possibilities  of  abuse  are  difficult  to 
overcome,  and  the  routine  work  of  the  training 
school  in  its  relation  to  the  hospital  more  exact- 
ing. It  can  never  be  wholly  satisfactory, 
neither  can  it  become  a  general  custom  because 
of  its  ill  effects  upon  the  training  of  the  nurse 
due  to  the  lack  of  supervision  of  her  work.  This 
practice  may  be  used  to  inci'ease  the  earning 
capacity  of  the  hospital  and  the  necessity  for  in- 
creased earnings  prohibits  proper  supervision. 
Consequently,  the  plan  can  never  be  a  favour- 
ite with  those  who  believe  in  thorough  training 
for  nurses. 

6. — Nursing  by  Endowment. — This  plan, 
we  believe,  oSers  the  best  solution  of  the  pro- 
blem. The  question  is  not  wholly  one  of  nurs- 
ing practice.  In  many  families  in  moderate 
circumstances,  sickness  involves  domestic  pro- 
blems, the  daily  housework,  and  trie  care  of 
ciiildren. 

With  a  central  organisation,  under  practical 
business  management,  it  siiould  be  possible'  to 
use  to  advantage  the  graduate  nurse,'  the 
trained  attendant,  the  experienced  nurse,  and 
the  necessary  domestics. 


414 


Zbe  Britisb  3ournal  of  IFlursino.        [^ov.  i<j,  1910 


The  energies  of  the  more  expensive  graduate 
nurse  should  be  largely  utilised  m  teaching  her 
associates  in  the  work,  educating  the  families, 
directing  the  work  of  the  untrained  forces,  and 
in  hourly  nursing  where  this  service  renders 
all  the  necessary  help.  Where  the  patient  is 
sufficiently  ill  to  demand  the  whole  time  of  a 
graduate  nurse  this  should  be  furnished 
through  the  acute  stages  of  the  disease,  and 
during  convalescence  or  chronic  mvalidism  the 
patient  may  be  transferred  to  the  less  exper- 
ienced worker,  supei-vised  by  the  periodical 
visit  of  the  graduate.  In  some  cases  all  that 
is  needed  in  the  household  is  to  furnish  a  cook 
or  a  laundress  and  thus  i-elease  the  whole  or  a 
part  of  the  mother's  time  for  the  care  of  the 
patient,  under  supervision  of  the  graduate 
nurse  making  ^isits  as  frequently  as  may  be 
necessary.  The  theory  would  be  to  utiHse  the 
least  expensive  member  of  the  force  working 
under  this  endowment  who  can  do  the  work 
efficiently. 

It  will  be  necessary  to  have  a  certain  num- 
ber of  graduate  nurses  upon  salary ;  perhaps  in 
most  communities  it  would  be  sufficient  to 
start  with  one  nurse  and'  gradually  increase  the 
force'  as  it  becomes  necessary.  Probably  the 
attendants  should  be  upon  salary,  but  the 
other  workei"s  can  be  called  upon  as  their  ser- 
vices are  needed  and  paid  by  the  day  or  week 
as  they  do  their  work,  or  in  whatever  manner 
proves  to  be  the  most  practical. 

The  source  and  general  plan  of  endowment 
will  have  to  be  determined  to  a  large  extent  by 
the  local  conditions  of  the  community  adopt- 
ing the  system.  Possibly  some  form  of  local 
insurance  can  be  worked  out  to  help  pay  the 
cost.  Fraternal  and  benevolent  orders, 
churches,  and  other  organisations  doing  charit- 
able work  would  undoubtedly  lend  their  sup- 
port if  they  can  be  made  to  realise  that  the 
money  invested  would  be  more  wisely  ex- 
pended by  an  especially  equipped  and  or- 
ganised system  than  by  individual  agencies. 
Every  community  should  be  able  to  furnish 
public-spirited  citizens  who  would  devote  a 
part  of  their  time  and  energy  to  helping  to 
make  a  success  of  the  enterprise,  and  whose 
business  acumen  would  insure  a  proper  man- 
agement. 

The  patients,  of  couree,  should  pay  such 
portion  of  the  actual  expense  incurred  as  they 
are  able  to  meet.  Where  it  is  practicable,  with- 
out saddling  the  family  with  too  great  a  bur- 
den, they  should  pay  the  balance  later  as  they 
iire  able. 

It  is  often  said  that  nurses  should  be  en- 
couraged to  give  their  services  in  the  class  of 
cases  which  we  are  con,-<idering,  or  to  sacrifice 


a  part  of  their  pay.  Your  Committee  believes- 
that  this  is  usually  asking  too  much.  Most 
nurses  have  only  what  they  are  able  to  save, 
and  their  wages  are  not  high.  It  is  necessary 
for  them  to  provide  for  their  old  age.  The 
solution  of  this  problem  should  not  be  thrown 
upon  the  nui-ses. 

Kespectfully  submitted, 

Frederick  A.  W.ishbuen,  Chairman. 

Mary  M.  Kiddle. 

Charles  H.  Youxg,  Secretary. 

IRcws  from  3n^^a. 

FLORENCE   NIGHTINGALE   MEMORIAL. 

A  Committee  of  Nurses  has  been  formed  in 
Calcutta,  to  organise  an  all  India  Nurses' 
^Memorial  to  Miss  Florence  Nightingale.  The 
form  it  is  to  take  will  depend  upon  the  response 
to  the  appeal ;  the  maximum  subscription  i.s- 
limited  to  one  rupee.  ^liss  J.  E.  Pritchard, 
Senior  Sister,  Lady  Minto's  Indian  Nursing 
Association,  is  the  Hon.  Secretary  of  the  Fund, 
and  Mrs.  E.  B.  Mooi'e,  of  the  Professional 
Nurses'  Societv,  Calcutta,  the  Hon.  Treasurer. 


LADY  MINTO'S  INDIAN    NURSING  ASSOCIATION. 

Mr.s.  .lessie  B.  Davies,  the  Chief  Lady 
Superintendent  ,of  Lady  Minto's  Indian  Nur- 
sing Sendee,  prejjares  most  admirable  reports, 
to  which  we  always  turn  with  interest.  One 
is  just  to  hand  from  which  we  gather  that  this 
Association  continues  to  advance  in  public 
favour,  and  that  fact  is  no  doubt  owing  to  the 
manner  in  which  the  Sisters  scattered  over  the 
various  Provinces  have  performed  their  duties. 
We  read  "  the  Nm'sing  Sistere  have  done  ex- 
cellent work,"  and  "  The  Sisters  have  received 
the  highest  praise  for  their  professional  effi- 
ciency, and  no  less  than  seven  of  them  have 
been  very  specially  commended."  Only  those 
who  have  niu-scd  in  a  tropical  climate  can 
realise  what  an  extent  of  self-sacrifice  and  de- 
votion is  required  to  desei^ve  such  praise. 

Miss  J.  E.  Pritchard  has  been  promoted  to 
be  Senior  Sister  of  the  Bengal  Branch. 

Miss  Mackenzie,  on  tlie  completion  of  her 
t-erm  of  service,  resigned  her  appointment  in 
July,  and  her  departure  was  a  real  loss  to  the 
Rajputaua  branch.  She  was  Indian  trained, 
but  soon  proved  herself  to  be  quite  one  of  the 
most  capable  and  experienced  members  of  the 
Nursing  Staff  of  the  Association.  She  was  ex- 
tremely popular  with  her  patient-s,  and  seems 
to  have  had  a  special  vocation  for  tending 
women  and  children.  This  vacancy  was  filled 
in  August  by  Miss  Lee,  an  English  trained 
nui'se  recently  arrived  from  .\ustralia,  and 
^liss  .rtchard  was  a]>pointod  as  Railway  Sister, 
rice  Miss  Mackiiizie. 


Nov.  V.K  l'-»ln 


Z\K  Britisb  3ournal  of  •Kursincj. 


41o 


111  tiiL'  liujn'  of  iiicioasiiig  tlie  deiuniid  for 
tlif  Nursing  Sistt-i-s  in  lialuchistaii,  it  was  pro- 
posed and  earrii'd  at  tlie  lat-t  local  Connnittfo 
meeting  that  they  should  both  undertake  ma- 
ternity cases,  instead  of  one  nurse  being  set 
apart  for  this  special  work  as  in  the  past.  The 
promises  of  assistance  from  one  or  two  medical 
officere  are  an  encouragement,  and  the  local 
Oommittt'e  are  convinced  that  once  the  Asso- 
ciation nurses  become  more  widely  known  they 
will  be  constantly  in  demand. 

His  Houoia*  tlie  Lieutenant-Govemoi'  of 
Bengal  has  most  kindly  sent  100  books  from 
hie  library,  for  the  use  of  the  Sisters,  with  the 
promise  that  they  shall  be  changed  periodi- 
cally. 

The  departure  of  her  Excellency  the  Coun- 
tess of  Minto  from  India  is  most  sincerely  re- 
gretted by  the  wdiole  nursing  staff  of  the  Asso- 
ciation, which  owes  so  much  to  her  genuine 
interest  and  devoted  support. 


IP' 


»n3e9  tor  IIAiirfee. 

Sir  George  Hare  Philipson  presided  at  the  annual 
presentation  of  prize.'i  last  week  to  the  nurses  of 
the  Royal  Victoria  Infirmary,  Xewcastle-on-Tyne. 
The  Chairman  said  that  there  were  425  beds  in 
the  infirmary  and  an  equal  number  of  patients  that 
day.  The  nurses  niunbered  1.'36,  and  he  congratu- 
lated the  l,ad;i-  Superintendent,  Miss  Wamsley,  on 
the  success  of  tlie  Nursing  School. 

The  prizes  given  by  the  Trustees  of  the 
Heath  Bequest  were  then  distributed  by  Lady 
Allendale,  who  said  that  it  gave  her  the  greatest 
possible  pleasure  to  be  present.  The  prize  winners 
were  as  follows : — First  prize  of  £10  and  a  silver 
medal,  Mi.ss  Rose  Brunskill  ;  .SVrund  prize  of  £5,  Miss 
Theresa  Henan ;  Tliird  prize  of  £3,  Miss  Mary  Tait ; 
Foxtrth  prize  of  £3,  Miss  ilarv  Dovle-Jones :  Fifth 
prize  of  £3,  Miss  Hilda  Ellis ;  Sirth'prize  of  £3,  Miss 
Christina  Bugless :  Seventh  prize  of  £2,  Miss 
Georgina  Simms :  Eiqhth  prize  of  £2,  Miss  Mary 
Banallo.  Honorary  certificafrx  were  awarded  to 
Misses  Annie  M.  Henderson,  Ethel  T.  Stephenson, 
Minnie  Young,  and  Jessie  Arthur.  Cooherii  prizes 
and  certificates :  Miss  Susan  Robson,  prize  of  £2  and 
(■ertificate ;  Miss  Annie  Monk,  £2  and  certificate ; 
Miss  Annie  Wliite.  £2  and  certificate. 


H  lOractical  appliance. 

Miss  A.  G.  Layton,  Assistant  Superintendent  to 
the  Superintendent  of  London  County  C'ouncU 
School  Nurses,  has  designed  a  very  useful  appliance 
for  supporting  the  bag  carried  by  School  or  District 
Nurses  and  Midwives.  A  slight  harness  of  webbing 
hangs  over  the  wearer's  shoulders,  the  long  ends, 
back  and  front,  being  fitted  with  strong  clips, 
which  are  attached  to  the  handle  of  the  bag.  This 
can  then  be  comfortably  adjusted  by  means  of 
buckles,  through  which  the  webbing  bands,  which 
form  the  harness,  can  be  lengthened  or  shortened 
as  required.  When  in  position  the  bag  can  hang 
at  the  side,  leaving  both  hands  free  for  use. 


Mi.ss  Layton  hopes  to  put  her  contrivance  on  the 
market  shortly,  through  a  leading  firm.  Mean- 
while, we  advise  those  interested  in  it  to  communi- 
cate with  her  at  30,  Muswell  Koad,  Muswell  Hill.  N. 

(Siueen  IDictoria's  3«t»ilcc  3n5iitutc 
for  IR arses. 


Queen  .Mexandra  has  iK-en  plca-M'd  to  approve 
the  appointment  of  the  following  to  be  Queen's 
Nurses,  to  dat«  October    1st,    1910. — 

EnGL.\NTD    -VXD    W.U,ES. 

Cathariua  A.  H.  Telkamp,  Birmingham  (Mose- 
ley  Road) ;  Grace  Evans,  Jennie  Jones,  Sarah  E. 
Kitchen,  Edith  Rowlands,  and  Clara  L.  Still, 
Biimingham  (Summer  Hill  Road);  ilarj-  E.  J. 
Mulroy,  Bolton;  Lily  F.  Boyden,  Ethel  A.  Coates, 
Norah  Farrant,  Mattie  B.  Roan,  and  Emily  E. 
Whitehead,  Brighton;  Mary  A.  Ford  and  Kathe- 
rine  M.  Lyne,  Camberwell ;  Constance  M.  Deering 
and  ilary  A.  Williams,  Cardiff:  Jessie  Rodmell, 
Chelsea  ;  Catherine  Tuthill,  East  London  (Stepney 
Green"! :  Katharine  J.  Andrews,  Gateshead;  Edith 
F.  Hall  and  Sarah  A.  G.  Lett,  Hackney;  Wini- 
fred M.  Dyer,  Hammersmith;  Gertrude  L. 
Green,  Leeds;  Gertrude  L.  English,  Edith  M. 
Gloddard,  and  Martha  F.  Johnston,  Liverpool 
(Central) ;  Margaret  Edwards  and  Alice  M.  Simp- 
son, Liverpool  (Derby  Lane):  Jennie  L.  Hirst  and 
Sarah  A.  Tull.  Liverpool  (North) :  Lexy  Maclver, 
Liverpool  (Williamson);  Daisy  M.  Hutt  and  Eliza- 
beth Kay.  ^fanchester  (Ardwick) ;  Eugenie  Scha- 
gen  van  Saelen,  Manchester  (Bradford) ;  Marion 
Bird,  Jane  Ewan,  Laura  E.  Lockie,  and  Edith 
E.  Morgan,  Manchester  (Salford) ;  Amy  G.  Awre, 
Minnie  M.  Chambers,  .\nna  Davies,  Adelaide 
Dixon,  Ada  E.  Elliott,  and  Mary  M.  Lovell, 
Metropolitan  X.  Association;  Caroline  E.  King; 
Mahala  C.  Peplow,  and  Eleanor  A.  M.  Stillwell, 
Northampton:  Elizabeth  R.  Jax-b,  Frances  O. 
Jones,  and  Elizabeth  J.  Nicol,  Portsmouth:  Sarah 
Birkin,  Emma  Fechtman,  Mary  R.  Hutson,  and 
Ethel  A.  Wilson,  St.  Olave's;  Eva  Turner.  Shef- 
field ;  Jean  Babington  Macaulay,  Westminster. 
Scotland. 

Helen  Darge,  Chri.stina  Galloway,  Flora  Ken- 
nedy, Annie  Molnnes,  Floar  E.  ^NLackenzie,  Nellie 
^LicKenzie.  Johanna  Ross,  Lucy  Saunders, 
Catherine  Stevenson,  and  Katharine  C.  Yule,  Scot- 
tish District  Training  Home,  Edinburgh ;  Mar- 
garet Hamilton,  Glasgow. 

Irei.,\nd. 

Annie  Armstrong.  Elizabeth  !NLigner,  Frances 
Maguire,  and  Bridie  Soanlan,  St.  Lawrence's, 
Dublin;  and  Emily  M.  Halliday,  St.  Patrick's, 
Dublin. 

Transfers  and  Appointments. — Miss  Ethel  Hall, 
to  Romsev ;  Miss  Lilian  Neve,  to  Three  Towns. 


(Siueen  HIcran^ra's  imperial  niMli«» 
tarv  iPur?inci  Service 

Mi.ss  yi.  -T.  .lones.  Staff  Nurse,  resigns  her  appoint- 
ment (November  16th1 :  Miss  D.  J.  ^lacgregor  to  be 
Staff  Nurse  (provisionally)   (Ngvember   -st). 


416 


Zbc  Britisb  3ournal  ci  iRurstng. 


[Nov.  19,  1910 


appointments. 

Matrons. 

Brighton    and    Hove     Hospital    tor    Women,    West   Street, 

Brighton Miss    G.    E.    Blott    has    been    appointed 

Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  Bethnal  Green 
Intirmaiy,  and  has  held  the  position  of  Xight  Sister 
at  the  Samaritan  Free  Hospital,  London ;  Night 
Sister,  Ward  Sister,  and  Labour  Ward  Sister  at 
Qneen  Charlotte's  Hospital,  London,  and  Assistant 
Matron  at  the  Birmingham  Maternity  Hospital. 

The    Royal    Liverpool    Country    Hospital    for    Children 

Miss  Florence  Reeves  has  been  appoint-ed  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  the  London  Hospital,  E.,  and 
has  been  Sister  at  '  the  Metropolitan  Hospital, 
Kingsland  Road,    N.E. 

XUESE    M.VTHON. 
The      Cottage      Hospital.      Brotton-in-Cleveland.    —  Miss 

Annie  W.  Moor  has  been  appoint-ed  Xurse  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Royal  Victoria  Hospital, 
Belfast,  and  subsequently  worked  at  the  Southern 
Hospital  (now^one  of  St.  Mary's  Hospitals),  Man- 
chester, and  has  had  experience  of  private  nursing. 

AsSIST.^NT    M.\TRON. 

Samuel   Lewis   Seaside   Convalescent   Home Miss    Eva 

Meyer  has  been  appointed  Assistant  Matron.  She 
was  trained  at  the  London  Hospital,  and  has 
worked  on  the  Private  Nursing  Staff  of  that  in- 
stitution. 

Sisters. 

Bradford    Union  Infirmary Miss       Annie      Osselton 

ha.s  been  appointed  Sister.  She  was  trained  in 
the  same  institution,  and  has  held  the  position  of 
Sister  at  the  Holt  Sanatorium,  Norfolk,  and  at 
the  Bagthorpe    Infirmary,   Nottingham. 

General  Hospital,  Creat  Yarmouth. — Miss  Ella  Hill 
has  been  appointed  SLster  in"  the  Children's  Ward. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Bedford  County  Hospital, 
and  has  held  the  position  of  Charge  Nurse  at  the 
Fever  Hospital,  Newcastle-on-Tyne,  and  of  Sister 
at  the  Children's  Hospital,  HesweU,  Cheshire,  and 
Holiday  Sister  at  the  Mount  Vernon  Hospital, 
Northwood. 

Cumberland  Infirmary,  Carlisle. — Miss  Grace  \»ade 
has  been  appointed  Sister.  She  was  trained  at  the 
Children's  Hospital,  Bradford,  and  the  Royal 
Infirmary,  Bristol,  and  has  done  Sister's 
holiday  duty  at  the  Children's  Hospital,  Pendle- 
bury.  She  is  a  certified  midwife  and  a  certificated 
masseuse. 

Night    Sister. 

General  Hospital,  Creat  Yarmouth. — Miss  A.  Charles- 
worth  has  been  appointed  Night  Sister.  She  was 
trained  at  the  General  Infirmary,  Huddersfield; 
where  she  has  held  the  position  of  Holiday  Night 
Sister.  She  has  also  taken  Sisters'  holiday  duty  at 
the  North  Staffordshire  Infirmary,  Stoke-on-Trent. 
Charge  Nurses. 
Hull  Infectious  Diseases  HospitaL — The  follon'ing 
Cliarge  Niirses  have  been  appointed: — Miss  Ger- 
trude M.  Green,  Assistant  Nurse  at  the  Hull  Hos- 
pital; Miss  Emma  A.  Moore,  at  present  working 
at  the  Borough  Sanatorium,  Gravesend ;  Miss 
Frances  M.  Povnton,  working  at  The  Infirmary. 
Grimsby;  Miss  Sarah  O.  Mansfield,  working  at 
the   Borough    Sanatorium,   Eastbourne. 


IRnvsing  j£cboes. 

Her  Majesty  the  Queen 
has  sent  a  gift  of  £5  to  Mrs. 
Tucker,  who  was  trained  as 
a  nui-se  at  the  Radclifie  In- 
firmaiy,  Oxford,  and  later 
worked  as  a  privat-e  nurse. 
Mrs.  Tucker  lost  her  hus- 
band about  three  years'  ago, 
since  which  time  she  has 
supplemented  her  small  in- 
come by  taking  in  lodgers. 
She  has,  however,  been  at- 
paralysis,  and  is  now  quite 
On  being  acquainted,  through 
a  nurse  friend  of  Mrs.  Tucker's,  of  her  condi- 
tion, the  Queen  instituted  inquiries,  and  sub- 
sequently sent  a  gift  of  £o,  accompanied  by  an 
expression  of  sympathy  with  this  disabled 
nurse  in  her  suffering. 


tacked 
helpless 


The  Bolton  Branch  of  the  St.  John  Ambu- 
lance Brigade  is  to  be  congratulated  that  dur- 
ing the  past  eighteen  months  eleven  members 
of  the  Corps'  divisions  have  entered  as  proba- 
tioners in  hospitals  in  Manchester,  Liverpool, 
Harrogate,  Bristol,  Bolton,  and  elsewhere. 
The  Association  will  do  a  very  useful  work  if 
it  will  inspire  its  members  to  obtain  a  thorough 
training  as  nurees.  The  lady  members  of  the 
Headquarters  Nursing  Division,  Bolton  Corps, 
of  the  Brigade,  recently  assembled  at  Head- 
quarters to  take  leave  of  jMiss  Mary  Moss,  a 
respected  member  who  is  entering  a  Liveipool 
hospital  for  training.  The  Lady  Superinten- 
dent, Mrs.  J.  Pendlebury,  presided,  and  con- 
veyed the  good  wishes  of  all  the  membere  to 
Miss  Moss,  and  Chief  Superintendent  F. 
Lomax  presented  her  in  their  name  with  a 
fitted  nurses'  wallet. 


It  is  satisfactory  to  note  that  trained  nurses 
may  now  teach  practical  nursing,  and  that 
Matrons  of  training  schools  will  help  to  examine 
the  pupils,  who  go  through  such  instruction  in 
connection  with  the  British  Eed  Cross  Society. 
This  is  a  decided  step  in  advance. 


Miss  Amy  Hughes,  General  Superintendent, 
Q.V.J. I.,  lias  returned  from  her  six  months' 
visit  to  Australia  and  Canada.  She  has  had 
a  most  inti>rosting  and  enjoyable  experience. 
We  should  like  to  see  Travelling  Scholarships 
endowed  for  nurses  as  part  of  the  special  educa- 
tion of  those  eligible  for  I^Iatronships  in  the 
larger  training  schools.  What  can  be  more 
cramping  and  injurious  to  the  mind  than  to 
go  round  and  round  in  one  narrow  institutional 


Nov.  19,  1910] 


Zbc  Britisb  3ournal  ot  IRursmo. 


•11' 


spoke  for  yeare  and  years,  and  then  be  placed 
iu  authority  over  a  great  educational  estabUsh- 
ment  requiring  the  most  liberal  knowledge  of 
man  and  mattei-s.  A  wide  knowledge  of  the 
world  should  be  the  necessary  equipment  of  a 
head  of  a  school — in  hospital  and  elsewhere. 
Otherwise  is  there  not  a  danger  of  the  apotheo- 
eis  of  the  pedant? 


The  Hospitals  Committee  of  the  British 
Medic-al  Association  has  expressed  itself  in 
favour  of  the  establishment  of  public,  self- 
supporting  home  hospitals,  to  meet  the  needs 
of  patients  who  cannot  afford  to  pay  the 
charges  of  a  private  nursing  home,  but  do  not 
desire  to  accept  the  charity  of  the  ordinary 
hospitals.  The  Westminster  Division  of  the 
B.M.A.  are  already  acting  in  this  matter,  and 
propose  to  erect  a  Home  Hospital  of  40  beds, 
in  Vincent  Square,  at  a  cost  of  £12,000,  on 
the  lat-est  principles,  and  at  a  varying  scale  of 
fees.  It  will  be  controlled  by  members  of  the 
medical  profession  in  conjunction  with  one  or 
two  business  men. 


We  are  glad  to  observe  that  the  Monthly 
Record  of  the  Penal  EefoiTii  League  approves 
the  suggestion  made  ui  this  journal  for  the 
formation  of  an  "  Elizabeth  Fry  League  "to 
improve  nui-sing  in  prisons,  and  asks  "  Why 
should  not  some  devoted  members  of  the 
Society  of  Friends  do  this?" 


A  new  monthly  magazine  is  to    be    issued 
shortly   in  the  interests  of  prison  warders. 


Columns  of  new  rules  have  been  defined  for 
the  management  of  the  North  Staffordshire 
Infirmary — 71  in  all — and  so  far  as  we  can 
gather  trained  nursing  is  to  be  omitted  from 
the  scheme  of  organisation.  No  professional 
standard  is  demanded  of  the  Matron  beyond 
the  fact  that  "she  shall  be  a  lady  who  pos- 
sesses knowledge  and  practical  expeiience  of 
nursing."  In  the  absence  of  the  Secretary 
and  House  Governor  who  is  to  have  "  control 
and  administration  of  the  hospital  in  all 
matters  except  the  medical  and  surgical  treat- 
ment of  patients,"  the  Matron  will  be  under 
the  authority  of  the  young  §enior  resident 
medical  officer,  who  is  to  act  as  "  head  of  the 
infirmary,  and  shall  be  responsible  for  the 
maintenance  of  order  and  good  conduct 
throughout  the  whole  establishment." 

No  provision  for  any  standard  of  training  for 
the  nurses  is  projected,  and  indeed  as  no  stan- 
dard of  discipline  amongst  the  nurses — the 
most  important  item  in  the  training — is  pos- 
sible where  their  senior  officer,  the  Matron,  is 


under  the  control  of  an  •inexperienced  young 
medical  man,  no  doubt  it  would  be  waste  of 
time  to  propose  either  an  ethical  or  profes- 
sional standard. 


It  is  high  time  in  the  interests  of  the 
patients,  and  for  the  reputation  of  the  North 
Staffordshire  Infirmary,  that  this  suggestion  of 
placing  women  under  the  control  of  young 
men  should  be  opposed  by  subscribers,  who 
desire  a  high  moral  tone  and  good  management 
maintained  in  this  public  institution. 

The  Matron  should  be  responsible  to  the 
Committee  for  the  Nursing  Department,  and 
should  have  direct  access  to  them,  and  if  this 
amount  of  authority  is  denied  to  her,  her  posi- 
tion is  untenable,  and  she  cannot  be  blamed 
for  the  inevitable  disorganisation  which  will 
result. 


The  result  of  the  "  Historic  "  Bazaar  in  aid 
of  the  Walsall  and  District  Hospital,  dear  to 
nurses  as  the  scene  of  Sister  Dora's  devoted 
labours,  proves  that  her  memory  is  still 
cherished  in  the  neighbourhood.  The  Com- 
mittee appealed,  as  we  last  week  stated,  for 
£3,000,  £2,000  to  pay  off  a  debt  on  the  new 
wards,  and  £1,000  towards  the  maintenance 
fund.  The  total  amount  paid  in  by  stall  holders 
was  £3,739,  which,  with  donations,  announced 
on  the  first  dav.  reached  a  grand  total  of 
£.5,184. 


The  General  JNIeeting  of  the  Whitehaven  and 
West  Cumberland  Infirmary  Ladies'  Linen 
League,  of  which  the  Countess  of  Lonsdale  is 
President,  and  Miss  Mai-y  C.  Fair,  a  trained 
nurse.  Hon.  Secretai-y  and  Treasurer,  held  its 
annual  meeting  at  the  institution  last  week, 
when  75  ladies  were  present.  The  Hon.  Secre- 
tary reported  that  485  articles  have  been  sent 
to  the  institution,  the  approximate  cost  of 
materials  (without  taking  into  consideration 
the  cost  of  making)  being  £43  9s.  lid.  iMrs. 
•Jackson  was  re-elected  Chairman  of  the  Execu- 
tive Committee,  and  other  business  having 
been  transacted,  the  ladies  present  inspected 
the  linen  supphed  through  the  efforts  of  the 
League,  and  much  satisfaction  was  expressed 
by  the  IMatron  at  the  number  and  excellent 
quality  of  the  articles  she  has  received.  The 
League,  which  has  only  recently  been  in- 
augurated, has  207  members. 


Lady  Stirling  Maxwell  will  preside  at  the 
Annual  :Meeting  of  the  Glasgow  and  West  of 
Scotland  Co-operation  of  Trained  Nurses, 
wliich  is  to  be  held  on  the  17th  inst.  at  the 
ClLiiiiie  Cms-;  Halls,  Glas^>w,    and  at  which 


418 


Zbc  'Bxitioh  3ountaI  of  iRursfuG. 


[Nov.  19,  1910 


Lady'Ure  Primrose  and  Professor  Glaister  wi 
be  among  the  speakers. 


iKeflecttons. 


The 


question  of  the  dietary  scale  lor  the 
nurses  and  officers  of  tlie  Belfast  Workhouse 
and  auxilian-  workhouse  were  recently  con- 
sidered by  the  Board  of  Guardians  in  com- 
mittee, under  the  chairmanship  of  Mr.  David 
Adams,  when  the  question  whether  or  not  the 
Board  should  continue,  or  discontinue,  the 
nurses'  luncheon  was  discussed  at  length.  Ul- 
timately the  Chairman  stated  that  the  Lady 
Superintendent,  Miss  Hewlett,  was  desirous 
that  the  luncheon  should  be  continued  to  the 
nurses,  and  suggested  that  the  proposal 
adopted  at  tlie  last  meeting  should  be  re- 
scinded, and  the  Board  of  Guardians  be  re- 
commended accordingly,  and  this  was  unani- 
mously agreed  to.  If  nurses  are  to  do  their 
work  effectively  in  the  forenoon,  a  light 
hmcheon,  aftei'  the  heavy  early  morning  task 
of  making  beds,  washing  patients,  and  general 
ward    work,    is   an   absolute    necessity,    not    a 

luxury.  

At  the  ajinual  meeting  of  tlie  friends  of  St. 
Vincent  de  Paul's  Nursing  Association,  held 
last  week  at  Limeriel;,  it  was  reported  that 
"  the  number  of  cases  treated  during  the  year 
wa.s  729,  as -against  779  in  the  previous  j"ear, 
and  the  manber  of  separate  visits  paid  was 
13,012,  which  is  very  slightly  less  than  that 
of  the  year  before,  which  was  the  highest  on 
record.  We  mention  this  to  show  that  some 
falling  off  in  the  number  'of  cases  does  not 
imply  a  decrease  of  the  work  done.  The  com- 
mittee have  again  to  thank  the  Sisters  of  Mercy 
and  the  Little  Company  of  Mary,  not  only  for 
the  splendid  work  done  by  them  in  the  actual 
nju'sing  but  for  the  generoiis  assistance  of 
many  kinds,  without  whicli  the  volume  of  our 
work  would  be  impossible.  It  is  right,  for  in- 
stance, to  ackuoM'ledge  that  the  Sisters  of 
Mercy  have  undertaken  the  supply  of  most  of 
the  medical  stores." 


The  November  nundier  of  the  .l)tirrir-(iii 
Jniirmil  of  Nursing  contains,  as  insets,  two 
ciianning  portraits  of  Mrs.  Hampton  Robh, 
which,  no  doubt,  will  be  prized  by  nurses  not 
only  in  America,  but  in  many  other  countries 
where  the  name  of  Isabel  Hampton  Robb 
stands  for  all  that  is  best  and  noblefJt  in  their 
profession.  One  portrait  represents  her  as 
a  .voung  nurse,  amusing  one  of  her  small 
patients,  the  other,  taken  since  her  marriage, 
is  the  best  ])ortrait  we  have  seen  of  her,  and 
we  hope  to  have  it  frnined  and  Innig  in  the 
Board  Room  at  431,  Oxford  Street,  W.,  the 
headquarters  ol  tlu'  Iiiti'matiiiniil  ('<iniu'il  of 
N'uises. 


From  a  Board  Room  Mibrob. 

The  King  has  consented  to  give  his  patronage 
to  tlie  Roral  Isle  of  Wight  Countv  Hospital, 
Rjtle. 

A  powerful  claim  has  been  made  by  the  Society 
of  Tropical  Medicine  and  Hygiene  for  the  endow- 
ment of  the  study  and  prevention  of  tropical  disease 
as  a  memorial  to  his  late  Majesty  King  Edward  VII. 


His  Majesty  the  Kiug  has  intimated  his  pleasure 
in  agreeing  to  the  proposal  that  the  new  east  wing 
of  the  Salford  Royal  Hospital  shall  be  called  "The 
King  Edward  VII.  Memorial  Wing."  The  wing 
will  contain  4.j  beds.  Mr.  Lawrence  Pilkington  has 
been   reappointed   Chairman. 

Surrey's  memorial  to  the  lat«  King  will  probably 
take  the  form  of  endowing  the  Convalescent  Home 
for  Children  at  Bognor.  The  Convalescent  Home 
fo-  Women  was  founded  as  a  memorial  to  the  late 
Queen  Victoria,  and,  there  being  also  a  home  for 
men,  it  is  felt  that  it  would  complete  the  scheme 
of  convalescent  homes  for  Surrey  if  that  for  chil- 
dren were  ])ut  on  a  secure  basis. 

A  county  meeting  recently  held  at  Stafford  de- 
cided to  establish  a  i'und  for  providing  a  .sana- 
torium for  the  tieatmeut  of  consumptive  cases  as 
a  memorial  to  the  late  King,  and  a  representative 
Committee  was  apix)inted  to  inaugurate  the 
scheme.  It  was  announced  that  an  anonymous 
donor  had  promised  £5,000  to  start  the  fund. 


Mr.  John  Burns,  M.P.,  President  of  the  Local 
Government  Board,  will  inaugurate  the  Park  Hos- 
pital, Hither  Green,  as  a  hospital  for  sick  and 
debilitated  children  on  Saturday,  November  19th, 
at  2.30  p.m. 


The  Chelsea  Hospital  for  Women  has  received 
a  551-ant  of  £105  from  the  Court  of  Common 
Council   of  the  City  of   London. 


Miss  Burrell,  of  Fairthorne  Manor,  Botley,  near 
Southampton,  has  offered  to  defray  the  entire  cost 
of  the  building  of  the  new  out-patient  department 
for  the  Royal  South  Hants  and  Southampton  Hos- 
pital ill  memory  of  her  brother,  Mr.  Burrell,  a 
Governor  of  the  hospital,  lately  deceased.  The 
building  is  cxpec-tcd  to  cost  about  £7,000. 

The  local  niomorial  at  Worthing  to  the  late  Mr 
Henry  Aubrey-Fletcher  has  taken  tho  fomi  of  ■. 
Home  for  the  Queen's  Xui-ses  in  the  town,  which 
will  supply  «  great  neinl.  Tlie  Home  was  rooeiitly 
o]>ened    bv    the    Mavor.    CounciUor    J.    G.    Dfiiton, 

.i.r. 

On  Thursday  in  la.st  week  the  annual  functions 
of  the  SaIo|)  Infirmary,  Shrew.sbury.  which  is  the 
third  oldest  hospital  in  the  Kingdom  outside  l<on- 
don.  took  ])hice,  After  the  anniversary  services,  the 
Mi'w  .\ur.s»"^s'  Home,  wlurli  has  been  built  at  a  cost 


Nov.  19,  loio: 


Zhc  Britisb  3ournal  of  ll^ursdia. 


419 


of  £9,000,  was  oix'iied  by  tlie  llvii.  Mis.  Hey\voo<l- 
Lonstlalf,  ot  Shavintjtoii,  wlio  iiiitiateil  the  pixv 
j«t,  aud  suUst-riljod  fl.OOO  to  tlie  fuutl. 

In  leipoiuliug  to  a  vote  ot  thanks  to  Jlre.  Hey- 
x\<io<l-Lousdale,  Captain  Hoywood-Lousdale  lueii- 
tioiied  that  a  scheme  of  supplying  hanipei-s  con- 
taining edibles  for  the  patients  had  proved  a  great 
teuocess,  aud  been  a  financial  bonofit  to  the  in- 
stitution. 


Local  interest  is  what  is  required  to  fight  con- 
sumption, and  at  a  county  meeting  held  at  Welsh- 
jjOoI  last  Saturday  Sir  Watkin  Williams  Wynn, 
Lord-Lieutenant  of  Montgomeryshire,  said  the 
people  of  North  and  South  Wales  looked  upon  them- 
selves as  two  different  peoples,  and  so  far  had  never 
f  unibiued  together,  but  they  could  not  \te  joined  in 
a  better  work  than  waging  war  upon  consumption. 
In  regard  to  that  scourge  Wales  was  one  of  the 
blackest  spots  in  the  United  Kingdom.  They  heard 
a  good  deal  about  Wales  having  built  churches  and 
cliapels  and  spent  a  great  deal  on  education,  but  up 
to  the  present  little  indeed  had  been  done  for  the 
health  of  the  people  generally,  and  possibly  that 
was  as  important  as  anything  else. 


Dr.  A.  Latham  said  consumption  cost  AVales 
1:400,000  a  year,  and  they  only  got  alleviation  of 
suffering  for  it,  whereas  if  they  took  prevention  as 
their  keynote  they  could  stamp  out  the  disease  in  a 
single  generation  for  £100,000  a  year.  A  County 
Committee  was  elected  to  further  the  scheme. 


It  has  been  decided  to  build  an  i  endow  a  hosiiital 
at  Broadford,  Skye,  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of 
Dr.  Mackinnon,  of  Strath.  The  hospital  will  supply 
a  great  want  in  the  east  of  the  island,  as  at  present 
patients  have  to  be  conveyed  for  long  distances  to 
obtain  hospital  treatment. 

BUSH  NURSING. 
-V  medical  practitioner  in  Tasmania,  writing  on 
the  subject  of  the  scheme  for  Bush  Nursing  in 
Australasia,  in  the  local  press,  after  laying 
.stiess  upon  the  fact  that  his  criticism 
in  not  unfriendly,  points  out  that  the  conditions 
pertaining  to  rural  England  bear  no  similarity  to 
the  contrary  conditions  of  Australian  country  life. 
He  considers  that  the  nurse  most  needed  in  back 
blocks  is  the  maternity  nurse,  who  is  a  crying 
necessity  in  every  bush  town,  and  that  the  agony 
of  motherhood  would  bo  enormously  lightened  if 
such  nurses  were   provided. 

THE  MEDICAL  SUPPLY  ASSOCIATION. 
Xurses  will  be  glad  to  know  that  the  Medical 
Supply  Association,  228  and  230,  Gray's  Inn  Road, 
W.C.,  has  now  branches  in  Edinburgh,  Glasgow, 
Sheffield,  Dublin,  and  Cardiff.  *rhe  firm  publishes 
a  most  useful  illustrated  catalogue  of  its  surgical 
dressings,  appliances,  aud  nursing  requisites,  which 
those  who  are  unable  to  visit  any  of  the  firm's 
establishments  should  keep  by  them  for  reference. 
We  may  draw  special  attention  to  the  maternity  bag 
supplied  to  the  educational  classes  of  the  London 
County  Council,  which,  without  fittings,  costs 
As.  9d.,  and  including  fittings  8s.  6d. 


Qutsi^c  tl?c  Gates. 

WOMEN. 

Last  week  was  ' '  Suff- 
rage Week,"  and  every 
day  great  demonstrations 
in  support  of  the 
Women's  Suffrage  Con- 
ciliation Bill  have  been 
held  in  different  parts 
of  Lohdon  under  the 
auspices  of  the  National 
Fnion  of  WonuT.'s  Sulfrage  Societies,  and  a  number 
of  other  Societies,  ending  with  the  united  mass 
meeting  in  the  Albert  Hall,  when  Mrs.  Henry 
Fawcett,  LLD.,  presided.  At  the  meeting  held  in 
the  St.  James's  Theatre  on  Tuesday,  9th  inst., 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Conservative  and  Women's 
Franchise  Association,  when  the  Countess  of  Sel- 
borne  was  in  the  chair,  Mr.  John.  Buchan  said  that 
"  Women  had  played  a  large  part  in  English  politics, 
but  they  played  it  underground.  They  desired  to 
stop  that.  They  wanted  to  improve  woman's  legiti- 
mate power  by  curtailing  her  illegitimate  power." 


At  a  reception  at  the  Chelsea  Town  Hall  the 
following  day  Lady  Frances  Balfour  said  that  she 
believed  the  Conciliation  Bill  would  be  simply  the 
stepping-stone  to  a  Bill  introduced  by  a  representa- 
tive Government.  The  Divorce  Commission,  of 
which  she  was  a  member,  had  been  listening  all  day 
to  the  views  of  the  industrial  and  working  class  of 
the  country,  and  she  did  not  think  she  had  ever 
listened  to  anything  that  was  a  stronger  and  more 
convincing  argument  as  to  the  need  for  representa- 
tive power  for  women.  She  would  that  such  things 
as  she  had  heard  that  day  could  go  forth  with  all 
their  burning  force  and  power  to  give  the  lie  to 
the  statement  that  women  had  nothing  to  com- 
plain of.  

The  meeting  on  Thursday  at  the  Albert  Hall, 
organised  by  the  Women's  Social  and  Political 
Union,  over  which  Mrs.  Pankhurst  presided,  was  an 
unqualified  success.  Every  seat  in  the  hall  was  filled, 
and  the  collection  opened  with  a  donation  of  £5,000, 
and  only  closed  when  the  sum  of  £9,000  was  reached. 


The  week's  demonstration  has  been  a  splendid 
success,  and  all  the  Societies  were  quite  determined 
and  united  in  calling  on  the  Government  to  grant 
facilities  for  the  Conciliation  Bill. 


The  Blackrock  Urban  Council,  on  the  motion  of 
Lady  Dockrell,  has  passed  the  following  strong  reso- 
lutions demanding  the  appointment  of  women  in- 
spectors of  lunatics  and  women  members  of  Asylum 
Committees: — (1)  Having  regard  to  the  fact  that 
nearly  half  the  lunatics  in  Ireland  are  females,  the 
Government  be  asked  to  appoint  a  lady  inspector 
to  visit  the  female  lunatics  in  Ireland ;  (2)  that, 
having  regard  to  the  large  number  of  female  luna- 
tics aud  to  the  increasing  o.xix'uditure  for  the  up- 
keep of  the  asylums  and  also  for  the  maintenance 
of  the  insane,  the  Government  be  asked  to  make  it 
compulsory  that  at  least  •ne  member  of  every 
Asylum  Committee  in  L-eland  should  be  a  woman. 


420 


Zl)C  Biitigb  Journal  of  IRursinG, 


[Nov.  19,  1910 


Bool?  of  tbe  Meek. 


MEZZOGIORNO* 

Mr.  Ayscough  deals  with  the  problem  of  mixed 
marriages  in  this  volume. 

A  Greek  Vice-Cousul,  taking  advantage  of  the 
friendless  position  of  a  young  English  girl,  marries 
her  before  the  Poppos,  and  omits  the  further  cere- 
mony in  the  English  Consulate. 

' '  Several  mouths  after  their  marriage  he  had 
occasion  to  go  to  Benghasi,  and  this  time  he  did 
not  take  his  nife  with  him.  .  .  .  He  had  written 
fairly  often,  and  she  did  not  expect  any  news  from 
him  more  important  than  the  news  of  his  return. 
She  was  in  the  garden  when  the  letter  was  brought 
to  her,  aud  she  at  once  shut  her  book  and  began 
reading  what  Eustachio  might  have  to  say.  She 
hoped  he  was  coming  home  soon ;  she  was  not  well 
and  was  feeling  rather  lonely." 

"Dear  Gillian,"  wrote  Eustachio,  "this  letter 
will  be  hard  for  you  to  read,  as  it  is  for  me  to  write. 
I  do  not  even  know  if  I  ought  to  begin  as  I  have 
begun.  Perhaps  I  have  no  right  to  call  you  any- 
thing more  than   '  Dear  Miss  Thessiger.'  " 

The  substance  of  the  renT,ainder  of  the  letter  was 
that  he  intended  to  repudiate  their  marriage,  and 
Gillian,  alone  in  Tripoli,  turns  to  her  Arab  servant, 
Bringali,  for  help  iu  her  terrible  position. 

"  I  sent  for  you  because  you  are  the  only  friend 
I  can  call  mine  in  the  world." 

She  spoke  iu  a  plain,  even  voice,  that  made  her 
words  seem  much  more  terrible  to  Bringali.  He  had 
always  thought  of  her  instinctively  as  a  great  lady, 
belonging  to  the  greatest  of  all  great  poeple ;  her 
marriage  had  seemed  to  his  faultless  instinct  an 
inconceivable  condescension.  Perhaps  he  was  even 
shocked  at  hearing  himself  called  her  friend. 

He  touched  his  forehead,  his  lips,  and  his  breast, 
and  then  the  ground  at  her  feet.  "  Your  slave,"  he 
said. 

We  next  meeting  Gillian  in  England,  a  beautiful 
young  widow,  bearing  the  title  of  Duchesse  di  Torre 
Grecci.  The  old  Duke,  her  husband,  had  married 
her  fully  cognisant  of  her  misfortune,  and  died 
leaving  her  "  all  he  could,  for  he  adored  her,  and 
she  had  been  a  devoted  wife." 

An  unusual  episode  in  the  book  is  the  wonderful 
effect  her  superb  vitality  produces  on  Mark 
Herrick,  a  young  labourer,  whom  she  accidentally 
discovers  during  one  of  her  rambles. 

"  In  a  bed  opposite  the  open  door  lay  the  young 
man.  .  .  .  His  frame  was  large  and  had  been  un- 
usually strong,  but  every  time  he  coughed  he  was 
almost  shaken  to  pieces.  .  .  .  No  one  could  look  at 
him  aud  fail  to  see  how  closely  death  was  pressing 
on  him,  nor  how  passionately  he  clung  to  life." 

He  himself  describes  his  former  joie  de  vivre  in  a 
remarkably  fine  passage  : — 

"  I  like  the  sun  and  the  earth;  the  night  and  the 
stars,  seeing  them,  I  mean  ;  not  hearing  folks  telling 
fine  things  about  them.  I  liked  ploughing  and  the 
smell  of  the  new  furrows,  and  to  watch  the  starlings 
and  rooks  waddling  along  after  me.  I  liked  going 
out  of  a  January  morning  when  everything  was  frost 

*  By   .John    Ayscough.     (Chatto    and   Windus.) 


white,  before  the  suu  was  up,  and  I  had  it  all  to^ 
myself.  .  .  .  And  I  liked  it,  too,  coming  home  to 
mv  meat,  when  the  fog  was  crawling  along  the  river 
bottoms,  and  the  smoke  stood  out  from  the  cottage 
chimneys,  and  folks  bawled  out  '  Freeze  again  to- 
night, Mark.  Turble  rotten  weather  for  the  roads ; 
but  'elthy.  'Ope  yer  mother's  pretty  spankish.  It's 
grand  to  be  alive.  I  expect  nothing  else  will  come 
up  to  it.   ..." 

His  dark,  burning  eyes  were  fastened  upon  her, 
and  he  shook  as  he  said  : 

"  'Order  me  to  live.' 

"  '  Order  you  !  ' 

''  '  Yes.  ...  I  would  obey  you  and  come  back  if 
I  were  already  dead.' 

"  He  made  no  effort  to  keep  back  the  adoration 
that  flamed  in  his  eyes.   .  .  . 

"  •  Mark,''  she  said,  I  cannot  order  you.  .  .  . 
And  it  should  be  enough  if  I  were  to  ask  you  ta 
do  what  you  can  to  live.'  " 

He  recovers,  but  we  have  no  space  to  record  the 
sequel.  H.  H. 

COMING     EVENTS 

N,,uveinhcr  10th. — Nurses'  Missionary  League. 
Sale  of  Work,  52,  Lower  Sloane  Street,  S.W.  11.30 
a.m.  to  6  p.m. 

November  19th. — Meeting  of  the  Central  Com- 
mittee for  Registi-ation  of  Nurses,  Council  Room, 
British  Medical  Association  Office,  429,  Strand, 
London.  The  R'ight  Hon.  the  Lord  Amptlnll, 
G.C.I.E.,  will  preside,  3  p.m. 

November  I'.HIi. — Mr.  John  Burns,  M.P.,  Presi- 
dent Local  Government  Board,  inaugurates  the 
Park  Hospital,  Hither  Green,  as  a  Children's  Hos- 
pital.    2.30  p.m. 

November  SJikJ. — Nurses'  Missionary  League. 
Lecture:  "What  the  Twentieth  Century  Nurses 
may  Learn  from  the  Nineteenth."  by  Mi.>is  Fox. 
Matron,  Prince  of  Wales's  Hospital,  Tottenham, 
10.30  a.m. 

Sovember  24tli. — National  Union  of  Women 
Workers  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland.  Private 
Conference  on  "  Hygiene  in  Relation  to  Rescue 
Work,"  Oaxton  Hall,  S.AV.  Admission  by  ticket 
only.     10.30  a.m.  to  1  p.m.  ;  2.30  p.m.  to  4.30  p.m. 

yovember  2ith. — .Association  for  Promoting  the 
Training  and  Supply  of  Midwives.  Meeting  of  the 
Council,  2,  Cromwell  Houses  (23,  Cromwell  Road, 
S.W.),  3  p.m. 

November  2.5 f/i,— Central  Midwives'  Board,  Cas- 
ton  House,  S.W.,  2.45  p.m. 

November  Jflth. — Mr.  John  Burns,  M.P.,  Presi- 
dent Local  Government  Board,  opens  the  Wands- 
worth New  Infirmary. 

November  S'.Hh .—Vrisan  Reform  League  Meeting, 
Caxton  Hall,  8  p.m. 

Deeember  7th. — Royal  Infirmary,  Edinburgh. 
Lecture  on  "The  Nursing  of  Neurasthenic  and 
Hysterical  Patients,"  by  Dr.  Edwiu  Bramwell.  .MI 
trained  nurses  oordiallv  invited.  F.xtra-MurnI 
Metlioal  Thentn-.     4.30  p.m. 


WORD    FOR   THE    WEEK. 
"  ^ly  motliir  tmiijlit  mc   never  to  Iauj;b   ;it  my- 
self, but  always  to  roniembor  that  I  was  the  handi- 
work of  God.''  T„VM,VltTINK. 


Nov.  19,  1910] 


^hc  Buitisb  5outnai  ot  IRuvsiny, 


v-t^' 


Xcttci'5  to  tbe  ]e^itor. 


^  \VhUat  cordially  inviting  com- 
munications upon  all  subjecti 
for  these  columns,  we  icish  it 
to  be  distinctly  understooa 
that  u-e  do  not  in  ant  wax 
hold  ourselves  responsible  for 
the  opinions  expressed  by  our 
correspondents. 


m 


THE  SOUL  OF  JOURNALISM. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  yursing." 

Dear  Madam, — I  hope  you  will  allow  one  of  the 
humblest  of  your  collaborators  to  take  the  oppor- 
tunity of  your  most  worthy  election  to  the  position 
of  President  of  the  Society  of  Women  Journalists 
not  only  to  congratulate  you,  but  to  thank  you  for 
?'l  that  you  and  your  Journal  Have  done  for  the 
nursing  profession. 

Throughout  the  whole  of  your  journalistic  career 
you  have  stood,  not  alone  for  what  is  progressive 
in  nursing,  but  also  for  what  is  right  and  honest 
and  just,  nor  have  you  ever  been  weak  enough  to 
allow  the  present  need  to  obscure  your  vision  of  a 
wider  scope  of  usefulness,  of  a  higher  and  better 
future  for  us. 

You  liave  not  yet  placed  the  coping-stone  on  your 
work,  not  yet  does  nursing  take  its  place  among 
the  recognised  professions ;  but  that  that  event 
lanks  no  longer  amongst  the  possibilities,  nor  even 
the  probabilities,  but  the  certainties  of  the  future, 
we  owe  to  you  and  your  pen.  There  is  a  saying, 
'■  What  shall  it  profit  a  man  if  he  gain  the  whole 
world  and  lose  his  own  soul?  "  and  you  have  taken 
for  your  motto,  '■  What  shall  it  profit  the  nursing 
profession  if  it  gain  the  whole  material  world  and 
lose  its  soul?"  You  have  admitted  our  frailties 
and  have  not  spared  our  faults,  but  you  have  allowed 
us  a  professional  soul. 

You  do  not  know  the  meaning  of  the  word  ' '  sur- 
.ender,''  and  you  have  taught  us. that  there  is  no 
such  word  as  despair. 

You  have  shirked  no  work,  no  drudgery,  to  up- 
hold the  honour  and  dignity  of  our  profession,  and 
we  should  be  ingrates  indeed  if  we  did  not  recog- 
nise and  appreciate  the  high  toil  in  which  tou 
have  spent  your  life  for  us. 

I  voice  the  feelings  of  thousands  of  nurses  when 
1  thank  you  for  all  that  you  have  done  for  us  and 
expres-s  the  pride  we  all   feel  in  the  honour  that 
has  been  paid  to  our  great  nursing  journalist. 
I  am,  Madam, 

Yours  gratefully, 

M.    Moi.LETT. 

i\uval  .South  Hants  and  Southampton 

Hospital. 
[Thank   you,    dear   collaborator,    we   are    deepiv 
gratified. — Ed.] 

JUSTICE  TO  FEVER    NURSES 

To  the  Editor  of  the  "British  Journal  of  yursing." 

Madam. — One  l.isl  word  in  rt>ply  to  "  E.  G.  F." 

■'  E.  G.  F."  suggests  that  the  party  with  whom 

she  acts  are  the  real  frioids  of  fever  nurses,  and 

that  those  with  whom    1    act  desire  to  keep   fever 


nurses  in  a  .subordinate  position,  "  half  trained," 
and  "'  at  the  mercy  of  municipal  bodies  who  govern 
fevtT  hospitals."  Let  me  explain,  parenthetically, 
that  although  I  am,  as  "E.  G.  F."  designates  me. 
Medical  Officer  of  Health  for  Port  Gb  ^ow,  I  am 
also  County  Medical  Officer  for  Renfrewshire. 

Xow,  what  are  the  real  practical  alternatives 
before  fever  nurses?  The  finst  is  the  certificate  of 
the  I'^ever  Nurses'  Association  (a  self-constituted 
body),  given  on  a  two  years'  training,  with  a 
single  examination — of  a  sort.  The  second  alterna- 
tive is  that  which  we  advocate — a  place  on  the 
Register  of  Fever  Nurses,  carrying  with  it  a  statu- 
tory certificate,  .given  after  a  training  and  examina- 
tions prescribed  by  a  statutory  body.  With  this 
we  associate  a  reciprocal  arrangement  whereby 
training  in  a  hospital  for  infectious  diseases  (includ- 
ing phthisis)  shall  count  as  part  of  the  training 
for  a  place  on  the  general  Nurses'  Register,  and 
training  in  a  general  hospital  shall  count  as  part 
of  the  training  for  a  jilace  on  the  Fever  Nurses' 
Register.  Who,  then,  is  it  whose  action  would  keep 
the  fever  nurses  in  a  subordinate  and  "  half- 
trained  "  position? 

"E.  G.  F."  says  that  the  Nui-sci>'  Registration 
Bill  "  claims  power  for  the  registration  of  a  fever- 
nursing  qualification,  in  addition  to,  or  in  conjunc- 
tion w-ith,  a  general  nursing  qualification."  But 
what  is  this  "fever-nursing  qualification''  under 
the  Bill?  In  the  words  of  the  Bill  '"  the  certificate 
of  the  Fever  Nurses'  Association  or  its  equivalent." 
And  the  fee  for  registration  is  half-a-crown,  while 
the  fee  for  registration  on  the  general  Nurses'  Re- 
gister is  two  guineas.  That  shows  the  respective 
values  of  the  two  qualifications  as  estimated  by  the 
supporters  of  the  Bill. 

I  have  said  that  there  are  practically  only  two 
alternatives  for  the  fever  nur.so  desiring  registra- 
tion. But  "  E.  G.  F."  says  there  is  the  alternative 
provided  by  the  Bill.  Observe  how  that  discrimi- 
nates against  the  fever  nurse.  A  yomg  nurse  start- 
ing in  a  general  hospital  can  obtain  a  registrable 
qualification  in  three  years.  A  young  nurse  starts 
ing  in  a  hospital  for  infectious  disease  cannot  ob- 
tain a  registrable  qualification  within  five  years — 
at  least.  But  •TC.  G.  F."'  is  the  friend  of  the  fever 
nurse!  I  am  afraid  the  fever  nurse  will  be  inclined 
to  ci-y — Preserve  me  from  my  friends. 
I  am,  yours  faithfully, 
A.  C'AMPnELL  Muxno.  M.B.,  D.Sc. 

[The  claim  of  the  N\irses  Registration  Bill  that 
all  nurses  should  be  required  to  have  a  basis  of 
general  training  is  endorsed  by  tlie  Fever  Nur.ses" 
Association,  the  only  Society  in  wliidi  Fever  Nvirses 
(with  medical  practitioners)  are  a.s.so(iated  together 
with  the  special  object  of  promoting  their  profes- 
sional interests,  and  by  Miss  E.  A.  Stei'enson,  a 
Vice-President  of  the  Scottish  Nurses'  Association, 
who  has  ably  voiced  the  views  of  many  .Scottish 
nurses.  As  the  question  is  one  which  primarilv 
^ifl'ects  the  nurses,  their  opinions  should  have  futl 
weight  on  this  matter. — Ed.] 

IRotice. 

OUR  PUZZLE  P&IZE. 
Rules   for  competing  for  t' e     Pictorial    Piizzli 
Prize  will  be  found  on  .Vdvertisement  page  sii. 


122         jjbe  36ritt6b  3ournaI  oi  IHursina  Supplement.   [Nov.  19,  mo 

The    Midwife. 


?ibe  Central  flDibwives  Boai&. 

LIST  OF  SUCCESSFUL  CANDIDATES. 

At  the  examination  of  the  Central  Midwives' 
Board,  held  on  Ocd;ober  24th,  iu  London,  Provin- 
cial, and  "Welsh  centres,  640  candidates  were  ex- 
amined, and  534  passed  the  examiners.  The  per- 
centage of  failures  was  16.6. 
London. 

British  Lying-in  Hospital. — D.  Griffith,  E.  M. 
Jenkins,  G.  Trotter,  A.  Waldherr,  E.  M.  Warren. 

Cily  of  London  Lyinij-in  Hospital. — L.  'M.  Bar- 
rett, ^r.  Barron,  A  G.  Cadle,  C.  Cockayne,  A.  H. 
Ue  Cobain,  ^j.  E.  Drabble,  M.  Duncan,  M.  Evans, 
A.  Garratt,  L.Hughes,  E.  H.  Leigh,  M.  "W.  Mc- 
Mahon,  A.  M.  M.  Niesigh,  F.  A.  Rutherford.  F. 
G.  G.  Smith,  E.  S.  Williams. 

Clapham  Maternity  Hospital. — M.  Brown,  M. 
E  Clift,  I.  C.  Douglas,  M.  E.  Hayden,  D.  F. 
Jeffrey,  H.  A.  Roberts,  A.  Stepper. 

East  End  Mothers'  Kome.—^.  F.  Dance,  B.  De 
Monti,  F.  Grant,  E.  M.  Halford,  K.  Pyle,  M.  WU- 
son,  C.  A.  Woodward. 

General  Lying-in  Hospital. — L.  L.  Beddy,  B.  M. 
Clarke,  E.  H.  Daniell,  A.  De  Zoete,  A.  M. 
Farmer,  A.  Gittins,  W.  L  Hoare,  E.  C.  Jacob,  E. 
M  Jarvis,  L.  I.  Jenkins,  R.  A.  Keays,  H.  A.  Ken- 
nard,  M.  J.  Kitteringham,  E.  M.  Lucy,  M.  C. 
McLachlan,  C.  A.  New,  E.  M.  Plumptre,  E.  Rey- 
nolds, M.  E.  Richardson,  H.  Rydiug,  C.  J.  Savery, 
M.  M.  A.  Spurway,  M.  E.  Waller,  K.  Whitsed,  G. 
Willamot. 

6uy'.i  Institution. — H.  M  Banbury,  E.  V. 
Kranss,  E.  J.  Lucas,  D.  Oliver,  A.  S.  M.  Tucker. 

Kensington   Union   Infirmary. — E.   M.    Smith. 
•  London    Hospital. — E.    E.    Ashton,    C.    Hughes, 
W.  J.  Humphry,  E.  C.  Nicholas,  M.  A.  L.  Robins, 
E.  B.  Ilobin.s<)n,  T.  E.  Smith. 

Middlesex  Hosiyital.—C.  W.  Cross,  I.  F.  Hab- 
good,  M.  Phillips,  A.  K.  Rowlatt,  S.  H.  L.  Tre- 
now,  G.  C.  Tustian. 

New  Hospital  for  M'omen. — E.  M.  Hansard,  C. 
L.  Longley. 

"  Uegions  Beyond  "  Missionary  Union. — R.  E. 
:Mo«it(Mi,  G.  M.  Odling,  L.  Tyrrell. 

Queen  Charlotte's  Hospital.— M.  Blenkiron,  F. 
J  Braidwood,  E.  Brooks,  A.  M.  Browning,  E. 
Bu.sh,  J.  M.  Cole,  A.  David,  C.  A.  Evans,  E.  R. 
Hamshorc,  M.  Hoisloy,  A.  iL  Jackman,  51.  Koith, 
J.  Kesteven,  A.  Lee,  L.  Markham,  H.  Maughan, 
U.  J.  Pearse,  E.  V.  Pocock,  D.  L.  E.  Stephen- 
son, F.  E.  Warren,  A.  C.  AVeller,  J.  E.  Whelan, 
L.   R.   AVyatt. 

Sahmlion  Army  Maternity  Hospital.— W.  Bird, 
C  E.  Cole,  B.  L.  Dennis,  M.  Gilligan,  H.  Hack- 
ney, A.  E.  Manwariiig,  S.  E.  Meharg,  E.  G.  Saun- 
ders, Id.  K.  Trille,  G.  Webb., 

West  Hani  liorfe/iot/sc— R.  Day,  F.  Lea,  E.  -\L 
Olson. 

Woolwich  Military  FamiUcs  Hosintal.—'M.  C. 
Barficld,  D.  Woodford. 


Phovinces. 

Aliler.-ihot.  Louise  Margaret  Hospital. — C.  M. 
Beck,  E.  D.  E.  Craddock,  M.  A.  Donaldson,  M. 
Goodwin,   C.  T.   Tompkins. 

Bradford  Union  Hospital. — A.  Baines,  G.  Long, 
M.   M.  Niohol. 

Birkenhead  Maternity  Hospital. — -W.  V.  Baker, 
M.  Davies,  J.  Henuessv,  X,  Higginbottom,  A.  L. 
Telfer,  E.  Whitaker,  R.  Whitfield. 

Birmingham,  .iston  Union  Workhouse. — A.  Ed- 
wards, B.  J.  Peters,  F.  A.  Wilkins. 

Birmingham  Maternity  Hospital. — E.  Arnold, 
N.  Beddow,  E.  Chadwick,  E.  E.  W.  Cooper,  M.  A. 
Daly,  E.  A.  Hiuton,  S.  Ikin,  E  A.  Kay,  R.  Mat- 
thews, M.  B.  R.  Stevens,  S.  Swinden,  E  M.  Town- 
send,  F.  West,  L.  M.  Whitmore. 

Birmingham  Workhouse  Infirmary. — M.  D. 
Ca.shmore,  E.  D.  Knight,  M.  A.  Reid,  H.  T.  Rid- 
dell,  M.  A.   Rogers,  B.  H.  Rollin.son. 

Brighton  arid  Hove  Hospital  for  M'omen. — E.  S. 
Clarke,  F.  G.  Cramp,  A.  E.  Fanshawe,  M. 
Greener,   E.  F.  White. 

Bristol  General  Hospital. — J.  S.  Croly,  E. 
Dagger,  L.  J.  Davies,   E.  Lowe,   E.  A.  Webb. 

Bristol  Royal  Infirmary. — M.  A.  M.  D.  Bartle- 
man,  M.  H.  Beauchamp,  A.  L.  Hibbert,  M.  Hig- 
gins,  E.  M.  Knight,  E.  M.  Lynch. 

Cheltenham  District  Sursing  .issociafion. — J. 
C    Clow,  A.  E.   A.   Harrison,  X.   O'SuUivau. 

Chester  Benevolent  Institution. — E.  Hodson,  M. 
J.  Jones,  J.  L.  Payne,  A.  Townend. 

Devonport  Military  Families  Hospital. — A.  M. 
Riches. 

Devon  and  Cornwall  Training  School. — L.  A. 
Chard,  L.  Clatworthv,  M.  J.  Pascoe,  H.  Quick, 
M.  A.  Sleep,  M.  L.  AVilliams. 

Gloucester  District  Nursing  Society. — D.  E. 
Edgley,  M.  E.  Higgs,  J.  Main. 

Greeniciclt.   Union   Infirmary. — E.    Billing. 

Hull  Lying-in  Charity.— R.  Hewlett,  A.  Hol- 
royd. 

Ipsxrich  Nurses'  Home. — C.  E.  Durrant,  G.  M. 
0.   Goodwin,  K.  Ward. 

Leeds  Maternity  Hospital.— M.  E.  Browne.  I. 
Cockshott,  J.  E.  Dorman.  K.  E.  Jagger,  E.  M. 
Johnson,  E  A.  ^[artiuiss,  E.  M.  Snow,  51.  H.  1). 
Wilson. 

Liverpool  Maternity  Hospital. — L.  H.  Ankers, 
M.  A.  Bond.  G.  E.  Brookes,  K.  Cleaver.  S.  Ccnk- 
Icy,  J.  Cnnliffe,  M.  Dabell,  C.  M.  Davoy,  M. 
Davies,  E.  Dunning,  M.  A.  Formby,  J.  E.  Hwloy, 
A.  E.  Honcyball,  P.  Huggins,  A.  Jones,  E.  A. 
Lupton.'E.  Slaltby,  A.  Merry,  A.  I.  Reid,  E.  A. 
Rigbv,  G.  S.  Robinson,  A.  Rodick,  H.  D.  Ross, 
L.  t'.  Rowcll.  S.   R.  Skilling.  S.  "A.   Southeran. 

T,ireri»Hil.  Wr.'it  Derby  Union  Infirmary. — L. 
M.  Baird,  M.  Dcmpsey,  E.  Edwards,  E.  G. 
Moalor,   A.   Si.ruoe,   F.    G.    Webster. 

I.irerpool  Wnrkhnvsc  Infimary. — S.  E.  Brown, 
S    Kckton.  A.  Grey,  M.  A.  Lewis,  E.  J.  Skeppor, 

Manchester.   Chorltoii  Union  Hospitals. — E.   M. 


Nov.  19, 1910;    ^\jQ  ffiritisb  journal  of  HAursinQ  Supplement.       ^-s 


Hobday,   F.  Wagstaff,  il.   E.    Williams.  H.  Wren- 
nail. 

Mtinchester,  St.  Mary's  Hospitals. — M.  J.  Bray, 
A.  A.  Chorlton,  E.  Edwards,  S.  F.  Fox,  C.  Geog- 
hegan.  M.  A.  Gordon.  B.  Hargraves,  E.  E. 
Higham,  F.  M.  Hill,  G.  A.  Hill,  K.  Kay,  C.  Lees, 
E.  A.  Proctor.  M.  J.  Taylor,  L.  M.  Tomlinson, 
N.  Tootall,  S.  A.  Wood,  E.Woods. 

Manchester  Workhousf    Infirmary. — L.   Ingham. 

Monmouthshire  Traininfi  Centre.— R.  Lewis,  A. 
M.  Martin,  M.  E.  Tranter,  E.  S.  Webb,  J.  W^oore. 

Seucasth-on-Tyne  Maternity  Hospital. — E.  M. 
Co-wen,   A.    E.    Johnson,    C.    H.   Thompson. 

Sencastle-on-Tyne  Union  Hospital. — M.  Coul- 
son,  L.  Dennis. 

yorivich  Maternity  Charity. — M.  V.  Arnold,  B. 
Saunders,  A.  J.  Strike. 

yottingham  Workhouse  Infirmary. — E.  L.  Cal- 
vert, E.   Innocent,  E.  G.  Saunders. 

Ptaistow  Maternity  Charity.— X.  E.  S.  Bishop, 
E.  F.  S.  Blackwell,  E.  M.  Butler,  A.  Clarke,  E. 
Cumberworth.  E.  E.  H.  Goddard,  E.  A.  GriffitB<i, 
N.  C.  G.  Grove,  I.  M.  Harris,  B.  L.  Harvey,  H.  Har- 
wood.  F.  L.  Hawes,  M.  Ireland,  E.  M.  A.  Jenkins, 
M.  A.  Killin,  E.  Knight,  A.  R.  Levin,  E.  Lifford. 
J.  (;.  McDowall,  C.  Matson,  E.  J.  Nichols,  E.  E. 
Owon.  A.  Pan-v,  C.  S.  Pearce,  H.  Pilmore,  M. 
M.  Powis.  M.  E.  Rothwell,  E.  L.  Searle.  N.  E. 
Singleton,  E.  M.  Sterry.  F.  M.  Tucker,  E.  Wil- 
kinson, H.  Wilson,  L.  M.  Withers,  A.  M.  Wood- 
ward. 

Portsmouth  Military  Families'  Hospital. — S.  A. 
Crawshaw. 

Sheffield.  -Jcssop  Hospital.— ^l.  A.  Cutts,  S.  J. 
Fackrell,  E.  J.  Mulford,  A.  J.  Sandford,  A.  Stirk. 

Shorncliffe.  Helena   Hospital.— E.   F.  North. 

Wolverhampton.  Q.V . J.N.I. —L.  E.  M.  Ham- 
mond, E.  Harrington.  E.  Howes,  H.  E.  C.  M.  J. 
Miller. 

Wolverhampton  Union  Infirmary. — A.  Davies, 
A.  M.  Hipkins,  H.  F.  Hobbs,  G.  A.  Mellor,  L. 
Taylor. 

Wales. 

Cardiff,  Q.r.J.N.I.—E.  M.  Burrows,  E.  Carter, 
G.  S.  Davies,  A.  Enticott,  E.  M.  Gough,  M. 
Jenkins,  M.  A.  Jones,  A.  N.  Spiller,  M.  Thomas. 

SC0TL.\SD. 

Aberdeen   Maternity   Hospital. — B.   Renuie. 

Dundee  Maternity  Hospital. — C.  M.  Champney. 
A.  G.  Fairley,  L.  Fraser,  M.  Gibney,  J.  D.  Law, 
C.  Mackenzie,  E.  MacLeod,  A.  G.  M.  Miller,  M. 
Taylor. 

Edinburgh  lioyal  Maternity  Hospital. — I.  M. 
Davidson,  M.  Glasgow,  M.  J.  Martin,  F.  M. 
Tulloch,   J.  Y.  Walker.   M.   G.  Whamniond. 

Glasgrnc.  Eastern  Distriet.—C.  Baillie,  M.  S. 
Druramond,  C.   McDonald. 

Giasgou-  Maternity  Hospital. — J.  W.   Angus,  A. 

E.    Bate,  F.  L.  Eaton,   C.   W.   Greenhorn,  J.    K. 

Hamilton,    H.    B.    Laidlaw,    M.    Maclure,    M.    M. 

McNab,  C.  M.  Morton,  A.  Palframan,  M.  Wright. 

Ireland. 

Belfast  Union  Maternity  Hospital. — M.  A.  Hig- 
giii.s,  C.  Moore,  M.  Shannon,  M.  J.  Taylor. 

T>iihlin,  Coombe  Lying-in  Hospital.— E.  Gra- 
ham,   M.    Tyldesley. 

Dublin,    liotunda    Hospital. — S.   Buckley,  I.   A. 


lluglu's.  K.  M.  Jonuer.  A.  Llovd,  C.  McNichol,  M 
L.   Watson,  L.  C.   West,  A.  Wood. 
Private  Tuition. 
J.    C.   Anderison,   A.    Andrews,    R.    Appleton,   E. 
L.    Arber,     L.     M.    Arnold,    M.    Atkinson,    A.    H. 
Atthill,  H.  Austin,  A.  C.  Backhouse,  G.  Barr.  M. 
E.  Benton,  A.  Bird,  A.  Black,  B.  Boulton,  H.  Bow- 
den,   A.    Boyd,   X.    ]j.    Braley.    E.   Bridgwood,    E. 
Broom,  E.   F.  Brown,  S.  E.  Brvan,  K.  S.   Buckell, 

E.  .\I.  Budd.  S.  Burnley,  F.  A.  Buttifant,  E.  E. 
Canicroii,  M.  M.  Chesney,  F.  L.  Clark,  L.  R. 
Clark,  L.  M.  M.  Goggle,  E.  G.  M.  Cole,  A.  Collins, 
A.  Cooper,  A.  Coulson,  E.  Cronk,  M.  S.  Currie, 
M.  Curtis,  K.  I.  D.  Dale,  B.  Dawson,  M.  C.  E. 
de  la  Poer  Beresford,  M.  L.  Deuner,  H.  Dixon, 
R  Drabble,  H.  G.  Dunn,  F.  M.  Eddie,  H.  M. 
Else,    M.    Fletcher,    M.    Forster,    C.    G.    Foster, 

F.  Fox,  M.  E.  Fox,  P.  Frith,  S.  E.  Gamble,  E. 
M.  Garner,  E.  M.  Gillard,  F.  Glen,  C.  M.  J. 
Grant,  E.  K.  V.  Green,  L.  Gwynne,  E.  HalLam, 
M.  C.  Hanna,  C.  M.  Hannan,  E>  Harries,  E. 
Harris,  E.  M.  Harris,  E.  M.  Hart.  I.  A.  Helm, 
H.  E.  Henrick,  F.  L.  Henton,  A.  B.  Hollies,  A.  R. 
Hewlett,  A  E.  Jones,  C.  Jones,  C.  M.  Jones,  E. 
S.  Jones,  E.  L.  King.  R.  Kirkwood,  E.  A.  M. 
Kneale,  A.  Laidlaw,  R.  Lawson,  A.  Lidington, 
M.  E.  Lord,  I.  S.  Love.  A.  Lyon,  F.  M.  B.  Mc- 
Dowell, M.  A.  McErlane,  J.  McLeish,  J.  Mc- 
Mahon,  A.  M.  C.  Marks,  E.  E.  Martin,  E.  J. 
Martin,  S.  Mullett,  J.  Murphy,  M.  E.  Newman. 
C.  M.  Norman,  A.  M.  O'Gormau,  M.  Oliver, 
E.  A.  Omerod,  H.  A.  Osbv,  L.  C.  A.  Pavelv,  K. 
L.  Pettitt.  D.  P.  Phillips.  M.  A.  Price,  C.  Rees, 
J.  Reston,  A.  Richards,  H.  M.  Rickaby,  E.  A.  L. 
Rose,  L.  Rose.  L.  E.  Russell,  E.  Sanderson,  F. 
H.  Seaman,  S.  E.  Sellers,  E.  Shanahan,  J.  Shel- 
don, M.  E.  .Slack,  G.  E.  Smith,  S.  E.  A.  Smith, 
E  J.  Smith-West,  A.  Staddon.  A.  H.  Steen,  H. 
J.  Stevens,  S.  H.  P.  Sulivan,  A.  Sutherland,  L. 
E.  Taylor,  A.  M.  Tew,  E.  N.  Thorn,  E.  J. 
Thomas,  M.  Thompson,  M.  D.  Thomson,  B. 
Tottv,  L.  Tieias,  I.  Urwin.  L.  A.  Wallace. 
M.  Wallace.  A.  M.  Waish,  C.  A.  Ward, 
E.  W.  Wass.  L.  Wilks.  A.  N.  Williams, 
J.  AVilliams,  S.  K.  Williams,  M.  Wilson,  M.  H. 
Wingate,  M.  A.  A.  Wise,  W.  Wratt«n,  J.  M. 
Vounc 


THE  EXAMINATION  OF  THE  CENTRALf^ 
MIDWIVES  BOARD. 
The  next  examination  of  the  Central  Midwives' 
Board  will  be  held  at  the  Examination  Hall,  Vic- 
toria Embankment,  London,  W.C.,  ou  December 
16th,  1910,  and  the  oral  examination  will  follow 
a  few  days  later.  The  February  examination  (Feb. 
14th,  1911)  will  be  held  in  both  London  and  the 
Provinces. 


THE    ASSOCIATION    FOR     PROMOTING     THE 
TRAINING    AND   SUPPLY   OF   MIDWIVES. 

A  mooting  of  the  Council  of  the  Association  for 
Promoting  the  Training  and  Supply  of  Midwives 
will  be  hold  at  2,  Cromwell  Houses  (23,  Cromwell 
Road),  on  Thursday,  November  24th,  at  3  p.m. 
After  the  business  of  the  Council  has  been  tran- 
sacted an  address  will  be  givM  by  the  Lady  S;. 
David's.  " 


424 


Zbc  36riti5b  3ouinal  c!  iRursing  Supplement,  lxqv.  i.t  ioj( 


IRational  association  of  flDibwives. 

The  Blackburn  branch  of  the  National  Associa- 
tion of  Midwives  recently  held  their  second  annual 
tea  and  social  gathering  at  the  Co-operative  Hall, 
when  there  was  a  large  number  of  members  present. 
Xurse  Thompson,  President  of  the  local  branch,  con- 
gratulated the  members  upon  the  large  attendance, 
pointing  out  that  it  was  nearly  double  that  of  the 
previous  year.  The  Association  was,  she  said,  though 
only  four  years  old,  making  good  progress  through- 
out the  country,  and  in  a  few  years'  time  they  hoped 
to  be  still  more  powerful  and  united.  An  interest- 
ing and  varied  programme  was  excellently  rendered 
by  Mi-s.  Ormrod,  Miss  E.  Birtwistle.  llis&Bentiey, 
Mr.  Doran,  Mr.  Booth,  Mr.  J.  ALnsworth,  Miss 
Whalley,  and  INlaster  H.  Whalley,  and  the  dancing 
during  the  evening  was  spirited  and  enjoyable. 

During  the  evening  the  President  of  the  local 
branch,  on  behalf  of  the  members  present,  presented 
the  Secretaryj  Mrs.  Lightboun,  with  a  handsome 
mahogany  writing-desk,  and  Mrs.  Lightboun,  to 
whom  the  gift  came  quite  as  a  surprise,  expressed 
her  warm  thanks  in  suitable  terms. 


HUlest  Somerset  flI^i^\vive6' 
association. 

A  committee  meeting  of  the  above  Association 
was  recently  held  at  16,  Elm  Grove,  Taunton,  by 
invitation  of  Miss  du  Sautoy.  The  President  was 
in  the  chair,  and  the  following  agenda  was  con- 
sidered ; — 

1.  Memo  re  Amending  Midwives  Bill,  from  Mid- 
wives'  Institute.  A  resolution  «as  passed  strongly 
approving  of  the  proposed  alterations.  Dr.  Mere- 
dith, the  President,  signed  it,  and  the  Representa- 
tive was  asked  to  send  it  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Midwives'  Institute. 

2.  The  question  of  affiliation  with  the  Institute 
w  as  considered :  and  it  was  agreed  to  pay  the  .Ss. 
annual  sub.'vCiii)tion  and  to  have  four  dozen  copies 
of  Nursin;!  Notes  monthly  at  trade  prices.  The 
Hon.  Secretary  to  send  a  copy  to  each  member. 

It  was  reported  that  Miss  Meesoii,  who  has  acted 
as  Hon.  Secretary,  is  leaving  the  county  and  has 
to  give  up  the  secretaryship ;  her  resignation  was 
accepted  with  regret. 

Miss  Packard,  Senior  Queen's  Nurse  at  Bridg- 
water, was  apjjointed  Hon.  Secretary,  and  it  was 
proposed  that  Miss  Sewart  be  asked  to  be  a  second 
representative. 

Miss  du  Sautoy  reported  that  the  Hon.  Mrs 
J^tanley  had  consented  to  act  as  Vice-President  for 
the  ensuing  year,  and  that  Mi.ss  Eden  had  consented 
to  serve  on  the  Committee.  The  question  was  raised 
as  to  whether  some  form  of  amalgamation  could  be 
entered  into  with  the  -Nurses'  Social  Tnion,  and 
Miss  Kden  was  asked  to  bring  the  matter  before  the 
next- meeting  of  the  (nion. 

The  third  annual  nqirjrt  of  th(^  Sontliport  Day 
Nursery,  founded  by  Miss  Xlary  Willott,  shows 
that  3,830  babies  were  tended  during  the  sumnie'- 
Reason,  being  an  increase  of  almost  1,000  upon 
the  jirevious  season.  Of  those  babies  22.')  came  from 
Livcrpwl,  21.5  Wigan,  and   l-'il   St.  Helens. 


difficult  labour. 

Dr.  G.  E.  Herman's  book  on  "  Difficult  Labour.' 
though  primarily  intended  for  students  and  medi- 
cal practitioners,  is  well  known  to  many  midwives. 
In  the  new  edition,  which  is  published  by  Messr-;. 
Cassell  and  Co.,  Ltd.,  the  author  has  by  the  ex- 
press wish  of  m-edical  men  added  chapters  on  puer 
peral  eclampsia  and  retroversion  of  the  gravid 
uterus,  which  certainly  add  to  the  value  of  tin; 
volume,  and  may  with  advantage  be  studied  1;^ 
midwives. 

Rethoversion  op  the  Gb.wid  Uterus. 

We  read  that  the  effect  of  retroversion,  or  turn- 
ing backwards,  of  the  gravid  uterus,  if  uncorrected, 
is,  as  it  increases  in  size,  to  prevent  its  rising, 
owing  to  its  position  in  the  pelvis.  The  retrovertod 
uterus  fills  the  antero-posterior  diameter  of  the 
l)elvis;  the  cervix  pre.sses  the  urethra  upwards  ami 
forwards,  and  the  fuiidus  is  in  the  concavity  of  the 
sacrum.  "  The- pressure  on  the  urethra  causes  re- 
tention of  urine,  and  this  is  the  effect  which  makers 
retroversion  of  the  pregnant  uterus  important. 
When  the  uterus  is  held  dow  n  in  this  way  it  is  said 
to  be   incarcerated. 

"  Although  the  above  is  the  usual  wa.v  in  which 
the  pregnant  uterus  becomes  incarcerated  the:'.- 
are  rare  oases  in  which  the  incarceration  is  pro- 
duced s\iddenly.  When  the  bladder  is  full  it  lifts 
the  uterus  upwards  and  backwards.  Now,  if 
during  the  fourth  month  the  patient  goes  a  loin 
time  without  emptying  the  bladder,  and  then  mak"s 
some  violent  effort,  involving  use  of  the  alxlominal 
muscles,  and  the  diaphragm,  the  pressure  within 
tlie  abdomen  will  be  exerted  through  the  full 
bladder  upon  the  anterior  surface  of  the  uterus. 
an<!  may  drive  the  uterus  down  ])ast  the  sacral 
promontory." 

Dr.  Herman  reiterates  that  the  sole  import- 
ance of  retroversion  of  the  gravid  uterus  is  that 
it  sometimes  causes  retention  of  urine.  Two  a])- 
parently  paradoxical  statements  may  be  made 
about  it. 

''  Diaplaciinciit  U  nothing,  incarceration  every- 
thing. 

'■  The.  uterus  is  nothing,  the  bladder  everything. 

"  Hetrov<'rsion  of  the.  pregnant'  uterus  without 
incarceration  anujunts  to  no  nu)re  than  a  cause  of 
slight  discomfort,  and  usually  rights  it.self  as  prog- 
nancy  advances,  but  when  the  uterus  is  incar- 
cerated below  the  sacral  promontory,  it  causes  re- 
tention of  urine,  and  becomes,  if  not  properly 
treatefl,  a  cause  of  grave  danger.  The  uterus  is 
then  held  down  not  only  by  the  sacral  promontory, 
but  by  the  full  bladder.  The  morbid  changes  in, 
and  arising  from,  the  distended  bladder,  are  the 
.sole  source  of  ilanger  :  tlic  patient  does  not  die  f  ro'u 
any  cbaiigi-  in   the  uterus." 

I'UKUI'KH.VI.  J')ll..\Ml'SIA. 

Tberc  is  much  that  is  illuminating  in  this  chap 
tei ,  and   it  isliould   be  absorbed. 

The  author  describes  puerperal  eclampsia  as  "one 
of  the  most  terrifying  complications  of  the  first  stage 
of  labour,"  and  defines  it  as  "  epileptiform  convul- 
sions cominR  on  during  pregnancy,  labDur,  or  childbed, 
and  depending  on  disease  of  the  kidney,  which  is 
peculiar  to  ]>regnancy. 


THE 


•msHdounALw 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 
EDITED  BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


No.  1,182. 


SATURDAY,     NOVEMBER     26.     1910. 


leMtonal. 


THE    ERADICATION    OF  VENEREAL  DISEASES. 

The  problem  of  tlie  eradication  of  the 
venereal  diseases  from  our  midst  is  one  of 
supreme  importance,  for  their  prevalence  is 
a  menace  to  the  physical,  moral,  and  mental 
health  of  the  nation. 

The  question  has  been  approached  in  the 
past  largely  from  the  moral  side,  and  all 
honour  to  those  who  have  striven  to  deal 
■with  it  from  this  point  of  view.  But  this 
is  not  sufficient.  The  hygienic  standpoint 
must  have  greater  prominence,  the  mystery 
and  silence  with  which  the  whole  question 
is  too  often  invested  must  be  broken  down, 
and  sufferers  from  any  one  of  the  grouj)  of 
venereal  diseases  must  be  encouraged  to 
present  themselves  for  treatme/it,  as  simph^ 
and  naturally  as  those  who  contract  other 
diseases  apply  to  the  medical  profession,  or 
to  the  hospitals,  for  relief  and  cure. 

And  treatment  and  cure  must  be  accorded 
-without  hesitation,  without  the  sufferer 
being  made  to  feel  that  he  is  regarded,  and 
condemned,  as  a  moral  delinquent.  In 
the  first  place  because  it  is  contrary  to 
every  unwritten  law  governing  the  rela- 
tions of  medical  practitioners,  nurses,  and 
patients  that  the  degree  of  moral  lapse 
causing  an  illness,  or  injury,  should  be 
taken  into  account  in  according  assistance 
to  a  sick  or  injured  person.  Otherwise 
many  of  the  broken  heads,  fractured  limbs, 
cases  of  delirium  tremens,  even  many  cases 
of  pneumonia  and  other  diseases  would  be 
quickly  disposed  of.  I  n  the  second  place, 
because  many  persons  suffering  from  what 
are  popularly  called  "bad  diseases "  have 
Ijeen  infected  with  such  diseases  quite  inno- 
cently, and  merit  deep  sympathy  rather  than 
censure  ;  and,  thirdly,  in  the  interest  of  the 
';ommunity,  because  if  the  stigma  of  shame 


is  put  upon  every  person  who  presents  him- 
self for  treatment,  the  most  terrible  of 
known  diseases  will  remain  hidden  and  un- 
cured,  and  will  therefore  continue  to  spread. 

In  the  case  of  other  infectious  diseases  it 
is  well  recognised  that  their  eradication 
cannot  be  hoped  for  iintil  th.e  cause  is 
known,  and  they  are  isolated  and  treated. 
By  this  means  smallpox  and  typhus  fever 
have  been  practically  eradicated,  tubercu- 
losis is  getting  under  control,  diphtheria 
no  longer  presents  the  menace  to  human 
life  of  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago.  The 
venereal  diseases  miist  be  dealt  with  on  the 
same  lines  before  we  can  hope  for  their 
eradication.  In  this  connection  it  is  im- 
portant to  note  that  while  the  prevalence  of 
these  diseases  is  widespread,  the  hospitals 
for  their  reception  are  singularly  few.  It  is 
true  that  the  infirmaries  are  open  to  them, 
but  many  such  cases  are  quite  unsuited  for 
admission  to  infirmarv"  wards,  and  the  result 
is  that  they  remain  in  their  own  homes, 
often  untreated,  and  a  source  of  danger  to 
those  with  whom  they  come  in  contact. 

In  combatting  the  venereal  diseases  it  is 
necessary  always  to  bear  in  mind  the  social 
conditions  which  may  predispose  to  them, 
so  that  preventive  work  may  go  hand  in 
hand  with  treatment  ;  for  to  strive  for  the 
eradication  of  the  underlying  causes  of  a 
disease,  so  that  it  may  become  extinct,  is  as 
necessary  as  the  ciu-e  of  patients  who  have 
contracted  it. 

ileantime  the  policy  of  silence  should  be 
broken  in  regard  to  teaching  nurses  the 
symptoms,  proper  nursing  care,  and  the 
precautions  to  be  observed  in  nursing  these 
contagions  diseases.  Not  to  instruct  nurses 
in  training  concerning  these  matters  is,  to 
expose  them  to  needless  risk,  and  the  possi- 
bilitj-  of  contracting  serious  and  loathsome 
diseases.  - 


426 


Zl)C  Britisb  Journal  of  IRursina- 


[Nov.  re,  1910 


Clinical  IRotce  on  Some  Common 
ailments. 


By  a.  Knyvett  Gordon,  M.B.,  Cantab. 

DIARRHCEA. 

We  have  now  to  consider  the  reverse  condi- 
tion, namely,  a  too  frequent  action  of  the 
bowels,  and  here  again,  it  is  important  to  re- 
member that  diarrhoea  is  not  always  a  disease 
in  itself,  but  is  often  a  sign  of  soine  more 
senous  trouble.  As  before,  I  shall  not  attempt 
to  give  an  exhaustive  list  of  all  the  causes  of 
the  ailment,  but  shall  just  mention  some  of 
the  more  common  reasons  for  its  occurrence. 
What  primarily  happens  in  all  cases  is  that 
the  contents  of  the  bowels  are  passed  on  so 
quickly,  that  the  intestinal  walls  have  no  time 
to  withdraw  the  moisture  from  the  liquid  mass, 
so  that  undigested  food  and  water  are  passed 
per  rectum  at  frequent  intervals. 

This  may  ftretly  be  due  to  inflammation  of 
the  lining  membrane  of  the  bowel  itself,  as  in 
enteric  fever,  and  dysentei-y,  or  cancer  of  the 
bowel  wall,  or  it  may  result  from  the  presence 
of  some  in-itating  food, .  as  when  a  little  boy 
has  a  surfeit  of  green  apples,  or  an  adult 
lunches  hurriedly  off  a  dubious  and  imaccus- 
tomed  pork  pie ;  and  it  may  also  be  caused  by 
disturbance  of  the  nervous  mechanism  which 
regulates  the  movement  of  the  intestine,  as 
in  the  diaiThoea  that  sometimes  follows  a  fright 
especially  when  the  patient  finds  himself  in  a 
place  where  evacuation  of  the  bowels  is  impos- 
sible. 

We  need  not  now  consider  diarrhoea  which  is 
due  to  organic  disease  further  than  to  state 
that  in  all  cases  of  persistent  too  frequent 
action  of  the  bowels,  a  careful  examination 
should  be  made  of  the  abdomen  and  the  rec- 
tum to  discover  the  cause  of  the  trouble ;  we 
will  pass  on,  therefore,  to  the  cases  where  an 
irritant  has  been  introduced  into  the  food. 

In  the  majority  of  instances,  the  source 
of  the  trouble  is  obvious,  for  the  patient  will 
himself  blame  a  particular  meal,  or  article  of 
diet  for  the  occuiTence,  but  sometimes  we  have 
to  try  to  explain  it  for  him.  Here  we  have 
to  remember  that — apart  from  the  presence  of 
some  definite  poison  such  as  arsenic  or  mer- 
cury— in-itants  fall  into  iwo  classes,  meehauioal 
and  bacterial. 

Most  of  the  mechanical  irritants  are  vege- 
table in  origin,  in  fact,  all  vegetables  are  apt 
to  irritate  the  intestine  more  or  le.>is,  because 
they  contain  cellulose,  which  is  quite  indiges- 
tible, and  iiasses  out  of  the  body  unclianged  ; 
tluis  a  sin-feit  of  flps  or  prunes  may  jiroduce 
di(irrh(i-a.  Then  some  vegetable  s\il)stanci-^ 
(■(intnin  principles  (apart  from  cellulose)  whi<-ii 


act  either  on  the  lininsr  memhrane  of  the  bowel, 
or  on  the  ends  of  the  nerves  which  move  it, 
and  cause  purging;  in  fact,  many  purges,  such 
as  castor  oil  and  aloes,  are  used  in  medicine  for 
this  particular  purpose.  In  this  category  we 
must  place  fruit  which  is  either  unripe  or  too 
ripe,  such  as  the  homely  green  apple,  and  the 
much  handled  strawberry  of  the  London 
streets. 

These  irritants  are  not  always  vegetable  in 
origin,  however,  as  in  the  diarrhoea  of  infants 
arising  from  milk  which  is  unsuitable  either  in 
quality  or  quantity  for  the  babies'-  stomachs. 
In  the  sub-acute  or  chronic  diaiThoea  of  infants 
(as  distinguished  from  acute  infantile  diar- 
rhoea, which  will  be  mentioned  later)  the 
trouble  is  more  often  than  not  caused  by  giving 
starch  in  some  form  or  another,  a  practice 
which  is  inadmissible  under  the  age  of  six 
months.  A  connnon  custom  in  some  parts  of 
the  country  is  to  give  bottle-fed  babies  a  mix- 
ture of  "baked  flour"  and  water,  with  the 
result  that  the  child  succumbs  to  diarrhoea 
and  convulsions  which  are  usually  attributed 
to  teething  or  to  that  blessed  Mesopotamian 
word,  congestion  of  the  lungs;  occasionally,  the 
equally  hieroglyphic  "  suppressed  measles  "  is 
offered  as  an  alternative  for  the  benefit  of  the 
burial  club.  In  more  enlightened  f?)  com- 
munities, pretty  much  the  same  result  may  be 
obtained  by  the  indiscriminate  use  of  some 
patent  foods,  which  contain  imdigested  starch. 
Babies,  which  are  fed  on  milk  falone  or  mixed 
with  water)  may  also  suffer  from  diarrhoea, 
and  the  cause  may  then  usually  be  found  in  the 
practice  of  usins:  milk  which  has  been  exposed 
to  the  air  for  some  time,  or  has  even  been  left 
over  from  the  previous  bottle  feed,  and  has, 
therefore,  undergone  some  degree  of  fenrien- 
tation.  Breast  fed  babies  hardly  ever  suffer 
from  diarrhoea,  unless  the  mother  is  in  the 
habit  of  recruiting  herself  with  daily  libations 
of  some  particular  brand  of  "  nourishing  " 
stout,  which  has  been  particularly  recom- 
mended as  "  good  for  tlie  milk  "  usually  by  the 
voluble  female  who  officiates  at  the  confine 
ment  with  excessively  dirty  hands,  and  inform.^ 
one  that  she  has  buried  ten  of  her  own.  She 
also,  incidentally,  treats  the  diarrhoea,  when 
it  has  arisen,  with  gin. 

These  forms  of  diarrhoea  can  usually  !)=• 
treated  by  removal  of  the  catise,  but  it  is  not 
so  with  the  bacterial  varieties,  of  which  the 
chief  examples  are  the  acute  diarrhoea  of  in- 
fants, and  the  ptomaine  poisoning  of  adults. 
In  all  probability  these  are  due  to  the  same 
organism,  which  is  a  bacillus  intermediate  be- 
tween the  typhoid  bacillus  and  the  B.  Coli 
Communis;  in  fact,  they  nil  belong  to  tli'^  same 
fan\iiv      of     srernis.        In      ndults     thev     are 


Nov.  26,  1910] 


Zbc  Biitisb  3ournai  ot  IRursing. 


427 


usually  introduced  in  meat  that  has  been  en- 
closed, either  in  a  ]iie,  or  in  a  leaking  tin,  and 
the  unfortunate  point  about  these  occurrence? 
is  thai  meat  contaminated  with  this  organism 
has  not  as  u  rule  any  distinctive  odour,  so  that 
its  presence  cannot  be  detected  before  the  foo  1 
is  consumed.  This  form  of  poisoning  is  often 
fatal,  because  the  products  of  the  growth  of  the 
bacillus  (which  are  known  as  ptomaines)  an- 
excessively  irritating  to  the  intestine,  and  also 
give  rise  to  a  great  decree  of  prostration  when 
they  are  al>sorbed  into  the  blood.  Troubles  of 
this  sort  are,  in  practice,  usually  connected 
with  pork  pies,  but  this  is  simply  because,  for 
some  imexplained  reason,  pork  is  more  fre- 
quently made  into  pies  than  other  meats.  The 
source  of  the  trouble  can  be  detected  by 
isolating  the  bacillus  from  the  pies,  and  addi- 
tional proof  can  often  be  obtained  by  adding 
some  oiE  the  blood  serum  of  the  patient  affected, 
to  a  few  drops  of  a  broth  culture  of  the  geiTn. 
when  it  is  found  that  the  organisms  which 
have  previously  been  seen  under  the  micro- 
scope to  be  moving  about  freely,  gradually 
stop  and  collect  into  clumpe,  the  serum  of  a 
healthy  person  having  no  such  effect. 

In  infantile  dian-hoea  it  is  probable  that  the 
organism  is  conveyed  to  the  milk  (for  it  does 
not  occur  in  breast-fed  babies)  by  flies,  which 
have  previously  crawled  over  infected  meat. 
settluig  either  in  the  milk  itself,  or  on  the 
vessels  containing  it,  and  the  curious  featui'e 
of  the  growth  of  the  organism  in  milk  is  that  it 
apparently  does  not  form  toxins  to  any  great 
extent  in  raw  milk,  but  only  in  that  which 
has  been  boiled,  the  theory  being  that  the 
souring  which  occurs  in  the  former  prevents, 
or  rather  hinders,  the  growth  of  the  bacillus. 
This  point,  however,  has  not  yet  been  finally 
settled.  When  infantile  or,  as  it  is  alterna- 
tively called,  epidemic  diarrhoea,  does  occur,  it 
is  apt  to  be  a  verj-  fatal  disease.  The  symp- 
toms are,  in  addition  to  uncontrollable  diar- 
rhoea, prostration,  at.  first  a  high,  and  then  a 
subnormal  temperature,  and  rapid  emaciation. 

The  forms  of  diarrhoea  that  occur  in  neurotic 
people,  and  which  are  not  due  to  anything 
wrong  with  the  diet,  need  only  be  mentioned 
briefly.  They  are  characterised  by  suddenness 
of  onset  and  may  occur  at  any  time  of  day,  and 
are  connected  with  some  form  .or  another  of 
emotion,  generally  either  fear,  or  the  fomi  of 
self-consciousness  which  is  often  known  as  shv- 
ni'ss. 

Coming  now  to  the  treatment  of  the  various 
forms  of  diarrhcea,  it  will  be  obvious  that  the 
first  point  is  to  eliminate  the  offending  articles 
of  diet  from  the  patient's  dietary;  thus,  when 
the  disease- is  due  to  improper  feeding  of  in- 
fants, a  change  must  be  made,  and  it  is  often 


best  to  stop  milk  altogether  for  a  time  and  to- 
substitute  albumen  water,- or  whey,  or  some- 
thing similar  until  the  diairhoea  has  ceased : 
in  adults,  we  similarly  give  only  liquid  food, 
such  a.s  milk,  or  milk  and  anowroot,  for  the 
same  period. 

The  next  point  is  to  remember  that  diarrhoea 
is  an  effort  of  nature  to  expel  an  offendinf; 
article  of  diet,  and  is  often,  therefore,  salutary, 
the  test  being,  in  this  respect,  the  effect  which 
the  illness  is  having  on  the  patient ;  if  there 
is  much  collapse,  we  must  check  the  process, 
but  otherwise  it  is  often  best  to  allow  the  diar- 
rhoea to  continue,  making  the  patient  com- 
fortable meantime  until  the  imtant  has  been 
expelled.  When  the  illness  is  not  very  acute, 
therefore,  we  assist  nature  by  administering  a 
purgative,  preferably  either  castor  oil  or 
calomel ;  grey  powder  is  very  useful  in  this 
respect  for  babies.  This  often  clears  the  in- 
testine once  and  for  all,  so  that  we  can  follow 
up  the  purgative  with  a  sedative,  which  will 
soothe  the  irritated  mucous  membrane  of  the 
bowel. 

Undoubtedly  the  best  sedative  is  opium  or 
one  of  its  derivatives,  and  if  given  in  full  doses 
it  will  check  almost  any  diarrhoea,  but,  as  I 
have  said,  it  is  better,  if  we  can,  to  reserve 
it  until  the  bowel  has  been  well  emptied  of  its 
contents.  Another  excellent  sedative  is  bis- 
muth, preferably  combined  with  soda. 

In  the  bacterial  foiTn  of  diarrhoea,  however, 
our  treatment  has  to  be  more  energetic,  and 
we  have  to  deal  with  the  pain  and  collapse 
which  are  almost  always  present  to  a  greater 
or  less  extent,  and  we  want  also  to  disinfect 
the  contents  of  the  intestine  as  fea*  as  may  he- 
possible. 

The  collapse  is  due  mainly  to  the  withdrawal 
of  fluid  from  the  tissues  which  the  violent  diar- 
rhoea entails,  and  we  remedy  this  in  severe 
cases  by  the  infusion  of  saline  solution  under- 
neath the  skin,  or,  when  the  necessity  is  not 
extreme,  by  making  the  patient  drink  very 
freely  of  water  or  thin  barley  water.  We  also 
keep  him  warm,  and  it  is  often  necessary  to 
pack  him  with  hot  water  bottles.  Opium, 
preferably  in  the  fonn  of  chlorodyne,  wall  be 
requii-ed  on  account  of  the  pain,  except  in 
babies,  when  this  is  best  treated  by  the  ap- 
plication of  hot  fomentations  to  the  child's 
abdomen. 

To  disinfect  the  intestine  is  not  an  easy  task, 
but  salol  is  often  useful,  while  children  stand 
mercurial  preparations  better.  In  adults,  trial 
may  be  made  of  one  of  the  modem  disinfec- 
tants of  the  coal  tar  series  such  as  Izal.  But 
it  is  the  collapse  c6nsequent  upon  the  diarrJioea 
that  is  usually  responsible  for  the  fatal  issue  in 
these  cases. 


428 


Che  Britfsb  3onrnal  of  TRurstn^o 


[Nov.  26,  1910 


Society  of  3nfant  Coneultations. 

By  H.  Ronald  Carter,  M.D. 

This  Society  has  been  formed  with  the  object 
of  bringing  into  closer  relationship  all  those  en- 
gaged or  interested  in  the  work  of  Infant  Con- 
sultation Schools  for  mothers,  and  allied  insti- 
tutions, in  various  parts  of  the  country.  The 
holding  of  a  medical  qualification  is  not  essen- 
tial for  membership  of  this  Society.  Health 
visitors,  district  visitors,  and  others  are  parti- 
cularly invited  to  join.  Its  aim  is  to  promote 
the  establishment  of  such  institvitions  and  to 
advise  as  to  their  organisation.  Meetings  will 
occasionally  be  held,  when  papers  will  he  read 
on  subjects  gennane  to  the  wort.  Recoras  will 
be  kept  of  the  experience  g"iued  by  individual 
workers.  Statistics  and  littrature  bearing  on 
the  subject  will  be  gratefully  received  and  filed 
for  reference.  The  Society  hope  to  be  able  to 
institut«  a  unifomi  system  of  note-taking,  and 
they  will  also  endeavour  to  place  the  manage- 
ment of  these  institutions  under  direct  medical 
control.  The  Society  has  already  received 
great  encouragement,  and  the  list  of  meinber- 
ship  increases  daily.  Nui-ses  and  midwives 
could  obtain  much  practical  knowledge  in  in- 
fant feeding  and  hj-giene  if  they  made  a  point 
of  attending  an  Infant  Consultation.  It  is  in- 
terided  that  lectures  and  demonstrations  should 
be  given  by  those  conducting  a  consultation. 
Communications  should  be  sent  to  the  Hon. 
Sees.,  Dr.  Ronald  Carter,  11,  Leonard  Place, 
Kensington,  W.,  or  Dr.  -Janet  Lane-Claypon, 
60,  Prince  of  Wales'  Mansions,  Battersea  Park, 
S.W. 

The  insidious  manner  in  which  digestive  dis- 
turbances show  themselves,  and  the  import- 
ance of  the  early  recognition  of  symptoms 
pointing  to  malnutrition,  are  points  which  are 
well  exemplified  in  the  cases  which  attend  at 
these  institutions. 

The'  public  have  realised  the  value  of  preven- 
tive measures,  and  before  long  will  insist  on 
provision  being  maile  for  their  adoption  in  all 
parts  of  the  country.  The  weekly  attendances 
alone  show  how  great  is  the  demand  for  this 
kind  of  work  among  the  poor.  I  will  indicate 
the  practical  use  of  these  consultations  by  re- 
ferring to  my  own  exp(?ricnce  in  North  Kensing- 
ton. 

For  the  last  three  years  in  the  case  of  breast- 
fed infants  I  have  employotl  Professor  Budin"s 
method  of  weighing  tlic  baby  before  and  after 
its  feed'oii  very  accvu'ate  scales,  and  so  ascer- 
taining the  qtiautity  of  food  the  iiifant  receives. 

I  frequently  have  infants  brought  to  me  wh? 
have  been  artificially  fed  from  the  first  wselc 
of  life,  owing  to  the  belief  that  the  breast  inilk 


has  "  dried  up  "  on  the  fourth  or  fifth  day.  I 
regret  to  say  that  some  of  these  cases  come 
from  maternity  institutions.  I  am  sure  that 
no  one,  however  skilled  in  maternity  work,  can 
possibly  tell  apart  from  this  "  test  feed,"' 
whether  an  infant  obtains  a  small  quantity 
from  the  breast  or  not.  To  show  how  mistakes 
can  be  made,  I  will  quote  the  case  of  an  infant 
born  in  one  of  our  maternity  hospitals. 

The  baby  was  2  months  old,  and  weighed 
7  lb.,  it  was  very  wasted,  and  was  having  the 
bottle.  The  mother  told  me  her  milk  had  dis- 
appeared on  the  fourth  or  fifth  day,  and  th  it 
,the  nurse  said  she  must  feed  the  baby  on  the 
bottle.  The  financial  problem  on  leaving  'he 
institution  wonied  the  mother  a  good  deal,  ~-> 
she  put  the  child  to  the  breast  now  and  th^-  i 
■  when  the  nurse  was  not  looking.''  As  t 
was  2i  hours  since  the  child  had  bee-j  fe'',  T 
arranged  for  a  test  feed.  The  result  showed 
that  the  infant  obtained  2  oz.  from  the  breast. 
I  told  the  mother  to  stop  the  bottle,  and  feed 
only  by  the  breast.  The  child  did  remarkably 
well,  and  there  was  no  further  trouble.  Mis- 
takes such  as  this  could  not  be  made  if  the 
"  test  feed  "  was  employed  in  all  doubtful 
cases. 

The  milk  that  is  first  secreted  is  called  colos- 
trum, and  differs  both  in  quantity  and  in 
quality  from  the  subsequent  supply.  During 
this  colostrum  period  the  amount  of  milk 
secreted  is  always  small.  The  milk  is  thought 
to  "  dry  up  "on  the  third  or  fourth  day  because 
at  about  this  time  the  breasts,  which  have  been 
hard,  often  becon:ie  soft  and  smaller  owing  to 
the  resolution  of  the  gland  cells  into  a  colos- 
trum-like secretion.  Now  this  colostrum  period 
may  sometimes  last  for  10  or  even  14  days 
before  an  adequate  supply  of  milk  containing 
the  satisfying  casein  makes  it  appearance  ;  in 
such  a  case  the  infant  will  very  likely  not  be 
satisfied,  but  that  is  no  reason  why  we  should 
jvunp  to  the  conclusion  that  there  is  no  milk, 
and  that,  therefore,  it  is  useless  to  continue 
breast  feeding.  Some  feeds  from  the  bottle 
may  be  necessary  to  supplement  the  breast 
feeds  at  this  pcnod  such  as  peptonised  milk  i.r 
whey  or  cream,  but  the  child  should  continv'' 
to  suck  at  the  breast  and  soon  the  quality  and 
the  quantity  will  change.  The  reason  why  the 
woman  I  have  just  quoted  retained  her  m'!'; 
was  that  the  breast  continued  to  be  stimulated, 
and  at  last  the  supply  was  adequate  for  ;1  i; 
infant's  requirements. 

I  have  seen  many  eases  of  dyspepsia  an  1 
wasting  in  infants,  who  have  never  had  a 
chance  of  passing  through  the  colostrum  period, 
but  have  been  fed  on  milk  mixtures  from  tlu? 
verv   commencement. 


Nov.  20,  lOKT 


^bc  'iSiitlyl)  journal  of  iHiu^ina. 


4-2y 


Colostrum  is  a  hlaml,  uiiirritating,  non- 
cpagiilable  Quid,  and  at  the  appointed  time 
Nature  adds  the  casein  very  gradually.  It  is 
easy  to  see  that  cow's  milk,  which  clots  in  the 
stomach,  cannot  be  a  suitable  food  at  this 
early  age.  I  have  notes  of  several  cases  in 
which  vomiting  pereisted  for  two  or  three 
months  after  this  initial  mistake  was  made. 
Infant  foods  were  tried  one  after  the  other  witli 
a  like  result,  and  I  oidy  succeeded  in  arresting 
the  vomiting  by  giving  peptonised  milk  for 
some  time,  and  gradually  weaning  the  child  on 
to  citrated  undiluted  milk. 

I  will  point  out  the  value  of  the  "  test  feed  " 
in  another  class  of  case  which  is  not  uncom- 
mon. 

A  woman  eauie  with  a  very  wasted  infant 
aged  two  months,  and  only  weighing  6  lb.  She 
had  fed  it  entirely  on  the  breast,  and  assured 
me  that  it  obtained  the  milk  because  it  sucked 
for  about  10  minut-es  and  then  fell  asleep.  A 
"  test  feed  "  was  arranged,  and  two  hoiu's 
after  the  last  meal  the  infant  was  put  to  the 
breast.  The  scales  proved  that  it  obtained  no 
milk  at  all.  Milk  could,  however,  be  easily 
squeezed  from  the  nipple,  showing  that  an 
adequate  supply  was  present.  I  ordered  the 
mother  to  give  1  oz.  of  cow's  milk  with  1  oz. 
of  barley  water  alternately  with  the  breast 
feedings.  During  the  following  week  the  test 
feed  showed  that  the  infant  obtained  i  oz. 
from  the  breast,  and  the  child  had  increased 
4  oz.  in  weight.  She  continued  to  feed  in  this 
manner  for  another  week,  and  the  test  feed 
then  showed  that  1  oz.  was  obtained  from  the 
breast,  the  child  having  gained  another  5  oz. 
in  weight.  At  the  end  of  a  month's  treatment 
2  oz.  was  obtained  from  the  breast,  and  the 
child  had  gained  nearly  1  lb.  The  cow's  milk 
was  now  discontinued,  and  the  child  was  fed 
entirelv  on  the  breast  till  it  was  eight  months' 
old. 

The  lesson  to  be  learnt  from  this  case  is. 
of  course,  that  the  infant  was  too  feeble  to 
suck  at  the  breast,  and  therefore  could  not 
obtain  adequat^e  noniishmenti,  and  that  by 
giving  the  bottle  in  addition  its  strength  was 
considerably  increased  so  that  ultimately  it  ob- 
tained an  adequate  supply    from    the   breast. 

I  think  I  have  said  enough  to  show  the  kind 
of  investigation  going  on  at  these  consultations. 

The  educational  value  of  these  consultations 
for  the  mothers  far  exceeds  that  which  can  be" 
obtained  by  any  other  method.  The  distribu- 
tion of  leaflets  on  infant  feeding,  and  the  estab- 
lishment of  milk  depots,  however  well  or- 
ganised, must  of  necessity  ignore  the  indivi- 
dual element  in  this  problem  ;  and  this,  as  we 
all  know,  forms  the  real  basis  in  our  treatment, 
of  malnutrition  and  wasting. 


flDcniodal  to  flIMss  Jf lorcncc 
"i(  "2/<oiw     "iRiobtinoalc 

The  Committee  appointed  at  Grosvenor 
House  last  month  to  prepare  a  scheme  for  an 
Imperial  Memorial  to  ^Miss  Nightingale  held 
their  firet  meeting  at  the  India  Office  on  Thurs- 
day, tlu'  17th  inst.  The  proceedings  were  pri- 
vate, but  no  scheme  at  present  has  been 
adopted. 

Eealising  how  very  inadequately  trained 
nurses  are  paid  during  their  working  days, 
some  fonn  of  charity  to  keep  them  off  the  rates 
in  old  age  appeals  to  the  philanthropic.  The 
suggestion  that  by  some  educational  scheme 
trained  nursing  should  become  of  more  finan- 
cial value  is  a  form  of  true  economy  which 
seldom  finds  favour  where  women's  work  is 
concerned ;  economic  independence  is  not 
encouraged  by  those  amply  supplied  with 
this  world's  goods.  Sweating  and  charity  have 
dpue  much  to  undermine  that  fine  old  spirit  of 
reticence  and  independence  for  which  Ln  the 
past  this  nation  was  distinguished,  and  we  fear 
it  is  too  much  to  hope  that  nurses  will  be  spared 
their  demoralising  influence. 

The  I.adv  of  the  Law. 
It  is  stated  that  the  suggestion  of  a  statue 
of  Miss  Nightingale  to  adoni  some  public  spot 
in  the  iletro polls  has  not  been  favourably  re- 
ceived by  members  of  her  family.  That  niRv 
be  so,  but  Florence  Nightingale  was  not  a 
private  person.  She  personified  by  her  genius 
the  Sanitary  Law.  We  trained  nurses  like  to 
think  of  her  as  such — The  Lady  of  the  Law — 
and  it  is  as  our  Lawgiver  that  we  would  have 
her  visible  in  marble  to  the  countless  thou- 
sands who  owe  homage  to,  and  gratitude  for, 
her  greatness  and  wisdom. 

THE  WORKING    UNITS  OF  THE   NURSING 
PROFESSION. 

The  following  Resolution,  passed  in  London 
on  November  4th  at  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the 
National  Council  of  Nurses  of  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland,  and  signed  by  the  Presidents  of 
the  constituent  societies,  has  been  forwarded 
to  the  Conveners  of  the  Grosvenor  House  and 
St.  Thomas's  Hospital  meetings,  called  to  con- 
sider an  appropriate  Memorial  to  the  late  Miss 
Florence   Nightingale  :  — 

Resolution. 

The  National  Council  of  Trained  Nurses  of  Great 
Britain  aud  Ireland,  composed  of  sixteen  affiliated 
Societies  of  Nurses,  with  a  conjoint  memljership  ot 
over  6,000.  weloonies  the  suggestion  that  «ji  Im- 
l)erial  Memorial  should  be  inaugurates!  to  Mi-- 
Florence  Nightingale.  O.M..  including  the  erectiop 
of  a  statue. 


430 


Z\K  Brit(6b  3ournal  of  TRursino* 


[Nov.  26,  1910 


This  Council  tnrther  coiifeiclens  tliat  National 
Societies  composed  ot  tiiaine<l  nurse*  should  liave  re- 
presentation on  a  Committee  which  is  to  organise  a 
Slemorial  to  the  Founder  ot  the  Profession  of  «hich 
they  are  the  working  units. 

SlGN-iTOHIES. 

Mildriil  Eiathir  Bifjy,  President,  Matrons'  Coun- 
cil of  (ireat  Britain  and  Ireland. 

Ethel  G.  Fenwick,  President,  Society  for  State 
Registration  of  Trained  Nurses. 

.1.  3/.  MacDonnell  (R.R.C.),  President,  Irish 
Nurses'   Association. 

B.  A.  Cox-Davies,  President,  League  of  St.  Bar- 
tholomew's Hospital  Nurses. 

Chorlottf,  Sister  Superior,  President  of  the  St. 
John  House  League  of  Nurses. 

Sophia  Cartwright,  Secretary,  Registered  Nurses' 
Society. 

H.  L.  Pearse,  President,  School  Nurses'  League. 

Eleanor  C.  Barton,  President,  Chelsea  Infirmary 
Nurses'  League. 

Elma  M.  Smith,  President,  Central  London  Sick 
.\sylum  Nurses'   League  (Hendon  Branch). 

Charlotte  B.  Leigh,  President,  Central  London 
Sick  Asylum  Nurses'  League  (Cleveland  St. 
Branch). 

•l  Smith,  President,  Kingston  Infirmary  Nurses' 
League. 

O.  A.  Rogers,  President,  Leicester  Infirmary 
Nurses'  League. 

E.  M.  Musson,  President,  General  Hospital,  Bir- 
mingham, Nurses'  League. 

M.  Mollett,  President,  Royal  South  Hants  Nurses' 
League. 

Christina  Forrest,  President,  Victoria  and  Bourae- 
uiouth  League  of  Trained  Nurses. 

Ti.  M.  Krlly,  President,  Steevens'  Hospital  Nurses' 
League   CDublin). 


3n  flDcmoriam. 


The  Governors  of  St.  Bartholomew's  Hos- 
])ital  have  placed  a  bronze  tablet,  in  memory 
of  Miss  Isla  Stewart,  in  the  Church  of  St. 
Bartholomew-the-Less,  W.  Smithfield  (the 
jiarish  church  of  the  hospital).  It  is  placed  on 
the  pillar  near  the  pew  which  Miss  Stewart 
qccupied,  when  attending  service  there,  for  so 
many  years,  and  it  was  in  accordance  with  her 
known  wish  that  any  memorial  to  her  should 
be  in  this  position.  The  tablet,  which  is  of  con- 
ventional design,  is  engraved  with  the  Stewart 
coat  of  arms,  with  the  thistle,  the  national 
flower  of  Scotland,  on  either  side,  and  bears 
the  following  inscription: — "In  Memory  ot 
Isia  Stewart,  for  23  years,  (from  1887—1910) 
^[atron  and  Superintendent  of  Nursing  at  St. 
]5artho!smew's  Hospital,  who  died  on  the  6th 
March,  1910.  This  tablet  is  erected  by  the 
fJoveniors,  as  a  token  of  respect  and  esteem. 

High    sacrifice,  and    labour  "without    pause, 

\.  II  to  the  death.'     .Inlv,  1910." 


a  IRiusiuG  fIDasqnc. 

THE  EVOLUTION   OF  TRAINED   NURSING. 

It  has  bfeii  decided  that  my  proposal  to  pre- 
sent a  Nursing  IMasque  of  the  Evolution  of 
I'rained  Nursing  in  support  of  the  Bill  for  the 
liegistration  of  Trained  Niu'ses,  shall  be  or- 
ganised by  a  small  Committee  of  Matrons  and 
Nurses,  each  of  whom  will  be  responsible  for 
the  details  of  a  section. 

The  Society  for  the  State  Eegistration  of 
Nurses  will  take  the  initiative  in  organisation, 
and  should  there  be  a  surplus  when  all  expenses 
are  paid,  it  will  be  used  for  furthering  the 
passage  of  the  Nurses'  Eegistration  Bill 
through  Parliament. 

The  Tklasque  will  demonstrate  that 
Health  is  the  right  of  Life,  that  Ignor- 
ance is  primarily  responsible  for  Disease, 
that  to  get  Truth  and  Knowledge  is  therefore 
an  imperative  duty. 

ORDEROUT  OF  CHAOS. 

According  to  Ovid,  at  first  the  sea,  the 
earth,  and  the  heaven,  which  covers  all  things, 
were  the  only  face  of  Nattu-e  throughout  the 
whole  universe,  which  men  have  called  Chaos; 
a  rude  and  undigested  mass,  and  nothing  more 
than  an  inert  weight,  and  the  discordant  atoms 
of  things  not  harmonising,  heaped  together  in 
the  same  spot.  No  Sun  as  yet  gave  light  to 
the  world,  nor  did  the  Moon  by  increasing,  re- 
cover her  horns  anew.  The  Earth  did  not  as 
yet  hang  in  the  surrounding  air,  balanced  by 
its  own  weight,  nor  had  Amphitrite,  Goddess 
of  the  Ocean,  stretched  out  her  arms  along 
the  lengthened  margin  of  the  coasts.  Wher- 
ever, too,  was  the  land,  there  also  was  the  sea 
and  the  air;  and  thus  was  the  earth  without 
finnness,  the  sea  unnavigable,  the  air  void  of 
light;  in  no  one  of  them  did  its  present  form 
exist.  And  one  was  ever  obstructing  the  other ; 
because  in  the  same  body  the  cold  was  striving 
with  the  hot,  the  moist  with  the  dry,  the  soft 
with  the  hard,  things  having  weight  with  those 
devoid  of  weight. 

To  this  discord  God  and  bounteous  Nature 
ptit  an  end :  for  He  separated  the  earth  from 
the  heavens,  and  the  waters  from  the  earth, 
and  distinguished  the  clear  heavens  from  the 
grossatmosphere.  .\nd  after  He  had  imravcllej 
these  elements  and  released  them  from  that 
confused  heaj),  He  combined  them,  thus  dis- 
jointed, in  hai'nionious  unison,  each  in  its  proper 
place.  The  element  of  the  vaulted  heaven, 
fiery  and  wifliout  weight,  shone  forth,  and 
selected  a  jjlace  for  itself  in  the  highest  region  : 
next  after  it,  both  in  lightness  and  in  place, 
was  the  air;  the  Earth  was  more  weighty  than 
these,  ami  dr<'W  with  it  the  more  ponderous 
atoms,   an!    was  ])ressed   together  by  its  own 


Nov.  -JCi,   I'.Mii 


Z\K  ©uitisb  3ournal  of  IHursino. 


gravity.  The  encircling  watiTs  saiilc  to  the 
lowerniosfc  phice,  and  siirrounded  the  solid 
globe. 

THE   PROCESSION  OF   IMMORTALS. 

After  itons  ot  time  we  will  suppose  that 
Hygeia,  the  Goddess  of  Health,  visits  the 
Earth,  supported  by  the  beneficent  Elements, 
Earth,  .\ir,  Fire,  and  Water,  the  separation 
of  which  evolved  Order  out  of  Chaos.  Follow- 
ing in  her  train  will  come  the  Spirit  of  Nursing, 
attendi'd  by  the  Attributes  of  Compassion  and 
Kindness,  Gentleness  and  Modesty,  Courage 
and  Patience,  Devotion  and  Endurance. 

The  Science  of  Nursing  will  follow,  supported 
by  Tnith  and  Knowledge;  with  Truth  will 
come  Mental  Purity,  and  Moral  Beauty :  and 
Knowledge  will  have  as  her  attendants  Obser- 
vation and  Diligence,  Understanding  and  In- 
tellectual Discipline.  These  parts  will  be  suit- 
ably personified  and  dressed. 

Hygeia,  in  the  centre  of  the  platform,  will 
have  the  Elements  grouped  around  her,  and  the 
Spirit  of  Nursing  and  the  Science  of  Nursing 
with  their  Attributes  to  right  and  left. 

The  Goddess  will  then  speak  the  Prologue, 
and  will  demand  that  Order  (in  Nursing!  be 
brought  out  of  Chaos.  She  will  show  that  the 
basic  principle  of  her  Sanitary  Law  is  a  sufR- 
ciencj'  for  all  living  beings  of  the  fruits  of  the 
Earth,  pure  food,  and  clothing — of  Air.  the 
breath  of  life — of  Fire,  sunlight  and  waniith — 
of  Wat'er,  cleanliness.  How  the  deprivation  of 
these '  elemental  gifts  of  Nature  results  in  de- 
generation and  disease.  Order,  Nature's  fii^st 
Law,  must  therefore  be  enforced  by  organisa- 
tion. She  will  call  upon  the  Spirit  of  Nursing 
for  the  result  of  her  ministrations. 

The  Spirit  will  recall  how  through  all  the 
ages  her  Attributes  have  spent  themselves  for 
the  succour  of  Life,  yet  how  Ignorance  and  the 
s;even  Deadly  Sins  have  for  ever  obstructed 
Grace.  The  Goddess  will  then  refer  to  Science, 
and  will  summon  the  ilortals  to  her  Presence, 
so  that  she  may  listen  to  their  Petitions. 

THE  PROCESSION   OF  MORTALS. 

1.  Saintly  Women  and  the  Nursing  Orders. 

2.  The  Nursing  Cunicula  for  Nurses  and 
Matrons. 

3.  Nureing  and  the  Community.  General 
and  Special  Nursing,  Mateniity,  School,  Dis- 
trict, Private,  Mission,  Prison,  Mental,  Naval, 
and  Military  (including  Male  Nurses). 

4.  The  Eegistration  Nursing  Press.  The 
National  Journals — Great  Britain  and  Ireland, 
Canada,  -  Australasia,  New^  Zealand,  India, 
Unit<?d  States  of  America,  Germany,  Holland, 
Denmark,  Finland,  Belgium,  etc. 


[>.  Tin-  Nur^inL.'  Ads — ."^(lulii  .\liiciiii  .Slutc--. 
New  Zealand,  21  .American  States,  Germany, 
Belgium,  and  Egypt. 

er  The  Nursing  Bills— Great  Britain  and 
Ireland,  supported  hj  eight  affiliated  societies. 
New  South  Wales  and  Victoria,  Denmark  and 
Finland. 

7.  Having  listened  to  the  Petitions,  the  God- 
dess Hygeia  will  speak  the  Epilogue.  She  will 
unite  the  Spirit  with  the  Science  of  Nursing. 
Hand  in  hand  they  will  follow  her  in  a  re- 
formed Procession  foreshadowing 

8.  Nursing,   an  orgaiiisi-d   Profession. 

THE  ORGANISING   COMMITTEE. 

The  Organising  Committee  will  be  limitod 
and  active.  Already  Miss  ilollett  has  under- 
taken to  write  the  Prologue  and  Epilogue, 
so  we  may  feel  assured  that  they  will  be  finely 
done.  The  ^Matrons"  Council  will  organise  Sec- 
tion 2,  The  Nursing  Curricula,  and  their  Pro- 
cession should  be  an  imposing  one. 

In  Section  3,  Miss  Cox-Davies,  ]Miss  ^lus- 
son,  and  !Miss  Barton  will  take  leading  pans 
in  connection  with  what  has  been  done  in 
general  hospitals  and  infirmai'ies.  Miss  H.  L. 
Pearse  will  present  the  School  Nursing  Sub- 
Section,  and  Miss  Amy  Hughes  will  be  respon- 
sible for  the  histon-  of  District  Nursing.  With 
each  sub-section  the  names  of  our  honoured 
pioneers  will  be  associated. 

Section  4.  The  Registration  Nursing  Press, 
which  has  played  so  prominent  a  part'  in 
securing  legislation  in  many  parts  of  the  world, 
is  to  be  in  charge  of  Miss  'M.  Breay. 

All  the  Acts  and  Bills  will  have  something 
to  say  ot  accomplishment,  or  reforms  to  be 
accomplished. 

Indeed,  so  much  interest  has  been  aroused 
amongst  nurses  in  the  possibilities  of  the 
Pageant  that  we  have  no  doubt  those 
wilUng  to  play  a  part — at  least  200 
will  be  requii-ed — will  soon  supply  the  needs  of 
the  Committee.  Scotland  and  Ireland  are 
being  invited  to  co-operate,  and  there  is  no 
reason  why,  once  organised,  such  a  spectacular 
presentment  of  the  Evolution  of  Trained 
Nursing  should  not  be  given  in  Edinburgh 
and  Dublin,  and  other  populous  cities. 

The  date  of  the  Eegistration  Eeunion  and 
Pageant  has  been  changed  from  February  2nd 
to  Saturday,  Februai-y  18th,  to  extend  the 
time  for  preparation,  and  also  to  enable  those 
who  wish  to  attend  from  the  counti-y  to  avail 
themselves  of  week-end  tickets. 

E.  G.  F. 

The  Editor  of  the  British  Jocr5.\l  of 
NrusixG  invites  the  views  of  Editors  of  the 
Eegistration  Organs  in  the  different  countrivs 
as  to  the  effective  presen^ient  of  ?■■•■*;-■"  4 


432 


Zbc  Blittsb  3ournal  of  IRursing. 


:Xov.  26,  1910 


Mbat  tbc  ITwcntietb  Century 
IRursc  map  Xcarn  troin  tbc 
IRtnerecntb.  ■ 

By  Miss  E.  M.  Fox, 

Matron,  Prince  of  Wales'  General  Hospital, 

Tottenham . 


"  The  present  is  the  child  of  the  past,"  and 
the  parent  of  the  future.  This  should  be  re- 
membered when  we  are  inclined  to  think  slight- 
ingly of  what  is  over  and  done  with.  It  is  rather 
the  fashion  nowadays  to  look  down  upon  the 
immediate  past  with  something  very  like  con- 
tempt, to  relegate  it  to  the  lumber  room  of  our 
minds ;  probably,  not  until  the  dust  of  ages 
has  settled  upon  it,  will  it  once  more  be  brought 
fort.h,  like  a  child's  discarded  toys,  with  all  the 
charm  of  novelty. 

Real  antiquity  appeals  to  us  all  more  or  less, 
whether  in  architecture,  literature,  art',  or  what 
not.  The  early  Briton  is  more  interesting  to 
us  than  the  earlj-  Victorian :  a  book  dated  1780 
attracts  our  attention  before  one  dated  1870 : 
fashions  of  two  hundred  years  ago  teem  with 
interest,  but  those  of  ten  years  ago  only  excite 
our  ridicule.  In  evei-y thing  we  seem  anxious 
to  shake  off  the  shackles  of  our  immediate  pre- 
decessors. The  terai  "  Mid-Victorian  "  is  apt 
to  express  the  scorn  we  feel  for  a  lately  dis- 
carded method,  whether  of  travelling,  educa- 
tion, dress,  or  literature.  Nothing  is  worth  our 
attention  unless  thoroughly  "  up-to-date." 
Slightly  altering  the  well-known  standpoint  of 
obstinacy  which  declares  that  "  whatever  is,  is 
right,"  the  modem  attitude  is  rather  "  what- 
ever has  been,  is  wrong."  Both  points  of 
view  however,  are  mistaken.  We  must  not 
forget  that  to  the  nineteenth  century  we  owe 
the  inception  of, ranch  which  the  twentieth  has 
developed  so  rapidly.  The  nineteenth  was  a 
century  of  new  ideas,  of  steady  progress.  Great 
men  flourished.  Medical  and  surgical  science 
advanced  by  leaps  and  bounds.  Good  women 
strove  earnestly  for  the  improvement  of  the 
condition  of  their  poorer  sisters,  of  young  chil- 
dren, of  prisoners  and  captives,  encouraged  and 
helped  by  the  example  of  the  highest  in  the 
land — "  Victoria,  the  Well-Bclovcd."  It  was 
a  century,  not  only  of  golden  dreams,  but  of 
many  golden  deeds,  deeds,  too,  which  had  to  be 
performed  amidst  difficulties  undreamed  of  at 
the  present  day,  that  might  well  have  given 
pause  to  the  bravest,  deeds  done  by  hands  and 
inspired  by  minds  only  pai-tially  freed  frona 
the  iron  shackles  of  a  narrow  outlook,  the 
swathing  bands  of  a  false  convention.  I  think 
we  little  realise  what  it  meant  for  a  woman  to 

*  Read  l)pfore  tlie  Xui-ecs'  Miesionary  L«egue, 
-VovemlMT  22nd,  1910. 


take  up  an  independent  position  as  late  even 
as  the  middle  of  last  century.  To  striie  out 
a  line  for  herself  meant  to  be  misunderstood, 
often  to  be  unkindly  treated,  estranged  from 
her  nearest  and  dearest,  pointed  al  as  "  pecu- 
liar," dubbed  "fanatical."  In  evei^y  age  it 
has  required  much  moral  courage  to  be  a 
Daniel,  and  "  dare  to  stand  alone."  The  den 
of  lions  and  the  burning  fiery  furnace,  heated 
seven  times  hotter  than  it  was  wont  to  be 
heated,  have  never  been  lacking  for  the  trial  by 
ordeal  meted  out  to  those  who  have  had  the 
courage  of  their  convictions;  but  surely,  it 
meant  a  stern  fibre  in  thecharacter  of  a  woman 
that  she  was  able  to  take  up  such  a  stand  in 
those  days  against  public  opinion  and  private 
disapproval. 

As  nurses,  we  stand  to-day  upon  the  sure 
foundation  of  professional  security,  a  founda- 
tion laid  for  us  in  darkness,  toil,  and  a  most  un- 
faltering determination,  by  those  intrepid 
leaders  of  the  nineteenth  century  whose  skill, 
energy,  and  sterling  character  have  made 
nursing  what  it  is  at  the  present  time.  Who 
among  us  can  think  of  our  late  beloved 
Florence  Nightingale  without  a  thrill,  or  refuse 
admiration  to  the  devoted,  if  wilful,  Sister 
Dora  ?  But  besides  these  and  other  well-known 
names,  a  silent  host  of  unpret-entious  workers 
have  preceded  us  along  the  intervening  years, 
patiently  toiling  on  their  monotonous  daily 
march  round  the  walled  -Jericho  of  prejudice 
and  tradition,  until,  lo !  at  last  the  walls  have 
fallen  llat,  so  that  we  of  to-day  may  enter  into 
the  possession  stretching  straight  and  smooth 
before  us.  Quoting  from  the  official  organ  of 
one  of  our  largest  hospitals,  we  may  well  apply 
what  is  said  there  of  the  medical,  to  our  own 
profession:  "  The  greatness  of  the  past  may 
make  us  humble  when  we  think  of  the  present, 
but  it  should  make  us  ambitious  when  we  think 
of  the  future.  Contemplation  of  the  past  is  a 
worse  than  fruitless  pursuit,  if,  instead  of  lead- 
ing us  to  emulate  the  achievements  of  our 
elders  and  betters,  it  makes  us  sneer  at  their 
imperfections." 

Contrast  the  condition  of  nursing  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  nineteenth  century  with  that 
in  the  beginning  of  the  twentieth.  Why,  it 
was  simply  nil.  Some'  of  you  have  no  doubt 
read  Sarah  Tooley's  "  History  of  Nursing  in 
the  British  Empire,"  and  will  remember  these 
words:  "  Lacking  knowledge,  refinement,  and 
the  religious  stimulus,  which  was  a  powerful 
factor  in  early  times,  the  nui-ses  in  hospitals 
and  kindred  institutions  had  become  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  nineteenth  century,  a  soi'ial 
scandal,  and  a  menace  to  the  community." 

We  are  told  that  women  without  a  character, 
who   could   get  work  nowhere  else,    clustenvl 


Nov.  '26,  19101 


Zbc  Britisb  3ournal  of  "nursino. 


433 


"  outside  the  big  London  hospitals,  like  dock 
labourei-s  waiting  for  a  job.  They  were  sum- 
moned to  the  wards  as  exigeucj"  demanded,  and 
combined  scrubbing  and  nursing  as  required.' 
What  wonder  then,  tliat  the  work  was  counted 
of  no  repute?  And  who  are  we  to  decry  the 
difficulties  that  had  to  be  encouut-ered  by  those 
who  sought  to  bett'or  such  a  condition  of  things? 

I  will  not  weary  you  by  a  repetition  of  those 
facts  wliich  have  now  become  histoid  regard- 
ing the  first  inception  of  nursing  as  a  profession 
for  refined  and  educated  women.  You  are  all 
thoroughly  coiivei-sant  Avith  the  story  that  has 
been  in  a  way  familiar  to  us  from  childhood  of 
how  Florence  Nightingale  and  her  band  of 
workei"s  brought  sweetness  and  light  out  of  the 
darkness  and  horroi's  of  the  Crimean  war.  It 
was  a  romance  that  fired  many  a  young  girl's 
imagination,  inspiring  her  with  the  ambition  to 
follow  in  those  brave  footsteps.  Lately,  echoes 
of  the  storj^  have  come  freshly  to  our  eai-s  with 
all  the  forcefulness  of  a  voice  from  the  grave, 
newspapers  and  magazines  alike  vying  with 
one  another  in  glorifying  the  past,  and  ofiEering 
incense  to  the  memory  of  the  "  Lady  with  the 
Lamp." 

Some  of  us  are  rather  too  ready  to  think  that 
after  the  Crimean  war,  hospitals  at  once  re- 
solved themselves  into  models  of  order  and 
skilled  nursing,  and  that  they  have  continued 
so  ever  since.  Not  so.  Cleansing  the  Augean 
stable  is  never  anything  but  a  Herculean  task, 
and  the  unpleasing  fact  remains  that  "Florence 
Nightingale  walking  the  Scutari  hospitals 
initiating  nursing  reforms  in  the  distant  East 
was  a  heroine,  but  Florence  Nightingale  putting 
her  finger  on  the  plague  spots  at  home  was  by 
no  means  so  popular."  The  glamour  had  de- 
parted. People  are  not  always  so  anxious  to 
remedy  abuses  when  they  exist  in  their  own 
immediate  surroundings,  as  when  they  are  at 
a  distance  too  great  to  be  personally  incon- 
venient. The  mote  in  our  brother's  eye  has 
ever  been  more  apparent  to  us  than  the  beam 
in  our  own.  When  nurses  grumble  at  hospital 
rules  to-day,  greatly  modified  though  their 
stringency  may  be,  tliey  little  realise  the  appal- 
ling necessity  that  existed  for  such  rules  when 
tliey  were  first  made.  They  do  not  think  how 
difficult  it  must  have  been  all  at  once  to  upset 
the  conventions  and  established  traditions  of  a 
century  or  two,  to  evict  the  unfit,  set  up  prope  • 
ideals  of  honourable  upright  conduct,  teach 
right  methods  of  caring  for  the  sick,  and  to 
enforce  such  rules  when  made.  It  was  no  won- 
der that  httle  or  no  off-duty  time  was  given 
when  nurses  could  not  be  trusted  to  employ 
their  leisure  in  proper  ways  of  recreation  :  that 
•supervision  was  carried  to  the  point  of  espion- 
age over  persons  who  would    not    work    well 


uuIlss  under  the  immediate  eye  of  authority : 
that  orders  had  to  be  given  in  the  form  of 
stern  commands,  and  enforced  by  threats  of 
punishment  for  those  who  would  only  obey,  as 
it  were,  at  the  point  of  the  sword.  Application 
forms  at  some  hospitals,  for  probationers,  even 
in  the  nineties,  still  required  that  "  a  candidate 
mu.^t  be  able  to  read  and  write, "-and  it  was  not 
till  then  that  a  certain  framed  and  glazed  set 
of  rules  was  removed  from  a  dormitoi^  wall, 
one  of  which  i-ules  set  forth  plainly  that 
"  nurses  must  not  borrow  money  or  clothes 
from  the  patients! 

This  shows  what  sort  of  women  were  ex- 
pected to  apply  for  the  post  of  nvu-se,  and  also 
indicat-es  faintly  the  hard  lot  of  those  more 
gently  born  and  bred  who  elected  to  hve  under 
conditions  that  must  have  been  exceedingly 
galling  to  them.  And  why  did  they  do  so? 
Not  because,  as  modem  probationers  may 
think  when  listening  to  stories  of  bygone  days 
from  older  nurses,  they  were  "  poor  spirited 
things  who  could  not  stand  up  for  themselves," 
although  you  may  say  scornfully,  "  I  know  / 
would  not  put  up  with  such  a  lite,  and  I  can't 
imagine  why  they  did  I  "  No;  but  because 
they  know  that  only  by  conforming  to  the 
same  rules  as  the  rest,  could  they  hope  really 
to  influence  and  refoi-m  them.  They  knew, 
too,  that  the  need  was  great  for  real  workers, 
and  that  if  they  did  not  persevere,  the  care 
of  the  sick  might  again  fall  into  the  hands  ot 
the  unfit.  One  cannot  speak  of  cowardice  in 
.  the  same  breath  with  such  people  as  these. 
In  most  cases,  they  had  left  their  homes  in 
spite  of  bitter  opposition  on  the  part  of  parents 
and  friends  in  order  to  give  up  their  whole 
lives  to  the  service  of  the  sick.  Surely,  they 
showed  the  truest  bravery,  the  most  i-eal 
altruism,  a  genuine  daily  offering  and  sacrifice 
of  their  natural  inclinations  and  habits  in  ac- 
cepting their  hard  conditions  of  life,  bowin,-; 
their  necks  to  the  yoke  of  an  iron  discipline, 
and  exhibiting  by  so  doing  the  essential  quali- 
ties of  self-restraint,  loyalty,  endurance,  de- 
votion to  a  high  ideal,  that  characterise  th? 
true   Christian  gentlewoman. 

The  path  has  been  smoothed  since  then. 
Many  rough  places  have  been  made  so  plain 
that  sacrifice  in  the  same  degree,  of  the  or- 
dinary comforts  of  life,  is  no  longer  required  of 
a  nurse,  but  the  lessons  of  bravery' and  true 
humility  remain  still  to  be  learned  from  the 
example  of  many  a  nineteenth  century  nurse, 
who  was  not  too  proud  to  submit  to  authority, 
and  esteemed  the  privilege  of  serving  as  "suffi- 
cient recompense. 

The  nurse  of  1910  would  think  herself  hardly 
used  were  she  not  allowed  4^  go  out  during  her 
oflf-duty   time  without  first  asking   leave    and 


434 


^be  Britisb  3ournaI  of  IRursiiKj. 


[Nov.  26,  1910 


obtaining  a  writti-u  pennit,  which  might  ba 
refused  for  any  reason  that  seemed  good  to 
the  Sister  in  charge.  She  would  not  like  to 
scrub  the  floor  of  her  ward,  to  polish  the  stoves, 
to  wash  bandages  for  hours  in  the  hospital 
laundry,  to  can-j  coals,  as  part  of  the  day's 
routine  work.  She  would  object  to  the  scanty 
diet,  shorn  even  of  the  regulation  "  egg  for 
breakfast,"  to  share  the  patients'  dinner,  to 
take  her  meals  haphazard  in  the  ward  kitchen, 
to  get  the  same  unvaried  dietary  week  in  and 
week  out.  Yet  all  these  things  were  the  com- 
mon lot  of  her  predecessors  up  to  tlie  very  verge 
of  the  present  centuiy,  and  were  accepted  as 
the  usual  conditions  of  a  nurse's  life  in  hospi- 
tal. Neither  ward  maids  nor  scrubbers  relieved 
the  nurses  of  any  part  of  their  work,  and  except 
for  chance  help  by  convalescent  patients,  all 
had  to  be  done  by  the  nursing  staff.  Oh,  there 
is  much  to  learn  in  the  way  of  endurance  from 
those  who  ha've  gone  before  us,  wearing  down 
the  rough  paths  by  constant  patient  treading 
with  ofttimes  vei-y  weary  feet. 

They  can  teach  us  also,  a  good  deal  about 
self-reliance.  In  those  days,  nurses  had  not 
arrived  in  the  plural  number,  and  an  amount 
of  work  had  to  be  done  single-handed,  that 
would  be  simply  appalling  to  the  modern  nurse, 
accustomed  to  plenty  of  help  in  her  ward.  It 
was  done  thoroughly,  too.  I  am  quite  sure 
there  was  more  thoroughness  in  the  perfoi-m- 
ance  of  what  you  perhaps  term  drudger\%  than 
there  is  to-day.  They  may  not  have  had  the 
glass  and  tile-topped  tables  and  lockers  that 
you  have,  but  the  plain  deal  furniture  was 
scrubbed  till  it  was  well-nigh  as  white  as  snow. 
Patients,  utensils,  taps,  tins,  sinks,  alike  were 
scoured  until  they  lit-erally  shone.  A  nurse 
who  is  reported  to  have  described  a  hospital  as 
a  "collection  of  things  requiring  to  be  con- 
tinually cleaned,"  was  thoroughly  justified  in 
her  description.  Old  fashioned  soap  and  water 
cleanliness  was  mucli  in  vogue,  even  if  surgical 
cleanliness  was  unknown.  'There  was  more 
in-ide  taken  in  the  actual  doing  of  the  work, 
iind  less  quibbling  about  who  should  do  if. 
(To   be  concluded.) 


Hppointnicnty. 


THE  CENTRAL  COMMITTEE  FOR  THE  STATE 
REGISTRATION  OF  NURSES 
Dr.  Comyns  Bcikoley,  ouo  of  the  dclop;at<-s  of  tho 
Roy«l  British  Niusies'  .\s.si)ciiitioii  on  i\\o  Contral 
f'ommittoo,  lirt«  lH>on  olcctod  Hon.  Troasiiror  in 
|>kco  of  tlio  late  Jlr.  John  liangton,  F.R.C.S. 


The  new  President  of  the  Matrons'  Counri],  Miss 
Heathcr-bi^K,  Matron  of  Cluuiinr  C'ros*;  HoRoital. 
being  already  a  member  of  the  Central  Committee. 
.\Iis.s  Kloaiior  Barton,  .Miuron.  Chelsea  Infirmary, 
linf.  l)e<'ii  noniin«ted  to  till  the  vnc«ncy  ranKwl  by 
the  lanu'nti'd  death  of  Mi^s  Isln  Stewart. 


.Matkox. 

Victoria  Hospital,  Accrington. — Miss  Alice  E.  Mac- 
doiigall  ha<>  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Preston,  wliere  slie 
siibseqnently  held  the  i>osition.s  of  Theatre  Sister 
and  Xight  Superintendent.  She  ha.s  also  held  the 
positions  of  Staff  Xurse  and  Holiday  '^'stc-  at  the 
West  London  Hospital,  Hammersmith ;  Sister  at 
the  AValsall  and  District  Hospital  ;  Xight  Superin- 
tendent at  the  Royal  Inhrmary,  Preston ;  and^ 
Senior  Sister  at  Moseley  Hall,  Convalescent  Hos^ 
pital  for  Childien,  Birmingham,  where  .she  has  also 
done  ilatron's  duties. 

Infectious  Diseases  Hospital,  Weston-Super-Mare.  — ^Iiss 
Florence  H.  Philliijs  ha.s  been  api>ointed  ilatron. 
She  was  trained  at  rniversity  College  Hospital. 
London,  and  has  held  the  position  of  Matron  at  tho 
Borough  Isolation  Hospital,  Faversham.  Kent. 

Isolation  Hospital,  West  Heath,  Northfieldi  near  Bir- 
mingham.— ^rifis  Robina  Morrison  has  been  apix)iiited 
Temporary  Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  City 
Hospital,  Lodge  Road.  Birmingham,  and  held  the 
position  of  Xnrse  Matron  in  \90'>  at  Birmingham 
Small-pox  Hospital,  and  of  Assistant  Matron  of  the 
City  Fever  Hospital  when  the  Small-jxyx  Hospital 
closed. 

XuRSE  Matrox. 

Beacon  Hill  Hospital,  Faversham. — Miss  Florence 
Whitehouse  has  Ijeen  api)oiuted  Xunse  Matron.  .She 
has  held  the  position  of  Charge  X"urse  in  the  same 
institution. 

AssisTAXT  Matrox. 

West  House  Royal  Edinburgh  Asylum. — Miss  Katheriiie 
M.  Cameron  has  been  apix>inted  Assistant  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  the  County  Asylum.  Durham. 
Leicester  Infirmary,  Sheffield  City  Hospital,  and 
Clapham  Maternity  Hospital,  and  has  held  the 
position  of  Charge  Xui^se  at  Bangour  Village 
Asylum  Hospital,  and  has  had  exx^erience  of  private 
nursing  in  connection  with  the  Granville  Road 
Home,  X'^ewcastle-on-Tyne. 

Sisters. 
Mount  Vernon  Hospital,  Northwood,  Middlesex. — MissMar- 

garet  A.  AVood  lui.s  l)e<'n  ap(>ointed  Sister.  She  was 
trained  at  St.  Bartholomew's  Ho.spital,  Rochester, 
and  has  held  appointments  at  St.  Luke's  Home  tor 
the  Dying,  Pembridge  Square,  Bayswatcr.  Mount 
Vernon  Hospital.  Hampstead;  Aston  Grays, 
Bournemouth  ;  and  the  Home  Hospital,  Leicester. 

SUPERINTF.XDKNT  NuRSE. 
Workhouse  Infirmary,  Norwich. — Mies  Alice  Mary 
Barnes  has  Ikh'U  ap|x>iiite<I  Suix-rintendent  X*ni-so. 
She  wafi  trained  at  the  Union  Inftrmary.  Birken- 
head, where  she  has  held  the  jxjsition  of  Si-ster.  .She 
has  also  been  Sister  at  the  Leith  Hospital,  and 
Superintendent  Xnrse  at  the  Bridgwater  Infirmary. 
Charge  X'irses. 

Isle  of  Wight  Union  Infirmary,  ParHhurst.  Miss  R.  A. 
Hopwood  has  been  appointed  Charge  Xnrse.  She 
was  trained  for  three  years  at  the  I'nion  Infirmary, 
Rothwell,  Haigh,  near  Leeds,  and  has  since  had 
ex|X"rienee  of  ]>rivHte  nui-sing. 

Mrs.  Emily  Earby  has  been  appointed  Charge 
Nurse  in  the  .same  institution.     She  wa.s  trained  at 


iSov.  -JO,   liliO] 


^bc  Brttisb  3ournal  cc  iRurslno. 


the  Scnlcdiites  ln(iriiiai-y,  Hull,  ami  lias  lieeii  Stall 
\urse  at  tlie  Leicester  Union  lulinnary  and  tlie 
Bromley  I'nion  Infirmary. 

IIkalth  \isitok  AM)  Samtahy  Insi-kitoh. 
Farnworth  Urban  District  Council. — Miss  Hil<l<i  Fl 
lU'hiH'K-LawroMci'  has  b«x'n  appointtnl  Health 
Visitor  and  Sanitary  Insi>octor.  She  was  trainixl 
ot  the  ShefficUl  I'nion.  and  has  held  the  iKviftion.-i 
of  Chargie  Xurr><.>  in  tlie  Children's  and  Maternity 
Wards  at  Chester  Infirmary;  Sanitary  Inspector  at 
Bootle  for  a  year:  School  Nui«e  in  Lincoln  for  two 
years;  and  H(>alth  Visitor  in  I/arabeth  for  one  year. 
She  has  «lao  studied  hyjiione,  physiology.  an<l 
sanitary  st'ience.  and  obtained  certificate.*;  at  T,iver- 
pool  University. 

QUEEN    ALEXANDRA'S     IMPERIAL    MILITARY 
NURSING   SERVICE. 

The  nnder-nientionod  Si-sters  to  be  Matrons: — 
JIi.ss  M.  Mark  (October  20th);  Miss  I.  G.  Willetts 
(Xor.   1st). 

Th«  under-mentionetl  ladies  to  be  Staff  Nurses 
(piX)visionally) : — Miss  V.  S.  Xewman  (Nov.  1st) ; 
Mies  L.  E.  James  (Nov.  3rd). 

QUEEN  VICTORIA'S  JUBILEE  INSTITUTE 
Transfrrs  and  Appnintmrnff. — Miss  Jessica  Cato, 
to  Biddulph ;  Miss  Mary  E.  Clarke,  to  Leighton 
Buzzard  :  Miss  Nora  O'Sullivan,  to  Braughing :  Miss 
Ellen  Morey.  to  Sheffield :  Miss  Daisy  Hutt,  to 
Cambridge:  Miss  Isobel  Smith,  to  Gosport;  Miss 
Nora  Nigel  Jones,  to  Three  Towns. 


Ittiuijino  Ecbocy, 


RESIGNATION. 
Miss  Clarissa  Hunter  has  resigned  the  position  of 
Matron  of  the  General  Hospital,  Walthamstow,  or, 
to  give  it  its  full  name,  the  Leyton,  Walthamstow, 
and  Wanstoad- General  Hospital,  a  position  she  has 
held  since  189.5.  Duringjier  tenure  of  office  the  hos- 
pital has  been  niucli  eularge<],  and  the  training  and 
general  standard  of  nursing  greatly  improved. 
Great  regrel  is  felt  at  the  loss  of  so  valuable  and 
efficient  an  officer.  Miss  Hunter  was  trained  at  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital. 


PRESENTATION. 
Sister  ilarshall,  who  has  recently  resigned  the 
position  of  Charge  Nurse  at  the  Mansfield  Union 
Infirmary,  after  nearly  .30  years  in  the  service  of  the 
Poor  Law,  has  been  the  recipient  of  many  gifts. 
From  the  Hoard  of  Gunrdianx.  a  handsome  gift  of 
money,  presented  by  the  Chairman.  From  the 
iledieal  Offlcers,  Clerk  to  the  Ouardians,  the  Be- 
lievin^j  Officers,  and  Indnor  Staff,  a  purse  of  gold. 
From  the  Me.mbcrs  of  the  Braba-.on  Societ]/,  a  pair  of 
-solid  silver  candle-sticks  and  inkstand.  From  the  St. 
Peter's  Seiriitfi  Party  and  Friends,  a  gold  bracelet 
and   silver   hat-pins. 


WEDDING  BELLS. 
Nurses  will  be  interested  to  learn  that  a  marriage 
has  l)een  arranged,  and  will  take  place  during  the 
first  week  in  December,  between  Mr.  Henry  Dixon 
Kimber,  the~ eldest  son  of  Sir  Henry  Kimber.  Bart.. 
.M.P.,  and  Miss  Lucy  Ellen  CVookes,  the  third 
daughter  of  the  late  George  AVilliam  Crookes,  Esf]. 


\\"c  icaru  that  the  time- 
iioiiourcd  and  lionourable 
positiuii  of  Matron  and 
Superintendent  of  Nursing 
at  St.  J5artholoine\v's  Hos- 
pital is  beiiig  deprived  of 
ix)\ver  and  prestige.  The 
new  Matron  is  expected  to 
'■  wait  upon  "  the  Clerk 
daily  at  10.45  a.m.  We 
hope  for  the  sake  of  the 
little  amount  of  prestige  iett 
to  this  uiitortunato  Nursing  School  that  the 
Committee  will  not  permit  the  subordination 
of  the  ntirsing  to  the  secretarial  department. 
Nothing  can  be  more  unwholesome  than  an 
excess  of  male  domination  over  hundreds  of 
women  in  institutions,  which  are  closed  to 
public  inspection. 


jliss  L.  M.  Stower,  who  for  some  years  has 
carried  on  a-  Nursing  Home  at  21,  Beaumont 
Street,  W.,  has  just  moved  into  1,  Nottingham 
Place,  where  she  will  be  able  to  receive  eight 
or  nine  patient-s,  and  where  the  rooms  are 
large,  airy,  and  spacious.  The  whole  house 
has  been  re-decorated  from  top  to  bottom,  and 
is  most  convenient,  comfortably  furnished,  and 
well  arranged.  At  the  top  of  the  house  is  an 
operating  theatre,  equipped  to  meet  the  latest 
surgical  requirements,  and  for  the  convenience 
of  the  nursing  staff  there  is  also  a  cupboard 
well  supplied  with  all  the  dainty  crockery  re- 
quired for  the  service  of  the  lighter  meals. 

Miss  Stower  was  trained  at  St.  Bartholo- 
mew's Hospital,  and  since  that  time  she  has 
had  a  wide  experience  in  the  control  and  man- 
agement of  a  home  for  paying  patients.  Her 
terms  are  from  £5  5s.  to  f  12  12s.  a  week,  with 
certain  extras.- 


The  house  in  Beaumont  Street  will,  for  the 
future,  be  utilised  for  the  reception  of  visitors, 
not  necessarily  nurses,  and  from  January  1st 
]\Iiss  Bramwell  (now  Sister  Matthew  at  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital)  will  be  in  charge. 
The  terms  to  nurses  are  from  £1  Is.  to  £1  5s. 
per  week,  and  to  ordinary  visitors  from 
£1  lis.  6d.  to  £3  3s.  Beaumont  Street  is  very 
conveniently  situated  for  private  nurses,  and 
visitors  will  find  that  Miss  Stower  is  well  ac- 
quainted with  their  needs,  and  will  spare  no 
pains  to  make  them  comfortable. 


The  Middlesex  Education  Committee  has  de- 
cided to  appoint  School  Ntn-ses  to  assist  the 
Medical  OfHcer.  "«, 


436 


tTbe  3Britisb  3ournaI  of  IRursing. 


;X<iv.  26,  1910 


The  accompanying  picture  of  the  hockey 
teams  of  the  North-Eastem  Hospital,  Totten- 
ham, and  the  Western  Hospital,  Fulham 
(Metropolitan  Asylums  Board)  was  taken  by 
Dr.  Goffe  on  the  afternoon  of  a  match  between 
the  t\\o  at  Finsbury  Park.  A  very  happy 
group. 


The  trained  nurse  is  not  beloved  of  the 
novelist,  and  the  latest  instance  of  this  is  to  be 
found  in  "  The  Devil  and  the  Deep  Sea,"  by 
Miss  Pihoda  Broughton.  The  book  openK  with 
the  hero — or  is  he  the  villain? — "  in  his  invalid 
chair  on  one  of  the  lower  terraces  of  the  hotel 
garden.     He   had  been  left  there  at  his  own 


hatted,  like  the  rest  of  her  sex,  but  whom  yet 
something  not  definitely  descnbable  marked 
as  the  long  delayed  ministrant  of  the  invalid.  It 
is  thought  that  there  is  a  preference  among 
hotel  keepere  for  nurses  out  of  uniforai,  as 
W'hen  t<K)  many  flying  veils  and  floaty  cloaks 
are  to  be  met  on  stairs  and  in  hotel  gardens,  a 
distrust  is  apt  to  invade  the  still  sound  occu- 
pants of  these  hostelries." 


Miss  Field  ventured  to  address  this  unpleas- 
ing  young  person. 

"  Good  morning,  I  hope  that  your  patient  is 
not  worse?     I  see  that  he  is  not  out  to-day." 

"  The  young    person     regarded    her  with  a 


Mrs.    Fenwick 


recpiest  two  hours  earlier  by  his  nurse — uo 
smirking  houri  in  cap  and  collar  of  dazzling 
stiff  whiteness,  but  a  brutal  male  thing." 

r^ater  the  lonely  woman,  also  a  visitor  in  this 
hotel  on  the  Mediteiranean  shore,  who  had 
established  a  certain  comradeship  with  the 
invalid,  said,  "  So  the  nurse  comes  to-mor- 
rinv? 

Yes. " 

"  Slio  was  glad  that — needing  it  so  sorely — -he 
should  have  some  one  to  look  after  him,  yet 
the  thought  of  the  port  dappcrness  that  would 
thenceforth  always  stand  bewecn  them,  lent 
M  dullness  to  her  voice" 

.\t  a  later  stage,  Miss  Field  encountered  the 
nurse,  "  a  young  woman,  coated,  skirted,  and 


steady  eye. 

"  '  His  temperature  is  up,'  she  said  curtly: 
'  something  has  agitated  him  unduly.  He  must 
be  kept  quiet.' 

"  Then,  as  if  having  no  fvu-ther  time  to 
throw  away  upon  anything  so  irrelevant  as  the 
pale  timidity  that  had  addressed  her,  she 
whisked  off.  The  pei-sou  thus  snubbed  re- 
entered the  hot*]  much  chapfallen.  Had  he 
given  hor  away?  Had  he  already  enlisted  the 
])rotection  of  the  nurse  against  her?  The  hard 
and  repellant  manner  of  the  latter  looked  like 
it ;  but  iierhaps  these  were  only  native  graces 
incident  to  her  trade." 

But  "  in  the  weeks  that  followed  Susan  Field 
found  that  the  Nurse's  hostilitv  melted  before 


Nov.  26,  1910] 


Zhc  Britisb  3ournal  ot  IRurstng. 


437 


her  soft  civility."  Nevertheless  she  must  have 
been  an  awesome  pereon,  for  we  get  another 
glimpse  of  her  when  Miss  Field  "  braced  her 
shaken  nerves  to  the  trial  of  crossing  the  room 
to  the  table  where  the  austere  custodian  of  the 
hidden  patient  sat,  alone  and  unsmiling." 


The  annual  meeting  of  the  Glasgow  and 
West  of  Scotland  Co-operation  of  Trained 
Nurses  was  held  in  the  Charing  Cross  Halls, 
Glasgow,  last  week,  when  Lady  Stirling  Max- 
well presided,  and  was  supported  by 
Lady  Ure  Primrose,  Professor  Glais- 
ter,  ^Dr.  W.  L.  Reid,  Chairman  of  the 
Executive  Committee,  and  others.  There 
are  at  present  195  nunses  on  the  Eoll  of 
the  Co-operation.  During  the  year  ending  Sep- 
tember 30th  2112  cases  were  attended,  the 
amount  earned  by  the  nurses  being  £12,580. 
The  vear's  income  was  £1,544  7s.  9d.,  and  the 
expenditure  €1,268  lis.  9d.  The  report  for 
the  year  a|ipears  eminently  satisfactoi-y,  and 
we  wish  contiiuied  success  to  this  Co-operation. 
In  Scothmd  the  managers  of  hospitals  set  an 
admirable  example  to  those  in  England  and 
Ireland — they  do  not  utilise  their  trained 
nurses"  services  as  a  source  of  financial  profit 
for  the  hospitals,  and  we  hope  they  will  never 
favour  a  system  so  indefensible  and  unjust. 


At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Sutherland 
Benefit  Nursing  Association,  held  recently,  a 
"  special  committee  appointed,"  according  to 
the  Iiivenuss  Cnurier.  "  to  consider  and  report 
on  the  financial  position  of  the  Association,  re- 
commended that  as  there  is  an  annual  deficit 
of  over  £100,  and  the  prospect  of  the  Associa- 
tion becoming  insolvent  in  a  few  years  should 
the  invested  funds  Vie  drawn  upon  further, 
each  district  committee  should  undertake  the 
management  of  the  district  nurse,  under  the 
control  of  a  central  management  committee, 
and  the  Association  would  be  in  a  position  to 
discontinue  the  office  of  Superintendent  of 
Nurses,  thereby  saving  a  considerable  sum  an- 
nually." Ten  vot-ed  for  the  adoption  of  the 
recommendation,  which,  strange  to  say,  was 
moved  by  a  medical  practitioner.  Dr.  S'mpson 
Golspin.  Two  voted  against  it.  All  honour  is 
due  to  the  (according  to  the  press  report) 
nameless  individuals  who  opposed  such  a  retro- 
grade policy.  In  the  early  years  of  the  Asso- 
ciation's existence  this  method  of  management 
was  adopted  and  found  far  from  satisfactory. 
Hence  the  appointment  in  i897  of  a  fully 
trained  nurse  and  midwife.  For  years  the 
Association's-  yeaiis  were  commenced  with  a 
substantial  balance  in  the  bank.  It  is,  there- 
fore, incredible  that  a  committ<?e  of  manage- 
ment which  must  be  aware  of  these  facts  should 


adopt  a  recommendation  which  can  only  act 
in  a  most  prejudicial  way  against  the  interests 
of  the  institution.  There  is  an  extraordinary 
want  of  resourcefulness  in  a  committee  which 
can  only  recommend  such  a  step  as  that  which 

has  been  taken.        

The  Irish  press  has  for  several  weeks  past 
discussed  at  length  the  work  and  economic 
condition  of  nurses — incidentally  the  Matrons 
are  somewhat  brusquely  criticised.  One  would 
imagine  that  these  othcials  are  to  blame  for 
hospital  conditions.  This  is  far  from  the  truth. 
The  majority  of  Matrons  are  doing  all  in  their 
power  to  ameliorate  nui-sing  conditions,  and  in 
Dublin  have  taken  the  initiative  in  every 
scheme  for  upraising  the  profession.  Nurses 
are  notoriously  apathetic,  their  work  is  phys'C- 
ally  ahd  mentally  exhausting,  and  leaves  but 
little  energy  for  more  than  grumbling.  Those 
who  object  to  too  long  hours  of  work  for  nurses, 
and  the  sweating  of  their  labour  by  hospital 
managers,  have  the  remedy  in  their  own  hands. 
Let  such  institutions  be  placed  under  public 
inspection,  and  their  rules  in  relation  to  nurses 
be  print-ed.  The  just  and  the  unjust  (and  there 
are  few  philanthropists  who  hesitate  in  the 
name  of  charity  to  squeeze  women  workers) 
can  be  compared.  Let  the  just  manager  be 
financially  supported,  and  the  unjust  pubhcly 
exposed.  The  charitable  public  are  primarily 
to  blame  for  knowing  nothing  about  hospital 
and  nursing  administration. 


We  learn  from  the  Nvising  Journal  of  India 
that  Mrs.  Ban-  (nee  Aukett)  has  been  unani- 
mously elected  Business  ^Manager  of  the  Jour- 
nal in  the  place  of  the  late  Miss  J.  W.  Thoi-pe. 
Mrs.  BatT  was  trained  at  the  London  Hospital, 
where  she  remained  as  Statf  Nurse  for  a  year. 
In  1899  she  volunteered  for  plague  duty  in 
India,  and  spent  three  yeai-s  in  Poona  and 
Bombay,  during  which  time  she  nursed  in  two 
severe  epidemics  of  cholera  and  small-pox.  In 
1902  she  man-ied  Dr.  BaiT,  an  American 
dentist  practising  in  Bombay,  and  has  con- 
tinued to  show  r^reat  interest  in  Indian  nursing. 

REGISTRATION  AND  THF  ELECTION. 
Now  that  there  is  an  inuncdiate  prospect  of 
a  General  Election  we  hope  that  registrationists 
will  make  a  point  of  writing  to  candidates  of 
all  parties  for  Parliamentai-y  honours,  asking 
them  whether,  if  elected,  they  will  support  the 
Nurses'  Registration  Bill.  Nui-ses  should  also 
without  fail  urge  all  their  male  relatipns 
and  friends  to  write  to  their  local  candidates, 
asking  their  support,  foi-  the  Bill,  bearing  in 
mind  alwaj-s  that  male  electors  can  bring  effec- 
tive pressure  to  bear  on  csfndidates  which 
women  without  votes  are  unable  to  exercise. 


4:5.^ 


^bc  Biitisb  3ournaI  ot  HAurstng.        [^'«^ •  ^e,  i9io 


^be  Ibospital  Morlb. 

THE   PARK  HOSPITAL  FOR  CHILDREN. 

The  Park  Hospital  for  Children,  Hither 
Green,  was  formerly  inaugurated  on  Saturday 
alternoon,  November  19th,  by  the  President  of 
the  Local  Government  Board.  Mr.  Burns 
airived  soon  after  2.30,  and  was  received  by 
tiie  Chaii-man,  Vice-Chaimian,  and  Clerk  to 
the  MetroiJolitan  Asylums  Board,  the  ^Medical 
Superintendent,  and  Miss  S.  A.  Villiers,  Ma- 
tron of  the  Hospital,  and  escorted  to  one  of 
the  wards,  where  about  200  people  had  assem- 
bled to  meet  him. 

Mr.  Walter  Dennis,  Chairman  of  the  Board, 
explained  that  for  the  last  13  years  the  Park 
Hospital  had  rendered  good  service  to  Lon- 
don by  the  treatment  of  large  nuinbers  of  in- 
fectious patients,  and  that  now  it  had  been  de- 
cided to  devote  it  to  the  care  of  sick  and  de- 
bilitated children. 

Mr.  Bums,  in  the  course  of  an  interesting 
and  sympathetic  address,  gave  some  of  his 
reasons  for  wishing  to  devote  more  attention  to 
the  children,  and  spoke  of  the  high  mortality 
still  prevalent  among  the  children  of  the  poorer 
classes,  especially  those  under  5  years  of  age. 
He  enumerated  some  of  the  causes  for  this, 
such  as  drink,  overcrowding,  etc.,  and  said 
he  hoped  very  soon,  with  the  aid  of  the  two 
Hospitals  placed  at  his  disposal  by  the  Metro- 
politan Asylums  Board,  to  remove  all  the  chil- 
dren from  the  overcrowded  infirmaries  and 
workhouses,  where  they  were  unable  to  receive 
all  the  advantages  of  fresh  air  and  sunshine 
which  he  wished  to  give  them. 

Mr.  Walden,  J. P.,  Chairman  of  the  Chil- 
dren's Committee,  proposed  a  vote  of  thanks 
to  Mr.  BurnSi  which  was  seconded  by  the  Vice- 
Chairman,  Miss  I.  M.  Baker.  The  five  wards 
occupied  by  the  small  patients  were  then 
visited,  and  aftei-wards  tea  was  served  in  two 
of  the  wards,  which  had  been  decorated  with 
flowers  and  plants,  and  presented  a  gay  ap- 
pearance, the  Sisters  and  nurses  waiting  on  the 
guests. 

The  Band  of  the  Training  Ship  Exmouth 
played  selections  of  music,  and  a  guard  of 
honour  was  also  provided  by  these  smart, 
robust-looking  boys. 

Among  those  present  were  Sir  Eobert  Hcns- 
loy,  Sir  .\rthur  Downes,  Mr.  Davey,  C.B.,  a 
large  number  of  the  Managers  of  the  Metropoli- 
tan Asylums  Board,  Medical  Superintendents 
of  various  infii-maines.  Guardians,  and  Clerks  to 
Guardians,  and  many  ladies,  who  expressed 
thr-ir  great  int^erest  in  the  new  ('liildr.'u's  Hos- 

|,il:,l. 


IReflections. 


From  a  Board  Room  Mirror. 

Lady  Juliet  Duff,  wife  of  tlie  new  Chairman 
and  President  of  the  Appeal  Committee  of 
Charing  Cross  Hospital,  is  issuing  an  urgent 
appeal  for  the  sum  of  £100,000  to  free  tht 
hospital  from  debt  and  to  enable  the  wards  now 
closed  to  be  reopened.  She  points  out  that  a 
serious  aspect  of  the  jiresent  insufiBcient  accommo- 
dation i*  that  the  hospital,  from  its  situation,  is 
Ijreeniinently  an  accident  hospital,  and  casualties 
that  ought  to  be  taken  in  are  frequently  sent  on 
to  other  hospitals  or  infirmaries  because  all  the 
beds  are  full.  Also  that  the  adjacent  thorough- 
fares are  highways  of  people  from  all  over  the  world 
and  that  the  hospital  is  called  upon  to  perform  not 
merely  a  local,  but  a  univereal  service. 

Lady  Wantage  has  promised  £1,000,  and  Messrs. 
N.  M.  Rothschild,  amongst  other  generous  donors, 
have  sent  her  £.300.  Much  has  been  done  at 
Charing  Cross  of  late  yeai-s  to  bring  it  up-to-date  in 
•every  way,  and  the  wards,  the  walls  of  which  are 
faced  with  l>eautiful  schemes  of  tiles,  are  as  com- 
fortable as  they  are  harmonious  in  decoration. 
We  hope  ChaHng  Cross  may  get  a  good  bit  of  that 
£100,000,  and  its  closed  wards,  which  are  so 
urgently  nee<led,  be  oj^ened  at  no  distant  date. 

By  direction  of  Prince  Alexander  of  Teck,  Mr. 
Reginald  Lucas  has  written  a  short  memoir  of 
Prince  Francis  of  Teck,  setting  forth  the  services 
which  he  rendered  to'the  Mid<ilesex  Hospital. 

Lord  Shaftesbjuy's  appeal  for  the  Queen's  Hos^ 
pital  for  Children  at  Hackney  is  receiving  support. 
The  more  the  better.  London  cannot  afford  empty 
l)eds  in  its  hospitals  for  children  at  any  time. 

NURSES'  MISSIONARY  LEAGUE. 
The  Nurses'  Missionary  League  Sale  of  Work  was 
held  on  Saturday,  November  19th.  at  52,  Lower 
Sloane  Street,  S.W.  A  good  supply  of  articles,  both 
fancy  work,  children's  clothes,  and  dainty  woollen  • 
goods,  had  been  received  from  members  of  the  League, 
and  made  a  pretty  dis|ilay.  A  good  many  nurses  and 
other  friends  attended  during  tlie  day.  and  jwircids 
of  gootls  which  were  k'ft  ovei'  ar<'  being  sent  to 
memlxM's  in  various  placi^s  who  were  unable  to  l)e 
present.  The  proceeds  aie  to  go  tow-ards  the  funds 
of  the  League,  and  also  towaixls  the  support  of  a 
cot  in  the  Mukden  H<xspital. 

NURSES'  SOCIAL   UNION. 

A  Branch  has  been  formed  fcir  Staffordshire,  with 
the  Countess  of  Harrowby  as  President,  and  Miss 
Duke,  Haiighton,  Stafford,  as  County  Organiser. 
There  are  already  about  forty  members. 

Mr.  L.  Dick  will  speak  at  a  meeting  in  connection 
with  it  on  Monday  next  at  the  County  Council 
Buildings.  .Stafford,' at  2. .SO  p.m.,  on  "The  National 
Pension  Fund  for  Nurses.''  Dr.  0.  Reid,  tlie  Medical 
Officer  for  Health,  will  preside.  An  entertainment 
will  follow,  to  which  nurses  are  invited,  whether 
members  of  the  N.S.F.  or  not. 


Nov.  20,  rjiu] 


Zhc  36riti5b  3onrnal  of  H^ursino. 


439 


LITERATURE    FOR     RESCUE     WORKERS. 

Ainoiigit  tlio  litomi  iiiv  on  tjilf  at  the  C'«xton 
Hall  oil  Novfiubor  L'Jtli,  timing  the  Conference  on 
"  Hygiene  in  delation  to  Kceiene  Work.''  convened 
by  the  National  Union  ol  Woiiien  Workere,  will  Ih- 
Jlis.>  L.  L.  Dock's  '■  llyjrii'iie  and  Molality,"  pub- 
libhed  by  Messrs.  Ci.  P.  Putnam's  Sons;  the 
Hon.  .VIbinia  Bnxliick's  i>aiuplih't,  "Morality  in 
Relation  to  Health,"  pnblishetl  by  the  Niireing 
Pi'«ss,  Ltd.,  and  Miss  K.  L.  C.  Men's  pamphlet, 
"  Suggestions  for  Nurses  on  Some  Special  Points 
in  Connection  With  Moral  and  Physical  Health." 


Xeoal  noatters. 

A   NURSE   EXONERATED 

Mr.  Lusmoore  Drew  presided  at  the  Fulham 
Coroner's  Court  last  week  in  connection  with  an  in- 
tjuest  held  because  a  doctor  refused  to  give  a  death 
certificate. 

Dr.  Armstrong,  who  was  called  in  to  attend  the 
deceased,  was,  the  widow  stated,  annoyed  that  the 
nurse  in  attendance  did  not  wash  the  patient,  whom 
he  alleged  to  be  in  a  dirty  condition,  and  refused 
to  examine  him.  He  treated  him  for  a  cold,  and 
stated  that  he  had  been  neglected. 

Nurse  Hyndman  said  tlie  man  was  not  dirty,  and 
considerably  cleaner  tlian  many  patients  whom  she 
had  to  attend,  and  Dr.  Parsons,  who  made  a  post 
mortem  examination,  said  that  death  was  due  to 
Bright's  disease,  and  was  not  accelerated  by 
nfc^Itct. 

The.  jury,  in  their  verdict,  cdi'.erated  the  nurse 
and  widow  from  all  blarae.  and  expressed  the 
opinion  that  Dr.  Armstrong  sliould  have  given  the 
man  more  attention. 


UNTRAINED   NURSE  IN   ATTENDANCE. 

An  inquest  was  held  at  Battersea  last  week  on 
Thomas  Alfred  Finn,  a  young  man  who  died  in  the 
dentist's  chair  at  the  South- Western  Dental  Dispen- 
sary, St.  John's  Road,  Battersea,  while  under  an 
ausesthetic  for  the  removal  of  a  few  stumps  by  Mr. 
W.  F.  Peach  (a  registered  dentist).  The  Coroner 
was  Mr.  Troutbeck. 

Dr.  Freyberger  attributed  death  to  sudden  heart 
failure,  due  to  fatty  degeneration,  while  the 
patient  was  under  the  influence  of  an  anjesthetic, 
and  while  he  was  suffering  from  acute  pleurisy  and 
chronic  tuberculosis  of  the  lungs. 

The  Coroner  said  the  case  was  a  grave  one ;  the 
nurse  present  at  the  operation  was  untrained,  and 
from  her  experience  at  the  dispensary  it  was  impos- 
sible to  imagine  she  knew  anything  about  the  ad- 
ministration of  an  ansesthetic. 

The  jury  returned  a  verdict  of  death  from  mis- 
adventure, and  severely  censured  the  dentist  for 
not  taking  more  precautions,  and  expressed  the 
opinion  that  a  properly  trained  nurse  should  have 
been  employed. 

The  charge  of  a  patient  under  anansesthetic  is  a 
serious  responsibility  which  only  a  trained  nurse  is 
conijxjtent  to  undertake.  The  pre?iont  lack  of  any 
definite  standard  of  e<lucation  toi-  the  trained  nurse 
oi>ens  a  wide  door  for  the  assuniption  of  most  re- 
sponsible duties  by  ignorant  and  uutraine<l  persons. 


®ur  Jfoicion  letter. 

POLITICS  AND  MORALITY   IN    NEW  YORK.' 

Oi;.Mi  KurroK, 
1  don't  know 
whether  in 
Knglaiid  you 
have  watchers 
on  election 
days,  but  iu 
this  glorious 
country  we 
have  brought 
chtvatiiig  to 
such  a  fine  art  that  each  party  appoints  watchers  to 
spy  out  attempt.sat  iiaudof  the  other  i)arties.  For- 
merly women  could  not  Ije  watchei's,  but  now  our 
right  to  act  thus  has  \yeen  nffirmetl.aud  wcshall  have 
a  most  interesting  day  on  t.lie  8th,  when  alnnit  -jO  of 
us  are  going  to  watch  at  the  polls.  We  shall  be 
placed  in  tlie  toughest  and  most  uncivilised  sec- 
tions, partly  to  prove  the  absurdity  of  the  claim 
that  women  could  not  go  to  the  polls  without  being 
insulted.  That  is,  of  course,  ridiculous.  No  one 
«as  insulted  the  day  we  watched  at  the  primaries, 
though  every  imaginable  device  was  tried  to  get  us 
away  by  the  district  bosses,  and,  of  course,  we  were 
told  pretty  plainly  that  we  had  no'  business  there 
and  ought  to  be  at  home  washing  the  dishes.  (I 
wonder  w  hy  washing  dishes  is  regarded  as  the  most 
ignominous  labour  in  the  world  ?  It  is  evidently 
the  worst  thing  men  can  think  of  to  say  w  hen  they 
want  to  be  crushing.)  I  was  much  amused  that  day 
at  our  Tammany  boss — the  dirtiest,  greasy,  common, 
tough  and  thug-like  male  creature  you  ever  did 
see.  After  he  found  we  were  there  to  stay  he  rolled 
his  eyes  heavenward  with  a  pained  expression  and 
sighed  (for  my  benefit  evidently,  as  the  other  women 
were  young),  ■  Oh  !  what  would  I  think  if  I  ever  saw 
my  mother  behaving  like  this?" 

The  ballot  is  still  far  oft  from  us  in  New  York, 
but  we  hope  for  a  victory  for  at  least  two  of  the 
four  Western  States  that  are  bringing  it  to  the  vote 
of  the  men  this  November. 

Barbarous  Prostitutios  Law. 
As  for  our  horrible  regulation  of  prostitution, 
the  way  it  is  being  worked  out  is  more  barbarous 
and  vindictive  even  than  any  Continental  methods — 
the  publicity  with  which  sentences  are  given,  the 
cruelty  of  telling  young  girls  what  their  disease  is 
before  everyone,  is  something  I  would  never  have 
believed  possible.  Let  me  tell  you  how  it  is  done. 

The  girls  arrested  and  brought  in  on  one  night 
are  (if  convicted'  of  being  prostitutes)  examined  by 
the  doctor  (a  woman,  and  a  nice  nurse  is  on  hand, 
wlio,  I  am  glad  to  say,  has  courage  enough  to  say 
that  the  whole  thing  is  a  monstrosity)  and  are  then 
detained  for  24  hours,  or  until  the  Health  Board 
has  developed  the  cultures  and  made  microscopic 
tests.  They  are  then  brought  down  again  into  the 
Night  Court,  and  the  magistrate,  addressing  them 
by  name,  says  (as  examijle) :  ""Mary  Jones,  you  have 
a  contagious  and  communicable  disease  called 
gonorrhoea,  I  therefore  sentence  you  to  a  minimum 
of  three,  and  a  maximum  of  four,  months  in  the 
hospital.''  Remember  all  this  is  made  mandatory 
by  the  law. 


440 


Zbc  36ritisb  Sournal  of  IRursing. 


[Xov.  26,  1910 


Now  remember  that  the  Night  Court  is  open  to 
the  public  anil  is  alwfiijs  solidly  filled  on  one  side 
with  men,  usually  the  lowest  of  their  kind.  The 
other  night  I  was  there  when  a  girl  was  so  sen- 
tenced, and,  not  able  to  endure  in  silence,  I  stood 
up  and  called  out  in  loud  tones :  ' '  Where  is  the 
man  who  has  infected  this  girl  with  a  contagious 
and  communicable  disease;  for  if  she  has  gonor- 
rhoea  it  is  because  some  man  has  infected  her.'' 

I  was  led  before  the  judge  and  ordered  out  of 
the  court,  but  not  before  I  had  said  to  him  again 
in  a  loud  tone,  ''Is  u-liat  I  auk  tint  just?"  Oh, 
what  women  have  had  to  endure  since  the  world 
began  I 

A  woman  lawyer  is  in  charge  of  the  legal  fight 
to  prove  the  clause  unconstitutional  (it  really  is  so ; 
a  good  many  of  the  magistrates  admit  confidentially 
that  it  is).  She  wants  a  man  with  a  big  reputation 
to  make  the  argument.  Foxvr  have  crawled  away 
when  she  has  asked  them  to  do  so.  Is  not  our 
boasted  chivalry  a  lovely  thing?  That  is  the  reason 
of  the  delay  in  the  legal  fight ;  but  when  the  Legisla- 
tion opens  in  .January  there  will  be  a  big  fight  for 
repeal  of  that  clause. 

The  whole  Night  Court  is  an  abomination  ana 
ought  not  to  exist.  It  only  docs  exist  to  give  jobs 
to  political  retainers  and  "climbers."  That  may 
sound  like  a  reckless  statement  on  my  part,  but  I 
have  knowledge' of  facts  at  the  back  of  it.  The 
affiliated  organisations  of  women  have  passed  the 
Resolutions,  as  you  see,  about  the  Health  Depart- 
ment. 

I  know  that  abroad  there  is  a  good  deal  of  fear 
that  what  is  called  there  "notification"  would 
also  bring  compulsory  "detention"  in  its  train, 
and  the  French  Extra-Parliamentary  Commission 
fought  very  shy  of  making  venereal  diseases  report- 
able to  Health  Boards,  but  in  our.  country  we  are 
all  convinced  that  it  will  be  the  only  real  protec- 
tion against  such  class  legislation  as  we  have  in  the 
Payn  Bill.  ' 

in  the  first  place,  our  Health  Department  in  New 
York  City  already  has  almost  unlimited  autocratic 
power.  It  has  at  present  the  power,  if  it  chose  to 
exercise  it,  of  making  venereal  disease  reportable, 
like  other  contagion.  It  has  never  exercised  this 
power  through  doubt  of  public  support.  If  it  began 
exercising  it,  as  it  has  begun  to  do  with  tubercu- 
losis, without  di.>;tinction  of  class  or  sex,  there  would 
be  no  n/m])iihiirii  hospital  treatment,  except,  it 
might  be,  in  some  very  exceptionally  bad  case. 
Even  scarlet  fever,  diphtheria,  measles,  are  not 
compelled  to  go  to  hospital  unless  they  wish  to  go, 
but  they  are.  kept  under  observation.  No  tubercu- 
losis cases  are  forced  into  hospital,  yet  the  Health 
Department  has  the  absolute  power  of  entering  any 
home  and  carrying  off  any  individual  who  is  a 
menace  to  the  public  health.  What  they  do  in 
tuberculosis  is  exactly  what  should  be,  and  would 
be,  done  for  venereal  diseases-  namely,  they  know 
where  the  cases  are  and  how  many :  they  declare 
the  necessity  for  larger  facilities  for  treatment : 
they  open  special  dispensaries  and  new  sanatoria  and 
insist  on  more  hospital  room  ;  they  issue  continuous 
leaflets  of  instruction  and  information  on  pre- 
ventflbilitv  and  a  voidability,  showing  that  there  is 


no  danger  in  the  presence  of  such  patients,  but  only 
in  careless  or  ignorant  disregard  of  contagious 
material ;  and  in  every  way  carry  on  an  educational 
campaign. 

The  French  express  unwillingness  to  have  even 
tuberculosis  made  a  reportable  disease,  but  here  it 
has  had  onhj  good  effects  to  do  so  and  has  estab- 
lished a  large,  truly  preventive  movement.  We  can 
trust  our  Health  Department,  but  not  our  legisla- 
tures and  courts,  and  this  experience  has  shown  that 
we  cannot  tru.st  our  professional  philanthropists  and 
reformers,  all  of  whom  are  upholding  this  horrible 
legislation. 

But  in  one  way  it  is  doing  good :  it  is  arousing 
a  wide  agitation  and  will  make  people  think. 

L.  L.  Dock. 

Momcn's  iprison  association. 

The  Women's  Prison  Association,  U.S.A.,  called 
a  conference  of  all  the  organisations  of  women  in 
Greater  New  York  on  Friday,  October  14th,  to 
consider  Clause  79  of  the  Inferior  Courts  Bill.  At 
this  meeting  reports  were  read,  from  which  we 
hope  to  give  some  extracts  next  week,  and  the 
Resolutions  here  shown   were   adopted. 

REsoLrxioNS  Passed  at  the  Conference. 
"Whereas,     the     germs    causing     the     venereal 
diseases  are  no  longer  matters  of  uncertainty,  but 
have  been  perfectly  and  conclusively  demonstrated 
by  medical  science,  and 

"  Wliereas,  the  favourable  breeding  conditions 
aud  mod<«  of  transmission  of  these  germs  are  also 
thoroughly  understood  by  the  medical  profession, 
and 

"Whereas,  the  method  of  attempting  to  check 
the  spread  of  venereal  diseases  by  systematically 
hunting  down  certain  classes  of  women  only,  has 
survived  from  a  period  when  the  specific  germs 
were  yet  undiscovered  and  their  modes  of  transmis- 
sion therefore  not  certainly  demonstrable,  and 

"  Whereas,  a  legislative  mandate  to  continue  so 
crude  and  barbarous  a  method  of  attacking  any  in- 
fectious or  contagious  disease  is  an  offence  against 
scientific  truth  and  an  indignity  to  the  medical  pro-  , 
fession,  an  insult'  to  women,  and  a  slur  upon  the 
intelligence  of  the  public :  therefore  be  it 

"  J?('.«)/r/v/,  that  Health  Boards  should  place  the 
venereal  diseases  upon  the  same  status  as  all  other 
contagious,  infectious,  or  communicable  diseases : 
should  tane  the  same  measures  against  them,  irre- 
spective of  class  or  sex,  as  are  applied  in  the  pre- 
vention of  all  other  contagious,  infectious,  or  com- 
municable diseases,  and  should  conduit  in  respect 
to  them  the  same  policy  of  instruction  of  the 
public  as  to  the  preventability  of  these  disea.ses  as 
is  now  conducted  in  res])ect  to  others.  And  be  it 
further 

"  Brsiih-erl.  that  public  authorities  should  make 
ample  provision  for  the  full  and  sufficient  free, 
voluntary  treatment  of  patients  suffering  from 
venereal  disea.ses^. 

All  these  resolnticns  are  capable  of  general 
application. 


Nov.  26,  1010] 


Zbc  Brltieb  3ournal  ot  Tmrslna. 


441 


®ut5it>c  tbe  (5atC3. 


3oo\\  ot  tbe  lUcch. 


WOMEN. 

Till'  ilis-solution  ot  Parluiment  is  iiuincut,  but  iho 
AVomen's  Coiicilititioii  Siitfrago  Hill  still  unpassiMj, 
and  on  Friday  in  last  week  a  Caxton  Hall  meeting 
under  the  auspices  ot  the  Women's  Social  and 
Political  I'nion  scat  deputation  after  deputation  to 
tlio  House  of  Common*  to  interview  tlie  Prime 
Minister  on  the  subject.  The  liret.waR  le<l  by  Mrs. 
Paukhui-st,  .Mi-s.  liarrttt  .Vnder.son,  M.D.,  late 
Mayor  of  Aldeburgh,  an<i  Mrs.  Hertlia  Ayrton,  dis- 
co\erer  of  the  electric  arc.  The  demands  of  these 
splendid  piout>ers  receive<l  but  little  consideration  ; 
but  it  matters  not,  the  enfranchisement  of  women 
is  practically  won  whichever  Party  is  returiuKl  to 
power.  

Mrs.  Garrett  Anderson.  M.D.,  in  a  letter  to  the 
Times,  emphasises  the  fact  that  the  Women's 
Deputation  to  the  House  ot  Commons  had  a  legal 
right  to  go  and  ask  for  the  extension  of  the  suf- 
frage to  female  householdei-s.  "  Wliy,  the"  "'  .«.Tie 
asivs,  "  were  the  police  courteous  and  helpful  to  the 
leaders  of  the  deputation  and  brutal  to  those  who 
followed  them?  .  .  .  There  was  no  raid,  or 
anything  that  could  be  mistaken  for  it,  and  every 
member  of  tJie  deputation  was  entitled  to  the  pro- 
tection of  the  police." 


At  a  meeting  at  the  Caxton  Hall  on  Monday 
last  Miss  Christabel  Pankhurst  referred  to  the 
"  triumph  of  last  Friday,"  and  spoke  of  the  heroism 
of  those  who  were  taken  into  custody.  Tlie  per- 
formance of  the  Home  Secretary's  orders  entailed 
acts  of  brutality.  The  dHcharge  of  the  prisonem 
was  an  admission  that  those  who  in  the  past  had 
suffered  imprisonment  had  been  wrongfully  and  un- 
justly imprisoned,  and  that  the  women  liad  won. 
Mi-s.  Pethick  Lawrence  said  that  on  Friday  the 
uniformed  police  had  i-eceived  instructions  to  throw 
the  women  back,  to  be  dealt  with  by  disguised 
officers  present  in  the  crowd.  Between  the  i>olice 
force  and  the  police  organising  the  mob  it  was  a 
mercy  when  women  were  arrested. 


Miss  F.  E.  Dawson,  Hon.  Secretary  of  the  Legal 
Committee  of  the  Women's  Industrial  Council,  and 
Mi.>«  Wyatt  Papworth,  Secretary  and  Trea.surer, 
have  addressed  a  letter  to  the  President  of  the 
Local  Government  Board  on  the  subject  of  the 
Public  Health  (Health  Visitoi-s')  Bill,  in  which  they 
state  that  it  is  not  quite  clear  to  the  Committee 
what  reason  exi.sts  for  introducing  the  Bill,  inas^ 
much  as  the  particular  work  of  in.structing  mothers 
in  the  care  and  nurture  of  infants  is  already  under- 
taken by  women  officers  in  many  paits  of  the 
country  who  arc  appointe<l  -is  A.ssistant  Inspectore 
of  Xuisances.  Tliey  also  protest  against  the  clause 
of  this  Bill  which  gives  power  to  the  local 
authority,  on  the  advice  of  the  Medical  Officer  of 
Health,  to  determine  the  qualifications  of  the 
woman  whom  they  propose  to  appoint  to  this  im- 
portant work.  The  Women's  Industrial  Council 
feeU  strongly  that  the  women  appointed  should 
have  a  high  standard  of  training,  and  be  raised  be- 
yond possibility  of  doubt,  above  the  ignorance 
against  which  thev  have  to  contend. 


NONE  OTHER  GODS* 

The  dedication  of  this  book  takes  the  lorni  of 
a  letter,  in  „liich  the  mind  ot  the  author  towards 
the  chief  character  is  disclosed,  and  gives  some  clue 
to  his  defence  of  the  most  extraordinary  caprice 
of  a  young  Cambridge  graduate. 

He  says:  "The  people  wlio  are  kind  enough  to 
read  his  life — or  rather  the  six  months  of  it  with 
which  this  book  deals — must  form  their  own  opuiion 
of  him.  Probably  a  good  many  will  think  him  a 
fool.  I  daresay  he  was;  but  1  think  I  like  that 
kind  of  folly.  Other  pcojile  may  think  him  simply 
obstinate  and  tiresome.  Well,  I  like  obstinacy  of 
that  sort,  and  I  do  not  iiud  him  tiresome." 

'the  brief  outline  of  the  tale  may  be  told  as  fol- 
lows :  Frank  Guisely,  young,  well-born,  rich,  is  at 
the  close  of  his  University  career  disowned  by  his 
father  on  account  of  the  change  in  his  religious 
beliefs.  Without  hesitation  or  anger  he  leaves  Cam- 
bridge within  twenty-four  hours,  and,  despite  the 
entreaties  of  his  friend.  Jack  Kirkby,  prepares  to 
tramp  the  country  with  only  the  clothes  in  which 
he  stands  upright.  ''But  ....  but  its  per- 
fectly mad.  WTiy  on  earth  don't  you  get  a  proper 
situation  somewhere — land  agent  or  something?  " 

"  My  dear  man,"  said  Frank,  ''  if  you  wUl  have 
it,  it's  because  I  want  to  do  exactly  what  I  am 
going  to  do.  Xo  :  I'm  being  perfectly  serious.  I've 
thought  for  ages  that  we're  all  wrong  somehow ; 
we're  all  so  beastly  artificial  ....  And  I'm 
really  going  to  do  it.  I'm  not  going  to  be  an 
amateur,  like  slumming.  I'm  going  to  find  out 
things  for  myself." 

"  But  on  the  roads,"  expostulated  Jack. 

"  Exactly.  That's  the  very  point.  Back  to  the 
land." 

"And  Jenny  Lawnton,"  he  said.  "I  suppose 
you've  thought  about  her  ....  Is  it  quite 
fair?  " 

""'Good  Lord!'  shouted  Frank,  suddenly 
aroused.  Fairl  Wliat  the  devil  does  it  matter? 
I  do  bar  that  rotten  conventionalism.  We're  all 
rotten,  rotten  I  tell  you  :  and  I'm  going  to  start 
fresh.     So's  Jenny.' 

"  Early  in  this  c|uixotic  enterprise,  he  joins  forces 
with  the  Major  and  Gertie  Truscott. 

"They  were  standing  with  the  sunset  light  be- 
hind them  as  a  glory — two  disreputable  figures, 
such  as  one  sees  in  countless  tliousands  all  along 
the  high  roads  of  England  in  the  summer.  The 
Major  had  an  old  cricketing  cap  on  his  head ; 
trousers  tied  up  with  string,  like  Frank's  .... 
He  was  not  prepossessing,  but  Frank  saw  with  his 
newly  gained  experience  that  he  was  different  from 
other  tramps.  He  glanced  at  the  girl  and  saw  she. 
too,  was  not  quite  of  the  regular  type,  though  less 
peculiar  than  her  companion  ....  He  knew 
also  by  instinct,  practically  for  certain,  that  these 
two  were  neither  husband  and  wife,  nor  father  and 
daughter.     The  type  was  obvious." 

Degrading   and   sordid   as   were   the   experiences 

*  By  Robert  Hugh  Benson.  (Hutchinson  and 
Co.,  London.) 


442 


CTbe  Britlsb  3ournaI  of  IRursmcj 


[Nov.  26,  1910 


w  hich  Frank  and  Iiis  unpleasing  companions  passed 
through,  he  still  clung  to  his  ideals,  though  we  can- 
not understand  a  man  of  his  high  aspirations  volun- 
tarily courting  such  uncleanly  and  vicious  asso- 
ciates. It  is,  however,  to  the  reclamation  of  Gertie 
that  he  sets  his  determined  will,  and  for  this  reason 
that  he  obstinately  refuses  to  return  to  a  more 
normal  existence,  and  for  which  in  the  end  he  pays 
nith  his  life. 

In  his  own  words : 

"  I've  got  the  girl  away,  and  now  I  am  going  to 
tell  the  man,  and  tell  him  a  few  other  things  at 
the  same  time." 

The  Major  pays  him  for  his  interference  after 
the  manner  of  his  kind. 

"  Frank  lay  perfectly  still  on  his  back,  his  hands 
clasped  before  hira  (and  even  these  were  bandaged). 
His  head  lay  high  on  three  or  four  pillows  .  .  . 
The  world  seemed  silent,  because  this  room  was  so. 
It  was  here  that  the  centre  lay,  where  a  battered 
man  was  dying,  and  from  this  centre  radiated  out 
the  Great  Peace." 

It  will  be  necessary,  as  the  dedication  suggests, 
for  each  reader  to  decide  for  him  or  herself  whether 
Frank  was  a   fool  or  not. 

H.   H. 


VERSE. 

Excellent  herbs  had  our  fathers  of  old. 

Excellent  herbs  to   ease   their  pain — 
Alexanders   and    Marigold, 

"Eyebright,  Orris,  and  Elecampane, 
Basil,  Rocket,   Valerian,  Rue 

(Almost  singing  themselves  they  run), 
Vervain,  Dittany,    Call-me-to-you, 

Cowslip,  Melilot,  Rose  of  the  Sun. 
From  "  IReicards  and  Fairies," 

RuDTARD  Kipling. 


COMING     EVENTS. 

November  SOtk. — Mr.  John  Burns,  M.P.,  Presi- 
dent Local  Government  Board,  opens  the  Wands- 
worth New  Infirmary. 

November  29th. — Prison  Reform  League  Meeting, 
Caxton  Hall,  8  i).m. 

November  20th. — Missionai-y  Nurses'  League. 
Lectnr<':  ''The  Deci.sivo  Hour  of  Qiristian 
Missions:  its  Appeal  to  the  Nur.sing  Profession." 
By  Dr.  G.  Basil  Price.     7.15  p.m. 

November  39th. — Irish  Nurses'  Association.  Lec- 
ture: "Some  Points  of  Interest  in  Throat,  Nose, 
and  Ear."  By  Dr.  T.  O.  Graham.  86,  Lower 
Leeson  Street,  Dublin. 

T)ccember  2nd. — Meeting  of  Nursing  Masque  Com- 
mittee.    431,  Oxford  Street,  W.     4.30  p.m. 

Denmher  Srd.  —  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital 
Nurses'  T^eague  General  Meeting.  Clinical  Lecture 
Theatre,  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital,  E.G.  3  p.m. 
Social  Gathering,  4  p.m. 

Decevihrr  3rd. — Executive  Committee  of  the 
I/pagiK»  of  St.  John's  House  Nurses.     3  p.m. 

Tiecemher  7th. — Royal  Infirmary,  Edinburgh. 
Lecture  on  "The  Nursing  of  Neurasthenic  and 
Hysterical  Patients,"  by  Dr.  Edwin  Bramwell.  -Ml 
trained  nurses  cordially  invited.  Extra-Mural 
Medical  Theatre.     4.30  p.m. 


letters  to  tbe  CMtor. 


S^  Whilst     cordially     inviting     com 


munications  upon  all  subjectf 
for  these  columns,  we  wish  tt 
to  be  distinctly  understoon 
that  u'e  do  not  in  ant  wav 
hold  ourselves  responsible  for 
the  opinions  expressed  by  ov 
correspondents. 


ORGANISED  GAMES  FOR  NURSES. 
To  ike  Editor  of  the  "British  -Journal  of  Nursing.'^ 
Dear  Madam, — I  was  sorry  to  see  so  narrow- 
minded  a  letter  as  that  on  the  above  subject  from  a 
Matron.  Outdoor  games  are  the  most  wholesome 
form  of  exercise  possible  for  nurses,  and  I  read  your 
account  of  the  hockey  match  at  Finsbury  Park  be- 
tween two  teams  of  fever  nurses  with  sincere 
approval,  and  only  hope  the  nursing  staffs  of  other 
hospitals  will  follow  suit.  Living  in  community 
often  cramps  the  mind  terribly,  and  it  is  specially 
necessary  for  nurses  in  infectious  diseases  hospitals 
to  live  as  much  outside  the  gates  as  possible — 
because  the  outside  world  gives  them  a  somewhat 
wide  berth.  I  was  happy  to  see  the  British 
Journal  of  Nursing  giving  its  support  to  organised 
games  for  nurses. 

Yours  truly, 
Also  a  Nineteenth  Century  Matron. 

REFORM   IN   SLAUGHTERHOUSES. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Xursing." 

Dear  JCadam. — In  the  issue  of  your  journal, dated 
November  5th.  you  publish  an  able  letter  from  Air. 
Joseph  Collin.>ii>n  on  alx)ve  subject. 

Few  can  pretend  ignoranc*'  of  the  abuses  likely 
to  occur  in  private  slaughter-houses,  and 
humanitarians  arv  unanimous  in  the  ''^t--^  that 
they  should  l>c  abolished. 

Some  butcher.'^  would  use  up-to-date  methods  of 
killing  were  the  necessary  implements  prosentod  to 
them,  and  I  believe  some  private  individuals,  and 
local  branches  of  the  R.S.P.C.A..  have  presented 
the  necesi«.ary  pistols  to  butcliers,  and  also  to 
kennels,  where  horses  i>ye  killed.  It  is  a  small  ste]> 
in  the  right  direction. 

If  nefarious  practices  are  not  carried  on  in  private 
why  do  butchers  object  to  slaughtering  at  the  public 
abattoirs?  I  have  never  heard  a  satisfactory  reply 
to  this  question. 

Nui'ses  are  a  powei'  in  the  world  of  to-day.  AVill 
you  auiniaU'  tlioni  to  u.<;e  their  enormous  influence 
to  help  on  this  nece.«sary  reform? 

Were  they  to  comliine  it  would  pix)bably  soon  lie 
taken  in  hand,  and  money  would  be  forthcoming  (o 
comiXMisate  the  owners  of  private  i)remises. 
Yours,  etc., 

E.   L.   DArnKRY. 


Illotice. 


OUR   PUZZLE   PRIZE. 
Rules    for    competing    for    the    Pictorial    Puzzle 
Prize  will  be  found  on  Advertisement  page  xii. 


Nov.  JO.  mo     j[|5c  British  3oiinial  ot  IRurstno  Supplcmciu.       "43 

The    Midwife. 


Zbc  IHnion  of  flDi^\vlve5. 


The  Union  of  Midwives,  of  which  Mrs.  Ro- 
binson, the  Founder,  is  President,  and  Mrs. 
Carnegie  Williams  the  Hon.  Secretary,  the 
offices  of  which  are  at  33,  Strand — a  most  cen- 
tral position — is  making  satisfactory  pro- 
gress, and  during  the  nine  months  of  "t-,  exi^;- 
ence  has  enrolled  some  500  members. 

It^s  help  extends  not  only  to  members  who 
are  already  certified,  but  to  those  who  wish  to 
pass  the  examination  of  the  Central  Midwives' 
Board.  Clasrses  are  held  by  a  medical  man 
to  prepare  pupil,<  in  their  theoretical  work,  and 
the  committee  an-ange  for  these  pupils  to  gain 
their  practical  instruction  and  knowledge  under 
midwives  with  a  large  connection.  The  Union 
is  still  in  its  infancy,  but  it  is  a  vigorous  and 
healthy  infant,  and  it  has  many  well-wishers 
who  hope  for  its  health,  wealth,  and  happiness. 

It  is  fortunate  in  it-s  Hon.  Officers,  and  the 
public  spirit  of  its  capable  Hon.  Secretary,  Mrs. 
Carnegie  Williams,  in  giving  her  time  and 
valuable  services  to  the  Union  and  attending  re- 
gularly at  the  offices  to  conduct  the  routine 
business,  deserves  the  gratitude  of  all  the 
members. 

We  hope  that  the  work  of  consolidation  now 
going  on  will  result  in  the  organisation  of  a 
forceful  body  of  midwives,  who  realise  the 
strength  of  unity,  and  whose  outlook  is  not 
parasitic  but  self-reliant;  who  will  demand  re- 
presentation of  midwives  by  midwives  on  their 
own  governing  body,  who  will  hold  out  the 
right  hand  of  fellowship  to  all  w^ho  are  working 
to  obtain  this  elementary  act  of  justice,  and 
who  will  never  be  satisfied  until  the  stigma 
is  removed  that  midwives  have  not  been  suffi- 
rintly  alive  to  their  own  interests  to  insist  up- 
on the  inclusion  on  that  Board  of  at  least  one 
direct  representative. 

We  advisedly  say  "insist,"  because  until 
midwives  themselves  bring  sufficient  pressure 
upon  the  legislature  to  obtain  the  recognition 
oi  the  principle  of  direct  representation,  it  is 
certain  that  this  much  needed  reform  will  not 
be  thrust  upon  them. 

The  forthcoming  general  election  will  afford 
II  excellent  opportunity  for  bringing  this  im- 
lortant  question  before  the  future  legislature. 


Hn  appeal  to  IPouno  noothcrs. 

The  Lady  Mayoress  of  Livei-pool,  Mrs.  S. 
Mason  Hutchinson,  presided  last  week  at  the 
second  annual  meeting  of  the  Dispensary  for 
Women  and  Children  and  Infant  Consultations, 
at  the  Town  Hall,  and  in  moving  the  adoption 
of  the  report  said  that  the  Committee  had  been 
able  to  hand  over  £440  to  the  Stanley  Hospital 
to  endow  a  bed,  for  15  years,  for  dispensary 
patients  needing  in-patient  treatment.  In 
addition,  through  the  generous  gift  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  G.  B.  Heyw^orth  of  shares  bringing  in  £10, 
and  the  sum  of  £30  paid  over,  they  were  able  to 
maintain  a  second  bed  for  a  year,  and  there 
were  promises  of  subscriptions'  to  continue  its 
maintenance  The  beds  had  been  constantly 
filled,  and  many  patients  were  still  waitmg. 
The  attendances  had  been  4,020,  against  3,527 
last  year,  and  965  against  867  last  year.  Many 
of  the  women  who  attended  the  consultations 
were  unable  to  nourish  their  infants  because 
of  their  own  semi-star\-ation,  and  a  daily  sup- 
ply of  milk  from  the  Municipal  :Milk  Depot  at 
a  nominal  rate  had  proved  the  greatest  benefit 
to  both  mothers  and  babies. 

Miss  Helen  Gladstone  spoke  of  the  great 
need  for  the  work,  and  hoped  the  infant  con- 
.sultation  branch  would  largely  increase,  and 
the  Rev.  -John  Wakeford  said  it  was  a  fair  and 
laudable  ambition  for  any  mother  city  to  see 
that  all  its  people  were  well  bom,  well  clad, 
and  well  taught.  The  schools  achieved  the 
children  being  well  taught,  and  it  was  a  dis- 
grace to  the  city  that  some  of  its  children  were 
not  well  clothed,  and  that  some  were  even  un- 
shod. 

If  the  mothei;s  were  taught  the  primary 
lessons  of  health,  much  would  be  done  towards 
securing  that  the  children  were  well  bom.  He 
did  not  know  any  appeal  which  should  go  home 
more  directly  to  young  mothers  than  that  of 
the  Dispensary  and  Infant  Consultations,  which 
was  doing  such  good  work.  It  brought  in  the 
magic  touch  of  sisterly  sympathy,  and  they 
could  also  appeal  to  men  for  support  on  the 
grounds  of  justice  and  gratitude. 


The  Goldsmiths'  Company  have  made  a 
grant  of  £100 io  the  funds  of  Queen  Charlotte's 
Hospital. 


The  fourtli  Annual  and  IMidwifery  Confer- 
ence and  Exhibition  will  be  held  at  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Hall,  Vincent  Square.  Westmin-- 
ster.  The  Organising  Secretarv  is  Mr.  Ernest 
Schofield,  and  the  offices  at  22-24,  Great  Port- 
land Street,  W. 


444  ^bc  Biitlsb  3onrnal  of  iRuvsino  Supplement,  tx^v.  -20, 


1910 


Schools  of  flDi&wifer^. 

THE   MATERNITY   HOME    AND    TRAINING     INSTI- 
TUTE   FOR    MIDWIVES.   MAHE,   SEYCHELLES. 

The  objects  of  the  above  Home,  as  detailed 
in  the  official  explanatory  Memorandum, 
signed  by  Dr.  -J.  B.  Addison,  Chief  Medical 
Officer,  are :  (1)  To  provide  accommodation 
and  medical  attendance  to  women  during 
their  confinements,  and  subsequently,  in  the 
Home.  (2)  To  train  midwives.  (3)  To  provide 
skilled  nursing  to  women  in  their  own  homes 
during  their  confinements,  and  subsequently. 

1.  It  has  long  been  felt  that  many  women 
who,  owing  to  the  distance  of  their  homes  from 
town,  or  for  other  causes,  are  unable  to  obtain 
proper  attention  during  their  confinements, 
are  placed  in  a  very  difficult  and  dangeious 
position.  The  Home  will  now  be  open  to  these 
women,  as  well  as  to  those  needing  operative 
treatment  who'  before  had  to  be  admitted  into 
the  general  women's  ward  at  the  Victoria  Hos- 
pital, concerning  which  the  unsuitability,  we 
are  told,  is  "  so  obvious  as  to  need  no  com- 
ment." 

2.  The  training  of  midwives  has  always  been 
an  insuperable  difficulty  in  the  Colony,  with 
the  result  that  the  midwives  of  the  present  day 
in  the  Colony  are  utterly  untrained ;  and  as  by 
very  far  the  larger  proportion  of  the  women  in 
their  confinements  are  unable  for  many  reasons 
to  obtain  the  services  of  a  medical  man  they 
have  only  these  untrained  women  to  fall  back 
on,  with  the  result  that  many  women  who  with 
proper  attention  would  have  made  good  re- 
coveries from  their  confinements,  have  either 
lost  their  lives  or  had  their  health  permanently 
injured. 

•One  of  the  principal  occupations  of  the  Nur- 
sing Superintendent  of  the  Home  will  be  to 
train  Midwives. 

The  Official  Memorandum  states  that  the 
Colony  has  been  extremely  fortunate  to  obtain 
the  services  of  Miss  Beedie  (foiTnerly  Matron 
of  the  Aberdeen  Maternity  Hospital)  for  this 
purpose,  as  she  has  had  great  experience  in 
this  particular  work. 

Probationers  will  be  taken  into  the  Home  to 
live  there  for  the  necessary  period,  and  will  be 
under  the  personal  tuition  and  guidance  of  the 
Nursing  Superintendent.  They  will  receive 
certificates  after  jiassing  such  examinations  as 
the  Chief  Medical  Officer  and  Nursing  Superin- 
tendent may  impose. 

It  ifl  hoped  to  formulate  a  scheme  by  which 
these  ccrtifii'ated  midwives  will  be  either 
directly  paid  or  subsidised  by  the  Government 
and  sent  o\it  into  the  country  districts,  so  that 
within  a  short  time  the  services  of  one  of  these 


well-trained  midwives  shall  be  at  the  disposal 
of  any  member  of  the  couununity  who  may 
need  them.  It  is  also  hoped  to  give  instruction 
to  the  women  who  hold  certificates  at  the  pre- 
sent time. 

3.  The  services  of  the  Nursing  Superinten- 
dent will  be  at  the  disposal  of  the  general  pub- 
lic either  to  act  in  the  capacity  of  a  midwife, 
or  as  a  nurse  under  the  direction  of  a  medical 
man. 

The  scheme  is  an  excellent  one,  and  cannot 
fail  to  be  of  great  benefit  to  the  women  of  the 
colony.  Its  weak  point  seems  to  be  that  thr 
Nursing  Superintendent  is  expected  to  manag  - 
the  Home  and  train  the  pupils,  and  supervise 
the  cases  in  the  Home,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
her  services  are  to  be  at  the  disposal  of  the 
public  in  their  own  homes  as  midwife  or 
nurse.  The  traini)ig  of  pupils  must  inevitably 
suffer  under  these  conditions,  and  we  hope  that 
this  part  of  the  scheme  may  be  amended. 

In  the  Memorandum  of  a  Scheme  proposed 
by  the  Chief  Medical  Officer  for  the  utilisation 
of  the  services  of  the  mid\\ives  who  are  to  he 
trained  at  the  ^Maternity  House,  which,  with 
the  Regulations  has  been  referred  to  a  Com- 
mittee for  report,  it  is  proposed  that  the  mid- 
wives,  when  trained,  shall  be  under  the  con- 
trol of  the  central  organisation  at  the  Mater- 
nity Home,  and  that  they  shall  be  sent  to  work 
in  the  country  .districts  or  directed  to  work  in 
town  as  the  exigencies  of  the  service  may  re- 
quire. Unless  some  such  scheme  is  carried 
out,  it  is  feared  that  the  trained  midwives 
would  congregate  in  tlie  town  where  the  num- 
ber would  be  very  much  greater  than  necessarj-, 
and  the  counti-y  districts  would  have  none.  It 
would  also  be  easier  to  get  these  midwives  back 
for  further  training,  if  necessary,  if  they  were 
under  Government  control. 

It  is  estimated  that  with  22  trained  midwives 
all  parts  of  I\Iahe,  Prastin,  and  La  Digue  could 
be  well  looked  after. 


a  IRew  flDatcrnit^  1l50inc. 

A  Maternity  Home,  for  the  reception  of  six 
patients,  exchisive  of  .'in  isolation  ward,  is  to  l)e 
erected  in  connection  with  tlie  Sick  Hooni  Helps 
Society  (a  Jewish  institution)  in  fnderwood  otreet, 
Vallanoe  Road,  E.  It  is  proposed  to  have  a  general 
ward  of  four  beds,  two  single  wards,  and  an  operat- 
ing theatre  on  the  ground  floor,  and  the  isolation 
ward,  with  nurses'  c|U.T|-ters,  on  the  first  floor  in  a 
detached  wing.  In  addition,  there  will  lie  accom- 
modation for  a  Matron  and  six  nurses  and  the 
necessary  dome.stic  statf.  The  otiices  of  the  .Sick 
Kooni  Helps  Society,  which  will  form  part  of  the 
liuilding,  aie  to  have  a  separate  entrance. 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 

EDITED   BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


No.  1,183. 


SATURDAY,     DECEMBER     3,     1910. 


leMtonal. 


THE    CONTAGION    OF    GOOD. 

By  many  nurses  the  name  of  Agnes  Jones 
is  now  scarcely  known,  yet  it  is  that  of  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  modern  nursing,  who 
made  a  profound  impression  on  the  in- 
firmary nursing  world,  and  who  with  her 
talent  for  organisation  combined  rare  sweet- 
ness, gentleness  and  goodness.  So  far  back 
in  the  history  of  nursing  does  the  life's 
work  of  Agnes  Jones  seem  to  have  receded, 
that  it  comes  almost  as  a  surprise  that  His 
Grace  the  Primate  of  all  Ireland,  Dr. 
Alexander,  who  presided  and  spoke  at  a 
District  Nursing  meeting  in  Armagh,  re- 
feiTed  to  her  as  one  whom  he  had  known 
very  intimately. 

The  Primate  said  that  if  there  were  a  con- 
tagion of  evil  there  was  also  a  contagion  of 
good.  In  his  own  long  life  the  most  remark- 
able instance  he  had  known  of  this  sort  of 
contagioiis  power  of  goodness  had  been  in  a 
person  that  he  had  known  very  intimatelj*. 
She  was  an  Irish  nurse,  and  he  was  greatly 
afraid  that  when  he  mentioned  her  name 
it  would  be  familiar  to  but  few  of  them. 
The  history  of  Agnes  Jones  was  indeed  a 
history  for  good,  for  she  worked  with  won- 
derful freedom,  and  novelty,  in  dealing  with 
the  sick,  and  was  as  good  as  two  curates  in 
the  small  but  delightful  village  of  lahan 
near  Londonderry,  where  he  was  rector. 
Was  anything  nobler  than  a  life  like  hers? 
If  there  was  it  was  the  nobler  death  that 
she  died. 

Those  members  of  the  nursing  profession 
who  cherish  the  names  of  its  heroines  know 
that  after  training  at  the  Deaconess  Institu- 
tion, Ivaiserswerth,  and  St.  Thomas's  Hos- 
pital, Loadon,  she  undertook  the  super- 
intendence of  the  Brownlow  Hill  Infirmarj', 
I  iverpool,  where,  with  twelve  other  Nightin- 
gale nurses,  she  revolutionised  the  nureing. 


and  practically  demonstrated  what  can  be 
accomplished  by  knowledge,  organisation, 
skill,  and  devotion.  Then  came  the  crown- 
ing tragedy,  the  death,  at  the  early  age  of 
thirty-six,  of  this  radiant,  highly  sensitised, 
highly  skilled  nui-se,  from  typhus  fever,  con- 
tracted in  the  coui-se  of  her  work,  and  from 
which  her  fragile,  worn-oi;t  body  had  not 
the  strength  to  rally. 

Do  we  ask  ''  to  what  purpose  was  this 
waste  ?  ".  Not  if  we  remember  "  the  conta- 
gion of  good."  It  is  impossible  to  say  how 
many  women  who  were  forces  for  good  in 
the  nursing  world  in  the  early  eighties  owed 
their  inspiration  to  her  life  and  example,  or 
on  how  many  the  impress  of  her  rai'e  char- 
acter was  stamped,  as  studying  it  they  strove 
to  follow  in  her  footsteps. 

Dr.  Ferrar,  speaking  at  the  meeting  above 
referred  to,  said  that  the  name  of  Agnes 
Jones  was  not  forgotten.  He  was  at  Brown- 
low  Hill  Infirmary  years  after  she  had  been 
there  and  her  name  was  still  cherished 
amongst  the  nurses,  and,  he  believed,  was 
so  still.  She  was  the  first  nurse  to  work  on 
modern  lines  in  Liverpool.  In  his  time 
each  nurse  had  to  mind  two  miles  of  wards, 
but,  when  she,  went  to  the  Infirmary,  things 
were  ten  times  worse. 

To  attempt  to  organise  the  nursing  in 
the  Infirmary  in  the  face  of  such  conditions 
must  have  recpiired  the  faith  which  re- 
moves movintains. 

In  Falian  churchyard,  over  the  gi'ave  of 
Agnes  Jones,  are  inscribed  the  following 
lines,  written  by  the  Primate  : 

"  Alone  with  Christ  in  this  sequestered  place. 
Thy  sweet  soul  learn'd  its  quietude  of  grace  ; 
On  sufferers,  waiting  iu  this  vale  of  ours, 
Thy  gifted  touch  was  trained  to  higher  powers. 
Therefore,  when  death,  O  Agnes  !  came  to  thee — 
Not  on  the  cool  breath  of  our  lake-like  sea,    , 
But  in  the  workhouse  hospital's  hot  ward, 
A  gentle  helper  witli  the  gentle  Lord — 
Proudly,  as  men  heroic  ashes  claim, 
We  ask'd  to  have  thy  fever:Stricken  frame. 
And  lay  it  in  the  grass  beside  our  foam, 
Till  Christ  the  Healer  calls  His  healers  Home  " 


446 


tTbe  Britisb  Journal  of  IRursina* 


[Dec.  3,  19ir 


flDcMcal  flDattcrs. 


THE   PREVENTION   OF  PLAGUE. 

An  exhaustive  ^Memorandum  on  Plague,  pre- 
pared by  Dr.  Arthur  Xewsholme,  Medical 
Officer  of  the  Local  Government  Board,  and 
supplementing  a  circular  and  regulations 
already  issued,  has  been  sent  by  the  Depart- 
ment to  the  sanitary  authorities  in  England 
and  Wales,  accompanied  by  the  request  that 
these  officers  will  use  their  best  endeavours  to 
carry  its  suggestions  into  effect.  The  ^lemo- 
randum  details  the  general  characteristics  of 
plague,  its  symptoms,  diagnosis,  and  method 
of  spreading.  It  defines  the  disease  as  follows  : 
"Plague  for  administrative  puiposes  may  be 
defined  as  a  disease  of  rats,  which  incidentally 
and  occasionally  attacks  man.  Fleas  form  the 
intermediaries  between  the  diseased  rat  and 
man.  If  the  fleas  of  infected  rats  .  .  are 
excluded  from  iiccess  to  human  beings,  plague 
will  seldom,  if  ever,  spread  from  animals  to 
man." 

It  is  reassuring  to  learn  that  experience 
proves  plague. can  be  easily  controlled  in  this 
country,  under  conditions  of  efficient  sanitary 
administration.  These  concern  (a)  human 
sources  of  infection,  (b)  infection  from  inani- 
mate objects,  (e)  infection  from  lower  animals, 
especially  the  rat. 

Human  Infection. — The  control  of  human 
infection  is  effected  by  the  discovery  of  sus- 
pected cases  of  illness,  and  their  prompt  notifi- 
cation to  the  JNIedical  Ofiicer  of  Health.  The 
-Medical  Officer  of  Health  is  bound  under 
penalty  to  report  evei-y  recognised  case  of 
plague  to  the  Local  Government  Board,  and 
in  order  to  aid  in  the  identification  of  plague 
newly  developing  in  a  district,  the  Board  have 
arranged  for  bacteriological  examination  of 
material  sent  by  the  Medical  Officer  of  Health 
in  the  earliest  cases  without  cost  to  the  local 
authority. 

Isolation  and  Observation  of  "  Contacts." — 
The  next  step  is  the  isolation  and  observation 
of  contacts,  and  although  pei-sonal  infection  is 
only  likely  to  occur  in  the  pneumonic  form  of 
plague,  the  isolation  of  all  plague  patients  is 
considered  desirable  because,  amongst  other 
reasons,  disinfection,  and  the  disinfestation  of 
premises  from  vermin  can  be  more  efficiently 
secured  after  the  patient's  removal. 

The  Production  of  Personal  Ininnniitu  is 
attained  by  treatment  with  plague  prophylactic, 
by  strict  personal  cleanliness,  especially  of  the 
hands,  and  by  the  use  of  a  respirator,  contain- 
ing a  film  of  cotton,  made  to  cover  the  nose 
and  mouth. 

In  regard  to  the  dininfectation  of  iuauiiunte 


object ■<,  that,  we  are  told,  will  be  most  efficient 
which  secures  the  disinfestation  of  the  rooms 
and  all  articles  of  bedding  and  clothing  from 
tleas.  Clothing  which  may  harbour  infected 
fleas  is  dangerous.  Domestic  cats  are  a  safe- 
guard against  invasion  by  rats  and  mice,  but  a 
cat  which  shows  signs  of  illness  should  be 
destroyed  and  buried. 

Precautions  against  Rats. — The  continuous 
suppression  or  limitation  of  rats  in  a  district 
into  which  rat  plague  has  been  introduced  will 
prevent  the  occuirence  of  human  plague  of 
local  origin,  and  efforts  should  be  concentrated 
towards  this  end.  Houses  should,  as  far  as 
possible,  be  rendered  rat  proof,  and  the  domes- 
tic invasion  of  rats  should  not  be  encouraged 
by  allowing  morsels  of  food  to  lie  on  or  under 
the  floor,  or  in  ashpits. 

In  short,  the  lesson  of  the  ilemorandum  is 
"  Be  clean." 


HYGIENE  OF  THE  MOUTH. 

Dr.  Bonnes,  as  reported  by  the  Britisli 
Medical  Journal,  calls  attention  to  this  impor- 
tant matter,  and  comments  on  the  too  general 
neglect  of  the  teeth.  He  points  out  the  close 
I'elationship  the  hygiene  of  the  mouth  bears 
to  a  great  variety  of  pathological  processes. 
Affections  of  the  mouth,  indeed,  are  important 
factors  in  nearly' all  respiratoi-y  and  digestiv- 
ailments,  owing  to  microbal  infection  from  the 
inspired  air  and  the  fermentation  of  particles 
of  food  in  the  buccal  cavity.  Buccal  sepsis  pre- 
disposes to  anginas,  oedema  glottidis,  leuco- 
plakia,  adenitis;  while  various  observers  have 
noted  the  close  connection  of  dental  troubles 
with  those  of  the  visual  apparatus.  Septic  gas- 
tro-enteritis  of  buccal  origin  is  by  no  means 
uncommon.  The  practice  of  cleansing  the 
teeth  ought  to  be  begun  in  early  childhood,  and 
a-j  much  during  the  first  dentition  as  durint; 
the  second.  The  author  recommends  cleans- 
ing the  teeth  after  even-  meal  with  a  red  rub- 
ber brash.  He  believes  this  does  not  injure  the 
gums,  and  their  vitality  is  not  lowered  by 
bleeding.  The  elasticity  of  the  brush,  too, 
allows  of  more  energetic  friction  without 
damaging  the  enamel.  The  brush  can  be  steri- 
lised by  boiling,  .\fter  reviewing  the  various 
fonns  of  dentifrice  on  the  market — several  of 
which,  especially  the  carlwlated  dentifrice  and 
those  of  oxygenated  water,  lie  condemn.s  as 
iieing  injurious  to  the  buccal  mucosa — the 
author  gives  his  adherence  to  the  paste  form 
of  dentifrice.  This,  he  says,  is  tlie  best  and 
most  practical.  It  ought  to  contain  an  inert 
and  insoluble  powder;  an  antiseptic,  miscible 
and  in  definite  quantity ;  and  a  more  or  less 
fluid  excipient,  capable  of  maintaining  the  con- 
tact of  tile  other  constituents. 


Dec.  3.  1910] 


Zbc  Bvittsb  3onrnaI  of  inursing.- 


447 


UQbat  tbc  (Twentieth  Ccntmi> 
IHurse  mnv>  Xearn  trom  tbc 
IRmeteentb. 

By  Miss  E.  M.  Fox, 
Matron,  Prince  of  Walts'  General  Hospital, 
Tottenham. 
{Concluded  from  page  4:34.) 
1  believe,  too,  that  there  was  then  a  greater 
keenness  over  the  acquisition  of  technical 
knowledge,  all  the  greater  because  of  the  ditfi- 
culties  of  accjuiriug  it.  Kcmember,  there  were 
no  nursing  journals  until  the  latter  part  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  only  one  or  two  books  on 
nureing,  and  \er\  few  lectures.  The  pressure 
of  work  in  the  wards  was  too  great  to  allow  of 
much  organised  clinical  teaching,  while  study, 
or  ■'  wasting  one's  time  over  books  "  as  it  was 
too  often  called,  was  not  encouraged.  A  pro- 
bationer, humbly  inquiring  the  reason  for  somi- 
line  of  treatment  would  most  likely  to  told  not 
to  "  bother,  but  get  on  with  her  work."  Here 
and  there,  a  good  teaching  Sister,  or  homely, 
experienced  Staff  Niu-se,  would  pass  on  what 
she  knew  to  an  inquiring  junior,  but  more  often 
they  would  hide  ignorance  beneath  the  cloak  of 
dignity,  and  survey  with  a  cold  eye  and  critical 
air  the  tiresome  probationer  who  persistently 
"  wanted  to  know."  She  had  to  pick  up  her 
crumbs  of  information  from  her  o-nn  observa- 
tion, from  scanty  hints  conveyed  by  others, 
from  occasional  lectures  attended  as  it  were 
by  the  skin  of  her  teeth,  after  a  breathless  rush 
to  compress  the  evening's  work  into  an  hour's 
smaller  compass  than  usual,  in  order  to  be  . 
allowed  to  go  at  all.  And  when  there,  poor 
soul,  she  was  often  so  physically  tired  as  to  be 
mentally  inert ;  thereby  profiting  little  by  what 
she  heard. 

Yet,  in  spite  of  all  these  difficulties,  or  was 
it  6ecaM.se  of  them?  I  still  contend  there  was 
a  great-er  keenness  among  nurses — a  swifter 
garnering  of  the  precious  ears  of  knowledge — 
a  wholesome  covetousness  of  the  best  gifts  of 
experience.  Owing  to  lack  of  trained  helpers, 
a  nurse  became  sooner  self-reliant,  responsible, 
resourceful.  Before  the  system  of  three  years' 
training  became  general,  she  was  frequently 
found  in  some  post  requiring  skill,  judgment, 
and  foresight  at  the  end  of  12.  months  at  the 
most,  and  as  often  as  not.  proved  herself  quite 
capable  of  filling  it.  She  took  a  keen  personal 
interest  in  her  patients,  and  often  followed  their 
cases  up  after  leaving  the  ward,  sacrificing  pre- 
cious oS-dut\"  time  in  visiting  wretched  homes. 
As  nurses'  tennis  clubs  had  not  yet  been  heard 

*  R€ad  before  the  Nurses'  Missionary  League, 
November  22iul.  1910. 


of,  nor  cycling  become  general  for  womep,  she 
necessarily  interested  heiiself  less  in  so-called 
pleasures  than  in  her  work,  and  found  her  chief 
delights  within  tlu-  hospital  walls. 

This,  of  coiu'se,  was  not  entirely  beneficial, 
and  here  the  hospitals  of  to-day  are  learning  a 
valuable  lesson  from  the  nineteenth  century  in 
recognising  the  need  of  proper  recreation  for 
their  nui-ses  if  they  would  preserve  their  i)hy- 
sical  and  mental  health. 

Only  crass  ignorance  and  prejudice  would  be 
shown  by  extolling  the  past  to  the  wholesale 
detriment  of  the  present,  or  by  declaring  that 
in  every  way.  the  "  fonner  days  were  better 
than  these."  They  were  not.  While  over- 
work— metaphorically  speaking — slew  its  thou- 
sands of  nurses,  insanitary  conditions  slew  its 
ten  thousands.  ^lore  nurses  broke  down 
thix)ugh  bad  feeding,  insutficient  sleep,  unven- 
tilated  and  crowded  bedrooms  than  through 
actual  overwork.  Given  a  thorOughh"  healtliy 
body  and  strictly  hygienic  environment,  it  is 
surprising  how  much  work  a  person  can  do,  if 
it  be  of  a  congenial  and  suitable  character.  But 
no  amount  of  devotion  and  energy  can  sustain 
failing  health  beyond  a  certain  limit;  no  doubt, 
many  and  many  a  worker  had  to  retire  worsted 
from  the  unequal  conflict,  who  might  have 
done  long  yeare  of  excellent  service  under  differ- 
ent conditions.  The  body  is  a  good  servant, 
but  a  bad  master,  and  once  its  mortal  weak- 
nesses get  the  upper  hand,  neither  religious 
zeal  nor  the  grunmest  determination  can  with- 
stand the  inroads  of  disease.  There  must  be 
reasonable  care  "  as  well  for  the  body  as  the 
soul,"  and  this  happily  is  being  recognised  to- 
day far  more  than  in  the  latter  decades  of  the 
nineteenth  century.  The  hospitals  have  learned 
to  take  care  of  their  nurses.  Good  food,  airy 
rooms,  an  insistence  on  out-door  exercise,  en- 
couragement of  games  and  x-ecreation  generally, 
increased  off-duty  time,  and  lengthened  holi- 
days are  all  part  of  the  usual  routine  of  every 
good  training  school  for  mu-ses  in  the  country. 

Her  professional  education  is  also  receiving 
more  and  more  attention.  She  has  courses  of 
lectures  to  attend,  leisure  for  study,  books 
galore.  The  danger  indeed  of  modem  times 
is  not  that  she  is  taught  nothing,  but  that  she 
has  to  learn  nuich  which  only  bears  indirectly 
upon  her  actual  \\ork,  and  that  she  may  be 
tempted  to  step  beyond  her  province  into  that 
of  her  brother,  the  doctor. 

Nurses  of  to-day  need  to  watch  themselves, 
lest  their  interest  in  the  scientific  aspect  of 
disease  should  in  any  way  warp  or  destroy  their 
true  nursing  instincts. 

Another  lesson  culled  from  the  errors  of  the 
past,  and  being,  I  trust,  gradually  learned,  is 


44S 


^be  aSritisD  Soumal  of  iRurslnQ, 


iD^i. 


1910 


that  nurses,  besides  having  their  hygienic  con- 
ditions improved,  should  also  be  treated  with 
more  kindness  than  formerly.  Health  may  be 
Ijroken  down  quite  as  effectually  by  harshness  as 
by  bad  air;  the  sensitive  spirit  can  be  starved 
by  lack  of  sympathy  as  the  body  may  pine  on 
insufficient  food.  "  Man  doth  not  live  by  bread 
alone,"  and  tme  health  of  mind  and  body  can- 
not continue  long  in  an  atmosphere  of  chilling 
repression,  constant  fault-finding,  and  lack  of 
c-ordial  understanding.  One  can  easily  see, 
how  in  the  first  instance,  the  attitude  of  aloof- 
ness may  have  originated  in  the  desire  to  put 
down  what  was  wrong  in  those  far-off  days :  in 
the  anxiety  on  the  part  of  the  well-educated, 
better  class  of  women  who  were  beginning  to 
take  up  hospital  work  earnestly,  not  to  identify 
themselves  in  the  least  with  the  so-called 
nurses. 

It  was  not  sui-prising  that  gentlewomen  could 
not  consort  with  them,  or  that  when  appointed 
to  the  post  of  Sister,  they  were  apt  to  become 
iiarsh  and  tyrannical  in  their  treatment  of 
those  who  so  often  proved  unworthy.  Unfor- 
tunately, however,  the  critical  attitude,  the  un- 
gentle manner,  persisted  long  after  the  "Sairey 
Gamp  "  type  had  been  completely  evicted. 
The  early  pioneers  having  struggled  bravely 
through  the  rough  work  which  was  no  hard- 
sliip  to  the  class  of  women  formerly  engaged 
in  it,  concluded  that  because  they  had  done  so, 
•others  should  do  the  same.  They  had  had  to 
•i\ork  under  those  who  were  rough,  harsh,  un- 
couth, perhaps  unkind,  and  some  of  them  saw 
no  reason  why  their  successors  should  be  al- 
together exempt  from  similar  treatment.  "  We 
had  to  put  up  with  it,  and  why  should  not 
they?  "  was  their  attitude. 

Consequently,  for  j'ears,  a  probationer's 
life  possessed  many  of  the  attributes  of  penal 
servitude.  She  had  to  bear  in  silence  all  sorts 
of  discourteous,  unkind  treatment.  She  was 
looked  upon  by  the  authorities  as  one  alto- 
gether outside  the  pale  of  social  intercourse, 
and  little  or  no  allowance  was  made  for  youth- 
ful failings,  or  very  human  frailties.  Her 
faults  were  magnified,  her  virtues  under-rated. 
She  became  apt  to  develop  the  vices  of  any 
downtrodden  class,  and  was  often  deceitful, 
time-serving,  superficial,  cunning.  .\s  a  rule, 
she  went  in  daily  tenxir  of  her  Ward  Sister. 
A  summons  to  the  ^Matron's  office  filled  her 
with  dismay. 

No  doubt  such  a  condition  of  things  gave  rise 
to  that  "  hospital  manner  "  so  often  com- 
mented upon  unfavourably  by  outsiders ;  that 
curt  brusqueness  of  speech,  the  cold  aloofness 
<if  the  senior  members  of  a  inn-sing  staff  from 
the  junior,  that  is  at  once  so  n-pellnnt.  Mnd  co 
foreign  to  the  true  spirit  of  nursing. 


This  century  is  gradually  dropping  the  savage 
harshness  that  characterised  former  onvs. 
More  harmonious  relations  are  being  estab- 
lished between  all  classes  of  society.  Do  not 
let  it  be  said  that  hospitals  lag  behind  in  the 
march  of  true  civilisation,  and  that  even  to-day 
nui-ses'  lives  are  embittered  imnecessarily  by 
the  conduct  of  those  in  authority  over  them. 
Let  the  "  ancient  forms  of  party  strife  "  die  a 
natural  death.  I^et  each  one  of  us  help  by  pre- 
cept and  example  to  "  Ring  in  the  nobler 
modes  of  life,  with  sweeter  manners,  purer 
laws." 

I  have  left  until  last  what  is  the  most)  im- 
portant lesson  of  all  to  be  learned  by  the  twen- 
tieth century  nurse  from  the  nineteentii. 
That  is  the  vital  necessity  of  undei-taking  such 
work  in  the  spirit  of  vocation.  Look  at  it  what 
way  you  will,  the  fact  remains  that  nursing  is 
work  demanding  something  more  than  mere 
business  qualities,  more  than  an  active  intelli- 
gence, more  even  than  human  sympathy  and 
kindness  of  heart.  The  latter,  pi-ecious  though 
it  is,  may  be  worn  very  threadbare  in  the 
constant  daily  contact  with  all  sorts  of  lui- 
lovely  natures  suffering  from  every  variety  of 
trying  complaint:  Patients  are  not  all  grate- 
ful, or  appreciative,  and  you  will  find  them 
by  no  means  ready  to  kiss  your  shadow  as  you 
pass  on  your  rounds  with  your  night  lamp  ! 
Sometimes,  the\"  are  inclined  to  grumble  be- 
cause they  do  not  immediately  get  all  they 
want,  or  they  are  jealous  of  the  more  recently 
admitted  bad  case,  whom  they  consider  to  be 
unfairly  monopolising  your  time  and  atten- 
tion. Their  disease  may  make  them  irritable, 
captious,  even  repulsive.  The  uninteresting 
monotony  of  a  long  daily  dressing  may  try  your 
patience  to  the  utmost.  These  people  need 
more  than  ordinal^,  everyday  good  qualities 
in  their  nurse.  They  need  one.  who  over  and 
above  her  professional  ability,  looks  upon  her 
work  as  a  vocation,  "'  a  calling  by  the  will  of 
God."  It  was  that  spirit  which  made  the  best 
of  the  pioneers  of  other  days  what  they  were. 
Nursing  was  imdertakeu  by  them  as  a  definite 
life-v.'ork.  It  cost  them  so  much  to  enter  upon 
it,  that  they  were  not  likely  to  throw  it  up  with- 
out some  very  cogent  reason.  It  was  a  mission 
in  itself.  They  went  into  a  hospital  with  the 
object  of  making  it  the  scene  of  their  life's 
latx)urs.  Work  there  was  not  then  considered 
so  much  a  means  to  an  end.  It  was  the 
ultimate  achievement. 

Now,  the  end  of  three  or  four  years'  training 
often  finds  the  ceilificated  nurse  as  restless  as 
she  was  before.  She  is  eager  to  make  money 
— to  go  abroad — to  have  a  change  of  some  kind. 
She  does  not  often  desire  to  stay  where  she 
has  been  trained.     She  does  not  want  to  train 


Doe.  3.   mil) 


Cbc  aSrittsb  3oiirnal  of  1Rurslno» 


440 


others  for  the  work.  I  think  soiiu'tinus.  too, 
that  her  anxiety  to  do  greater  thiugs  bhnds  her 
partially  to  the  exceeding  responsibility  of  hos- 
pital work.  There  may  be  observed,  on  the 
part  of  those  training  for  foreign  mission  work, 
an  impatience  with  the  minor  details  of  ward 
nursing  in  their  own  hospital,  a  lack  of 
thoroughness  over  little  thiugs,  an  eagerness, 
not  to  do  the  work,  hut  to  have  finishcil  doing 
it,  just  as  though  attention  to  detail  would  not 
be  quite  as  uecess-iiv  in  a  foreign  mission  hos- 
pial  as  in  Great  Britain.  Gazing  too  far  oft 
may  well  cause  us  to  stumble  over  small  ob- 
stacles in  our  immediate  path.  A  beacon  light 
ahead  is  good  to  st«er  one's  course  by,  but  the 
light  on  deck  helps  to  keep  the  ship  ofi  the 
rocks. 

The  spirit  of  vocation  is  just  as  much  needed 
in  our  home  hospitals  as  in  those  of  the  foreign 
mission  field,  and  there  exist  the  same  oppor- 
tunities of  exhibiting  it  to-day  as  ever  thei-e 
were  in  1854.  Nurses  who  join  the  various 
Missionary  Societies  and  offer  for  foreign  work, 
think  they  ought  not  to  do  so  without  a  definite 
call  to  such  service.  Well,  they  are  quite  right, 
but  would  there  were  more  who  waited  for  the 
same  definite  "  call  "  before  they  offered  for 
nursing  service  at  home  I  Nursing  in  foreign 
countries  is  only  a  development  of  the  same 
work  at  home,  only  another  branch  of  the  same 
ser^-ice.  It  ought  not  to  be  regarded  in  a  com- 
pletely different  light.  You  can  be  quite  as 
good  a  missionary  nurse  in  London  as  in  Cen- 
tral Africa.  I  repeat,  nursing  is  a  mission ;  and 
wherever  it  is  done,  it  needs  the  same  spirit 
of  true  vocation  to  do  it  well  and  to  persevere 
in  spite  of  difficulties. 

There  would  be  fewer  restless,  discontented 
nurses,  if  eaclr  one  possessed  the  spirit  of 
vocation.  It  is  a  spirit  that  gives  one  the  calm. 
quiet  feeling  of  being  in  the  only  possible  place, 
and  doing  the  only  possible  work.  It  stirs  in 
one  a  large-hearted  charity  towards  all  such 
as  be  sorrowful,  sick,  or  poor.  It  makes  one 
feel  "Well,  whoever  fails,  I  must  not,"  and 
helps  wonderfully  when  things  are  crooked  and 
the  work  is  hard  or  in  itself,  uninteresting.  It 
gives  one  the  same  pleasure  and  pride  in  doing 
things  as  well  as  one  possibly  can,  as  the  boy 
feels  carving  his  first  boat  out  of  a  rough  block 
of  wood.  One  simply  can't  help  making  things 
look  nice,  or  doing  that  little  extra  bit  which 
just  makes  all  the  difference.  It  isn't  a  hard- 
ship. It  is  a  pleasure.  So  many  nurses,  young 
ones  especially,  seem  to  think  of  vocation  as 
belonging  only  to  the  saints  of  old,  to  gloomy 
and  cheerless  people,  or  to  impossible  ideals  set 
forth  by  enthusiasts  who  do  not  know  what 
they  are  talking  about.  .\s  Mrs.  Ewing  says, 
"  We  speak  of  saints  and  enthusiasts  for  good 


11-^  it  s.iiii,-  spL-cial  -iflt-  \M-ir  made  tothem  in 
middle  age  which  are  withheld  from  other  men. 
Is  it  not  rather  tiuit  some  few  souls  keep  alive 
the  lam]>  of  zeal  and  high  desire  which  God 
lights  for  most  of  us  while  life  is  young." 

The  rapidly-reci'ding  past  has  its  lessons  for 
us;  the  present,  its  ever-widening,  golden  op- 
portunities: the  shadowy  future,  its  great  re- 
sponsibilities of  living,  and  yiossibiUties  of 
doing  good. 

Learning  from  all,  let  us  go  on  bravely,  with 
this  prayer  upon  our  lips : 
"  For  strength  we  ask 

For  the  ten  thousand  times  repeated  task, 

The  endless  smallnesses  of  every  day. 

No,  not  to  lay 

^ly  life  down  in  the  cause  1  cherish  most, 

That  were  too  easy,  but  whate'er  it  cost, 

To  fail  no  more 

In  gentleness  toward  the  ungentle,  nor 

In  love  toward  the  unlovely,  and  to  give 

Each  day  I  live, 

To  every  hour  with  outstretched  hand  its 
meed 

Of   n<it-to-he-regretted  thought  or  deed." 


Zbc  1Rc*3ncarnatton  of  Sair^ 
<5anip. 

By  Be.\tricf.  Kent. 

Mrs.  Weakling  had  her  quiver  full.  If  you 
are  disposed  to  quarrel  with  the  term,  I  sur- 
render to  you,  because,  as  a  matter  of  fact 
— and  I  am  deahng  with  facts — a  quiver  holds 
but  three,  whereas  Mrs.  Weakling  had  six, 
and  the  seventh  was  hourly  expected. 

The  fulness  of  time  was  a  week  hence,  and 
had  the  impetuous  infant  kept  time  her  mother 
would  not  have  been  put  to  the  inconvenience 
and  annoyance  of  engaging  a  strange  nurse 
who  had  so  many  ' '  new-fangled  waj-s. 

Mrs.  Little  had-  seen  Airs.  Weakling 
"through  her  trouble"  with  all  the  previous 
confinements,  and  was  to  have  been  in  attend- 
ance on  the  present  memorable  occasion. 
Dealing  as  I  am  with  facts,  as  I  have  already 
obsen-ed,  I  use  the  term  in  attendance  ad- 
visedly, as  being  more  suitable  to  the  occasion. 

Nurse  Dale  was  a  small  neatly  built  woman, 
and  as  good  things  are  often  wrapped  up  in 
small  parcels,  you  may  take  it  from  me — for  I 
know,  her  well — that  she  was  a  good  nurse, 
fully  trained,  highly  certificated,  and  highly 
conscientious;  and  you  read  in  her  humOrous 
face  determination  and  strength  of  character. 
To  crown  all,  she  possessed  a  magnetic  attrac- 
tion for  the  babes ;  she  charmed  them  into  sleep 
and  peacefulness,     wheiT^other    nurses    with 


450 


^be  Britisb  3ournal  ot  IRurslng. 


[Dec.  3,  1910 


equally  good  intentions  and  attentions  would 
fail  to  assuage  their  infant  woes.  She  was 
an  ideal  nui-se.  Had  Mrs.  Weakling  known 
her  good  fortune,  she  would  not  have  welcomed 
her  so  coldly;  however  she  found  it  out  too 
fate,  as  you  will  presently  hear. 

The  house  was  of  the  jerry-built  suburban 
t.Vl"? — «  well-known  variety  in  the  art  of  house- 
building— loose  doors  and  windows,  bells  that 
don't  ling,  cupboards  and  conveniences  which 
are  made  conspicuous  by  their  absence  1 

The  trained  eye  of  Nurse  Dale  took  in  the 
situation  at  a  glance.  A  slipshod  household, 
ord^.'r,  and  neatness  were  unknown  quantities. 

A  slatternly  maid  opened  the  door  and  in- 
vited her  to  enter.  The  floor  of  the  hall  was 
strewn  with  children  of  all  sizes  of  infancy ; 
nimbly  stepping'  over,  and  around  them,  she 
made  her  way  to  the  room  allotted  to  her  for 
temporary  use. 

One  of  the  larger  of  the  small  things  followed 
her  in,  and  with  eyes  full  of  wonder  at  the  un- 
usual sight,  asked,  "  Are  you  a  trained 
nurse"?  " 

"  Yes,  and  what  is  your  name"?  " 

"  Milly;  have  vou  come  because  mother's 
bad"?"' 

"  I  have  come  to  look  after  her  while  she  is 
in  bed,  but  I  must  go  now  and  see  her." 

The  patient's  room  looked  eheeiy  and  com- 
fortable ;  she  was  sitting  in,  an  easy  chair  near 
the  fire ;  baby  clothes  were  airing  on  a  high 
fender;  it  was  evident  that  the  arrival  was 
imminent. 

"  How  do  you  do,  Nurse;  Mrs.  Little,  I  am 
sorry  to  say,  can't  come  to  me  for  another 
week;  do  you  think  you  can  manage  till  she 
comes"?  " 

Nurse  Dale  thought  she  could;  and  pro- 
ceeded to  make  all  the  necessary  aiTangement-s, 
the  patient  watching  her  the  while,  surprised 
and  not  a  little  suspicious;  to  her  many  of  the 
airangements  were  unnecessary,  and  never 
made  by  ilrs.  Little,  who  took  things  so  quietly 
and  never  fussed  I 

At  10.30  that  night  the  baby  came — a  fine, 
healthy,    strong  child  weighing  8  lbs. 

Oh,  the  comfort  of  everything;  the  clean, 
warm  bed — the  hot  water  bottle,  not  put  into 
the  bed  without  a  cover — 'the  nightgown  so 
folded  that  it  could  not  get  disarranged — the 
cup  of  warm  milk  given  just  at  the  right  nio- 
ujenfc  when  everything  was  over. 

Then — in  so  short  a  time  it  seemed — the 
baby  was  lying  in  her  cot  beside  her  mother — <i 
dear  iittle  pink  and  white  atom. 

'  Now,    I  just  want  to  take  j"our  tempera- 
ture." 

"  Why— nm  T  vcrij  ill?  " 


Nurse  Dale  laughed  at  the  look  of  alarm  in 
her  patient's  face. 

"  Certainly  not,  you  are  very  well,  but  it  is 
always   done,   as  the    surest   way  of    showing 
that  you  are  going  on  all  right." 
iMrs.  Little  u-^ver  does  il." 

Nurse  Dale  discreetly  pretended  not  to  hear. 
"  Now  you  must  go  to  sleep,"  she  said. 

The  comfort  INIrs.  Weakling  was  feeling  in- 
duced sleep,  and  she  slept  two  hours. 

Ninse  Dale  qui-tly  made  uj)  the  fire  wearing 
a  pair  ot  gloves,  which  was  another  sur- 
prise, took  a  book,  and  sat  down  by  the  fire 
with  her  face  towards  the  bed. 

She  did  not  at  firet  open  the  book ;  she 
squeezed  her  hands  together;  her  outward  ex- 
pression of  inward  enjoyment,  and  smiled 
softly  to  herself. 

"  I  believe  she  is  a  real  '  Sairy,'  "  she  mur- 
mured.    "  I'm  in  for  some  fun." 

Nurse  Dale  was  an  Irishwoman,  and  was 
amply  endowed  with  native  wit,  and  an  appre- 
ciation of  the  "  light  side  of  Nature,"  and  had 
yirs.  Weakling's  eyes  been  open  she  would 
have  seen  the  humorous  face  twitching  with 
merriment  at  the  prospect  of  the  coming 
"  fun."  When  she  awoke,  she  appeared  sur- 
prised to  find  the  Nurse  in  the  room. 

"  Oh,  Nurse,  I  forget  to  tell  you,  your  room 
is  at  the  top  of  the  house ;  if  you  make  >ip  the 
fire  you  can  go  to  bed;  I  shan't  want  any- 
thing." 

"  Go  to  bed,  and  leave  you  and  the  baby  I 

"  Yes,  the  baby  will  sleep  all  night." 

"  That  is  possible  for  the  first  night,  but  you 
at  any  rate  will  require  attention." 

"  If  you  put  something  by  the  bedside  it 
will  be  all  right.  Mrs.  Little  always  does  that." 

"  What  I  goes  to  bed  at  the  top  of  the  house, 
and  leaves  you  all  night!  "  in  a  tone  of  un- 
concealed surprise.  "Oh,  no,  Mrs.  Weakling, 
I  shall  not  leave  you." 

;Mrs.  Weakling  did  not  reply ;  she  could  not 
h'^  disloyal  to  her  old  friend;  nevertheless,  it 
was  with  an  air  of  great  rcHef  that  she  again 
closed  her  eyes ;  it  was  nice  to  think  the  Nurse 
would  be  at  hand :  for  although  she  never  ad- 
mitted it  to  anyone  but  herself,  she  had  suf- 
fered much  discomfort  and  nervousness  by 
being  left  alone  at  night  during  previous  con- 
finements. When  she  discovered  that  Nurse 
Dale  had  made  up  the  bed  in  the  ante-room, 
and  intended  to  sleep  there  on  the  following 
nights,  with  the  connnunicating  door  open,  and 
that  before  retiring  she  had  so  thoughtfully 
placed  a  little  hand  bell  within  reach,  by 
which  she  could  be  summoned  at  any  moniont, 
shi'  began  to  draw  comparisons;  she  could  not 
help   it,  tlie  disloyal    tlmughts    would    come! 


Dvi. 


lOlD 


Z\K  3BiitiJ5b  3oiinml  cc  iRuisincj. 


451 


How  WHS  it  lluiv  \\;is  such  a  (.lifference'.'  They 
were  both  luu-ses,  and  Mrs.  L'ittle  must  havi.- 
walked  the  liospitals.  Besides,  slie  Jiad  liad 
so  niueli  experieiiee,  also  siie  was  a  mother 
hei-self.  She  could  uot  uuderstaiul  it ;  and  she 
did  not  trj-  to,  her  intelligence  being  of  that 
limited  order.  But  deep  down  in  her  timid 
heart  there  lurked  a  fear,  a  growing  fear — that 
when  ^Irs.  Little  oanie,  this  kind  attentive 
Nurse  who  made  her  so  comfortable,  and  kept 
the  baby  so  beautifully  clean,  must  go.  But 
must  she  go?  Would  Mrs.  Little  be  very 
offended  if  she  stayed?  She  felt  she  could  not 
go  back  to  tlie  old  ways,  having  tasted  the  new. 
The  thought  gave  her  unwoni:L'd  boldness;  she 
would  make  an  effort  to  keejj  her.  There  was 
just  one  thing  that  rather  puzzled  the  obtuse 
brain  of  ilrs.  Weakling.  All  her  former  chil- 
dren had  slept  so  soundly  ,all  night  •.  they  did 
not  wake  at  all  until  the  morning.  This  baby 
was  certainly  more  wakeful,  and  required  feed- 
ing twice  in  the  night.  Certainly  she  went 
to  sleep  directly  afterwards,  but  Mrs.  Little 
said  that  babies  ought  never  to  be  fed  in  the 
night;  it  got  them  into  bad  ways.  "  Nurse,  is 
baby  quite  well?  " 

In  answer,  Nurst-  Dale,  who  had  just 
finished  washing  and  dressing  the  baby, 
brought  her  to  her  mother,  gave  her  a  raptur- 
ous kiss,  and  exelainu'd  triumphantly,  "  There  ! 
you  shall   answer  that  question  yourself." 

"  She  certainly  looks  splendid." 

"And  so  she  is,  the  darling!  but  why  do 
you  ask?  " 

"  Because  she  seems  to  be  so  restless  at 
night." 

"  Restless  I  why  she  is  particularly  good  at 
night." 

"  My  other  childr in  have  always  slept  right 
through  the  night." 

"  So  does  baby,  except  when  she  wakes  to 
be  fed." 

"  But  the  others  did  not  wake  at  all." 

"  How  were  they  fed?  " 

"They  were  not  fed,  because  they  did  not 
wake." 

"  Babies  should  always  be  fed  twice  in  the 
night  for  the  first  two  months,"  replied  Nurse 
Dale,  and  abruptly  turned  the  subject.  She 
began  to  scent  misehief.  B.  K. 

(To  br  conti>uird.\ 


At  noon  on  Monday  Parliament  was  dis- 
solved, and  the  Gent-raPElection  technically  be- 
gan. We  hope  every  good  re?istrationist  is 
busy  inviting  the  interest  of  candidates  for  Par- 
liamentary honours  for  the  Nurses'.  Registra- 
tion Billr  The  organisation  of  nulling  by  the 
State  is  not  a  Party  question;  it  is  a  great 
human  one.  and  is  already  supported  by  good 
men  of  everv  Party  in  the  House. 


®iir  ^5uinca  IPiisc 

We  liave  pleiisuie  in  aniiuiiiiciiig  that  Mrs.  A.  .M. 
Shoesmith,  Xurse.s"  Home,  Mow  Lane,  Durham,  :ias 
won  the  Guinea  Prize  for  November. 

lvi:v  10  Pr/zu;s  Fon  November. 
Xo.   I. — Medical  Supply  Association. 

iIE-die-C-a«  1     sup-LY     A-sow-C-eye-A 
■■  'slum  I    "  > 

Xo.  ■_'. — Cadbui-y's  Cocoa. 

C-add-berries   cow-cow 
Xo.   3.— Bovril. 

Bow-V-riil 
Xo.   4. — Scott's  Emulsion. 
Scots  E-mule-sun 

The  following  cora|)etitois  hav<-  aUu  xjlveil  L. 
puzzler  correctly: — M.  Fea-^t.  Westcliffe ;  K.  Gib- 
sK)n.  Scarborough;  F.  Roberts.  .Snrbiton  ;  M.  Watts. 
Slough;  W.  Haviland.  Ix>n(lon ;  E.  Fro.st,  Guild- 
ford; K.  F.  Moakes.  Holm  wood ;  F.  B.  Mathew.s: 
—  I^rd,  Buvton-OH-Tient  :  C.  Brady,  Wicklow ;  A. 
Jary.  Fakenham  :  .M.  Biuce,  Leitli ;  E.  Bidmoad. 
Coventry:  E.  Boss.  Inverness;  JL  McWilliamis, 
Omagh ;  G.  il.  rhom|)son.  Clapham ;  E.  Marshall. 
St.  I/eonards;  F.  Dowd.  Dublin :  M.  Davy,  Frome  : 
A.  Grummitt,  Clifton;  A.  Pettit,  London;  E. 
Douglas,  Belfast:  C.  Merry.  London;  T.  Vesey. 
Dublin  :  H.  E.  Ellis,  Stafford :  M.  Demi>ster. 
Eialing;  E.  Buinett.  Pontypridd:  L.  C.  Coopei . 
London;  L.  !NL  Crump.  London;  E.  Matthew^. 
Ryhope:  T.  Foster.  Atmyne :  R.  Rafferty,  Dubhn  ; 
H.  H.  Reeve,  Ix)ndo'i  :  M.  Finn.  Hornsey ;  S.  J. 
Brown.  Blandtoid :  F.  W.  Simm.-..  London;  E.  A. 
Leeds.  London:  iL  G.  Allbutt.  Wakefield  ;  F.  Mac- 
donald,  Glasgow:  G.  Smart,  Cork:  E.  M. 
Snow.  Eltliara :  H.  Easton.  Inverness;  A.  Smart. 
X'ewton  Abl>ott:  M.  Woodward.  Retlhill :  C.  ^\ade. 
Sheffield:  M.  Morton.  Xottingham;  F.  T.  Cunning- 
liam.  Greenock;  F.  Sheppard.  Tunbiidgo  Wells:  M. 
K,  Heibpit.  Ea-,t  Ham  :  L.  Ogier.  St.  Heliere;  C.  C. 
D.  Che.shiie.  Woking:  M.  McKessick.  Edinburgn : 
V.  Newham.  Virginia  Water  :  E.  D.  Jones.  Ix)ndon  : 
F.  -Murray.  Aberdeen  ;  E.  Macfarlane,  Ivoudon  ;  A. 
Porter.  Leicester:  R.  L.  A^'iseman,  London:  E. 
Diunie.  Harrow;  T.  Guthrie.  Glasgow;  M.  Wootls. 
Ipswich:  R.  Conway.  Bournemouth;  E.  Littlejohn. 
Haslemere;  E.  Wilson.  London;  K,  Foster. 
Britrliton  :  .\L  Sutherland.  Dumfries:  S.  Dottridge, 
Addiscombe:  E.  Heathcote.  Clapton  :  J.  Cook.  Port- 
land: K.  :Martin,  Brisrol :  .J.  Xuti.  West  Bromwich  : 
yi.  Xortliwcod.  Xottingham  :.C.  L.  Hindley.  Poole: 
A.  L.  Burkhill.  TimiK-iley;  E.  J.  B.  Wright,  free- 
ton;  C.  Lane.  Manchester:  M.  Deveieiix.  Keighley  ; 
P.  Macphail.  Edinburgh:  M.  L.  For:!.  HoUoway ; 
K.  Wallis.  Ix)ndon;  E.  Walker.  Putney:  A.  L. 
M:)ni->.  London  :  P.  Comyn.  I,ondon  ;' JI.  J.  Calder- 
w<;nd.  T,ondon  :  X.  Htuitei'.  lyondon  :"  —  Hickic. 
Bradford :  C.  May.  Londonderry:  A.  ^■.  Warren, 
London:  C.  Kemble.  Ryde :  M.  Monteith.  Stirling; 
S.  A.  G.  Lett.  New  market :  S.  Broughton,  Hun- 
stanton. 

Tlio  rules  remain  the  same,  and  will  be  ft)und  on 
page  xii. 

Readers  will  please  notie»that  tlie.se  Competitioiw 
will  cea-'se  for  the  present  froni  the  end  of  this  year 


Cbc  3Biiti5b  3ournal  of  IFlursino. 


[Dec.  3',  1910 


CeiTirorial  force  iHursing  Servtce 

Phesidexi  ;  Her  JIajesxy  Queen  Alexaxdka. 

The  following  is  a  list  np  to  date  of  the  Principal 
Matrons  of  the  Force,  gazetted  last  Saturday, 
according  to  date  of  appoiutmeut ; — 

Matroit-in-Chief:    Miss  S.  Browne,  R.R.C. 

Principal  .l/oiron«:  Miss  A.  W.  Gill,  R.R.C, 
Royal  Infirmary,  Edinburgh ;  Miss  G.  Macnaugh- 
ten.  Royal  Infirmary,  Aberdeen;  Miss  J.  Melrose, 
Royal  Infirmary,  Glasgow  ;  Miss  P.  W.  Peter,  late 
General  Superintendent,  Q.V..I.I.  ;  Miss  G.  A. 
Rogers,  Leicester  Infirmary;  Miss  H.  Gregory 
Smith,  Western  Infirmary,  Glasgow;  Miss  A.  B. 
Baillie,  Royal  Infirmary,  Bristol ;  IMiss  E.  Barton, 
Chelsea  Infirmary;  Miss  M.  Buckingham,  Queen's 
Hospital,  Birmingham ;  Miss  M.  E.  Davies,  St. 
Mary's  Hospital,  London :  Miss  H.  Deakin,  Royal 
Portsmouth  Hospital;  Miss  E.  Fisher,  General 
Infirmary,  Leeds;  Miss  A.  C.  Glover,  Northern 
Hospital,  Liverfiool ;  Miss  M.  G.  Montgomery, 
Addenbrooke's  Hospital,  Cambridge ;  Miss  M. 
E.  Ray,  King's  College  Hospital,  London ;  Miss  AV. 
C.  Smeeton,  SheflSeld  Royal  Infirmary ;  Miss  M.  E. 
Sparshott,  Royal  Infirmary,  Manchester:  Miss  A. 
A\'att,  Ratcliffe  Infirmary,  Oxford ;  Miss  L.  W. 
Walmsley,  Victoria  Infirmary,  Xewcastle-on-Tvne ; 
Miss  E.  A.  M.  Wilson,  Cardiff  Infirmary;  Miss  R. 
Cox-Davies,  Royal  Free  Hospital,  London;  Miss  E. 
Smale,  Royal  Deron  and  Exeter  Hospital;  Miss  E. 
A.   Wynne,  Lincoln  County  Hospital. 


Hppointments. 


IPrises  for  IRurscs. 

At  the  Children's  Hospital  at  Bristol  the  annual 
prize  distribution  to  the  nurses  took  place  on  the 
2.5th  ult.  The  President,  Mr.  W.  H.  Greville 
Edwaixls,  presided. 

The  Matron,  Miss  Mattick,  read  the  prize  list, 
and  Miss  Osborne  distributed  the  awards  as 
follows : — 

Prizes  and  certificates  awarded  for  general  pro- 
ficiency to  nurses  at  the  close  of  their  two  years' 
training :  Xurse  Paterson,  first  prize,  presented  by 
the  President ;  Nurse  Blewett,  second  prize,  pre- 
sented by  Mr.  Garnett :  certificate  of  merit,  Nurse 
.•flinders.  Prizes  awarded  lor  anatomy  and  sur- 
gery: Second  year  nurses — First  prize.  Nurse 
Paterson ;  second  prize,  Xurse  Blewett,  presented 
by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  Hawkins ;  certificate.  Nurse 
Wood.  First  year  nurses — First  prize,  Nurse  Mor- 
gan ;  second  prize.  Nurse  Jones ;  certificate.  Nurse 
Gunn.  Prizes  awarded  for  medicine  and  physiology  : 
Second  year  nurses — First  prize.  Nurse  Blewett, 
presented  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  Hawkins:  second 
prize,  Nur.se  Paterson.  First  year  nurses — First 
prize,  Nur.se  Evelyn,  persented  by  Miss  Phillips; 
second  prize,  Nurse  Jones ;  certificates.  Nurses 
Gunn,  Stone,   Hilda,  Elder,  and  Morgan. 

QUEEN    ALEXANDRAS     IMPERIAL    MILITARY 
NURSINfi    SERVICE. 

The  undermcnt  iiini'd  hifli.vi  to  be  Staff  Nnr.ses 
(provisionally):  Miss  R.  C.  .S.  Carleton  (November 
iL'th);  Miss  I.  J.  Taunton  (November  IStli). 


Matrons. 
Victoria    Hospital    and    Nurses'    Home    Frame  — Miss  E. 

Soniner   has    been    ai)pointed    Matron.         She   was 
trained  at  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Bristol. 

Torbay  Hospital  and  Provident  Dispensary,  Torquay, — 
Miss  Volta  A.  Billing  ha^  t>een  appointed  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  the  County  Hospital,  York,  and 
ha.s  had  exi>erience  of  district  and  private  nursing 
in  connection  with  the  .Staff  of  the  Kent  and  Can- 
terbury Nur.ses'  Institute.  She  has  also  held  the 
position  of  .Sister  in  various  departments,  and  of 
Masseuse,  and  Assistant  and  Deputy  Matron  at  the 
York  County  Hospital. 

Howden  Rural  District  Council  isolation  Hospital. — Miss 
Annie  Olliff  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  has 
previously  held  a  position  at  the  Hull  Sanatorium. 

Victoria  Isolation  Hospital,  Winchester. — Miss  J.  B. 
Goodall  ha.s  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  St.  Thomas's  Hospital,  .S.E.,  and  has  held 
the  positions  of  .Sister  at  the  Royal  Hospital,  Ports- 
mouth ;  the  City  Fever  Hospital.  Leeds ;  and  of 
.Si,ster-in-Charge  at  King  Edward  \^I.  Sanatorium, 
Midhurst. 

Nurse  Matron. 

The  Admiral  Chaltiner  Cottage  Hospital,  Cuisborough, 
Yorkshire. — Miss  E.  Adamson  has  been  appointed 
Nurse  Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  North 
Ormesby  Hospital,  Middlesbrough,  where  she  re- 
mained on  the  staff  for  a  period  of  five  years.  She 
is  a  certified  midwife,  and  has  had  experience  in 
cottage,  district,  and  private  nur.sing. 
Sisters. 
The  Hospital,  Cravesend.  — The  following  appoint- 
ments to  the  position  of  Sister  have  been  made  at 
the  Ho.spital,  Gravesend  : — 

Mi.ss  Cora  Chave,  trained  at  the  Taunton  and 
Somerset  Hospital,  Sister  of  the  Male  Medical  and 
Surgical  Wards. 

Miss  Marion  C.  Dudding,  trained  at  the  Evelina 
Hospital  fofChildren,  Southwark  Bridge  Road,  and 
at  Guy's  fHospital,  London,  Certified  Midwife, 
has  been  t^ppointed  Sister  of  the  Theatre  and 
Children's  (Ward. 

Charge  Sisters. 

King's  Norton  Union  Infirmary,  Selly  Oak,  near  Birmingham. 
— The  follo'\ing  ladies  have  been  ajjiiointed  Charge 
Sisters :  — . 

Miss  Elizabeth  Coney,  trained  at  the  Whito- 
chapel  Infirmary,  where  she  has  held  the  position 
of  Charge  Nurse. 

Miss  Amy  Frances  Wyatt,  trained  at  the  Pophir 
and  Stepney  Sick  Asylum. 

Miss  Melitn  Brundret,  trained  at  the  Royal  In 

firmary,  Man<hester,   s\ibs(Hiuently  Staff   Nurse  at 

the  FleetMood  Ili>si)ital.      Mi.ss   Brundret  has  al-o 

h.a<l  exiierien<e  in   (wivate  nursing. 

I.Anv   Hem.th  Visitor. 

Borough  of  Keighley. — Jliss  Frances  X.  Holmes  has 
been  appointed  Lady  Health  Visitor.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Tynemoutb  .Jubilee  Infirmary,  North 
Shiehls,  and  nn-eived  trainuig  in  maternity  nurs- 
ing   at    tlie    Royal    Infirnniry.    Dunde...       She    is    a 


Deo.  3,  1910J 


Zbc  Britisl)  Souiiiai  ot  IRuisino. 


433 


certified  midwife  «ud  holds  the  Health  Visitors"  and 
School  Xiirses'  rertificato  of  the  Royal  Sanitary 
Institute,  and  the  Diploma  in  Hygiene,  with  honours 
in  School  Hygiene  of  the  London  Incorporated  In- 
stitute of  H\;iieiio. 


QUEEN  VICTORIAS  JUBILEE  INSTITUTE 
Transfers  and  Appointments. — Miss  Alexandra 
White  and  Miss  Alice  Lee  Smith  have  been  ap- 
pointed Senior  Assistant  County  Superintendent 
and  Second  Assistant  County  Superintendent, 
Worcestershire ;  Miss  Kate  Hastings,  to  Middle- 
wich :  Miss  Cicely  Fraser,  to  Carlisle,  as  Senior 
Xurse ;  Miss  Ethel  Terrill,  to  Widnes ;  Miss  Mabel 
Massy,  to  Bramley ;  Miss  Jessie  Maclean,  to  Thorpe 
and  Ardsley ;  Miss  Agnes  Kerr,  to  Barrow-in- 
Furness  ;  Miss  Mary  Martindale,  to  Leeds,  Holbeck 
Home. 


PRESENTATION. 
On  behalf  of  the  Committee  of  the  Chulmleigh 
Cottage  Hospital  and  Xursing  Association.  Lady 
Gfertrude  Rolle  recently  presented  Miss  Price  with 
a  handsome  carriage  clock  and  a  case  of  silver  tea- 
spoons. Miss  Price  has  resigned  her  position  upon 
her  marriage. 


TESTIMONIAL  TO  MISS  NEWMAN. 
It  has  been  decided  by  the  Committee  of  the 
Boston  Hospital,  Lincolnshire,  to  organise  a  testi- 
monial to  Miss  Xewnian,  Matron  of  the  Hospital, 
as  a  mark  of  appreciation  of  her  ten  years'  service. 
The  testimonial  will  take  the  form  of  a  purse. 


practical  IPoints. 


Points  about 
Bandaging. 


Always  "  fix  "  the  bandage 
at  the  start,  says  the  Dietetic 
and  Hygienic   Gazette. 
Avoid  wrinkles  and  creases  as 
much  as  possible. 

Be  careful  that  the  bandage  fits  smoothly  and 
snugly,  yet  does  not  constrict. 

Always  bandage  from  below  upward,  toward  the 
body. 

Remember  that  a  bandage  that  does  not  begin 
at  the  fingers  or  toes  tends  to  produce  oedema  of 
the  part  uncovered. 

Never  bury  the  end  of  a  bandage  applied  to  the 
head,  but  leave  it  free,  so  that  it  may  be  tied  to 
the  bther  end. 

A  bandage  that  requires  pins  or  adhesive  plaster 
to  maintain  its  position  has  not  been  applied  pro- 
perly. 

Rest  of  the  injured  area,  for  self-evident  reasons, 
is  of  great  importance,  since  motion  and  friction 
disturb  the  apposition  of  the  wound  surfaces. 
Cases  of  severe  wounds  should  be  confined  to  bed, 
partiodarly  if  accompanied  by  shock.  Usually 
the  limited  motion  of  the  part  occasioned  by  the 
dressing  is  sufficient,  although  quite  often  a  splint 
will  prove  a  valuable  adjunct. 


IRiutjino  ]£cboc9. 


With  the  announcement 
in  our  issue  of  January  7th, 
l'.»ll,  of  tlie  Prize-winner  in 
our  Monthly  Prize  Puzzle 
Competition  for  December, 
the  competitions  as  at  pre- 
sent arranged,  and  which 
have  proved  most  jKjpular, 
will  be  discontinued.  We 
hope  shortly  to  announce 
other  competitions. 


Princess  Christian  (the  President),  Mr.  .1. 
Tennaut  (Chairman  of  Committee),  and  Mr  ■ 
W.  Y.  Cooper  (Hon.  Treasurer)  are  appeahnj,' 
in  the  press  for  increased  financial  support  for 
the  East  London  Xursing  Society,  and  especi- 
ally for  a  special  fund  to  buy  the  lease  of  .in 
admirably  adapted  house  in  the  Mile  End  Roal 
for  a  Nurses'  Home,  in  place  of  the  one  in 
Stepney  Green,  which  has  been  sold  over  their 
heads.  The  Society  works  in  some  of  the 
poorest  homes  in  the  East  End  of  London  and 
deserves  support.  Donations  may  be  sent  *o 
the  Treasurer  or  Secretary  E.L.N.S.,  Charter- 
house, E.G. 


An  interesting  ceremony  took  place  at  the 
County  Assembly  Rooms  at  Lincoln  on  the 
2.5th  ult.,  when  the  Countess  of  Yarborough 
presented  badges  to  about  50  nurses  of  the 
Territorial  Force  Xursing  Service  from  various 
parts  of  Lincolnshire,  Notts,  and  Derby- 
shire, which  are  comprised  in  the  district 
of  the  4th  Northern  General  Hospital.  The 
nurses,  who  assembled  in  uniform,  volunteered 
for  service  on  the  inauguration  of  the  4th 
General  Hospital  in  1908.  The  nurses  would, 
if  called  upon  in  the  event  of  mobilisation, 
take  up  duty  in  the  4th  XortheiTi  General  Hos- 
pital, which  would  be  stationed  at  Lincoln.  It 
would  he  their  duty  to  attend  the  sick  and 
wounded  sent  from  the  fighting  lines  to  the 
hospital. 

Colonel  C.  A.  Swan  presided.  The  Countess 
of  Yarborough  presented  the  badges  to  the 
nurses,  beginning  with  !Miss  Wynne,  the  Prin- 
cipal ^Matron,  Lincoln,  Miss  Baj-ldon  and  Miss 
Bridges,  Matrons,  Derby.  Sir  .lames  Clark, 
Bart.,   C.B.,    aftei'wards    gave  an   address  on 

The  Scope  and  ^lethod  of  Organisation  of 
Voluntary  Aid  Detachments,"  which  was  lis- 
tened to  with  great  interest  bv  a  large  audience. 


The  nurses  of  the  Shaffield  Queen  Victoria 
District  Xursing  .\ssociatJftn,  who  number  21. 
and  are  emploj-ed  by  the  Association  to  minis- 


454 


Cbe  Brftisb  3ournal  vi  iHursmg  [^ec.  3, 1010 


t-er  to  the  sick  poor  of  the  city,  attended  no 
fewer  than  1,790  cases  during  the  past  year, 
paying  altogether  49,533  visits.  The  cases? 
attended  were  more  numerous  by  100  than 
those  of  the  previous  year,  for  the  work  of  the 
Association  has  always  been  on  the  increase, 
and  very  grateful  are  those  who  benefit  bv  the 
labours  of  the  nurses,  a  total  of  £59  having 
been  contributed  by  patients  as  thank  offerings^ 
Unfortunately,  the  income  of  the  Associa- 
tion is  less  than  the  expenditure,  so  that  there 
is  now  a  deficit  of  £220.  The  new  home  for 
the  nurses  at  334.  Glossop  Eoad,  is  found  to 
be  admirably  adapted  for  its  pui-pose.  but  the 
sum  of  £401  has  still  to  be  raised  to  free  it  from 
debt.  

A  Fund  has  been  raised  in  Northumberland 
to  commemorate  the  valued  work  of  the  late 
^liss  IMary  White,  as  Superintendent  of  the 
County  Nursing  As.sociation.  ]\Iiss  White  had 
been  the  counsellor  and  friend  of  many  of  the 
nurses  connected  with  the  Association  for  more 
than  fourteen  years,  and  a  general  desire  has 
been  expressed  that  her  memory  should  be  per- 
petuated. When  iliss  White  began  her  work 
there  were  only  9  districts  employing  12 
nurses.  There  are  now  66  districts  with  99 
nurses.  Donations  may  be  sent  to  the  Hon. 
Treasurer,  Dr.  Cromie,  Waterloo  House, 
Blyth.  The  list  will  be  closed  on  December 
81st. 


At  the  monthly  meeting  of  the  Stourbridge 
and  Halesowen  Hospital  Committee,  at 
the  Hospital,  Hayley  Green,  the  Medical 
Superintendent,  Dr.  Hardwick,  reported 
that  a  Ward  Sister  had  left  the  hos- 
pital without  tendering  the  usual  notice. 
He  thought  she  had  acted  in  an  abominable 
manner.  Mr.  Rhodes  proposed  that  the  Clerk 
take  the  necessary  steps  to  sue  her  for  breach 
of  agreement.  The  Committee  had  treated 
her  generously,  and  paid  the  cost  of  her  opera- 
tion, amounting  to  about  £30,  and  she  left 
them  without  notice.    The  motion  was  carried. 


One  of  the  minor  objects  of  the  Scottish 
Nurses'  .\ssociation,  wliich  has  its  headquar- 
ters in  Glasgow,  that  of  bringing  the  members 
into  closer  touch  with  each  other,  was  ade- 
quately realised  at  the  dance  given  by  the  Asso- 
ciation in  Charing  Cross  Halls,  Glasgow,  on  the 
23rd  November.  Founded  a  few  years  ago  for 
the  very  sorio\is  purposr  of  helping  to  secure 
St-ate  registration  for  the  members  of  the  nurs- 
ing profession,  the  Aesociation  co-operates  with 
others  to  effect  this  reform.  Its  popularity  was 
well  expressed  in  the  large  attendance  of  400 
at  the  dance.  The  guests  were  received  l\v  the 
^fMl■r■lllo,„.<s     of      \\U.^.     lui.l      Sir      WiMiiim 


and  Lady  Mace  wen,  and  included  many 
well-known  members  of  the  medical  profes- 
sion. The  nurses  for  the  greater  part  were  in 
their  picturesque  unifonns,  so  .delightful  to 
dance  in,  though  there  .was  also  a  good  pro- 
portion in  evening  dress.  A  splasii  of  tartan, 
here  and  there,  in  the  occasional  Highland  cos- 
tume, gave  the  right  tone  of  contrast.  The 
entire  suite  of  rooms  was  thrown  open  to  the 
guests,  and  a  progressive  whist  game  con- 
ducted by  Miss  Donald  occupied  the  attention 
of  those  who  did  not  care  to  dance.  Dr.  J. 
r^Iacewen  performed  the  duties  of  Master  of 
Ceremonies  with  distinction. 


At  the  annual  general  meeting  of  the  Court 
of  Contributors  to  the  Western  Infirmary, 
Glasgow,  Sir  Matthew  Arthur,  Bart.,  wdio  pre 
sided,  said  that  as  a  training  school  for  nurse- 
the  Infirmary  was  growing  in  popularity,  and 
during  the  year  there  had  been  628  candidates 
for  70  vacancies.  This  shows  the  este«m  in 
which  the  school  is  held  in  Scotland.  In  Eng- 
land, where  we  have  been  acquainted  witii 
them,  nurses  trained  at  the  Infirmary,  who 
take  up  private  nursing,  do  admirable  work, 
being  practical  and  adaptable.  This  speaks 
well  for  the  training  they  receive,  as  every 
nurse  is  by  no  means  successful  in  this  impo'- 
tant  branch.  

The  Reverend  Mother  de  Pazzi,  Superior  o! 
the  Presentation  Convent  Hospital.  Cork,  with 
which  a  hospital  which  she  founded  is  con- 
nected, recently  celebrated  the  golden  jubil'?e 
of  her  religious  profession,  when  the  honour, 
affection,  and  respect  in  which  she  is  imiver- 
sally  held  foimd  expression.  The  special  ser- 
vices of  the  day  began  with  High  ]Mass  in  tiio 
Convent  chapel,  and  later  the  clergy  and  gues! .~ 
were  entertained  to  dinner  at  the  Convent  b\' 
the  Reverend  Mother. 


We  hear  that  the  movement  to  form  a 
Nurses'  Hostel  Company  in  Dublin  is  being 
well  supported,  and  that  Irish  nurses  are  taking 
great  interest  in  the  proposed  scheme. 


At  the  September  Council  meeting  of  the 
Australasian  Trained  Nurses'  .Association,  it 
was  reported  that  the  sub-committee  appointcl 
to  consider  means  by  which  the  Association 
might  work  with  the  projxised  Australian  Order 
of  District  Nurses  (since  abandoned  in  conse- 
quence of  insutlicient  financial  support)  stipu- 
lat-ed  that  its  general  approval  would  be  fortli- 
coming  on  the  full  understanding  that  tlu 
nurses  enrolled  as  members  of  the  Order  be 
members  of  the  A. T.N. A.  or  the  R.V.T.N.A.. 
or,  in  the  event  of  State  Registration  coming 
into  fnicr  ill  am    State  of  the  Commonwealth. 


Dec.  3,  I'JlUj 


(2;rc  Kutibb  Souinal  ot  IRiu^mo. 


Stat-j  rogisificJ  miisi-s.  These  two  nurses' 
organisatious  have  beeu  couimendably  teiia- 
uioiis  iu  maiutaiuiiij;  uursiug  standards — all 
credit  to  them. 


The  Annual  Couferent-es  of  the  Associations 
of  >iursing  Superintendents  and  of  Trained 
Nurses  of  India  will  be  held  at  Benares  on 
December  14th,  loth,  and  16th,  when  many 
questions  of  professional  interest  will  be  dis- 
cussed, amongst  them  the  thorny  one  of  what 
constitutes  a  recognised  training  schoo.l,  as  ilu- 
certificate  of  such  a  school  is  the  qualification 
for  membership  of  the  Trained  Nurses'  Asso- 
ciation of  India. 


Hbc  iRurC'iiuj  flDasciuc. 

We  have  to  thank  numerous  friends  for  their 
kind  letters  of  interest  in  the  proposed  Nursing 
ilasque.  It  is  to  be  made  as  representative 
as  time  will  allow,  and  at  the  meeting  of  th*^ 
Preliminary  Committee,  to  be  held  on  2nd 
December,  the  sections  will  be  defined  and 
conveners  appointed,  every  one  of  whom  will 
have  to  work  hard  to  be  ready  by  February  18th 
next.  A  medical  man  writes  that  he  is  sorry 
to  see  no  mention  of  the  recreative  side  of  the 
nursing  profession  included  in  the  proposed 
pageant,  as  somewhere  in  the  programme  the 
lighter  side  of  the  nurse's  career  should  be 
represented.  He  proposes  "  Nurses  at  Play." 
Why  not?  It  can  be  presented  certainly.  The, 
Guy's  Hospital  Nurses'  League  have  wisely 
emphasised  the  necessity  for  both  in  and 
outdoor  recreation  for  nurses,  and  have  no  less 
than  eight  sections,  including  cycling,  tennis, 
croquet,  and  swimming  clubs,  also  library, 
choral,  orchestral,  and  debating  societies.  Why 
not  also  hockey,  golf,  skating,  dancing,  and 
drill'?  This  medical  correspondent  believes 
that  recreation  is  essential  to  the  promotion  of 
a  healthy  body  .and  mind. 


3ntcrnationaI  IRews. 

Sister  Agnes  Karll,  I'resident  of  the  Inter- 
national Council  of  Nurses,  has  completed  her 
translation  of  "A  History  of  Nursing,"  by 
Miss  Nutting  and  ^liss  Dock,  into  the  German 
language,  and  the  book  will  be  on  sale  at  the 
beginning  of  next  month.  We  congratulate 
Sist€r  Karll  on  the  accomplishment  of  this  im- 
portant piece  of  work,  and  the  German  Nurses 
on  the  opportunity  she  has  placed  within  their 
reach  of  studying  the  history  of  their  profes- 
sion in  their  own  language.  In  this  country  the 
original  edition  is  published  by  ilessrs.  G.  P. 
Putnam's  Sons,  "24,  Bedford  Street,  Strand, 
W.C. 


Cbc  Ibospital  lUol•l^. 

THE     NEW     INFIRMARY,    WANDSWORTH. 

The  new  Infirmary,  Wandsworth,  which  will 
accommodate  600  patients,  was  formally 
opened  on  Saturday  last  by  the  Kight  Hon 
John  Burns,  M.P.,  LL.D.,  President  of  the 
Local  Government  Board.  The  opening  cere- 
mony took  place  in  an  unfurnished  ward,  but 
Mr.  Burns  was  received  by  the  Chairman, 
Canon  Curtis,  and  all  the  members  of  the 
Board,  at  the  main  entrance,  where  he  un- 
locked the  principal  door  of  the  Infirmary. 
Among  those  present  on  the  platform,  in  addi- 
tion to  Mr.  Percival  Eees  (^'ice-Chairman  of 
the  Board),  the  Mayors  of  Battersea  and 
Wandsworth  and  many  Guardians,  were  Sir 
Arthui^Dowues,  Miss  Stansfeld,  and  Miss  Helen 
Todd,  Local  Government  Board  officials. 

In  his  introductory  remarks.  Canon  Curtis 
said  that  the  Infirmary,  with  the  furniture,  had 
cost  under  .£90,000,  and  was,  he  believed,  the 
most  economical  building  of  the  kind  ever 
erected.  Some  people  had  blamed  the  Guar- 
dians for  incurring  such  an  expenditure,  but 
he  had  been  long  enough  in  public  life  to  know 
that  the  blame  of  to-day  is  the  praise  of  to- 
morrow, and  that  those  who  conscientiously 
steer  a  straight  course  have  the  public  with 
them  eventually. 

Mr.  John  Bums  said  that  in  opening  the 
Infirmary  that  day  he  had  dedicated  a  new  hos- 
pital for  the  service  of  public  benevolence, 
w'hich  the  generosity  of  the  ratepayers  and  the 
demands  of  medical  science  deemed  necessary, 
by  means  of  which,  in  the  future,  something 
could  be  done  to  make  treatment  preventive 
and  curative,  and  not  merely  costly  and  pallia- 
tive, without  aim  and  objective. 

Last  Saturday  he  had  been  to  Lewisham  to 
divert  a  hospital  which  had  cost  £'280,000  a  few 
years  ago  from  the  treatment  of  infectious 
diseases  to  the  most  humane  of  purposes, 
the  care  of  little  children.  When  that  hospital 
was  fully  occupied,  in  addition  to  the  one  at 
Carshalton,  there  would  hardly  be  a  child  left 
in  the  London  infirmaries. 

Eeferring  to  the  progress  in  the  Poor  Law 
of  the  last  70  years,  Mr.  Burns  said  that  70 
years  ago  there  were  200  nurses;  to-day  there 
were  7,000. 

The  size  of  the  Poor  Law  problem  might  be 
estimated  by  the  fact  that  in  London  alone 
there  are  20,000  Poor  Law  infirmary  beds,  more 
than  all  the  beds  in  general  hospitals  in  Eng- 
land and  Wales,  and  it  was  due  to  an  increasing 
knowledge  of  the  poor  that  the  infirmaries  were 
now  as  good  as  the  general  hospitals,  in  some 
instances  much  better.  *» 


456 


Sbe  Bi'itisb  Journal  oi  IRursing. 


[Dee.  3,  1910 


In  the  name  of  the  general  public  he  thanked 
the  7,000  nurses,  the  Matrons,  doctors,  and 
attendants  in  Poor  Law  infirmaries  for  their 
loving  service  to  the  sick  poor. 

^Ir.  Bnrns's  speech  was  punctuated  by  ques- 
tions from  both  men  and  women  as  to  when  he 
proposed  to  give  women  the  suffrage,  which 
created  so  much  interest  in  the  members  of  the 
audience  that  the  united  forces  of  Church  and 
State  on  the  platform  were  hardly  sufficient  to 
regain  their  vagrant  attention,  till  the  Canon 
reminded  those  present  that  the  meeting  was 
by  invitation,  not  a  public  one,  that  there 
woiild  be  "  refreshments  afterwards,  and  he 
hoped  they  would  behave  in  that  spirit." 

Suffragettes  are  not  to  be  beguiled  with  cake 
and  tea,  otherwise  they  could  scarcely  have 
withstood  the  attraction  of  the  charming  meal 
served  in  daiilty  china  and  at  tables  laid  with 
snowy  linen,  tempting  bread-and-butter,  and 
the  creamiest  of  cakes,  at  which  you  sat  at 
ease,  the  while  deft-handed  and  (•f)urteous 
waiters  whisked  about 'with  pots  of  delicious 
tea.  Did  anyone  give  a  thought  to  the  unfortu- 
nate man  evicted  from  the  meeting,  and  last 
seen  rolling  on  the  ground  outside  in  company 
with  two  burly  policemen,  because  he  did  but 
say  in  the  friendliest  tones,  "  Now,  John, 
you've  got  to  toe  the  line ;  when  are  you  going 
to  give  women  the  suffrage?  "  An  episode 
which  elicited  from  Mr.  B.urns  the  remark  as 
the  questioner  was  ejected,  "  Now,  ladies,  this 
ceremony  would  be  incomplete  unless  we  had 
a  little  ambulance  practice." 

The  Infirmary  is  a  fine  building  of  five 
separate  blocks,  with  the  Administration  Block 
in  the  centre  (in  which  the  Matron,  Mis.? 
Constance  E.  Todd,  and  the  Assistant  Matron 
have  their  quarters).  At  the  rear  of  this  block 
a  wide  corridor  runs  north  and  south  on  three 
floors,  giving  direct  access  to  the  male  and 
female  receiving  blocks  and  the  main  wards, 
which,  it  may  be  noted  in  passing,  from  the 
point  of  view  of  practical  nursing  seem  unfortu- 
nately long,  for  the  nurses  will  Iiave  to  cover 
uuich  ground  in  attending  to  the  needs  of  the 
patients. 

The  wards  are  heated  by  eenti'al  stoves,  with 
an  open  fireplace  at  each  end.  Fresh  air  is 
drawn  in  through  pipes  in  the  thickness  of  the 
floor,  and,  after  passing  through  the  stoves 
is  discharged  into  the  wards  through  gratings 
at  the  sides.  There  are  sunning  balconies, 
special  wards,  and  nuu^li  thought  has  evidently 
been  given  by  the  arcliitect,  Mr.  Janies  S. 
Gibson,  F. II. I. B. A.,  to  provide  the  maxinuim 
comfort  at  the  minimum  expense.  The  Wands 
worth  fiuardinns  and  their  Clerk,  Mr.  F.  \V. 
Piper,  and  the  sick  poor  of  the  Union  are  to 
he  congratulated  on  their  new  infirmary. 


iKcflcctions. 


From  a  Board  Room  Mirror. 

The  medical  students  at  Middlesex  Hospital  hare 
decided  to  raise  among  themselves  1,000  guineas  for 
the  endowment  of  a  Prince  Francis  Memorial  Bed. 

It  is  sad  to  think  that  some  80  beds  at  Charing 
Cross  Hospital  are  unavailable  for  lack  of  funds, 
but  the  empty  wards  do  from  time  to  time  serve  a 
useful  end.  During  the  rebuilding  of  the  Royal 
National  Orthopfedic  Hospital  the  patients  of  that 
institution  were  housed  at  Charing  Cross,  and  in 
the  near  future  they  will  again  be  opened  for  the 
patients  from  the  Cancer  Block  of  the  Middlesex 
Hospital,  during  alterations  there. 


The  Executive  Council  of  the  Xational  League 
for  Physical  Education  and  Improvement  announce 
tliat  an  important  Conference  of  London  and  Pro- 
vincial Health-Promoting  Institutions  will  take 
place  in  the  Guildhall  on  December  8th  and  9th. 
The  Conference  will  be  combined  with  the  -Annual 
General  Meeting  of  the  League,  and  include  the 
discussion  of  the  following  subjects: — (a)  How  to 
work  a  school  for  mothers;  (b)  how  the  problem  of 
infant  mortality  is  being  dealt  Wim  abroad  ;  (c)  day 
nurseries;  (d)  what  may  be  accomplished  by 
Children's  Care  Committees;  (e)  health  societies, 
their  aims  and  opportunities;  (f)  the  co-ordination 
of  health-pix)moting  agencies. 

In  the  coming  Parliamentai-y  Election  Sir  Victor 
Horsley,  F.R.C.S.,  F.R.S.,  is  contesting  London 
Pniversitv  in  the  Liberal  interest. 


According  to  a  Whit-e  Paper  is-sued  on  Saturday 
last,  giving  a  return  of  expenditure  on  Poor-Law 
relief  for  the  half-year  ending  Lady  Day  ti.iS  year, 
there  was  an  expenditure  of  £1,777.8.57  on  the 
maintenance  of  indoor  jiaupers  in  the  various  unions 
and  parishes.  Of  this  -sum  £534,07.5  was  ex|)ended 
in  London.  In  establislnnents  not  provi<led  by 
Poor-Law  authorities  there  was  si)ent  £13 1,44.-).  On 
out-rolicf  there  was  spent  in  Ix>ndon  £146, 17.5  :  out- 
side London  tL-^OS.SSg  -a  total  of  £1.(550.014.  The 
maintenance  of  lunatics  in  England  and  Wales  cost 
£1,259,307.  The  total  expenditure  on  Poor-I>aw  re- 
lief was  £7,489.,381. 


Among  the  institutions  which  have  organised 
siHK'ial  <'oui'sc«  of  instruction  for  Health  Vi.sitoi-s 
and  Srh<H)l  Nui-ses.  the  Royal  .Sanitary  Institute, 
90,  Buckingham  Palace  Road,  S.W.,  has  been  giving 
systematic  training  for  several  yoai-s.  followed  by 
examinations,  and  its  c<>rti(iratc  is  six>cifie<l  in  the 
Statutory  Rules  au<l  Orders  issued  by  the  Local 
Government  Board  among  the  (|ualifications  neces- 
.sarv  for  a  Health  Visitor  in  Ixmdon. 


The  leporl  of  the  Bread  and  Food  Reform  T,eagne, 
which  lias  .just  txn'n  publi-.lii>d.  states  that  the 
hnely-gronn<l  wholo-Mu^al  breutl,  jumI  old-fa.-ihionod 
oream-poloui'txt  household  \\v^\X(\  and  other  foods 
advocated  by  the  I/eague,  are  now  more  gene- 
rally   used,    and    have    been    adopted    at    various 


Dec.  3,  1910J  XI\K  3BlUlSt)  jOUtliai  Ol    IHUlSllUj. 


457 


public  schools  and  other  institutions.  The 
report  urges  that  the  cousuniptioii  of  very  white 
bread,  when  it  forms  the  i)riucii)al  staple  food,  may 
produce  evil  results,  which  may  develop  into 
physical  deterioration,  deficient  bl^ain  power,  teeth 
degeneration,  consumption,  constipation,  appen- 
dicitis, and  the  diink  ciiaving.  A  copy  of  the  report 
oan  be  obtained  from  Miss  May  Yates,  Hon. 
Secretary,  5,  Clement's  Inn,  Strand,  W.C. 


The  splendid  work  « hiih  the  Koyal  Southern  Hos- 
pital at  Liverpool  is  performing,  not  only  on  behalf 
of  the  poor  in  the  south  end  of  the  city,  but  in  the 
much  wider  spheres  of  the  training  of  nurses  and 
tropical  research,  recently  received  an  impetus  by 
the  opening  of  a  new  out-patient  department,  as  well 
as  of  the  Hulme  lift.  This  department  has  been 
named  to  commemorate  the  work  of  ^Mr.  William 
Adamson.  the  President,  whose  devoted  service  to 
the  hospital  for  many  years  past  has  been  of  a  most 
practical  and  beneficial  chaiiacter.  Subsequently  the 
visitors  had  an  opportunity  of  inspecting  the  chil- 
dren's, tropical,  and  other  wards,  the  operating 
theatre,  and  X-ray  rooms,  with  all  of  which  they 
were  verv  much  interested. 


Nearly  £80  was  realised  by  the  Ladies  Association 
of  the  Bedford  Hospital  at  a  sale  at  the  Beatord 
Kindergarten  Training  College  recently.  Lady 
Ampthill,  who  sul)S.;Hiueutly  presided  at  one  of  the 
stalls,  was  «elcome<l  by  Miss  Walmsley,  Principal 
of  the  College,  and  in  opening  tlie  sale,  and  wish- 
ing it  all  the  success  it  deserved,  said  it  was  tTie 
child  of  the  Hospital  Fete  in  the  summer,  which  was 
held  on  a  terriblv  wet  da  v. 


Miss  Butler,  .\cting  ^ledioal  .Superintendent  of 
the  Hull  Sanatorium,  has  l)een  appointed  for  a 
further  period  of  six  months. 


The  Koyal  National  Hospital  for  Consumption  at 
Ventnor  has  received  a  donation  of  £1,000  from 
Mrs.  Bell  to  endow  a  bed  in  perpetuity  in  memory 
of  her  late  husband.  Dr.  J.  Hougham  Bell,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  the  hospital. 


The  Penal  Reform  League  held  its  Annual  Meet- 
ing in  the  Council  Chamber  of  the  Caston  Hall, 
Westminster,  on  Tuesday  last,  when  an  interesting 
address  was  given  by  the  Hon.  Secretary,  Captain 
Arthur  St.  John,  on  his  tour  in  America,  which  he 
visited  last  year  in  connection  with  the  International 
Prison  Congress.  Those  who  desire  to  know  more 
of  the  prison  ([uestion  should  join  this  excellent 
League,  the  object  of  wliich  is  'to  interest  the 
public  in  the  right  treatment  of  criminals  and  to 
promote  effective  measures  for  their  cure,  rehabili- 
tation, and  for  the  prevention  of  crime."  The 
address  of  Captain  St.  John,  to  whom  applications 
for  meniber.ship  should  be  addressed,  is  7,  Holly 
Village,  Highgate,  London,  X. 


IbpGienc  in  IRclation  to  IKescuc 
lUorh. 


A  very  interesting  Conference  on  '"Hygiene  in 
Relation  to  Rescue  Work,"  was  held  at  the  Carton 
Hall,  Westminster,  S.W.,  on  Thursday,  November 
24th. 

MORNING  SESSION. 
The  Ladj-  Laitra  Ridding,  President  of  the  Na- 
tional Union  of  Women  Workers,  which  convened 
the  Conference,  presided  at  the  ^Morning  Session, 
and  said  that  the  Conference  was  really  the  sequel 
to  one  held  at  Portsmouth  last  year.  The  Union 
felt  the  need  of  gathering  statistics  on  this  question, 
and  a  Sub-Committee  of  the  Rescue  Committee  had 
been  appointed  to  deal  with  the  question,  which 
was  approached  by  the  Union  primarily  from  the 
Christian  point  of  view. 
PnYSic.\i,  He.\i^th  .\nd  Hygiene  ix  Homes  fob 

Women. 
Dr.  Jane  Walker  presented  the  first  paper  on 
the  above  subject,  and  said  that  the  functions  of  a 
Rescue  Home  were  to  receive  persons  brought 
there,  or  who  came  there  willingly.  Rescue  work 
should  be  applied  to  both  sexes,  but  as  things  were 
at  present  these  Homes  dealt  with  women  who  were 
the  victims  of  vice.  She  emphasised  the  fact  that 
a  large  number  of  such  women  belonged  to  the 
feeble-minded  class,  and  it  was  well  known  to  rescue 
workers  that  nearly  every  unprotected  feeble- 
minded girl  sooner  or  later  became  a  prostitute. 
Such  girls  could  be  cared  for  in  Homes  and  pro- 
tected up  to  the  age  of  16 ;  after  that  time  protec- 
tion could  not  be  enforced. 

In  connection  with  the  hygienic  precautions  neces- 
.sarv  in  carrying  on  a  Rescue  Home,  Dr.  Walker 
advised  that  each  girl  sliould  be  provided  with  a 
number  on  admission,  with  which  the  crockery  and 
linen  she  used  should  be  marked  and  be  used  by 
her  only.  She  should  have  a  bedroom,  or  cubicle, 
to  herself,  and  when  she  left  everything  she  had 
used  should  he  boiled,  and  her  mattress  should  be 
disinfected.  The  whole  secret  of  the  prevention  of 
infection  was  .scrupulous  cleanliness  in  every  detail. 
A  woman  doctor  should  be  attached  to  every  Rescue 
Home. 

TnE  VEXERE.U,  Diseases. 
Dr.  Florence  Willey  said  that  tliere  was  a  fallacy 
current  amongst  social  workers  tliat  there  was  one 
specific  venereal  disease,  and  that  it  resulted  from 
vice.  She  explained  that  there  are  several 
diseases — syphilis,  gonorrhoea,  and  chancre — 
caused  by  distinct  micro-organisms.  Dr."  Willey 
urged  that  young  men  and  women  should 
havi-  clear  instruction  on  sex  questions,  that  girls 
should  demand  a  high  standard  of  purity,  that  more 
facilities  for  the  treatment  of  patients  suffering  frofti 
the  venereal  diseases  were  needed,  and  that  patients 
attending  such  cliniques  should  not  be  marked 
persons.  The  whole  community  suffered  from  the 
|>resence  of  these  diseases  in  it<!»igidst ;  every  other 
consideration  must  go,  and  they  must  be  treated, 
cured,  eradicated. 


458 


Zbc  Jbdtigb  3ournal  of  iRursmo, 


[Dee.  3,  1010 


The  Prevextiox  ok  Venerkai,  Disease.-;. 
Dr.  Helen  Wilson  said  that  the  fear  of  the 
venereal  diseases  was  a  serious  embarrassment  to 
those  engaged  in  rescue  work.  Fear  came  from 
want  of  knowledge.  Precautions  should  be  taken 
in  three  directions — by  sufferers  from  these 
diseases,  by  the  healthy,  and  by  the  public  authori- 
ties. Although  venereal  cases  were  not  necessarily 
infectious  if  precautions  were  intelligently  and  con- 
scientiously ob.served,  it  was  advisable  to  exclude  all 
sure  cases  from  Rescue  Homes :  but  they  might 
crop  up  in  any  Home  and  have  to  be  kept  for  a  time 
before  they  could  be  transferred.  They  should  then 
be  isolated.  But  infection  was  not  to  be  feared, 
with  proper  precautions,  from  known  cases  of  the 
disease — the  chief  danger  arose  from  the  unknown. 
Safety  lay  in  scrupulous  surgical  cleanliness ;  in  the 
encouragement  of  refinement  in  mind  and  body  in 
the  inmates  of  a  Home.  It  was  sometimes  sug- 
gested  that  Poor  Law  Guardians  should  have  the 
power  of  detaining  persons  known  to  be  infectious. 
The  objection  was  that  the  knowledge  that 
Guardians  had  the  power  of  detention  would  pre- 
vent patients  applying  for  treatment.  In  the  best- 
managed  hospitals  and  wards  the  number  of  those 
who  discharged  themselves  against  advict»  nas  verv 
small. 

Again,  notification  of  venereal  disea.ses  was  advo- 
cated. This  «as  all  right  in  theory,  but  impractic- 
able. The  notification  of  the  disease  in  the  upper 
classes  would  be  impossible,  and  if  insisted  on  would 
drive  patients  to  quacks.  Dr.  Wilson  insisted,  in 
conclusion,  that  cleanliness  or  purity  does  not  con- 
sist in  ignoring  dirt  and  refusing  to  see  it,  but 
rather  in  activity  in  combatting  it. 

Miss  Clifford,  who  was  unable  to  be  present,  wrote 
suggesting  the  establishment  of  hospitals  for 
venereal  disea.ses  in  suitable  centres  by  co-operating 
Poor  Law  Unions. 

The  President  then  vacated  the  chair,  which  was 
taken  by  Mrs.  Alfred  Booth. 

Amongst  those  wh<i  took  part  in  the  discussion 
were  Miss  Blanche  Lepington,  ^liss  I.  M.  Baker, 
Mrs.  Raffles  Bulley,  Mrs.  A.  J.  Webb,  Mrs.  School 
ing,  .Mi.ss  Lucy  Deane,  Miss  Fox,  Miss  Hargreaves, 
P.L.G.,  Mi.ss  Verrall,  Miss  Curtis,  Miss  Martindale 
(Church  Army),  Miss  Janes,  and  Dr.  Stacy.  The 
chief  points  emphasised  were  the  iiselessness  of  com- 
pulsory detention  of  infected  women  in  infirmaries 
while  dissolute  men  outside  still  infected  liealthy 
women  ;  the  unsuitability  of  laundry  work  as  em- 
ployment for  girls  in  Rescue  Homes  owing  to  the 
rougliness  of  the  work  and  the  temptations  to  which 
girls  were  subjected  when  they  left  the  Home  ;  that 
women  nuist  demand  purity  in  men,  when  tliey  do 
they  will  get  it;  the  importance  of  legal  powers  ot 
detention  of  the  feeble-minded  over  sixteen  years  of 
age,  with  their  segregation  in  colonies,  so  that  they 
will  "not  prochue  more  feeble-minded  children  ;  the 
desirability  of  evening  treatment  for  out-patients  at 
the  liOndon  Lock  Hospital  for  women  as  well  as  for 
men  ;  and  of  the  appointment  of  a  woman  ])hysician. 
The  consideration  of  a  Resolution  in  this  connectiiin 
was  eventuallv  deferred   to   the   Afternoon   Se.ssion. 


.V riER.NOON   S liSSION. 

Tub  Need  fob  Better  Provision  for  Kescce  Cases 

Suffering  from  Disease. 

At  the  Afternoon  Session,  when  Dr.  Helen  Wilson 
presided.  Dr.  Alice  Cortboru  presented  the  first 
paper  on  ■'  The  Xeed  for  Better  Provision  for  Rescue 
Cases  Suffering  from  Disea.se."  .She  emphasised  the 
necessity  for  the  classification  of  cases  in  some  in- 
firmary wards  where  venereal  cases  are  received. 
On  the  physical  side,  the  disease  must  be  controlled 
by  individual  attention,  and  moraUy  the  patients 
must  not  be  exposed  to  moral  contamination.  This 
«  aii  impossible  in  institutions  where  hardened  pros- 
titutes, young  girls  in  their  first  trouble,  and  even 
little  children  were  to  be  found  in  the  same  ward. 
MissCort horn  was  not  in  favour  of  the  establishment 
of  special  venereal  hospitals  by  Boards  of  Guardians, 
an  added  objection  being  that  the  existence  of 
Guardians  themselves  was  threatened. 

Miss  Amy  Hughes,  from  her  practical  experience 
as  Superintendent  of  a  country  workhouse  infirmary, 
urged  the  importance  of  legislation  giving  powers 
of  restraint  over  feeble-minded,  degenerate  girls, 
physically  and  mentally  defective,  «ho  are  led 
away.  She  had  known  a  number  who  took  their 
discharge,  went  out  to  a  common  lodging-house, 
and  in  a  few  months  returned  half-starved  and  ver- 
minous, to  be  mothers  of  more  feeble-minded 
children. 

Others  who  joined  in  the  discussion  of  this  paper 
were  Miss  Greig,  Mrs.  Creighton  (who  pointed  to 
the  necessity  of  avoiding  the  assumption  that  the 
feeble-minded  are  only  girls),  Mrs.  E.  Xott  Bower, 
P.L.G.,  Richmond  (who  spoke  of  the  difficulties  of 
women  guardians),  and  others. 
Resolution,- 

A  Resolution  respectfully  urging  the  authorities 
of  the  London  Lock  Hospital  to  provide  facilities 
for  evening  treatment  for  women  out-patients  as 
well  as  men,  and  to  consider  the  advisability  of 
appointing  a  woman  doctor,  proposed  by  Miss 
Richmond.  «as  then  carried,  and  it  was  arranged 
to  send  it  to  the  President,  Lord  Kinnaird. 

Miss  Richmond  also  desired  to  memorialise  the 
Committees  of  Metropolitan  Hospitals  to  re-open 
their  lock  wards ;  hut  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  pointed 
out  that  the  question  was  a  very  wide  one,  and 
she  hoped  it  would  be  referred  to  the  Rescue  and 
Preventive  Committee  to  report  upon  :  the  policy 
of  recent  years  had  been  to  eliminate  infectious 
and  contagious  diseases  from  the  general  hospitals. 
She  thought  the  Metropolitan  Asylums  Board  was 
the  authority  which  should  deal  with  these  cases  in 
London.  Xow  that  infectious  diseases  were  steadily 
diminishing,  perhaps  the  Board  might  open  a  hos- 
pital  for    the    reoi>ption    of   venereal    cases. 

On  the  proposition  of  Mrs.  Creighton,  seconded 
by  Mrs.  Webb,  it  was  then  referred  to  the  Rescue 
and  Preventive  Committee  to  consider  whether  it 
was  desirable  to  petition  Boards  of  Metropolitan 
Hospitals  to  open  special  wards  for  venereal  cases. 

It  was  further  proposed  from  the  chair,  seconded 
by  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick,  and  agreed,  that  the 
Committee  be  asked  to  consider  the  advisability  of 
callini:  a  Conference  of  men  and   women — <loctors,. 


Dec.  3,  1910] 


'iibc  Britisb  3ournal  of  iRursma. 


459 


Giiiirdians,    nurses,    and    otliers — on      '  Hygiene    in 
Relation  to  Kescne  Work." 

Edic.\tiox  i.\  Kesi'onsiiiility. 

The  last  paper  was  presented  b_v  Mrs.  James  Go« 
on  "  KdiK-ation  in  Responsibility,  Personal  and 
Social,  in  Rescne  Homes." 

The  speaker  tlumnht  that  in  most  girls  the  in- 
stinct of  motherhood  is  hidden  deep,  and  that  this 
might  be  utilised  in  Re.s(  iie  Homes  .so  that  the  old^r 
girls  might  be  a  help  to  the  more  recent  arrivals. 
In  regard  to  the  rule  of  silence  so  often  enforced 
in  Rescue  Homes,  she  pointed  out  that  it  meant 
sliutting  up  a  girl  with  her  own  thoughts.  The 
restraint  of  a  Home  might  prove  too  much  for  girls 
who  had  previously  been  governed  solely  by  their 
own  imjiulsc  ;ii  the  moment,  and  they  should  have 
more  than  one  chance.  There  was,  to  her  mind, 
a  toucli  of  real  heroism  about  a  gii-1  who  consented 
to  enter  a  Home. 

In  the  discussion,  the  (juestion  of  instruction  to 
the  young  in  sex  questions  was  brought  forward  by 
a  lady  Guardian,  who  said  that  among  the  upper 
and  middle  classes  a  sense  of  responsibility  was 
springing  up,  but  the  early  Victorian  attitude  had 
descended  to  the  poorer  classes,  who  thought  it 
their  duty  never  to  touch  on  these  questions  with 
their  children. 

Mrs.  Creighton  said  that  nothing  was  more  touch- 
ing in  rescue  work  than  the  number  of  girls  who 
sent  young  ones  to  the  Homes  though  they  would 
not  enter  them  themselves. 

Miss  Curtis  thought  that  innocence  was  apt  to 
be  assumed  where  it  does  not  ey  Mothers  would 

like  their  children  to  be  thought  innocent  when  they 
knew  they  were  not. 

Mrs.  Gow,  in  a  brief  reply,  said  that  mothers 
made  the  mistake  of  thinking  they  could  choose 
whether  their  children  should  know  things  or  not. 
The  position  really  was  not  whether  they  should 
know  them,  but  who  should  give  the  information. 

The  proceedings  of  the  Conference  will  be  pub- 
lished in  extenso  by  the  National  Union  of  Women 
Workers. 


Cbc  "Iflorencc  ittiGbtiuGale" 
plc^GC. 

The  present  is  an  appropriate  moment  for  the 
repetition  of  the  Florence  Nightingale  Pledge  for 
nurses: — "I  solemnly  pledge  myself  before  God 
and  in  the  presence  of  this  assembly  to  pass  my  life 
in  purity  and  to  practise  my  profession  faithfully. 
I  will  abstain  from  whatever  is  deleterious  and  mis- 
chievous, and  will  not  take  or  knowingly  adminis- 
ter any  harmful  drug.  I  will  do  all  in  my  power 
to  elevate  the  standard  of  my  profession  and  will 
hold  in  confidence  all  personal  matters  committej 
to  my  keeping,"  and  all  family  affairs  coming  to  my 
knowledge  in  the  practice  of  my  calling.  With 
loyalty  will  I  endeavour  to  aid  the  physician  in  his 
work  and  devote  myself  to  the  welfare  of  those 
.committed  to  my  care." 


Cbc  iTbilD. 

Dr.  T.  N.  Kelyniuk,  the  Kditor  .>!  Jhr  (  l.ihl,  .s 
to  Ih}  coiigititulatetl  on  tliio  new  moutldy,  which 
<lceerves  well  ot  all  tho  triends  of  children.  Jn 
appearance,  pixjduction,  matter,  and  ilfustrations  it 
is  all  that  oan  be  de«sire<l.  The  price  is  two  shillings 
monthly,  or  tl  Is.  jier  annum. 

Amongst  the  subject.s  dealt  with  in  the  NovemlM-r 
issue  are,  "  Fear  and  the  Evolution  of  the  Child." 
by  Dr.  H.Macuaughton  Jones;  '"Medical  Inspection 
ol  ScIkwIs,"  by  Mr.  J.  C.  Bridge,  M.R.C.S., 
D.P.H. ;  "  Holiday  Coloni«is  lor  Children  in  Switzer- 
land," by  Dr.  O.  Amrein ;  "The  Inspection  of 
lioarded-out  Children,'"  bj'  Miss  M.  H.  Mason;  and 
••The  Verminous  Child,"  by  Miss  M.  E.  Bibby, 
B.A.,  Sanitai-y  Inspector  for  the  Public  Health 
Department  of  the  Metropolitan  Borough  of  St. 
Pancras. 

Poor  little  "verminous  child."  He  "has  no 
doubt  existed,"  we  read,  "  for  uncounted  yeans, 
but  as  a  pix)blem  vexing  the  soul  of  sanitary  and 
educational  Ijoclies,  his  recognised  existence  is  com- 
paratively recent."  With  no  one  is  he  a  more  vexed 
pix)bleni  than  with  the  School  Nuise.  AMien  the 
Cleansing  of  Persons  Act,  1897,  was  passed,  pre- 
sumably children  were  included  in  the  persons  for 
whom  local  authority  oould  provide  means  of 
cleansing  free  of  charge,  but  no  sepai'ate  baths  for 
children  existed  until  1903,  when,  as  a  consequence 
of  representations  motlo  to  him  by  a  head  mistress^ 
the  Metlical  Officer  ot  Health  for  the  Borough  of  St. 
Paucra-s  caused  inquiries  to  be  made  a.s  to  the  ver- 
min-infested children  of  the  district,  with  the  result 
that  the  Borough  Council  of  St.  Pancras  made 
separate  provision  for  the  treatment  of  verminous 
children,  an  example  followed  by  other  councils. 
Care  was  taken  to  make  the  cleansing  process 
attractive  and  pleasant  to  the  children,  and  to 
make  the  bath  etlucative.  The  improvement  in 
the  children's  health  was  noteworthy. 

Tlie  verminous  child,  until  eight  or  ten  yeare  ago, 
was  "an  object  of  disgust  not  to  be  spoken  ot 
among  his  supi-riore.  a  part  of  the  natural  order  of 
things  among  bis  associates."  Now,  authority  pro- 
vides for  tho  parent  "  a  remedy  of  doubtful 
efficiency — namely,  a  fine  not  exceeding  ten 
shillings  if  a  second  time  his  child  is  found  by  an 
educational  ofiicial  to  be  verminous." 

The  Medical  Officer  of  Health  of  St.  Pancras 
many  years  ago  advocate<l  the  conversion  of  base- 
ments from  living  places  into  bath  and  wash-rooms, 
and  in  the  opinion  of  Miss  Bibby  few  single 
measures  would  at  one  .stroke  do  as  much  for  chill 
life. 

In  a<ldition  to  the  cleansing  of  the  children 
attentioiT should  be  given  to  their  clothing.  Cleanli- 
ness is,  says  Miss  Bibby,  not  a  beatific  state  once 
obtained  and  ever  afterwards  possessed.  ft.^  is 
rather  an  unstable  and  temporary  condition  main- 
tained with  great  difficulty,  part  of  that  difficulty 
being  the  provision  of  atlequate  change  of  clothing. 

It  will  be  seen  that  The'£hild  deals  in  :i 
thoroughly  practical  way  with  present-day  diffi- 
culties.    SVe  wish  it  all  success. 


460 


Zhc  Britisb  Journal  ot  lAurstng, 


[Dec.  3,  1910 


®utsi^c  the  <5ate6. 

WOMEN. 

In  c-oiiuection  with  the 
recent  deputations  of 
women  to  the  House  ot 
Commons.  and-  to,  the 
Prinw  Mini.ster'.<i  House. 
to  demand  their  ix)litical 
entranchisement,  the 

brutality  of  many  mem- 
bers of  the  police  force, 
and  tlie  atwminable  l«?haviour  of  men  in  the  oix>wd. 
should  be  thoroughly  realised.  The  brutality  has 
been  attested  by  unimpeachable  witnesses.  Mrs. 
Garrett  Anderson.  M.D..  has  stated,  of  the  memor- 
able deputation  on  Friday,  Xoveraber  18th,  that 
though  the  leaders  were  courteously  treate<l  by  the 
police,  their  followers  were  "  brutally  ill  used  "  ;  and 
Mr.  C.  Mansell-Moulin.  Vice-President  of  the 
Royal  College  of  Surgeons,  wrote  subsequently  to 
the  press:  "The  women  were  treated  with  tne 
greatest  brutality.  Tliey  were  pushed  about  in 
erery  direction  by  the  police,  and  thrown  down, 
bheir  arms  were  twisted  till  they  were  almcst 
broken,  their  thumbs  were  forcibly  bent  back,  and 
they  were  tortuied  in  other  nameless  ways  that 
made  one  feel  sick  at  the  sight." 


And  Mr.  H.  W.  Nevinson,  writing  in  Votes  for 
Women  of  "The  Battle  of  Downing  Street,"  speaks 
still  more  plainly  of  matters  which  are  common 
knowledge  amongst  Suffragists:  "  1  cannot  specially 
blame  the  x>olice,  violent  and  savage  though  many 
of  them  were.  .  .  .  But  what  death  is  hideous 
enough  for  the  men  who  come  to  these  scenes  for 
the  deliberate  purpose  of  filthy  insult  to  women 
struggling  for  the  righis  of  human  beings.  .  .  . 
I  wish  to  give  these  scoundrels  full  notice  that  they 
dp  this  sort  of  thing  at  the  risk  of  their  lives." 


Can  we  wonder  that  the  Home  Secretary,  and 
Ills  wife  and  child,  have  to  be  guarded  by  detectives 
when  such  things  are  possible?  The  women  have 
endnriKl  brutality  with  the  greatest  courage,  but 
.students  of  history — and  history  repeats  itsexi — 
know  that  in  France  "filthy  insult"  to  women  was 
a  loading  factor  in  i>i^ucing  the  sense  of  outrage 
which  resulted  in  the  carnage  of  the  closing  years 
of  the  eigliteenth  century. 


The  following  extract  from  Hume's  Historii  of 
Emihiuil  shows  how  history  repeats  itself  with  a 
dilfereni  e.  Women  in  1642  were  used,  as  now,  as 
political  p:nvns  by  politicians. 

The  Commons,  to  excite  the  people  against  King 
Cliarle«>  I.,  renewed  the  expedient  of  i>etitioning. 

"  Tlie  very  women  were  seized  with  the  same  rage. 
A  brewer's  wife,  followed  by  many  thousands  of 
her  sex,  brought  a  petition  to  the  House;  in  which 
the  petitioners  expressed  their  terror  of  the  papists 
and  prelates  and  their  dread  of  like  massacres  ind 
outrages  with  those  which  had  been  committed  upon 
•    :..  ,  ...  j„  Ireland.     They  had  been  necessitated, 


they  said,  to  imitate  the  example  of  the  women 
of  Tekoah,  and  they  claimed  equal  right  with  the 
men  of  declaring  by  petition  their  sense  of  the 
public  cause,  because  Christ  had  purchased  them  at 
as  dear  a  rate,  and  in  the  free  enjoyment  of  Christ 
consists  equally  the  happiness  of  both  sexes.  Pym 
came  to  the  door  of  the  House  and,  having  told  :he 
female  zealots  that  their  petition  was  thankfidly 
accepted  and  was  presented  in  a  seasonable  time, 
he  begged  that  their  prayers  for  the  success  of  the 
Commons  might  follon-  their  petition." 


Many  people  have  dreamed  of  communal  house- 
keeping combined  with  the  privacy  of  home  ITfe, 
and  at  "  Homesgarth,"  at  Letchworth,  people  with 
moderate  means  .seem  likely  to  have  their  dreams- 
converted  into  reality.  "When  the  .scheme  is  com-' 
plete  there  will  l>e  32  houses  built  round  three  sides 
of  a  quadiiangle,  three  and  a-half  acres  in  extent, 
and  laid  out  as  a  garden.  There  is  a  central  ad- 
ministrative block  with  dining-hall,  kitchens,  tea- 
room, reading-rooms,  etc.,  where  meals  are  .serve<l, 
and  the  manageress.  Miss  M.  B.  Brown,  supplies 
the  domestic  work  in  the  individual  houses,  so  tliat 
the  cares  of  house-keeping  are  reduced  to  a. 
minimum.  It  .should  be,  and  no  doubt  will  be.  a 
gieat  success. 


Viscountess  Morpeth,  in  opening  a  sale  of  work 
at  the  Deaconess  House.  Albert  Square,  Clapham 
Road,  in  aid  of  Mrs.  Meredith's  Prison  Mission, 
said  the  work  done  by  the  ^Mission  in  one  corner  of 
the  field  of  social  endeavour  was  urgently  needefl 
and  was  carried  on  with  mvich  advantage.  The 
State  acted  in  the  only  possible  way  in  sending 
offenders  to  prison,  but  it  remained  for  the  chari- 
table and  kindly,  who  prayed  for  "all  prisoners 
and  captives."  to  come  to  the  rescue  of  the  pri- 
soner, however  guilty,  and  to  help  her,  when  once 
more  free,  to  some  honest  means  of  livelihood. 


Boof?  of  tbc  Mce?^. 


THROUGH  THE  CHRYSALIS* 
The  preface  of  this  book  tells  us  that  "  Bab^tte- 
of  my  story  did  finally  timl  her  way  through  the 
meshes  she  had  wound  round  and  round  her  iifo, 
as  the  buttertlies  have  found  their  way  through  111- 
chry.salis."  The  reader  is  introduced  to  this  same 
Babette  in  the  ancient  and  royal  town  of  Com- 
piegne,  at  the  pension  of  kindly  Madame  Berne. 

"  One  afternoon  a  man  and  a  girl  came  rather 
wearily  into  the  courtyard  of  the  pension.  It  was 
about  five  o'clock,  and  some  of  the  little  tables 
were  set  with  teacups,  and  a  few  of  the  old  ladies 
were  sitting  in  the  wicker  chairs.  The  pl.Tce  seemed 
homelike  and  peaceful  in  the  softening  mellow  light 
of  a  late  afternoon.  The  man  sat  down  as  if  he 
were  too  tired  to  walk  a  step  farther, 
"  '  Vou  can  arrange  it  all,'  he  said." 
That  same  night  the  man  died  suddenly,  and 
Babette  begins  to  weave  a  web  of  deceit  around 
her  life. 

*  By  F.  F.  Montresor^    (John  Murray,  London.) 


Dec.  3,  -1910: 


Zbc  IBritfsb  Journal  of  IRursino. 


401 


After  the  funeral,  good  .Madame  Heme  tells  her: 

I  have  something  to  confess  to  you.  On  the  day 
1  fter  your  poor  father  died  we  tried  to  get  you  to 
iii--«er  some  questions.  ...  I  therefore  took 
It  upon  myself  to  telegraph  in  order  that  your  rela- 
tmns  might  be  acquainted  with  what  had  occurred." 

Xow  the  man  who  died  was  not  Babette's  father, 
'■lit  her  stepfat^ier,  and  his  belongings  absolutely 
111  known  to  the  girl,  but  she  allows  his  family  to 
I'lopt  her  and  lavish  their  affection  and  money 
iqion  her,  quite  unsuspicious  of  the  fact  that  .she 
h;!s  no  claim  either  to  the  one  or  the  other. 

Sir  Hubert  thought  "  It  was  extraordinary  that  I 
■should  be  expecting  a  grown-up  grandchild  whom 
I  liave  never  set  eyos  on,  of  whose  very  existence 
I  have  not  known  till  within  these  last  few  weeks. 
It's  extraordinary  that  Stephen  should  have  been 
a  lather  and  I  never  have  had  a  word  from  him ; 
that  now  he  should  be  dead.     .     .     . 

"Miss  Redstone  came  quickly  into  the  room, 
eager,  and  much  excited. 

■'Dear,  dearest  father,  here  we  are!  I've 
drought  her  with  me.  Here  is  our  little  Babette ! 
Here  is  your  granddaughter,'  she  cried. 

•'Sir  Hubert  came  down  the  steps  of  the  dais, 
holding  out  both  his  hands. 

•'In  the  growing  dusk  lie  could  just  see  a  very 
flight,  black-robed  figure  and  the  gleam  of  fair  hair. 
\ou  are  welcome  to  your  home,  granddaughter," 
-aid  he. 

■'  Babette  said  nothing  whatever." 

Complications  arise  when  Babette's  real  father 
appears  on  the  scene.  He  had  deserted  his  wife 
ulien  the  girl  was  a  child,  and  she,  believing  him 
to  be  dead,  had  married  Stephen  Redstone. 

•'  In  proportion  to  her  gratitude  to  her  stepfather 
had  been  her  contemptous  dislike  for  the  very 
memory  of  her  real  father. 

"  '  I  went  to  Madame  Berne's  boarding-house  on 
:he  day  on  which  you  left  it,'  said  Jet hro  Cole.  'I 
meant  to  claim  you  then,  but  you  had  taken  the 
matter  into  your  own  hands  :  you  had  provided  your- 
self with  a  fine  grandfather  and  a  couple  of  aunts.' 

"  '  Then  if  I  had  waited  I  should  not  have 
•-tarved,'  said  Babette. 

"  Babette  looked  at  her  real  father  standing  be- 
fore her  now.  This  was  no  contemptible  skulker. 
Xo!  If  she  had  waited  for  him  she  need  not  have 
starved." 

Conscience  at  last  compels  her  to  confess  her 
deceit  to  Sir  Hubert,  and  though  he  dies  heart- 
broken with  his  disappointment,  everything  ends 
quite  happily  for  Babette,  which  seems  rather  un- 
fair. 

This  story  cannot  lay  claim  to  distinction,  but 
it  will  be  verv  popular  with   nianv  readers. 

■  H.  rt. 

WOnO  FOR  THE  WEEK. 
.\  diam()n<l.in  the  rough 
Is  a  diainoiul  sure  enough: 
For  although  it  may  not  sparkle, 
It  is  made  of  diamond  stuff. 
Hut  whfn  it's  found  and  when  it's  ^;round 
.\iid  when  it's  burnishe<l  bright, 
That  diamond  everlastingly 
Is  flashing  out  its  light. 


COMING     EVENTS. 

Deccmier  3nd. — Meeting  of  Nursing  Masque  Com- 
mittee.    431,  Oxford  Street,  W.     4.30  p.m. 

Dcccmbtr  2nd. — London  Co-operation  of  Nurses. 
Needlework  Guild  At  Home  and  Show  of  Needle- 
work, Howard  de  Walden  Home,  35,  Langhain 
Street,  3.30  p.m. 

Deccmier  Sid.  —  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital 
Nurses'  League  General  Meeting.  Clinical  Lecture 
Theatre,  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital,  E.C.  3  p.m. 
Social  Gathering,  4  p.m. 

December  3rd. — Executive  Committee  of  the 
League  of  St.  John's  House  Nui-ses.     3  p.m. 

December  6th. — Irish  Nui-ses'  Association.  Lec- 
ture: "Massage  and  its  Use  in  Common  Ail- 
ments," by  T.  DougK'S  Good,  Esq.,  M.D.,  86, 
Lgwer  Leeson  Street,  Dublin,  7.30  p.m. 

December  7th. — Royal  Infirmary,  Edinburgh. 
Lecture  on  "  The  Nursing  of  Neurasthenic  and 
Hysterical  Patients,"  by  Dr.  Edwin  Bramwell.  All 
trained  nurses  cordially  invited.  'Extra-Mural 
Medical  Theatre.     4. .30  p.m. 

December  12th. — Hammersmith  and  Fulham 
District  Nursing  Association.  Miss  Curtis  and  the 
Nurses  At  Home.  Hammersmith  Town  Hall, 
4  to  6.30  p.m. 

December  ISth. — Territorial  Force  Nursing  Ser- 
vice, City  and  County  of  London.  Meeting, 
Grand  Committee,   Mansion  House,  E.G.,  4  p.m. 

December  13th  and  loth. — Central  Midwives' 
Board.  Special  Meetings  to  deal  with  Penal  Cases. 
Caxton  House,  S.W.,  2  p.m. 

December  IGth. — Central  Midwives'  Board  Ex- 
amination. Examination  Hall,  Victoria  Embank- 
ment,  London,   W.C. 

THE    NURSES'   MISSIONARY  LEAGUE. 

The   official     organ    of    the     Nurses'  Missionary 
League  announces  the  following  At  Homes :  — 
At  Homes. 

London:  Miss  Richardson  will  be  "At  Home" 
to  District  and  Private  Nurses,  on  the  second 
\\'ediiesday  in  each  month,  at  .52,  Lower  .Sloane 
Street,  from  2.30 — .5.30  p.m.  There  will  be  a  Bible 
Circle  on  the  Bible  Study  Notes  for  the  previous 
week. 

Nottingham:  Miss  B.  B.  -de  Lasalle  "  At  Home" 
on  the  first  Wednesdays  at  4,  Derby  Terrace,  The 
Park,  3 — -3  p.m. 

Leeds:  ifrs.  Ewing  "At  Home"  on  second 
Thursdays  at  11,  Blenheim  Terrace,  from  3 — 5 
p.m.,    and  6 — 8  p.m. 

Manchester:  Miss  Broadbent  "At  Home"  on 
third  Mondays,  at  Elmhurst,  Victoria  Park,  from 
5 — 6  p.m. 

Glasgow:  Miss  Roberton  "  .A.t  Home"  on  first 
Sundays,  at  2,   Lyne<loch  Place,  from  4. .30 — 6  p.m. 

.Sunderland:  Mrs.  Raw  "  .\t  Home"  oil,  fourth 
Wednesdays  from  October  to  May,  at  12,  Grange 
Crescent  from  3..30— 6  p.m. 

Southampton  :  Mrs.  AVinnington-Ingram  will  be 
"  .\t  Home"  at  Cranbourne,  Winn  Road,  any 
afternoon  during  the  winter,   by  appointment* 

Liverpool:  Mrs.  Bird  "  At  Home"  at  93,  .\run. 
del  .\ venue,  Sefton  Park. 

In  addition  to  these.  Miss  Richardson  will  still 
be  •'  .\t  Home  "  ivcrv  WpdiTWduir  morning  as 
usual. 


462 


Cbe  Brltisb  3ournaI  of  IRursino. 


[Dec.  3,  1910 


Xetteis  to  tbe  Editor. 


^  Whilst  cordially  inviting  com 
munications  upon  all  subi'ecl) 
for  these  columns,  we  wish  t( 
to  be  distinctly  understoon 
that  we  do  not  in  ant  wa? 
hold  ourselves  responsible  for 
the  opinions  expressed  by  our 
correspondents. 


THE  MATRONS'  COUNCIL  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN 
AND  IRf  LAND 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "British  Journal  of  Nursing." 
Dkar  3Iad\m, — I  sliould  be  givatly  obliged  if  you 
would  allon'  aie,  through  the  medium  of  vour  valu- 
able paper,  to  appeal  to  the  members  of  the  Ma- 
trons' Council  t*  be  kind  enough  to  send  me  the 
names  of  any  ladies,  with  whom  the}-  are  ac- 
quainted, who  are  eligible  for  membership,  and 
desire  to  join  us,  but  have  not  received  the  neces- 
sary papere. 

I  am  most  anxious  that  all  who  are  interested  in 
our  aims  and  objects  should  have  an  opportunity 
of  studying  our  bye-laws,  aud  of  joining  us  if 
they  feel  so  inclined,  but  it  would  be  much  easier 
for  me  to  carry  out  my  good  intentions  if  other 
membei-s  would  kindly  siipply  me  with  the  informa- 
tion 1  mention  above. 

I  remain,  dear  Madam, 

Yours  faithfully, 
-  M.  MoLLETT,  Hon.  Sec. 
Boyal  South  Hants  Hospital, 
Southampton. 


NO  SUPERINTENDENT  IN   FUTURE. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 

Dear  Madam, — The  Sutherland  Benefit  Xursing 
Association,  under  the  Presidentship  of  the  Duchess 
of  Sutherland,  has  again  come  into  somewhat  un- 
enviable prominence. 

The  Superintendent  of  Nurses,  Miss  Bremner,  has 
been  dismissed,  and  this,  so  far  as  is  known,  with- 
out any  good  or  sufficient  reason. 

It  wiU  be  remembered  that  in  1904,  when  the 
■then  Superintendent  of  Nurses  resigned,  several  if 
the  oldest  and  leading  members  of  the  Committee 
resign(>rl  office  as  a  protest  against  autocratic  rule 

It  is  the  old  story.  The  poor  have  to  suffer  froni 
muclt  so-called  philanthropy.  The  work  of  midwives 
and  maternity  nurses  in  desolate  and  scattered  Ma- 
tricts,  far  from  medical  and  neighbourly  assistance, 
is  of  great  value,  but  once  an  institution  gets  n 
name  for  injustice  and  changefulness  its  usefulness 
and  influence  is  woefully  lessened.. 

In  the  interests  of  justice  it  is  lioped  that  full 
publicity  will  be  given  to  the  action  of  the  Associa- 
tion in  the  dismissal  of  Miss  Bremner,  who  'las 
worked  with  so  much  zeal  and  energy  in  the  interests 
of  the  Association. 

Yours  truly, 

Faikplay. 

[As  we  reported  last  week,  although  the  nursing 
staff  is  not  thoroughly  trained,  the  Committee  have 
decided  to  abolish  the  office  of  Superintendent  to 
save  expense. — Ed.] 


NURSES    REGISTRATION    BILL. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 

Dear  Madaji, — Nurses  are  indebted  to  you  for 
again  pointing  out  that  the  question  of  State  Re- 
gistration of  Nurses  is  "  primarily  ''  a  nurses' 
rxuestion.  This  aspect  of  the  question  has,  unfor- 
tunately, not  yet  been  fully  realised  in  some  quar- 
ters oil  this  side  the  Bordei-. 

In  a  letter  in  your  columns  of  the  19th  ult.,  Dr. 
Camijbell  Munro  practically  condemns  his  own 
argument  that  a  separate  register  is  essential  to 
the  welfare  of  the  fever  nurse.  After  advocating 
■  a  place  on  the  Register  of  Fever  Nui-ses  carry- 
ing with  it  a  statutory  certificate  given  att«r  a 
training  and  examinations  prescribed  by  a  statu- 
tory body,''  Dr.  Munro  advocates  reciprocal  train- 
ing— a  training  which  would  place  the  fever  nurse 
in  a  position  to  qualify  for  the  General  Register. 

For  the  general  hospital  nur.se,  he  advocates  a 
training  on  a  similar  i)lan,  and  would  have  her 
qualifj'  for  a  place  on  the  Fever  Nurses'  Register. 

But  Dr.  JIunio  does  not  explain  (i>erhaps  it  is 
not  easy  to  explain)  why  in  such  circumstances 
both  a  general  and  a  fever  register  are  necessary ! 

Under  the  Bill  before  Parliament  the  way  is 
left  clear  and  open  to  the  establishment  of  a  full 
or  reciprocal  training.  The  Fever  Nurses"  Associa- 
tion supports  the  Bill,  and,  as  you  say,  many 
Scottish  nurses  suppoi-t  it,  seeing  clearly  the  end 
in  view. 

Yours  faithfully, 

E.  A.  Stevenson, 
Vice-President,  Scottish  Nurses' 
Association. 


Coininents  an&  TRepIies. 

Cottajc  Hospital  Matron. — It  is  advisable  to  have 
all  bottles  for  lotions,  linaments,  pots  for  ointments, 
etc.,  an  entirely  different  shape  from  those  used 
for  medicines  which  are  taken  by  mouth.  A  good 
plan  is  to  have  the  former  made  triangular  in  shape, 
the  danger  of  mistaking  one  for  the  other  is  thus 
reduced  to  a  minimum. 

NOTICE. 

The  British  Journal  of  Norsinq  is  the  official 
organ  of  the  following  important  Nursing  socie- 
ties :  — 

The  International  Council  of  Nurses. 

The  National  Council  of  Trained  Nurses  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland. 

The  Matrons'  Council  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland. 

The  Society  for  the  State  IJegistration  of 
Trained  Nurses. 

The  Registered  Nurses'  Society. 

The  School  Nurses'  League. 


IRoticc. 


OUR  PUZZLE  PRIZE. 
Rules    for    competing    for    the    Pictorial    Pu/./.le  ■ 
Prize  will  be  found  on  Advertisement  page  xii. 


Dec.  3,  1910]     ^|5C  JBuitisb  3ournal  ot  ll^urstno  Supplement.       463 

The    Midwife. 


^bc  dcntral  fII^i^\vivc6  16oar^. 


THE   MONTHLY  MEETING. 

A  meeting  of  the  Central  Michvires'  Board  was 
held  at  the  Board  Koom,  Caxton  House, 
Westminster,  on  Thursday,  November  24th.  Sir 
Francis  Champneys  presided. 

A  letter  was  received  from  the  Clerk  of  the  Coun- 
cil requesting  the  Board  to  furnish  the  Lord 
President  with  statistics  as  to  the  number  and 
distribution  of  certified  midwives  in  the  country,  for 
the  use  of  the  Austro-Hungarian  Ministry  of  the 
Interior. 

Report  of  the  Penal  C.\ses  Committee. 

On  the  recommendation  of  the  Penal  Cases  Com- 
mittee, it  was  decided,  in  connection  with  the  claim 
of  Dr.  A.  F.  Whitwell  for  a  fee  of  £1  Is.  for  in- 
formation given  in  the  case  of  a  certified  midwife, 
that  a  fee  of  one  guinea  be  paid  to  Dr.  Whitwell 
witliout  prejudice  to  the  action  of  the  Board  in  any 
similar  cases  arising  hereafter. 

After  considering  reports  made  at  the  request  of 
the  Board  by  various  Local  Sujiervising  Authorities 
on  the  conduct  of  midwives  previously  censured  or 
cautioned  for  offences  against  the  rules,  the  Board 
decided  that  three  midwives  be  cited  to  appear 
before  the  Board,  and  tiiat  no  further  action  l^e 
taken  in  twelve  cases,  the  reports  being  generally 
satisfactory. 

A  letter  was  reported  from  Dr.  G.  Reid,  County 
Medical  Officer  for  Staffordshire,  reporting  the  con- 
viction at  Cannock  Petty  Sessions  of  a  certified 
midwife  for  disorderly  behaviour.  It  was  agreed  co 
ask  Dr.  Reid  whether  the  Local  Supervising  Autho- 
rity finds  a  prima  facie  case  of  misconduct  or  negli- 
gence to  be  established. 

In  the  case  of  a  certified  midwife  whose  conviction 
at  the  Oxford  City  Petty  Sessions  for  being  drunk 
and  incapable  was  reported  by  the  Inspector 
of  Midwives,  and  in  a  second  in  which  the  Clerk  of 
the  Cornwall  County  Council  forwarded  a  report  bv 
a  Medical  Officer  of  Health  on  a  complaint  lodged  b\- 
a  registered  medical  practitioner  against  a  midwife, 
it  was  decided  to  cite  both  to  appear  before  the 
Board,  subject  to  a  prima  facie  case  being  found  ov 
the  Local  Supervising  Authority  in  each  instance. 

It  was  further  decided  to  cite  28  other  midwives 
to  appear  before  the  Board,  after  consideration  of 
the  charges  alleged  against  them  by  their  respective 
Local  .Supervising  Authorities. 

It  was  decided  that  special  meetings  of  the  Board 
be  held  on  Tuesday,  December  13th,  and  Thursdav, 
December  1.5th,  at  2  p.m.,  for  dealing  with  all  penal 
cases  and  applications  then  ready  for  hearing. 
Report  of  the  Sh.s-ding   Committee. 

On  the  report  of  the  Standing  Committee  a  letter 
was  considered  from  Dr.  Xiven,  iledical  Officer  )f 
Health  for  Manchester,  forwarding  a  copy,  of  a 
Resolution  passed  by  the  Local  Supervising  Autho- 
rity for  that  cily  as  to  the  taking  and  recording  of 


temperature.  It  was  decided  to  inform  Dr.  Nivan 
that  the  matter  will  be  considered  on  the  revision 
of  the  rules  which  is  about  to  take  place. 

A  letter  was  considered  from  the  Birkenhearl 
Medical  Society  suggesting  an  amendment  of  .Sec- 
tion 1  (2)  of  the  Midwives  Act  ,1902,  so' as  to  prevent 
uncertified  women  holding  themselves  out  as 
"emergency"  women  and  practicing  as  midwives 
with  impunity.  It  was  decided  to  inform  the  Society 
that  the  suggestion  will  be  borne  in  mind  should 
opportunity  arise  for  dealing  with  it. 

A  letter  was  considered  from  a  certified  midwife 
suggesting  that  the  Board  should  issue  a  badge  is 
the  distinguishing  mark  of  a  certified  midwife.  It 
was  decided  to  refer  the  question  again  to  the 
Standing  Committee  for  consideration  and  report. 
Applic.\tions  for  Removal  and  Restoration  of 
Names. 

The  applications  of  twelve  certified  midwives  for 
the  removal  of  their  names  from  the  Roll  on  "he 
grounds  of  ill-health,  old  age,  inability  to  compl\' 
with  the  rules,  and  one  on  account  of  her  marriage, 
were  granted,  and  the  Secretary  was  directed  to 
remove  their  names  from  the  Roll  and  cancel  their 
certificates. 

The  Board  granted  the  application  of  Margaret 
Michael  for  the  restoration  of  her  name  aft«r  volun- 
tary removal. 

RE^^sI0N  or  the  Rules. 

The  Board  decided,  in  connection  with  the  revi- 
sion of  the  rules,  that  it  be  referred  to  the  Standing 
Committee  to  revise  the  rules  and  to  report  to  the 
Board  thereon.  That,  with  this  object,  the  various 
Local  Supervising  Authorities  be  invited  to  sug- 
gest amendments. 

Report  on  Bo.\rd's  Work  for  the  Ye.\r  ended 
M.\RCH   31ST.    1910. 

The   Board   considered   and   amended     the    draft 
Report  already  circulated  to  members  of  the  Board,- 
and,  after  having  approved  and  adopted  it,  ordered 
that   it  be  forwarded  to  the   Privy  Council. 
Applications  for  Approval  as  Teacher. 

The  following  ■  applications  for  approval  as 
teacher  were  granted  :  — John  Heuxv  Farlsteiu, 
Esq.,  M.B.,  F.R.C.S. ;  Arthur  Cecil  Devereux, 
Esq.,  M.B.,  F.R.C.S.;  Robert  Henrv  Norgat«, 
Esq.,  M.R.C.S.,  L.R.C.P.;  William  Pinck,  Esq., 
M.B.,  L.R.C.S.  ;  William  Octavius  Pitt,  Esq., 
M.D.;  William  Stuart  Vernon  Stock,  Esq.,  M.B.. 
F.R.C.S.;  Crawford  Smith  Crichton,   Esq.,  M.D. 

Applications    for   Approval   to  Sign  Forms 

III.    AND    IV. 

The  following  applications  for  approval  1o 
sign  Forms  III.  and  IV.  were  granted: — Eveline 
Harriet  Barnes  (No.  266241,  Evelyn  Hessie 
Furminger  (No.  28.3.3.3),  Florence  Mabel  Griffiths 
(No.  26443),  Lilian  Rickraan  (No.  29191), 
Jessie  Williams  (No.  18219),  Jane  Carucf;ie 
AVishart  (No.  2924,3),  Jessie  Flora  Mackintosh  (So. 
28079),  Annie  May  Wilkinson  (No.  24434),  Delia 
Sellay  (No.  9A52),  Sophie  Polsue  (No.  1300). 


464 


?rbc  British  3ournal  ct  iRuvsino  Supplciiiciu.   toec.  3,  mu 


association    for    ipromoting    tbe 
ZTtaiiuiuj  c^  Supply  of  flDi^wives. 

A  meeting  of  the  Council  of  the  above  Associa- 
tion was  held  at  2,  Cromwell  Houses,  23,  Cromwell 
Road,  S.W.,  on  Thursday,  November  24th. 

In  tlie  absence,  through  i>rior  engagements,  of 
the  President  of  the  Council,  H.R.H.  Princess 
Christian  of  Schleswig-Holstein,  Mre.  Samuel 
Bruce,  who  kindly  lent  her  house  tor  the  occa- 
eoin,  occupied  the  cliair. 

Mi-s.  Wallace  Bruce,  Chairman  of  the  Executive 
Committee,  gave  a  short  account  of  the  work  of 
the  Association  during  the  year,  and  referred  in 
particular  to  the  Midwives  (No.  2)  Bill.  Mrs. 
Bruce  --iaid  there  were  two  i>oint.s  upon  which  tlie 
Executive.  Committee  of  the  Association  felt 
strongly — viz..  Clause  12  (1)  (b),  which  would  i>er- 
mit  a  midwife,  qualified  \inder  regulations  of  the 
Local  Government  Board  for  Ireland  to  tx;  entitled 
to  bo  certified 'under  the  principal  Act,  and  to 
practise  in  England;  and  Clause  17,  relating  to  the 
payment  of  doctors'  fees.  In  the  first  case  the  Com- 
mittee considered  that  the  clause  should  be 
omitte<l  entirely,  as  it  does  not  deal  in  any  way 
with  the  regulation  of  midwives'  piiactice  in  Ireland, 
for  which  a  separate  Bill  is  necessary,  while  it  would 
allow  a  second  standaid  of  qualification  for  mid- 
wives  practising  in  this  country,  a  suggestion 
greatly  deprecated  by  this  Association  on  a  former 
occasion,  as  well  as  by  a  large  majority  of  those 
who  gave  evidence  on  this  point  before  the  De- 
partmental Committee  in  1909. 

With  regard  to  Clause  17  Mrs.  Bruce  quoted  tie 
following  resolutions  i>a.ssed  by  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee : — 

"That  all  things  considered  this  Association 
accept  Clause  17  as  a  terajxtrary  measure  wliich 
provides  for  the  payment  of  the  doctor,  but  ex- 
presses no  opinion  as  to  what  authority  should 
ultimately  be  resix)nsible  for  the  }>ayment  of  fees.' 

"  That  satisfactory  assurances  should  be  given,  or 
a  new,  clause  introduced,  to  allow  town  councils  to 
make  use  of  Section  133  of  the  Public  Health  Act, 
1875,  OS  hitherto  done  in  certain  towns." 

Th<we  resolutions  were  put  to  the  meeting  for  con- 
firmation, and  were  carried  nem.  con. 

Aniong.st  othei-  speakere,  Mi.ss  Lucy  Robin.son 
gave  an  account  of  the  training  given  under  tUe 
auspices  of  the  Associati<m  and  of  the  Training 
Homo  at  East  Ham,  with  a  special  plea  for  the 
"cupboard"  which  has  so  frequently  to  pro<luce 
fire,  light,  and  food  where  jxior  mothers  are  siifter- 
ing  for  want  of  tlie  bare  neces-sities  of  life.  Miss 
Lorent  Grant  made  a  financial  statement,  and  Mr. 
F.  E.  Fremantle,  in  a  short  speech,  asked  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Association  to  hear  in  mind  that  they 
wante<l  the  Bill  to  i>a.ss  without  .serious  delay,  and 
not  be-mode  »  i)ivot  or  a  test  ([Uestion  of  1'oor-ly.aw 
rofoi-m.  The  Bill  must  l>e  considered  on  its  own 
merit.s. 

In  conclusion  Lad.v  St.  Davids  gave  a  most  in- 
teresting a<ldress  on  the  organisation  of  district 
nursing  in  South  Wales. 


^bc  amenbiiuj  nDit)Wive5  Bill. 

Sir  Donald  MacAlister,  K.C.B.,  President  of  the 
General  Council  of  Medical  Education  and 
Registration,  in  his  Presidential  Address  at  the 
opening  of  the  ninety-second  session  of  the  Council 
recently  stated  that  the  wish  expressed. hy  the  Irish 
Branch  Council  that  an  effort  should  be  made  for 
the  extension  of  the  Midwives'  Act  to  Ireland  was 
duly  communicated  by  him  to  the  Grovernment. 
He  had  reason  to  believe  that  in  the  Bill  then 
under  the  consideration  of  Parliament  the  Lord 
President  of  the  Council  had  approved  the  intro- 
duction of  provisions  which  would  have  tlie  effect 
of  removing  the  disabilities  of  midwives  trained 
in  Ireland.  It  had  not  been  possible  to  obtain 
assurances  that  an  amendment  would  be  accept- 
able providing  for  the  prohibition  of  midwifery  by 
unqualified  men. 

As  no  uncertified  woman  may  now  practice  mid- 
wifery under  jjenalty,  it  is  hard  upon  many  who 
have  been  in  the  habit  of  attending  their  neigh- 
Ixjurs  for  gain  that  men  can  practise  without  re- 
striction. It  is  still  harder  on  midwives  who  have 
spent  time  and  money  in  obtaining  the  certificate 
of  the  Central  ]\Iid wives'  Board  that  they  should 
have   to  compete    with    unqualified    men. 

We  hope  that  when  the  new  Parliament  assem- 
bles a  means  will  be  found  whether  in  connection 
with  the  Midwiv^'  Act,  or  otherwise,  to  penalise 
the  practice  of  midwifery  by  unqualified  and 
ignorant  men.  If  only  one  sex  is  to  be  disquali- 
fied from  delivering  Ij-ing-in  cases,  without  a  legal 
qualification,  that  sex  .should  not  be  the  female  one. 


a  IReeb^  association. 

Last  week  a  fancy  fair  on  behalf  of  the  Mater- 
nity Nursing  Association,  63,  Myddleton  Square, 
E.C.,  was  opened  by  the  Dowager  Countess  of 
Clanwilliam.  The  Ma.vor  of  Finsbury,  Alderman 
E.  H.  Tripp,  presided  at  the  opening  function, 
and  was  supported  by  Major  M.  Archer-Shee, 
D.S.O.,  M.P.,  and  many  friends  of  the  move- 
ment, as  well  as  by  Miss  Dauney,  Stiperintendent 
of  the  A.ssociation.  A  specially  interesting  stall 
W!u>  that  stocked  with  gifts  from  the  ten  parishes 
ill  which  the  midwives  work.  In  all  550  cases 
liave  been  attended  in  the  past  year,  100  more 
than  last  year.  The  expenses  have  been  £720,  and 
the  income  £151  from  patients'  ft>es,  £240  from 
pupils'  fees,  and  £174  from  subscriptions  and 
donations,  thus  leaving  the  considerable  sum  of 
£1.55  to  be  raised  by  other  means.  .\s  the  Associa- 
tion works  in  a  very  poor  locality  outside  financial 
assistance  is  essential,  and  the  Hon.  Treasurer, 
Mi.ss  Blunt,  5,  Sussex  Mansions,  South  Kensing- 
ton, will  gratefully  receive  subscriptions  and 
donations. 

The  very  inclement  weather  atVected  the  attend- 
ance at  the  fair,  but  all  wlio  were  able  to  be  present 
"ere  greatly  interested.  In  the  evening  were  vari- 
ous (Mnnpetitions,  and  there  were  "side  shows."  A 
vcr\-  pnpiilar  cafe  cliantant  in  the  .Minor  Hall  was 
under   tlu'  direction  of  Mi,-s  Kvelvn  Clifford. 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 
EDITED  BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


No.  1,184. 


SATURDAY,     DECEMBER     lO,     1910. 


BSMtortal. 


THE   CARE   OF    PRISONERS. 

A  more  forcible  example  of  the  need  for 
the  rappointnient  of  trained  Matrons  and 
niirses  in  prisons  could  hardly  be  advanced 
than  that  afforded  by  the  death  of  a  woman 
prisoner  in  the  Oxford  Prison,  which  was 
recently  the  subject  of  an  inquest,  followed 
by  a  question  in  Parliament.  Sir  Francis 
Channingasked  the  HomeSecretary  whether, 
having  regard  to  the  fact  that  it  was  proved 
that  the  death  was  caused  by  a  wardress 
having  applied  to  the  prisoner  undiluted 
carbolic  acid,  and  that  the  wardress  stated 
that  she  was  ignorant  that  carbolic  acid 
was  harmful  and  corrosive,  he  would  either 
direct  a  formal  prosecution  for  manslaughter 
or  take  such  steps  as  would  protect  prisoners 
from  such  treatment,  and  ensure  that  prison 
aiithorities  should  not  allow  wholly  unfit 
and  ignorant  persons  to  be  in  positions 
of  trust  on  the  prison  staff.  Mr.  Churchill 
replied  that  the  accident  was  due  not  to 
tlie  ignorance  of  the  wardress  but  to  the  un- 
fortunate misunderstanding  of  a  message, 
which  led  to  her  being  supplied  with  piu'e 
carbolic  acid  in  mistake  for  carbolic  lotion. 
It  was  clearly  an  accident,  and  there  could 
be  no  prosecution  for  manslaughter.  The 
Prison  Commissioners  were  gi\'ing  insti-uc- 
tions  which  would  make  the  recurrence  of 
such  a  lamentable  event  impossible. 

Two  comments  seem  inevitably  to  follow 
■on  the  Home  Se'^retary's  explanation.  First, 
that  pure  carbolic  is  a  solid  substance  in  the 
form  of  crystals,  needing  to  be  subjected 
to  heat  in  order  to  liquefj^  it ;  and,  secondly, 
that  the  arrangements  in  the  prison  con- 
cerned must  need  revision  if  a  deadly  and 
corrosive*  poison,  such  as  pure  carbolic,  is 
supplied  to  an  untrained  person  on  the 
receipt  of  a  verbal  message.  We  have  from 
time   to   time   urged   the   appointment   of 


S2:iecially  trained  nurses  as  Matrons  of 
prisons,  and  that  warders  and  wardresses 
should  receive  training  in  nursing  to  fit  them 
for  their  responsible  duties.  The  present 
instance  proves  the  justice  of  this  plea. 

Further,  conclusive  proof  of  this  is  afforded 
by  the  presidential  address,  delivered  by  Dr. 
John  I-yell  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
Perth  Branch  of  the  British  Medical  Asso- 
ciation, and  reported  in  the  Supplement  to 
the  British  Medical  Journal.  Dr.  Lyell,  who 
has  had  to  make  a  physical  examination  of 
every  prisoner  who  has  entered  the  Perth 
Penitentiary  during  the  last  six  years — over 
15,000  men  and  women — states  that  a  large 
number  of  the  true  criminal  class  as  met 
with  in  prison,  are  weakly  and  deformed 
and  diseased,  with  constitutions  under- 
mined by  debauchery  and  privation.  He 
enumerates  the  following  diseases  as  usual 
in  the  Perth  Penitentiary  :  "  Deformities  of 
all  descriptions,  the  result  of  accident  and 
disease ;  tuberculous  glands  and  sores ; 
venereal  disease  in  all  its  disgusting  varie- 
ties ;  weaknesses  of  tlie  heart  and  lungs ; 
impaired  digestion  ;  different  forms  of  mal- 
nutrition, such  as  an;emia  and  alcoholic 
cachexia ;  tumours ;  hernias  of  the  most 
aggravated  degree ;  disfiguring  skin  dis- 
eases, and  so  on,  which  mark  out  this  motley 
crowd  as  the  dregs  and  waste  products  of 
humanity,  and  prove  the  close  alliance 
between  gross  physical  disability  and 
crime." 

Surely  these  poor  people  need  the  care 
and  supervision  of  trained  nurses.  There 
is  urgent  need  for  the  formation  of  aNursing 
Department  at  the  Home  Office,  as  at  tlie 
War  Olfice  and  Local  Government  Board 
Office,  to  provide  and  inspect  trained  nurs- 
ing in  prisons. 

Referring  to  the  conclusions  arrived  at 
by  Dr.  Thomson,  first  Resident  Medical 
Officer  of  the  Perth  Prisojt;  Dr.  Lyell  stated 


466 


tTbe  Britisb  3ournaI  of  IRurstng. 


[Dec.  10,  1910 


that  he  taiight  the  lesson  that  crime  is  nearly 
allied  to  insanity.  That  lesson  has  not  been 
lost,  and  "  more  and  more  we  are  coming  to 
see  that  by  making  criminality  a  psycho- 
logical study  we  are  more  likely  to  arrive  at 
a  satisfactory  conclusion  than  by  merely 
looking  at  crime  as  the  work  of  the  devil, 
and  pinning  our  hope  of  salvation  on  the 
penal  code." 

It  is  quite  certain  that  the  conditions  of 
life  in  the  poorer  localities  of  many  large 
towns — the  housing,  poverty,  and  the  mental 
and  jjhysical  degeneration  which  ensue,  pre- 
dispose to  the  manufacture  of  criminals, 
and  that  they  can  only  be  effectively  dealt 
with  by  bringing  medical  science,  and 
hj'gienic  municipal  government,  as  well  as 
the  penal  code,  to  deal  with  the  problem. 


fIDe&ical  fIDatters. 


INFANTILE  BERI-BERI. 
Much  light,  says  the  Lancet,  has  recently 
been  thrown  upon  the  etiology  of  beri-beri  by 
the  researches  of  Dr.  Fraser  and  Dr.  Stanton  in 
the  Federated  Malay  States  and  by  other  in- 
vestigators elsewhere ;  but  a  new  problem  in 
connection  with  this  disease  has  recently  been 
raised  in  a  paper  read  at  the  biennial  meeting 
of  the  Far  Eastern  Association  of  Ti-opical 
Medicine,  and  published  in  a  professional  jour- 
nal in  the  Philippines,  by  Dr.  Allan  .J.  Mc- 
Laughlin, assistant  director  of  health  for  the 
Philippine  Islands,  and  Dr.  Vernon  L.  An- 
drews, assistant  professor  of  bacteriology  and 
pathology  in  the  Philippine  Medical  School. 
These  observers  have  been  making  a  study  of 
the  causes  of  the  excessive  infantile  mortality 
in  ^lanila,  and  their  inquiries  have  led  them  to 
the  conclusion  that  a  large  number  of  infants 
die  from  a  disease  presenting  a  definite  patho- 
logical picture  for  which  they  say  no  better 
name  can  be  given  than  "  moist  beri-beri." 
The  total  deaths  certified  from  this  cause  in 
children  under  one  year  of  age  in  IManila  for  the 
fiscal  year  1908-09  amounted  to  595.  But  this 
does  not,  it  appears,  represent  the  full  mor- 
tality from  the  disease.  Post-mortem  exami- 
nation of  a  number  of  cases  certified  as  due  to 
cx>nvulsions,  bronchitis,  and  broncho-pneu- 
monia demonstrated  that  the  cause  had  been 
wrongly' given  and  that  death  was  due  to 
"  moist  beri-beri."  In  a  series  of  219  necrop- 
sies on  infants  dying  under  one  year  of  age  no 
fewer  than  124  were  found  to  present  the 
characteristic  appearances  of  this  disease.  The 
main  post-mort<.'m  conditions   observed  were  : 


(1)  dilated  and  hypertrophied  right  heart ;  (2) 
congestion  of  all  internal  viscera ;  and  (3) 
anasarca.  The  investigators  did  not  them- 
selves see  the  cases  during  life,  but  were  depen- 
dent on  others  for  the  clinical  histories,  which, 
however,  in  a  number  of  instances  were 
meagre  and  not  always  trustworthy.  The 
symptoms  noted  were  chiefly  dyspnoea  and  car- 
diac embaiTassment  with  general  oedema.  The 
illness  was  said  in  some  cases  to  have  lasted 
only  a  few  hours,  seldom  more  than  two  days, 
but  it  is  possible  tKat  the  ailment  had  existed 
longer  than  this,  perhaps  from  birth.  It  is  a 
ver\-  noteworthy  fact  .that  nearly  all  the  cases 
examined  were  under  two  months  of  Bge.  and, 
what  is  still  more  sui-prising,  they  were  almost 
withour  exception  breast  fed.  It  is  distinctly 
stated  that  in  none  of  the  cases  in  which  a 
necropsy  was  made  was  any  rice  or  other  arti- 
ficial food  found  in  the  baby's  stomach.  In 
nearly  every  instance  the  mothers  themselves 
present-ed  some  symptoms  of  beri-beri,  and  a 
number  of  them  admitted  that  they  had  al- 
ready lost  other  infants  who  had  suffered  from 
a  similar  illness.  The  etiology  of  "  moist  beri- 
beri "  has  not  yet  been  fully  investigated,  but 
there  seems  to  be  some  suggestion  that  a  re- 
lationship exists  between  this  malady  and  the 
poor  quality  of  the  milk  yielded  by  Filipino 
mothers.  This  condition  of  the  mother's  milk, 
which  is  pi-obably  deficient  in  certain  essential 
elements  necessary  for  the  normal  nutrition  of 
the  infant,  is  due  no  doubt  to  the  physical  con- 
dition of  the  native  mother,  who,  as  a  rule, 
lives  in  chronic  poverty  with  consequent  in- 
sufficiency of  proper  food,  more  particularly 
during  the  periods  of  pregnancy  and  lactation. 
Nevertheless,  Dr.  McLaughlin  and  Dr.  An- 
drews say  that  they  cannot  overlook  the  possi- 
bility of  an  ultra-microscopic  organism  being 
concerned  in  the  production  of  the  disease. 
.  .  Some  ten  years  ago  Professor  Hirota, 
of  Tokyo,  described  a  disease  discovered  by 
him  in  infants  brought  to  his  clinique  for  treat- 
ment, and  which  he  named  "  infantile  beri- 
beri." The  native,  medical  practitioners  in 
^Manila  appear  to  have  become  acquainted  with 
the  views  of  the  .Japanese  professor  and  during 
the  past  few  yeai-s  have  been  certifying  deaths 
as  due  to  this  cause. 


SLEEPING   SICKNESS. 

The  Rhodesian  (ioveinnu'iit  is  conferring 
with  the  Sleeping  Sickness  autliorities  with  a 
view  to  the  despatch  at  an  early  date  of  a  now 
Commission  composed  of  experts  to  make  the 
fullest  investigation  on  the  spot  into  the  ques- 
tion of  the  appearance  of  the  disease  in  that 
coimtrv. 


Dec.  10,  1010] 


^bc  Bi'ltisb  3ournal  ot  IHurstnG. 


467 


(Tbc  Decisive  Ibour  ot  Cbriytian 
fIDitJsions. 


ITS  APPEAL   TO    THE    NURSING    PROFESSION. 

IJv  ti.  Basil  Tku  i--..  M.D.,  -M.R.C.P.. 
Physician   to  tlif   London    Missionary  Society. 

One  of  the  most  important  and  striking  of 
the  statements  made  at  the  recent  World  ilis- 
sionary  Conference  held  in  Edinburgh  was  as 
to  the  urgent  need  for  Christians  everywhere 
to  recognise  the  gravity  of  the  present  crisis 
in  missionary  work  abroad.  This  was  the  bur- 
den running  through  that  most  interesting 
report  which  Commission  I.  presented  to  the 
Conference  on  "  Carrying  the  Gospel  to  all  the 
Non-Christian  World,"  and  to  which  I  am  in- 
debted for  many  of  my  facts. 

In  every  battle,  of  any  magnitude,  there 
comes  a  moment  when  the  victory  hangs  in  the 
balance,  foe  has  contended  with  foe,  move  and 
counter-moves  have  been  made,  success  has 
been  first  in  one  direction,  then  in  another, 
disasters  may  have  been  exi^erienced  on  both 
sides,  then  he  is  the  wise  genera!  who  calls 
up  his  reserves  fresh  with  enthusiasm,  and 
undiminished  ardour  and  strength,  to  hurl  at 
the  foe,  and  so  decide  the  issue. 

It  is  true  that  in  the  world's  history  never 
before  has  there  been  such  widespread  effort 
to  carry  the  cross  of  Christ  to  all  lands  and 
unto  all  peoples  and  nations ;  nor  in  the  his- 
toi-y  of  modern  missionary  work  has  there  ever 
been  greater  cause  for  thankfulness  and  rejoic- 
ing at  the  success  attendant  on  such  efforts, 
but  it  is  this  very  success  which  in  part  has 
brought  about  a  condition  in  the  history  of 
nations  so  critical  from  the  point  of  view  of 
progressive  Christianity,  that  those  most  fully 
acquainted  with  missionary"  problems,  and  who 
like  generals,  view  the  conflict  in  all  seriousness 
state  that  the  next  ten  yeare  will  be  the  de- 
cisive hour  of  Christian  Missions.  Opportuni- 
ties are  now  present,  closed  doors  have  been 
thrown  wide  open,  Consei-vatism  has  broken 
down,  the  ancient  races  of  the  world  have  dis- 
covered that  Western  civilisation  has  some- 
thing they  have  not  got,  in  many  cases  ancient 
faiths  are  discarded,  and  a  wilUngness  to  be 
taught  and  anxiety  to  learn  of  the  Christian 
faith  is  apparent  in  many  directions,  where 
hitherto  effoi'ts  at  preaching  the  Evangel  had 
proved  fruitless. 

Let  us  in  imagination  visit  some  of  the  mis- 
sionary outposts  of  the  world,  and,  gather  some 
idea  of  the  success  and  difficulties  of  mis- 
sionary enteq^rise,  and  some  idea  as  to  the  ur- 
gency of  the  crisis. 

*  An  address  delivered  to  the  Nurses'  Missionarv 
League,  November  29th,  1910. 


Ill  Japan  there  are  now  ii, 300  miles  of  rail- 
way throughout  the  Empire,  which  opens  up 
the  whole  country  to  the  missionary,  every 
part  being  now  accessible.  There  is  a  popula- 
tion of  5'2  millions,  of  which  thousands  are 
migrating  to  the  mainland  of  Asia,  many  to 
take  high  posts  of  responsibility  under  the 
Chinese  Government  to  educate  in  Western 
methods  the  Chinese  soldiens  '  and  people. 
Steamshii)  lines  of  Japanese  ownership  run  to 
all  parts,  and  her  people  possess  intellectual 
energy  and  acumen  which  makes  them  suc- 
cessful competitors  with  the  finest  of  European 
intellect. 

At  least  200  more  missionaries  are  needed 
during  the  next  ten  years,  to  in  any  way  meet 
the  exigencies  of  the  situation  there.  China  is 
to-day  taking  lessons  of  Japan,  and  has  4,000 
students  at  Tokio.  .Japan  is  sending  Uterature 
through  China  broadcast,  much  of  it  being 
materialistic  and  irreligious. 

The  call  for  workers,  therefore,  is  urgent, 
for  the  conversion  of  Japan  would  be  the  cap- 
ture of  a  strategic  stronghold,  and  Japan  then 
will  lead  the  Orient — true — but  to  Christ. 

Such  things  are  possible.  Think  of  the  mira- 
cles that  have  been  happening  in  that  little 
country  of  Korea,  now  under  the  sovereignty 
of  .Japan.  Twenty-three  years  ago  seven 
Koreans  met  behind  closed  doors  in  the  city 
of  Seoul  for  the  first  celebration  of  the  Holy 
Communioji  in  Korea.  To-day  the  followers 
of  Jesus  Christ  number  200,000,  and  these 
have  been  praying  and  working  so  that  half  a 
million  may  be  bom  into  the  kingdom  of  God 
this  year  just  elapsing.  The  total  population 
is  thought  to  be  about  12  million,  so  that  the 
wliole  nation  may  with  eii'ort  and  faith  be  won 
within  ten  years. 

The  Korean  is  especially  a  witnessing 
church,  and  has  actually  contributed  £25,000 
annually ;  this-  sum  may  be  multiplied  seven- 
fold to  indicate  its  actual  purchasing  power  in 
that  covmtry.  One  Korean  sold  his  ox,  and 
hitched  himself  to  the  plough,  and  gave  the 
proceeds  of  the  sale  so  that  a  chapel  might  be 
iDuilt.  Women  give  their  rings;  families  con- 
tribute the  "  good  rice  "  and  live  on  millet  so 
as  to  contribute  to  the  supi>ort  of  native  evan- 
gelists. 

Medical  ilission  work  has  been  a  most  valu- 
able agency  in  breaking  down  old  customs  and 
drawing  the  people  under  the  influence  of 
Christianity,  150,000  sick  are  ministered  to 
yearly  by  the  missionary  doctors. 

Here  again  to  do  the  needed  work,  aiSother 
180  missionaries,  men  and  women,  are  needed. 

Now   let  us  visit  that  nation,   the  contem-  , 
porary  of  Egypt  and  Babrfftp,  possessing  even 


46S 


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[Dec.  10,  1910 


then  a  civilisation  and  literature  not  much 
different  from  what  it  was  a  few  years  ago. 

China,  with  its  four  and  a  half  million  square 
miles  (one  twelfth  the  habitable  globe),  and 
433i  millions  of  people,  presents  problems 
almost  appalling  in  their  immensity. 

Ancestor  worship  is  practised  by  nearly  all 
the  Chinese,  amongst  whom  also  the  faiths  of 
Confucianism,  Taoism,  Buddhism,  and  Mo- 
hammedanism hold  sway.  Materialism,  cor- 
ruption in  every  form,  superstition,  and  ignor- 
ance are  everywhere  apparent,  and  with  the 
growth  of  railways  and  commerce  intercourse 
with  the  foreigner  is  nearly  everywhere  prac- 
ticable ;  the  Chinese  are  seeking  teachers, 
and  doctors,  and  are  in  that  mal- 
leable, plastic  state  whereby  the  whole 
future  of  that  great  nation  and  even  of  the 
whole  Orient,  maj"  be  moulded  aright  if  rein- 
forcements adequate  in  number,  quality,  and 
in  regard  to  support  could  only  be  sent  out. 

It  is  worthj'  of  note  here  that  Medical  Mis- 
sions have  been  in  this  country  of  inestimable 
service  to  the  people  as  well  as  in  the  interests 
of  Christianity,  and  have  profoundly  moved 
the  people  in  perhaps  a  way  that  nothing  else 
would. 

Many  consider  that  the  present  force  of  mis- 
sionaries should  be  quadrupled,  and  should  be 
more  equalh'  distributed  throughout  the  Em- 
pire. The  Commission  point  out  that  women 
should  share  largely  in  this  work. 

Perhaps  the  greatest  respc>nsibility  of  Britain 
is  with  regard  to  India.  Think  of  its  popula- 
tion of  nearly  300  million  inhabitants,  covering 
an  area  as  large  as  Europe — excluding  Russia — 
and  divided  up  into  nations  differing  in  race, 
language,  creed,  and  customs.  The  greater 
number  (200  millions)  are  Hindus,  and  bound 
by  the  social  order — caste — which  grips  them 
like  iron,  and  is  the  greatest  obstacle  to  the 
spread  of  Christianity.  Mohammedanism,  too, 
has  a  strong  hold  in  India,  embracing  64  mil- 
lions of  people,  whilst  the  remainder  are  mere 
primitive  hill  tribes  and  peoples,  who  are  pro- 
mising material  on  which  to  work. 

The  multiplicity  of  languages  (147  being  in 
use)  affords  great  difficulties  for  the  distribu- 
tion of  literature  and  provision  of  the  same. 

At  the  present  time  the  dominant  movement 
in  India  is  the  awakenment  to,  and  realisation 
of,  national  life  and  spirit,  and  whilst  unwisely 
guided  and  developed,  the  movement  may  lead 
to  untold  dangers,  it  is  so  far  a  potent  force  in 
the  disT/arding  of  caste,  and  a  preparing  of 
India  for  response  to  Christianity. 

The  Rev.  W.  E.  S.  Holland  well  urges  that 
"It  cannot  but  demand  our  sympathy;  we 
must  frankly  share  the  Indian's  ambition  for 


his  own  people.  In  God's  hands  it  may  be  our 
mightiest  leverage  to  lift  India  to  Jesus 
Christ." 

At  present  the  political  spirit  has  developed 
an  anti-Christian  phase.  Attempts  are  made 
to  prevent  parents  allowing  their  children  to 
enter  mission  schools,  Christian  literature  is 
boycotted,  even  school  books  containing  any 
Christian  thought  or  tendency  are  condemned. 

On  the  other  hand,  there  have  been  mass 
movements  towards  Christianity  in  the  Pun- 
jab, Assam,  and  Khasia  Hills. 

The  Bishop  of  Madras,  speaking  of  the  lower 
classes  of  India,  says  that  at  the  present  time 
there  are  50  millions  of  people  in  India,  ready 
to  receive  the  Gospel  message,  that  if  a 
prompt,  aggressive,  and  adequate  campaign 
were  carried  out,  it  would  be  quite  possible  to 
gather  something  like  30  milhons  of  them  into 
the  Christian  church,  and  furnish  to  the  whole 
people  of  India  a  most  powerful  witness  for  the 
truth  and  power  of  the  Christian  faith.  Though 
undoubtedly  in  cities  like  Calcutta,  there  ap- 
pear to  be  many  missions  and  missionaries, 
even  then  there  are  large  classes  of  the  popu- 
lation untouched  by  the  existing  organisations. 
In  the  larger  districts  the  reports  show  that 
the  mission  staSs  are  everywhere  inadequate ; 
"  there  is  not  a  single  mission  in  any  district 
of  Bengal,"  said  the  Rev.  H.  Anderson,  in 
1902,  "  which  is  not  absolutely  under-manned, 
and  the  process  goes  on  every  year  of  killing  or 
•invafiding  missionaries  on  account  of  over- 
work." There  is  no  doubt  that  Medical  ^fis- 
sions have  been  in  India,  of  the  greatest  possi- 
ble service,  a  practical  exposition  of  Chris- 
tianity, overcoming  suspicion  or  fanaticism. 

Especially  is  this  true  of  Zenana  work, 
where  women  alone  find  entrance. 

The  present  time  is  one  of  boundless  oppor- 
tunity ;  and  the  whole  future  of  India  may 
depend  on  the  faithfulness  of  the  Christian 
Church  to  rise  to  its  great  task. 

The  gi-owth  of  national  sentiment  and  spirit 
is  appaz-ent  and  effective  in  Turkey  more  than 
perhaps  any  other  country  during  recent  years. 

The  centre  of  Islamism  presents  now  oppor- 
tunities for  evangelisation  and  Christian  ac- 
tivity never  before  presented ;  the  work  both 
there  and  in  the  Levant  has  been  trying,  diffi- 
cult beyond  all  question,  but  with  a  larger  de- 
velopment of  medical  missions,  qualified  medi- 
cal men,  and  nurses,  and  dissemination  of  edu- 
cation, great  progress  under  the  blessing  of 
God  should  take  place.  The  great  obstacle  is 
lack  of  suitable  and  well  qualified  men  and 
women  for  the  stations. 

Here  is  another  of  the  many  spheres  where 
woman's  work  as  a  nuree  is  abundantly  repaid, 


10,  1910] 


Cbc  Biltisb  3ournal  of  IHursino. 


469 


not  ouly  as  a  helpful  and  essential  agent  in  re- 
lieving sufifering  and  soitow,  but  in  forwarding 
the  kingdom  of  Heaven. 

The  histoPi"  of  missions  in  Africa  affords  such 
important  themes  that  it  is  scarcely  possible 
Jo  touch  even  on  the  essentials  in  a  sketch 
such  as  this  is. 

To  the  north  Egypt  presents  problems  of  an 
awakened  national  spirit,  crude,  grasping,  and 
unbalanced,  similar  to  the  condition  of  India. 

Islamism  is  spreading  south  and  west,  in- 
vading and  claiming  the  hitherto  Pagan  and 
Aniministic  tribes  of  Nigeria  and  the  Sudan, 
and  further  south  flowing  towards  the  almost 
Christianised  land  of  Uganda.  Reinforcements 
are  lu-gently  needed  not  merely  to  augment  the 
staffs  of  existing  stations,  but  to  open  up  new 
ones,  so  that  Christian  missions  may  spread 
east  and  west,  north  and  south,  to  stem  the 
tide  of  Islam  and  gain  for  Christ  whole  nations 
hitherto  untouched  by  that  faith,  which  in- 
effective to  transform  and  elevate  the  soul, 
condemns  womanhood  to  a  condition  of  despair 
and  degradation. 

Space  will  not  allow  more  than  reference  to 
the  comparatively  untouched  countries  of 
Central  and  South  America,  nor  does  the 
Christian  church  yet  realise  their  vast  extent 
in  population  and  pressing  needs.  Xor  do  we 
yet  realise  the  vastness  of  the  territories  un- 
occupied by  Christian  missionaries. 

With  such  facts  before  us,  does  not  the  task 
seem  too  great,  and  yet  let  us  remember  what 
God  has  accomplished  in  these  more  than  a 
hundred  yeai-s  of  missionary  work,  and  realise 
how  the.  seed  has  germinated  and  grown  and 
increased  a  hundredfold  and  even  a  thousand- 
fold as  the  years  go  by. 

Suflfice  it  for  this  to  be  a  trumpet  call  to 
arms,  to  further  endeavour,  to  greater  sacrifice 
and  devotion. 

You  must  have  recognised  how  important  a 
factor  .Medical  Missions  tiave  proved  in  the  de- 
velopment of  Christian  enterprise,  and  how- 
several  hundreds  of  highly  qualified  medical 
men  and  women  have  devoted  life  and  talents 
to  this  section  of  the  work. 

Will  it  not  sui-prise  you  that,  as  was  pointed 
out  by  your  Secretary,  lliss  H.  Y.  Richardson, 
to  the  Medical  Missionai-y  Conference  in  con- 
nection with  the  World  Missionary  Conference, 
this  year,  that  there  are  ouly  270  British  Mis- 
sionary nurses  as  compared  with  40.5  medical 
missionaries.  In  the  Church  ^lissionary 
Society  they  have,  I  believe,  51  nurses  against 
93  doctors,  the  Ix)ndon  ^Missionary  Society  has 
only  9  qualified  nurses  as  against  38  qualified 
men  and  women,  and  the  proportion  in  other 
societies  is  probably  much  the  same. 


Can  life  hold  out  to  you  better  prospects'' 
True,  the  Missionary  Nurse  may  not  win  pro- 
fessional advancement  of  the  kind  so  sought 
after  at  home,  but  she  will  (if  merited)  have 
positions  of  responsibility  second  to  none.  She 
will  have  to  be  Matron  of  a  hospital,  to  be  the 
pioneer  and  teacher  of  modem  methods  of 
nursing,  to  be  a  Florence  Nightingale  to  some 
dark  region  of  Africa  or  India,  "or  pioneer  of 
nursin.g  to  that  great  Chinese  nation.  She  will 
win  the  gratitude  of  thousands,  for  life  re- 
newed and  darkness  dispelled,  and  by  devoting 
her  life  and  gifts  to  the  Shepherd  of  all,  will 
truly  and  fully  realise  the  highest  ideals  for  her- 
self, and  satisfy  those  inner  depths  which  re- 
main so  often  starved  and  hungi-y  amid  the 
race  of  competition  so  inseparable  from  modem 
life. 

There  are  bleeding  sores  of  the  world  yet  un- 
tended,  and  it  is  for  consecrated  lives  to  go  and 
bind  these  wounds. 


Zl)c  "Rursing  flDasquc. 

As  so  many  of  the  affiliated  Societies  are 
taking  part  in  the  Registration  Reunion,  which 
is  to  take  place  on  February  18th,  we  are 
pleased  to  announce  that  the  Nursing  Masque 
will  be  pi-esented  under  the  authority  of  the 
National  Council  of  Nurses  of  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Preliminary  Com- 
mitt.ee  held  at  431,  Oxford  Street,  on  Friday, 
December  ■2nd,  good  progress  was  made  with 
the  details  of  the  organisation  of  the  Nursing 
Masque.  ilrs.  Fenwick  reported  arrange- 
ments made  in  connection  with  the  dressing 
of  the  Procession,  which  were  approved;  aL-o 
that  Miss  F.  Sleigh,  late  Sister  President,  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital,  had  kindly  placed 
her  incomparable  needle  at  the  disposal  of  the 
Committee.  It  was  agreed  that  each  section 
should  be  carried  out  in  detail  by  a  sub-com- 
mittee, and  ladies  were  appointed  for  this  pur- 
pose. It  is  recognised  that  in  the  Procession 
of  Mortals,  Section  1  (Saintly  Women  and  the 
Nursing  Orders)  and  No.  3  (Nursing  and  the 
Community)  will  require  much  considera- 
tion. No.  1  will  be  an-anged  by  Mrs.  Fenwick 
and  ^Irs.  Slniter.  and  No.  3  by  Miss  Cox- 
Davies.  Miss  Amy  Hughes,  ^Miss  Mussou.  !Miss 
Barton,  and  ilrs.  Spencer,  with  Miss  Cox- 
Davies  as  convener. 

Section  2  (The  Nursing  Cunicula  for  Nurses 
and  ilatrons)  is  in  the  hands  of  the  Matrons' 
Council.  Section  4  will  be  carried  out  bj  Miss 
Breay,  and  as  5  and  6  present  few  difficulties 
twi>  Petitioneis  were  nominated.  In  Section  3 
there   will  be  the   following  sub-sections: — 1, 


470 


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[Dec.  10,  1910 


Hospital  Nui-sing,  General  and  Special;  2, 
JMafcemity  Nulling;  3,  Social  Service  Nursing; 
4,  Nursing  in  the  Home  (Private  Nursing);  5, 
Missionary  Nui-sing;  6,  The  State  Nursing 
Services. 

The  Eegistration  Reunion,  at  which  this 
Masque  will  be  presented,  will  be  a  great  op- 
poi-tunity  for  those  who  have  been  working  for 
years  for  the  organisation  of  Nursing  by  the 
State  to  show  the  strength  of  the  movement. 
Seven  hundred  tickets  will  be  on  sale,  and  we 
anticipate  that  by  the  IBtb  of  February  next 
nnt  one  ticl-ct  icill  remain  unsold. 

A  limited  number  of  reserved  seats  will  cost 
10s.  6d.  and  7s.  6d. ;  tickets  will  be  5s.  and 
3s.  6d.  for  nurses,  and  2s.  6d.  for  those  taking 
part  in  the  pageant. 

The  Eeception  will  begin  at  8.30.  The 
Masque  will  be  presented  at  9  p.m.,  and  there 
will  be  music  and  refreshments. 

We  want  Members  of  Parliament  to  come 
and  see  for  themselves  the  wonderful  women 
our  Matrons  and  nurses  are,  to  see  something 
of  the  history  of  their  great  and  indispensable 
work  for  the  community,  'through  the  past  ages 
until  the  present  day,  and,  having  seen,  to 
sympathise  with  their  aspirations  for  the 
development  of  trained  nursing  in  the  future. 

Members  of  the  Organising  Committee  will 
be  at  the  office,  431.  Oxford  Street,  London, 
W.,  from  11.30  to  7,  on  Friday,  9th,  and  Thurs- 
day, loth  December,  and  will  be  pleased  to 
t^ee  Matrons,  Sisters,  and  Nurses,  who  would 
hke  to  take  part  in  the  Processions,  and  who 
wish  for  information  concerning  the  Eeunion. 


Zbc  3ri5b  IHurses'  association. 

On  Tuesday,  Nov.  29th,  the  members  of  the 
Irish'  Nurses'  Association  met  at  their 
Rooms  in  86,  Lower  Leeson  Street, 
Dublin,  for  the  purpose  of  listening 
to    a     lecture     by     Dr.    T.    O.    Graham     on 

Some  points  of  interest  in  Throat,  Nose,  and 
Ear."  In  place  of  a  "  Lecture,"  Dr.  Graham 
gave  a  most  interesting  "  Demonstration  "  on 
Throat  and  Eye.  He  brought  models  of  those 
parts,  and  most  clearly  demonstrated  the  con- 
struction of  both  throat  and  eye,  and  how 
disea-se  or  infection  attacked  the  part  and  was 
can-ied  through  the  system.  Thei-e  was  a  very 
large  attendance,  and  the  members  showed 
their  keen  interest  by  asking  many  questions 
at  the  end,  to  which  Dr.  Graham  most  eour- 
teoiisly  replied.  Mrs.  Kildare  Treacy,  Hon. 
Sec,  Irish  Nurses'  Associntioii,  presided.  Dr. 
Graham  has  kindly  promised  to  give  a  de- 
monstration on  the  Ear  and  Nose  in  the  spring. 


XcaQuc  IRews. 

THE  LEAGUE  OF  ST.  BARTHOLOMEW'S 
HOSPITAL  NURSES. 

A  General  Meeting  of  the  League  of  St.  Bar- 
tholomew's Hospital  Nurses  was  held  in  the 
Clinical  Theatre  on  Saturday,  December  Brd, 
The  President,  Miss  Cox-Davies,  was  in  the 
cha'r,  and  the  members  rallied  in  force.  Never 
has  there  been  a  larger  meeting.  The  minutes 
of  the  last  General  Meeting  were  read  by  the 
Hon.  Secretary,  Mrs.  Andrews.  On  the 
minute  which  recorded  that  the  League  had 
made  itself  responsible  for  a  scholarship  of 
£160  for  the  scholastic  year,  to  send  a  member 
to  take  the  Hospital  Economics  Coui'se  at 
Teachers' College,  ColurabiaUniversity,  U.S.A., 
as  a  memorial  to  its  founder  and  first  President, 
Miss  Isla  Stewart,  the  President  said  it  had 
been  a  great  satisfaction  to  the  League  to  do 
something  at  that  particular  moment.  She 
personally  could  think  of  no  form  of  memorial 
more  nearly  after  Miss  Stewart's  own  heart 
than  that  one  of  her  own  nui'ses  should  parti- 
cipate in  this  advance  movement. 

The  next  business  was  to  elect  a  Vice-Presi- 
dent, and  the  Executive  nominated  Miss 
Cutler. 

The  President  said  that  Miss  Cutler  had 
b&en  a  great  deal  to  the  hospital  in  a  time  of 
trouble,  and  a  help  to  all.  It  would  be  a  real 
pleasure  to  have  her  as  a  Vice-President,  and 
many  letters  had  been  received  expressing 
gratification  at  the  nomination.  Miss  Cut- 
ler's election  was  then  formally  proposed 
by  Miss  Finch,  Matron  of  University  College 
Hospital,  seconded  by  Miss  ]\Iusson,  Matron 
of  the  General  Hospital,  Birmingham,  and 
carried  with  acclamation. 

Miss  Cutler,  who  was  present,  accepted 
office,  saying  that  she  vers'  much  appreciated 
the  honour,  and  that  it  would  be  a  pleasure 
to  her  to  serve  the  League  to  the  best  of 
her  ability. 

Statements  were  then  received  from  Miss 
Whitley  as  to  tlie  Nurses'  Home  Fund,  and 
Mrs.  Andii  \vs  as  to  the  Isla  Stewart  Scholar- 
ship Fund. 

In  regard  to  the  €500  in  hand  for  the  foimer 
Fund,  it  was  doi-ided  on  the  proposition  of  Mies 
Musson,  seconded  by  Mrs.  de  Segundo,  that 
Miss  Whitley  should  continue  to  hold  it  on  be- 
half of  the  League. 

Mi-s.  Andrews  reported  that  €141  of  the  £160 
required  for  the  Isla  St-ewart  sdiolar  had  al- 
ready been  subscribed.  She  read  a  lett'Or  from 
Miss  Rundle,  giving  a  most  interesting  ac- 
coimt  of  her  \Aork  in  New  York. 

Mi-s.  Fenwick  reported  that  the  National 
Council  of  Nui-ses  had   inaugurated    the    Isla 


Dec.  10,  1910] 


Z\K  36vitisl)  3oiirnal  of  li^ursiiuj. 


btowart  Oration,  to  be  iltlivt-red  auuually  in 
houour  of  their  dear  colleague. 

The  members  present  were  evidently  very 
anxious  that  a  scheme  for  a  permanent  memo- 
rial to  Miss  Stewart  should  be  formulated,  and 
the  President,  after  some  discussion,  promised 
to  place  the  suggested  schemes  before  the 
members  in  the  fortiicouiing  League  Journal, 
and  ask  for  expressions  of  opinion: 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  meeting,  tea  was 
served  in  the  Nurses'  Home. 

iWurses'  lEmplo^ment  acjcncics. 

On  -..lid  after  the  tirst  day  of  .Jimuary,  1911, 
the  London  County  •Council  General  Powers 
Act,  1910,  decrees  that  "  no  person  shall  carry 
on  an  employment  agency  without  a  licence 
from  the  Licensing  Authority,  authorising  him 
to  do  so. "  It  thus  follows  that  for  the  first  time 
all  persons  cari-yiug  on  a  private  nursing  busi- 
ness, that  is,  acting  as  an  agent  to  jirovide 
mu'ses  to  the  public  for  gain  in  the  metropolis, 
will  come  under  the  provisions  of  this  Act,  in- 
cluding charitable  institutions  like  hospitals, 
and  nursmg  homes  and  institutions,  including 
co-operations  of  niu'set^. 

It  will  be  necessai-j-,  therefore,  for  a  person 
carrj-iug  on  a  nursing  agency  to  make  applica- 
tion in  writing  to  the  Licensing  Authority  un- 
der his  own  name,  and  state  the  nature 
of  the  work  and  the  address  at  which 
he  carries  on  the  business  within  one  month 
after  the  Licensing  Authority  shall  have  given 
public  notice  of  the  effect  of  the  provisions  of 
the  part  of  the  Act  concerning  Employment 
Agencies. 

The  Authority  has  power  to  refuse  to  grant 
or  renew  a  licence  to  any  person  under  the 
age  of  21,  or  upon  the  ground  that  the  appli- 
cant is  an  unsuitable  person  to  hold  such 
licence,  or  that  the  premises  on  which  it  is 
proposed  to  cari-^-  on  the  employment  agency 
are  unsuitable  for  the  purpose,  or  that  an  em- 
ployment agency  has  been  or  is  being  impro- 
perly conducted  by  an  applicant. 

The  fees  to  be  charged  for  licences  are  as 
follows':  — 

One  guinea  annually  by  agencies  established 
for  five  years  before  the  commencement  of  the 
Act,  and  two  guineas  by  a  newly  established 
agency. 

By-laivs   as  to    Employment  Agencies. 

(1)  The  Licensing  Authority  may  make  by- 
laws requiring  persons  holding  licences  to  keep 
either  books,  cards,  or  forms,  showing  the 
business  conducted  by  such  persons  so  far  as  it 
relates  to  their  employment  agencies,  and  for 
prescribing  entries  to  be  made  in  conuectioB 


with     SUcil      busillL•^^      111     MirlL       lli^lii.-,,     C^uds,      Ul 

forms,  for  the  prevention  of  fraud  and  im- 
morality in  the  conduct  of  agencies,  and  for 
regulating  any  premises  used  for  the  purposes 
of  or  in  connection  therewith. 

Every  person  holding  a  licence  shall  keep  ex- 
hibited in  a  suitable  place  in  the  premises  a 
copy  of  the  bye-laws  made  by. the  Licensing 
Authority. 

Any  officer  duly  authorised  by  the  Licensing 
Authority  on  its  behalf  may  at  all  reasonable 
times  enter  the  premises  specified  in  any 
licence  .  .  .  and  inspect  such  premises 
and  the  entries  required  to  be  made  in  the 
books,  cards,  or  forms  kept  by  such  persons. 
Any  person  who  breaks  these  laws  shall  be 
liable  to  summary  conviction  in  respect  of  any 
ofi'ence  under  paragraph  (1)  ....  to  a 
penalty  not  exceeding  fifty  pounds,  and  to  a 
daily  penalty  not  exceeding  twenty  pounds, 
and  to  lesser  fines,  or,  in  lieu  of  a  penalty,  may 
have  their  licence  revoked. 

From  this  brief  summary  of  the 
clauses  of  the  Act  it  may  be  gathered 
that  for  the  future  all  those  respon- 
sible for  supplying  nurses  will  have  to  conform 
to  an  inquisitorial  if  useful  Act,  and  it  will  be 
well  for  all  those  who  intend  to  carry  on  such, 
a  business  to  obtain  a  copy  of  the  Act  and 
study  carefully  Part  V.,  which  refers  to  em- 
ployment agencies. 

We  have  no  doubt  when  in  working  order  the 
Act  will  be  found  useful,  although  no  doubt 
it  will  be  very  unpopular  with  such  persons  as 
would  have  claimed  exemption  for  charit- 
able institutions.  It  will  once  and  for  all  place 
Private  Nursing  Departments  of  hospitals  on 
a  fii-m  business  footing,  as  they  should  be,  and 
remove  them  from  the  pseudo  charitable  atmo- 
sphere which  has  hitherto  enveloped  them. 

It  will  be  interesting  to  see  who  will  act  as 
agent  of  these'businesses,  tlie  Chainnan  or  Ma- 
tron of  the  hospital.  In  our  opinion  the  Com- 
mittee should  hold  itself  responsible  for  any 
business  carried  on  for  the  financial  benefit  of 
the  institution,  the  Chairman  for  the  time 
being,  and  not  a  paid  official,  being  the  agent. 

One  other  inevitable  reflection  results  from 
perusing  this  Act.  Here  is  a  new  law,  finan- 
cially and  personally  affecting  thousands  of 
women,  quietly  passed,  concerning  which 
they  have  never  been  consulted,  nor  in- 
deed have  they  any  power  to  influence  its  pro- 
visions, as  they  possess  no  vote,  and  thus  do 
not  exist  politically  I 

This  fact  should  bring  home  to  Trained 
Nurses  the  imperative  need  of  enfranchise- 
ment, and  their  duty  as  working  women  to  in- 
sist upon  their  leeal  statn«".,os  human  l)pi!i::s 


47-2 


^bc  Bvitisb  Journal  of  IRursing. 


[Dec.  10,  1910 


^be  1Re*3itcarnation  of  Saiv^ 
(Bainp. 

By  Beatrice  Kent. 
[Concluded  frnm  page  451.] 

Late  the  following  afternoon,  when  Nurse 
Dale  was  drawing  the  curtains  across  the  win- 
dow to  shut  out  the  night,  she  saw  a  cab  draw 
up  to  the  door.  Her  curiosity  was  quickened. 
Conjecture  was  unnecessary.  Someone  large 
and  ponderous  had  just  stepped  out,  and  was 
standing  on  the  pavement  surrounded  by  band- 
boxes and  bundles  I  Next  she  heard  the  slat- 
ternly maid  greeting  her  effusively  as  "  Mrs. 
Little."  Now  she  was  heavih"  ascending  the 
stairs,  then  the  door  was  thrown  open,  and  a 
woman  of  a  very  large  pattern  precipitated  her- 
self into  the  room,  panting  and  putfing,  and 
exclaiming  that  the  stairs  had  "took"  her 
breath  away.  A  disturbing  element  in  the 
midst  of  peace!  This  large  person  with  the 
ironical  name  was  aiTayed  in  a  black  stuff  gown 
and  black  velvet  "  dolman  " — a  strange  gar- 
ment in  fashion  about  30  years  ago — a  bonnet 
heavily  trimmed  with  nodding  black  plumes, 
and  a  large  red  rose.  lu  one  of  her  large  coarse 
hands,  the  nails  of  which  were  in  mourning, 
she  can-ied  a  pair  of  black  cotton  gloves. 

The  size,  personal  appearance,  and  costume 
of  the  new  arrival  were  the  very  antithesis  of 
the  neat  little  figure  in  spotless  cotton  uniform 
who  stood  beside  her,  and  Nurse  Dale  saw  a 
smile  flit  over  the  face  of  her  patient  as  her 
eyes  glanced  from  one  to  the  other.  Nurse 
Dale  herself  stood  as  though  spellbound ;  her 
eyes  danced  with  merriment,  she  fully  appre- 
ciated the  humour  of  the  situation.  Here  was 
the  history  of  nursing  epitomised.  A  tableau 
vivant  of  the  old  style  and  the  new.  Evolution 
and  devolution.  An  excellent  example  of 
moral  atavism ! 

■'  Well,  me  dear,  how  are  you?  "  she  asked, 
depositing  a  gamp-like  umbrella  and  a  band- 
box on  a  chair. 

"I  am  doing  very  well,  thank  you;  Nurse 
Dale  is  taking  good  care  of  me." 

The  apparition  fixed  her  rival  with  a  sus- 
picious eye. 

"Well,  now  I  -have  come,  we  need  not 
trouble  her  any  longer." 

"  But — are  you  able  to  leave  your  patient '?  " 
"Oh,  yes;  she  is  doing  beautiful." 
"  When  vi^as  she  confined?  " 
"Yesterday,  at  about  this  time." 
"  But — who  have  you  left  with  her?  " 
"Nobody;  she   don't,  want  nobody;  she   is 
doing  wonderful  well." 


Mrs.  Weakling  looked  appealiugly  at  Nurse 
Dale.  '  Don't  leave  me  '  is  what  the  latter 
clearly  read  in  her  eyes.  Aloud  she  said,  "  It 
seems  a  pity  that  you  should  leave  her  so  soon. 
If  you  like  to  return  to  her.  Nurse  Dale  will 
stay  with  me ;  I  am  sure  your  patient  will  be 
glad  to  have  you  back." 

"  I've  seen  you  through  your  trouble  with 
all  your  other  children,  and  I  ain't  agoin'  to 
give  you  up  to  a  stranger  with  this  one,  beg- 
ging your  pardon.  Miss,"  turning  to  Nurse 
Dale." 

Against  this  there  was  no  appeal,  and  ilrs. 
Weakhng,  with  disappointment  plainly  written 
on  her  face,  quietly  resigned  herself  to  the  in- 
evitable. This  did  not  effect  the  obtuse  Mrs. 
Little,  who  began  to  unrobe.  She  divested 
herself  of  the  ancient  velvet  "  dolman,"  and 
the  bonnet  with  nodding  plumes,  and  so, 
silently  proclaiming  her  intention  of  remaining, 
she  took  the  field. 

The  baby,  who  was  lying  in  her  cot  in  the 
adjoining  room,  woke  up  and  began  to  cry. 

Nurse  Dale  took  her  up  and  sat  down  hy  tho 
fire  with  her  on  her  knees. 

;Mrs.  Little  followed  her  in,  and  looking  at 
the  tiny  creature,  she  exclaimed,  "  Pore  little 
thing,  she  wants  a  drop  o'  brandy." 

"  Brandy  I  What  for?  There  is  nothing 
wrong  with  her." 

"  Ah,  but  it  does  'em  good,"  and  she  shook 
her  head  as  though  this  healthy  infant  were  in 
extremis  I 

The  humour  of  the  situation  had  changed  to' 
one  of  seriousness.  Nurse  Dale  knit  her  brow. 
Clearly  the  house  could  not  hold  Sairy  Gamp 
and  herself  at  the  same  time.  She  must  sur- 
render the  field  to  her  rival. 

A  few  days  later  she  called  to  inquire  for  the 
mother  and  babe,  a  kindly  attention,  not  un- 
mixed, I  fancy,  with  a  little  of  the  alloy  of 
curiosity  I  She  called  late  in  the  morning. 
The  baby  was  unwashed,  and  smelling  of  sour 
milk  and  brandy  ! 

"  How  is  the  baby?  "  she  inquired  of  Sairy. 

"  She's  better." 

"Better I  she  was  quite  well  when  I  left 
her." 

"  She  took  a  turn  for  the  better,"  persisted 
the  other,  "  as  soon  as  I  gives  'er  a  drop  o' 
brandy;  I  always  does  it."  She  looked  with 
complacency  upon  the  damage  she  had 
wrought. 

There  was  a  change  in  the  baby,  certainly, 
not  for  tiie  better  but  for  the  worse ;  the  little 
face  was  white,  and  she  lay  curiously  still  in 
her  cot. 

The  blood  of  Nurse  Dale  boiled  in  her  veins. 
Here  was  a  clear  explanation  of  the  reason  why 


Dec.  10,  1910] 


4I)C  British  3oiunal  of  IRursing. 


473 


tlie  luckless  infants  of  Mre.  Weakling,  mulrr 
the  treatment  of  this  ignoramus,  slept  all  night 
without  waking.  Drugged  infants  will,  of 
course,  sleep  soundly.  Small  wonder  that  all 
the  other  children  looked  white  and  unhealthy. 
The  eldest  was  an  idiot  I  The  causes  are  un- 
known, but  who  shall  say  that  this  woman  did 
not  contribute  to  them  in  some  measure. 
At  any  rate,  she  may  be  justh-  impeached  with 
the  crime  of  damaging  the  tender  life  of  in- 
fancy. 

Nurse  Dale  left  the  house  sickened  and 
angry,  pondei-ing  over  the  cnielty  and  power 
of  ignorance.  Mrs.  Weakling  lay  in  her  bed 
content  to  have  it  so. 


IHurscs'  (Io*Qpcvation  '  at*Tl50iiic.' 


IPcrsonal  IRulcs  for  2)i5ti*(ct 
1Huv5e&. 

Writing  in  the  Queen's  Xurses'  Magazine  Miss  M. 
Loane  gives  the  following  notes  for  district  nurses : 

1.  Spare  no  pains  to  make  the  first  visit  to  a 
patient  a  successful  one.  Encourage  the  friends  to 
talk  freely,  and  never  ridicule  or  ignore  their 
attempts  to  describe  the  course  of  the  disease.  If 
they  hesitate  for  a   word,  supply  it. 

2.  Never  be  the  first  to  speak  of  religion.  The 
nurse's  religion  must  be  shown  by  acts,  not  words. 

3.  Avoid  speaking  of  politics  or  any  controversial 
matters. 

i.  Make  a  point  of  learning  as  soon  as  possible 
the  names,  addresses,  and  occupation  of  all  rela- 
tives of  your  patients  who  are  living  in  the  same 
town.  This  simple  precaution  may  save  many 
awkward  complications. 

•5.  Never  repeat  what  you  hear,  or  describe  what 
you  see  or  do,  or  carry  information  of  any  kind 
from  one  house  to  another.  Even  the  very  persons 
who  try  to  cross-question  you  will  gratefully  appre- 
ciate this  honourable  reticence.  The  fear  that 
their  private  affairs  will  become  known  to  all  their 
neghbours  is  often  the  reason  why  the  self-respect- 
ing poor  are  unwilling  to  admit  a  district  nurse. 

6.  If  obliged  to  refuse  a  request,  never  do  it  in 
a  peremptory  manner,  but  with  a  gracious 
reluctance. 

7.  Always  give  the  doctors  your  loyal  support. 
Wlien  questioned  by  patients  or  their  friends  as  to 
your  opinion  of  any  doctor,  say  that  he  under- 
stands the  case  fully  and  is  doing  all  thr.t  can  be 
done.  Try  to  encourage  the  belief  that  for  all 
ordinary  work  one  doctor  is  quite  as  good  as 
another,  and  that  when  there  is  anything  unusual 
in  a  case,  the  doctor  will  be  the  first  person  to 
suggest  consulting  a  specialist. 

8.  Be  on  friendly  terms  with  the  ministers  of 
every  form  of  faith,  with  church  workers,  district 
visitors,  and  all  who  are  trying,  in  whatever 
measure  or  degree,  to  benefit  the  poor. 

9.  Co-operate  with  the  Relieving  Officer,  the 
School  Board  Visitor,  and  the  Sanitary.  Inspector. 

10.  Receive  courteously  everyone  who  comes  to 
see  you.  Never  make  an  enemy  for  yourself  or  the 
Association. 


The  Xnrses'  Co-operation  were  At  Home  at 
35,  Langham  Street,  W.,  on  Friday,  Decem- 
ber •2nd,  when  the  annual  exhibition  of  the 
Nurses'  Needlework  Guild  was  on  view  in  the 
Club  Eoom.  Always  a  most  interesting  show, 
the  number  of  articles  exhibited  exceeded  that 
of  last  year  by  235,  a  result  upon  which  Miss 
Laura  Baker,  Sister-in-Charge  of  the  Home 
and  Hon.  Secretary,  is  warmly  to  be  congratu- 
lated. In  all  there  were  875  articles,  all  most 
welcome  to  patients  leaving  the  care  and  com- 
fort of  a  hospital  to  return  to  poverty-stricken 
homes.  There  w-ere  new  boots  and  shoes — 
always  so  sorely  needed  and  difficult  to  obtain 
— warm  suits  for  boys,  men's  drawers  and 
vests,  shirts  in  stacks— which,  by  the  bye,  a 
member,  a  private  nui-se,  rose  an  hour  earlier 
every  morning  to  make — warm  flannel, 
woollen,  and  knitted  petticoats,  hug-me-tights, 
cardigans,  scarves,  and  a  whole  stand  devoted 
to  the  babies,  with  warm  and  dainty  frocks, 
hoods,  and  everything  that  the  heart  of  mother 
could  desii-e  for  her  bairns.  Miss  Gethen,  Miss 
Baker,  and  many  of  the  staff  wei-e  kept  busy 
displaying  the  treasures  to  the  constant  stream 
of  visitors,  some  200  in  all. 

The  restaurant  was  fully  equal  to  providing 
the  dajnty  tea  which  is  always  most  hospitably 
dispensed  on  these  occasions. 

When  the  work  of  packing  up  began,  the 
great  piles  of  garments  rapidly  disappeared,  to 
appear  again  eventually  in  the  store  cupboards 
of  the  following  hospitals : — The  London,  50 ; 
Guy's,  55;  St.  Clary's,  50;  University  College 
Hospital,  55;  Royal  Free,  50;  Brompton  Hos- 
pital for  Consumption,  50 ;  the  West  London, 
50;  West  Ham,  50;  Prince  of  Wales's  Hospi- 
tal, Tottenham,  55;  Central  London  Sick 
Asylum,  55;  East  End  Mothers'  Home,  50; 
St.  .John's  Hospital,  Lewisham,  50;  the  Metro- 
politan Hospital,  50;  Nazareth  House,  55;  the 
British  Lying-in  Hospital,  50;  Clapham  Mater- 
nity Hospital,  50;  and  the  Children's  Con- 
valescent Home,  Broadstairs,  50.  And  all  this 
as  the  result  of  a  Society  with  a  sixpenny  sub- 
scription, the  membere  of  which  undertake 
to  make  at  least  one  garment  annually.  The 
members  are  all  nurses,  but  associat«s  are  wel- 
come also,  and  they  pay  a  shilling  annually, 
and  provide  two  garments.  The  money  in  hand 
when  exj)enses  are  paid  is  expended  in  boots, 
and  boys'  suits,  and  gifts  for  this  purpose  are 
most  welcome.  We  hope  that  the  Cbristmas 
of  these  busy  workers  will  be  the  happier  for 
the  happiness  they  will  bring  into  the  homes 
of  the  poor.  _ 


474 


fTbe  "SQvitisb  3oiu*nal  ot  IRurstng. 


[Dec.  10,  1910 


practical  points. 


appointments. 


The  Pulsograph. 


We  give  an  illustration  of  a 
new  patent  watch  called  the 
"  Pulsograph,"  which  is  an 
ideal  watch  for  a  nurse.  It  is  of  the  highest  grade, 
and  is  manufactured  with  the  finest  materials  and 
best  workmanship. 

It  registers  the  pulse  with  mathematical  preci- 
sion, does  away  with  all  calculations  hitherto  in 
use,  and  relieves  the 
observer  from  the 
necessity  of  keeping 
her  eye  on  the  watch. 
It  is  used  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner,  start 
the  long  second  hand 
by  pressing  the  crown 
instantly  a  pulsation  is  felt.  Count  20  pulsations, 
and  stop  the  hand  by  a  similar  pressure  of  the 
crown,  the  long  hand  will  then  point  to  the  figure 
which  indicates  the  exact  numl>er  of  pulsations  per 
minute,  a  third  'pressure  of  the  crowu  brings  the 
hand  back  to  the  starting  point. 

It  is  very  moderate  in  price,  and  can  be  obtained 
from  the  sole  agents,  Arnold  and  Sons,  of  West 
Smithfield,  London,   E.C.     . 

Those  who  desire  to  make  a  useful  and  acceptable 
Christmas  present  to  a  nurse  cannot  do  letter  than 
inspect  this  useful  novelty. 


Laughter    in 
Nursing. 


Dr.       Caroline      A.      Watt 

writes  in  the  Moihcrs'  Maga- 

r.'nir      that      the      lato      Dr. 

Nicholas     Senn     believed     in 

making  sick  folks   laugh,   and   sometimes   ordered 

his  nurses  to  see  that  their  patients  laughed  three 

or  four  times  a  day. 

He  expected  the  order  to  be  carried  out  just  as 
faithfully  as  if  he  had  ordered  strychnine  or  nitro- 
glycerine. 

Laughter  is  a  pTiysical  as  well  as  a  mental  tonic. 
This  is  especially  true  in  nervous  cases. 

In  order  to  make  the  sick  one  laugh,  the  nurse 
must  say  or  do  something  laughable. 

Most  people  find  it  hard  to  remeral)er  jokes,  and 
a  nurse  is  apt  to  forget  them  quickly  because  of 
the  seriousness  of  her  work. 

One  nurse,  who  realisetl  the  worth  of  laughter, 
kept  a  joke  book,  and  cultivated  the  art  of  telling 
a  funny  story.  She  was  cheerful  and  her  patients 
and  friends  profited  by  it. 


The     temperature     in     the 
Cold  Air  in         sick     room     in     lobar     pneu- 
Pneumonia.         monia    is    set  at  65  degrees, 
and  70  degrees    for  children ; 
but  the  principal  point  here  is  to  have  it  well  ven- 
tilated, says  Dr.  Huber  in  the  Medical  Times.     We 
do  not  fear  cold  air  for  the  pneumonia  patient;  this 
phase  of- the  treatment  has  indeed  become  quite  re- 
volutionised. 

Indeed,  not  only  in  relation  to  tuberculosis  and 
pneumonia,  but  in  connection  with  the  treatment 
of  all  diseases,  we  now  lecognise  fresh  air  as  n 
most  important  factor. 


M.\TRON. 

Blencathra  Sanatorium,  Threldkeld,  Cumberiand.  — Miss 
Georgina  Lord  has  been  appoint«i  Matron.  She 
was  trained  at  the  General  Hospital,  Birmingham, 
and  has  been  Charge  Xurse  at  Banchory  Sana- 
torium, Xordrach-on-Dee,  Sister  at  the  Chester- 
field Sanatorium,  Night  Superintendent  at  the^ 
Huddersfield  Infirmary,  Sister  and  Housekeeper  at 
the  Royal  Infirmary,  Sheffield,  and  Miatron  at  the 
Ochil  Hill's  S;iuatorium. 

Cottage    Hospital,   Market    Harborougli Miss  Beatrice 

A.  Browne  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Royal  Albert  Edward  Infirmary, 
Wigau,  and  has  held  appointments  at  home  and 
abroad.  .She  has  also  had  experience  of  district 
work  at  Beccles. 

Superintendent. 

Johns  Hopkins  Hospital,  Baltimore,  U.S.A.  -Miss  £.  M. 
Lawler,  who  has  "been  acting  Superintendent  of 
Nurses  at  the  Johns  Hopkins  Hospital  at  Balti- 
more since  the  resignation  of  Miss  Georgiana 
C.  Ross,  has  been  lately  appointed  Superin- 
tendent. To  follow  two  such  Superintendents  as 
the  late  Mi-s.  Hampton  Robb  and  Mi.ss  M.  Adelaide 
Nutting,  in  the  superintendence  of  this  leading 
training  school  is  indeed  an  honour. 

QUEEN     ALEXANDRA'S     IMPERIAL    MILITARY 
NURSING     SERVICE. 

The  undermentioned  Staff  Nurses  to  be  Sisters . 
Miss  M.  Davis  (October  20th) ;  Miss  E.  K.  Kaberry 
(November  1st).  The  undermentioned  ladies  to  be 
Staff  Nurses  (provisionally) :  Miss  M.  Jackson 
(November  1st)  ;  Miss  E,  F.  Roberts  (November 
15th) ;  Miss  I.  ;McM.  Beaton  (NovemI>er  17th). 

QUEEN  VICTORIA'S  JUBILEE    INSTITUTE 

Transfers  and  Appoiniments. — Miss  Sarah  Butler, 
to  Lincoln  City  as  Senior  Nurse  ;  Miss  Mary  Kendrick 
and  Miss  Edith  Bellamy,  to  Barnsley ;  Miss  Chris- 
tina Bell,  to  Islewortli  (Hounslow) ;  Miss  Edith 
Bailey,  to  Putney ;  Miss  Harriette  Fowkes,  to 
.Swanley ;  Miss  Louisa  Parsonage  and  Miss  Nellie 
M.   Lewis,   to  Carli.sle. 

INSTRUCTORS  IN   HOME  NURSING    UNDER 
LONDON    COUNTY  COUNCIL. 

Miss  F.  R.  Letters  and  Miss  1.  Mactlonald  have 
been  approved  by  the  L.C.C.  Education  Com- 
mittee as  instructors  in  evening  schools  in  home 
nursing,  health,  and  infant  care,  and  Miss  G.  Good- 
rfiild,  Miss  M.  Harrod,  and  Miss  M.  Offord  as  in- 
structors in  home  nursing  and  infant  care. 


WEDDING  BELLS. 
The  approaching  marriage  of  Miss  Leonard, 
Matron  of  the  General  Lying-in  Hospital,  York 
Road,  Lambeth,  creates  a  vacancy  in  the  Matron- 
ship  of  one  of  the  most  important  Maternity  Hospi- 
tals in  Loudon.  Miss  Leonard  will  have  the  good 
wishes  of  many  nurses  for  her  future  happiness, 
including  those  wlio  knew  her  as  Assistant  to  the 
Superintendent  at  the  Nur.ses'  Co-operation  and  in 
her  present  position.  We  understand  that  Miss 
Leonard's  succes.sor  has  already  been  appointed, 
and  the  appointment  will  therefore  not  be  adver- 
tised. 


Deo.  10,  101(1 


Z\K  3Svlti6b  3out-uai  ot  H^iuisuuj. 


RESIGNATIONS. 

We  regret  that  ill-health  has  obliged  Miss  K.  C. 

Laurence,  R.R.C.,  Matron  of  the  Chelsea  Hospital 

for  Woujeii,  to  resign  her  position.     We  hope  that 

after  a  thorough  rest  her  health  mav  be  restored. 


It  is  reported  that  Miss  Esther  V.  Uasson,  the 
Superintendent  of  the  Navy  Xurse  Corps  of  the 
United  States,  will  resign  the  position  at  no  dis- 
tant date.  Miss  Hasson's  term  of  office  has  been 
distinguished  by  much  successful  work  for  t)ie  im- 
provement of  the  Service. 


PRESENTATIONS. 

A  pleasant  ceremony  took  place  at  the  office  of 
the  Chief  Constable  of  Portsmouth  (Mr.  T.  Davies) 
last  week,  when  Mrs.  Davies,  on  behalf  of  every 
constable  in  the  Landport  Division,  presented  a 
lady's  handbag  and  umbrella  to  Miss  Winifred 
Shirley,  a  nur.se  at  the  Borough  Asylum,  in  recog- 
nition of  services  rendered  by  her  to  the  police.  On 
October  28th  Constable  Gould,  in  charge  of  a 
prisoner,  was  assaulted  by  a  hostile  crowd,  chiefly 
hooligans,  and  knocked  down,  and  the  same  fate 
befell  Constable  Dobedoe,  who  went  to  his  assis- 
tance. Miss  Shirley  threw  herself  on  the  prisoner, 
exclaiming  "  You  coward,  yon  shall  not  hurt  that 
policeman,"  and  held  him  till  the  poli<e  had  re- 
covered  themselves  sufficiently  to  secure   him. 

The  Chief  Constable,  who  presided  at  the  presen- 
tation ceremony,  at  which  there  was  a  large  muster 
of  inspectors,  sergeants,  and  constables  of  the  Land- 
port  Division,  said  they  were  assembled  to  pay 
honour  to  whom  honour  was  due,  and  publicly 
thanked  Miss  Shirley  for  the  assistance  she  had  ren- 
dered to  the  police.  She  had  acted  very  bravely  in 
a  cool  and  collected  manner,  and  rendered  the  con- 
stables valuable  help  in  time  of  need. 

Police-Constable  Gould  said  that  the  prisoner 
would  have  got  away  but  for  Miss  Shirley's  help, 
and  she  was  badly  mauled.  For  some  days  subse- 
quentlv  the  police  did  not  know  to  whom  they 
were  indebte<l,  as  Miss  Shirley  kept  her  identity 
secret. 

Contrast  this  with  the  scenes  which  took  place 
recently  in  London,  when  women  of  culture  and 
refinement  came  into  collision  with  the  police  when 
proceeding  in  an  orderly  and  legal  manner  to  the 
House  of  Commons  as  a  deputation  to  the  Prime 
Minister. 


On  the  occasion  of  her  retirement,  after  being 
for  ten  vears  on  the  staff  at  Mrs.  Rose's  Nursing 
Home,  Aberdeen,  Miss  Peter  was  made  the 
recipient  of  handsome  presents.  Mrs.  Rose  pre- 
sented Mi.ss  Peter  with  a  Jiandsome  gold  bracelet 
in  recognition  of  her  valuable  services,  while  the 
nurses  on  the  staff  at  Cairnaqueen,  the  staff  resi- 
dence, presented  lier  with  an  umbrella.  Miss  Peter, 
in  acknowledging  the  gifts,  referred  to  the  good 
feeling  whicji  had  always  existed  between  herself 
and  the  other  nurses  during*  her  long  term  of 
service. 


IHursino  JCcboes. 

Canon  E.  E.  Holmes,  on 
Sunday  !itt<.'rnoon  last,  gave 
;i  sequence  of  addresses  to 
nurses  in  the  Chapel  of  the 
Jironipton  Hospital  for  Con- 
sumption, kindly  put  at  his 
disposal  tor  the  purpose.  At 
the  beginning  of  the  service 
Canon  Holmes  gave  mes- 
sa^^i'S  to  those  present  from 
both  the  Bishop  of  London, 
and  the  Bishop  of  Kensing- 
ton. Throughout  the  service,  which,  including 
several  hynms,  lasted  two  hours,  the  greatest 
iutei'est  and  attention  were  manifested,  and 
the  time  went  all  two  quickly.  At  its  .conclu- 
sion the  Matron,  Miss  MacNab,  most  kindly 
invited  everyone  present  to  tea  in  the  Nurses' 
Home,  which  is  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
Fnlham  Eoad,  connected  with  the  hospital  by 
a  subway.  ^lauy  Sisters  and  nurses  took  care 
of  the  guests,  so  that  though  such  numbers 
were  present  all  were  quickly  supplied  with 
tea,  and  delicious  bread  and  butter  and  cakes. 
Nurses  are  greatly  indebted  to  Miss  MacNab 
for  arranging  this  service,  and  for  her  kind  hos- 
pitality. 


The  second  annual  report  of  the  Medical 
Officer  to  the  Board  of  Education  shows  that 
the  allegation  that  the  routine  work  of  a  school 
medical  officer  is  monotonous  and  uninspiring 
is  unfounded;  that,  on  the  contrary,  it  opens 
up  opportunities  for  scientific  and  practical 
ability  to  be  found  in  few  other  regions  of  pro- 
fessional service.  The  point  is  interesting  be- 
cause the  same  allegation  is  sometimes  made 
in  regard  to  school  nursing,  nevertheless  we 
believe  it  can  with  equal  truth  be  asserted  that 
the  work  of  school  nurses  opens  up  opportuni- 
ties of  professional  interest  and  public  useful- 
ness second  to  none.  The  total  number  of 
nurses  in  the  service  of  the  education  authori- 
ties, in  152  areas,  whose  an-angements  have 
been  approved,  is  289,  and  these  numbers  will 
no  doubt  greatly  increase  as  the  indispensa- 
bility  of  the  school  nurse  as  a  factor  in  raising 
the  standard  of  national  health  is  •more  and 
more  appreciated.  ' 


An  interesting  ceremony,  at  which  Princess 
Toussoun  was  present,  took  place  last  week 
at  the  Canine  Institute,  when  Mrs.  iMackenzie 
presented  a  gold  medal,  in  memory  of  King 
Edward,  and  two  silver  medals  to  the  nurses 
who  were  successful  in  a  rtajent  examination. 


476 


Zhc  Bi1ti0b  Journal  of  iRuvsing. 


[Dec.  10,  1910 


At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Higgiubotham 
Sick  Poor  and  Nursing  Association,  held 
recently,  the  report  jsresented  showed  that 
the  twenty-nine  district  nurses  of  the  As- 
sociation had  attended  to  3,095  cases  during 
the  year.  The  ,  actual  expenditure  did  not 
amount  to  20s.  a  head  of  the  cases  visited  by 
the  u'U'ses,  who  deal  with  all  kinds  of  medical 
and  surgical  cases  under  the  instiaictions  of 
medical  practitioners  throughout  the  city. 

The  picture  which  we  have  pleasure  in  repro- 
ducing on  this  page,  and  for  which  we  are  in- 
debted to  the  Dundee*  Adveriiscr,  is  of  Miss 
Flora  G.  Pegg,  the  recently  appointed  Matron 
of  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Dundee.  Miss  Pegg 
has  had  a  varied  ex- 
perience, as  she  was 
trained  at  Guy's  Hospi- 
tal, and  has  been  Charge 
Nurse  at  the  New  Hospi- 
tal for  Women,  Euston 
Road,  N.W. ;  Staff  Nurse 
at  Netley  House,  Lou- 
don ;  Theatre  Sister, 
Home  Sister,  and  Ma- 
trons' Deputy  at  the 
Wolverhampton  and 
Staffordshire  General 
Hospital ;  and  Matron 
and  Superintendent  of 
Nursing  at  the  Salop  In- 
finnary,  and  also  at  the 
District  Hospital,  West 
Bromwich,  so  that  she 
has  excellent  qualifica- 
tion for  the  position  to 
%yhich  she  has  been  ap- 
pointed. 


in  the  sei-vices  of  a  friendly  but  unskilled  neigh- 
bour, sometimes  with  unfortunate  results. 


The  nurses  of  the 
Cardiff  Branch  of  the 
Queen  Victoria's  Jubilee 
Institute       for       Nurses, 


ot        wliirli 


Miss 

Morgan  is  Superintendent,  inuugmated  a 
scheme  at  the  annual  sale  of  the  Needlework 
Guild,  held  at  the  Y.M.C.A.  Rooms  last 
wr'ek,  Lady  Ninion  Stuart  presiding  during 
the  first  part  of  the  proceedings,  that  for 
a  small  fee  the  wives  of  working  men  should 
not  only  receive  skilled  attention  at  the  time 
of  confinement,  but  also  the  needful  nourish- 
ment during  the  preuedilig  weeks.  The  nurses 
oi  coui'se  realise  that  the  fee  of  ys.  which  is 
cliarged  is  not  suflicient  for  this  pui-pose,  but 
hope  that  the  many  friends  ot  the  work  will 
miike  up  the  deficit.  There  are,  they  state,  a 
i,'irat  many  women  who  will  not  apply  to  the 
|i(uisli  for  the  care  they  need,  and  being  unaliic 
lo  afford  t-o  pay  for  nursr  ami  doctor  they  call 


Mrs.  Stouer,  a  member  of  the  League  of  St. 
John's  House  Nurses,  writing  to  its  official 
organ  from  India,  says: — "  I  went  to  Sialhot 
for  a  fortnight  and  had  quite  a  good  time.  I 
paid  several  visits  to  the  city,  which  is  very 
old  and  interesting.  There  is  an  old  fort  which 
played  a  very  important  part  in  the  ilutiny 
(Sialhot  was  besieged).  Just  outeide  the  fort 
in  the  heart  of  the  city  there  is  a  little  walled 
in  space  with  the  monuments  and  graves  of 
those  who  were  killed  during  that  terrible  time. 
It  set  me  thinking  of  the  lioiTors  that  those 
whose  bodies  wer-e  lying  there  must  have  wit- 
nessed     and     gone 

.      through.    The  day  I  was 

there  was  so  lovely,  the 
sun  shining,  and  a  nice 
breeze  blowing  and 
everyone  going  calmly 
about  their  work.  I  con- 
trasted that  day  with 
what  was  probably 
taking  place  on  such  a 
day  52  years  before  on 
that  very  spot,  our  fel- 
low country  people  being 
massacred  and  tortured. 
There  is  a  very  large 
American  Mission  Hos- 
pital in  the  city,  with  a 
lady  doctor  in  charge. 
She  has  a  large  staff  of 
nurses  and  compounders 
(native  women).  The 
nurses  seemed  very 
smart,  and  look  very 
neat  in  their  Enghsh 
uniform.  They  receive 
a  post  graduate  course, 
and  have  examinations 
(pretty  stiff  ones,  too)  before  they  are  given  cer- 
tificates. They  are  trained  on  the  American 
method,  and  some  very  good  nurees  are  turned 
out  from  that  hospital.  I  was  allowed  to  go 
lo  the  theatre  one  afternoon,  and  see  the  opera- 
tions. Tlipre  were  two  abdominal  operations, 
and  a  Ciesarian  section. 

"The  nuiNcs  in  the  theatre  were  splendid, and 
could  easily  take  their  places  beside  some  of 
our  English  trained  nurses,  and  be  equal  to 
them  in  their  surgical  work.  They  seemed  to 
(|uite  realise  and  understand  the  imiiortance  of 
aseptic  surgery.  The  outpatient-s  are  a  very 
important  i)art  of  the   hospital's  work." 


MISS    FLORA    C.    PEGG, 

trnn.    linijal    Infirmary,    Ditudt 


At  11 
>litan 


inreting  of  the  nuinagcrs  of  the  Metro- 
A'^vlums  Board  last  wei'k  the  Clerk  re- 


Dee.  10,  1910] 


Z\K  Bvitieb  3oiirnal  of  IRursino. 


ported  that  the  total  number  of  patients  in  the 
Board's  hospital  on  the  previous  Saturday  was 
2,758.  On  the  motion  of  Mr.  Helby,  the 
returns  were  referred  to  tlie  Hospitals  Com- 
mittee to  report  what  steps  might  be  taken  so 
that  the  excess  of  staff  over  the  number  of 
paieute  might  be  discontinued.  The  matter 
was,  he  said,  a  serious  one,  as,  during  this 
year,  only  on  four  occasions  had  the  number 
of  patients  exceeded  the  number  of  the  staff. 


"Nursing  in  Labrador  "  presented  in  ex- 
tracts from  letters  from  Hiss  Mayou,  of  Har- 
rington, sent  by  "  dog  mail,"  are  most  fascina- 
ting. She  writes  in  the  Queen's  Xurses' 
Magasine : — "The  winter  is  just  slipping 
by,  the  cold  has  not  been  very  severe,  the  ther- 
mometer varying  from  zero  to  24  degs.  below, 
the  monotony  being  varied  by  regular  hurri- 
canes, and  tremendous  changes  in  the  tem- 
perature pi-oductive  of  coughs  and  colds. 
My  classes  are  well  attended :  those  in  cooking 
are  liked  so  much  that  I  shall  try  next  winter 
to  have  one  for  the  lads,  who  are  often  away 
for  a  week  or  more  at  a  time  fishing,  sealing, 
cutting  wood,  or  trapping.  Their  knowledge 
of  cooking  does  not  extend  much  beyond  pan- 
cakes and  meat  fried  in  half-warmed  fat  in  a 
frying-pan,  washed  down  with  boiled  tea  and 
molasses,  and  they  wonder  why  they  have  a. 
"  wormeful  stummick."  Labrador  anatomy 
is  quite  different  from  Gray's :  rather  mis- 
leading until  you  get  used  to  it."  Miss  Mayou 
tells  of  an  epidemic  amongst  the  dogs  which 
swept  along  the  coast  causing  most  serious  loss. 
Fancy  the  dear  doggies  in  the  forefront  of 
"  labour."  We  learn  "  for  six  months  in  the 
year  dogs  are  our  only  means  of  locomotion ; 
they  carry  the  mails,  bring  and  take  away  our 
patients,  haul  the  wood  and  water;  in  fact,  are 
to  the  coast  what  trains,  horses,  street  cars, 
etc.  are  to  the  civilised  regions  of  the  Dominion 
— dogs  are  the  most  valuable  asset  on  this 
coast."  Dear  fellow  workers,  no  doubt  they 
are  well  done  by,  as  they  are  of  so  much  econo- 
mic value,  but  we  do  hope  they  have  a  happy 
as  well  as  a  useful  life. 


One  of  the  stalls  at  the  fete  and  art  union 
which  is  to  be  held  on  behalf  of  the  Nin-ses' 
Home  extension  at  the  Eoyal  Prince  Alfred 
Hospital.  Sydney,  early  in  .\pril,  will  be  staged 
and  furnished  by  the  past  and  present  nurses 
of  the  hospital.  An  influential  committee, 
under  the  presidency  of  the  I>ord  Mayor,  is  un- 
dertaking the  arrangements,  and  Mr.  W.  Epps 
is  Hon.  Secretai-y. 


Scottisb  flDations'  association. 

The  quai-tt-rls  imining  ui  iln-  Scottish  Ma- 
trons' -Vssociation  was  hold  on  Saturday,  De- 
cember 3rd,  in  the  Board  Room  of  the  Eoyal 
Infii-mary,  Edinburgh.  The  President,  Miss 
A.  W.  Gill,  E.E.G.,  Lady  Superintendent  of 
the  InfirmaiT,  was  in  the  chair',  and  40  other 
members  were  present,  a  number  coming  from 
a  considerable  distance.  Two  new  members 
were  elected.  Among  other  subjects  the 
Nurses'  Memorial  to  King  Edward  VII.  was 
discussed.  Considerable  interest  was  evinced 
in  this  project,  and  the  feeling  of  those  present 
was  strongly  in  favour  of  making  an  effort  to 
raise  sufficient  funds  to  have  one  of  the  pro- 
posed homes  in  Scotland. 

After  the  meeting  a  visit  was  paid  to  the 
Diamond  Jubilee  block,  to  the  kitchens  which 
cook  food  for  about  1,300  daily,  and  to  the 
nurses'  dining  room,  which  has  recently  been 
enlarged*  and  improved.  This  proved  of  great 
interest.  Afterwards  the  member's  were  enter- 
tained to  tea  by  Miss  Gill. 

"  flDi-s.   36ull  '"  1Rcconllncn^5 
TRcoistvation. 

Mrs.  Bull  asks:  "What  About  The 
Nurses?"  and  goes  on  to  say  :  — 

"  I  shall  never  be  astonished  to  hear  a  cry  that 
the  hospitals  can  get  no  more  nurses — just  as  the 
Church  can  get  no  more  curates,  and  for  very  much 
the  same  reason — a  desperate  want  of  reform  in  the 
"trade"  conditions  of  both  these  professions. 
Already  the  class  of  girls  offering  themselves  as 
hospital  nurses  is  sinking  every  year,  wliilst, 
curiously  enough,  the  class  going  in  for  City  clerk- 
ships, typists,  etc.,  is  higher  than  it  was  even  a  few 
vears  ago.  The  City  trains,  both  morning  and  even- 
ing, with  their  daily  load  of  quiet,  well-dressed, 
lady-like  girls  and  women,  show  that  plainly  enough. 
But  the  poor  nurses  are  in  a  sad  way.  A  proper 
State  registration,  with  its  consequent  protection 
of  their  uniform  from  the  base  uses  of  impostors 
and  worse,  is  denied  them.  Little  general  servants 
are  permitted  to  imitate  it,  and  degrade  it  in  public 
flirtations  on  park  seats.  And  unnameable  houses 
quite  openly  clothe  all  their  inmates  in  this  dress, 
or  a  vulgar  travesty  of  it,  with  dire  consequences 
to  the  real  nurse.  Xo  wonder  educated  ladies  are 
with  difficulty  persuaded  to  enter  the  ranks  of  such 
a  grossly  insulted  army!  When  even  theother  poor 
souls  find  it  all  out,  "they,  too,  will  strike.  Then 
we  may  get  registration.  Meanwhile  things  have 
come  to  such  a  pass  that  there  are  actually  restaur- 
ants and  public  places  of  that  sort  into  vhich, 
according  to  the  rnles,  '  no  one  in  nurse's  uniform 
may  enter.'  And  this  in  the  year  of  Floience 
Nightingale's  death!" 

As  this  paper  is  read  by  the  hundred  thou- 
sand, it  does  not  present  u^to  the  public  in  a 
very  self-respecting  light.       " 


47S 


Zbc  Britisb  3ournaI  of  IRarsing. 


[Dec.  10,  1910 


IRcflccttons. 

Fbom  a  Board  Room  Mieeor. 
Prince  Alexander  of  Teck,  Chairman  of  the 
Weekly  Board  of  the  Middlesex  Hospital,  has  re- 
ceived a  letter  from  Jlr.  J.  William  Gifford,  of 
Chard,  stating  his  intention  to  present  forty  milli- 
grammes of  radium  to  the  Cancer  Research  Labora- 
tories of  the  Hospital.  At  current  rates  this  quan- 
tity of  radium,  weighing  approximately  one-seven 
hundredth  part  of  an  ounce,  is  worth  about  £600. 


Lady  flardinge,  of  Penshurst,  has  sent  from 
GJovernment  House,  Calcutta,  a  large  box  of  dolls 
and  toys  for  the  Christmas  festivities  in  tne 
Children's  Ward  of  the  Metroixilitan  Hospital. 
The  box  was  accompanied  by  a  charming  letter  m 
which,  after  referring  to  the  great  interest  wuich, 
though  so  far  away  tii  India,  she  still  takes  in  the 
admirable  work  of  the  Metropolitan  Hospital,  Lady 
Hardinge  says,  "Please  tell  the  children  that  I 
tliink  of  them  and  wish  all  the  patients  '  A  very 
happy  Christmas.'  " 


A  letter  from  India  this  week  tell.s  us  that  during 
her  brief  stay  in  Bombay  Lady  Hardinge  found 
time  to  visit  the  gama  aud  AUbless  Hospitals,  and 
to  express  the  greatest  interest  in  all  she  saw. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Management  of  the 
West  Loudon  Hospital,  presided  over  by  the  Duke 
of  Abercorn,  Dr.  H.  J.  F.  Simson  was  elected 
Assistant   Physician  for   Diseases  of    Women. 


The  National  Food  Reform  Association  are  ask- 
ing candidates  for  support  in  their  efforts  to  com- 
bat the  widesi)read  physical  degeneracy  by  secur- 
ing the  standardisation  of  bread ;  tbe  passing  of  a 
Pure  Milk  Bill ;  the  improvement  of  the  teaching 
of  cookery;  legislation  regarding  patent  medi- 
cines,  etc. 


At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  London  Countv  Coun- 
cil plans  were  passed  for  the  rebuilding  of  a  St. 
Pancras  School  at  a  cost  of  £20,000.  A  feature  jf 
the  new  school  is  to  get  a  roof  playground. 
^'e  are  getting  on  in  spite  of  the  reactionary 
attitude  of  some  of  the  women  members  of  the 
Council,  who  ought  to  be  the  first  to  sympathise 
with  the  children. 


We  cx)mmend  to  nunses — especially  School  Nurses 
— a  pamphlet  on  "  Tlie  Spread  of  Immorality 
Amongst  Children,"  by  the  Rev.  T.  G.  Creo,  M.A.. 
Hon.  Secretary  of  the  Church  Penitentiary  Associa- 
tion, and  published  by  the  Reformatory  and  Refuge 
Union,  117,  Victoria  Street,  S.W.,  i)rice  2d.,  or  Is. 
4<1.  a  dozen.  

School  Hygiene  is  a  monthly  review  which  might 
witli  great  advantage  be  studied  by  educationists, 
and  all  those  interested  in  the  physical  welfare  of 
the  young.  

It  is  proposed  to  establish  a  hostel  for  senior 
medical  students  in  connection  with  the  Manchester 
Royal  Infirmary,  in  order  that  they  may  have  the 
<)l>|i()rl;inity      of      additional      experience      in      the 


management  ot  accident  and  emergency  cases  only 
possible  to  students  residing  close  to  the  hospital. 
A  waideu  has  been  appointed,  and  it  is  proposed 
that  the  inclusive  charge  for  board  and  lodging 
shall  be  2.5s.  a  week.  Nothing  is  being  done  tor 
the  benefit  of  women  students,  as  usual. 

The  American  Hospital  of  Paris,  which  is  situ- 
ated in  the  charming  suburb  of  Neuilly,  and  is  a 
model  of  its  kind,  and  equipped  with  all  the  latest 
appliances,  is  already  justifying  its  existence.  Its 
primary  object  is  to  provide  a  place  where  ar. 
American  living  in  Paris,  or  travelling,  could  be 
cared  for,  if  taken  ill,  by  doctors  educated  in 
American  mefhods,  and  nurses  speaking  his  own 
language,  and  its  api^eal  is  specially  to  strangers 
taken  ill  in  hotels.  The  Lady  Superintendent  is 
Mrs.  Dean,  and  the  House  Physician  Dr.  A.  G. 
Breniger.  There  is  no  fixed  charge,  but  patients 
occupying  private  wards  are  expected  to  make 
donations  to  the  funds.  There  are  also  two  free 
wai-ds.  The  laundry  anangements  are  specially 
interesting.  All  the  soiled  linen  is  collected  in  can- 
vas bags,  which  are  subjected  to  dry  heat  and 
then  to  steam  under  pressure.  After  washing  the 
linen  is  again  sterilised  bv  div  heat  before  ironina. 


The  Queen  Victoria  ^leraorial  Hospital  at  Nice, 
of  which  their  Majesties  the  King  and  Queen  are 
Patrons,  and  which  contains  -50  beds  for  British 
subjects,  without  distinction  of  creed,  stands  on  a 
fine  site  on  Mont  Boron.  The  President  of  the 
hospital,  upon  which  £2.5,000  has  been  expended, 
is  Sir  George  White,  and  the  institution  is  at  pre- 
sent free  from  debt,  but  liberal  contributions  are 
needed  for  the  maintenance  fund.  The  annexe  for 
isolation  cases  was  built  by  Sir  Bernhard  Samuel- 
son,  in  memory  of  his  father,  and  the  nurses'  wing 
bv  Mr.  John  Jaffe. 


WELL  DESERVED  HONOURS. 
Down  Bros.,  Ltd.,  of  St.  Thomas's  Street,  Lon- 
don, have  been  awarded  the  Grand  Prix  (highest 
award)  for  surgical  instruments  and  aseptic  hospi- 
tal furniture  at  the  Buenos  Aues  Exhibition,  1910. 
as  well  as  the  Grand  Prix  (highest  award)  at  the 
Brussels  Exhibition,  1910. 


OXO  IN  CUBES. 
Oxo  is  always  a  favourite  article  of  diet  with 
nurses — in  the  ordinary  form  for  their  own  use  and 
as  "Nursing  Oxo"  for  their  patients,  and  many 
will  be  glad  to  know  that  it  can  now  be  procured 
in  cubes,  in  tins  of  six  and  twelve,  one  of  which, 
at  a  cost  of  one  penny,  wUl  make  a  breakfast  cupful 
of  delicious  soup  by  the  addition  of  boiling  water. 
A  disadvantage  of  a  liquid  preparation  of  beef 
is  that  there  is  a  certain  amount  of  waste,  both  be- 
cause more  is  used  than  necessary  and  because  some 
clings  to  the  bottle.  This  is  now  entirely  obviated. 
For  night  nurses  there  could  be  no  more  acceptable 
variation  to  the  "  hospital  egg "  so  frequently 
served  out  for  the  midnight  meal  than  a  cube  of 
Oxo,  which  can  be  prejjared  in  a  moment  and  is 
nntiitious  and  invigorating. 


Dec.  in,  1910] 


Cbc  ffivitieb  3ournal  ot  Wursma. 


479 


IPiofcssional  IKcvicw. 


PRACTICAL    NURSING 

The  fact  that  "  I'lactical  Nursing,"  by  the  Lite 
Miss  Isla  Stewart,  Matron  of  St.  Bartholomew's 
Hospital,  and  Dr.  Herbert  K.  CutF,  F.K.C.S., 
Medical  Officer  for  General  Purposes  to  the  Metro- 
politan Asylums  Board,  which  was  first  published 
in  1899,  has  already  been  through  nine  editions, 
the  last  having  been  brought  out  recently  by  Messrs. 
William  Blackwood  and  Sons,  is  a  proof  that  the 
volume  meets  a  need,  and  is  apprecated  far  beyond 
the  limits  of  the  direct  spheres  of  influence  of  the 
authors. 

In  the  revision  of  the  present  edition  Dr.  Cuff 
has  had  the  assistance  of  Miss  Beatrice  Cutler, 
Assistant    Matron   of   St.    Bartholomew's   Hospital. 

The  chief  revision  is  in  connection  with  the  pre- 
paration for  operations,  and  in  those  parts  dealing 
with  asepticism,  which  have  been  brought  up-to- 
date  in  some  details. 

After  detailing  the  best  method  of  cleaning 
sponges,  the  authors  state:  "Before  an  operation 
the  sponges  are  removed  from  the  jar  with  a  pair 
of  sterilised  forceps  and  placed  in  basins  containing 
the  antiseptic  solution  which  the  surgeon  is  going 
to  use.  They  should  be  handed  in  the  basins,  the 
operator  or  his  assistant  squeezing  them  out  as  they 
require  them.  They  are  then  more  likely  to  be 
aseptic  than  if  they  are  wrung  out  by  the  nurse, 
since  the   less  they   are  handled  the  better. 

"As  they  are  used  during  the  operation,  they 
are  thrown  at  once  into  a  wejik  M.lution  of  washing 
soda. 

' '  After  an  operation  the  sponges  should  be 
thoroughly  washed  at  once  in  soap  and  water,  and 
afterwards  treated  as  recommended  for  new 
sponges  ....  When  preparing  sponges  a 
nurse  should  wear  rubber  gloves,  and  thus  ensure 
that  her  hands  are  surgically  clean." 

In  regard  to  the  cleansing  of  instruments,  we 
read:  "'Special  instruments,  such  as  cystoscopes, 
certain  catheters,  etc.,  which  cannot  be  boiled,  must 
be  rendered  surgically  clean  by  some  antiseptic  solu- 
tion. Knives  should  not  be  boiled  for  more  than 
two  minutes,  as  this  process  quickly  dulls  their 
•edges;  indeed,  some  surgeons  prefer  to  rely  only 
on  carbolic  lotion  or  methylated  spirit." 

Silk,  silk-worm  gut,  and  horse-hair  are  usually 
sterilised  by  boiling.  Catgut,  after  a  careful 
scrubbing  of  each  strand  with  a  sterilised  nail- 
brush and  soap,  may  be  placed  in  methylated  ether 
for  eight  days  and  then  stored  in  1  in  2.50  biniodide 
solution ;  or,  after  scrubbing,  be  placed  in  a  1  per 
cent,  solution  of  both  iodine  and  iodide  of  potas- 
sium, and  either  kept  there  permanently  or  be 
removed  at  the  end  of  eight  days  and  be  placed  in 
1  in  iO  carbolic  acid. 

In  relation  to  the  costume  of  the  surgeon  and 
his  assistants,  they  ''  before  entering  the  operating 
theatre  put  on  over  their  boots  either  rubber  shoes 
which  have  been  washed  with  carbolic  lotion,  or 
canvas  covers  that  have  been  sterilised.  They  wear 
sterilised  cotton  overalls,  and  sterilised  caps  and 
masks  over  their  heads  and  faces,  leaving  only  the 
eyes  exposed.     Finally,  they  put  on  rubber  gloves. 


The  nurses-  are  similarly  equipped,  except  for  the 
race  mask.  The  gleves  are  sterilised  by  boiling  in 
plain  water  for  thirty  minutes,  after  which  they 
are  placed  in  a  reservoir  containing  sterile  water, 
a  w«ik  solution  of  ly.sol,  etc.  After  use  they  are 
washed  with  soap  and  water,  dried  and  powdered. 
Repeated  boiling  spoils  them,  consequently  they 
are  only  treated  in  this  way  before  an  operation. 
Dipping  the  hands  in  methylated  sj)irit  allows  the 
gloves  to  be  put  on  without  risk  of  tearing." 

In  connection  with  the  preparation  of  the  patient, 
it  is  suggested  that  before  going  to  the  theatre 
"  the  patient  be  placed  between  sterilised  sheets, 
the  nightdress  having  previously  been  taken  off, 
and  a  sterilised  nightdress,  stockings,  and  cap  be 
put  on.  A  clean  folded  blanket,  which  must  be 
removed  before  the  patient  enters  the  theatre,  is 
laid  over  the  sheet." 

Contagion  and  Disi.nfection. 

In  laying  down  the  principles  underlying  the 
management  of  infectious  diseases  we  read :  ' '  It  is 
of  great  importance  that  a  nurse  should  appreciate 
the  extent  of  her  responsibilities  when  she  under- 
takes the  charge  of  a  patient  suffering  from  infec- 
tious fever.  She  must  think  of  her  patient,  the 
public,  and  herself. 

Wliile  doing  her  utmost  to  help  the  patient  safely 
through  his  illness,  she  must  never  forget  that  the 
slightest  carelessness  on  her  part  may  result  in 
others  catching  the  disease.  At  the  same  time  it 
is  clearly  her  duty  to  guard  herself  by  all  reasonable 
precautious  against  infection.  She  should  keep 
her  finger-nails  short,  never  omit  to  use  the  nail- 
brush before  a  meal,  and  get  all  the  fresh  air  she 
can.  She  ought  never  to  eat  any  food  in  the  sick 
room,  and  when  sitting  there  she  should  endeavour 
not  to  have  her  chair  placed  between  the  patient 
and  the  fireplace,  otherwise  she  will  breath  in  air 
which  is  passing  from  him  to  escape  by  the  chim- 
ney. Not  that  she  ought  ever  to  put  herself  first, 
and  be  careful  to  the  verge  of  fearfulness  on  her 
own  behalf — that  is  a  fault  that  can  very  seldom 
be  laid  to  the  charge  of  nurses;  much  more  often 
one  has  to  blame  them  for  not  taking  enough  care 
of  themselves,  which  is  in  itself  a  serious  error. 
Moreover,  those  who  are  careless  about  themselves 
are  apt  to  be  the  same  about  otter  people,  and 
hence  are  more  likely  to  cArry  contagion  away  with 
them  from  the  sick  room." 

The  book  is  one  whicli  is  full  of  practical  wisdom, 
the  result  of  wide  experience  and  thorough  know- 
ledge of  the  subject  discussed.  The  collaboration 
between  a  medical  practitioner  and  the  Matron 
of  a  great  Ti-aining  School  for  Nurses  has  been 
productive  of  the  happiest  results,  and  it  is  not  f^.ir- 
prising  that  the  constant  demand  for  this  admii-able 
handbook  necessitates  the  publication  of  new 
editions. 

The  first  Nursing  Exhibition  ever  held  in  Ger- 
many will  be  organised  by  Sister  Agnes  Karll  in 
connection  with  the  triennial  meeting  of  the  Inter- 
national Council  of  Nurses  at  Cologne  In  1912.  Let 
us  do  all  we  possibly  can  to  show  our  German  col- 
leagues how  heartily  we  are  in  sympathy  with  their 
efforts  by  making  the  British  Exhibit  just  as  good 
as  it  can  possibly  be. 


480 


IXbe  36ntisb  3ournal  of  IRursma. 


[Dec.  10.  1910 


©utsi^c  the  <5ates. 


WOMEN. 

JNlrs.  GreeiiMoocI  f.nd 
ills.  Bulstrode  were  the 
hostesses  at  the  mem- 
liers'  tea  oil  Tuesday  m 
charming  old  Clifford's 
Inn,  when  Mrs.  St.  Hill, 
President  of  the  Chiro- 
logical  Society,  gave  a 
talk  to  the  Society  of 
Women  Journalists  on  the  "  Psychology  of  the 
Hand,"  more  especially  in  relation  to  the  writers 
hand.  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  presided,  and  the 
room  was  crowded  with  a  deeph-  interested  audience. 
Before  the  close  of  the  meeting  the  presentation 
of  an  address  and  beautiful  opal  pendant  and  gold 
chain  was  made  to  Miss  iNIary  Fraser,  the  late 
Hon.  Secretary — sutiscribed  by  her  fellow  members. 
In  claspijig  the  gift  round  her  neck  the  President 
remarked  that  it  was  given  with  sincere  affection 
and  as  a  token  of  warm  appreciation  for  the  man- 
ner in  which  Miss  Fraser  had  worked  for  the  Society 
and  the  helj)  she  had  always  given  to  the  members 
who  came  to  consult  her  about  their  work.  Miss 
Fraser  spoke  feelingh-,  in  expressing  thanks,  of  the 
benefit  which  her  association  with  the  Society  of 
Women  Journalists  had  always  been  to  her,  of  the 
invariable  sympathy  of  her  colleagues,  and  how- 
deeply  she  appreciated  their  friendship  and 
generosity.  Altogether  the  gathering  was  a  very 
happy  little  interlude  to  hard  work. 


Mrs.  Hylton  Dale,  of  60,  Onslow  Gardens,  S.W., 
has  arranged  an  At  Home  for  December  12th  for 
the  National  Association  of  Women's  Lodging 
Homes,  Rowton  Houses,  at  which  the  speaker  will 
be  Mr.   Mackereth. 

No  one  who  read  a  paper  by  Mrs.  Hylton  in  a 
recent  issue  of  The  Common  Cause,  now  reprinted 
in  leaflet  form,  reviewing  a  book  entitled  "Where 
Shall  She  Live,"  can  fail  to  appreciate  the  primary 
importance  of  this  question  to  the  woman  worker. 

The  book,  which  is  written  by  the  joint  secretaries 
of  the  above  As.sociation — Mrs.  Higgs,  of  Oldham, 
and  Mr.  E.  E.  Hayward — "throws  a  positively 
lurid  light  on  certain  phases  of  social  life  affecting 
a  large  number  of  women  workers,  who,  being  with- 
out homes  and  with  no  friends,  are  kicked  about 
like  footballs,  the  sport  of  a  cruel  social  system." 
Mrs.  Hylton  Dale  pleads  for  the  establishment  of 
municipal  lodging-houses  for  wonKMi  on  tlie  lines 
of  those  maintained  by  the  Corporations  of  Man- 
chester and  Glasgow,  and  said,  "  We  do  not  chinK 
of  herding  the  .sexes  together  in  the  tramp  ward  ; 
yet  fhriitiiilmiif  flic  covntrij  conditions  are  allowed 
i  '  common  lodging-houses  (or  '  doss-houses  ')  which 
(denote  a  state  of  harl)arisni."  In  London  there  is 
:>l  present  not  a  single  municipal  women's  lodging- 
luiuse,  and  the  police  actually  lock  girls  up '  in 
prison  Nomotinves  as  the  only  safe  place. 


the  University  of  Loudon,  which,  according  to  pre- 
cedent, takes  the  form  of  a  letter  to  bir  Thomas 
Barlow,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  promoting 
his  candidature  for  representation  of  the  Univer- 
sity in  Parliament,  "  The  question  of  the  }X)litical 
entranchi.st'ment  of  women,  wdiich  affects  so  directly 
the  interests  ot  many  graduates  of  the  University, 
is  one  which  is  before  the  electorate.  ...  I 
shall  strenuously  support  any  measure  which  will 
help  to  bring  about  this  much  needed  social  re- 
torni." 

One  more  .State  has  been  added  in  the  United 
States  of  America  to  tho.se  in  which  the  wom^n 
have  obtained  their  political  enfranchisement.  We 
heartily  congratulate  the  women  of  Washington  <:n 
obtaining  their  political  freedom. 


Book  of  the  Meel?. 


THE  BROAD   HIGHWAY.* 

"  'Ah!  '  said  the  Tinker,  '  I  never  read  a  nov-el 
with  a  tinker  in  it,  as  I  remember ;  they're  generally 
dooks,  or  earls,  or  barro-netes — nobody  wants  to 
read  about  a  tinker.' 

"  'That  all  depends,'  said  I.  'A  tinker  may  be 
much  more  interesting  than  an  earl,  or  even  a 
duke.'  " 

The  Tinker  examined  the  piece  of  bacon  upon  his 
knife-point  with  a  cold  and  disparaging  eye. 

"  I've  read  a  good  many  uov-els  in  my  time," 
said  he,  shaking  his  head  (here  he  bolted  the  morsel 
of  bacon  with  much  apparent  relish).  '  I've  made 
love  to  duchesses,  run  off  with  heiresses,  and  fought 
dooels — ah  '.  by  the  hundred — all  between  the  covers 
of  some  book  or  other,  and  enjoyed  it  uncommonly 
well — especially  the  dooels.  .  .  .  '  Young  fellow,' 
said  he,  '  no  man  can  write  a  good  nov-el  unless  he 
knows  summat  about  love,  it  aren't  to  be  ex- 
pected.' " 

And  no  doubt  the  majority  of  novel  readers  agree 
with  him.  The  author  recognising  his  theory  as 
sound,  tells  his  public  that  in  the  book  that  lies 
before  them  though  they  shall  read,  if  they  choose, 
of  country  things  and  ways  and  people,  something 
also  of  blood  and  of  love.  So  skilfully  are  these 
desirable  ingredients  manipulated  that  they  produce 
a  volume  of  rare  charm  and  distinction. 

The  broad  highway  calls  to  Peter  Vibart  in  his 
fallen  fortunes,  and  he  decides  to  go  on  a  walking 
tour,  and  when  his  money  is  all  gone  to  turn  his 
hand  to  some  useful  employment — digging,  for  in- 
stance. 

"  '  Deuce  take  me,'  ejaculated  Sir  Richard  feebly, 
'the  boy's  a  Revolutionary.'  " 

The  reader  must  kno«  that  the  times  of  this  story 
are  the  days  of  postchaises,  duels  and  highwaymen — • 
when  young  bloods  would  carry  off  distressed  dam- 
sels against  their  will — and,  bearing  this  in  mind, 
may  be  sure  that  the  King's  highway  would  not 
be  lacking  in  romance  for  him  who  had  a  mind 
for  it. 


Sir    Victor    Horsley,    always    a    thoi^ough-going 
Suffragist,  says  in   his  address  to  the  electore  of 


*    By  Jeffrey   Farnol.      (Snni{)son   Low,    Marston 
and  Co.,  London.) 


I 
I 


Dec.  10,  I'.llii 


Z\K  36ritisb  3ournaI  of  IRursino. 


481 


Peter  meets  with  a  peddler. 
■  Are  you  tired  ■■ ' 

"  '  Course  I'm  tired.' 

'■  'Then  why  not  sit  down  and  rest?' 

"  '  Because  I'd  have  to  pet  up  again,  wouldn't 
1  •■"  .  .  .  They'll  tiud  me  some  day  danglin'  to 
the  thing  that  looks  like  a  oak  tree  in  the  daytime.' 

"  '  What  do  you  mean  ?  '  said  I. 

•'The  peddler  sighed,  shook  his  head,  and 
shouldered   his   brooms. 

"  '  It's  jest  the  loneliness,'  he  said,  and  spitting 
ever  his  shoulder  trudged  on  his  way." 

And  Peter,  after  meeting  with  all  sorts  and  con- 
ditions of  delightfully  good  and  bad  men,  at  length 
culminates  his  fascinating  experiences  with 
C'harmian. 

■'I  think' — she  hegan,  speaking  with  her  back 
still  turned  to  me. 

■'  'Well?'  said  I. 

■' ' — that   you    have — 

"  '  Yes?  '  said  I. 

"  ' — very  unpleasant  eyes.' 
■  '  I  am  sorry  for  that,'  said  I. 

But  in  spite  of  this,  as  Pet^r  lay  in  the  dark 
that  night,  wlien  the  souls  of  unnumbered  dead  still 
rode  upon  the  storm,  there  came  to  him  a  faint 
perfume  as  of  violets  at  evening-time,  elusive  and 
very  sweet,  breathing  of  C'harmian  herself.    .    .    . 

■'  She  was  still  wrapped  in  her  cloak,  as  she  had 
been  when  I  first  saw  her,  wherefore  I  put  the 
hood  from  her  face. 

'■  And  behold  I  her  hair  fell  down  rippling  over  my 
arm,  and  covering  us  both  with  its  splendour. 

••  'It  seems  wonderful  to  think  that  you  are  my 
wife,'  said  I. 

"  '  Why,  I  had  meant  you  should  marry  me  from 
the  first,  Peter.' 

■'  And  thus  did  I,  all  unworthy  as  I  am,  win  the 
heart  of  a  noble  woman,  whose  love  I  pray  will 
endure,  even  as  mine  will,  when  we  shall  have 
journeved  to  the  end  of  this  Broad  Highway  which 
is  Life  and  into  the  mvsterv  of  the  Beyond." 

Read  it.  "  H.   H. 

COMING     EVENTS. 

December  12th. — Hammersmith  and  Fulhara 
District  Nursing  Association.  Miss  Curtis  and  the 
Nurses  At  Home.  Hammersmith  Town  Hall, 
4  to  6.30  p.m. 

December  ISth. — Territorial  Force  Nursing  Ser- 
vice, City  and  County  of  London.  Meeting, 
Grand  Committee,   Mansion  House.  E.G.,   4  p.m. 

December  13th  and  15th. — Central  Midwires' 
Board.  Special  Meetings  to  deal  with  Penal  Cases. 
Caxton  House,  S.W..  2  p.m. 

December  16th. — Central  Midwives'  Board  Ex- 
amination. Examination  Hall,  Victoria  Embank- 
ment,  London,   W.C. 


WORD  FOR  THE  WEEK. 

At  last,  after  the  lapse  of  twenty  centuries,  the 
Christian  doctrine  of  the  equality  of  woman  recog- 
nised   by    Christ    and    His    Apostles    is    becoming 
I'ullv  recognised  as  an  element  of  political  justice. 
M.  LK  P.\STEtrR  Ramette 
.it  the  Entente  Cordiale  Society. 


Xetter5  to  tbe  CMtor. 


Whilst  cordially  invitiny  com- 
munications upon  all  suhjectt 
for  these  columns,  we  uish  it 
to  be  distinctly  understood 
that  we  do  not  in  any  wai 
hold  ourselves  ,retponsible  /or 
the  opinions  expressed  by  our 
correspondents. 


NURSES'    MEMORIAL    TO    KING    EDWARD  VII. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 

Deab  M.ADAii, — May  I  draw  the  attention  of 
your  readers  to  a  scheme  for  establishing  an  Im- 
perial Nurses'  Memorial  to  the  memory  of  our  late 
beloved  Sovereign   King  Edward   VII. 

A  Representative  Committee  of  the  nursing  pro- 
fession have  conferred  with  Sir  Everard  Hambro, 
and  it  has  been  decided  that  the '  Memorial  shall 
take  the  form  of  Residential  Homes  for  nurses  in- 
capacitated from  further  active  work,  to  include  all 
nurses,  whether  policy  holders  in  the  Royal 
National  Pension  Fund  or  not,  and  that  the  Homes 
shall  be  managed  from  the  offices  of  the  Pension 
Fund.  Conditions  for  admission  to  these  Homes 
will  be  that : — 

Candidates  must  be  in  a  position  to  support  them- 
selves while  in  the  Homes. 

The  charge  for  board  and  lodging  wUl  be  fixed 
at  the  discretion  of  the  Committee,  and  will  be  as 
low  as  is  consistent  with  the  self-supporting  prin- 
ciple of  the  scheme. 

I  have  been  asked  by  the  Representative  Com- 
mittee to  undertake  to  receive  funds  collected  for 
this  purpose  in  the  London  district  from  private 
nurses  and  Nursing  Homes.  I  need  hardly  say  that 
this  does  not  apply  to  the  private  nursing  staffs  con- 
nected with  hospitals. 

I  would  ask  your  hearty  co-operation  in  this  work 
by  making  it  known  to  the  nurses  with  whom  you 
are  personally  in  touch. 

The  donations  are  not  restricted  to  the  nursing 
profession,  and  will  be  thankfully  received  from 
all. 

It  is  desirable  that  all  subscriptions,  which  are 
not  limited  in  amount,  should  be  sent  to  me  not 
later  than  March  31st.  1911. 

Yours  faithfully, 

(Mrs.)  Florence  Lucas, 
Supt.  of  the  Nurses'  Co-operation. 

S,  New  Cavendish  Street, 
London,  W. 

OUR  GUINEA  PRIZE. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 
Dttar  ^Iadam. — I  am  so  grateful  to  you  for  the 
£1  Is.  prize.  It  was  a  pleasant  surprise.  I  have 
been  a  regular  reader  of  the  British  JouENAb  op 
NcRSiNG  for  five  yeai-s,  and  have  hardly  faHed  in 
that  time  to  send  in  solutions  for  Puzzle 
prize.s.  Perseverance  has  bc<>n  rcwardetl.  I 
thauk  you.  Madam,  for  all  you  do  for  the  welfare 
of  nurses — so  many  kindly  actl^.     If  not  too  early 


482 


'(I  lie  Britisb  3ournaI  of  mursingo 


[Dec.  10,  1910 


may  I  wish  you  all  good  things  for  Christmas  and 
the  coming  year? 

Yours  truly, 

A.  M.  Shoesiuth. 
Nurses'  Home,  Durham. 


PLEASE  HELP  NURSING   IN   NORWAY. 

To  the  Editor  of  ihe  "British  Journal  of  Nursing." 
Deah  Madaji, — I  am  venturing  to  write  to  you 
because  I  know  you  take  an  interest  in  nursing  all 
over  the  world,  and  I  hope  you  will  excuse  me 
troubling  you.  I  was  at  the  Congress  in  London 
la.st  yeai',  where  we  got  so  many  inspiring  thoughts, 
and  all  the  time  since  we  have  been  trying  to  realise 
some  of  them. 

We  train  nurses  for  work  in  the  country.  The 
National  Committee  for  Tuberculosis  is  now  want- 
ing to  give  them  special  lectures  on  "  How  to  Pre- 
vent Consumption  "  and  on  "  Hygiene."  We  are 
not  finite  sure  of  how  we  are  going  to  arrange  these, 
and  that  is  why  I  am  writing  to  you. 

Perhaps  you  w/)uld  kindly  forward  my  letter  to  a 
Matron  of  District  Nurses,  or  you  might  be  able  to 
send  me  some  syllabus.     May  I  ask  some  questions : 

(1)  Is  the  three  years  hospital  nurse  obliged  to  have 
some  special  training  in  order  to  become  a  district, 
factory,  or  school  nurse?  If  so,  would  you  kindly 
send  me  the  syllabus? 

(2)  I  believe  I  have  heard  about  nurses  giving 
hygiene  lectures  in  the  district.  Have  you  got 
any  .syllabus  ? 

(3)  Have  you  any  pamphlets  for  distribution  to 
the  public  on  prevention  of  consumption  and  cleanli- 
ness ?     If  so,  may  I  ask  you  to  send  them  ? 

I  feel  quite  sorry  to  give  you  so  much  trouble, 
but    1   do   not   know  anyliody  else  to  whom   I  can 
write.     It    would   be   a   very   great   i>lea.sure  to  me 
if  I  were  able  to  render  you  any  service. 
With  many  thanks  for  your  answer, 

I  am,  dear  Madam,  yours  faithfully, 
Camilla  Struve, 

Head  Nurse. 
The  Bergen  Hospital, 
Bergen,  Norway. 

[(1)  The  Queen  Victoria's  Jubilee  Institute  re- 
quires nurses  to  have  six  months'  special  practical 
and  theoretical  training  in  a  District  Nurses'  Home, 
followed  by  examination,  before  they  are  accepted 
as  Queen's  Nurses.  (2)  So  far  we  are  not  aware 
of  any  nurses  having  taken  up  special  work  in  fac- 
tories in  this  country.  Miss  Del.ino,  Office  of 
Surgeon-General,  U.S.A.,  Washington,  D.C.,  who 
read  the  paper  on  the  Factory  Nurse  at  the  Inter- 
national Congress  of  Nur.ses,  might  be  able  to  give 
some  information  on  this  point.  (3)  Special  training 
is  not  riimpulsorii  for  School  Nurses  so  far,  but 
iLseful  special  courses  have  been  established  bj-  the 
Royal  Sanitary  Institute.  90,  Buckingham  Palace 
Road,  London,  S.W.,  for  Health  Visitors  and 
School"  Nur.ses  and  on  School  Hygiene ,  and  by  the 
Royal  In.stitute  of  Public  Health,  37,  Russell 
Square,  Lontlon,  W.C,  followed  by  an  examination. 
The  National  Association  for  the  Prevention  of  Con- 
sumption, 20,  Hanover  Square,  London,  W.,  pub- 
lishes .some  useful  literature  and  leaflets :  also  the 
Women's    Imperial    Health    Association    of    Great 


Britain,  3,  Princes  Street,  Hanover  Square,  Lon- 
don, W.,  also  the  Women's  National  Health  Associa- 
tion of  Ireland,  communications  to  which  should  be 
addressed  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Association,  Vice- 
regal Lodge,  Dublin.  Perhaps  some  of  our  readers 
will  communicate  with  our  correspondent. — Ed.] 


WOMEN   INSPECTORS  OF  LUNATICS. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 
Dear  JIadam, — I  note  with  much  pleasure  that 
the  Blackrock  Urban  Council  has  been  urging  the 
appointment  of  women  inspectors  of  lunatics  and 
women  membei-s  of  Asylum  Committees.  It  is  only 
right  that  these  afflicted  people  should  have  the 
benefit  of  supervision  by  women  as  well  as  men, 
and  the  only  wonder  is  that  this  has  not  been 
arranged  for  long  ago.  Women  should  be 
appointed  on  all  committees  whicu  supervise  in- 
stitutions; they  are  much  more  oonvei-sant  «-ith 
the  details  which  need  inspection  than  men.  "Wliat 
man,  for  instance,  sees  the  thousand  and  one 
things  which  need  attention  in  his  own  home,  and 
if  he  does  not  see  them  there  why  should  his  eyes 
be  keener  in  an  institution? 

Further,  it  is  only  due  to  women  patients  that 
they  should  be  able  to  speak  of  their  troubles — 
real  or  imaginary — to  members  of  their  own  sex.  It 
is  a  far  greater  necessity  than  that  men  patients 
should  have  access  to  male  members  of  a  com- 
mittee, for  men  will  not  unfrequently  turn  to 
women  for  sympathy  and  understanding,  but  what 
woman  will  willingly  speak  openly  to  a  man  about 
many  matters  which  she  desires  rectified.  We  know 
that  she  would  often  prefer  her  wrongs  to  remain 
unrighted  if  their  rectification  involves  detailing 
them  to  one  of  the  opposite  sex.  Again,  it  is  wrong 
that  there  slionld  be  no  woman  on  a  committee 
whom  the  large  female  staff  employed  in  asylums 
can  appi-oach.  I  think  al.<vo  that  the  necessity  of 
appointing  women  as  well  as  men  as  Visitors-in- 
Lunacy  sliould  Ije  represented  to  the  Lord 
Chancellor. 

I  am,  dear  Madam, 

Yours  faithfully, 

Matron. 


Comments  an^  TReplies. 

Private  Nurse,  Wolverhampton. — A  very  pleas- 
ant and  useful  mouth  wash  is  Listerine,  which  also 
has  antiseptic  properties,  and  is  commendable  for 
this  reason.  Few  of  those  who  have  once  used  it 
would  willingly  be  without  it. 

Questioner,  London. — It  is  a  mistake  for  a  baby's 
binder  to  be  applied  too  tightly.  The  main  use  of 
a  binder  is  to  keep  the  dressing  on  the  cord  in 
position.  When  the  cord  separates  the  flannel 
binder  may  still  be  applied  for  the  purpose  of  keeji- 
ing  the  abdomen  warm,  but  the  same  object  can 
be  achieved  by  a  warm  Shetland  vest. 

IRotice. 


OUR   PUZZLE   PRIZE. 
Rules    for    competing    for    the    Pictorial    Puzzle- 
Prize  will  be  found  on  Advertisement  page  xii. 


Dec.  10, 1910;     ^|5C  ffivittsb  3ournal  of  ■fl^urelno  SiuuMcmcnt.        '^^ 

The    Midwife. 


Ipropbplaris  in  ©bstetrics. 

Dr.  A.  \V.  liussell,  M.A.,  Obstetric  Physi- 
cian to  the  ilatemity  Hospital,  and  Surgeon  to 
the  Royal  Samaritan  Hospital  for  Women, 
Glasgow,  delivered  a  most  illuminating  address 
on  the  above  subject  at  the  opening  of  the  pre- 
sent session  of  the  Glasgow  Obstetrical  and 
Gynaecological  Society,  which  is  published  at 
length  in  the  British  Medical  Journal  of  De- 
cember 3rd,  and  deserves  careful  study  by 
all  midwives. 

^The  lecturer  states  that  prophylaxis  is  de- 
fined as  "  the  mode  of  defending  the  body 
against  disease,"  and  says  that  "  in  relation  to 
obstetrics  we  may  define  it  as  the  prevention  of 
complications  in  the  course  of  pregnancj",  dur- 
ing the  pi-ogress  of  pai-turition,  and  throughout 
the  puerperium  until  complete  convalescence 
has  again  been  established." 

Hereditary  Influexces. 
He  further  says: — "I  think  it  is  Oliver 
Wendell  Holmes  who  somewhere  says  that,  if 
we  want  to  cure  some  diseases  of  the  present 
generation,  we  must  go  at  least  two  generations 
back.  I  do  not  propose,  however,  to  take  much 
account  of  hereditary  influences,  though  we 
must  not  entirely  forget  them  even  in  such  an 
inquiry  as  the  present.  Antenatal  pathology  is 
a  fascinating  field  of  study,  and  a  whole  ad- 
dress might  with  profit  be  devoted  to  the  in- 
teresting facts  of  such  study,  or  a  night  given 
to  their  discussion.  As  yet  prophylaxis,  as 
applied  to  this  particular  period,  is  probably 
limited  to  the  prevention  of  the  pregnant 
woman  from  exposing  herself  to  any  of  the  in- 
fectious diseases,  as  her  immunity,  acquired 
by  previous  attack,  does  not  extend  to  the  un- 
born infant.  In  an  epidemic  of  small-pox  it 
might  be  advisable  to  vaccinate  her  to  increase 
the  immunity  of  the  infant.  If  she  is  the  sub- 
ject of  syphilis,  she  should  be  treated  both  for 
her  own  and  for  her  child's  sake,  and,  even  if 
the  father  alone  is  affected,  she  should  be 
treated  for  the  child's  sake.  It  is  important 
also  to  remember  that  in  certain  eases  where 
the  infant's  vitality  is  reduced  in  the  last  month 
of  pregnancy,  the  induction  of  premature 
labour  at  an  earlier  date  may  save  a  subsequent 
child.  I  pay  little  regard  to  what  has  been 
written  about  niat<>mal  impressions,  but  it  has 
been  established  with  almost  scientific  pre- 
cision that  alcoholic  indulgence  on  the  part  of 
the  mother  is  seriously  prejudicial  to  the 
growth  and  life  of  the  child.     I  believe,  also. 


that  the  expectant  mother  should  be  encour- 
aged to  a  cheerful  life  and  the  avoidance  of 
mental  irritation  and  excitement  and  low  de- 
sires. If  we  cannot  remove  such  influences, 
we  can  at  least  endeavour  to  secure  that  they 
will  not  be  perpetuated  in  future  generations." 

He  then  deals  with  the  future  mother,  the 
infant  and  rickets,  girlhood  and  the  approach  of 
puberty,  the  young  woman,  and  maniage.  In 
connection  with  mamage,  he  says:  "It  is 
almost  a  criminal  thing  that  gonorrhceal  infec- 
tion of  a  wife  by  her  husband,  with  its  disas- 
trous consequences  to  her  much  more  than  to 
him,  should  be  of  so  frequent  ■  occurrence. 
Motherhood  and  the  prophylaxis  of  pregnancy 
are  next  discussed,  the  prophylaxis  of  labour, 
and  the  prophylaxis  of  the  puerperium. 
Prophylaxis  in  Labour. 

"  The  aim  here  is,"  the  lecturer  states,  "  to 
promote  nomial  labour,  and  do  nothing  at  any 
stage  of  it  that  will  be  prejudicial  to  the  mother 
or  the  child.  Prophylaxis  is  exercised  in  regu- 
lating the  conduct  of  the  patient  as  to  her 
movements  or  her  rest  or  her  position  in  bed, 
according  to  the  stage  or  the  labour,  and  in  pro- 
tecting her  from  chill,  from  exhaustion,  and 
from  mental  excitement.  The  rules  as  to  asep- 
sis must  be  observed  from  the  very  beginning 
of  labour.  The  patient  must  be  handled  or 
examined  internally  as  little  as  possible,  and 
attention  must  be  given  inst^ead  to  external 
abdominal  palpation  as  a  means  of  diagnosis, 
and  when  such  handling  or  examination  is 
necessary  it  is  desirable  that  rubber  gloves  be 
used.  Premature  rupture  of  the  membranes 
must  be  avoided,  but  it  is  just  as  important 
to  i^upture  them  at  the  right  time. 

"The  greatest  care  must  be  taken  at  this  stage 
to  diagnose  the  exact  position  of  the  child,  for 
often  in  lingering  labour  the  delay  and  diffi- 
culty arise  from  the  least  eiTor  in  the  jxjsition 
of  the  presenting  part,  and  any  abnormality  of 
this  character  can  best  be  con-ected  before  rup- 
ture of  the  membranes. 

"  For  the  preservation  of  the  perineum  many 
directions  have  been  given,  but  probably  none 
of  them  ai-e  universally  applicable.  Ajiy  in- 
volving the  insertion  of  a  finger  into  the  rectum 
deser\-e  unqualified  condemnation.  The  least 
we  can  do  is  to  maintain  flexion  and  to  keep 
the  presenting  part,  especially  if  it  is  the  head, 
from  emerging  hurriedly  at  the  crisis  of  a  pain. 
.\  laceration  often  begins  high  up  in  the  vagina, 
owing  to  the  lack  of  sufficienT*43exion  or  some 
other  abnonna'lity  in  the  position  of  the  pre- 


484 


^be  British  3ournal  ct  iRursino  Supplement,  [i^ec.  10,1910 


senting  part.  A  torn  perineum  is  not  the  worst 
thing  that  can  happen,  but  it  should,  of  course, 
be  at  once  and  carefully  repaired.  It  is  better 
to  postpone  the  repair  for  a  few  hours  than  to 
do  it  ineffectively  at  the  time,  for  it  has  been 
found  that  such  a  repair  is  a  poor  support  to 
the  pelvic  structures  and  often  necessitates 
secondary  repair. 

Prophylaxis  in   the  Puerpeeiuji. 

"  Even  if  the  precautious  hitherto  described 
have  been  properly  observed,  there  is  still  need 
in  the  puei-perium  for  a  vigilant  prophylaxis, 
as  a  mere  enumeration  of  the  possible  comi^li- 
cations  sufficiently  shows.  The  patient  must 
be  saved  from  the  effects  of  constipation, 
hsemoiThoidS;  retention  of  urine,  blood  dis- 
orders, nervous  disturbances  (such  as  eclamp- 
sia insanity,  neuritis,  aphasia),  anomalies  of 
the  breasts  and  the  milk  secretion,  too  severe 
"  after  pains, "'tardy  involution  of  the  ut-erus, 
undue  haemorrhage,  and  septic  infection.  Alike 
in  the  worst  and  in  the  least  serious  complica- 
tions that  threaten  the  puerpera,  attention  to 
the  earliest  symptoms  will  often  save  her  from 
troublesome  after-results,  and  sometimes  even 
from  a  fatal  issue.  The  first  and  most  alarm- 
ing complication,  on  account  of  its  suddenness, 
is  post-partum  hgemon-hage.  If  prophylaxis 
has  been  exercised  in  the  final  stage  of  labour 
by  controlling  the  uterus  from  the  moment  that 
the  presenting  part  emerges  from  the  vaginal 
orifioe  until  the  placenta  is  bom,  there  is  little 
likelihood  of  alanning  hfemorrhage; 

"Of  the  minor  complications  none  is  more  up- 
setting  than  mammary  abscess,  and  it  hardly 
needs  to  be  remarked  that  this  can  almost  in- 
variably be  traced  to  some  previous  inatten- 
tion to  precautions  in  the  care  of  the  breasts 
and  the  regular  feeding  of  the  infant. 

"In  1908, 241  deaths  from  puerperalfeverwere 
notified  to  the  Eegistrar-General  for  Scotland, 
and  of  these  119  occuired  in  Glasgow.  The  re- 
gistered deaths  in  Scotland  during  the  ten 
years  1899-1908  numbered  2,612,  and  yet  it 
is  a  preventable  disease.  What  a  toll  to  pay 
to  defective  method !  And  this  is  not  all,  for 
it  is  impossible  to  estimate  the  much  greater 
number  of  women  who  have  more  or  less  "  mor- 
bidity "  from  milder  sepsis  and  are  more  or  less 
handicapped  afterwards  in  their  lives.  The 
reasons  are  some  of  them  not  far  to  seek,  and 
until  every  practitioner,  midwife,  and  obstet- 
rical nurse  not  only  practises  surgical  cleanli- 
ness as  to  the  hands,  instniniients,  and  swabs 
that  arc  used,  but  also,  and  as  carefully, 
cleanses  the  parts  of  the  patient  that  are  to  be 
handled,  one  need  not  rxpect  in  private  prac- 
tice to  abolish  i)uerperal  septicemia  as  one  of 
the  most  frequent  and  Irast  justifiable  causes 
of  deatli  of  women  in  childbed." 


THE  BRITISH  MEDICAL  ASSOCIATION  AND  THE 
MIDWIVES   BILL  (No.  2). 

The  last  issue  of  the  Supplement  of  the  official 
organ  of  the  British  Medical  Association  gives  a 
full  report  of  the  reception  of  a  deputation  from 
that  body  to  the  Right  Hon.  Jahn  Burns,  M.P., 
President  of  the  Local  Government  Board,  on  the 
subject  of  the  Midwives  (\o.  2)  Bill.  The  deputa- 
tion was  introduced  by  Mr.  H.  T.  Butlin,  President 
of  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons,  and  the  principal 
speaker  was  Mr.  T.  Jenner  Verrall,  Chairman  of 
the  Medico-Political  Committee  of  the  British 
Medical  Association,  who  said  that  the  part  of  the 
Bill  in  which  they  were  specially  interested  was 
Clause  17. 

In  the  course  of  a  sympathetic  reply,  Mr.  Burns 
said,  in  response  to  a  request  preferred  by  Mr. 
Verrall,  that  he  would  be  only  too  pleased  that  a 
.small  deputation  of  the  British  Medical  A.ssociation 
should  see  his  medical  officers  and  those  officially 
concerned  with  the  Bill. 

As  Parliament  is  now  dissolved  the  Bill  is  dead, 
and  it  remains  to  be  seen  whether  it  will  be  resusci- 
tated in  its  present  form  in  the  new  Parliament. 


THE   MIDWIVES'  INSTITUTE. 

Miss  .Jane  Wilson,  who  has  been  President  of  the 
Midwives'  Institute  since  1894,  has  placed  her  resig- 
nation in  the  hands  of  the  Council.  We  regret 
that  the  condition  of  Miss  Wilson's  health  was  the 
cause  of  this  decision.  Miss  Wilson  held  the  posi- 
tion of  President  of  the  Midwives'  Institute  during 
the  strenuous  years  before  the  passing  of  the  Mid- 
wives  Act,  and  as  the  representative  of  the  Privy 
Council  on  the  Central  jMidwives'  Board  in  its  early 
years  was  a  valuable  member  of  the  Board,  owing 
to  the  experience  she  had  thus  acquired.  Her  resig- 
nation will  be  deeply  and  rightly  regretted  by  the 
members  of  the  Institute. 

We  learn  from  the  official  organ  of  the  Institute 
that  Miss  Amy  Hughes,  General  Superintendent  of 
Queen  Victoria's  Jubilee  Institute,  and  for  many 
years  a  member  of  the  Council  of  the  Midwives' 
In.stitute,  has  unanimously  been  nominated  by  the 
Council  for  election  to  the  Presidency  at  the  annual 
meeting  in  .January.  We  do  not  doubt  that  the 
members  will  endorse  the  nomination  as  a  wise  and 
acceptable  one. 

THE  MATERNITY   DEPARTMENT  AT   ST. 
BARTHOLOMEWS. 

The  dwision  to  oi)eii  a  maternity  ward  at  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital  necessitates  a  nuniljcr  of 
alterations,  aiul  "  Elizabeth  "  is  to  Ije  devoted  to 
tho  ohsletric  cases,  with  fourteen  beds  in  the  back 
ward,  tho  front  being  divided  into  a  labour  room, 
babies'  bath  room,  and  waiting  room. 

The  weak  point  in  this  arrnngemont  is  that  tho 
one  ward  must  bo  in  constant  use,  and  cannot  be 
clasod  ))enodically  for  thorough  cleaning  as  is  cer- 
tainly desiralilo.  .\t  Queen  Charlotte's  Hospital, 
for  in.stance,  when  oni'  floor,  which  has  its  own 
lying-in  w.\rd.  labour  ward,  and  appendagi«,  sends 
out  the  la.st  patient  the  department  is  closed  for 
thorough  rUvaning,  and  n<nv  jiatients  are  receiver! 
on  the  next  floor. 


THE 

WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 

lUK  imiisiii€  wEC<m 

EDITED  BY  MRS  BEDFORD  FENWICK 


No.  1,185. 


SATURDAY,     DECEMBER     17,     1910. 


I£^itOl•Ial. 


COMING    EVENTS    CAST  THEIR   SHADOWS 
BEFORE. 

ChristmasDayis  oneof  the  great  landmarks 
of  the  year,  and  long  before  the  actual  date 
we  live  under  its  inlluence.  We  cannot  take 
up  a  daily  paper  without  seeing  the  arrange- 
ments which  are  being  made  for  the  conve- 
nience of  the  travelling  public  ;  the  shops, 
in  festive  dress,  remind  us  that  we  need 
calendars  and  cards  and  Yule  Tide  gifts  for 
friends  at  home  and  abroad.  On  all  sides 
Christmas  comes  to  meet  us,  and  impresses 
lis  with  its  claims  upon  our  thoughts,  our 
time,  and  out  pockets. 

To  none  does  it  appeal  with  greater  force 
than  to  the  nursing  staffs  of  hospitals  and 
infirmaries,  and  to  those  whose  work  takes 
them  into  the  homes  of  the  poor.  The  season 
brings  no  holiday  for  them — their  work  is 
doubled,  and  it  is  a  weary  staff  who  go  off 
duty  when  Christmas  Day  is  at  length  over. 
But  if  -Matrons,  Sisters  and  nurses  are  weary, 
they  are  happy,  for  the  day  has  seen  the 
consummation  of  the  work  of  weeks  of  fore- 
thought and  endeavour,  and  in  sharing  the 
joy  of  hundreds  of  patients — joy  in  the  pro- 
motion of  which  they  have  been  the  main 
factors — they  themselves  have  found  the 
peace  and  contentment  which  are  the  out- 
come of  unselfish  devotion  to  others,  and  it 
is  certain  that  nowhere  for  a  less  expendi- 
ture is  greater  pleasure  given  than  by  the 
Sisters  and  nurses  in  the  hospitals  and 
infirmaries  throughout  the  kingdom — for  if 
their  pockets  are  light  their  sympathies  are 
wide,  and  their  fingers  nimble,  and,  given 
a  combination  of  foresight,  skill  and  earnest 
desire,  it  is  possible  to  achieve  much  on  a 
small  expenditure. 

Nevertlieless,  the  demands  on  the  slender 
incomes  of  nurses  who  work  amongst  the 


sick  poor  in  institutions  and  elsewhere,  and 
know  their  needs,  and  those  of  their  families, 
iipon  whom  the  sickness  of  father  or  mother 
alwaj'S  presses  hardly,  are  many.  If  there 
were  a  deeper  pui-se  to  be  dipped  into  much 
more  could  be  done,  and  those  well-endowed 
with  means  could  scarcely  expend  a  portion 
of  them  to  better  advantage  at  this  season 
than  in  co-operation  with  the  nursing  staffs 
of  our  hospitals,  infirmaries,  district  nursing 
homes,  or  with  school  nurses,  any  one  of 
whom  co\xld  give  expert  information  as  to 
how  money  can  be  laid  out  to  tiie  best  advan- 
tage at  this  season. 

The  patients  in  the  wards,  and  even 
more  the  out-patients  of  our  great  hospi- 
tals, need  to  have  help  and  brightness 
brought  into  their  lives  on  Christmas 
Day,  for  in-patients  are  at  least  certain  of 
warmth  and  cgmfort,  and  good  food  ;  while, 
if  the  condition  of  the  homes  of  many  of  the 
out-patients  in  our  hospitals  were  once 
realised,  surely  no  one  in  the  wealthy  dis- 
tricts of  our  great  cities  could  eat  their 
Christmas  dinner  in  luxury  without  doing 
something  to  ensure  that  some  of  those 
whose  grates  are  often  fireless,  whose  cup- 
boards are  often  bare — are  sure  of  warmth 
and  food  ou  this  one  day  of  the  year. 

.Neither  let  us  forget  the  school  children, 
the  necessitous  among  whom  are  now  fed 
while  the  schools  are  open,  but  during  the 
holidays  often  feel  the  pinch  of  hunger.  We 
hope  that  every  school  child  will,  have  a 
Christmas  dinner,  and  that  sometliing  of 
the  joy  and  comfort  of  the  season  wiU 
penetrate  to  every  cheerless  home  in  the 
kingdom. 

If  those  with  means  would  co-opei-ate 
with  those  with  knowledge,  this  end  would 
be  speedily  achieved,  and  plenty  for  one 
dav  at  least  would  be  brougjjt  within  reach 
of 'all. 


trbc  3Si1tisb  3onrnal  of  IRursfng.        roec.  17, 1910 


Clinical  IRotes  on  Sonic  Common 
Hilments. 


By  a.  Knyvett  Gordox,  ]\I.B.,  Cantab. 
ENTERIC  FEVER. 

In  considering  the  subject  of  enteric  fever, 
I  shall  depart  somewhat  from  the  description 
of  the  disease  as  it  is  usually  given  in  the 
medical  text  books,  and  adopt  an  explanation 
of  its  pathology  which  has  been  furnished  by 
some  recent  laborator-y  work  on  the  subject, 
and  which  has  also  the  merit  of  simplifying 
very  considerably  our  conception  of  the  nature 
of  the  infection.  As  previously,  I  shall  not 
give  a.  detailed  description  of  the  symptoms 
of  the  disease,  but  shall  confine  myself  to 
general  principles  only. 

Enteric  feve'r  is  due  to  invasion  of  the  body 
by  the  bacillus  typhosus — ^to  that,  and  to  that 
alone.  An  attack  7nay  be  caused  by  inhahng 
the  air  laden  with  the  organisms,  but  in  the 
vast  majority  of  cases,  the  germ  is  swallowed, 
that  is  to  say,  some  article  of  food  or  drink 
becomes  contaminated  with  bacilli — always,  be 
it  noted,  derived  from  a  previous  patient  suffer- 
ing from  enteric  fever — and  is  unwittingly  con- 
sumed by  the  patient. 

Epidemics  of  enteric  are  usually  due  to  a 
polluted  water  supply,  that  is  to  say,  the  ex- 
creta from  a  previous  case- of  the  disease  find 
their  way  into  a  well,  or  even,  as  in  the  Cater- 
ham  outbreak,  into  a  reservoir,  and  very  many 
of  the  consumers  of  the  water  contract  the 
disease.  Or  the  infection  may  be  indirect,  as 
when  articles  of  food  ai"e  washed  with  polluted 
water,  and  it  is  in  this  way  that  oysters  and 
cockles  or  mussels  give  rise  to  enteric.  What 
then  happens  is  that  the  shellfish,  though  they 
are  quite  innocuous  when  they  are  taken  from 
the  deep  sea,  are  laid  down  to  fatten  in  beds 
where  they  become  contaminated.  Now 
these  beds  are  very  frequently  situated 
at  the  mouths  of  rivere,  or  on  the  sea  shore 
where  there  is  a  tract  of  shallow  water  through 
which  the  tide  ebbs  and  flows,  and  it  often 
hapi)ens  that  they  are  not  very  far  from  the 
mouths  of  large  drain  pipes,  and  in  practice 
the  oysters  fatten  on  the  sewage  thus  dis- 
charged. For  some  reason  or  other,  they  seem 
to  prefer  typhoid  bacilli,  and  these  germs  grow 
inside  the  shellfish,  and  thvis  give  the  disease 
to  aiiyone  who  eats  them.  In  the  same  way 
watercress  is  often  grown  on  sewage,  and  is 
then  apt  to  infect  the  consymer  of  it. 

Another  way  in  which  food  becomes  con- 
taminated is  by  flics,  which  can-y  particles  of 
infected  matter  from  the  waste  matters  on 
which  they  feed  to  the  food  over  which  they 
so  freely  crawl,  atid  recent  research  has  siiowu 


that  files  play  a  very  important  part  in  the 
dissemination  of  enteric  and  kindred  diseases 
in  this  manner.  The  lesson  is  obvious ;  though 
we  cannot  avoid  polluted  water,  unless  we 
never  drink  any  that  has  not  been  recently 
boiled,  or  filtered  through  a  gei'm-proof  filter, 
it  is  not  essential  to  our  existence  that  we 
should  consume  shellfish,  and  we  can  always 
keep  food  covered  up  with  covers  of  wire  gauze. 

But  it  is  well-known  that  nurses  are  very 
prone  to  contract  enteric  fever,  and  there  are 
now  many  instances  where  young  and  useful 
lives  have  been  sacrificed  in  this  way,  so  it  is 
perhaps  well  that  we  should  investigate  this 
part  of  the  subject  rather  more  closely.  Now, 
while  it  cannot  be  denied  that  it  is  possible 
for  a  nurse  to  contract  the  disease  by  inhaling 
the  breath  of  her  patient,  infection  by  this 
route  must  be  very  rare,  and  there  can  be  no 
doubt  that  a  more  usual  way  is  for  the  bacilli 
to  get  on  to  the  hands  of  the  nurse  and  thence 
to  her  food.  We  must  take  it  that  whenever 
a  nurse  is  in  constant  attendance  on  a  patient 
suffering  from  enteric  very  many  germs  must 
reach  her  hands,  however  careful  she  may  be, 
unless  rubber  gloves  are  worn- — as,  in  my  view, 
they  should  be — not  only  when  soiled  linen  or 
utensils  are  being  handled,  but  also  whenever 
the  patient's  mouth  is  being  cleansed,  or  any 
dressing  done. 

How  many  times,  I  wonder,  does  a 
nurse  go  straight  from  a  ward  where  there  is  a 
typhoid  patient  to  the  dining-room,  after  an 
ordinary  washing  of  the  hands,  and  forthwith 
begin  to  eat  bread  with  her  fingere  while  she  is 
waiting  for  more  solid  fare?  Or  again,  it  may 
be  her  "  afternoon  off  "  and  slie  changes  hur- 
riedly into  out-door  garb,  and  puts  on  a  pair 
of  gloves,  which  are  not  removed  until  she 
reaches  the  seductive  tea  shop  (the  visit  to 
which  may  be  necessitated  by  the  fact  tliat  her 
dinner  has  been  so  badly  cooked  that  she  has 
eat«n  as  little  of  it  as  possible),  when  she  again 
manipulates  the  appetising  confectionery  with 
her  fingers.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  I  once  took 
cultures  from  the  gloves  of  a  nurse  in  an  en- 
teric ward,  who  was  really  one  of  the 
most  careful  and  conscientious  people 
I  have  ever  met,  and  grew  a  very  fiiie  selection 
of  typhoid  bacilli  from  them.  No  nurse  who 
is  in  attendance  on  even  one  typhoid  patient 
ought  ever  to  touch  her  food  with  her  fingers. 
Eating  bread  and  butter  with  a  knife  and  fork 
may  be  unconventional,  but  it  is  better  than 
contracting  an  attack  of  enteric  fever. 

We  now  come  to  the  results  of  swallowing 
these  genns,  and  here  I  am  going  to  deviate 
a  little  from  the  text,  books.  We  know  now 
that  the  bacilli  get  straight  into  the  circulating 
blood,  and  we  can  find  them  there  in  almost 


Dec.   17,  1010; 


ZlK  Britisb  joutnai  ot  IHiusmiy. 


487 


every  case  cUiriiig  the  first  week  or  ten  dav-< : 
theuce  thev  are  diseliarged  through  the  kid- 
neys, and  in  the  vast  majority  of  patients,  the 
urine  from  the  middle  of  the  second  week  on- 
wards for  a  variable  period  coutaius  the  bacillus 
typhosus.  They  are  also  found  in  the  spleen 
and  in  certain  portions,  of  lymphatic  tissue  in 
the  int-estine  which  are  known  as  Peyere' 
patches.  In  the  latter  situation  they  cause 
death  of  the  tissue,  aud  ultimately  the  dead 
portion  is  cast  oE  leaving  an  ulcer. 

So  we  have  in  enteric  fever  two  facts  to  keep 
before  our  minds;  one  is  that  the  bacilli  with 
which  the  circulating  blood  is  swarming  are 
producing  poisons,  or  toxins  as  they  are  called, 
and  that  the  patient  is  tlierefore  suffering  from 
a  general  disease,  which  goes  on  whatever  we 
may  do  to  the  intestine,  and  another  is  that 
the  presence  of  weak  spots  in  the  bowel  itself 
is  a  source  of  danger.  Formerly  we  did  not 
know  that  the  organisms  got  into  the  blood 
from  the  first,  and  so  we  concentrated  our  at- 
tention somewhat  too  closely  on  the  ulcerated 
intestine. 

The  incubation  period  of  enteric  fever  is 
usually  12  or  1-1  days,  and  though  we  have  hs 
yet  no  definite  evidence  on  this  point,  the  pro- 
bability is  that  during  this  time  the  bacilli  are 
growing  in  the  blood  to  a  certain  extent ;  most 
people  feel  ill  during  this  incubation  period. 

The  onset  of  the  disease  proper  is  not  well 
marked  as  a  rule,  but  the  patient  has  a  head- 
ache, which  continues  steadily — though  the 
pain  is  not,  as  a  rule,  very  acute — instead  of 
passing  off  as  most  headaches  do;  he  also  be- 
comes more  and  more  tired,  and  feels  heavy, 
stupid,  and  ill. 

As  a  rule  the  patient  now  thinks  that  he  has 
a  bilious  attack,  and  takes  an  aperient,  which 
gives  him  abdominal  pain  and  diarrhoea,  or 
rather,  instead  of  his  bowels  being  opened  once 
or  twice  only,  they  continue  to  act  for  a  few 
days.  In  severe  attacks  there  is  sometimes 
dian-hoea  apart  from  any  aperient,  but  as  a 
rule  the  onset  of  enteric  fever  is  not  marked 
either  by  abdominal  pain  or  undue  looseness 
of  the  bowels  when  no  purgative  has  been  ad- 
ministered or  taken  ;  this,  as  will  be  seen  later, 
is  rather  an  important  point. 

At  the  onset  the  temperature  is  raised,  and 
it  advances  by  two  degrees  at  night  and  falls 
by  one  degree  in  the  morning  until  a  pyrexia 
of  103  or  104  degrees  is  reached,  when  it  re- 
mains with  but  slight  variations  for  a  fortnight 
or  so:  the  temperature  then  begins  to  drop  to 
the  normal'  or  nearly  so,  in  the  mornings,  the 
evening  readings  being  gradually  lower  until 
the  normal  line  is  reached  altogether,  at  about 
the  end  of  the  third  week ;  both  shorter  and 
longer  perio'l~  nif.  however,  quite  common. 


With  the.  headache  and  the  pyrexia  there  is 
prostration,  which  may  be  extreme,  so  that  the 
patient  lies  almost  unconscious  of  his  surround- 
ings, and  there  is  almost  always  some  delirium 
at  nights.     He  becomes  steadily  thinner. 

Nov.-  these  are  simply  the  signs  of  toxsemia, 
aud  in  many  cases  there  is  noiliing,  or  very 
little,  to  show  where  the  manufactory  of  the 
toxin  is;  before  the  discovery  of  the  bacilli  in 
the  blood  we  assumed  that  they  were  formed 
in  the  intestinal  ulcei-s,  but  against  this  is  the 
fact  that  if  we  examine  the  body  of  a  person 
who  has  died  of  enteric  we  find  very  many  more 
bacilli  at  the  beginning  of  the  intestine  than 
lower  down,  where  the  ulcers  are;  also  the 
degree  of  poisoning  observed  at  the  bedside 
does  not  correspond  to  the  amount  of  ulcera- 
tion found  post  mortem. 

But  in  many  cases  the  ulceration  does  give 
rise  to  signs  and  symptoms,  and  of  these  the 
most  important  is  distension  of  the  abdomen, 
which,  when  it  is  well  marked,  is  known  as 
meteorism ;  sometimes  abdominal  pain  and 
diarrhoea  are  due  to  ulceration,  but,  as  will  be 
seen  later,  this  is  not  the  most  common  cause 
of  either.  Sometimes  the  ulcers  are  deeper 
than  usual,  and  one  of  them  may  penetrate 
the  submucous  layer  of  the  intestine  and  open 
up  a  blood  vessel,  so  that  we  get  hemorrhage 
from  the  bowel,  or  it  may  go  deeper  still  and 
make  a  hole  right  through  all  the  coats,  so  that 
the  contents  of  the  intestine  escape  into  the 
■abdominal  cavity;  this  is  known  as  perfora- 
tion :  the  signs  of  both  these  complications  will 
be  described  in  a  future  article. 

To  sum  up,  enteric  fever  is  a  general  infec- 
tion of  the  blood  with  the  B.  Typhosus,  which 
also  irritates  the  intestine,  so  that  ulceration 
results.  Keejjing  this  before  our  minds,  we  will 
next  consider  how  the  disease  may  best  oe 
treated,  and  then  discuss  the  signs  which 
should  indicate  to  the  nurse  that  all  is  not 
well  with  the  patient. 


^F5C  3risb  IRurses'  association. 

On  I)eceaiber  tjili  Dr.  Douglas  Good  gave 
the  members  of  the  Irish  Nurses'  Association 
a  most  interesting  lecture  on  "  Manage  and 
Its  Use  in  Common  Ailments."  After  telling 
the  origin  of  massage  and  how  it  was  practised 
in  the  far-away  ages.  Dr.  Good  described  the 
kind  of  nuree  who  should  take  up  massage, 
and  also  tJie  proper  conditions  for  her  to  live 
under,  so  that  she  might  keep  herself  in  good 
health.  He  also  gave  some  valuable  informa- 
tion with  regard  to  breatlmig  movements  in 
order  to  relax  muscles.  ^liss  Shuter  presided 
and  there  wa~   i  li.-r..^  itrendance. 


488 


Zbc  IBritisb  3oiirnal  ot  iftursma. 


[Dec.  17,  IVIO 


XLbc  fIDatrons'  dounctl. 


A  RECENT   MEMBER 

^Jiss  ^lary  Wiiiraill,  the  ^latron  of  the  Chil- 
dren's lufii'mary,  Carshalton,  under  the  Metro- 
politan Asyhims  Board,  and  a  member  of  the 
^latrons'  Council,  was  trained  at  St.  Bartholo- 
mew's Hospital,  London,  entering  the  Special 
Probationers'  Home  in  Februan",  1894,  and 
after  an  interval,  entered  as  a  regular  proba- 
tioner at  the  end  of  that  year.  On  obtaining 
her  certificate  she  passed  on  to  the  Trained 
Nurses'  Institute,  aft^r  which,  desiring  to  ob- 
tain experience  in  ma- 
ternity nursing  and 
midwifery,  she  went 
to  the  Lewisham  In- 
firmary, wh^-e  she 
acted  as  Ward  Sister 
and  Night  Superinten- 
dent, getting  her  theo- 
retical instruction  in 
town  in  her  oft  duty 
time.  She  obtained 
the  certificate  of  the 
London  Obstetrical 
Society  in  October, 
1899,  and  when  the 
ilidwives'  Act  came 
into  force  was  enrolled 
as  a  certified  midwife. 

Miss  Winmill  left 
Lewisham  Infirmary 
in  order,  by  special  re- 
quest of  H.E.H.  Prin- 
cess Louise,  Duchess 
of  Argyll,  to  nurse, 
with  Miss  !M  a  u  d  e 
Thomson,  some 
officers,  wounded  in 
the  South  African 
War,  in  a  suite  of 
rooms  at  the  Savoy 
Hotel,  placed  at  the  disposal  of  her  Eoyal 
Highness  by  the  Manager.  From  there,  by 
desire  of  the  Princess,  she  went  to  Roseneath, 
Argyllshire,  to  organise  and  superintend  a 
Home  for  wounded  and  convalescent  soldiers  in 
a  chamiing  house  generously  devoted  by  the 
Princess  to  the  reception  of  soldiers  wounded 
in  South  Africa.  Some  of  the  furniture  in  this 
house  had  once  belonged  to  Queen  Victoria. 
Later  "her  Pioyal  Highness  summoned  !Miss 
Winmill  to  Kensington  Palace,  and  presented 
her,  for  her  work  in  this  connection,  with  a 
medal  of  her  own  designing. 

^liss  Winmill  then  retm-ned  to  St.  Bartholo- 
mew's Hospital  for  some  further  experience  in 
hospital  administration  and  housekeeping,  tak- 


MISS    MARY    WINMILL, 
Matron,    Children's    Infirmary,    Carshalton. 


ing  charge  of  the  Trained  Nurses'  Institute, 
and  the  Special  Probationei-s'  Home  during  the 
holidays  of  the  Superintendents.  During  this 
time  she  also  attended  classes  on  massage, 
going  into  the  wards  to  massage  some  of  the 
patients  daily. 

In  December,  1900,  Miss  Winmill  was  ap- 
pointed Sister-in-Charge  of  the  female  patients 
at  the  Hospitals'  Convalescent  Home,  Park- 
wood,  Swanley,  and  in  Sept-ember,  1901,  en- 
tered the  service  of  the  !Metroix>litan  Asylums 
Board  as  Superintendent  of  Night  Nurses  at 
the  Grove  Fever  Hospital,  Tooting,  acting  as 
Assistant  !Matron.for  several  months  during  the 
temporai-y  absence  of 
the  ^latron  at  the  Gore 
Farm  Lower  Hospital, 
during  the  small-pox 
epidemic.  Miss  Win- 
mill was  promoted  to 
the  position  of  House- 
keeper in  1904,  and  in 
•lanuarv,  190.5,  was 
appointed  Assistant 
^latron  at  the  South- 
W  e  s  t  e  r  n  Hospital , 
Stockwell,  where  she 
spent  five  happy  years, 
leaving  in  January  of 
the  present  year  on  her 
appointment  to  the 
post  of  ^Matron  of  the 
Children's  Infirmary, 
Carehalton,  the  largest 
Children's  Hospital  in 
the  world. 

Through  the  care  of 
]\Ir.  John  Burns,  Pre- 
sident of  the  Local 
Government  Board,  for 
the  sick  and  infiiTn 
children  of  the  Metro- 
polis, this  great  hospi- 
tal, on  the  Surrey  hills, 
is  devoted  to  the  reception  of  the  children  fix>m 
the  Metropolitan  Poor  Law  Infirmaries,  from 
which  they  are  transferred  bj-  special  motor. 
A  certain  proportion  of  the  beds  are  for  acute 
cases,  but  probably  the  hospital  is  of  even 
greater  benefit  to  the  halt  and  the  maimed,  who 
in  the  sharp  air  of  Carshalton  develop  abnor- 
mal appetites,  and  whose  physique  in  many 
cases  develops  and  improves.  Added  to  whicii 
they  are  removed  from  the  undesirable  associa- 
tion .with  adults  in  infirmarj-  wards,  and  placed 
in  surroundings  calculated  to  strengthen  their 
moral  stamina. 

In  addition  to  being  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
trons' Council,  Miss  Winmill  is  a  member  of 
the  Society  for  State  Eegistration  of  Trained 


Dec.  17,  1910 


^bc  Jbritish  3ournal  of  IHursiiuj, 


489 


^»urses,  a  Vice-Presideut  of  the  Fever  Xuivr- 
Assoeiation,  aud  a  Sister  attached  to  Xo.  1 
City  of  London  Hospital,  Territorial  Force 
Nursing  Service.  Her  record  of  work  is  there- 
fore both  varied  and  honourable. 


dbe  last  IPU35IC  Ipiisc 

A  large  number  ot  our  readers  who  ha\e  en- 
joyed competing  for  the  monthly  Puzzle  Prizes 
will  no  doubt  regret  the  discontinuance  of 
these  competitions.  For  the  future  there  will 
be  a  five  shilling  prize  every  week,  which  we 
hope  will  prove  most  interesting  to  those  who 
take  the  British  Journal  of  Nursixg,  and 
thus  support  and  spread  its  teaching  for  the 
■  irgunisation  of  trained  nursing  into  a  legaUy 
constituted  profession. 

This  high  aim,  which  our  readers  support, 
necessitates  the  consideration  of  serious  mat- 
ters, which  not  only  affect  nurses,  but  the  wel- 
fare of  the  whole  community,  and  requires  a 
keen  professional  conscience.  It  also  requires 
courage  to  stand  consistently  for  duty,  and  re- 
sist the  unethical  policy  of  expediency  by  the 
adoption  of  which  we  so  often  find  othere  pre- 
ferred before  us. 

Together  with  serious  professional  matters  it 
is  well  to  associate  something  to  stimulate  per- 
sonal interest.  After  all,  we  are  only  human. 
and  cannot  always  be  so  strung  up  to  concert 
pitch. 

In  our  issue  of  Januaiy  14th,  1911,  the  first 
weekly  five  shilling  prize  will  be  paid  to-  the 
writer  of  the  first  letter  opened  by  the 
Fiditor  naming  the  Novel  of  the  Year, 
which  has  appeared  in  ,  1910,  and 
which  is  named  as  the  favourite  by  the 
largest  number  of  competitors.  The  one 
coupon  to  be  filled  in,  cut  out,  and  forwarded 
to  the  Editor  will  appear  in  our  issue  of  Januarv 
7th,  1911. 

Mclcome  Tbclp. 

The  President  acknowledges  with  many 
thanks  the  following  donations  to  the  funds  of 
the  Society  for  the  State  Eegistration  of 
Trained  Nurses:  — 

The  Defence  of  Ntu^ing  Standards  Commit- 
tee (per  Mrs.  Shutor),  £3  10s. ;  Miss  Forrest. 
£2;  Steevens"  Hospital  Nurses'  League  (Dub- 
lin) (per  Miss  Kelly).  £1  Is.  4d. ;  The  League  of 
St.  .John's  House  Nurses  (per  Miss  M.  BuitI, 
£1  Is. :  EHa.  Ladv  Simeon.  £1  Is. :  Mre.  G.  F. 
Wates,  £1  Is.;  Miss  Elma  Smith,  5s.;  Miss 
Theodora  Unwin,  os. ;  ^liss  Trueman,  4s. :  iliss 
Isabella  Aytoun,  Is. 


Che  iHiirsino  of  1b\?steria  an^  tbc 
IRcC't  Cure. 

NOTES  OF  A   LECTURE   BY    DR.  EDWIN 
BRAMWELL 

Dr.  Edwin  Braniwell,  on  Wednesday,  De- 
cember 7th,  lectured  to  trained  nurses  in  the 
Koyal  Infirmary,  Edinburgh,  on  "  The  Nurs- 
ing of  Hysteria  and  the  Pvest  Cure." 

Dr.  Braniwell  said  that  the  nursing  of  such 
eases  should  be  made  a  speciality,  as  know- 
ledge above  the  average  was  required.  Trained 
and  certificated  nurses  had  sometimes  had  no 
experience  in  nursing  hysteria. 

The  prevalent  idea  of  regarding  a  patient 
suffering  from  hysteria  as  malingering  was  to 
be  deprecated,  aud  the  event  often  proved 
this  to  be  incorrect. 

Dr.  Bramwell  considered  the  subject  under 
the  following  headings:  The  nature  of  hysteria  ; 
attitude  of  dealing  with  hysterical  patients ; 
qualities  necessary  and  the  importance  of  the 
nursing  details;  method  of  rest  cure;  treat- 
ment by  mental  therapeutics;  relations  of  the 
nurse  to  the  patient. 

Hysteria  had  been  commonly  considered  to 
be  caused  by  an  affection  of  the  ovaries,  but 
now  it  was  known  as  a  brain  disease.  Inherited 
hysteria  might  have  its  effects  lessened  by 
training  a  child  in  healthy  open-air  surround- 
ings, by  wise  regulation  of  lessons,  aud  by  the 
avoidance  of  excitements  and  shocks. 

Dr.  Bramwell  said  that  in  major  cases  of 
hysteria  the  patient  was  self-conscious,  self- 
absorbed,  selfish,  aud  a  striking  trait  was  lack 
of  decision. 

In  severe  hysteria  the  patient  might  become 
paralysed,  have  tremors,  con^ant  vomiting, 
and  great  loss  of  weight.  Inability  to  move 
the  limbs  was  apparently  present.  Hysteria 
was  not  malingeriug.  and  an  hysterical  patient 
must  not  be  bullied ;  it  was  essential  that  the 
patient  should  have  confidence  in  the  nurse. 
The  points  to  be  remembered  were:  Firstly, 
gain  the  confidence  of  patients;  secondly,  let 
them  know  that  they  are  suffering  from  actual 
disease,  if  not,  one  loses  their  confidence.  It 
was  not  by  bullying,  but  by  persuasion,  that 
a  nurse  succeeded  with  these  cases.  She 
should  listen  with  sympatliy,  but_^only  say 
things  that  would  have  a  good  effect,  and  at 
the  right  time. 

The  scope  of  the  nurse  could  not  be  over- 
estimated, and  her  work  played  an  important 
part  in  treatment.  She  should  be  a  gr^t  help 
to  the  physician. 

Dr.  Bramwell  said  that  on  the  first  visit 
the  physician  made  a  cOttjplete  examination 
of  the  patient ;  the  reasons  for  this  were  two- 


490 


Zhc  Britlsb  3ournaI  of  IRursing. 


[Dec.  17,  1910 


iolcl.  Pure  hysteria  might  not  be  caused  by 
any  organic  disease,  but  it  was  an  aid  in  gain- 
ing the  confidence  of  the  patient  when  the 
case  was  thoroughly  investigated,  and  it  also 
gave  the  physician  the  knowledge  he  required. 
If  the  original  cause  were  emotional,  he  con- 
sidered if  the  ijrimary  cause  still  dominated 
the  position,  the  patient's  mode  of  life,  nourish- 
ment, etc.  If  justified  by  this  investigation, 
the  physician  informed  the  patient  there  was  no 
reason  why  she  (or  he)  should  not  recover,  and 
many  patients  had  been  helped  to  recovery  by 
a  cheerful,  kind,  and   persuasive   manner. 

In  grave  hysteria  the  Rest  Cure  (Weir- 
Mitchell),  including  the  isolation  of  the 
patient,  the  withholding  of  letters,  a  diet  con- 
sisting principally  .of  milk,  massage,  and  the 
application  of  mental  therapeutics,  should  be 
employed.  When  the  physician  had  examined 
the  patient  he  explained  to  her  the  treat- 
ment he  considered  necessary.  She  must  fully 
realise  what  a  Rest  Cure  implied,  as,  unless 
she  agreed  to  undergo  it,  it  would  be  futile.  She 
would  ask  how  long  this  treatment  must  be 
continued.  It  was  not  wise  to  give  any  stated 
time  as  it  might  be  necessary  to  exceed  this. 
Six  to  ten  weeks  was  an  average  time.  If  a 
patient  desired  to  recover  she  had  a  much  better 
chance  of  so  doing.  After  admission  to  a  Home 
the  physician  re-examined  the  patient  and 
uiic,'ht  find  organic  or  valvular  disease.  Was 
he  to  inform  the  patient  ?  In  exceptional  cases 
it  might  be  unwise ;  generally  it  was  best  to 
be  frank,  as  the  patient  might  have  already- 
consulted  a  physician  and  knows  her  condi- 
tion, in  which  event  she  would  lose  confidence 
in  his  present  adviser.  The  diet  should  be  milk 
at  first — two  to  five  pints  in  the  24  hours.  The 
patient  should  be  weighed  weekly;  the  know- 
ledge of  an  increase  in  weight  was  a  help  to  a 
nervous  patient.  There  was  more  than  one 
reason  for  isolation:  the  patient  had  new  sur- 
roundings, new  faces,  and  the  case  had  special 
attention;  the  absence  of  visitors  gave  her 
time  to  think  and  eliminated  the  chance 
of  contradiction.  Suggestions  from  out- 
side might  do  considerable  harm,  and  isolation 
prevented  this  possibility.  Patients  should 
never  be  asked  about  their  symptoms ;  if  they 
complained  of  headache  or  other  ailments  they 
•should  receive  symjiathy,  and  generally  their 
nervous  condition  would  improve. 

The  employment  of  drugs  was  of  little  value. 
Aniemia  and  constipation  required  attention. 
Srimetimes  a  sleeping  draught  might  be 
ordered,  such  as  bromide  of  potassium,  also 
otiior  bromides  and  asafcetida ;  massage  was 
most  useful,  and  took  the  place  of  exercise ; 
electricity  was  sometimes  of  value. 

I'r.  P>rnmwell,  in  conclusinn,  ciiipliasised  the 


importance  of  impressing  upon  the  patient  that 
she  would  get  well ;  tell  her  to  blot  out  the  past, 
to  look  to  the  future;  sympathise  with  her 
general  condition,  as  she  improves  all  past 
troubles  will  disappear;  tell  her  of  increased 
weight;  notice  if  her  grasp  is  stronger;  inspire, 
firstly,  a  wish  to  get  well,  and,  secondly,  a 
hope.  The  first  few  days  were  very  trying. 
The  patient  might  knit,  crochet,  or  play 
patience,  and  may  be  allowfed  books.  The  great- 
eststress  should  be  laid  upon  any  improvement, 
and  if  possible  the  patient  should  be  got  to 
admit  to  a  slight  advance  each  day.  If  then 
a  relapse  occurred  she  should  be  informed  that 
these  will  become  less  frequent  as  she  becomes 
stronger,  and  impressed  with  the  thought  of 
how  pleased  and  astonished  the  friends  will  be 
at  any  improvement.  Hysteria  would  cause 
the  patient  to  sulk  and  be  unreasonable :  an 
attitude  difficult  to  deal  with.  If  no  noti.;e 
were  taken  she  would  probably  soon  be- 
come amenable.  On  leaving  the  home  she 
should  receive  strict  injunctions  regarding 
exercise  and  feeding,  and  be  instructed  to  live 
the  life  of  an  ordinary  individual.  The  nurse  'Q 
cases  of  this  kind  must  be  sympathetic,  firm, 
and  tactful ;  tact  was  most  important,  and  a 
sense  of  humour  used  at  the  right  time  was 
of  great  value.  The  nurse  might  reply,  "  We 
will  ask  the  doctor."  The  work  of  the  nui-se 
was  to  drive  in  the  nails  which  the  physician 
had  put  in  position. 


THE  TERRITORIAL  FORCE  NURSING   SERVICE. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  Grand  Committee 
of  the  City  and  County  of  London  Territorial 
Force  Nursing  Service  was  held  on  Tuesday  at 
the  Mansion  House.  The  Lady  Mayoress, 
Lady  Vezey  Strong,  who  has  accepted  office 
as  Chairman,  presided,  and  among  those  pre- 
sent was  the  Lord  Mayor. 

The  annual  report  showed  that  excellent 
work  had  been  achieved  during  the  J'ear,  while 
the  expenditure  had  been  only  £33.  The  ser- 
vice had  sustained  a  serious  loss  through  the 
death  of  Miss  Isla  Stewart,  Matron  of  St.  Bar- 
tholomew's Hospital,  who  had  taken  the 
warmest  interest  in  its  work.  The  kindly  ac- 
tion of  Queen  .Alexandra  in  presenting  the 
badges  of  service  to  the  enrolled  nurecs  at 
Buckingham  Palace  last  year  had  been  greatly 
appreciated. 

Lady  Dimsdale  was  re-elected  Vice-Chair- 
man,  and  Miss  Goodhue  hon.  secretary.  Lady 
Burnett,  .Miss  Crosby,  and  ]\Irs.  Lancelot  Dent 
were  add(>d  to  tlio  Grand  Committee,  and  Lady 
Faudel  Phillips,  Lady  Hanson,  the  Hon.  Mre. 
Heiniiker,  Mm.  Makins,  Miss  Amy  Hughes, 
and  l\Iiss  Finch  elected  on  to  the  Executive 
Coniiiutteo. 


Dec.  17,  1010" 


Cbc  Britisb  Journal  of  IWuisiiuj, 


401 


^bc  iRursuuj  noasciuc. 


A  large  number  of  the  '200  performers,  re- 
quired for  the  pageant  on  the  Evolution  of 
Trauieil  Xui-«ing,  have  ah-eady  volunteered  to 
take  part  in  this  interesting  event,  and  every 
day  Its  possibilities  seem  to  grow.  To  present 
this  subject  in  detail  would  require  the  parti- 
cipation of  nOO  persons,  and  a  year's  prepara- 
tion. The  processions  in  preparation  for  Feb- 
ruary 18th,  will,  however,  give  to  the  pvblic  a 
very  good  idea  of  the  immense  importance  of 
trained  nursing  to  cveiT  section  of  the  com- 
munity, and  tile  devotion  o£  the  noble  women 
who  have  tended  suttVring  for  centuries  with 
little  appreciation  or  recompense. 

It  won't  do  to  tell  too  many  secrets,  but  of 
the  four  Sections  hito  which  the  Procession  of 
Mortals  will  be  divided,  the  first  will  bring  us 
down  to  the. middle  of  the  19th  century;  it  will 
be  led  by  Agamede  the  Fairhaired,  mentioned 
in  the  Iliad,  "  who  knew  all  drugs  so  many  as 
the  wide  earth  nourisheth,"  and  will  end  with 
the  great  Elizabeth  Fry,  between  whom  will 
come  the  most  celebrated  of  those  in- 
numerable great  hearted  saintly  women  who  by 
their  compassion  sweetened  every  century.  It 
is  much  to  be  regretted  that  with  so  little 
time  at  its  disposal  the  Committee  find  it  im- 
jMssible  to  include  in  this  procession  the  Mili- 
tary Knights,  Templars,  Teutonic,  and  of  St. 
Lazarus,  but  the  Brothers  of  Pity  we  must 
have.  Sections  2,  3,  and  4  will  be  headed 
by  distinctive  banners  inscribed  "  Education,". 
"  Ivursing  and  the  Community,"  and  "  State 
Registration,"  and  Miss  F.  Sleigh  has  this 
work  in  hand.  The  three  Petitions  will 
briefly  touch  on  tlie  education,  practical  work, 
and  right  to  legal  status  of  trained  nurses. 

We  have  received  letters  warmly  approving 
of  the  scheme  of  the  Masque,  but  suggesting 
that  it  would  be  more  generally  popular  if 
Legislation  for  Trained  Nurses  were  not  alluded 
to.  But  as  the  primary  motive  of  the  Re- 
r.nion  is  to  publicly  support  and  demonstrate 
the  urgent  demand  for  Legislation,  with  the 
resulting  organisation  of  trained  nursing  by 
the  State,  the  suggestion  does  not  appeal  to 
us.  We  don't  want  this  Masque  to  be  a  bit 
more  popular  than  it  already  promises  to  be. 
What  we  want,  and  feel  sure  will  happen,  is 
that  the  magnificent  rooms  will  be  crowded 
out,  and  if  registrationists  are  tnie  to  their 
colours,  they  will  soon  dispose  of  those  700 
tickets  we  want  to  turn  into  golden  sovereigns 
for  the  good  of  the  cause.  Nurses  have  contri- 
buted thousands  of  pounds,  to  say  nothing  of 
labour  and  health,  to  further  this  great  reform 
during  the  past  quarter  of  a  century,   and  it 


is  liigh  time  the  public,'  who  will  benefit  so 
enormously  from  a  disciplined  profession  of 
nursing,  should  shoulder  a  bit  of  the  financial 
burden.  Yes,  those  tickets  when  ready  must 
just  go  off  like  hot  cakes  I 

C0NSULT.\TI0XS. 

Membei-s  of  the  Committee  will  be  found  at 
431,  Oxford  Street,  evei-y  Thursday,  from 
11.30  a.m.  to  7  p.m.  during  December  for  con- 
sultative purposes  by  those  taking  part  in 
the  Masque,  as  every  detail  of  the  Masque 
must  be  ready  to  the  last  pin  by  the  1st  of 
Februarv. 


Xcaoiic  1He\V5. 


THE  SCHOOL  NURSES"   LEAGUE. 

A  meeting  of  the  School 
Nurses'  League  was  held  on 
December  1st,  in  the  Library  of 
the  Education  Office,  L.C.C., 
London,  W.C.  Miss  H.  L. 
Pearse,  the  President,  was  in  the 
chair. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meet- 
ing having  been  read  and  con- 
firmed. Miss  Peai-se  asked  Miss  Layton, 
the  Secretary  of  the  Benevolent  Fund, 
to  read  the  financial  report  of  the  dance  held 
on  November  11th.  The  report  showed  a 
balance  of  £2  los.,  which  was  credited  to  the 
Benevolent  Fund,  and  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks 
was  accorded  Miss  Layton  and  those 'who 
assisted  her,  for  the  admirable  way  in  which 
everything  in  connection  with  the  dance  had 
been  an-anged.  The  President  reported  a 
communication  from  !Miss  Cave,  the  Hon.  Sec- 
retary of  "  The  Nurses'  Memorial  to  King  Ed- 
ward," asking  her  to  collect  subscriptions  from 
the  school  imrses  for  the  memorial. 

Discussion'  ensued,  and  a  resolution  was 
agreed  to  expressing  the  opinion  that  those 
present  did  not  consider  that  the  committee 
was  representative  of  nurses — that  a  widely  ad- 
vertised public  meeting  should  have  been  held 
— to  permit  an  expression  of  opinion  by  thou- 
sands of  nurses  working  independently  of  hos- 
pitals, before  a  scheme  was  adopted,  and  that 
it  should  be  made  quite  clear  if.  the  scheme 
before  the  meeting  was  a  Pension  Fund  ilemo- 
rial,  or  really  a  Nurses'  National  Memorial, 
if  the  latter,  it  should  not  be  connected  with 
and  managed  by  any  institution  whatever. 
Furthennore,  the  resolution  expressed  dis- 
approval of  the  scheme  selecte<d.  * 

Other  questions  of  professional  and  social 
importance  were  discussed,  before  the  termiiia- 
tiou  of  a  verv  interestin?wneeting. 


492 


^bc  Britisb  3oiu*nal  of  IRursing. 


[Dec.  17,  1910 


IRursea'  ieinplo\?nient  agencies. 

We  have  always  believed  that  there  are  more 
mistakes  made  through  ignorance  than  malice, 
and  this  specially  relates  to  legislation  for 
women,  put  into  motion  by  men  who  are  not 
qualified,  through  lack  of  knowledge,  to  legis- 
late for  them. 

Last  weeli  we  referred  to  the  new  London 
County  Council  (General  Powers)  Act,  1910, 
which  has  a  clause  dove-tailed  in,  dealing  with 
Agencies  and  Eegistries  for  the  employment  of 
persons,  between  clauses  dealing  with  the 
executing  of  street  works,  the  smoke  nuisance, 
and  acquiring  of  lands  in  Kensington,  Lam- 
beth, and  Cambenvell  I 

In  a  matter  of  so  much  importance  as  that 
of  dealing  with  the  liberty  to  luork  it  is  to  be 
regretted  that  the  London  County  Council 
did  not  attack  the  question  of  Agencies  in  a 
Bill  for  the  jJurpose,  when  proper  publicity 
would  have  been  given  to  this  verj'  important 
■question,  sound  advice  oSered,  and  just  legisla- 
tion enacted. 

We  can  quite  believe  .that  the  promoters  of 
the  Agency  clauses  in  the  new  Bill  were  -anxious 
to  prevent  "  fraud  and  immorality  "  in  relation 
to  the  white  slave  traffic,  swindling,  and  other 
evils,  but — in  so  far  as  the  Nursing  Profession 
is  concerned — the  legal  interpretation  .of  the 
Act  as  it  relates  to  Nursing  Associations  will 
have  the  directly  opposite  effect,  and  will  pro- 
tect the  employer,  and  penalise  the  worker. 

We  are  ■  strongly  in  "  favour  of  re- 
gistration and  inspection  of  all  public 
institutions  where  one  human  being 
i.*  manii)ulated  for  gain  by  another; 
hence,  had  the  Bill  brought  all  institutions  sup- 
plying private  nurses  to  the  public — either  for 
gain,  or  for  the  financial  benefit  of  the  worker — 
under  its  provisions,  and  these  institutions  had 
been  compelled  to  take  out  a  licence,  many 
nefarious  practices  might  have  been  stopped. 

But  what  does  this  Bill  do,  so  far  as  nurees 
are  concerned? 

■  Fii-st  of  all,  it  slashes  at  the  root  of  profes- 
sional- co-operation  between  highly  qualified 
nurses  for  mutual  financial  benefit,  by  prohibit- 
ing them  from  associating  together  as  a  Private 
Nurees"  Co-operation  unless  their  Society  takes 
out  a  licence  which  places  it  on  the  same  level 
as  Agencies  kept  bj'  unprofessional  persons  who 
supply  semi-trained  nurses,  domestics,  and 
other  workers,  indiscrimiriately,  to  the  public. 

.\nd.at  the  same  time  this  extraordinarily  un- 
just Act  protects  the  interests  of  the  em- 
ployer. All  employers,  however  repreliensible 
Iht'ir  pystem,  are  exempt  from  licensing  and 
insiiection. 


For  instance — 

1.  The  buck  negro,  the  proprietor — or  shall 
we  say  the  procurer? — of  a  Nursing  Home  in 
Marylebone,  who  dressed  his  victims  in  nurses' 
unifomi,  and  who  came  under  the  penalty  of 
the  lav;  for  brutally  assaulting  one  of  them, 
would  not  be  required  to  take  out  a  Licepce ; 
he  was  an  employer ! 

2.  The  proprietress  of  a  so-called  Home — 
principally  used  for  abortion  purposes — but  who 
supplies  semi-trained  and  criminal  women,  on 
salary,  to  the  public  as  private  nurses,  is  not 
required  to  take  out  a  Licence;  she  is  an  em- 
ployer ! 

The  hospital  which  supplies  probationers  to 
the  public  as  private  nurses — no  matter  how  in- 
sufficiently trained — or  how  inadequately  paid 
—is  not  required  to  take  out  a  Licence ;  the  in- 
stitution Committee  is  an  employer ! 

The  hospital  which  undersells  the  three 
years'  certificated  private  nurse,  working  on 
the  co-operative  system,  by  granting  short  term 
certificates  of  ti-aining,  or  by  supplying  these 
nurses  to  the  public  at  a  cent,  per  cent,  profit, 
is  not  required  to  take  out  a  Licence ;  the  Com- 
mittee is  an  employer. 

We  need  enumerate  no  further  instances  in 
connection  with,  the  provisions  of  the  Act  to 
prove  that  it  practically  protects  eveiy  abuse  in 
the  private  nursing  world  and  deprives  highly 
trained  reputable  Nui-ses'  Co-operations  of  the 
prestige  which  they  have  earned  through  numy 
years  of  upiight,  honourable  dealing  with  the 
public.  [Moreover,  it  goes  deeper,  and  deprives 
the  professional  woman  worker  of  the  riglit  to 
co-operate  unless  licensed  along  with  the  un- 
professional agencies,  association  with  which, 
in  the  mind  of  the  pubhc,  would  be  most 
disastrous  to  their  professional  prestige. 

The  apathy  of  the  nuiises,  and  the  keen  busi- 
ness acumen  of  the  hospital  employer,  lias 
been  amply  apparent  during  the  struggle  for 
State  Begistration  of  Nurses,  and  behind  the 
new  General  Powers  Act  of  the  London 
County  Council,  everj'  employer — good,  bad, 
and  indifferent — is  securely  entrenched. 

And  where  are  the  rights  of  the  co-operative 
workers?  They  have  been  deprived  of  the  in- 
dependent right  to  co-operate. 

Is  it  presumable  that  if  women  were  citizens 
and  had  the  Vote,  and  qualified  nurses  were 
Kegistered  and  had  legal  status,  that  man- 
made  laws  would  be  slipped  through  Parlia- 
ment treating  them  with  no  more  considera- 
tion than  machines?  This  is  but  one  more  pro<if 
of  the  demoralising  lack  of  status  of  women  in 
the  comnumity,  and  must  be  used  not  only  in 
support  of  the  professional  nurse's  demand  for 


De 


1910] 


^bc  ISvitisb  3oiu'nal  of  IRursiiuj. 


403 


State    Eegistratiou    aud    Protection,  but    for 
equal  human  rights  before  the  Law. 

In  the  meantime  Co-operative  Nurses' 
Societies  must  protect  themselves  as  best  they 
may  by  declining  to  be  associated  with  un- 
professional agencies,  until  this  reprehensible 
and  ai-bitrarv  Act  has  been  amended. 

E.  G.  F. 


©istrict  murr^iuj  in  Hiistralia. 

As  apparently  there  is  some  misapprelieusion  re- 
^. I  fling  the  nature  and  objects  of  the  scheme  for 
promoting:  District  Xiirsing  iu  Australia,  in- 
augurated l>T  Lady  Dudley,  aud  the  progress  made 
up  to  date  in  carrying;  it  out,  we  think  it  may  be 
of  interest  to  give  the  facts  of  the  case  as  they 
at  present  stand. 

When  we  recently  visited  Australia,  at  the  re- 
quest of  Lady  Dutlley,  in  order  to  assist  her  in 
the  development  of  District  Nursing  on  that  con- 
tinent, we  found,  almost  universally,  that  the  con- 
-'titution  and  rules  suggested  as  to  the  standard  of 
nursing,  and  the  formation  of  State  Councils  and 
District  Committees,  and  their  relation  to  each 
other,  were  acceptable  to  the  medical  and  nursing 
profession,  and  also  to  the  general  public,  but  ex- 
perience has  proved  that  Australia  is  not  yet  quite 
ripe  for  the  gathering  together  of  the  State  organi- 
sations into  a  Federal  whole. 

The  high  standard  of  training  ensured  throughout 
the  Commonwealth  by  the  Australasian  Trained 
Nurses'  Association,  together  with  the  Royal  Vic- 
torian Trained  Nurses'  Association,  by  the  control 
of  approved  training  schools  and  the  independent 
registration  by  examination  of  all  nurses  and  mid- 
lives guarantees  a  supply  of  competent  nurses. 
There  are  long-established  District  Nursing  Asso- 
ciations in  Melbourne,  Sydney,  and  Adelaide,  where 
District  Nursing  is  carried  out  on  similar  Hues  to 
those  of  Queen  Victoria's  JubOee  Institute  for 
Nurses  at  home  and  the  Royal  Victorian  Order  of 
Nurses  iu  Canada.  Moreover,  in  the  State  of  South 
Australia  there  are  several  associations  employing 
District  Nurses  in  affiliation  with,  and  under  the 
supervision  of,  the  Central  Association  in  Adelaide. 
In  Perth,  Western  Australia :  in  Hobart  and 
Launceston,  Tasmania ;  in  Brisbane,  Queensland ; 
and  in  other  towns,  such  as  Geelong,  Broken  Hill, 
etc.,  independent  District  Nurses  are  employed 
doing  excellent  work. 

Lady  Dudley's  object  is  to  enlist  the  sympathy 
aud  support  of  the  older  Associations,  and  to  extend 
their  work  from  the  large  towns  to  the  smaller 
townships  and  on  into  the  isolated  country  or  bush 
districts. 

Australia  has  an  excellent  system  of  Cottage 
Hospitals,  which,  by  co-operation  on  the  part  of 
their  Committees,  will  greatly  facilitate  the  estab- 
lishment of  District  Nurses  for  the  scattered  places ; 
a  plan  which  has  proved  successful  in  Canada  under 
similar  conditions. 

The  constitution  for  Australia,  as  mapped  out 
.luring  "our  visit,  provides  for  self-supporting 
machinery  in  each  State,  whereby  nurses  can  re- 


ceive the  necessary  further  experience  in  the  special 
work  of  District  Nursing,  and  be  thereafter 
recommended  to  local  Associations  and  adequately 
supervised,  on  similar  lines  to  the  arrangements 
for  County  Associations  in  England.  The  scheme 
provides  also  for  a  Federal  Council  representative 
of  all  the  States,  but  at  present  this  is  in  abeyance 
and  each  State  is  beginning  its  work  independently. 
The  principle  that  every  local  Association  should 
be  supported  by  those  who  benefit  by  the  services 
of  the  nurse,  free,  except  in  extretne  instances,  from 
all  idea  of  charity,  is  universally  accepted  as  appro- 
priate to  the  conditions  of  the  country.  The  in- 
terests of  private  nurses  are  fully  safeguarded,  and 
the  remuneration  of  District  Nurses  is  on  the  same 
level  as  that  of  private  ones. 

The  latest  report  received  from  Australia,  and 
dated  November  3rd,   states  that — 

]' let  or  id  had  formed  its  Committee,  and  during 
the  month  of  November  was  putting  out  its  first 
three  nurses — one  in  Beech  Forest,  one  in  a  mining 
district,  and  the  third  rather  far  out  iu  the  Bush. 

New  South  Wales  was  in  process  of  forming  its 
Committee,  and  three,  if  not  more.  District  Nurses 
will  be  sent  into  country  districts  in  the  near 
future.  ^ 

Tasmania  had  started  its  Committee  some  weeks 
ago,  and  had  already  sent  out  one  District  Nurse, 
with  another  soon  to  foUow. 

Western,  Australia  was  taking  steps  to  form  a 
Committee.  _ 

Queensland  was  legislating  on  the  subject;  Dis- 
trict Nurses  are  to  be  attached  to  the  Cottage 
Hospitals,  under  a  scheme  practically  identical  with 
Ladv  Dudley's. 

South  Australia,  as  already  mentioned,  has  the 
nucleus  of  a  svstem  capable  of  expansion  on  lines 
similar  to  those  adopted  in  the  other  States,  and 
pressure  from  the  public  in  the  outlying  districts 
and,  probably,  from  the  medical  profession  will,  no 
doubt,  lead  to  development  on  broader  lines  within 
the  near  future. 

That  it  was  possible  in  a  few  months  to  lay  the 
foundations  of  a  scheme  suitable  for  the  huge  con- 
tinent of  Australia,  with  its  six  sovereign  States  and 
varying  climatic  conditions,  should  be  a  matter  of 
threat  congratulation  to  the  wife  of  the  Governor- 
General.  The  feeling  throughout  Australia  is 
stronglv  in  favour  of  District  Nursing,  and  most 
emphatically  in  the  so-called  Bush  districts,  where 
the  need  for  it  is  most  felt,  as  we  found  in  the 
course  of  our  travels.  It  is  evident  that  Lady 
Dudley's  scheme  is  already  on  a  sound  foundation, 
and  tliat  before  long  it  will  develop  under  the  best 
possible  conditions  and  fulfil  the  needs  of  the  people 
of  Australia.  (Signed)  Amt  Hughes. 

Harold  Boulton. 

QUEEN  VICTORIA'S  JUBILEE  INSTITUTE 
Transfers  and  Ajiimintmciits. — Mrs-.  Ada  Barrow 
and  Miss  Gertrude  Hardy  are  appointed  as  County 
Superintendent  and  Assistant  County  Superinten- 
dent, Staffordshire  :  Miss  Ethel  Blair,  to  Chelten- 
ham, as  Assistant  Superintendent;  Miss  Lily  Fen- 
ton,  to  Little  Shelford ;  Miss  Edith  Ashton,  to 
Weston-super->LTre:  Miss  Amy  Sanger,  to  Chat- 
ham; Miss  Elizabeth  McNally,  to  Bury. 


494 


Zbe  ffiritlsb  3ournaI  of  marsing. 


[Dec.  17,  1910 


appointments. 


Matrons. 

Poor  Law  Infirmary,  Hammersmith. — ^1  iss  Emily  Xoith- 
orer  liji.s  been  apjxjinti^d  Matron.  She  was  trained 
at  tlit>  Middlesex  Hospital,  and  has  held  the  povsuiou 
of  Ward  and  Thoatre  Sister  at  the  Bethnal  Green 
Intirmai-.v,  and  of  Night  Superintendent  and  As.si.st- 
ant  ^[ation  «t  Croydon  Infirinary. 

Cottage  Hospital,  Market  Harborough. — Miss  Edith 
Lewis  has  been  appointed  Matron,  not  Miss  B.  A. 
Browne.  She  was  trained  at  the  Roj-al  Albert 
Edward   Infirmary,  Wigan. 

SiSTKR. 
Fever  Hospital,  Wallasey.— Miss  Langston  has  been 
ap])oiiitod  Sister.  Slie  was  trainetl  at  the  We,st 
Didsbury  Infirmary,  Manchester,  and  the  City  Hos- 
pital, Birininjhnni,  and  has  had  further  experience 
in  various  capacities  at  the  City  Hospital,  Old 
Swan,  Liverpool.  She  has  also  worked  as  a  Queen's 
Nurse  in    Birmingham. 

THE    LOCAL  GOVERNMENT    BOARD    FOR 
'      SCOTLAND. 

E.VAMISATIOX    OF    NuKSKS. 

On  November  2L'nd,  23rd,  24tli,  and  2.5th  the 
Local  Government  Board  held  at  Glasgow 
University  and  Glasgow  Western  Infirmary  an 
examination  for  the  certification  of  trained  sick 
nur.ses.  Fifty-seven  candidates  presented  them- 
selves for  examination.  The  subjects  of  examina- 
tion were  (a)  elementary  anatomy  and  physiology, 
(b)  hygiene  and  dietetics,  (c)  medical  and  surgical^ 
nursing,  and  (d)  midwifery.  The  following  can- 
didates have  passed  in  the  subjects  indicated.  Those 
whose  names  are  <listinguished  by  an^  asterisk  have 
now  i)a.ssed  in  all  the  subjects  of  examination,  and 
are  entitled  to  the  certificate  of  efficiency  granted 
by  the  Local  Government  Boai'd : — 

''Mina  Allan,  (b)  and  (c) ;  Mary  Allardice,  (b)  and 
(d);  Helen  Armstrong,  (a)  :  Alexina  H.  Bell,  (b)  and 
(d) ;  *Janet  JI.  Campbell,  (c) ;  Amelia  M'K.  Coch- 
i-ane,  (d) ;  Isabella  M.  G.  Cormack,  (a) ;  Jeanic  F.  L. 
Dawson  (a) ;  Williamina  C.  L.  Dawson,  (a) ;  jvate 
F.Deas,  (c)  and  (d) ;  Mary  Delaney,  (a)  and  (b) ; 
Isabella  H.  Eaglesham,  (a) ;  *jMaggie  F.  Gemmeil, 
(c) :  Jean  M'M.  W.  Gil)son.  (a);  Annie  Hadden,  (a) 
and  (b) ;  *Jeanie  AV.  F.  Hendei-son,  (c.) ;  *Helena 
.1.  M'D.  Irving  (c) ;  Margaret  Johnston,  (a); 
Geoi'gina  .lohnstone,  (a)-aiKl  (b) ;  "Jes-sie  Johnstone, 
(c) ;  "Catherine  M.  Kippeii,  (c) ;  Jessie  M'L.  Leitch, 
(a);  Margaret  G.  Moir,  (a),  (b),  and  (c) ,  "Margaret 
L.  I.  Morton,  (a),  (b).  (c),  and  (d) ;  Christina  S. 
.Murray,  (d) ;  *Annie  B.-  M'Ooll,  (c) ;  'Flora 
M.  Macdonald,  (c) ;.  Lena  Macdonald,  (d) ; 
"Donaldina  MacLean  (c)  and  (d) :  Agnes  B.  ALacnab, 
(d)  ;  Agno»i  H.  Paton,  (d) ;  "Annie  Ross,  (a),  (b),  (c), 
and  (d);  Elizabeth  A.  Ross,  (d) ;  Mary  F.  Russell, 
(a);  "Elizabeth  H.  Scott,  (c) ;  •Margnr<'t  C.  Scott. 
(a),  (b),  (c),  and  (d);  Mary  C.  Scott,  (a);  "Maggie 
Sievewright,  (c) ;  Elizabeth  T.  Simi)son,  (d)  ;  Agnes 
Slater,  (a) ;  "Maggie  Steele,  (b)  and  (c) ;  Lily  J. 
Stephen:  (d) ;  .leanie  C.  Stewart,  (a) ;  ".Jeanic  G. 
Tait,  (c) ;  Lydia  Templeton,  (a);  "Margaret  D. 
Thom.Sron,  (a),  (b),  and  (c) ;  "Annie  Urqnhart,  (c) ; 
Lsobcl  J.  G.  Watt,  (a);  Lilian  M.  Watt,  (a)  and  (b) ; 
.\gncs  AVestwood,  (d) ;  Heh'ii  Wiittaker,  (d);  Zara 
T.  Willis,  (b),  (c),  and  (d) :  Grace  V.  Winter,  (c) ; 
N<dlie  C.  Young,  (b)  and  (d). 


IRiusmG  iCcbocs. 

In  watching  the  electiou 
returns  so  far,  trained  nurses 
have  cause  to.  congratulate 
themselves  that  many 
friends  have  alreadj'  been 
returned  to  Parliament, 
among  them  Mr.  E.  C. 
]\luuro  Ferguson,  who  has 
championed  the  Nurses'  Re- 
gistration Bill  for  the  past 
six  Sessions.  We  all  owe 
him  gratitude,  and  beg  to 
offer  him  hearty  congratulations. 

Nurses  always  take  a  keen  interest  in  the 
Truth  Toy  Show,  this  year  held  at  the  Albert 
Hall  on  Wednesday  and  Thureday,  December 
14th  and  15th.  The  Hall  is  a  wonderful  sight, 
and  some  of  the  work  beautifully  done,  and 
maniy  children  in  hospitals  and  infirmaries  will 
be  gladdened  thereby. 

We  hope  every  private  nurse  wil]  carefully 
read  our  remarks  in  another  column'  on  the 
effect  of  the  new  General  Powere  Act,  1910, 
of  the  London  County  Council,  on  the  status 
of  private  nursirlg.  As  interpretated  by  legal 
opinion  it  is  one  of  the  most  astounding  pieces 
of  legislation  affecting  professional  women 
working  in  the  metropolis  which  the  Father 
of  Parliaments  could  have  thrust  upon  them 
without  their  knowledge  or  consent.  We  hope 
when  Parliament  meets  its  true  significanee 
will  be  exposed  in  the  House  of  Commons  and 
a  demand  for  the  amendment  of  the  Bill 
pressed  forward.  So  far  as  private  nurses  are 
concerned  it  provides  for  the  apotheosis  of  the 
exploiter.  

Miss  Curtis  and  the  Nurses  of  tlie  Hammer- 
smith and  Fulham  District  Nursing  Associa- 
tion were  At  Home  at  the  Hammeremith  Town 
Hall  on  JMonday,  December  I'ith,  when  many 
of  the  friends  and  well-wishers  of  the  Associa- 
tion were  present.  The  guests  were  received 
by  Miss  Curtis,  and  the  members  of  the  staff 
were  kept  busily  emploj'ed  in  dispensing  tea 
at  little  round  tables,  while  the  London  Dio- 
cesan Orchestra,  conducted  by  Jlrs.  Ronald 
Carter,  delighted  thorn  with  an  excellent  musi- 
cal programme. 

About  half-way  through  the  programme 
there  was  an  interval  when  tlie  Mayor  of  Ham- 
meiigmith  took  the  chair,  and  introduced  the 
Ijiuly  Mabel  Egerton,  who  roail  tlie  list  of  sums 
collected  in  the  past  year  by  means  of  Paro- 
chial collections  (house  to  house  visiting^,  £'"28 
19s.  lUd. ;  collecting  books,  £66  Pis.  lid. :  and 
collecting     boxes,      £2-2      14s.      OJd.        Lady 


Dec.  17,  191o: 


tibc  British  Sournal  of  IRursiiuj. 


Mabel  said  that  these  sums  represented 
liard  work  and  self-denial,  and  in  the 
name  of  the  Committee  she  wannly 
thanked  everyone  wlio  had  helped  to  raise  this 
amount.  Concluding,  she  spoke  of  the  indivi- 
dual responsibility  to  the  sick  of  everyone  who 
had  means.  It  was  an  American  bisho])  who 
said,  '■  God  looks  for  co-workere  and  finds  on- 
lookere."  If  we  could  but  realise  the  dignity 
and  honour  of  sharing  in  this  Christ-like  work 
there  would  be  no  on-lookeits,  for  all  would 
claim  the  privilege  of  helping  on  the  work. 


ilr.  Von  Glehn,  Chairman  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  the  Association,  proposed  a  wann 
vote  of  thanks  to  Lady  Mabel  Egerton,  to  the 
Mayor  of  Hammersmith  for  presiding,  and  to 
Miss  Irene  Brown,  who  had  worked  up  the 
subscriptions  throughout  Hammersmith.  The 
Resolution  was  seconded  by  the  Rev.  G.  H. 
Walsh,  Vicar  of  St.  Paul's,  Hammersmith, 
w  ho  included  also  in  the  vote  of  thanks  the 
Loudon  Diocesan  Orchestra,  and  the  Superin- 
tendent, iliss  Curtis,  for  the  enthusiasm  with 
which  she  inspired  those  working  under  her. 
The  Rev.  H.  Vincent,  Rural  Dean  of  Ful- 
ham,  who  supported  the  motion,  said  he  could 
never  sutRciently  express  his  gratitude  for  the 
work  of  the  nurses.  It  was  always  at  the  high- 
est level,  and  extraordinarily  brave.  However 
disagreeable  the  cases,  the  nurses  always  stuck 
to  them,  and  were  daily  to  be  found  trudging 
through  the  dull  streets  of  Fulham  and  Ham- 
mersmith. The  resolution  was  carried  by  ac- 
clamation.   

The  second  Annual  fleeting  of  the  Scottish 
Nurses'  Association  will  be  held  in  the  Masonic 
Halls,  100.  West  Regent  Street,  Glasgow,  on 
Saturday,  December  17th,  when  the  President, 
Sir  William  ^lacewen,  will  be  in  the  chair. 


According  to  the  Toronto  Globe,  Detroit,  in, 
the  State  of  ■Michigan,  is  to  have  the  first  com- 
plet<>  noiseless  hospital  in  the  world.  Four  of 
the  citizens  having  made  this  possible  by  the 
gift  of  600,000  dollars,  so  that  a  new  hospital 
will  replace  the  present  Harper  Hospital.  In 
this  up-to-date  building  there  will  be  no  call 
bells  or  ringing  of  telephones.  All  calls  will  be 
made,  not  by  bells,  bv^  by  light  signals.  On 
each  floor  in  the  building  will  be  a  nurses' 
station  conveniently  and  centrally  situated, 
where  at  least  one  nurse  will  be  on  duty  con- 
stantly. Near  these  stations  will  be  telephone 
booths,  and  also  at  each  station  a  glass  door 
cabinet  built  in  the  wall  to  contain  a  series  of 
lights,  each  light  having  a  number  representing 
an  interim.  In  each  of  the  rooms  of  the 
new  hospital  there  will  also  be  a  call  system  of 
lights  for  patients. 


Some  Suoocstioiis  for  Christmas 
presents. 

At  Thomas  Wallis',  Holborn  Circus,  E.C. 

One  of  the  most  fascinating  of  Cliristmas  bazaars 
is  that  at  the  establishiueut  of  Messrs.  Thomas 
Wallis  and  Co.,  Holborn  Circus,  and  those  nlio 
cannot  here  find  something  to  meet  their  needs  for 
Christmas  gifts  for  old  and  young  must  be  diffi- 
cult to  please.  There  are  dainty  handkerchiefs, 
belts,  and  neck-wear,  fascinating  cushions,  kit- 
bags,  suit-cases,  and  umbrellas,  to  mention  a  few 
suitable  gifts  for  the  elders ;  while  for  the  children 
there  is  a  bewildering  selection  —  Golliwogs, 
Humpty-Dumpties,  Peter  Pans,  and  Pucks,  compete 
for  favour;  "Happy,"  the  King's  dog,  and 
"Cjesar,"  the  late  King  Edward's  clog,  are  to  be 
found  in  all  sizes  and  at  all  prices.  It  is  impossible 
to  mention  hundreds  of  the  attractive  presents  to 
be  found  there,  and  we  can  only  advise  our  readers 
to  go,  and  go  early,  to  see  for  themselves.  They 
will  not  come  away  without  purchases. 

At  Messrs.   Garrould's,   Edgware  Road,   W. 

The  bazaar  of  Jlessrs.  Garrould,  in  the  Edgware 
Road,  attracts  many  nurses  and  their  friends  at 
this  season,  and  those  who  desire  to  furnish  Christ- 
mas trees  and  to  obtain  acceptable  gifts  for  the 
small  people  at  popular  prices  would  do  well  to 
pay  this  bazaar  a  visit.  Messrs.  Garrould  have  for 
so  many  years  catered  for  the  needs  of  hospitals 
and  their  nursing  staffs  that  they  know  well  what 
to  offer  them  in  attractive  guise. 

Books  for   Xcrses. 

Those  who  wish  to  make  gifts  to  nurses  could 
hardly  find  any  more  acceptable  than  some  of  the 
books  on  nursing  published  by  Messrs.  Charles 
Griffin  and  Co.,  Ltd.,  Exeter  Street,  Strand.  A 
Manual  of  Nursing,  Medical  and  Surgical,"  by 
Dr.  Laurence  Humphry,  is  always  a  prime 
favourite:  'Food  and  Dietaries,"  by  Sir  R.  'W. 
Burnet.  F.R.C.P.,  is  also  to  be  recommended;  and 
"The  Wife  and  Mother,"  by  Dr.  Albert  Westland, 
M.A.,  will  find  a  large  clientele  of  readers. 

Again,  anr  of  the  excellent  books  for  nurses 
published  by  Messrs.  G.  P.  Putnam's,  24,  Bedford 
Street,  Strand,  W.C,  including  ■  A  History  of 
Nursing,"  by 'Miss  L.  L.  Dock  and  Miss  M.  A. 
Nutting,  could  not  fail  to  please. 

Ax  Appropriate  Gift. 

For  a  convalescent  friend  a  case  of  Wincarnis 
supplied  bv  Coleman  and  Co.,  Ltd.,  »'incarnis 
Works,  Norwich,  would  be  a  very  acceptable  and 
appropriate  gift. 

Sojie  Ili.cstrated  Catalogues. 

Those  who  are  unable  to  pay  personal  visits  neeJ 
have  no  difficulty  in  selecting  suitable  gifts.  The 
illustrated  catalosiues  of  Messrs.  Bailey,  38.  Nen 
Oxford  Street.  W..  ;  .Messrs.  Down,  21,  St.  Thomas 
Street,  S.E.  ;  the  Medical  Supply  A.ssociation,  228. 
Grav's'  Inn  Road,  W.C,  afford  ample  scope  for 
selection ;  while  to  our  midwife  readers  the  babies' 
hygienic  bottles  of  Messrs.  Allen  and  H»inburys, 
Ltd.,  Lombard  Street,  E.C,  and  Messrs.  J.  G 
Ingram  and  Sons'  feeding  bottles,  with  special  teat 
ami  valve,  of  the  London  India-rubber  Works, 
Hacknev  Wick.  N.E.,  will  dJuibtless  be  of  interest. 


496 


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[Dee.  17,  1910 


professional  IRcview. 

THE  STORY  OF  THE  BACTERIA. 

"  The  Story  of  the  Bacteria  ami  Their  Relation 
to  Health  and  Disease,"  by  Dr.  T.  Mitchell 
Pruddeu,  is  a  book  which  should  be  read  by  every 
nurse,  for  she  will  thereby  gain  a  practical,  in- 
telligent insight  into  the  nature  of  bacteria,  their 
method  of  growth,  their  uses  and  dangers,  with- 
out over-burdening  herself  with  knowledge  pertain- 
ing more  properly  to  the  province  of  medicine.  A 
second  e<lition  of  this  valuable  little  book  has  just 
been  published  by  G.  P.  Putnams,  24,  Bedford 
Street,  London,  W.C.  The  revision  of  the  book  for 
the  second  edition  ha.s  been  everywhere  extensive, 
and  the  author  expresses  the  hope  that  "the 
addition  of  pictures,  and  the  enlarged  scope  of 
the  book,  will  make  it  useful  to  the  new  generation 
of  readers,  whose  outlooks  for  increased  efficiency 


Bacteria,  also  called  "germs,"  or  "microbes," 
or  "micro-organisms"  (i.e.,  small  living  beings), 
are  distingiiished  from  one  another  by  names  which 
refer  to  their  shapes  or  habits.  Thus  the  most 
common  form  of  the  round  or  spheroid  1  bacteria 
is  called  a  inicroco<:cus  =  a  little  berry;  one  variety 
which  produces  a  yellow  colour  in  masses  is  called 
the  microroccxis  lutens  =  the  yellow  micrococcus.  An- 
other genus  of  germs  are  called  streptococci  =  3,  chain 
of  berries,  because  the  little  balls  tend  to  cling  t6- 
gether,  and  form  chains  as  they  gi'ow,  and  others 
are  known  as  staphylococci  =  &  bunch  of  berries. 

Among  the  rod-shaped  bacteria  the  most  common 
germ  is  the  bacillus;  others  are  spiral  in  form. 

The  great  majority  of  bacteria  are  beneficent  in 
their  action,  but  some  are  inimical  to  health  and 
life,  and  it  is  with  these  that  nurses  have  most  to 
do,  and  upon  which,  intelligently  or  unintelligently. 
they  wage  constant  war.       Those  which  give  the 


A    SNEEZE    PLATE    CULTURE. 

and  happiness  in  life  is  curiously  interlinked  with 
the  performances  of  thee©  invisible  earth  neigh- 
bours, whose  story  is  here  briefly  rehearsed." 

The  first  chapter  is  devoted  to  the  cells  of  the 
human  body,  and  after  describing  the  lowest  form 
of  animal  life,  consisting  of  a  single  cell,  the 
author  shows  that  in  man,  too,  life  commences  in  a 
single  cell;  "a  cell  which,  though  harbouring 
IK)tentialities  of  the  hii^licst  order,  in  many  resi>ects 
lesemliles  our  little  denizens  of  the  water.  In  man 
the  simple  cell,  under  favourable  conditions,  divides 
and  sub-divides,  and  ultimately  we  see  each  highly 
developed  cell  working  for  the  others  as  well  as 
for  itself,  and  for  the  organisation  as  a  whole." 

Xe.vi.  our  attention  is  directe<l  to  the  haeteria. 
"  There  is  a  great  group  of  lowly  plants  so  small 
a.s  to  be  quite  invisible  to  the  nake<l  eye.  and  which, 
until  within  a  few  years,  have  been  entirely  un- 
known to  man,  which  still  linger  in  the  primitive 
simplicity  which  we  imagine  to  have  belonged  to  the 
•  arth's  earliest  denizens.    These  are  the  bacteria." 


TRACKS    OF   A    WANDERING    "TYPHOID    FLY." 

greatest  trouble  axe  the  streptococcus  pyogenes  and 
the  staphylococcus  pyogenes;  pyogenes=pn&  form- 
ing. 

Lastly,  the  soluble  poison  produced  (toxins)  by 
these  bacteria  may  enter  the  circulation  and  cause 
toxfcmia,  or  when  the  bacteria  themselves  escape 
from  their  primary  seat  and  with  their  toxins  gain 
access  to  iho  blood,  the  condition  is  called  scpti- 
cccmia  or  hactcria:inia. 

These  bacteria  of  sufkpuration  apparently  do  no 
harm  wlien  they  lodge  on  the  uninjured  surface  of 
the  body,  but  only  when  tliey  get  into  the  tissues 
through  an  injury,  or  lodge  upon  the  surfaces  of 
the  respiratory  or  digestive  tract,  or  in  tJio  heart 
and  blootl  vessels,  which  are  already  the  seat  of 
disease,  or  when  they  get  into  the  hair  follicles  of 
the  skin,  and  under  certain  conditions  incite  boiKs. 
This  knowledge  applied  to  surgery  has  supplanted 
the  antiseptic  by  the  aseptic  system,  tlio  aim  Iwing 
to  keep  bacteria  out  of  wounds  ratlior  tlian  to  kill 
them  with  nntis<?ptics  when  thoy  have  been  nllowe<I 


Dec.  17,  1010] 


Z\K  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRursimj. 


497 


to  get  in.  .Just  as  nnxleru  knowledge  is  leading 
us  to  oonceutrato  our  efforts  on  obtaining  a  pure 
milk  supply  \\-]iich  can  be  safely  consumed  un- 
boiled, rather  than  relying  on  boiling,  by  which 
nieans  the  bacteria  are  killed,  and  so  consumed  dead 
instead  of  living,  the  lesser  of  two  evils  certainly, 
but  by  no  means  an  ideal  condition. 

The  illustrations,  roproduce<l  from  the  book  by 
the  kindness  of  the  publishei-,  are  (1)  a  sneeze 
plate  culture,  illustrating  the  way  in  which  tubercle 
bacilli  may  be  transmitted  by  the  act  of  coughing 
or  sneezing.  In  sneezing  a  veritable  spray  may  be 
si-nt  forth  for  several  feet  in  the  air,  containing 
fully  virulent  tub»Mcle  bacilli.  This  fine  spray 
floats  for  a  considerable  time  in  the  air,  and  may 
be  breathed  in  by  otheis. 

'■  It  is  thus  clear  that  both  safety  and  decency 
require  that  in  coughing  and  sneezing  tlie  hand- 
kerchief, or  at  need  the  hand,  should  be  held  before 
the  mouth  and  nose.  This  obvious  rule  of  propriety 
is  also  a  counsel  of  security  under  all  circumstances, 
since  the  mouth  and  nose  of  many  persons  not 
tuberculous,  and  not  rvcn  themselves  ill,  contain 
infective  organisms  which,  gaining  a  foothold  upon 
more  vulnerable  individuals,  may  lead  to  serious 
disease." 

In  typhoid  fever  it  has  been  proved  that  flies 
which  have  access  to  typhoid  discharges  may  carry 
and  deposit  upon  human  food  to  which  they  next 
address  their  industries,  virulent  tvphoid  bacilli,  as 
well  as  those  of  dysentery,  in  large  numbers.  If 
the  fly  which  favours  us  with  his  addresses  has 
come,  as  is  most  likely  the  case,  from  a  revel  in 
simple  filth,  ho  is  just  a  nuisance,  if  from  infective 
filth  he  is  also  a  menace.  Flies  are  fond 
of  milk,  and  usually  fall  in.  Before  they  scramble 
out  again  a  few  odd  thousands  of  living  bacteria  are 
transferred  to  the  milk.  Most  bacteria,  including 
the  tyjihoid  bacilli,  grow  excellently  in  milk,  and 
again  and  again  typlioid  epidemics  have  started 
through  the  intervention  of  the  domestic  fly. 

Our  second  illustration  shows  the  tracks  of  a 
wandering  house-fly,  dipped  first  in  sewage  water 
and  then  set  to  walk  over  a  Petrie  plate  for  a 
moment.  The  plate  was  covered  and  set  aside  for 
three  days,  when  it  was  found  that  bacteria  had 
giown  wherever  the  fly's  feet  had  touched  the 
gelatine  or  his  body  dragged.  We  have  no  space 
to  quote  more,  but  advise  our  readers  to  study 
the  book  for  themselves.  ^^J    3 


THE  PASSING  BELL. 
We  regret  to  record  the  death,  which 
took  i)lace  last  week,  of  Mr.  William  John 
Xixon,  aged  90  years,  at  Brighton.  Mr. 
Xiton  \Vas  a  very  prominent  worker  in  the  hos- 
pital world  for  many  years  as  a  House  Governor 
of  the  London  Hospital,  a  position  he  resigne<l  in 
1802.  after  being  connected  with  the  institution  for 
46  years.  A  most  kindly  man,  of  liberal  mind,  and 
of  the  highest  probity,  the  well-being  of  the  hos- 
pital (according  to  the  lights  of  those  days)  was  his 
unceasing  care — and  many  an  old  "  London  "  sister 
can  recall  his  invariable  considei-ation  in  all  that 
concerned_  their  personal  relations.  A  just  and 
generous  man — woidd  there  were  more  such! 


Our  Jfoixion  letter. 

SUNSHINE  AND   SHADOW   IN    INDIA. 

When  a 
telegram  ar- 
rived asking 
for  two 
Nursing  Sis- 
ters to  be 
sent  down  to 

Z .       to 

•.   '^»  >--^-'ij?(£!Kg^i?"^— — -^-s!*^      nurse       the 
\i  \^*^-^ — ».>-^..  Maharajah's 

small  daugh- 
ter it  caused  quite  a  little  excitement  among  us. 
My  special  friend,  a  charming  Irish  girl,  was  first 
on  the  list,  and  I  came  next.  We  were  delighted 
at  the  prospect  of  nwrsing  a  case  together — and 
such  a  case !  We  rarely  had  the  entre  into  a  native 
State,  at  least  not  into  the  sacred  precincts  of  the 
Zenana. 

We  had  first  to  wire  to  the  Chief  Lady  Superin- 
tendent of  our  Association  for  permission  to  go  to 
a  native  State,  and  then  we  set  about  making  our 
preparations  for  the  Journev. 

In  India,  where  telegrams  are  often  delayed,  we 
were  fortunate  in  getting  our  answer  just  in  time 
to  catch  the  evening  train  at  the  railway  station 
at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  nine  miles  distant.  The 
Lady  Superintendent's  telegram  said,  "If  the  .Sis- 
ters volunteered  "  we  could  go.  We  needed  no 
urging,  and,  having  got  our  luggage  ready  while 
waiting  for  the  necessary  permission,  we  wired  back 

to  the  lady  missionary  doctor  at  Z- to  say  we 

were  on  our  way,  and  set  off  in  rickshaws  drawn 
by  coolies,  who  simply  flew  down  the  hill,  round 
sharp  corners,  and  across  ravines  bridged  by  nar- 
row bridges  that  scarcely  looked  wide  enough  in 
the  fading  light  of  a  glorious  September  evening. 
A  young  moon  lighted  us  sufficiently  for  our 
coolies  to  find  their  way  through  the  bazaars,  where 
the  stalls  were  dimly  lighted  with  nasty  smelling 
oil  lamjjs  during  the  latter  part  of  our  rickshaw 
ride,  wliich  brought  us  to  the  railway,  which  comes 
to  meet  the  traveller  and  bear  him  away  across  the 
vast  plains  of  India. 

This  was  only  the  first  stage  of  our  journey,  and 
later,  when  we  had  dined  at  the  railway  refresh- 
ment room  and  arranged  our  beds  in  a  very  com- 
fortable first-class  railway  carriage,  we  covered  our 
heads  with  motor  veils  and  settled  off  to  sleep, 
knowing  we  should  not  be  disturbed  till  the  follow- 
ing morning.  When  we  awoke  the  sun  was  rising 
over  a  flat  sandy  plain,  and  this  we  realised  better 
when  we  disco\ered  that  we,  and  everything  in  our 
carriage,  was  covered  with  sand.  We  had  started 
on  our  way  across  the  desert — the  part  of  the  jour- 
ney we  had  rather  dreaded — and  we  still  had  to  pass 
another  day  in  that  close,  hot  carriage,  ihirty-six 
hours  of  continuous  railway  travelling  brought  us 
to  our  destination,  where  the  lady  missionary  doc- 
tor met  us  at  the  station  and  drove  us  to  the  Pearl 
Palace,  set  up  on  a  hill  in  the  midst  of  the  native 
city. 

In  passing,   I  will  add  that  our  modest  luggage 


498 


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[Dec.  17,  lUlU 


was  placed  ou  an  open  cart  and  drawn  b}-  stately 
camels  in  the  same  dii-ection  that  we  were  going. 
My  lirst  impressions  of  the  picturesque  red  sand- 
stone gates  hewn  out  of  the  hillsides  at  the  en- 
trance to  the  city  were  delightful.  A  ship  cut  out 
of  the  same  red  sandstone,  and  inhabited,  came  to 
be  one  of  the  landmarks  on  our  daily  drives.  Our 
way  lay  up  a  winding  road  (without  any  trees  to 
protect  us  from  the  brilliant  sun,  which  was  already 
getting  hot,  though  it  was  barely  ten  o'clock  in 
the  morning),  and  climbed  a  fairly  steep  hill,  leav- 
ing the  whitewashed  city  behnd  us.  Grand  old 
carved  wooden  gates  opened  on  our  arrival  at  the 
palace,  where  we  had  to  alight  from  our  carriage 
and  enter  pretty  sedan  chairs  borne  on  the  shoulders 
of  men  wearing  the  palace  livery. 

Once  within  the  precincts,  there  was  much  to 
admire,  but  our  enthusiasm  was  checked  when  we 
inquired  as  to  the  red  impressions  of  several  hands 
on  the  inside  walls  of  the  palace  gates,  and  were 
told  that  they  were  made  in  olden  times,  when 
suttee  was  in  vogue,  by  the  wives  of  the  dead 
-Maharajah,  then  on  his  way  to  his  burial.  The 
wi\es  followed  the  funeral  cortege  on  elephants, 
and  ao  they  passed  out  of  the  gates  for  the  last 
time  they  dipped  their  hands  in  blood  and  left  their 
impressions  ou  the  walls  in  token  of  farewell. 

Vi'e  had  to  pass  through  six  smaller  gates  before 
we  were  admitted  to  the  courtyard  off  which  the 
Mnharani's  apartments  ojjened.  Here  the  Prime 
Minister  of  State,  a  very  handsome  and  courtly 
gentleman,  received  us,  and  assured  us  of  the 
honour  we  were  conferring  by  coming  to  their 
assistance.  After  seeing  that  we  were  accom- 
modated with  chairs,  he  left  us  to  inform  the 
Maharani  of  our  arrival,  and  we  were  at  leisure  to 
admire  our  picturesque  surroundings  and  the 
pigeons  sunning  themselves  in  the  freshness  of  the 
morning.  The  Maharani  was  a  bright,  black-eyed 
little  woman,  with  beautifully  braided  hair,  lips 
scarlet  with  the  pan-sopari  she  was  constantly 
chewing,  and  tvpical  Eastern  dress  of  lovely  bright- 
coloured  silks,  with  the  daintiest  velvet  heelless 
slii)pers  embroidered  with  gold  thread.  Her  finger- 
nails and  toe-nails  were  pink  with  henna,  and  her 
eyes  dark  with  bhol,  but  her  teeth,  which  were 
blackened  in  token  of  royalty,  spoilt  wliat  might 
have  been  a  charming  picturesque  whole. 

She  greeted  us  stiffly  and  had  us  conducted  almost 
iniinediately  to  our  young  patient. 

Our  patient  had  been  removed  from  the 
Zenana  to  the  Audience  Chamber,  opening  off  an 
upjior  court,  tesselated  with  marble,  and  it  had 
beautiful  marble  pillars  supporting  a  ceiling  painted 
in  gorgeous  relief.  The  walls  of  this  Audience 
Chaml)er  were  also  painted  in  designs  of  fruit, 
flowers,  and  liirds  of  every  hue.  Seeing  some  of 
the  panels  unfinished,  we  inquu-ed  the  reason,  and 
were  hdrrified  when  we  were  told  that  it  was  well 
for  the  artist  that  he  had  died  a  natural  death 
before  completing  his  task.  If  he  had  lived  to 
finish  the  work  his  eyes  would  have  been  put  out 
with  hot  irons  and  his  hands  been  cut  off,  so  that 
he  would  never  again  be  able  to  paint  anything. 
It  was  to  be  his  one  ju'cce  de  rcsisiancc. 


The  Audience  Chamber  proved  a  lofty  and  gor- 
geous «ard  for  our  little  patient,  who  looked  rather 
frightened  when  she  saw  us ;  but  we  soon  made 
friends  with  her  and  her  elder  sister,  who  was 
allowed  to  pay  daily  visits  and  play  with  the 
invalid. 

We  found  elaborate  arrangements  had  been  made 
for  our  accommodation,  and  as  there  were  no  actual 
rooms,  portions  of  the  courtyard  were  partitioned 
off  with  heavy  khus-khus  screens,  and  enormous 
double  bedsteads  with  mosquito-nets  (for  which  we 
were  very  thankful  later)  took  up  most  of  the  room 
in  these  impromptu  apartments. 

The  old  palace,  though  hundreds  of  years  old, 
was  in  a  state  of  beautiful  preservation,  and  we 
were  the  first  English  (or,  as  they  called  us,  white) 
women  to  sleep  within  its  walls.  Of  course,  every- 
one thought  us  very  brave,  but  we  were  ignorant 
of  our  danger,  if  there  was  any,  and  the  novelty 
of  our  surroundings  did  away  with  any  qualms  ou 
the  subject.  The  Prince  of  this  State  was  loyal  to 
the  British   Government,   and  though  the  English 

residents  in  Z rather  pitied  us,  we  found  much 

to  interest  and  amuse  within  the  precincts  of  the 
Pearl  Palace.  Bats  in  thousands  had  made  their 
generations  among  the  quaint  and  beautiful  archi- 
tecture, and  they  could  not  understand  the  innova- 
tion of  Khus-khus  screens,  against  which  they  came 
in  contact,  as  they  skimmed,  as  of  old,  along  the 
passages  and  came  to  grief.  Many  a  morning  we 
issued  from  our  chambers  to  find  heaps  of  dead 
bats  piled  a  foot  or  two  high  outside  the  screens. 
Often  a  bat  came  to  anchor  on  the  mosquito-net, 
and  it  was  then  we  were  thankful  for  the  protection 
they  afforded  us  from  bats  and  the  inevitable  mos- 
quito, with  its  monotonous  song  of  "  Brother,  I 
come;  brother,  I  come." 

Pigeons  cooed  us  to  distraction,  and  a  queer  kind 
of  weasel,  with  a  beautiful  brown  fur  coat,  used 
to  pay  us  visits  at  night  and  create  a  great  com- 
motion among  the  inhabitants  of  the  palace,  all 
the  men  turning  out  with  rifles  to  shoot  poor  little 
brownie,  who  had  a  reputation  for  pouncing  on 
sleeping  natives. 

Our  little  princess  was  six  years  old,  and  proved 
a  charming  patient.  With  the  most  serious  face  she 
used  to  tell  us  of  the  games  she  loved  to  play  with 
her  brothers,  especially  tlie  eldest,  who  was  evi- 
dently her  favourite.  -\t  one  time  we  thought  she' 
never  would  laugh,  but  when  we  got  used  to  her 
own  particular  patois  we  understood  her  better, 
and  she  was  as  merry  as  a  cricket  when  she  forgot 
that  she  was  a  little  princess.  Her  ladies-in- 
waiting  (she  had  four,  but  only  two  continued  their 
duties  during  her  illness)  took  a  vow  when  her 
illness  first  set  in  that  they  would  neither  wash 
themselves  nor  change  their  garments  until  her  re- 
covery was  assured,  but  as  the  infectious  fever  from 
which  the  princess  was  suffering  lasted  six  weeks, 
we  had  to  r;>uresent  the  necessity  for  ablutions  and 
change  of  raimeiit  as  essential  to  the  welfare  of 
the  patient  as  well  as  themselves,  if  they  wished  to 
continue  in  attendance. 

In  addition  to  the  daily  visits  of  the  lady  doctor, 
who  lived  at  some  distance  in  the  English  colony, 
there   were   two   native     doctors    resident     in    the 


Dec.  17, 1910]        jj-hc  Britlsb  3om-nal  of  HAuroiiuj 


palace,  oue  of  whom  was  a  noted  herbalist  aii.l 
astronomer,  from  whom  we  learnt  many  things 
about  the  stars  and  ancient  methods  of  healing  with 
herbs.  The  mother  of  our  little  palieut  was  a  fre- 
<jueut  visitor,  and  .she  put  to  us  all  kinds  of  questions 
about  the  outer  world,  which  she  longed  to  see 
Anil  vet  it  was  by  her  o«  n  desire  that  she  kept 
strict  purdah.  Her  husband  was  really  anxious 
that  she  should  come  out  and  take  her  place  by  his 
side  in  all  the  public  State  functions,  but  the 
ancient  traditions  of  her  race  were  too  strong. 
Perhaps  the  chief  reason  lay  in  the  fact  that  she 
knew  very  little  English  and  nest  to  nothing  of 
the  English  manners  and  i  ustonis.  We  were  always 
doubtful  whether  she  appreciated  our  little  curtsies 
when  she  greeted  us  of  a  morning,  but  there  was 
so  little  to  relieve  the  tedium  of  her  cloistered  life 
that  we  never  failed  to  recognise  her  high  birth 
and  station. 

All  members  of  the  family  were  presented  with 
a  sword  at  birth,  which  never  left  their  side — 
wlierever  the  child  went,  the  sword  must  go — and 
it  was  some  time  before  we  discovered  that  our 
princess's  sword  was  kept  under  her  pillow,  together 
with  other  amulets  to  which  she  was  devotedly 
attached.  When  she  got  better  she  used  to  play 
cards  and  a  gambling  gam©  on  squares  of  calico, 
with  the  aid  of  dice,  with  her  ladies-in-waiting.  We 
taught  her  to  do  drawn-thread  work,  but  her  little 
lingers  were  not  quick,  and  she  soon  tired  of  the 
task.  Her  mother  was  anxious  to  learn,  too,  but 
she  preferred  to  do  wool  work  on  canvas,  and  made 
liandsome  waistcoats  in  bright  gi-  t'u  wool  and  gold 
thread  for  the  Maharajah  and  lu  r  sons. 

There  was  a  sacred  temple  in  the  palace  grounds, 
where  the  Maharani  used  to  go  to  do  pujah !  This 
was  always  a  ceremony  of  importance,  and  the 
Maharajah's  band  used  to  come  over  from  his 
palace,  which  was  quite  two  mOes  away.  This  band 
was  trained,  and  played  European  music  to  the  best 
of  its  ability.  The  Maharani's  band  played  native 
music,  and  both  bands  were  requisitioned  on  these 
occasions  of  religious  State  ceremony.  But  the 
combined  effect  was  not  a  happy  one.  Directly  the 
Maharani's  sedan  chair,  closely  curtained,  emerged 
from  the  courtyard  of  the  Zenana,  on  its  way  to 
the  temple,  the  joint  bands  played  each  their  own 
National  Anthem,  and  just  as  the  strains  of  "  God 
Save  the  King''  were  making  you  feel  terribly 
homesick,  the  native  band  blazed  out  a  weird  dis- 
cord which  made  you  shudder. 

The  ceremony  of  greeting  the  new  moon,  whose 
advent  was  always  .signalled  with  gun-fire,  was 
always  strictly  observed.  Everyone  loitered  on  tlie 
roofs  in  the  hopes  of  being  the  first  to  see  it,  and 
then  greetings  were  exchanged  all  round.  When 
the  princess  grew  better  the  Maharani  issued  invi- 
tations for  an  "  At  Home  "  to  all  her  lady  friends, 
who  were  nearly  all  relatives.  They  arrived  about 
11  a.m.,  dressed  in  their  richest  hued  silks  and 
most  wonderful  jewels.  It  was  a  perfect  kaleido- 
scope of  beautiful  colour ;  and  they  were  all  so 
handsome — their  clear  olive  skins  and  large  lumi- 
nous eyes  were  in  perfect  keeping  with  their 
Oriental  dress  and  picturesque  surroundings. 

ViD.V    T5.MRD. 


Qutt5il>c  the  Gatccv 


THE  TALE  OF  A  BLACK  CAT. 

Tbei'ii  were  three 
little  red  villas  in  a 
row,  eacli  with  a  greeu 
door  and  a  shiny  brass 
knocker.,  A  grass  plot 
more  or  less  green 
separated  each  from 
the  street,  and  trim 
green  pali)igs  austerely  marked  tlie  dividing 
line.  Tlie  curtains  in  the  greeu  framed  windows 
were  all  immaculate  and  frilly ;  the  doorsteps 
vied  with  each  other  in  whiteness  and  the  brass 
knockers  twinkled  in  the  svmshine. 

It  was  a  joj^  to  behold  the  respective  niis- 
tresses  of  these  abodes  setting  forth  of  an  after- 
noon; each  with  the  latest  thing-  in  costumes 
and  parasols,  and  a  nose  carefully  tip-tilted  at 
her  neighbours'  windows;  the  fii'st  departure 
scornfully  watched  from  behind  two  sets  of 
frilly  curtains,  the  latest  conscious  of  but  an 
empty  triuiuph. 

The  Number  Twos  were  the  latest  comers, 
and  there  had  been  in  the  beginning  some 
rivalry  between  the  Xumber  Ones  and  Number 
Threes  (who  had  not  been  on  speaking  terms 
for  twelve  mouths)  as  to  who  should  first  obtain 
a  footing  in  the  diminutive  drawing-room  of 
Xumber  Two,  with  all  its  privileges  of  weak 
tea  from  the  best  china,  and  assorted  cakes 
from  a  wicker  stand  that  fell  if  you  looked  at 
it.  Then  came  an  incident  that  almost  estab- 
lished an  entente  between  the  old  inhabitants 
at  the  expense  of  the  new  comer. 

One  aft-emoon  !Mrs.  Number  One  and  Mrs. 
Number  Three  happened  to  close  their  front 
gates  at  the  same  time,  shortly  after  Mrs. 
Number  Two  had  gone  forth  with  calling  cards 
and  daintily  lifted  skirts  (the  road  in  front  not 
having  yet  emerged  from  the  primal  chaos  of 
a  newly  built  district.)  Mrs.  Number  One  ven- 
tured an  opinion  on  the  weather,  with  which 
Mrs.  Number  Three,  somewhat  dubiously,  con- 
curred. The  first  lady  followed  this  up  by  ask- 
ing if  ^Its.  Number  Three  had  yet  met  Mrs. 
Number  Two,  to  which  Mre.  Number  Three 
rephed  that  she  bad  called,  that  her  call  had 
been  returned,  and  that  she  was  pven  then 
meditating  another  sortie  in  the  course  of  a  few 
days. 

Said  Mrs.  Number  One  : — "I  was  wondering 
if  you  happened  to  know  anything  about  them. 
Of  course,  I'm  not  snobbish,  but  Alfred  is 
rather  particular  who  I  mix  with."  ' 

Quoth  Mrs.  Number  Three  :  "  I  don't  know 
who  they  are  at  all.  Why"?  Have  you  heard 
anything?  ''  "^ 


500 


^bc  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRurslng. 


[Dec.  17,  1910 


liejoined  ^Irs.  Number  One :  "  Well,  we  did 
hear  that  he  works  in  a  warehouse,  in  his  shirt 
sleeves ;  not  even  behind  the  counter,  you 
know ! 

With  heightened  colour  and  in  staccato 
tones,  jMrs.  Number  Three,  who  had  been 
before  her  marriage  in  the  haberdashery  depart- 
ment of  Smith  and  Greenings,  expressed  her 
horror  at  this  enormity. 

"  Of  course,"'  said  Mrs.  Number  One,  "  we 
must  be  charitable;  site  may  be  all  right,  poor 
thing  I  " 

But  Mrs.  Number  Three  would  have  none  of 
this  weakness.  "  Why  weren't  they  open 
about  it  from  the  beginning  then?  One  would 
at  least  be  able  to  feel  one  had  gone  into  it  with 
open  eyes." 

"  Thank  goodness,"  said  Mrs.  Number  One, 
"  it  is  not  too  late  to  draw  back.  It  will  teach 
her  a  lesson,  too." 

"  Thank  you  very  much  for  telling  me.  You 
must  come  in  some  evening  for  a  little  music, 
both  of  you.     Good  afternoon." 

And  two  smart  sunshades  bobbed  off  in 
opposite  directions. 

Very  soon  after  this  the  Number  Ones  set  off 
for  their  annual  holiday,  and  before  going  Mrs. 
Number  One  ventured,  on  the  strength  of  the 
new  e7ite7ite,  to  commit  her  black  cat  to  the 
care  of  Mi-s.  Number  Three ;  leaving  minute 
directions  as  to  hours  of  feeding,  and  an  order 
on  the  milkman  for  a  penn'orth  a  day.  This 
done,  the  Number  Ones  drove  off  in  a  hansom, 
with  a  very  large  trunk  adorned  with  a  very 
small  label  (it  is  so  much  more  interesting  to 
leave  something,  such  as  one's  destination,  to 
the  imagination),  and  there  was  much  waving 
of  handkerchiefs  by  the  new  allies. 

Now  the  black  cat  residing  at  Number  One — 
for  1  have  at  length  an'ived  at  the  introduction 
of  mj-  hero — was  a  philosophic  pussy,  and  not 
over  young.  He  had  before  this  seen  the  draw- 
ing-room suite  clothed  in  newspapers,  the 
blinds  drawn  in  daylight,  and  a  large  trunk  ob- 
structing the  hall,  and  he  knew  what  manner 
of  desolation  these  signs  portended.  So  pussy 
washed  his  face,  gave  an  extra  rakish  tilt  to 
his  whiskei-s  and  tail,  and  set  off  on  a  little  ex- 
pedition of  his  own  that  he  had  meditated  by 
many  a  winter  fire. 

Next  morning  Mrs.  Number  Three  hovered 
round  the  dnor  of  Number  One,  calling  in  sweet 
.Did  seductive  tones,  "  Blackie !  Blackie  I 
<  oiiip  along  thvii,  pussums !  "  But  pussums 
'  mil'  not,  and  Mrs.  Number  Three,  giving  ex- 
|)r('ssion  to  a  thought  not  over  sugary,  returned 
hoiue  with  the  milk.  That  evening,  as  she  lin- 
L'ri'  il  in  the  garden,  noting  with  fond  pride  th? 
if    two   pansies,    a    sunflower,    urA   a 


luxurious  wealth  of  nasturtiums,  a  gentle  pur- 
ring noise  fell  on  her  ear,  and  looking  up  she 
beheld  a  sleek  black  pussy,  purring,  and  blink- 
ing its  eyes  in  the  rays  of  the  setting  sun. 
With  eager  steps  ^Irs.  Number  Three  wett  for 
the  milk.  "  Blackie!  Blackie!  Come  pussums- 
then !  "  she  called. 

It  behoveth  the  Chronicler  to  be  tmthfvil. 
Pussy  Number  Two  knew  full  well  that  her 
name  was  not  Blackie.  But  she  beheld  the 
saucer,  she  heard  the  white  fluid  softly  gur- 
gling from  the  jug,  and  after  a  slight  show  of 
poHte  reluctance  she  dropped  gracefully  from 
the  wall,  and  deliberately  drank  the  milk  in- 
tended for  her  absent  neighbour;  sitting  on 
Number  Three's  garden  seat  afterward  to  ac- 
complish her  toilet.  Also,  I  grieve  to  say  that 
Mrs.  Number  Two,  being  a  somewhat  humor- 
ous little  woman,  watched  these  proceedings 
from  her  back  bedroom  window  with  much  joy. 

For  a  whole  fortnight  did  Pussy  Number 
Two  feast  on  new  milk,  fish,  and  all  manner 
of  delights  ;  and  daily  her  coat  grew  sleeker,  her 
expression  smirker,  and  her  puiT  more  full  of 
satisfaction  and  vain-glory.  Surely  she  bad 
an'ived  at  a  feline  Valhalla !  But,  alas  !  'twas 
not  eternal. 

On  the  appointed  day  the  Number  Ones  re- 
turned, with  cheeks  well  browned  and  trunk 
well  battered.  And  the  very  same  evening 
Blackie  also  returned  from  his  expedition, 
somewhat  ragged  as  to  ears  and  coat,  and  de- 
cidedly gaunt  as  to  figure.  I\Irs.  Number  One 
saw  him  enter  the  kitchen  as  she  was  preparing 
the  nocturnal  kipper,  and  she  shrieked  loudly. 
Alfred  flew  to  her  side  and  joined  in  her' 
lamentations.  He  seemed  less  interested, 
however,  when  she  proposed  a  visit  of  remon- 
strance and  reproach,  but  was  unable  to  offer 
any  objection  when  ^Ire.  Number  One  tore  off 
her  overall  and  dashed  from  the  house,  the 
astonished  Blackie  under  her  arm. 

"  Well,  you  are  delightfully  sunburnt,"  be- 
gan !Mrs.  Number  Three ;  when  she  was 
stricken  dumb  by  the  apparition  of  a  very 
skeletouic  cat  thrust  close  to  her  face,  the 
furious  eyes  of  her  neighbour  glaring  above  it, 

"  liOok  at  this  poor  dumb  animal !  "  shrieked 
Mrs.  Number  One,  to  the  accompaniment  of 
an  expostulatory  howl  from  Blackie. 

"  I  fed  it  every  day,"  faltered  Mrs.  Number 
Three.  Then  a  light  flickered  through  her  be- 
wildered mind.  "  I  must  have  been  feeding 
the  next  d(X)r  cat,"  she  said  eagerly. 

If  she  thought  that  this  trivial  explanation 
would  find  any  favour  with  the  enraged  cat 
owner  she  was  woefully  mistaken.  Mrs.  Num- 
bei-  One  surveyed  her  with  withering  scorn. 

"  T>o  vou  nu>nn  to  sav    vou    mistook     that 


Dec.  17, 1910]         ^f5c  3Bv(tf5b  Joumal  of  HAiU'C'ino. 


501 


mangy,  '  miserable,  half-starved,  crooked- 
legged,  rat-tailed,  cowmon  cat  for  my  beauti- 
ful Blackie,  who  has  won  2Jrizes  at  shows'?  I'd 
save  my  money  for  a  visit  to  the  oculist  if  / 
were  you.  Thank  you  so  much  for  all  your 
kindness,    d'ood-night." 

(You  may  possibly  object  to  the  designa- 
tion of  Blackie  as  tlic  hero  of  this  truthful  yam, 
but  I  uphold  the  verity  of  it.  He  alone  comes 
out  of  the  whole  affair  without  a  stain,  on  his 
character.) 

Jessie  Harvey. 

WOMEN. 
Sir  E.  J.  Poynter,  P.H.A.,  presented  the  prizes 
to  the  students  of  the  Royal  Academy  of  Art  at 
Burhngton  House  last  .Satiu-day.  He  said  the  male 
students  must  look  to  their  laurels.  In  more  than 
one  competition  they  had  been  outdistanced  by 
female  students.  He  attribiited  this  to  the  fact-^ 
whirh  lie  had  often  observed — that  female  students 
seemed  more  earnest  and  more  assiduous  in  their 
attention  than  men,  who  had  a  tendency  to  take 
tilings  more  easily.  This  was  a  failing  which  it 
only  required  an  effort  on  the  part  of  the  men  to 
overcome. 


The  Women's  Social  and  Political  TTnion  states 
that  two  of  tlie  women  prisoners  in  Holloway  have 
been  fed  by  force.  They  adopted  the  hunger  strike 
as  a  protest  against  the  treatment  which  they  were 
receiving. 


Miss  Frances  Mary  Tozer,  B.Sc.  (London),  of 
Liverpool,  and  Miss  Annie  Homer,  D.Sc.  (Trinity 
College,  Dublin),  of  Cambridge,  have  been  elected 
to  Fellowships  by  the  Trustees  of  the  Beit  Founda- 
tion  for  Medical  Research 


The  guests  at  the  dinner  in  celebration  of  the 
part  taken  by  women  in  the  production  of  the 
ilth  edition  of  the  "  F.ncyclopjedia;  Britannica,"  at 
the  Savoy  Hotel,  on  Tuesday  last,  at  which  the 
editor,  Mr.  Hugh  Chisholm,  presided,  included  a 
most  representative  gathering  of  intellectual 
women,  remarkable  in  education,  politics,  litera- 
ture, journalism,  and  many  other  branches  of  work, 
and  the  occasion  was  a  delightful  and  memorable 
one.  The  toast  of  the  evening.  "  The  "Work  of 
Women,"  was  proposed  by  the  Chairman,  and  re- 
sponded to  by  yiiss  Janet  Hogarth  in  a  brilliant 
and  witty  speech.  Miss  Hogarth  enumerated 
amongst  the  oontributors  to  the  Encyclopa?dia  Mrs. 
Henry  Sidgwick.  Mrs.  Humphry  AVard,  Jlrs.  Mey- 
•ell.  Miss  Jessie  Watson,  Miss  Bryant.  Lady 
Lugard,  Miss  Gertrude  Bell,  Mrs.  Alec  Tweedie, 
Miss  Adelaide  Anderson,  Mrs.  Barnett,  Miss  Zim- 
raern,  Lady  Huggins,  Miss  A.  L.  Smith,  the  late 
Miss  Mary  Bateson,  Miss  Agnes  Clarke,  Mrs. 
Wilde,  Miss  Anna  Panes,  Miss  Bertha  Philpotts, 
Dr.  Hennessy,  Miss  Schlesinger,  Mrs.  Gomme,  the 
late  Lady.  Dilke,  and  Lady  Welby.  The  work  in 
connection  with  the  Encyclopsedia  had,  she  said, 
given  women  an  opportunity,  such,  as  they  had 
never  had  before,   of  demonstrating  their  rightful 


place  in  the  learned  world.  The  toast  was  also 
acknowledged  by  Mrs.  Fawcett,  Miss  A.  M.  An- 
derson, arid  the  Mistress  of  Girton. 

French  women  are  likely  before  long  to  obtain 
the  right  to  vote  for  and  be  elected  to  municipal 
and  departmental  Councils.  A  Bill  to  this  effect 
has  already  been  introduced  in  Parliament,  and  it 
has  the  active  support  of  200  members,  who  intend 
to  push  it  through  without  delay.  As  elected  mem- 
bers of  the  Councils,  women  would  also  be  Sena- 
torial electors,  and  this  would  provide  a  practical 
transition  towards  future  extensions  of  the  fran- 
chise. We  congratulate  Frenchmen  equally  with 
Frenchwomen  upon  this  step  towards  citizenship 
for  the  mothers  of  the  nation. 


•Booh  ot  tbc  mcc\\. 


PAM   AND   BILLY* 
A  Chkistmas  Siory. 

The  story  of  Pam  and  Billy — two  little  London 
waifs — Billy  Brown, a  street  musician  by  profession, 
and  Pamela  Payne,  his  only  friend  in  the  wide 
world,  who,  in  the  summer,  sold  flowers  in  the 
streets,  and  in  the  winter,  thanks  to  the  gifts  with 
which  Xatiire  had  endo\yed  hor,  often  obtained  a 
pantomime  engagement — is  a  pretty  and  wholesome 
tale,  which  would  delight  many  children  as  a 
Christmas  gift. 

Billy,  with  "Her,"  his  beloved  violin,  shares  an 
attic  with  five  other  bojs  much  bigger  than  him- 
self, of  whom  he  :.old  Pam — "  They  doesn't  know  ot 
'  Her.'  They  aren't  never  going  to  know  of  '  Her.' 
They'd  be  cruel  to  '  Her,'  maybe  drive  '  Her  '  away, 
and  I  couldn't  live  without  '  Her.'  I've  been  out 
all  day  playing  in  the  streets  with  "  Her,'  the  fauy 
what  lives  in  my  vierlin,  and  she's  been  singing  to 
me  all  day  long." 

•'  He  was  the  son  of  a  musician  with  undiscovered 
genius — a  genius  which  might  perchance  have  been 
revealed  had  he  not  died  a  premature  death  Irom 
Asant  of  nourishment,  leaving  to  his  small  boy  no 
legacy  save  the  violin,  which  he  had  taught  tlie 
child  to  play.. 

Pam,  cast  to  play  the  leading  elfin  in  "Alad- 
din" at  the  Old  Time  Theatre,  enshrined  in  her 
warm  heart  the  Princess  of  the  Pantomime  who 
reigned  as  Queen.  .She  loved  the  Play  Princess  and 
worshipped  from  afar.  But  Maisie  Green,  a  fellow 
elfin,  also  adored  the  Play  Princess  with  heart  and 
soul,  and  trouble  came  of  it,  for  deep  down  in  her 
mean  little  soul  she  was  jealous  of  Pam,  and  so 
Jem,  the  porter,  with  whom  she  was  a  prime 
favourite,  warned  her.  "  You  mind  that  Maisie 
Green;  she's  jealous  of  you;  that's  what's  «Tong 
with  her.  She's  jealous  'cause  you've  got  a  line 
part  and  she  ain't;  she's  jealous  'cause  the  Princess 
spoke  to  you  in  the  '  wings  '  the  other  night;  so 
have  a  care  of  Jluisie  Green,  nij-  dear." 

Maisie  Green  was  a  foe  to  be  reckoned«-with,  and 
when    the    Play    Princess   arranged    that,    besides 

*  By  Brenda  Girvln.  (poorge  Allen  and  Sons, 
Ruskiii  House,  40-4-3,  RathbOne  Place,  W. 


50'2 


Zhc  Britisb  3ournal  of  iRiirsdiQ. 


[Dec.  17,  1910 


having  a.  speakiug  part,  Pam  should  lead  tlie  Bird 
Chorus  as  Robin  Red  Breast,  in  place  of  jNIaisie,  wJio 
had  displeased  her,  it  was  war  to  the  knife,  war 
which,  in  spite  of  the  loyal  comradeship  and  care 
of  Billy,  iuTolve<l  both  children  iu  serious  trouble. 

Billy  loved  Chi-Lstmas  time,  not  only  because  the 
passers-by  were  wont  to  Ije  more  generous  to  the 
street  musician,  but  because  he  "liked  to  press 
his  nose  agamst  the  gaily  decorated  windows, 
wreathed  with  holly,  glistening  with  fixjst,  and 
illuminated  with  myriad  lights  of  varied 
coloui-s.  .  .  .  He  loved  the  Christmas  glare, 
and  to  watch  the  busy  crowds  thronging  the  great 
thoroughfares.  And  his  fairy !  She  sang  to  him  so 
swpL'tly  at  Christmas  time — of  peace  and  joy  and 
goodwill." 

But  alas!  before  Christmas  Day  oame  the  violin 
lay  cracked  and  bi^oken  on  the  pavement — an  empty 
shell,  no  longer  the  hiding  place  of  his  fairy,  for 
she  had  flown  out?  into  the  night,  away  from  her 
spoiled,  mutilated  home,  and  Billy  was  desolate 
indeed. 

Pam,  too,  had  lier  troubles,  but  "all's  well  that 
ends  well,"  and  the  story  for  both  our  hero  and 
heroine  ends  most  happily,  as  a  Cliristmas  story 
should,  with  peace  and  goodwill,  and  "  prospei'ity, 
long  life,   and  happiness  to  the  child  violinist." 

P.  G.    1. 


COMING     EVENTS. 

TJcci'irtbcr  IGth. — Army  and  Xavy  Male  Nurses' 
Co-operation.  At-Home  and  the  People's  Bargain 
Sale.  Royp-I  Horticultural  Hall,  Vincent  Square, 
Westmin.ster.     Si)eeches  and  music,  3.30  p.m. 

Becmhcr  17th Second  Annual  Meeting  of  the 

Scottish  Nurses'  Association,  Masonic  Halls,  100, 
West  ]?egent  Street,  Glasgow.  Sir  William  JNIac- 
ewen,  F.R.C.S.,  F.R.S.,  will  preside.    3  p.m. 

December  S5th. — Christmas  Day  Hospital  Festi- 
vities. 

January llth,1911. — Royal  Infirmary,  Edinburgh. 
Lecture  on  "Food  and  Feeding,"  by  Dr.  Chalmers 
Watson.  All  trained  nurees  cordially  invited. 
Extra  Mural  Medical  Theatre.     4.30  p.m. 

February  ISfh,  1911. — A  Reunion  in  support  of 
the  Bill  for  the  State  Registration  of  Trained 
Nurses,  under  the  authority  of  the  National  Coun- 
cil of  Nurses  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  will  take 
place  in  the  Connaught  Rooms,  Great  Queen 
Street,  London,  W.C,  8.30  p.m.  to  12.  Reception, 
8,30  p.m. 

A  Nursing  Masque  of  the  Evolntioii  of  Trained 
Nursing  will  be  presented  at  9   p.m. 

Music  and  Refreshments. 

Tickets : —Reserved  .seats  (limited),  10s  6d.  and 
7s.  6d.;  unreserved,  5s.;  Nurses,  3s.  6d. ;  Per- 
formers, 2s.  6d. 

Ticket.'*,  on  and  after  January  1st,  on  sale  at  431, 
Oxford  Street,  London,  W. ;  at  the  office  British 
.ToriiNAL  OF  Nursing  (first  floor),  11,  Adam  Street, 
Str.Tnd,  W.C.  ;  and  from  IMatrons  who  olTer  to  have 
them  on  sale  it  return. 

WORD  FOR  THE  WEEK. 
Trust  men  and   tliey  will   be  true  to  you:   treat 
them  gi>>atlv,  and  they  will  show  themselves  great. 
7?.    rr.   KmcrMu. 


Xettei'S  to  tbe  EMtor. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  com- 
munications upon  all  subjects 
for  these  columns,  we  wish  it 
to  be  distinctly  understooa 
that  we  do  not  in  any  vi.K'i 
hold  ourselves  responsible  for 
the  opinions  expressed  by  our 
correspondents. 


LIVE  ANIMALS   IN   BUTCHERS    SHOPS. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 
De.ir  JiAD.iir, — Although  we  are  in  the  midst  of 
a  General  Election,  I  shall  be  grateful  if  you  will 
find  space  before  the  preparations  for  Christmas 
feasting  begin  for  a  word  of  protest  against  the 
vulgar,  insanitary,  and  brutalising  display  of  live 
animals  in  butchers'  shops.  It  is  doubtless  assumed 
by  the  perpetrators  that  the  overfed  victims  are 
indifferent  to  their  surroundings,  though  that  is 
claiming  to  know  much  more  of  animal  psychology 
than  it  is  at*all  possible  to  justify,  but  if  not  for 
the  sake  of  the  unfortunate  creatures  who  ai-e 
penned  up  among  the  corpses  of  their  kin,  it  would 
be  well,  Madam,  if,  in  the  interests  of  ethical  cul- 
ture and  human  progress,  you  would  use  your  power- 
ful influence  against  such  degrading  exhibitions. 

If  mater  familias  would  decline  to  patronise  the 
establishments  where  such  callous  vulgarity  is  in 
evidence,  our  streets  would  cease  to  be  thus  dis- 
figured. 

I  am,  yours  faithfully, 
Animals  Friend  Societv.  Edith  Ward.  . 


A  SWEEPING    ASSERTION. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  A'uTsini-;." 

De.ar  Madam, — I  have  seen  it  stated  in  a  paper 
that  "  Private  work  is  the  lowest  form  of  nursing." 
I  don't  know  how  the  writer  convinces  himself  of 
this  when  it  is  fix)in  the  inivate  nur.«.es  the  whole 
world  takes  the  standard  of  nursing  and  nui-ses. 
Could  you  ask  for  arguments  for  and  against  this 
statement  iu  your  paper?  Surely  this  injurious 
and  sweeping  assertion  could  be  refuted  ? 

Sister  in  India. 

[In  our  opinion  nui-sing  in  private  families  is  the 
most  responsible  brancli  of  nur.sing.  because  the 
nurse  has  to  rely  upon  lior  own  initiative  and  jucl,c- 
nient  very  often  in  most  diflicult  circumstances. 
Many  of  the  ablest  and  most  devoted  nur.ses  we 
know  are  in  private  work,  and  we  hope  the  time 
will  come  when  private  practice  will  rank  as  it 
should  do,  and  as  it  does  in  the  States,  as  the 
branch  jmr  erccUencr.  which  requires  the  best  all- 
round  women  to  succeed  in  it.  In  this  connection 
only  last  week  a  St.  Thomas'  trained  nui«e,  in 
applying  for  private  work.  rcmarko<l :  "We  are  <li.s- 
oouraged  from  lKH>oming  private  nunscs — it  is  pr<^ 
ferred  that  we  should  take  up  any  other  brancn  of 
nni'.siiig!  "  We  inquired.  "  Wiy  ?  "  Siie  couldn't 
tell,  "but  it  was  so." — Ed.] 


OUR  PUZZLE  PRiZE. 
Rules    for    competing    for    the    Pictorial    Puzzle 
Prize  will  be  found  on  Advertisement  page  sii. 


Dec.  i;,  mil) 


Cbc  IBiitisb  3ournal  of  fl^ursino  Supplement. 

The    Midwife. 


oOS 


Hn  3iUcrcstino  Conference. 

A  Conference  of  health  promoting  institutions,  of 
great  interest  to  niidwives  and  all  whose  work 
brings  them  into  touch  with  problems  concerning 
the  national  health,  was  held  at  the  Guildhall  on 
Thursday  and  Friday  last  week,  convened  by  the 
National  League  for  Physical  Education  and  Im- 
provement, wlien  the  Lord  Mayor  presided  at  tlie 
annual  general  meeting,  and  said  that  of  all  sub- 
jects for  the  holding  of  conferences  none  could 
transcend  in  importance  that  of  health.  The  Earl 
of  Aberdeen,  who  moved  the  adoption  of  the  report, 
also  spoke  of  the  excellent  work  achieved  by  the 
Women's  National  Health  Association  of  Ireland. 
FIRST  SESSION' 
How  TO  Work  .\  School  for  Mothers. 
At  the  first  Session  of  the  Conference  Alderman 
Benjamin  Broadbent,  of  Hudderstield,  who  has 
taken  such  a  keen  practical  interest  in  reducing 
infant  mortality  in  that  town,  presided,  and  Lady 
Meyer,  Vice-President  of  the  St.  Pancras  School 
for  Mothers,  presented  the  first  paper  on  "How- 
to  Work  a  School  for  Mothers."  The  school  was 
tirst  projected  in  May,  1907,  and  organised  and  car- 
ried out  under  the  supervision  of  Dr.  Sykes,  Medi- 
cal Officer  of  Health  for  St.  Pancras.  The  aim  and 
object  of  the  school  has  been,  firstly,  to  encourage 
the  natural  feeding  of  infants,  as  against  any  system 
which  should  make  bottle-feeding  more  easy  or 
more  desirable,  and  a  direct  result  has  been  the 
gradual  reduction  of  infant  mortality  in  St.  Pancras 
during  the  summer  months. 

During  the  day  the  school  was  on  view,  and  many 
of  the  members  of  the  Conference  availed  them- 
selves of  the  opportunity  of  visiting  this  pioneer 
school  of  mothercraft. 

Infant  Welfare  Schemes  Abroad. 
Miss  Helen  M.  Blagg  presented  a  paper  on  the 
above  subject  dealing  with  the  special  characteristics 
of  the  problem  of  infant  mortality  on  the  Conti- 
nent. She  pointed  out  that  here,  at  home,  the 
general  rate  of  mortality  among  infants  remains 
stationary,  in  spite  of  a  falling  death-rate,  or  even 
in  some  cases  has  a  tendency  to  rise.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  fall  in  the  birth-rate,  which  is  consider- 
able in  almost  all  civilised  countries,  has  increased 
the  "  value  "  of  babies  from  an  economic  point  of 
view,  and  many  countries — France  especially — are 
threatened   with  the  dangers  of  depopulation. 

Miss  Blagg  said  that  it  was  not  until  within  the 
last  ten  vears  in  this  country  that  organised  effort 
was  made  to  fight  specially  against  infant  mortality, 
either  bv  legislation,  by  the  municipal  authorities, 
or  by  private  philanthropy.  The  methods  of  war- 
fare" were,  broadly  speaking:  (1)  The  forcible  re- 
moval of  the  causes  which  led  to  the  evil  ;  (2)  the 
prevention  or  the  amelioration  of  these  causes  or 
conditions ;  (3)  indirectly,  by  the  education  of  pub- 
lic opinion. 


Legislation  was  chiefly  concerned  in  the  following 
matters :  (1)  The  regulation  of  the  hvgienic  and  in"^ 
dustrial  conditions  of  the  mother;  t2)"the  regulating 
of  the  7uental,  moral,  and  physical  environment  of 
the  child  itself  after  birth;  (3)  the  regulatin"-  of 
the  supply  and  sale  of  such  things  as  food,  drugs, 
and  milk. 

SECOND  SESSION. 
The  Duchess  of  Marlborough,  who  presided  on 
the  morning  of  Friday,  December  9th,  said  that  she 
looked  forward  to  the  day  when  the  teaching  of 
the  care  of  infants  and  the  education  of  mothers 
would  form  part  of  a  great  State^ided  scheme. 
Day  Nurseries. 
The  first  speaker  was  Muriel  Viscountess  Helms- 
ley,  chairman  of  the  National  Association  of  Dav 
Nurseries,  who  said  that  the  cry  of  the  children 
rings  from  one  end  of  the  land  to  the  other,  and 
questions  are  for  ever  arising  as  to  what  is  to  be 
done,  both  as  regards  health  and  education.  People 
.spoke  as  if  death  were  the  worst  that  could  befall, 
but  it  was  not.  To  drag  out  an  existence  unsound 
in  mind  or  body  was  a  living  death,  and  much  of 
the  unsoundness  came  from  violating  the  laws  of 
nature. 

The  National  Society  of  Day  Nurseries  was  one 
of  the  many  societies  endeavouring  to  meet  a  great 
want,  to  provide  care  for  thousands  of  poor  chil- 
dren, and  to  give  them  a  good  start  in  the  race 
for  life  when  it  was  impossible  for  the  proper  guar- 
dians or  friends  to  do  so. 

Children's  Care  CoManxTEES. 
Mr.  Wliitaker  Thompson,  Chairman  of  the  Lon- 
don County  Council,  presided  during  the  reading  of 
the  next  ^aper  on  • '  What  may  be  Accomplished  bv 
Children's  Care  Committees,"  by  Miss  M.  Frere, 
a  member  of  the  Education  Committee  of  the 
L.C.C. 

Miss  Frere  explained  that  Section  A  of  the  Edu- 
cation (Provision  of  Meals)  Act,  1906,  lavs  down 
that  in  every  •  necessitous  school  there  shall  be  a 
School  Canteen  Committee,  on  which  shall  be  im- 
posed the  duty  of  administering  the  relief  work  of 
the  school.  Previous  to  this.  Relief  Committees 
under  the  London  School  Board  had  dealt  with 
underfed  children  attending  schools  in  poor  dis- 
tricts, and  when  the  London  County  Council  became 
the  local  Educational  Authority  the  Relief  Com- 
mittees were  reconstituted  as  Children's  Care 
Committees,  consisting  of  two  or  three  local 
Managers  and  other  suitable  persons,  nominated 
partly  by  the  Central  Care  Sub-Conrmittee  and 
partly  by  the  group  of  local  Managers  from  a  list 
of  voluntary  workers. 

THIRD  SESSION. 
Sir  Shirley  Murphy,  Medical  Officer  of  Health 
to  the  London  County  Council,  presided  at  the  last 
.Session,  when  Mr.  Douglas  Eyre,  Vice-Chairman 
of  the  London  Branch  Council  of  the  National 
League  for  Physical  Education  and  Improvement, 
presented  the  first  paper. 


504 


tibe  IBritisb  3ournal  ct  iRursincj  Supplement.  ^^'^'^  i'-  ^^lo 


Health  Societies  :  Their  Aims  axd  Opportunities. 

Mr.  Eyre  said  that  the  primarv  aim  of  Health 
Societies  is  the  diminution  by  associated,  well 
organised,  and  well  instructed  effort  of  the  appall- 
ing rate  of  infant  mortality  and  the  improvement 
of  the  health  and  stamina  of  infants  who  survive. 
Concentration  on  this  primai-y  aim  involves  con- 
tact with  many  other  things  which  affect  the  physi- 
cal and  the  moral  health  of  the  community.  Inti- 
mately bound  up  with  the  infant's  state  is  that  of 
the  mother  before  and  after  childbirth :  the  sani- 
tarv  condition  of  the  dwelling-house,  the  condi- 
tions of  the  mother's  employment,  the  extent  of 
her  knowledge  of  domestic  and  maternal  duties, 
and  what  not,  in  relation  to  her  and  through  her 
to  the  fatlier  of  the  infant  and  other  members  of 
the  family. 

We  are  our  brothers'  and  our  sisters'  keepers  to 
their  lives'  end,  and  so  a  Health  Society  is  also 
concer'ned  with  the  promotion  and  maintenance  of 
the  general  health  ^nd  welfare  of  the  community. 
The  Co-ordination  of  Health-promoting  Agencies. 

The  last  paper  was  read  bv  Mr.  F.  E.  Fremantle, 
F.R.C.S.,  F.R.C.P.,  County  Medical  Officer  of 
Health  for  Hertfordshire,  who  made  a  strong  plea 
for -the  co-ordination  of  health-promoting  agencies, 
and  moved  the  following  resolution,  which  was  car- 
ried :  "  That  this  Conference,  recognising  that  there 
is  a  great  and  increasing  amount  of  valuable  philan- 
thropic work  being  undertaken  for  the  physical  re- 
generation of  the  nation,  urges  upon  all  engaged  in 
such  efforts  the'  necessity  for  closer  co-operation 
and  for  more  frequent  interchange  of  experience, 
and  expresses  the  hope  that  the  National  League 
for  Physical  Education  and  Improvement  may  be 
more  generally  recognised  as  the  federating,  co- 
ordinating link  between  such  institutions." 

Mr.  Fremantle  suggested  that  a  fund  of  £100,000 
should  be  raised  to  build  or  adapt  some  adequate 
building  for  the  purpose  of  an  Imperial  Institute  of 
Public  Health,  and  said  he  could  conceive  of  no 
better  object  as  a  memorial  to  the  late  King  than 
the  endowment  of  such  a  central  institute. 


During  the  Conference,  Day  Xurseries  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  London  were  open  for  inspection  by 
members.  A  particularly  charming  one  is  that 
recently  opened  in  'Whitfield  Street,  Tottenham 
Court  Road,  W. 


tibe  Central  flDibwives  Boar&. 

PENAL  CASES. 
A  special  meeting  of  the  Central  Midwives  Board, 
-presided  over  by  Sir  Francis  Champneys,  was  held 
at  the  Board  Room,  Caxton  House,  Westminster, 
on  Tuesday,  13th  inst.,  to  consider  charges  against 
the  undermentioned  midwives,  with  the  following 
results : —  .- 

Struck  off  the  Roll  and  C'ERTrFiCATE  Cancelled. 
Margaret  Aldied  CSo.  3201),  Hannah  Arrow- 
smith  (No.  lOlSl),  Ellen  Cidshaw  (No.  3248^  Sarah 
Susannah  Emptage  (No.  .30.32),  Sarah  Flitton  (No. 
t).396),  Elizabeth  .Jane  Haines  (No.  20().')1),  Adelaide 
Harker  (No.  S979),  Martha  Holland  (No.  17330), 
Kate     Martin     (No.     1G002),    Julie     Mitchell     i.N'o. 


17-501),  Amelia  '^'illiams  (No.  6888),  all  charged  witli 
negligence,  resulting  in  one  case  in  the  death  of  the 
patient  from  puerperal  fever  and  in  two  others  of 
total  or  partial  blindness  of  infants,  and  in  the 
case  of  Martha  Holland,  her  conviction  at  the 
Oxford  City  Police  Court  for  being  drunk  and  in- 
capable on  the  public  highway  on  October  22nd  was 
proved. 

Edith  Mary  Dalchow  (No.  26094,  C.M.B.  Exami- 
nation), who  pleaded  guilty  to  a  felony  at  Aylesburv 
Petty  Sessions  on  September  3rd,  and  was  sentenced 
to  one  month's  imprisonment. 

Mary  Ann  Wilson  (No.  10214),  charged  with  un- 
cleanliness  and  with  not  wearing  a  washing  dress. 
Her  defence  was  that  she  wore  a  washing  dress 
under  her  wooUen  one. 

Severely  Censured. 

Sarah  Dean  (No.   7556),  charged  with  negligence 
and  with  fraudulently  notifying  a  case  as  still-born. 
Censured. 

Jane  Carroll  (No.  16710,  L.O.S.  Certificate), 
charged  with  negligence. 

Cautioned. 

Sarah  Linton  (No.  16591>. 

Adjourned  fob  Three  Months. 

Elizabeth  Harris  (No.  11450),  Alice  Harrison 
(No.  18851),  Jane  Snell  (No.  19997). 

Sentence  Postpon^ed  for  Three  Months. 

Marv  Jane  Ross  (No.  20558),  Rebecca  Taylor 
(No.  14624). 


REPORT  FOR  THE  YEAR  ENDING  MARCH 
31st,  1910. 
The  Report  of  the  Central  Midwives'  Board  re- 
cently issued  states  that  on  March  31st,  1910,  the 
names  on  the  Midwives'  Roll  amounted  to  29.209, 
an  increase  for  the  year  of  1,928.  Of  the  tot»t 
8,147  have  passed  the  Board's  examination,  and 
9,643  have  been  admitted  to  the  Roll  in  virtue  of 
prior  certification  under  Section  2  of  the  Mid- 
wives'  Act.  The  total  number  of,  trained  midwives 
is,  therefore,  17,790,  as  against  11,419  untrained, 
the  percentage  being  61  and  39.  Owing  to  the  in- 
completeness of  the  returns  made  by  the  Local 
Supervising  Authorities,  it  is  impossible  to  esti- 
mate with  accuracy  the  respective  proportions  in 
the  (;ase  of  practising  midwives. 


The  death  occurred  on  Sunday,  4th  December, 
of  Miss  C.  R.  S.  Greene,  who  had  been  Lady 
Almoner  at  Queen  Charlotte's  Hospital  for  over 
five  years. 

Sister  Greene  was  devoted  to  her  work  and  showed 
great  sympathy  and  kindness  to  the  large  number 
of  patients  with  whom  she  had  to  deal.  Her  work 
was  greatly  appreciated  by  the  Committee,  and 
she  will  be  nii.ssed  by  a  large  cinle  of  friends. 

Prior  to  the  burial  at  Kensal  Green  a  service 
was  held  at  St.  Augustine's,  Kilburn,  of  which 
church  she  was  a  member,  and  many  of  her  friends 
and  members  of  the  nursing  staff  of  Queen  Char- 
lotte's Hospital  were  present.  A  number  of  beauti- 
ful wreaths  were  sent,  including  one  from  the 
Committee  of  tlie  Hospital,  one  from  the  Matron 
and  Nursing  Staff,  and  one  from  the  Secretarial 
.Staff. 


THE 

WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 


IfEMI 


1^  §M9LJ^}>E^sy)ktmv%ji.  mi^m^^ 
EDITED  BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


SATURDAY,     DECEMBER     24,     1910. 


EMtorial. 


A    MERRY    CHRISTMAS. 

The  season  of  Christmas  is  one  of  good- 
will— a  time  when  we  count  up  our  friends, 
and  our  hearts  go  out  to  them  with  every 
good  wish  for  their  happiness  and  pros- 
perity. Far  and  wide  indeed  are  the  friends 
of  this  Journal  scattered.  Its  readers  are 
to  he  found  not  only  in  all  parts  of  the 
United  Kingdom,  and  of  our  Dominions 
beyond  the  seas,  but  in  the  countries  of  the 
Continent  of  Europe,  in  the  United  States 
of  America,  in  Cuba,  South  America,  in  the 
great  African  continent,  in  the  vast  and 
teeming  countries  of  Asia,  and  in  the  far 
islands  of  Japan.  In  all  these  the  incoming 
mail  is  awaited  the  more  eagerly  because 
The  Bkitish  .Jourkal  of  Nlrsixg,  speeding 
across  the  ocean,  will  bring  news  of  the 
nursing  world  at  home  and  abroad,  and  no 
one  can  be  lonesome,  even  if  the  expected 
home  letters  do  not  arrive,  when  the  Journal 
is  a  big  letter,  telling  all  that  a  nurse  thou- 
sands of  miles  from  the  mother  countrj^ 
most  wants  to  know.  This  assurance  has 
many  times  been  given  us,  and  it  is  one  of 
our  greatest  pleasures  to  be  thus  iinited 
with  the  brave  workers  who  in  the  outposts 
of  Empire,  in  countries  where  nursing  is 
still  in  its  infancy,  fight  the  brave  iight 
against  prejudice,  ignorance,  and  disease, 
who  are  perhaps  laying  the  foundation  of 
reforms  as  great  as  those  initiated  by  our 
revered  "  Lady  of  the  Eaw  '"  in  this  country- 
half  a  century  ago,  and  who  quietly  and 
cheerily  live  sparely  and  hardly,  and  brave 
•  disease  and  death,  so  that  they  may  spread 
far  and  wide  the  comfort  and  healing  which 
a  knowledge  of  nursing  brings,  and  train 
probationers — black,  red, brown, and  yellow, 
and  all  the  shades  between — who  will  hand 
on  to  their  children's  children  the  lessons 


they  have  learnt  from  women  who  endured 
much  to  light  for  them  the  lamp  of  know- 
ledge— lessons  not  in  technical  skill  alone, 
but  in  high  courage,  dogged  endurance,  and 
gaiety  of  heart  under  most  adverse  circum- 
stances. There  are  many  such,  and  for  these 
brave  comrades  we  keep  a  special  niche  in 
our  private  temple  of  fame.  There  are  other 
nurses  who,  at  the  bidding  of  King  and 
country,  go  wherever  the  British  flag  floats, 
and  sick  sailors  and  soldiers  are  to  be  found 
under  its  shadow.      We  salute  them. 

And  there  are  many  nearer  home,  working 
in  hospitals  and  infirmaries,  in  the  homes 
of  the  poor,  amongst  the  children  in  our 
schools,  striving  to  raise  the  standard  of  the 
national  health,  undertaking  the  most  re- 
sponsible and  oneroiis  duties  for  the  meagre 
salaries  considered  ample  lor  women 
workers. 

We  must  also  add  a  word  of  special 
greeting  to  the  night  nurses,  both  in  public 
institiitions,  and  private  houses — an  army 
of  alert  and  tireless  workers,  who  mount 
guard  at  the  bedside  of  the  sick,  the 
suffering;  and  the  dying  while  the  rest  of 
the  community  sleeps. 

And,  again,  we  gi'eet  the  many  midwives, 
doing  preventive  work  of  utmost  value  for 
mothers  and  babes,  perchance  like  one  who 
paid  ten  visits  to  a  case  three  miles  distant 
for  a  fee  of  2s.  Gd.,  thus  walking  sixty  miles, 
and  rendering  responsible  service  daily,  for 
this  miserable  recompense. 

All  these  are  included  in  our  Christmas 
good  wishes,  which  we  hope  may  be  com- 
municated to  them  by  some  ^larconi-like 
thought-wave,  whether  Christmas  Day  finds 
them  at  work  under  a  tropical  sun,  in  the 
guardianship  of  "  our  lady  of  the  snows," 
or  in  the  rush  of  work  at  home.  Wherever 
good  nurses  and  true  are  to  be  found,  "  A 
Alerry  Christmas  "  to  one  a»l  all. 


506 


^be  British  3ournal  of  IHursinQ. 


[Dec.  24,  1910 


HDeOical  HDatters. 


THE  WEANING   OF   INFANTS. 

In  a  book  on  the  care  of  young  children  Pro- 
fessor Behrens,  as  reported  by  the  Budapest 
correspondent  of  the  British  Medical  Journal, 
says  the  usual  time  for  weaning  a  baby  is  at  the 
end  of  the  first  year ;  but  if  the  child  is  thriving 
and 'has  already  proved  itself  capable  of  digest- 
ing cow-'s  milk,  it  may  be  done  a  couple  of 
months  earlier,  provided  that  it  is  not  during 
the  heat  of  summer.  The  weaning  should  never 
take  place  immediately  before  or  after  the 
warm  weather;  roughly  speaking,  therefore,  it 
should  not  be  attempted  from  the  month  of 
May  to" the  end  of  September.  Prolonged  lac- 
tation is  dangerous,  causing  both  ill-develop- 
ment of  the  child's  bones,  and  delay  in  his 
dentition.  The  weaning  should  be  very 
gradual ;  anfl  during  the  first  year  the  child 
should  be  fed  solely  on  milk,  since  soups,  vege- 
tables, wine,  etc.,  are  apt  to  cause  rickets.  As 
regai'ds  the  mother,  during  the  critical  period  of 
weaning  her  child  evei-y  care  should  be  taken 
to  avoid  fatigue,  whilst  the  breasts  should  be 
swathed  in  a  cotton  binder,  and  gently  rubbed 
with  warm,  sweet  almond  oil  both  morning  and 
evening.  There  is  no  necessity  for  the  use  of 
purgatives;  but  the  patient  should  be  careful 
to  diminish  the  quantity  of  fluids  in  her  diet. 
During  the  second  year,  in  fact,  until  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  twentieth  tooth,  the  child's 
dietarj"  should  consist  of  milk,  eggs,  and  bread, 
the  latter  including  not  only  the  various  forais 
of  bread,  but  also  cereals.  Towards  the  end 
of  the  second  year  a  puree  of  potato  may  occa- 
sionally be  given  in  small  quantities.  The 
main  food  for  a  child  is  milk,  and  a  child  of 
twelve  months  old  should  take  about  a  quart  a 
day,  a  quantity  which  ought  not  to  be  exceeded 
during  the  second  year.  The  greatest  care 
siiould  be  exercised  to  avoid  overfeeding,  which 
is  more  frequently  the  cause  of  insufficient 
nourishment  than  underfeeding.  At  first  a 
simple  gruel  should  be  given  once  daily,  with 
only  sugar  and  salt  added  :  later  on  it  shoiild  be 
given  twice  a  day,  with  the  addition  of  a  little 
butter.  When,  in  the  course  of  time,  eggs  take 
their  place  in  the  nourishment  of  the  child,  the 
yolk  alone  should  bo  given  mixed  with  the 
gruel  or  milk ;  Inter  the  whole  egg  can  be  u.sed. 
But  it  should  be  remembered  that  eggs  are 
often  the  cause  of  constipation.  Vntil  the  child 
has-  cut  his  twentieth  tooth  his  diet  should  be 
very  closely  watched  during  the  summer 
months. 

The  discomfort  of  the  weaning  period  which 
is  dreaded  by  many  mothers  for  their  infants 
can  be  much  mitigated  by  judicious  manage- 
ment . 


Disinfectants,   tbeir  1Relativ>e 
IDalues  anb  irises. 


Formaldehyde,  sulphur,  bichloride  of 
mercury,  and  carbolic  acid  are  most  efficient 
as  disinfectants.  Fonnaldehyde  and  sulphur, 
for  general  disinfection  of  infected  houses, 
rooms  and  contents,  dead  bodies,  public 
places,  steam  and  electric  cars,  in  fact, 
wherever  disinfection  is  required ;  bichloride 
of  mercury,  for  disinfection  of  hands,  face, 
hair  and  beard  of  an  exposed  person,  the 
surface  disinfection  of  body,  also  for  infected 
linen  and  clothing  before  washing  same,  and 
all  infected  discharges ;  carbolic  acid  for  sur- 
face disinfection  of  the  body,  infected  bed- 
ding and  linen,  sinks,  cesspools,  toilet  and 
wash-rooms,  cuspidors,  and  all  infected 
discharges. 

As  these  disinfectants  do  not  serve  inden- 
tical  pui-jjoses  equally  well,  but  vary  as  to 
character,  use,  and  merit,  let  us  consider  each 
by  itself. 

Fonnaldehyde  ranks  first  as  a  general  dis- 
infectant, because  it  achieves  the  certain  de- 
struction of  disease-causing  germs  in  the 
shortest-  time,  with  least  expense  and  trouble, 
and  with  a  minimum  amount  of  injui-y  to  the 
articles  to  be  disinfected.  It  has  a  tendency, 
to  be  sure,  to  oxidise  iron  and  fonii  rust,  and 
there  are  a  few  delicate  aniline  reds  which  it 
changes  to  purple  or  blue  by  its  action,  but  it 
is  unquestionably  the  most  desirable  disinfect- 
ant known  to-day. 

Since  fonnaldehyde  may  be  procured  in  dif- 
ferent fonns  in  the  market,  and  since,  for  com- 
plete disinfection,  each  fonn  must  be  used  in 
a  certain  prescribed  way,  a  few  words  as  to  its 
manufacture,  its  character  and  its  properties 
would  not  be  out  of  place.  In  general,  all 
formaldehyde  is  made  from  wood  alcohol. 
When  wood  (methyl)  alcohol  is  oxidised,  for- 
maldehyde gas  is  given  off,  and  this  gas  being 
readily  absorbed  by  water  is  easily  made  into 
the  solution,  commonly  known  as  formalin. 
This  is  the  commercial  40  per  cent, 
solution  from  which  the  gas  is  distilled  for  disin- 
fecting puqxKses.  Methods  of  distillation  are 
fully  described  in  a  later  paragraph.  The  prac- 
tice of  distilling  fonnaldehyde  gas  by  using  the 
wood  nlcdhol  lamp,  which  waj;  popidar  with 
health  ofFieors  a  few  years  ago,  is  not  now  Iield 
in  such  high  repute.  It  is  not  an  efficient 
method  of  disinfection.  The  vs-ood  alcohol  so 
burned  yields  formaldehyde  gas  too  slowly,  and 
never  in  definite  amounts,  so  that  a  certain 
quantity  of  wood  alcohol  cannot  be  depended 

•  Reprinted  from   ruhlic  Health,  U.S.A. 


Dec.  24.  1010] 


CFjc  Bririsb  Journal  of  IRursmo, 


507 


upou  to  yield  a  certain  amouut  of  disinfectiug 
gas.  This,  obviously,  excludes  the  use  ot  the 
wood  alcohol  spirit-lamp  by  health  otiicers  tor 
complete  distillation  and  thorough  disinfection. 

When  the  formaldehyde  gas  is  liberated 
slowly,  as  in  evaporation  from  the  solution,  the 
solidified  formaldehyde  is  formed.  To  obtain 
the  disinfecting  gas  from  this  solid  substance 
(paraform),  heat  must  be  apphed  under  cer- 
tain conditions. 

The  formaldehyde  on  the  market  occurs  in 
these  two  general  forms — the  40  per  cent. 
solution  and  the  solidified.  Of  the  solidified, 
there  are  advertised  many  patented  forms,  none 
of  which  are  at  present  endorsed  by  this  De- 
partment, for  the  reason  that  definite  know- 
ledge as  to  the  strength  of  these  various  pre- 
parations is  not  yet  clearly  established,  the 
amount  claimed  by  dealers  varying  from  one- 
half  ounce  to  two  ounces  for  thorough  disinfec- 
tion of  1,000  cubic  feet  of  air  space.  It  may 
be  said,  however,  that  owing  to  its  greater  con- 
venience in  form,  in  length  of  time  in  opera- 
tion, expense,  etc.,  the  use  of  solidified  formal- 
dehyde for  disinfection  has  with  reason  become 
popular. 

When  solidified  formaldehyde  is  volatilised, 
at  least  two  ounces  per  thousand  cubic  feet  of 
air  space  should  be  used.  While  this  is  not  tne 
amouni  recommended  by  the  manufacturers,  in 
the  absence  of  officially  authorised  tests,  it  is 
believed  that  not  less  than  two  ounces  per 
thousand  cubic  feet  should  be  used. 

There  have  been  various  ways  of  liberating 
the  formaldehyde  gas  from  the  solution :  but 
since  these  ways  exhibit  degrees  of  eflSciency,  it 
may  be  well  to  discuss  them  briefly.  It  is  not 
recommended  that  the  40  per  cent,  solution 
be  merely  exposed  in  pans.  This  liberation  of 
the  gas  is  too  slow,  and  permits  the  formation 
of  the  solidified  formaldehyde,  which  is  useless 
until  treated  in  a  specific  manner.  Thus,  is 
lost  a  large  percentage  of  the  disinfectant. 

If  an  abundance  of  the  solution  be  sprinkled 
on  sheets  hung  on  lines  in  the  rc/om,  disinfec- 
tion is  accomplished.  Owing  to  the  fact,  how- 
ever, that  much  of  the  good  of  the  formalde- 
hyde in  this  method  is  lost  before  the  gas 
reaches  all  infected  part*  of  the  room,  not  less 
than  10  ounces  of  the  40  per  cent,  solution 
should  be  used  for  each  1,000  cubic  feet  of  air 
space.  A  sheet  5  feet  by  7  feet  will  hold  about 
5  ounces  of  formaldehyde  without  dripping. 
This  necessitates  the  use  of  at  least  two  sheets 
as  far  apart  as  possible,  for  the  disinfection  of 
each- ordinary  room.  The  most  satisfactory 
results  are  obtained  in  warm  weather,  or  where 
the  disinfection  is  carried  on  in  an  artificially 
heated  room,  at  a  temperature  of  65  deg.  or 


better.  In  all  disinfection  with  formaldehyde, 
one  of  the  most  important  conditions  for 
thorough  penetration  and  disinfection  is  rapid 
distillation  of  the  solution.  A  large  quantitv  of 
fonnaldehyde  and  a  shortened  time  of  ex- 
posure will  realise  efi&cient  disinfection  with 
fonnaldehyde,  while  a  smaller  quantity  and 
lengthened  time  of  exposure  will  not. 

Rapid  distillation,  with  a  still  for  disinfec- 
tion, should  yield  at  least  eight  ounces  per 
thousand  cubic  feet  of  air  space.  For  this 
there  are  various  apparatus,  differing  in  con- 
venience, complexity,  etficiency,  and  expense. 
Directions  for  the  proper  distillation  or 
vaporisation  of  formaldehyde  accompany  the 
various  apparatus. 

One  method  requiruig  very  simple  apparatus 
is  pouring  formaldehyde  upou  permanganate  of 
potassium.  The  only  apparatus  necessary  is  a 
flaring  ten-quart  tin  pail.  (Do  not  use  an  iron 
vessel.")  Eapid  chemical  action  is  set  up,  and 
the  vigorous  foaming  and  boiling  will  throw  a 
part  of  the  mixture  on  the  floor,  unless  the 
vessel  is  large  and  deep  enough  to  prevent  an 
overflow.  A  further  precaution  to  protect  the 
floor  is  to  set  the  pail  or  vessel  in  a  pan  or  tub. 
It  is  necessary  to  use  precisely  the  recom- 
mended relative  quantities  of  formaldehyde  and 
potassium  pennanganate :  if  the  proportion  is 
disturbed,  the  chemical  results  are  not  the 
same,  and  the  quantity  of  disinfecting  gas 
liberated  is  altered.  Care  should  be  exercised, 
therefore,  to  obtain  exactly  for  each  thousand 
cubic  feet  of  air  space  thirteen  ounces  of  the 
permanganate  of  potash  to  one  quart  of  the 
40  per  cent,  solution.  Less  than  the  thirteen 
ounces  for  each  1,000  cubic  feet  cannot  be  used 
with  good  effect.  The  crystals  of  potassium 
permanganate  should  be  finely  powdered. 

While  this  method  requires  an  amount  of  the 
solution  exceeding  that  recommended  in  the 
distilling  process,  yet  it  is  believed  that  the 
saving  in  apparatus  more  than  covers  the  cost. 
The  other  advantages  of  this  method  of  disin- 
fection plainly  are  :  That  the  apparatus  can  be 
found  in  almost  any  household,  and  need  not 
be  transported  from  house  to  house  by  the  dis- 
infector;  that  there  is  no  danger  from  fire,  the 
heat  being  generated  by  chepiical  action  and 
not  by  a  lamp  or  flame ;  that  sufficient  steam 
is  given  off  by  this  heat  to  permit  thorough 
disinfection :  and  that  almost  the  entire 
quantity  of  formaldehyde  gas  evolved  is  yielded 
within  a  few  moments :  that  the  time  of  ex- 
posure need  to  be  only  about  thi>ee  hours.  The 
action  in  this  chemical  combination  is  .so 
sudden  and  so  violent  that  everything  should 
be  made  ready  for  dlaJnfection  before  the  fluid 
is  poured  upon  the  crystals. 


508 


Zbc  Bdtisb  Journal  of  IRnrsino. 


[Dec.  24,  1910 


Another  important  point  to  remember  is  the 
temperature  of  the  room  to  be  disinfected. 
Thorough  disinfection  cannot  be  obtained  at  a 
temperature  of  less  than  6.5  deg.  A  tempera- 
ture of  65  deg  or  better,  with  a  certain  amount 
of  moisture,  is  essential  for  complete  disinfec- 
tion. 

Fomialdehyde  disinfection  of  rooms  and  con- 
tents is,  therefore,  accomplished  in  four  prin- 
cipal ways  :  — 

First.  By  the  distillation  into  the  room  of 
a  40  per  cent,  solution  in  the  proportion  of 
not  less  than  eight  ounces  of  formaldehyde  for 
each  1,000  cubic  feet  of  air  space. 

Second.  By  the  volatisation  of  solidified 
formaldehyde  (parafomi)  into  tlie  room  in  the 
proportion  of  not  less  than  two  ounces  for  each 
1,000  cubic  feet  of  air  space. 

Third.  By  sprinkling  a  40  per  cent,  solution 
of  formaldehyde  on  sheets  hung  on  lines  within 
the  room,  in  the  proportion  of  from  ten  to 
twelve  ounces  per  1,000  cubic  feet  of  air  space, 
depending  on  the  condition  of  the  room,  its 
temperature,  moisture,  tightness,  etc. 

Fourth.  By  the  addition  of  formaldehyde  to 
permanganate  of  potash,  in  the  proportion  of 
thirteen  ounces  of  pennanganate  to  one  quart 
of  formaldehyde  for  each  1,000  cubic  feet  of 
air  space. 

By  this  last  method  rapid  chemical  action  is 
set  up,  and  the  fonnaldehyde  gas  evolved  in  a 
Tei"y  short  time.  As  i-apid  volatilisation  is 
essential  to  thorough  and  complete  disinfection 
this  fourth  method  is  especially  to  be  recom- 
mended. 

Directions  for  the  proper  distillation  or 
vaporisation  of  formaldehyde  accompany  the 
various  apparatus  which  are  sold  for  that  pur- 
pose. 

In  detei-mining  the  amount  of  disinfectant 
of  any  kind  to  be  used,  the  tightness  of  the 
room,  the  temperature,  moisture,  and  the 
amount  of  penetration  desired,  should  all  be 
carefully  considered. 

A  temperature  of  not  less  than  65  deg.  Fahr., 
and  a  moist  condition  in  the  room,  is  most 
favourable  to  thorough  aerial  disinfection. 
Sprinkling  the  floors,  and,  where  it  can  be  done 
without  injury,  the  walls  of  the  room  just  be- 
fore fumigation,  will  secure  the  proper  condi- 
tion of  humidity. 

Aft*r  fumigation,  washing  the  woodwork 
(especially  around  cracks  and  openings  that 
have  been 'sealed  up)  with  a  1-1000  solution  of 
bichloride  of  merrun-,  and  the  boiling  and  sub- 
sequent washing  of  nil  articles  of  clothing,  bed- 
ding, and  draperies  that  were  in  the  room  and 
can  be  so  treated,  is  recommended. 
(To  be  conclvded.) 


Zbc  IRursino  HDasquc. 

During  the  past  week  a  number  of  the  most 
interesting  characters  in  the  Nursing  Masque 
have  been  allotted,  and  it  is  quite  wonderful 
how  enthusiastically  and  artistically  the  nurses 
and  their  friends  mean  to  play  their  parts.  Four 
quite  lovely  young  people  are  to  impersonate 
Earth,  Air,  Fire,  and  Water,  and  the  dresses, 
if  cairied  out  as  designed,  will  become  their  par- 
ticular styles  of  beauty.  All  the  dresses  will 
be  of  one  period — Earth  with  an  underdress  of 
golden  brown,  and  fresh  green  ninon  tunic  and 
sleeves,  flowers,  fruits,  and  gorgeous  jewelled 
cincture  and  fillet ;  Air,  soft,  misty,  blue  and 
silver,  and  a  tiara  of  silver  stars;  Fire,  flame 
satin,  orange  chiffon,  and  burnished  tissue,  the 
coiffure  suiTnounted  by  a  golden  sun,  and  gold 
and  flame  coloured  j'ewels  ;  Water,  aquamarine, 
with  overdress  of  crystalled  chiffon  and  ropes 
of  pearls.  This  charming  quartette  will  be 
grouped  around  Hygeia  in  pure  white. 

To  the  left  will  be  the  Spirit  of  Nursing  in 
clouds  of  pearl  grey,  and  her  galaxy  of  Attri- 
butes, in  every  tender  tint — Eose  for  Compas- 
sion, Gold  for  Kindness,  Gentleness  in  Grey, 
for  Modesty  !Mnuve,  Crimson  for  Courage, 
Patience  in  Blue,  Purple  for  Devotion,  and 
Endurance  Green. 

The  Science  of  Nursing  will  be  govraed  in 
robes  of  academic  style,  a  long  crimson  gown 
over  black,  with  crimson  cap;  Truth,  a  robe  of 
shining  white  through  faintest  blue,  her  two' 
supporters,  Mental  Purity  and  Moral  Beauty, 
in  simple  white  and  silver  frocks. 

Knowledge,  academic  robe  in  a  beautiful 
shade  of  blue,  with  shimmering  underdress,  and 
she  and  her  four  Attributes — two  in  rose  and 
black  and  two  in  blue  and  black — will  wear 
"blue  stockings,"  buckled  shoes,  and  satin 
caps. 

Of  Saints,  Qvieens,  Roman  Matrons,  Ab- 
besses, Sisters,  and  Nurses  there  will  be  a 
stately  procession,  and  great  interest  is  being 
taken  in  aiTauging  correct  costumes. 

The  Matrons  and  Nm-ses  in  Pincessions  3  and 
4  will  wear  Uniforms  and  Badges,  but  the 
Begistration  .Vets,  Bills,  and  Journals  will  also 
have  distinctive  emblems.  The  Bnnnei-s  will 
be  few  and  tasteful,  in  pm-ple,  crimson,  pale 
and   Royal   blue,   white,   and  green   satin. 

No  nursing  pageant  would  be  quite  conipletre 
without  the  inimoi-tal  Gamp,  and  in  spite  of 
her  lack  of  beauty  and  virtue,  she  is  just  the 
one  character  to  impersonate  whom  there  has 
been  the  keenest  competition  nniongst  nurses. 
This  speaks  volumes  for  their  lack  of  vanity, 
and  we  feel  sure  the  lady  to  be  entriisted  with 
the  part  will  thoroughly  enjoy  it. 


Dec.  -24,   1010 


ZIbc  36rit(6b  3ournal  of  IRursimj. 


509 


Je^ucationaI  prooress  at  tbc  IRo^al 
3nlinnai"\>,  ]£^lnbm•ob. 

The  Managers  of  the  Koyal  Infirmary,  Edin- 
burgh, have  decided  on  making  the  training  for 
nm-ses  a  four  years"  course,  and  the  new  terms 
of  engagement  will  affect  all  pr6bationere  enter- 
ing after  January  1st,  1011.  The  throe  years' 
training  was  instituted  in  Edinburgh  21  yeari? 
ago,  and  since  then  the  work  and  various  de- 
partments of  the  Koyal  Infirmary  have  greatly 
developed  and  increased.  The  daily  average  of 
patients  last  year  was  84"2,  and  the  hospital 
has  many  advantages  to  offer  in  the  way  of 
special  training  for  nui"ses.  The  Managers  con- 
sider that  the  change  in  the  term  of  training 
is  not  merely  desirable,  but  necessary,  in  the 
interests  of  the  hospital,  and  of  the  training  of 
the  nurses. 

A  recent  development  of  the  Training  School 
is  the  Board  of  Direction  of  the  Education  and 
Examination  of  Nurses  which  was  appointed 
this  year  by  the  Managers.  Among  the  duties 
of  the  new  Board  are  to  airange  the  curricu- 
lum, appoint  lecturers,  supervise  the  examina- 
tions, and  to  report  from  time  to  time  to  the 
Board  of  Managers  on  the  education  of  the 
nurses. 

We  congratulate  the  ^Managers  of  the  Royal 
Infirmary,  Edinburgh,  on  this  progressive  step. 
The  organisation  of  a  thorough  cumculum  for 
nui"ses  is  an  example  which  will  have  to  be 
followed  by  every  school.  The  extension  of  the 
tenn  of  training  is  noteworthy.  While  the 
authorities  of  the  London  Hospital,  with  922 
be<ls,  allege  that  in  a  hospital  of  that  size 
nurses  can  be  adequately  trained  in  two  years, 
the  Managers  of  the  Eoyal  Infirmary,  Edin- 
burgh, with  926  beds,  consider  that  the  three 
yeare'  standard  instituted  21  years  ago  is  now 
insufficient,  and  that  in  the  interests  of  the 
training  of  the  niu-ses  its  extension  to  four 
years  is  "  not  merely  desirable  but  necessarv." 


IDIgnettes  from  %itc. 

WhKKK    IdXORANXF.   IS    BlISS. 

The  following  true  story  illustrates  the  point 
of  view  of  the  superficially  trained  nurse  of  her 
relation  to  her  experienced  Superintendent. 

Queen's  Siiperiiifendeut  to  Village  Nurse  : 
You  seem  to  have  worked  very  hard,  Xui"se, 
while  you   were   training  at 

Xurse  (complacently) :  Of  course,  we  had  to. 
We  have  to  learn  in  nine  months  what  it  takes 
vou  four  years  to  learn. 


<^be  Scottisb  TRurscs'  Hseoctation 

Nothing  gives  us  more  pleasure  than  to  re- 
cord the  growing  interest  in  their  professional 
affairs  bv  Scottish  nuiises,  and  the  second  an- 
nual meeting  of  the  Scottish  Nui-ses'  Associa- 
tion, held  hi  the  Masonic  Hall,  West  Regent 
Street,  Glasgow,  on  Saturday  last,  when  Sir 
William  Macewen,  president,  occupied  the 
chair,  was  a  very  successful  gathering. 

Dr.  r.  H.  Robertson  submitted  the  annual 
report,  which  stated  that  since  the  association 
was  founded  in  .July,  1900,  a  large  membership 
liad  been  attained,  and  the  association  had  had 
an  imix>rtant  and  beneficial  influence  on  the 
course  of  nursing  politics.  Reference  was  made 
to  the  steps  taken  by  the  association  in  connec- 
tion with  the  question  of  nurses'  registration, 
and  it  was  stated  that  there  was  now  before 
ParHament  a  single  Bill,  supported  by  every 
nurses'  association  in  the  three  kingdoms  and 
by  the  British  Medical  Association.  That  Bill 
provided  for  the  establishment  of  one  system 
of  registration  for  the  United  Kingdom,  based 
on  the  one  portal  principle.  Special  considera- 
tion had  been  given  by  the  association  to  the 
case  of  fever  nurses,  and  important  steps  had 
been  taken  to  render  their  position  more  secure 
under  the  Bill.  The  question  of  estabUshing 
association  rooms  for  the  use  of  membens  was 
still  under  the  consideration  of  the  executive. 
The  financial  statement  showed  that  there  was 
a  credit  balance  of  £42. 

Dr.  .John  Patrick;  in  moving  the  adoption  of 
the  report,  said  that  it  seemed  to  him  that  the 
only  two  professions  which  had  for  their  life 
work  the  benefit  and  welfare  of  the  people — he 
meant  the  nursing  and  medical  professions — 
were  atx)ut  the  woi-st  organised  of  any  of  the 
professions-  So  far  as  the  nurses  were  con- 
cerned the  report  submitted  showed  that  a  new 
era  was  being  entered  upon  (in  Scotland). 
Nurses  should  be  well  organised  to  ensure  effi- 
cient training,  and  also  that  they  might  receive 
their  proper  position  as  members  of  a  profes- 
sional body. 

The  report  was  adopted,  and  the  following 
office-bearers  were  elected:  — 

Vice-Presidents  :  iNIrs.  Strong,  Miss  Aitken. 
MissF.  Tisdall.  Miss  Wright,  Miss  Donald,  and 
Dr.  ilcGregor  Robertson. 

Secretaries :  Dr.  Hamilton  Robertson  and 
;\Iiss  Finn. 

Treasurer:  ^liss  Kathleen  Burleigh. 

Sixteen  nurse  members  and  e^ght  medical 
members  were  elected  to  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee. _ 

Misss  E.  Stevenson  h.rtl  intimated  that  she  did 
not  wish  re-election  as  Vice-President  or  on  the 


.510 


Cbc  :©ritisb  3oiirnaI  of  iRiusfng. 


[Dec.  24,  1910 


Executive  Couimittee. 

Dr.  ^IcGregor  Eobertsou  said  that  every  hos- 
pital in  the  country  to  the  extent  of  its  ability 
ought  to  be  accepted  as  a  training  institution, 
as  to  restrict  the  training  of  nurees  to  the  large 
general   hospitals  would  limit  the   profession. 

?iliss  Wright,  Stobhill,  described  the  progress 
made  by  the  association,  and  said  that  their 
aim  was  to  make  it  a  truly  national  association 
for  Scotland. 

Miss  Finn,  Paisley,  spoke  of  the  benefits  of 
registration  to  the  nurses  themselves,  and  to 
the  public. 

Dr.  Johnston,  Belvidere  Hospital,  congi-atu- 
lated  the  nurses  engaged  in  fever  work  on  hav- 
ing that  association  which  had  their  interests 
so  much  at  heart. 


The  Nurses'  Eegistration  Bill  as  drafted  pro- 
vides for  reciprocal  training,  and  no  do\ibt  when 
the  Nureing  Council  gets  to  woi'k  (and  it  is  high 
time  it  did  so),  more  than  one  i-eciprocal  cur- 
riculum in  justice  to  special  hospitals  will  be 
defined.  The  large  general  hospitals  are 
"general"  no  longer,  as  for  the  benefit 
of  the  patients,  infectious  diseases  are  no  longer 
admitted  to  their  wards.  The  plan  should  be 
to  pool  the  clinical  material  available  for  teach- 
ing pur]ioses  in  all  hospitals,  and  divide  it  up 
for  training  purposes.  No  doubt  this  will  be 
done. 


Jnternational  S\>mpatbi?. 

We  have  already  announced  that  the  School 
for  Nurses  of  the  Salpetriere  Hospital,  Paris, 
would  send  pupils  to  St.  Bartholomew's  Hos- 
])ital,  London,  as  formerly.  The  four  first  have 
arrived  and  were  wai-mly  received.  They  now 
feel  quite  at  home.  The  fimt  act  of  the 
pupils  was  to  testify  their  feeling  devotion  to 
the  memory  of  ]\riss  Florence  Nightingale. 
Two  of  them — Miss  Cuzin  and  Miss  Eulfin — 
left  Waterloo  on  Dec.  14th  for  Eomsey,  and 
jilaced  a  bo\iquet  of  beautiful  flowers,  lilies, 
lilies  of  the  valley,  pinks,  and  orchids,  on  Miss 
Nightingale's  grave. .  Alas  !  the  rain  spoiled  the 
flowers,  and  the  tri-coloured  ribbon  was  imme- 
diately soiled.  However,  they  wrote  to  their 
comrades  at  Paris  that  they  were  very  happy 
and  deeply  moved  by  this  pilgrimage ;  and  it 
will  long  be  spoken  of  at  the  Salpetriere. 

This  expression  of  intei-national  sym])atliy  is 
deeply  gratifying  to  English  nurses. 

The  Hospital  for  Invalid  Gentlewomen,  19, 
T.isson  Grove,  N.W.,  will  henceforth  be  known 
:s  "  The  Florence  Nightingale  Hospital  for  In- 
valid     Gentlewomen," 


^be  Spiritual  Slbe  of  iRurslriQ.® 

That  "spiritual  titness ''  is  quite  as  necessary  in 
a  trained  nurse  as  technical  ability  is  asserted  by 
William  C  Graves,  executive  secretary  of  the 
Illinois  Charities  Commission,  in  an  address  on 
"  The  Nursing  Spirit,"  made  recently  at  a  training 
school  commencement.  In  like  manner,  he  says, 
the  physician  wlio  inspires  confidence  by  his  heal- 
ing spirit  wins  the  battle  against  illness  more 
(|nickly  and  more  completely  Vjecause  of  the  stimu- 
lated hopeful  attitude  of  his  patient.  This  kind 
of  applied  psychology  aids  medicine  and  the  knife 
in  many  a  desperate  case  where  heroic  treatment 
tides  over  a  crisis  for  a  patient  who  is  conscious 
of  what  the  doctor  is  trying  to  do  to  help  him : 

"The  same  holds  true  of  the  nurse.  Perhaps 
spiritual  fitness  in  a  nurse  is  more  essential  to  the 
relief  and  cure  of  a  sick  person  than  is  the  same 
quality  in  a  physician.  The  nurse  is  in  charge  prac- 
tically all  the  time.  The  doctor,  as  a  rule,  sees  the 
patient  at  intervals.  Hence  it  is  a  fundamental 
necessity  that  a  nurse  who  wishes  to  succeed  in  the 
largest  sense  of  the  word  must  have  the  genuine 
nursing  spirit.  She  must  love  to  oare  for  the  sick. 
She  must  find  her  greatest  delight  in  gentle  minis^ 
tration  to  them.  She  must  receive  her  greatest 
compensation  in  the  realisation  that  persons 
cui-ably  ill  are  restored  to  health  and  the  pleasures 
and  comforts  of  life  a.s  the  result  in  part  of  her  ten- 
der and.  intelligent  cai'e  ;  and  that  those  who  die  pass 
into  the  great  beyond  soothed  by  the  knowledge 
that  a  sympathetic  soul  is  watching  over  them. 

■'These  statements  may  sound  like  the  thunder- 
ings  of  a  sermon,  or  like  a  scolding,  in  a  period  when 
too  many  nurses  are  coldly  scientific  in  theii'  service. 
If  this  is  a  sermon,  very  well !  Let  it  be  one.  I 
have  seen  ultra -scientific  nurses.  It  would  appear 
almost  that  they  suppress  the  sympathy,  tlie  ten- 
derness, and  the  mothering  instinct  that  are  sup- 
posed to  well  up  in  the  hearts  of  all  women  in  the 
presence  of  illness  and  suffering,  because  it  is  wear- 
ing upon  them  to  expend  nervous  energy  in  sym- 
pathy and  the  like,  although  they  perform  their 
specified  duties  with  religious  fidelity.  Many  of 
these  women  are  most  capable  scientific  nurses,  but, 
if  you  were  ill,  which  would  you  prefer,  to  have  one 
of  them  care  for  you  or  one  of  those  heaven-sent 
creatures  whose  gentle  touch  and  whose  encourag- 
ing words  are  added  to  scientific  ministration  as  an 
anodyne  for  your  troubled  heart  and  a  stimulant  for 
your  .apprehensive  spirit  I' " 

In  illustration  of  what  he  calls  "the  nursing 
spirit,"  the  speaker  related  the  following  incident 
that  occurred  in  Chicago  during  a  period  of  intense 
heat : 

"  Dviring  one  of  these  stifling  nights  an  inspector 
visited  the  Cook  County  Hospital.  In  a  certain 
bathroom  was  a  heat  case  wallowing  in  a  tub  of 
ice-water.  He  was  a  Pole.  He  was  mu.scular,  his 
hair  in  a  toussled  mass  was  matted  down  over  his 
eyes,  his  hands  were  knotted  from  hard  work,  he 
was  indescribably  filthy,  and  he  kept  up  a  combinn- 

*   Keprinted  from   Thf  yvrses'    Journal    of  the 

P„rlfSr    r„„.^t. 


Dec.  24,  1910] 


Z\K  British  3oiitnai  ot  IRiirsiiuj. 


511 


tioii  inuaii  uiul  aiticulatinu  i>l  words  uubudv  seeim-il 
to  understand.  Hi.s  temiierature  was  bumping  the 
top  of  the  tube.  His  death  was  a  matter  of  a  few 
hours.  Beside  the  tub  inntaining  this  bl-awny 
labourer  stood  what  tlie  novelists  call  '  a  slip  of  a 
gii-l.'  She  was  eighteen  years  old.  Her  brown, 
wavv  liaii",  her  large  blue  eye'.,  set  far  apart  and 
tender  but  full  of  the  spirit  of  conflict,  and  the 
softness  of  her  skin,  and  the  pink  that  came  and 
went  in  her  cheeks  when  she  performed  sojne  vra- 
pleasiint  task,  pi-esented  a  striking  contrast  with 
her  un<outh  patient.  She  was  working  over  him 
as  if  he  were  her  sick  baby.  She  was  genuinely 
mothering  a  hulking,  strange,  sick  man.  When 
this  young  nurse  pausetl  for  a  moment  in  her  exer- 
tions, the  inspector,  who  had  been  looking  on, 
said: 

"'You  seem  to  be  taking  pretty  good  care  of 
that  poor  fellow.' 

"  'He  needs  it,'  she  replied. 

"  '  Who  is  he?  '  the  inspector  asked. 

"  '  I  don't  know,'  she  r*?pli<?<i,  '  but  I  do  know 
that  he  has  had  a  hard  time  and  that  he  is  very 
sick.     The  police  brought  him  in.' 

"  '  Do  you  think  you  are  able  to  cure  him  ?  '  the 
inspector  ventured. 

■■  '  Yes,  I  do!  '  she  cried.     '  He  mud  get  well! ' 

"  He  died  in  the  early  houi-s  of  the  next  morning. 
The  nurse's  battle  was  a  losing  one.  When  the  in- 
spector was  at  the  hospital  again,  he  asked  her  how 
it  was  she  was  so  sure  that  patient  would  recover. 
She  smiled  and  said: 

"  '  I  never  give  a  patient  up  unless  he  is  dead.  I 
am  a  nurse.' 

"So-she  was.  That  young  girl  exemplified  what 
I  mean  by  the  nursing  spirit. 

"  Xow  there  are  nurses  and  nurses.  Some  are 
natural  nurses,  who  possess  only  the  nursing  spirit. 
Some  are  scientific  nurses,  machine  nurses,  you 
might  say,  who  secretly  believe  and  sometimes 
openly  affirm  that  they  are  just  as  competent  as,  or 
even  more  competent  than,  doctors.  Some  are 
nurses  '  for  the  fun  of  it.'  Some  are  nurses  be- 
cause they  are  pretty.  Some  are  nurses  because 
they  are  rich  and  don't  know  what  else  to  do  with 
their  time.  Some  are  nurses  who  work  in  sole  anti- 
cipation of  the  '  day  oft.'  Some  are  nurses  only  for 
pay.  Some  are  nurses  who.  like  the  bibulous  and 
cucumber-loving  Mrs.  •  Sairey  '  Gamp,  think  of  their 
comfort  and  not  of  the  patient's  welfare,  and,  also, 
'  stand  in  '  with  an  undertaker  who  is  '  right.'  Some 
are  nurses  whose  business  I  do  not  care  to  discuss 
before  you.  None  of  these  nurses  is  fit  for  service 
.  .  .  .  '  in  these  days  of  progressive  and  high- 
grade  care  of  the  ill.  The  ideal  nurse,  I  think,  is 
one  who  has  the  nursing  spirit,  who  is  neat,  good, 
and  wholesome,  and  who  has  acquired  and  can  apply 
scientific  knowledge  of  the  art  of  nursing  under  the 
direction  of  a  comi)etent  physician,  or  surgeon." 

The  Metropolitan  Asylums  Board,  on  the  report 
of  the  Hospitals  Committee,  decided  at  their  last 
meeting  to  make  the  necessary  arrangements  for 
receiving  measles  into  their  infectious  hospitals  as 
soon  as  the  Local  Government  Board's  Onler  shall 
have  been  received. 


Xiccuslno  of  IRursiiiG  Hflcncics. 

The  Public  Control  Committee  of  the  London 
County  Council,  as  empowered  under  the  new  Act, 
held  a  special  meeting,  for  the  purpose  of  licensing 
employment  agencies,  at  the  County  Hall,  .Spring 
Gardens,  .S.W.,  on  Friday,  December  16th.  As 
these  meetings  are  open  to  the  public,  a  representa- 
tive of  this  Journal  attended  to  see  what  sort  of 
businesses  and  persons  professional  nurses'  co- 
operative societies  would  be  classed  with  now  they 
are  compelled  to  take  out  a  licence. 

A  large  number  of  the  applicants  were  theatrical, 
variety  and  dramatic,  and  music  hall  agents.  Others 
maintained  agencies  for  domestic  servants,  hotel 
and  restaurant  staffs,  companions  and  secretaries, 
and  a  few  were  from  institutions  supplying  nurses, 
midnives,  and  masseuses. 

To  report  the  proceedings : — 

1.  An  applicant  for  a  licence  as  a  musical,  dra- 
matic and  variety  agent  was  represented  by  counsel, 
who  said  his  client  was  prejudiced  by  the  fact  that 
he  was  tried  for  rape  in  1900.  He  was,  however, 
acquitted  without  the  jury  leaving  the  box.  In 
reply  to  a  charge  at  the  Old  Bailey  of  being  of 
immoral  chaiacter  and  frequenting  houses  of  that 
nature,  his  client  had  a  complete  answer.  In  re- 
gard to  a  woman  with  whom  his  name  was  asso- 
ciated, he  had  married  her  in  Warsaw  and  lived  with 
her  for  a  few  mouths,  but  declined  to  do  so  when 
he  discovered  her  character.  Counsel  emphasised 
that,  on  oath  before  Mr.  Justice  Bigham,  his  client 
was  acquitted  of  the  charges  against  him.  The 
applicant  was  cross-questioned  by  a  detective  as  to 
whether  during  1906  there  were  four  convictions 
against  his  wife  for  soliciting  and  prostitution,  and 
counsel  protested  against  this  irrelevant  question. 

The  detective  further  stated  that  he  was  sum- 
moned to  a  certain  house  because  A B (the 

woman  above  referred  to)  stated  that  she  had  been 
robbed  by  a  man  whom  she  had  taken  home.  He 
had  to  wait  in  the  passage  before  he  could  go  to 
her  room,  and  while  there  applicant  went  out  of 
the  house.     This  was  absolutely  denied. 

Another  offence  unjustly  alleged  against  his  client 
was,  said  counsel,  of  getting  a  girl  into  trouble. 
Her  relatives  recently  had  visited  his  flat  and  de- 
manded £10,  and  were  alleged  to  have  said  that  if 
they  did  not  receive  it  there  would  be  trouble  about 
his  licence.     He  refused  to  accede  to  the  demand. 

The  young  woman  concerned  appeared  before  the 
Committee,  and  went  into  details. 

The  application  was  refused. 

2.  In  the  case  of  another  variety  agency,  also 
represented  by  counsel,  and  to  the  .application  of 
which  objection  was  taken  by  the  Council's  inspec- 
tor, one  of  the  directors,  who  appeared,  admitted 
liaving  been  warned  off  Newmarket  Heath.  The 
reason  was  that  he  was  robbed  and  could  not  meet 
his  betting  liabilities.  The  incident  had  nothing  to 
do  with  the  variety  agency.  This  application  also 
was  refused,  and  in  this  and  th&  above  instance 
counsel  asked  for  particulars  in  writing  of  the 
grounds  of  refusal,  to  which  they  were  entitled 
under  the  Act.     These  were  promised. 


512 


Zhc  38rUisb  3ournaI  of  IRurslna,       ^ec.  24, 


1910 


3.  In  the  nest  case  the  applicant  was  questioned 
hv  the  chief  oflScer  of  the  Council  as  to  an  adver- 
T-isement  which  appeared  in  the  Stage  in  August, 
1907,  in  which  he  advertised  for  pupils  '  experience 
not  necessary,''  also  as  to  statements  made  con- 
cerning him  in  Truih  in  October  last,  and  whether 
he  had  taken  proceedings  for  libel.  He  replied  the 
paragraph  was  very  carefully  worded  and  there  was 
no  libel.  The  licence  was  granted  and  the  applicant 
warned  to  be  careful  about  his  advertisements. 

4.  In  another  application  for  a  licence  for  a  variety 
and  dramatic  agency,  the  applicant  attended  and 
explained  why  on  one  occasion  he  could  not  pav  the 
salaries  of  his  artistes,  and  the  steps  he  had  taken 
to  deal  with  the  situation.  All  his  obligations  were,  he 
said,  discharged  except  to  one  lady,  who,  in  reply  to  a 
postcard  to  call  upon  him,  brought  her  husband, 
who  assaulted  him.  The  lady  attended  and  gave 
her  version. 

This  man  was  also  granted  a  licence. 

To  enable  certificated  professional  private  nurses 
to  grasp  the  situation,  the  point  we  wish  to  empha- 
sise is  that  the  action  of  the  L.C.C.  in  obtaining 
powers  to  control  questionable  agencies  is  not 
•  oncerned  with  professional  standards  of  educa- 
tion or  efficiency,  but  rather  with  the  personal  con- 
duct of  persons  acting  as  agents,  and,  as  far  as  we 
can  gather,  as  there  are  no  professional  nurse-in- 
spectors at  present  attached  to  this  department  of 
the  L.C.C,  to  take  out  a  licence  means  exposing 
the  professional  Committees  and  Superintendents 
to  lay  and  therefore  inefficient  inspection 
and  control;  and  perhaps  to  "blackmail"  and 
malicious  misrepresentation  before  the  Public 
Control  Committee  of  the  L.C.C,  which  is  not  a 
Court  of  Law.  This  is  proved  by  the  applications 
made  to  it  and  the  evidence  and  accusations  ad- 
vanced at  its  la.st  meeting.  Nothing  in  our  opinion 
could  have  a  more  disastrous  effect  upon  the  morale 
and  status  of  the  professional  nurse  in  private  prac- 
tice than  to  be  classed  with  such  agencies  and  agents 
as  fought  out  in  public  their  claims  with  so  much 
disgusting  detail  before  the  Public  Control  Com- 
mittee on  Friday.  And  what  good  would  be  gained 
I'v  taking  out  a  licence?  The  Act  does  not  deal 
■  ith  standards,  and  cannot  therefore  enforce  effi- 
lency.  Employers  and  sweaters  of  nurses  are  pro- 
tected and  exempt,  and  the  crop  of  lay  domestic 
agencies  which  now  foist  discharged  probationers 
and  semi-trained  women  on  a  defenceless  public  as 
'■  trained  nurses,"  cannot  be  refused  a  licence  if  the 
agent  is  a  respectable  per.mn,  as  no  dotibt  many  of 
them  are. 

A  smashing  blow  has  been  dealt  through  this 
.\ot  at  the  professional  status  of  the  trained  nurse, 
she  has,  in  applying  for  a  licence  to  work,  to  fight 
it  out  in  the  gutter — side  by  side  with  pimps  and 
prostitutes — and  a  more  degrading  position  it  is 
not  possible  to  imagine.  If  the  nursing  profession 
lias  an  ounce  of  self-respect  its  members  will  not 
:cs-t  an  hour  until  the  Bill  for  the  State  Registra- 
'inn  of  Nurses  is  ])laced  on  the  .Statute  Book  of  this 
Kcalm,  granting  them  that  legal  status  which  is 
lieir  right,  and  a  professional  title  which  alone  can 
li'«tingMish  them  in  the  public  mind  from  the  most 
i.  traded  of  their  kind.  E.  G.  F. 


Xegal  flDatters. 


THEFT  AT  A  NURSING   HOME. 

At  Marylebone  Police  Court  last  week  5IisB 
^Miriam  Manning,  Mat]x>u  of  a  Nur.sing  Home  in 
Gloucester  Terrace.  Regent's  Park,  charged  Miss  V. 
E.  Moore  Wright  with  steading  a  gold  watch,  value 
£3.  She  stated  that  she  had  been  asked  by  th« 
authorities  of  a  London  Infirmai-y  about  a  month 
ago  to  take  the  accused  "partly  as  a  probationer 
and  }>artly  as  a  patient."  STie  did  so.  and  soon  dis- 
covered that  the  prisoner  was  in  the  habit  of  taking 
morphia,  and  had  evidently  done  so  for  years.  The 
prisoner,  when  appealed  to  to  tell  the  truth  about 
the   watch,   eventually   confessed   liaving  taken   it. 

Detective-Sergeant  .Seymour  gave  corroborative 
evidence.  The  prisoner  was  remanded  that  her 
father  might  be  communicated  with. 


THE  CARE  OF  SUICIDAL  CASES. 

The  Chicheeter  Coroner  last  week  held  an  inquiry 
into  the  circumstances  of  the  death  of  a  female 
patient  at  the  Graylingwell  Asylum,  due  to  drink- 
ing boiling  water  from  a  kettle  in  the  kitchen 
during  tie  momentary  occupation  of  the  nurse. 
The  patient  was  known  to  have  strong  suicidal 
tendencies,  and  a  \frdict  of  '"  suicide  while  of  un- 
sound mind  "  was  n'turued,  without  blame  being 
attached  to  anyone.  Surely  the  responsible  nurse 
should  not  be  required  to  undertake  duties 
which  will  divert  her  attention,  even  momentarily, 
fi-om  a  case  of  this  kind.  Apparently  the  nurse  in 
charge  of  the  day-room,  where  the  deceased  was, 
answered  a  door  liell  a  few  yards  away,  and  made 
two  journeys  to  the  kitchen  with  loaves.  It  was 
during  this  time  that  the  unfortunate  patient 
slipped  out  of  the  room  and  took  the  fatal  drink. 


CHARGE  OF  CRUELTY  TO  CHILDREN. 

At  the  South  Police  Court,  Dublin,  Sister 
Bernard  Smythe  and  Miss  Mary  Quilan.  of  St. 
Agnes'  Home,  Twickenham,  were  last  week  charged 
with  wilfully  assaulting,  ill-treating,  and  neglecting 
two  children  in  their  care  while  in  lodgings  at  83. 
Queen  Square,  Dublin.  We  mention  the  case  as  it 
has  been  referred  to  in  tlie  Irish  Press,  under  the 
headings:  "Alleged  Ill-treatment  of  Children: 
English  Nui-ses  Charged."  No  evidence  was 
offered  that  the  ac<iise<l,  who  were  committed  for 
trial,  had  any  connection  with  the  nursing  profes- 
sion. Indeed,  as  .Sister  Bernard  Smythe.  the  elder 
of  the  two  defendants,  deposed  that  she  was  21 
years  of  age,  and  had  been  «  member  of  the  con- 
fraternity connected  with  the  Twickenham  Home 
for  eight  years,  it  is  manifestly  impossible  that  she 
should  be  a  trained  nui-se. 


Mc^^inQ_  Bells. 

Fen  WICK — Stockil^le. — On  the  17tli  December, 
at  St.  Martin's-in-the-Fields,  Trafalgar  Square,  by 
the  Rev.  H.  Rose,  M.A.,  William  Stephen  Fenwick, 
>LS.,  F.R.C.S.,  81,  Barley  Street.  W.,  only  son 
of  Thomas  Fenwick,  of  Southampton,  to  Enid 
Stockdale.  third  daughter  of  Thomas  Stockdale, 
Spring  Lea,  Leeds,  and  late  .Sister,  Charing  Cross 
Hospital,  London. 


Doe.  24,  1910] 


Cbc  Britieb  3oiirnal  of  Ihursino. 


513 


QUEEN   VICTORIAS  JUBILEE   INSTITUTE 
HxAMINATIOX   FOR  THE   HOLL   OF    QvEEN's    NvHSES, 

December  15th,   1910. 
The  following  were  the  questions  se*  at  the  above 
examination,   three   hours    being    allowed    for  the 
paper. 

1.  If  it  were  considered  necessary  to  sterilise 
milk  supplied  from  a  dairy,   how  would  you  do  it? 

^^^lat  diseases  may  be  conveyed  by  milk? 

2.  Give  the  treatment  which  a  nurse  might  have 
to  carry  out  in  a  case  of  inoperable  cancer  of  the 
womb. 

3.  Give  the  cause  and  symptoms  of  phlegmasia 
alba  dolens  (white  leg)  and  the  nursing  treatment 
of  such  a  case. 

4.  In  «>nuection  with  what  kinds  of  disease  or 
accident  have  you  had  experience  of  "shock"? 
What  is  the  nursing  treatment  of  such  a  case  ? 

•5.  How  would  you  disinfect  a  room  after  a  case 
of  scarlet  fever  ? 

•6.  (n)  What  is  a  School  for  Mothers?  What  is 
the  object  of  such  a  school?  How  can  a  district 
nurse  assist  ?  or 

(b)  AVhat  do  you  consider  the  essential  qualifi- 
cations of  a  district  nurse?  In  what  ways  may  she 
instruct  the  public? 

*  Question  6  is  alternative;  only  one  part  is  to  be 
answered. 

Traxsfehs  .4ND  Appointments. 

Miss  Sophie  Sulivan,  to  Peasedown;  Miss  Daisy 
Edglev,  to  C'owlev ;  Miss  Wilhelmina  McKinneU,  to 
Chapel-en-Ie-Frith :  Miss  Edith  F.  Hall,  to  Bir- 
mingham, Summer  Hill  Road  :  Miss  Mary  Cotter, 
to  Heanor :  Miss  Mary  Robertson,  to  Garston ;  Miss 
Olivia  Jones,  to  Cofn  Mawr. 


LONDON  COUNTY  COUNCIL. 

School  XrHSEs  ix  the  Public  Health 

Dep.uitmf.st. 

The  London  County  CouncO,  on  the  recommenda- 
tion of  the  Establishment  Committee,  have,  subject 
to  their  passing  satisfactorily  the  usual  medical 
examination,  appointed  the  following  Xurses,  who 
have  been  selected  by  the  Education  Committee  as 
the  most  suitable  out  of  118  candidates  as  School 
Xurses  in  the  Public  Health  Department : — 

Misses  Violet  Barugh,  Lilla  Young  Benson,  Lottie 
Amelia  Boumer,  Rosa  Helen  Cooper,  Bertha  Conry, 
Maud  Beatrice  Fitzgerald,  Ethel  May  Hall,  Lilian 
Mary  Hamer,  Helen  Muriel  Harper,  Laura  Jane 
Hawkings,  Violet  Hubbard,  Sarah  Hughes,  Maggie 
Louise  Hutton,  Mary  Jefferson,  Mabel  Adeline 
Jobson.  Ada  Beatrice  Lane,  Amy  Gertrude  May- 
man,  Ellen  Eliza  Mercer.  Gertrude  Emily  Murray, 
Maud  Mary  Robbins,  Lilian  Annie  Saunders,  Fanny 
Mather  Thackray,  Zoa  Vicker,  and  Emily  Xoble 
Wilkinson.  They  will  be  appointed,  as  from  dates 
to  be  arranged,  each  at  the  commencing  salary  of 
£80  a  year,  on  the  conditions  approved  on  22nd 
February,  1910,  for  appointments  of  School  Xurses. 

QUEEN    ALEXANDRAS     IMPERIAL    MILITARY 

.     NURSING     SERVICE. 
Miss  D.  Turner,  Staff  Xurse,  resigns  her  appoint- 
ment (December  17th).     Sist-er  .\.   Guthrie  resigns 
her    appointment    (December    20th);    Miss    E.    M. 
Moore  to  be  Staff  Nurse  (provisionally)  (Dec.  6th). 


appointments. 

M.\1R0NS. 

Waithamstow,  Leyton,  and  Wanstead  General  Hospital,  Wal- 
thamslow.— -Miss  Alice  Kob.son  has  bi'tii  appointed 
Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  Xorth  Riding 
Infirmary,  Middlesbrough-on-Tees,  and  has  held 
the  position  of  Sister  in  the  same  Jiospital.  She 
has  also  been  Matron  of  the  Palmer  Memorial  Hos- 
pital, Jarrow-on-Tyne,  and  is  a  member  of  Queen 
Alexandra's  lmi>erial  Military  Xui-sing  Service 
Reserve. 

Pontypridd  and  District  Cottage  Hospital,  Pontypridd.— 
Miss  (iertrude  Lawton  has  been  appointed  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  the  General  Hospital,  Altrin- 
chani,  and  has  held  the  position  of  Senior  Xurse 
at  the  Pontypridd  Xursing  Home  and  at  the 
Q.V.J. L   Home,  Wakefield. 

Home  for  Dying  Consumptives,  Manchester.  —Miss  E.  M. 
Saunders  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Yeatman  Hospital,  Sherborne,  and 
has  held  the  positions  of  Staff  Xurse  at  the  Poplar 
Hospital,  Queen's  Xurse  at  Manchester  and  Ban- 
bury, Matron  at  the  Cottage  Hospital,  Axminster, 
and  Matron  of  the  District  Hospital,  Shepton 
Mallet.  The  Home  is  a  private  one,  supported  by 
Sir  William  Crossley. 

Sister  Midwife. 
Queen  Charlotte's  Hospital,  N.W. — Miss  Edith  Down- 
ing has  been  appointed  Sister  Midwife.  She 
was  trained  at  St.  Marvlebone  Infirmary,  where 
she  has  held  the  positions  of  Sister  and  Xight 
Superintendent,  and  has  been  Midwifery  Sister  at 
the  Miller  General  Hospital,  Greenwich. 
Xight  Sister. 

Stanley  Hospital,  Liverpool. — Miss  Annie  Maney  has 
been  api)ointed  Xight  Sis.ter.  She  was  trained  at 
the  City  Hospital,  Bradford,  and  the  Salop  In- 
firmai->-,  Shrewsbury,  and  has  held  the  position  of 
Sister  at  the  Stanley  Hospital,  Liverpool. 

SrPERINTEXDEXT   XuRSE. 

Bramley  Union  Workhouse  Hospital.  — Miss  Hannah 
Ward  has  been  appointed  Superintendent  Xurse. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Salford  I'nion  Infirmary 
and  has  held  the  position  of  Sister  at  the  Bradford 
Union  Infirmary,  and  at  present  holds  the  position 
of  Deputy  Superintendent  Xurse  and  Home  Sister 
at  the  Scukoates  Union  Infirmary. 
Cihrge  XrnsE. 
Children's  Hospital,  Union  WorKhouse,  Oldham.  Miss 
Minnie  Ashworth  has  been  appointed  Charge 
Xurse.  She  was  trained  at  the  Crumpsall  In- 
firmary, Manchester,  and  has  held  the  position  of 
.Sister  in  the  Children's  Wards  and  Sister  in  the 
Glen's  Medical  Wards  at  Prestwich  ■  Union  In- 
firmary, Crumpsall,  Manchester,  and  has  been 
School  Xurse  under  the  Public  Health  Depart- 
ment. Bolton. 

School  Xurse. 

Borough  ol  Nuneaton.  — Miss  Horrocks  has  been  ap- 
ix>int.-<l  •^liool  Xuiise.  .She  was  trained  a^  tie  Mill 
Road  Infirmary.  Liverpool,  and  has  had  experience 
«I  private  nui>>ing  on  the  staffs  of  the  Royal  In- 
firmary. Preston,  and  the  Ipswich  Xui-ses'  Home, 
and  of  district  musing  as  a  Q«een's  Xurse.  She  is 
a  certified  midwife. 


514 


^be  ffiritlsb  journal  of  IRursing. 


[Dec.  24,  1910 


Borough  of  Lancaster  Education  Committee. — Miss  Jane 
Ann  Evans  has  been  appointed  Scliool  Xurse.  She 
holds  a  three  years'  certificate  of  training,  and  has 
had  two  years'  experience  of  plague  duty  in  India. 
She  has  also  been  Sister  in  Queen  Alexandra's  Im- 
perial Jlilitary  Nursing  Service,  and  School  Nurse 
at  the  Cheshire  Branch  of  the  National  Children's 
Home  and  Orphanage. 

Appointments  at  the  Park  Hospital,  Hither 
Green,  Lewisham,  S.E. 

The  following  appointments  have  been  made  at 
the  Park  Hospital,  Lewisham,  recently  opened  as  a 
Children's  Hospital : — 

W.ird  Si.sfers. — Miss  F.  M.  Morrison,  trained  at 
Guy's  Hospital,  Certified  Midwife;  Miss  Lily 
Cheetham,  trained  at  Middlesex  Hospital,  and 
Charge  Nurse  at  the  Park  Hospital,  Certified  Mid- 
wife. 

Home  Sisters. — Miss  Frances  Midgley,  trained  at 
the  Boyal  Halifax  Infirmary,  Staff  Nurse  at  the 
Grove  Hospital,  Tooting,  and  at  the  Park  Hospital, 
Lewisham  ;  Miss'Frances  Hales,  trained  at  the  City 
of  London  Infirmary,  Charge  Nurse  at  the  Park 
Hospital,   Certified  Midwife. 

Staff'  Xurses. — Miss  Adelaide  Burns,  trained  at 
the  Southwark  Infirmary,  ■  Staff  Nurse  at  Mount 
Vernon  Hospital,  and  temporary  Night  Sister  at 
the  Gordon  Hospital.  Vauxhall  Bridge  Road,  S.W.  : 
Miss  Elsie  Gabriel,  trained  at  Guy's  Hospital,  Staff 
Nurse  at  King  Edward  VII. 's  Sanatorium;  Miss 
Jeannette  Williams,  trained  at  the  West  Brpmwich 
Infirmary,  Staff  Nurse  at  the  Children's  Infirmary, 
Carshalton:  Miss  E.  Rosina  Ball,  trained  at  the 
Hammersmith  Infirmary,  and  who  has  also  had  ex- 
perience of  private  nursing :  Miss  i'lorence  M. 
Pollett,  trained  at  the  Woolwich  Infirmary,  and 
Stafi:  Nurse  at  the  Children's  Infirmary.  Carslialton  : 
MLss  Martha  E.  Eastwood,  trained  at  the  Birming- 
ham Infirmary,  Staff  Nurse  at  the  Royal  Chest 
Hospital,  City  Road,  and  at  Clayton  Hospital,  Man- 
chester:  Miss  Edith  M.  Foyster,  trained  at  the 
Hammersmith  Infirmarv. 

RESIGNATIONS. 

The  resignation  of  Sister  Hope  (Miss  Skillman, 
R.R.C.t  at  St.  Bartholomew's  Ho.spital,  after 
<■lo.se  on  thirty  years'  faithful  service  as 
probationer,  nurse,  and  .Sister,  is  a  great  loss  to 
the  hospital  and  the  training  school.  Many  gene- 
rations of  nurses  are  grateful  to  Miss  Skillman  for 
the  lessons  they  learnt  from  her,  both  by  precept 
and  example,  of  devotion  to  duty  and  to  the  sick: 
nor  has  her  influence  been  confined  to  the  proba- 
tioners who  have  come  under  it,  for  the  liigli  ideals 
she  has  always  inculcated  have  been  assimilated 
and  carried  far  and  wide  by  the  pupils  of  the  school. 
Mi-ss  Skillman  retires  upon  a  pension,  and  no  pen- 
sion was  ever  better  earned.  She  is  succeeded  by 
.Miss  A.  Simpkin,  Sister  of  Elizabeth  Ward,  whicji 
in  the  future  will  be  used  as  a  maternity  ward. 

The  resignation  for  family  reasons,  by  Miss  Irene 
C  Keogh  of  the  position  of  Lady  Superinten- 
dent of  the  Richmond  Hospital,  Dublin,  to 
take  effect  on  March  1st,  1911,  creates  a  vacancy 
in  the  ALatronship  of  one  of  the  most  important 
hospitals  in  Dublin,  which  will  be  found  advertised 
in  our  Supplement. 


IRursina  lEcboes. 

It  is  hoped  that  in  the 
course  of  next  year  the  Anwy 
and  Navy  Male  Nurses'  Co- 
operation— founded  bv  iliss 
Ebhel  McCaul,  E.E.C.,  with 
the  two-fold  object  of  pro- 
viding the  public  with 
thorotighly  well  trained  male 
nurses,  of  assured  good  char- 
acter, and  retired  non-com- 
missioned ofiBcei's  and  men  of 
the  Eoval  Amiv  Medical 
of  the  Sick  Berth  Staff  of 
Navy,  with  employment — will 
be  self-supporting.  But  this  position  has 
not  been  reached  at  present,  though 
during  its  thr^e  years  of  existence  the  Co- 
operation has  made  steady  progress,  and  on 
Friday  in  last  week  the  "  People's  Bargain 
Sale  "  wa.s  opened  by  Mrs.  George  Alexander, 
at  the  Eoyal  Horticultural  Hall,  Vincent 
Square,  Westminster,  in  support  of  the  funds, 
when  a  number  of  useful  and  pretty  articles 
were  on  sale  and.found  ready  purchasers. 


Coqjs,      ! 
the      Eoval 


.\t  the  meeting  which  preceded  the  Sale, 
Colonel  Sir  Edward  Ward,  K.C.B.,  K.C.V.O., 
who  presided,  said  that  the  Co-operation  had 
a  constant  and  ever  increasing  supply  of  well- 
trained  male  mu-ses  for  whom  employment  was 
wanted,  and  asked  evei^yone  present  to  obtaili 
work  for  at  least  one  of  these  sailor  and  soldier 
nurses  during  the  next  six  months.  He 
2x>inted  out,  very  tnily,  that  the  hospitals  of 
the  Navy  and  Army  were  the  only  general 
training  schools  for  male  nurses,  and  that  the 
Co-operation  which  had  the  strong  support  of 
the  Admiralty  and  War  Office  did  not  want  any 
special  indulgence  given  to  sailors  and  soldiers, 
but  wanted  them,  on  their  merits,  to  have  a 
fair  run  for  their  money,  and  to  have  the  handi- 
cap removed  mider  which  they  started  in  the 
rac-e  for  employment  compared  with  their 
civilian  brethren. 


The  Londoit  Homoeopathic  Hospital,  Great 
Ormoud  Street,  benefits  by  the  will  of  the  late 
Mr.  Joseph  Henry  Houldsworth,  who  died  on 
November  30th  last,  to  the  amount  of  £.'j,0()<\ 
He  has  also  vmder  his  will  left  an  annuity  of 
.€oO  to  one  of  the  Sistoi's  of  the  Hospital,  Sister 
Jlary  (Miss  Mary  Ann  Watkinson),  "  as  a  re- 
cognition to  her  for  her  valued  attention  and 
kindness  bestowed  upon  me  during  my  several 
illnesses."  The  hospital  is  at  present  appeal- 
ing for  £12.000  to  build  •»  New  Home  for  the 
luu-ses  on  a  site  opposite  to  the  hospital,  and 


Dei-.  24,  1910] 


Cbc  Britieb  3ournai  cf  iRursino. 


51.: 


ivqiiires  another  £2,U(H>  to  st-emv  a  in-oniist-  ot 
i,'),t>00  made  by  a  iioblciuan  if  the  aniouut  is 
raised  before  Deeeiiiber  31st  next.  Donations 
may  be  sent  to  ^liss  Clara  Hoadley.  Matron  at 
the  I/ondon  Honia»opathie  Hospital,  Great 
Ornioud  Street,  Loudon,  W.C. 


sehool  medical  officer  on  the  working  of  the 
arrangement.  The  scheme  will  be  put  iuto 
operation  upon  the  re-opening  of  the  schools 
after  the  Christmas  holidays. 


.\  sympathetic  nurse  perfonns  many  actions 
for  the  benefit  of  her  patients  outside  the  scope 
of  her  professional  duties,  which  is  one  of  the 
reasons  why  the  value  of  a  nurse's  services  can 
never  be  estimated  in  hard  cash,  as  the  follow- 
ing instance  will  show.  It  is  reported  that  a 
nurse  in  attendance  on  a  matemity  case  in 
which  the  patient  was  prematurely  confined, 
found  that  the  serious 
illness  of  the  patient 
and  the  threatened 
attack  of  brain  fever 
had  their  origin  in  the 
sentence  of  tw<_> 
months'  imprisonment 
iu  the  second  division 
passed  on  her  husband, 
for  obtaining  credit 
without  disclosing  that 
he  was  an  undis- 
charged bankrupt. 
The  nurse,  strength- 
ened by  the  goodwill 
of  the  prosecuting 
fiiTu,  visited  the  Home 
Secretary  at  his  pri- 
vate residence,  and 
laid  the  facts  before 
him,  and  Mr.  Churchill 
authorised  her  to  re- 
turn to  .  her  patient 
with  the  assurance 
that  she  would  not  long 
be  parted  from  her 
husband.  To  the  de- 
light of  the  patient, 
tiie  husband  returned 
home  a  few  hours 
later,  the  Home  Secretary  having  ordered  hi 
iumiediate  release. 


The  birthday  party  of  the  Nurses'  Lodge,  9, 
Colosseum  Ten-ace,  Ecgent's  Park,  N.W.,  is 
always  a  very  pleasant  and  happy  gathering. 
Miss' A.  E.  Hulme,  who  is  unich  beloved  by 
those  who  use  the  Lodge,  and  whose  unvarying 
courte-sy  and  equable  disix>sition  have  been  a 
great  factor  in  making  it  a  success,  received  the 
guests,  and  many  of  the  residents  looked  after 
their  comfort.  One  is  always  sure  of  excellent 
music  at  these  parties  at  the  Lodge,  and  Miss 
Helen  Hulme  and  Mr. 
Keginald  Clarke  both 
sang  'charmingly.  The 
latter's  eong,  "  Ma- 
tilda," was  delightful, 
and  the  duet,  "  Oh, 
that  we  two  were  ilay- 
ing,"  sung  by  Miss 
Hulme  and  ^Mr. 
Clarke,  was  received 
with  great  applause. 
The  afternoon  con- 
cluded with  Sir  Eoger 
de  Coverley,  which 
was  danced  with  great 
enthusiasm. 


SCOTTISH     MATRON    IN    THE    SNOW. 
Miss   Wright,   of   Stobhill. 


The  London  County  Council  has  approved  a 
scheme  for  the  treatment  by  Queen's  nunses 
in  Paddington,  of  children  suffering  from  sup- 
purating ears.  The  Board  of  Education,  in  a 
letter  dated  '28th  November,  state  that  they 
have  given  their  sanction  to  the  scheme,  as  an 
experimental  measure  for  a  period  of  six 
months-  only,  on  the  understanding  that  the 
nui-se  will  act  under  the  8uper\'ision  and 
authority  of  the  school  medical  officer,  and  that 
a;  the  end  of  the  experimental  period  the  Coun- 
cil will  furnisii  the  Board  with  m  i-.']>oit  by  tile 


A  concert  was  given 
in  the  Small  Hall  at 
the  Queen's  Hall, 
Langham  Place,  W.. 
last  week,  by  the  re- 
cently formed  Nurses' 
Choral  and  Social 
League,  in  support  of 
(the  funds  of  the 
Society  under  the 
direction  of  Dr. 
Hickox.  As  the  League 
is  onlj^  two  months 
old  the  venture  was  somewhat  a  bold  one,  but 
the  programme  was  largely  made  up  of  solo 
numbers,  and  the  choir,  comix>sed  of  some 
eighty  sopranos  and  contraltos,  proved  that  it 
included  material  which  was  gqpd  to  work 
upon.      The    whole    perfomiance    was    highly 

creditable.  

The  Swansea  Schools  iledical  Inspection 
Committt^e  has  decided  to  recommend  the  ap- 
pointment of  two  nurses  to  atteiuf  to  disabled 
school  children.  It  was  stated  that  61  cases 
of  disabled  children  have  been  visited.  Three 
children  had  to  lie  on  flwir  backs. 


The      annual    meeting    of   St.     Lawrence's 


•316 


ZTbc  Britisb  3ournal  of  IHursino. 


[Dec.  24,  1910 


Catholic  Home  for  providing  trained  nurses  for 
the  sick  poor  in  their  own  homes  was  held  last 
week  at  the  institution,  34,  Eutland  Square, 
West,  Dublin. 

The  annual  report  states  :  — 

'■  The  year  which  ended  on  October  31st,  1910, 
was  one  of  expansion  and  increase  of  work  at  St. 
Lawience's  Home.  Nineteen  nurses  were  trained 
during  the  past  year  for  the  special  work,  and  of 
these,  fourteen  have  been  ah-eady  sent  to  different 
places  throughout  Ireland,  including  eight  new 
districts  which  are  now  served  by  Jubilee  Xurses. 
The  work  done  amongst  the  sick  poor  in  Dublin 
during  the  year  may  be  summarised  as  follows;  — 
3,614  cases  have  been  attended,  of  which  2,697  re- 
covered, 440  were  removed  to  hospital,  or  otherwise 
ceased  to  be  under  the  nurses'  care,  246  died,  and 
231  still  remain  on  the  books.  The  total  number 
of  visits  paid  was  60.167.  In  the  previous  year  the 
total  number  of  cases<was  2,624,  and  the  visits  paid 
53.374,  so  that  this  year  1,000  more  cases  have  been 
attended,  and  nearly  7.000  more  visits  have  been 
paid.  The  financial  position  of  the  Home  is  satis- 
factory. AVith  the  aid  of  the  generous  donations 
and  subscriptions  received,  we 'have  paid  all  our 
debts,  and  enter  upon  the  new  year  with  a  balance 
to  credit  of  £139  10s.  Id.  Public  attention  has 
lately  been  directed  in  an  especial  manner  to  the 
pix)rer  classes  of  our  city,  and  the  conditions  under 
v.hich  they  live,  and  much  has  been  said  and  writ- 
ten as  to  the  brightening  of  their  homes.  To  any- 
one wlio  is  really  interested  in  the  subject,  much 
matter  for  reflection  would  be  afforded  by  a  visit 
U'  the  homes  attended  by  Ht.  Lawrence's  Nurses, 
:ind  a  comparison  with  other  homes  of  the  same 
■  ];isis,  which  have  not  had  the  benefit  of  the  nurses' 
cviie  Attention  to  the  patient  is  not  the  sole  duty 
.T  object  of  our  nurses.  They  endeavour  also  by 
their  cheerful  presence  and  bright  example  to  lift 
up  to  a  higher  level  the  homes  of  the  jioor,  and, 
where  it  is  necessary,  to  teach  the  principles  of 
cleanliness,  ventilation,  sobriety,  and  decent 
living." 


IReflcctions. 


NVe  hope  that  the  sentiments  expressed  by 
Mr.  ^I'Mahon  at  a  meeting  of  the  Guardians 

r  the  Ennistj'mon  Union  are  unique.  On  an 
.i|ijilic-ation  being  made  for  €'11,  the  amount  of 
the  funeral  expenses  of  !Miss  Eoden,  of  the 
I^Iater  Miserieordia  Hospital,  Dublin,  who  died 
while  nursing  typhus  fever  patients  in  the 
workhouse  hospital,  Mr.  iM'Mahon  inquired 
whether  they  were  bound  to  pay  these  ex- 
penses, upon  which  the  Master  pointed  otit 
that  the  nurse  had  sacrificed  her  life  there.  ^Ir. 
]\r]\Iahon  retorted  that  she  was  well  paid  for 
her  services,  and  "it  was  her  duty  to  sacrifice 
her  life."  We  are  glad  to  say  that  the  Board 
on  the  motion  of  the  Chairman,  decided  to  pay 
the  expenses.  What  sum  we  wonder  does  ^Ir. 
M'Mahon   consider  goo<l   pay    for    the   skilled 

•  -rk,  and  Hfe  laid  down,  of  this  devoted  nuive'.' 
It  seerns  inconceivable  that  so  callous  a  refer- 
ence could  be  possible  to  such  a  tragedy. 


From  a  Board  Room  Mirror. 

Hearty  congratulations  to  the  Royal  Free  Hos- 
pital, to  which  is  attached  the  School  of  Medicine 
for  Women.  By  the  will  of  the  late  Mr.  H.  Silver, 
who.se  personal  estate  amounted  to  £1,197,867,  the 
hospital  has  become  entitled  to  a  munificent  legacy 
of  £50,000.  The  Hospital  for  Sick  Children,  Great 
Ormond  Street,  and  the  Victoria  Hospital  for  Chil- 
dren, Chelsea,  are  to  receive  £25,000  each.  The 
will  continues:  "  Nurse  Ellen  Brown,  who  so  faith- 
fully nursed  my  late  dear  wife,  and  has  lately  been 
in  attendance  on  me,"  is  to  have  an  annuity  of 
£500  a  year. 


,\11  the  hospitals,  after  a  strenuous  year,  would 
like  a  Christmas  box ;  indeed,  they  could  make  tise 
of  unlimited  gifts  iu  support  of  their  work  for  the 
community. 


The  King's  Hospital  Fund  and  the  Hospital  Sun- 
day Fund  have  just  announced  that  between  them 
they  have  awarded  £226,500  to  hospitals  and  nursing 
institutions.  This  is  a  splendid  record  of  volun- 
tary charity,  and  still  not  enough  for  the  ever- 
increasing  demands  of  scientific  medical  treatment. 

A  Special  Committee  of  Inquiry  into  the  method 
prevailing  in  the  London  voluntary  hospitals  with 
regard  to  the  admission  of  out-patients  has  been 
appointed  by  the  Governors  of  King  Edward's  Hos- 
pital Fund.  The  terms  of  reference  are  as  follows : 
■■  To  consider  and  report  generally  as  to  the  circum- 
stances and  conditions  under  which  patients  are 
admitted  to  the  casualty  and  out-patient  depart- 
ments of  the  London  voluntary  hospitals,  and  espe- 
cially as  to  what  precautions  are  taken  to  prevent 
the  admission  of  persons  who  are  unsuitable,  and 
as  to  whether  adequate  provision  is  made  for  the 
admission  of  such  persons  as  are  suitable ;  and  to 
make  such  recommendations  as  may  seem  to  them 
desirable." 


The  Italian  Ambassador,  accompanied  by  the 
Marchesa  Imperiali,  will  open  the  recently  erected 
extension  of  the  Italian  Hospital,  Queen  Square,  on 
Saturday,  January  7th,  in  celebration  of  the  birth- 
day of  Her  Majesty  the  Queen  of  Italy  on  Janu- 
ary 8th.  The  new  building,  which  with  the  site  is 
the  gift  of  Mrs.  Angiola  Ortelli.  widow  of  the 
founder  of  the  hospital,  will  be  devoted  to  promot- 
ing the  conveniences  of  the  staff,  and  will  include 
a  new  operating  theatre  and  enlarged  out-patient 
department,  additional  comfort  for  the  nursing 
staff,  and  a  laundry.  The  building  does  not  pro- 
vide for  any  increase  in  the  number  of  beds  either 
now  or  in  the  future. 

Lady  Vincent  has  been  anxious  for  some  time 
past  to  give  to  Sheffield  some  memorial  worthy  of 
Sir  Howard's  atl'cction  and  loyalty  for  -  tlie  "city 
which  he  represented  in  Parliament  for  over  22 
years.  After  considering  various  scliemes.  Lady 
Vincent  has  been  in  communication  with  the  authori- 


Dec.  24,  1010] 


^bc  Britisb  3ournal  oi  IHurciino. 


517 


ties  of  the  Roral  Infiriuary,  and  has  settled,  with 
their  approval,  to  endow  one  of  the  isolation  wards 
in  the  new  building,  now  being  erected,  on  the 
condition  that  it  shall  be  called  the  'Howard 
Vincent  Ward.'' 


Dr.  William  Robertson,  Me<lical  Officer  of  Health 
for  Leitli,  describing  to  a  gathering  of  the  Society 
of  Medical  Officers  of  Health  the  methods  employed 
there  by  the  municipality  for  the  control  of  tuber- 
culosis, placed  the  educational  factor  rery  high  in 
the  list  of  measures  for  combating  plithisis.  In 
Leith,  he  said,  the  Lady  Health  Visitors  had 
zealously  taught  the  doctrine  of  the  open  window, 
and  since  the  citizens  had  been  called  upon  to  prac- 
tice what  they  were  being  taught  the  change  had 
been  gratifying  and  noticeable,  while  now  that 
compulsory  notification  had  been  adopted  their 
keenness  had  been  redoubled. 


We  warmly  support  the  action  of  the  Right  Hon. 
R.  C.  Munro  Ferguson,  M.P.,  in  insisting,  in  the 
face  of  some  opposition,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Fife 
Medical  School  Children  Inspection  Committee,  held 
at  Cupar,  that  a  medical  woman  should  be  employed 
by  the  local  authority.  One  of  the  reasons  of  those 
who  supported  such  an  appointment  was  that  it 
would  be  better  if  the  senior  girls  were  inspected 
by  a  woman  instead  of  a  man.  Dr.  T.  F.  Dewar, 
formerly  County  Medical  Officer,  had  in  his  report 
taken  exception  to  that  point  of  view,  regarding  it 
as  a  suggestion  of  impropriety  and  qn  innuendo 
against  the  medical  profession.  Mr.  Munro  Fergu- 
son took  strong  exception  to  this  attitude,  and 
moved  that  the  paragraph  in  question  should  be 
deleted  from  the  report,  which  was  done. 


There  can  be  no  question  that  the  inspection  of 
school  children  is  a  duty  for  which  medical  women 
are  particularly  suited.  It  has  been  the  accepted 
policy  of  the  Fife  local  authority  that  a  lady  doctor 
should  be  on  the  staff,  and  it  is  to  be  congratulated, 
on  the  instance  of  Mr.  Munro  Fergtison,  on  main- 
taining that  policy. 


THE  FRAME  FOOD  PREPARATIONS. 
The  Frame  FckkI  Company.  Ltd.,  Standeu  Road, 
Southfields.  London,  liave  issued  a  useful  booklet, 
■■  'Hie  Frame  Food  Preparations  and  Their  Import- 
ance to  the  Human  Race."  giving  a  lucid  descrip- 
tion of  these  prepajations.  and  their  application,  as 
«oll  as  directions,  and  recipes  for  their  use.  For  in- 
stance, in  making  bread  the  booklet  advocates  that 
Frame  Food  essence  shonld  be  kneaded  wnth 
ordinary  wheaten  flour  to  a  dough.  The  result 
is  a  nutritious  bread  with  the  lightiiees  of  texture, 
digestibility,  and  palatability  of  ordinary  white 
brt^ad.  The  many  other  recipes  given  would  be  very 
useful  both  in  an  ordinary  household  and  as  afEoixl- 
ing  an  opportunity  for  varying  the  diet  of  the  .<ick 
with  nourishing  and  palatable  dishes.  The  im- 
portance of  these  preparations  in  the  diet  of  races 
living  and  working,  in  order  to  live,  under-  the  ter- 
rible strain  on  body  and  mind,  caused  by  modern 
ronditions  of  life,  is  evident.  We  commend  the 
booklet  to  the  attention  of  our  readers. 


professional  IRcvicw. 

THE  WIFE  AND  MOTHER:  A  MEDICAL  GUIDE. 
■The  Wife  and  .Mother,"  by  Dr.  Albert  West- 
land,  M.A.,  is  designed  as  a  metlical  guide  to  the 
care  of  her  health  and  the  management  of  her 
children,  and  the  fact  that  six  editions  have  been 
required  indicates  that  it  has  met  a  widespread 
need.  In  his  preface  to  the  first  edition  the  author 
states  that  the  work  is  addressed  to  women  who 
are  desirous  of  fulfilling  properly  their  duties  as 
wives  and  mothers,  and  is  designed  to  assist  them 
in  exercising  an  intelligent  supervision  over  their 
own  and  their  children's  health,  his  object  being 
to  convey  as  much  information  as  an  intelligent 
woman  might  be  expected  to  appreciate  and  utilise, 
and  he  has  succeeded  in  compressing  a  great 
amount  of  useful  information  into  a  compact  volume. 
The  principal  divisions  of  the  book  are  :  (1)  Early 
Married  Life,  (2)  Early  Motherhood,  (3)  The  Child, 
(4)  Later  Married  Life,  and  an  appeildix  containing 
the  laws  relating  to  registration  of  births,  to  vac- 
cination, and  to  notification  of  infectious  diseases 
in  the  I'nited  Kingdom. 

In  introducing  the  subject  the  author  points  out 
that  ■■  every  young  woman  who  enters  into  what 
are  conventionally  called  the  '  bonds  of  matrimony  ' 
voluntarily  accepts  certain  responsibilities  and 
undertakes  certain  duties,  not  only  important  in 
themselves,  but  noteworthy  also  in  this,  that  their 
neglect  and  repudiation  may  be  followed  by  far- 
reaching  consequences  for  others.  Convention  has 
decreed  that  those  duties  and  responsibilities 
should  be  discovered  mainly  by  wives  after  mar- 
riage, and  it  is  seldom  indeed  that  mothers  are 
judicious  or  enlightened  enough  to  place  before 
theii-  marriageable  daughters  even  a  partial  view 
of  the  difficulties  and  troubles  which  almost  every 
married  woman  will  have  to  face  at  some  period 
of  her  married  life.  It  is  certainly  desii-able  that 
women  on  entering  married  life  should  be  aware 
that  calls  will  be  made  upon  their  courage,  their 
temper,  and  their  forbearance,  and  should  take 
what  is  undoubtedly  the  most  decisive  step  of  their 
lives  with  some  knowledge  of  its  importance  and 
gravity." 

Referring  to  the'  influence  which  maternal  im- 
pressions may  have  upon  children,  and  the  desir- 
ability of  the  conscious  regulation  of  their  own  con- 
duct by  expectant  mothers  during  pregnancy,  the 
author  relates  that  when  the  mother  of  Charles 
Kingsley  "became  aware  that  she  was  about  to 
bear  a  child  she  firmly  resolved  that  during  her 
pregnancy  she  would  allow  no  external  troubles  to 
influence  her  mind,  and  that,  living  in  a  beautiful 
country,  she  would  give  up  as  much  time  as  pos- 
sible to  the  contemplation  of  natural  beauty  and 
to  admiration  of  the  work  of  the  Almighty ;  and 
it  is  easy  to  believe  that  the  thorough  sympathy 
with  nature  and  the  earnest  humanity  \ihich 
characterised  the  author  of  ''The  Water  B.abies " 
and  "Yeast"  were  due  in  a  great  measiue  to  the 
mental  attitude  of  his  mother  during  the  months 
which  preceded  his  birth." 

Manv  nurses  and  midwives  use  the  term  "confine- 


518 


Zbc  Brltisb  3ournaI  of  IRursincj. 


[Dec.  24,  1910 


ment  "  without  realising  its  meaning.  It  was  ap- 
parently originally  employed  to  represent  the  whole 
period  during  which  a  mother  was  withdrawn  from 
her  usual  occupations  by  the  act  of  giving  birth 
to  a  child ;  but  it  is  now  used  in  the  more  limited 
sense  as  a  synonym  for  the  actual  process  of  par- 
turition. 

In  the  sections  "Early  Motherhood"  and  "The 
Child,"  much  advice  is  given  which  will  be  useful 
to  mothers,  both  in  the  care  of  their  own  health 
and  in  bringing  up  their  children,  especially  in 
regard  to  the  management  of  the  minor  ailments 
of   infancy  and   childhood. 

The  last  section  deals  with  the  menopause,  de- 
scribes the  symptoms,  and  the  means  which  may 
be  taken  for  their  relief. 

Tlie  book,  which  is  published  by  Messrs.  Charles 
Griffin  and  Co.,  Ltd.,  Exeter  Street,  Strand,  W.C., 
price  OS.,  is  an  admirable  work  of  reference  which 
should  find  a  place  on  the  bookshelves  of  every  wife 
and  mother. 


THE   CULT    OF    HEALTH    FOR  WOMEN. 

A  useful  booklet  on  the  above  subject  has  been 
brought  out  by  Mrs.  Helen  Best,  whose  writings  are 
already  well  known  to  nurses,  and  whose  pamphlet, 
"The  Face:  Its  Care  and  Ti-eatment,"  has  proved 
most  popular.  The  present  booklet  is  divided  into 
three  parts. 

Part  I.  deals  with  (a)  the  face,  and  (b)  the  five 
senses,  with  the  care  of  the  different  organs  con- 
cerned, showing  how  necessary  gentleness  and  care- 
fulness are  in  attending  to  these  delicate 
organs  in  young  children,  and  how  easily  damage 
may  be  caused  by  anj-  roughness  or  want  of  skUI. 

Part  II.  deals  with  the  body,  the  bust,  the  hair, 
the  feet,  the  waist,  the  abdomen;  In  regard  to  the 
feet,  a  most  important  subject  to  nurses,  the  author 
first  urges  upon  mothers  to  be  most  careful  in  the 
training  of  their  children's  feet — to  let  them  wear 
.square  toe  boots,  with  plenty  of  room  and  flat  heels. 
Like  hands,  feet  should  be  put  into  wear  that  fits 
them.  Those  whose  work  entails  much  standing 
she  advises  to  wear  boots. 

Part  III.  is  concerned  with  facial  disfigurements 
and  blemishes,  including  superfluous  hair,  red 
noses,  greasiness  of  the  skin,  blu.shing,  and  freckles. 

Mrs.  Best  concludes  with  a  cordial  invitation  to 
all  who  are  interested  in  her  small  treatise  to  call 
upon  her  at  524,  Oxford  Street,  W.,  where  she 
receives  callers  daily  :  she  will  also  forward  a  copy 
of  the  booklet  gratis  to  any  nurse  upon  request. 

INGRAM'S  PATENT   "AGRIPPA  "  BAND  TEAT 
AND  VALVE. 

In  connection  with  the  notice  in  our  columns  last 
week  drawing  attention  to  tlie  special  band  teat  and 
valve  (the  "  Agrippa  "  Band  Teat)  of  Messrs.  J.  G. 
Ingram  and  Son,  the  London  India  Rubber  Works, 
Hackney  Wick,  N.E.,  it  sliould  be  clearly  under- 
stood that  tluy  are  not  makers  or  ven<loi-s  of  feed- 
ing l>ottle«,  but  only  of  the  band  teat  and  valve, 
which  is  proving  indispensable  to  careful  nui-ses 
and  to  mothers  unable  to  breast-fcxxl  their  infants. 
Messrs.  Ingram  will  he  pIea.M>d  to  send  to  profes- 
sional nur.ses,  mentioning  this  .iournal,  a  free  sample 

of    tl.eir    >,:,„.]     te.,1     nlld     Valvc. 


®uv  jfovcion  letter. 

VENITE  ADOREMUS  DOMINUS," 

From  time 
to  time  1 
have  written 
to  you  about 
some  of  my 
patients,  but 
have  never, 
I  think, 
given  you  a 
glimpse  of 
the  hospital 

so  that  you  may  have  an  idea  of  the  real  home,  in 
which  we  nurse  the  Arabs.  The  balconies  extend  all 
round  the  hospital.  There,  during  convalescence, 
after  some  Ioiilj;  and  trying  illness,  the  women  and 
children  lie  for  hours  during  the  daytime,  drink- 
ing in  new  life  and  health  from  the  glorious  breeze 
that  comes  straight  from  the  sea,  for  it  is  nearly 
all  round  the  hospital,  this  lovely  blue  !Mediter- 
raneaii,  such  a  view !  They  watch  the  steamers 
come  and  go,  and  they  wonder  what  it  must  be 
like  fil-blad-Inglese  (in  England).  Some  of  the 
patients  prefer  to  sit  on  the  balconies  on  the  one 
side  that  is  not  surrounded  by  the  sea,  and  there 
they  have  a  still  more  beautiful  and  varied  scene, 
dark  green  foliage  laden  with  thousands  of  oranges, 
stately  palm  trees  waving  their  feathery  plumes, 
and  the  lovely  soft  hue  of  the  Judean  hills  in 
the  distance.  \\'hen  nearly  well,  for  about  a  week 
or  two,  before  the  patients  are  discharged,  the 
women  sit  and  work  on  these  balconies,  helping 
with  tbe  mending  of  the  ward-uniforms  and  bed- 
linen,  and  the  children  play  around  them,  happy  as 
the  day  is  long. 

I  was  much  amused  the  other  day  on  finding  the 
children  had  arranged  a  miniature  ward  on  th^ 
balcony  with  their  dolls  and  some  boxes  of  bricks. 
The  dolls  were  all  spread  out  in  a  row,  and  pieces 
of  calico  put  over  each  for  a  sheet ;  between  each 
was  a  wooden  lirick,  which  stood  for  a  locker,  and 
on  it  a  tiny  tin  cup  from  a  doll's  tea  service ;  this 
was  intended  to  represent  a  mug  of  milk  or  water. 
I  noticed  one  of  the  dolls  was  very  pale,  the  rosy 
])aint  all  fjone  from  it«  cheeks  from  ovor-much 
wa.shing.  A  little  girl  came  up  to  me  and  said  in 
a  hu.shed  voice:  "  Matat,  ya  sittee,  alwaoht." 
(She  died,  just  now,  lady).  Soon  after  this  I  heard 
a  prolonged  wail,  and  on  going  to  see  what  was  the 
matter  I  learnt  that  the  children  were  acting  the 
doatli-cry  for  the  poor  little  dolly.  Weird,  wasn't 
it?  The  next  day  the  doll  must  have  come  to  life 
again,  the  rbildren  had  coloured  its  cheeks,  and 
she  was  now  the  bride  at  a  wedding. 

.\nd  now  I  want  to  tell  you  about  the  two  little 
children   in   the  picture. 

I  can  almost  hear  some  of  the  readers  of  the 
.JoiTHNAn  saying,  "  Surely  those  are  not  AraKs! 
They  look  more  liki'  French  or  even  English  chil- 
dren.'' Quito  true,  but  they  are  Arabs,  neverthe- 
less. The  boy  is  ^rohanimed,  and,  as  his  name  im- 
plies, is  a  Mohammedan,  for  be  is  named  after  the 
Prophet:  the  little  girl  i,s  Zareefy,  .\rab  by  race. 
Greek  by  religion.  They  were  admitted  the  same 
day.  and  Mob:\nimed   was   given  onlv  two  dars  to 


Dec.  -24,  1010] 


^be  JSritisb  3ournal  of  IRursino. 


510 


Jive,  in  fatt,  the  doctor  did  not  wish  to  take  hiiii 
iu,  feeling  sure  his  days  were  niimher<Hl.  I  was 
leaning  over  one  of  the  haUvnies  overlooking  the 
tourtyard,  and  there,  dow^l  Iwlow,  1  saw  poor 
little  Mohammed  iu  his  mother's  arms;  she  was 
pleading  with  the  doetors  to  do  something  for  him, 
and  1  heard  one  of  them  say;  •'  I  am  very  sorry, 
hut  we  can  do  nothing  for  him ;  he  is  full  of  drojiriy 
and  will  die  in  a  day  or  so;  just,  take  him  home 
juid  keep  him  as  warm  as  you  can."  Th"  mother 
was  weeping  bitterly,  for  he  was  her  only  child. 
>>eeing  she  still  remained  iu  the  courtyard,  I  ran 
■down  quickly  and  begged  the  d(X;tor  to  let  me  have 
<'harge  of  the  child  for  a  day  or  two  to  see  if  any- 
thing could  be  done  to  save  this  little  life ;  he 
smiled  and  said:  "Very  well,  Sister,  have  yinir 
way,  it's  useless,  but  anyhow  the  child  will  be 
bettor  off  than  in  his  mud  hut.''  So  away  I  sped 
witli  my  pre<"ious  burden  iu  my  arms,  and  carried 
him  upstairs  to  a  small  side  ward,  generally  called 
the  ■'  Sunny  AVard,"  for  even  during  our  few  weeks 
of  winter  the  sun  always  finds  its  way  to  this  corner 
and  makes  it  warm  and  cosy.  Mohammetl  cer- 
tainly looked 
as  if  he  could 
not  last 
through  the 
day.  How- 
ever, he  was 
put  to  bed  at 
onoe  between 
the  blankets, 
and  simply 
s  u  r  r  o  u  nded 
by  hot-water 
bottles ;  hot 
milk  was 
given  vei-y 
freely,  and  a 
s  i  t  z  bath 
every  day. 
This  treat- 
ment w  a  s 
contin  u  e  d 
tor  three 
weeks,  the 
child  not 
being  allowed     ^- 

to  leave  his  bed  at  all  excepting  for  the  bath, 
which  was  given  daily  at  the  side  of  his 
bed,  and  for  this  he  was  lifted  in  and  out, 
that  the  heart  might  not  be  unduly  taxed. 
The  child  made  rapid  progress,  and  was  a 
great  pleasure  to  nurse,  for  he  was  always 
cimtented,  and  happy  as  the  proverbial  sand- 
boy. "  Sister,"  he  said  one  day,  "  how  is 
is  I  am  so  much  better  and  yet  so  much 
thinner?"  Lucky  for  him  he  was!  Then,  looking 
very  hard  at  the  bread-basket,  which  was  being 
handed  round  at  dinner-time,  he  added,  "  Xittit- 
khrubsy  ya  habeebty.  "  ("  A  little  bread,  my  be- 
loved one"),  and  as  there  was  scarcely  a  sign  of 
dropsy  now,  Jlohammed's  modest  request  was 
granted.  Soon  after  this  he  was  put  on  light  diet, 
and  long  before  he  left  us  he  looked  as  well  as  you  see 
him  seatetl  in  the  hospital  garden.  And  what  of 
Zarecfy,  the  little  girl  sitting  lieside  Mohamme<l? 


.\-.  1  lold  you.  she  was  admitted  the  same  day. 
Her's  was  a  case  of  ophtlialmia.  We  oould 
not  see  Jier  eyes,  as  the  lids  were  halt  an  inch 
thick,  and  very  purulent,  but  she  appeared  a  very 
pretty  little  ix)rson,  with  a  lair  complexion  and 
curly,  bi-own  hair.  .She  was  led  into  the  ward  by 
her  mother,  and  although  in  great  pain,  said,  in 
a  cheery  voice:  "  Hath-el-beit  minshane  el-aiyair- 
neen,  mushake  ya  immy?  Acoon  ahsan  hou©." 
(This  is  the  house  for  the  sick,  isn't  it,  niotheri'  I 
shall  get  well  here.)  llio  usual  treatment  was 
given,  the  lids  everte<l,  and  i>aiuted  eveiy  morning 
witKsol.  arg.  nit.  grs  xv.,  and  the  eyes  bathed  about 
every  half-hour  during  the  day.  When  the  in- 
flammation subsided  the  lids  were  rubbed  with  sul- 
phate of  copper  (blue-stone  pencil)  and  then  bathed 
with  salt  water  to  take  away  the  stinging,  prick- 
ing sensation  which  sulphate  of  copper  temporarily 
causes.  This  use<l  daily  soon  file<l  down  tlie  granu- 
lations. Apropos  of  blue-stone  pencils  I  should  like 
to  add  that  by  far  and  away  the  very  best  I  have 
ever  procured  were  those  in  a  French  pharmacie  in 
Beyrout,   at  the  modest  sum  of  two  piasters  each, 

equal   to   5d. 

English 

money.  They 
■were  so 
neatly 
ar r a  n  god 
in  their 
wooden  cases, 
and  the 
stones 
smoothed 
and  x>olished 
as  if  of  sa])- 
phire ;  these 
give  much 
less  pain 
than  t  Ji  e 
ix)Ugh  blue- 
stone  stacks 
I  have 
l)Ought  in 
England  or 
in  Germany. 
When 
Z  a  r  e  ©  t  y's 
eyes  were  quite  well  she  was  allowed  to  play 
with  Mohamme<l,  and  they  became  great 
friends.  All  the  other  patients  christened  them 
'■  al-arix)nce  wa-l-arreece "  (tlie  bride  and  bride- 
groom), which  pleased  them  vastly,  and  one 
day  I  caught  Za reefy  looking  in  the  glass  which 
herself:  "  Sahieh !  anna  arronce,  '  wa  *zareefy, 
hangs  in  the  bathroom  and  heard  her  murmur  to 
herself,  "Sahieh!  anna  arronce,  wa  zareefy,* 
mithal  ismy  "  (It  is  true,  I  am  a  bride,  and  pretty, 
like  mv  name).  This  with  an  air  of  great  satisfac- 
tion. Both  the  children  were  in  perfect  health 
now  and  the  time  was  drawing  near  when  they 
would  have  to  bid  us  •■good-bye,"'  and  we  felt  we 
must  have  a  souvenir  of  this  dear  little  couple;  so 
one  sunny  morning  they  jsere  taken  down  to  the 
hospital  garden  and  Avere  {Thotographed  as  you  see 
them  in  the  picture  sitting  on  the  steps  surrounded 
*  Zareefy  =  pretty. 


MOHAMMED   AND   ZAREEFY. 


520 


Zbc  3Briti0b  3ournal  or  iHursmg, 


[Dec.  24,  1910 


bj  their  toys;  Zareefy  with  a  sprig  of  scarlet  gera- 
nium in  her  hair  and  a  red  mandille  ou  her  head  : 
Mohammed  with  his  long  necklace  of  coloured  beads 
and  large  pieces  of  alum,  his  dear  little  head 
adorned  by  the  usual  red  tarboosh.  The  Arabs  have 
great  faith  in  alum,  as  some  of  the  poor  in  England 
have  in  camphor.  lu  Syria  it  is  rare  to  meet  any- 
one who  does  not  wear  some  sort  of  amulet.  The 
other  day  I  was  in  the  Sook  (bazaars)  and  met  a 
boy  wearing  a  heart-shaped  Scotch  pebble :  it  was 
attached  to  a  lock  of  his  hair  and  dangled  over  his 
left  eye,  which  was  red  and  looked  inflamed. 

WTien  I  asked  him  why  he  wore  this  charm,  he 
said:  "Lady,  it  is  for  my  eye;  the  sun's  rays  will 
penetrate  through  the  stone  and  draw  the  redness 
from  my  eye.''  He  was  suffering  from  conjuncti- 
vitis, so  I  persuaded  him  to  come  into  hospital  for 
a  week,  and  the  day  he  left  us,  quite  cured,  he 
I^resented  me  wifh  the  Scotch  pebble,  which  I  have 
had  mounted  and  now  wear  instead  of  Ahmed.  Two 
small  silver  frogs  I  also  w  ear :  these  were  given  me 
by  a  tiny  Arab  gu-1,  who  had  worn  them  a  long 
time  from  a  lock  of  her  hair,  dangling  on  her  fore- 
head like  Ahmed's  Scotch  pebble,  to  keep  her  from 
getting  a  sore  throat.  'Well,  we  too  have  our  super- 
stitions. How  many  of  us  "  touch  wood  "  or  sav 
"  unberufen  "  ?  It  is  only  another  form;  wearing 
an  amulet  or  saying  "  Bism-illa  ''  (In  the  name  of 
God)  or  "  Baeed — esskarr  "  (Far  be  the  evil  from 
us)  is,  after  all,  pretty  much  the  same.  In  so  many 
ways  the  East  and  the  'West  meet.  We  think  ot 
Mohammedanism  as  Fatalism  :  a  dozen  times  a  day 
we  hear  the  people  say  about  their  troubles,  their 
sufferings,  or  what  not,  "  Hatha  rain  L'llah  ''  (This  is 
from  God)  or  "  Mithal  ureed  l'llah  ''  (.Just  as  God 
wills). 

I  may  be  wrong,  but  it  seems  to  me  very  beauti- 
ful, this  submission  to  the  Divine  will,  and  I  can 
only  liken  it  to  that  of  Job  when  he  said:  "It  is 
the  Lord,  let  Him  do  what  seemeth  Him  good,"  or 
again.  "  The  Lord  gave  and  the  Lord  hath  taken 
away,  blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord." 

How  the  year  is  flying !  By  the  time  my  letter 
reaches  you  we  shall  be  dressing  an  olive  tree  for 
the  women's  and  children's  C'hri.stmas  treat  and 
singing  Christmas  carols — not  in  English  or  in 
l„Ttin,  but  in  Arabic.  What  matter  the  language  ? 
Think  of  us  beyond  the  sea  on  Christmas  morning. 
We,  too,  shall  be  singing  that  beautiful  hymn. 
"  Venite  adoremus  Dominus." 

God  .speed  the  time  when  in  all  lands  that  song 
shall  rise  from  the  hearts  of  Mbhammedans  as  well 
as  Christians:  "Oh,  come  let  us  adore  Him,  Christ 
the  Lord."  .Sister  Marie. 

Z.nc  Leicester  Icaouc  Journal. 

A  real  lover  of  books  and  journals  must  open  the 
Lrirrsfer  Infinnarii  Nur.tes'  Jjearjur  Journal  with 
<leliglit  :  the  paper  is  so  superfine,  the  matter  and 
lt'tter-|iress  so  excellent.  The  number  just  issued 
(oiitains  a  portrait  of  Mi.ss  Helena  Sherlock,  the 
Hon.  SecM-etnry  of  the  League  from  1903  to  1910, 
now  Matr'on  of  Addenbrooke's  Home  of  Recoverv  at 


®ut5i&c  tbc  (Bates. 


WOMEN. 

Mme.  Thayer,  the  Presi- 
dent ot  the  American 
Circle  of  the  Lyceum 
Club,  and  a  pioneer  of 
the  educational  move- 
ment between  different 
countries,  prtvsided  last 
week  at  a  luncheon  given 
by  the  Circle  at  the 
Club.  12^,  Pi.  >  .idill> ,  W  ,  to"  the  Rhodes  scholars,  of 
whom  sistfeu  weie  jjiesent.  besides  Sir  John 
and  Lady  Cockbuin.  Lady  Beachcroft,  and  Mr. 
A.  W.  Cree^.  the  Hon.  Secretary  of  the  .-isso- 
ciation  for  the  Interchange  of  Students.  The  toast 
of  the  evening,  proposed  by  the  President,  was 
"  The  American  Rhodes  Scholars,"  and  Mr.  A.  H. 
Worthen,  of  Xew  Hampshire;  Mr.  F.  E.  Holman, 
of  Utah,  and  Miss  Points,  the  first  "  Rhodes 
Sister,"  sent  over  by  the  American  Federation  of 
Women's  Clubs,  who  is  receiving  her  education  at 
the  University  of  London,  responded.  Miss  Points, 
in  giving  her  impressions  of  London  life,  said  it 
would  be  a  great  advantage  to  American  students 
if  they  could  see.  more  of  social  conditions  than 
was   possible   l>y   residence   at    a    University. 


The  sphere  of  activity  of  the  Dublin  Branch  of 
the  '^"omen's  Xational  Health  Association  is  now 
so  wide  that  the  various  departments  of  work  are 
to  have  their  own  separate  reports.  Dealing  with 
the  work  of  the  Tuberculosis  Committee  at  the 
annual  meetinc:  at  which  the  Countess  of  Aberdeen, 
presided,  held  in  Dublin  last  week.  Sir  William 
Thompson  stated  that  in  the  last  nine  months  3.50 
patients  had  lu'en  attended,  and  of  the.se  one  third 
lived  with  their  families  in  sinale  rooms. 


The  Central  Administrative  Committee  of  the 
five  French  Academies  are  unable  to  agree  as  to 
desirability  or  otherw  ise  of  admitting  women  to 
the  Institute  of  France,  and  the  matter  has  been 
remitted  to  the  various  Associations  and  will  be 
discussed  further  at  the  united  sitting  of  all 
the  Academies  early  in  the  Xew  Year.  The  ques- 
tion has  arisen  in  connection  with  the  candidature 
of  Mme.  Curie  for  admission  to  the  Academv  of 
Science,  than  whom  France  has  no  more  brilliant 
son  or  daughter. 


The  death  of  Mrs.  .Sorabji,  widow  of  the  Rev. 
Sorabji  Khar-sedji,  at  Xasik.  Bombay  Presidency,  in 
her  76th  y<Nir,  removes  a  notable  personality 
amongst  Indian  women  who  was  devoted  both  to 
the  country  of  her  birth  and  to  the  mother  country. 
Xo  one.  of  n  hat<»ver  race,  in  India  was  outside  her 
.sympathy.  .She  loved  all,  she  failed  none,  and  tor 
the  first  time  drew  together  under  hor  roof  ,n  n 
common  friendship.  Euiy)p*\ans.  Pai-sei«,  Hindus, 
Mohammedans,  and  Jews.  She  also  rendered  gricit 
K<<rvico  to  tlio  oaiist^  of  (xiucatiou.  Her  daughter. 
Mi.se  Coniolia  Sorabji.  is  legal  adviser  to  the  Court 
of  'Wards  in  Bengal  and  Eastern  Bengal,  and  is  very 
well  known  to  n  large  circle  of  friends  in  England. 


Dec.  24. 1910]        ^]jq  IbvitiQh  Soumal  of  IRurslng. 


521 


"Book  of  the  llllcel^. 

A  LARGE  ROOM*  I 

Mrs.  Dudenev  has  added  another  remarkable 
liook  to  her  long  string  of  original  writing,  and  in 
the  character  of  Amaza  wefiud  ourselres  interested 
and  absorbed  through  a  volume  of  considerable 
length.  She  never  once  disappears  out  of  its  pages, 
and  herself  sustains  the  interest  in  herself  until  the 
end.  Throughout  her  lonely  childhood,  girlhood, 
and  wifehood  she  paid  the  penalties  of  the  imagina- 
tive. 

■'I  was  only -looking,''  she  whispered,  as  the 

wet  leaves  and  little  sticks  were  savagely  shaken 
from  her  black  frock. 

■■  Well,  now  you  walk  nicely  round  the  gardens 
with  Master  Sebastian,  and  then  we'll  get  home 
to  tea,  for  this  is  what  I  call  a  regular  raw  day.  ' 

Nurse  had  said  it  was  a  ''  roar-re  "  day  with  a 
ripe  roll  of  the  words  that  Amaza,  being  an  epicure 
in  sights  and  sounds,  decidedly  liked.  She  said  it 
to  herself,  rippling  her  red  tongue  in  her  grave 
mouth,  as  she  and  Sebastian  went  off  according  to 
directions.  Her  tongue  repeatedly  und  silently  said 
"  roar-re,"  her  eyes  were  fathoming  the  intricacies 
of  each  winter  tree  high  up,  and  dwelling  on  the 
wine-tinted  patterns  of  sodden  leaves  low  down. 

And  this  extract  gives  a  very  clever  insight  into 
her  character. 

She  thought  that  the  men  servants  she  saw  look- 
ing blankly  over  the  tops  of  dining-room  blinds  were 
exactly  like  Turvey,  the  butler  at  home. 

••  Evidently  some  little  babies  were  born  marked 
■  Butler.'  " 

At  eighteen  she  is  strikingly  beautiful,  odd,  and 
totally  ignorant  of  life.  A  sad  picture  is  pre- 
sented to  us  of  her  at  Christmas,  left  alone  in  the 
handsome  house  in  Russell  Square. 

"  Never  had  she  been  able  to  bear  loneliness  alone. 
After  dinner  on  Christmas  night  she  put  a  long 
cloak  over  her  trailing  frock  and  sneaked  out  of 
her  house.  The  servants  were  singing.  What 
would  thev  all  say  if  she  ran  down  the  kitchen 
stairs,  broke  the  ring  round  the  fire,  made  of  her- 
self tiie  extra  link?  That  would  be  a  loneliness 
even  more  alone  than  this.  .  .  .  She  walked 
like  a  hunted  thing,  listening  to  the  noise  of  feet, 
of  musnc.  of  voices,  that  came  from  every  house. 
.  .  Amaza  bent  to  see  the  shining  stars  in  the 
puddles.     She  remained  huddled  up,  half  happy. 

"  Some  one  said  presently,  and  it  was  a  very  nice 
voice,  'Are  you  looking  for  anything?' 

"  '  I  am  always  looking,'  she  said,  very  simply. 

"He  had  never  before  heard  such  a  simple  voice, 
nor  had  he  seen  such  a  striking  girl.     .     .     . 

"  Amaza  through  those  distracting  days  that  fol- 
lowed walked  in  a  web.  It  spun  across  her  eyes, 
it  tangled  her  feet.  She  beat  it  from  her  with 
both  hands.  It  was  a  time  to  tremble  over ;  to  be 
penitent  with,  reminiscent  with,  in  terror  of,  yes, 
and  for  ever.  Not  for  what  was  just  a  vicious  and 
well-bred  man  of  the  world,  just  a  very  young  and 
totally  ignorant  girl,   but  for  what   was  going  to 

he."  "    

~  *  By  Mrs.  Henry  Dudeney.    (William  Heinemann, 
London. 


A  shani  marriage  before  a  sham  Registrar,  a 
■'terrible  realisation,  a  ruined  life,  and  always  the 
r  restless  insistence  of  her  inner  self,  "  It  wasn't  me, 
it  wasn't  me." 

Then  conies  her  marriage,  with  commonplace, 
good-natured  Humphrey;  but  Amaza,  still  persuad- 
ing herself  that  ''  it  wasn't  me,"  keeps  him  in  ignor- 
ance of  the  tragedy  of  her  life. 

Then  the  birth  of  little  .Jim-John,  her  passionate 
delight  and  absorption  in  him,  his  tragic  death,  and 
the  final  shattering  of  Humphrey's  trust  in  her. 
"I  never  wish  to  see  your  face  again,"  he  said, 
staring  at  it.     "  Get  out,  can't  you." 

"She  pinned  on  her  hat  and  slipped  into  her 
coat.  When  she  was  ready  she  looked  all  round 
the  room,  heavy  as  it  was  with  every  memory. 

"She  was  feeling  for  Jim-John,  a  something 
more  passionate  than  kisses,  more  deep  than  tears. 
Nothing  could  heal  her  but  the  touch  and  sound 
of  him,  and  that  would  be  never  more." 

We  are  left  in  uncertainty  as  to  her  fate. 

Mrs.  Dudeney  has  created  in  Amaza  a  character 
at  once  fascinating  and  repellant,  and  though  she 
must  awaken  a  sympathetic  response,  we  must  feel 
that  there  was  a  great  deal  to  be  said  for  her 
husband.  H-  S- 

VERSES. 

It  is  an  old  belief 

That  on  some  solemn  shore, 
Beyond  the  sphere  of  grief, 

Dear  friends  shall  meet  once  more. 
Beyond  the  sphere  of  Time 

And  Sin,  and  Fate's  control. 
Serene  in  changeless  prime 

Of  body  and  of  soul. 
That  creed  I  fain  would  keep. 

This  hope  I'U  not  forego; 
Eternal  be  the  sleep 

Unless  to  waken  so. 

LOCKHAHT. 


COMING     EVENTS. 

December  22nd,  and  29ih. — Nursing  Pageant. 
Members  of  Committee  at  431,  Oxford  Street,  Lon- 
don, W.,  11.30  a.m. — 7  p.m. 

December  2oth. — Christmas  Day  Hospital  Festi- 
vities. 

December  SOth. — East  London  Hospital  for  Chil- 
dren, Shadwell,  E.  Christmas  Entertainment  for 
the  Patients,  3  to  6  p.m. 

December  Slst.— St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital, 
Rochester.    Concert  and  Christmas  Tree,  4.30  p.m. 

January  1st  — New  Year's  Day,  1911: 


WORDS  FOR  THE  WEEK 

"'  The  supernatural  only  means  the  soul  of  the 
natural — absolutfly  no  more  than  that." 

•'  One  of  my  maxims  is  that  there  are  no  such 
things  as  nations:  and  another  that  every  man 
is  worth  shaking  hands  with  for  something  or 
other.'' 

'•Poverty,  Temperance,  and  Simplicity — ^theee 
three :  but  the  greatest  of  tlisse  is  Poverty." 

"Now,  money,  I  say,  is  the  one  cause  of  slavery, 
and    work   the  one  hope  of  salvation." 


522 


Cbc  36rittsb  3ournal  of  IRurslna. 


[Dee.  24,  1910 


Xcttevs  to  the  leoitor. 


^  Whilst  cordially  inviting  com- 
munications upon  all  subjectt 
for  these  columns,  we  wish  it 
to  be  distinctly  understooa 
that  we  do  not  in  ant  wat 
hold  ourselves  responsible  for 
the  opinions  expressed  by  out 
correspondents. 


A    DESERVING  CASE. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 

Dear  Madam, — I  wonder  if  your  readers  can  help 
me  in  the  following  most  deserving  case : — 

Louisa  Jackson,  has  lived  eighteen  years  at 
18,  Bolsover  Street,  where  the  house  is  now  being 
pulled  down.  She  is  single  and  aged  46.  She  was 
in  domestic  service  until  eighteen  years  ago,  when 
her  health  failed.  Now,  totally  crippled  in  all  her 
joints,  she  is  quite  unable  to  support  herself  in  any 
way  whatever,  although  not  bedridden. 

Her  case  is  strongly  recommended  by :  Mrs. 
George  Harley,  Gorelands,  Chalfont  St.  Giles;  Dr. 
EUicott  Brown,  5,  Cavendish  Mansions,  Langham 
Street;  Rev.  Grosse  Hodge,  Trinity  Church,  Maryle- 
bone ;  Dr.  Francis  Goodbody,  6,  Chandos  Street, 
Cavendish  Square ;  Canon  Blagden,  15,  Crawley 
Gardens,   S.W. 

Louisa  Jackson's  sister  is  now  in  service  and  can 
afford  to  pay  a  small  sum  per  week  towards  her 
maintenance,  but  if  she  leaves  her  situation  to 
attend  on  the  invalid  her  own  income  will  cease,  and 
they  will  both  be  in  a  worse  plight  than  ever. 

Can  any  of  your  readers  suggest  a  home  for  this 
case,  temporary  or  otherwise,  or  help  me  to  get  her 
into  the  Home  for  Incurables  at  Putney? 
Yours  faithfully. 

E.  Alec-Tweedie. 

30,  York  Terra<'e,  Harley  Street.  AV. 

[We  hope  some  of  our  readers  may  be  able  to 
help  Mrs.  Alec  Tweedie  in  reference  to  this  very 
deserving  invalid. — Ed.] 


THE  "APOTHEOSIS  OF  THE  EXPLOITER." 

To  the  Kilifur  ,,f  thr  "  British  .T.mrnal  of  ynraing.' 
Dear  Madam, — As  usual,  we  have  to  turn  to  your 
paper  to  know  the  truth.  May  1  ])oint  out  how  the 
Penalising  of  Private  Xur.ses'  Bill,  a-s  we  call  tliis 
fresh  bit  of  L.C.C.  legislation  lor  women,  without 
their  con.si'nt,  affects  the  in.stitutioii  in  which  I 
lodge?  Although  it  is  a  home  for  jirivate  nurses, 
and  not  a  nursing  institution  which  admits 
I)iitients.  doctoiis  often  ring  up  the  trained  matron 
and  a.sk  her  if  she  can  lecommend  a  good  nurse.  In 
the  past  a  number  of  oases  have  thus  been  given  to 
those,  lodging  in  the  home.  And  why  not?  '  To 
doctors  living  near —  bu.sy  men,  who  often  require  a 
nurs«'  at  night — it  ha.s  l)een  a  great  convenience. 
But  this  new  law  prohibits  .such  a  course.  The 
Matron  must  take  out  a  licence,  have  her  nui'ses" 
home  inspi^cted,  and  be  subject  to  all  sorts  of  intei- 
fereiice  by  lay  inspectors  if  she  gives  us.  free  of 
charge,  one  case;  and  yet  a  Home  Ho.spit«l  clos*  at 
hnml   may  send  out  semi-trnined    piobationers    as 


"  trained  nurses"  at  very  high  fees,  so  long  as  the 
proprietor  pays  them  an  infinitesimal  salary.  It  this 
is  not  the  "'  apotheosis  of  the  exploiter  "  I  want  to 
know  what  is? 

Yours  truly, 

Co-op.  Nurse. 


THE  LOWERING  OF  NURSING   STANDARDS 

IN   SUTHERLAND. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  Nursing." 

Madam. — 1  am  glad  to  see  that  you  are  giving 
publicity  to  a  most  retrograde,  unjust,  and  dis- 
creditable move  in  the  Highlands  of  Scotland — the 
doing  away  with  the  post  of  Superintendent  of  the 
Sutherlandshire  Nursing  Association. 

During  my  sojourns  in  that  county  I  have  had 
opportunitie.s  of  judging  of  the  good  as  well  as 
weak  points  of  the  Association.  As  you  state  in 
an  editorial  remark,  the  staff  is  not  fully  trained, 
so  I  shall  call  the  '"nurses"  midwives,  which  they 
really  are — not  "  nurses,"  which  they  really  are 
not. 

The  responsibility  of  a  midwife  or  maternity 
nurse  in  a  county  like  Sutherland  is  great.  Her 
patient  may  be  five  miles  from  the  nearest  neigh- 
bour, and  perhaps  1-5  from  the  nearest  doctor. 
Such  a  case  is  not  imaginary,  it  has  come  under 
my  own  observation. 

In  cases  of  general  illness,  although  possessing  no 
recognised  qualification  to  act  as  ?iM7'se.s  in  such, 
these  midwives  often  do  very  valuable  work ;  they 
are  most  anxious  to  follow  intelligently  the  doctor's 
treatment,  and  with  a  fuUll  tiainrd  Superintendent 
to  whom  they  can  refer  for  information  on  nursin'i 
they  improve  greatly,  and,  as  I  have  said,  do  good 
work. 

There  is  no  part  of  .Scotland  where  a  fully  trained 
nurse  is  more  required  as  Superintendent  than  in 
Sutherland,  and  I  protest  most  strongly  against 
the  movement  which  has  taken  place. 

It  is  very  good  of  you  to  give  space  to  this  far-off 
Highland  subject,  but  I  can  assure  you  it  is  well 
bestowed.  Can  you,  Madam,  suggest  any  means 
which  might  be  employed  to  save  a  useful  institu- 
tion from  its  'friends'' — the  Central  Management 
Committee — or  could  someone  who  knons  the  con- 
ditions of  nursing  and  the  needs  of  the  poor  of 
Sutherland  in  relation  to  nursing  come  forward 
and  give  an  opinion  ? 

I  am.  etc., 
One  Who  Demands  Fair  Pi.av. 


doniincnts  an^  TReiilies. 

Miss  Ellis.  Birminnham. — The  training  school  at 
the  Generjil  Hospital,  Birmingham,  has  a  tii-st-class 
reputation  lioth  as  affording  excellent  piiacticol  ex 
perience  and  for  the  tiTaining  which  is  given  there. 

Mid>rifrr;i  Cnndidntr.  London.— X  list  of  the 
training  schools  in  midwitery.  n>cognise<l  by  the 
Central  Midwives'  Board,  is  publishwl  by  the  Board, 
the  officoN  of  wliich  are  at  Caxtou  House.  West- 
minster. S  W. 

OUR  PUZZLE  PRiZE. 
Rules    for    competing    for    the    Pictorial    Puzzle 
Prize  will  be  foujid  on  Advertisement  page  xii. 


Dec.  24.  una 


Z\K  IBiitisb  3omnal  of  IRiuetiuj  Supplement. 


523 


The    Midwife. 


abc  Central  nOiDwives  36oaiO. 


PENAL  CASES. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  Central  Midwives' 
Board  wiis  hold  at  the  Board  Room,  C'aston  House>, 
Westminster,  on  Tliursday,  December  loth,  for  the 
purpose  of  hearing  the  charges  alleged  against 
twenty-one  women,  with  the  following  results:  — 
Struck  off  the  Uoi.l  and  Certificates  Cancelled 
Sarah  Chapman  (No.  l'J065),  Catherine  Charl- 
ton (No.  irrrO),  Mary  Hannah  Daries  (No.  10277), 
Mary  Jane  Dickenson  (No.  11553),  Esther  Green 
(No"  1589),  Beatrix  Inscoe  (No.  19350),  Emily 
Jones  (No.  5131),  Marian  Phillis  McCormac  (No. 
10230),  Mary  Ann  Miles  (No.  20569),  Elizabeth 
Murray  (No.  1170). 

Severely  Censured  and  Report  to  be  asked  foe 
FROM  Local  Supervising  Authority  in  Three 

Months  Time. 
Sarah  Elizabeth  Brown  (No.  11622),  Ellen  Gentle 
(Xo.  27080,  C.M.B.  examination),  Martha  Howard 
(No.    23578).    Alice    Walters    (No.    819),    Barbara 
Young  (No.  3195). 

Censured. 

Sarah  Bath  (No.   1867). 

Cautioned  and  Report  to  be  asked  for  from  Local 

Supervising  Authority  in  Three   Months 

Time. 

Emma  Gleeson  (No.   19461,  L.O.S.  certificate). 

Sentence  Postponed. 
Mary  Anne  Gilea  (No.   2244) ;   sentence   in  this 
caeie   was   postponed    until    the   next  penal  boaxd 
after  the  expiration  of  three  months. 
Exon-br-^ted. 
Mary  Brown  (No.  17912),  Bridget  Killoran  (No. 
5210),  Sarah  Leonard  (No.  9595). 

In  many  of  the  cases  the  Inspector  of  Midwires, 
in  the  area  concerned,  attended  and  gave  evidence 
on  behalf  of  the  Local  Supervising  Authority. 

The  majority  of  the  cases  were  of  much  the  same 
character  as  usual,  neglect  to  advise  that  medical 
assistance  should  be  sent  for  under  circumstances 
required  by  the  rules,  such  as  inflammation  of  the 
eyes,  abscess  of  the  breast  in  the  infant  (which 
the  midwife,  Sarah  Elizabeth  Brown,  treated  by 
squeezing  it  on  each  visit),  offensive  lochia  and 
high  temperature,  rigor  and  abdominal  pain,  pre- 
mature and  dangerous  feebleness  in  the  infant, 
bronchitis,   ante-partum  haemorrhage,  etc. 

Other  offences  were  failure  to  notify  the  Local 
Supervising  Authority  of  intention  to  practice,  or 
that  the  friends  had  not  been  advised  to  send  for 
medical  assistance,  being  in  the  habit  of  laying 
out  dead  bodies  without  the  permission  of  the 
Local  Supervising  Austhority,  attending  cases  as 
a  midwife  while  in  attendance  as  a  nurse  on  a 
case  of  uterine  cancer,  being  under  the  influence 
of  alcohol  when  delivering  a  patient. 

The  most  interesting  ca^es  were  of  two  midwives 
cited  from  ALinchester,  who,  as  members  of  the 
National    Association    of    Midwives,    were   defended 


by  it,  Mrs.  Lawson,  the  President  of  the  As.iOcia- 
tion  being  present  throughout  the  proceedings. 
Both  midwives  appeared  before  the  Board,  their 
defence  being  conducted  by  Mr.  Randolph,  in- 
structed by  Messrs.  Pritchard  Engletield  and  Co. 

The  first  case  was  that  of  Mrs.  Mary  Brown 
(Manchester  Maternity  Hospital  certificate  >, 
against  whom  the  charge  was  made  that  'on  .June 
1st,  1910,  with  intent  to  evade  supervision  bv  the 
Local  Supervising  Authority,  you  deliberately,  and 
without  reasonable  excu-se,  failed  to  admit  the 
Inspector  of  Midwives  to  your  house,  though  you 
had  seen  her  approaching  and  were  well  aware  that 
she  was  desirous  of  interviewing  you." 

The  charge  was  supported  by  a  statutory  declara- 
tion by  Dr.  Merry  .Smith,  late.  Inspector  of  Midwives 
for  Manchester. 

Mr.  Randolph  said  that  the  whole  declaration, 
with  the  exception  of  one  clause,  was  irrelevant. 

The  defence  was  an  alibi. 

Mr.  Randolph  called  his  client,  who  stated  tliat 
on  June  1st  she  visited  a  friend,  Mi-s.  Mitchell,  and 
went  with  her  to  the  cemetery  to  put  flowers  on 
her  little  son's  grave.  She  left  home  at  ten  o'clock 
and  went  and  stayed  to  tea  with  her  friend  before 
returning  home,  about  six  o'clock.  The  date  was 
fixed  in  her  mind,  although  she  did  not  hear  of  the 
charge  until  November,  because  of  her  visit  to  the 
cem»tery  and  because  on  that  day  the  fees  for  some 
music  lessons  for  her  daughter  were  due,  and  she 
paid  the  account. 

In  reply  to  the  Chairman,  ilr.  Eortram,  wbo  read 
Dr,  Merry  Smith's  declaration,  said  that  the  time 
of  her  visit  was  stated  to  be  11,30  a,m.  Letters 
from  Mrs.  Mitchell  and  others  having  been  read 
confirming  Mrs.  Brown's  statement,  the  Board  de- 
liberated, and  the  Chairman  subsequently  informed 
Mrs.  Brown  that  in  the  opinion  of  the  Board  the 
evidence  did  not  bear  out  the  accusation.  There 
must  have  been  some  mistake,  and  her  certificate 
would  be  returned  to  her. 

The  second  case  was  that  of  Mrs.  Killoran,  who 
also  appeared,  in  connection  with  a  charge  of  negli- 
gence when  in  attendance  as  a  midwife  at  the  con- 
finement of  an  Italian  woman  at  Ancoats,  who  sub- 
sequently died. 

Mr.  Randolph  said  that  his  client  was  trained 
at  St.  Mary**  Hospital,  Manchester,  where  she 
was  afterwards  a  staff  midwife,  selected  by  examina- 
tion, and  had  to  attend  lectures  to  keep  herself  up- 
to-date. 

The  answer  to  the  charge  that,  the  midwife  did 
not  advise  medical  assistance  being  summoned  when 
the  patient  had  a  rigor  was  that  no  such  rigor 
occurred.  The  histoi-y  put  in  rested  on  the  evidence 
of  an  Italian  woman  friend  of  the  deceased, 
through   an    interpreter,   to   the   ipedical    man. 

The  case  had  been  one  of  twins,  and  after  the 
birth  of  the  first  child  the  midwife  summoned  the 
nearest  medical  man.  Dr.  Williams,  and  the  second 
child,  which  lived  abouT'a  quarter  of  an  hour,  was 


524        ^be  Britisb  3ournal  ct  iHuvsing  Supplement,  nvc  24, 1910 


just  breathing  when  he  arrired.  He  saw  the 
placenta,  hut  did  not  examine  it  minutely. 

When  the  patient's  temperature  rose  to  100  degs. 
she  advised  medical  assistance  being  summoned,  and 
sent  for  Dr.  Young  at  the  request  of  the  relatives. 
The  doctor  curetted  and  removed  a  small  amount 
of  placenta.  Mrs.  Killoran  explained  to  the  Board 
her  method  of  examining  the  placenta,  which  was 
apparently  intact.     The  patient  died  of  pneumonia. 

The  Board  having  deliberated,  the  Chairman  in- 
formed Mrs.  Killoran  that  the  Board  considered  the 
charges  were  not  proved,  and  he  concurred.  The 
Board  authorised  him  to  say  that  they  regretted 
she  had  been  troubled  to  appear  before  them. 

The  other  midwife  exonerated  was  Mrs.  Leonard, 
and  the  Board,  having  heard  the  charges  alleged 
against  her,  stated  that  in  their  opinion  there  was 
no  case  against  her,  and  they  were  sorry  it  had 
been  brought  up  without  a  more  thorough  investi- 
gation locally. 

A  noticeable  feature  in  the  proceedings  was  the 
age  of  some  of  the  midwives  concerned,  one  being 
70  and  another  73. '  There  is  no  work  harder  or 
more  exacting  than  that  of  a  midwife,  and  mid- 
wifery is  certainly  not  a  suitable  occupation  for  a 
woman  over  65  years  of  age,  to  put  an  outside 
limit.  We  heard  of  one  midwife  who  goes  round 
to  her  cases  in  a  bath-chair,  her  comment  being 
"  It's  sometimes  a  bit  awkward  at  night." 

EXAMINATION   PAPER. 
The  following  is  the  examination  paper  set  by  the 
Central    Midwives    Board   at   the   examination   held 
at  the   Examination   Hall,    Victoria   Embankment, 
W.C.,   December   16th,   1910:— 

1.  Describe  the  full  time  foetal  head  and  give  its 
measurements. 

2.  A  woman  is  woke  in  the  middle  of  the  night 
in  the  eighth  month  of  her  pregnancy  by  consider- 
able bleeding  from  the  vagina.  What  would  you 
suspect,  how  would  you  endeavour  to  ascertain  the 
cause,  and  how  would  you  treat  the  case  ? 

3.  Describe  the  treatment  that  you  would  adopt 
in  the  conduct  of  an  uncomplicated  breech  pre- 
sentation. 

4.  A  «oman  on  the  third  dny  of  her  lying-in  has  a 
temperature  of  101  degs.,  a  pulse  of  112,  and  an 
offensive  di.scharge.  What  may  be  the  causes  of 
this  condition,  and  how  may  they  be  avoided? 

5.  What  is  meconium,  and  what  would  you  think 
if  you  found  it  on  the  examining  finger  ? 

6.  On  what  occasions,  according  to  the  Rules  of 
the  Central  Midwives  Board,  must  a  niidwifo  make 
use  of  an  antiseptic  solution? 


THE  NEXT  EXAMINATION. 
The  next  examination  of  the  f'putral  Midwives' 
Board  will  be  lield  in  London  and  the  Provinces  on 
February  14th.  In  London,  at  the  Examination 
Hall,  Victoria  Embankment,  W.C.  In  Birmingham, 
Hri.stol,  lieeds,  at  the  University ;  in  Manchester, 
at  the  Victoria  University;  in  Newcastle-on-Tyne, 
at  the  University  of  Durham  College  of  Medicine. 
The  oral  examination  follows  a  few  days  later  in 
each  case. 


THE  ANNUAL   REPORT. 

The  Report  oi  the  Central  Midwives  Board 
states  that  a  large  peicentage  of  the  trained 
women  obtained  their  certificate  without  any 
intention  of  ever  practising,  many  others  have 
ceased  to.  do  so,  and  a  considerable  num- 
l)er  practise  in  the  colonies  or  in  foreign  coun- 
tries. There  can  be  no  doubt  that  at  the  present 
time  the  untrained  practising  midwives  are 
largely  in  excess  of  the  trained. 

Two  thousand  'ix  hundred  and  eighty-three  can- 
didates entered  for  the  examinations,  and  of  these 
2,239  passed,  the  percentage  of  failures  being  17.3 
as  against  19.2  for  the  previous  year.  1,272,  or 
57.3  per  cent.,  of  the  successful  candidates  de- 
clared their  intention  of  practising  as  midwives, 
and  of  this  number  758,  or  60  per  cent.,  intended 
to  practise  in  rural  districts.  This  latter  class  con- 
stituted a  percentage  of  34.2  of  the  total  number 
of  successful  candidates. 

Leeds  has  been  made  an  examination  centre,  and 
the  written  part  of  the  examination  is  held  at 
Plymouth  and  Cardiff  as  well  as  at  the  regular 
centres.  This  has  been  found  a  great  convenience 
to  candidates  from  Cornwall,  Devon,  and  South 
Wales. 

The  numl>er  of  cases  of  ophthalmia  neonatorum 
coming  to  the  notice  of  the  Board  in  the  course  of 
its  penal  administration  has  made  it  apparent  that 
strong  efforts  should  be  made  to  combat  the  ig- 
norance and  carelessness  which  so  frequently  lead 
to  the  total  destruction  of  the  infant's  eyesight. 

The  rules  have  accordingly  been  strengthened  by 
substituting  "must"  for  "should"  in  the  rule 
dealing  with  the  cleansing  of  the  child's  eyelids, 
and  by  placing  on  the  midwife  the  obligation  of 
advising  medical  help  in  case  of  a  purulent  dis- 
charge in  a  woman  who  is  pregnant  or  in  labour. 


A  NEW  DAY  NURSERY  FOR  PAISLEY. 

At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  the 
Paisley  Day  Nursery  the  Dowager  Lady  Smiley 
expres.sed  her  desire  to  have  the  privilege  of  build- 
ing and  equipping  a  new  Day  Xui'sery  free  of  charge, 
in  memory  of  her  late  husband.  Sir  Hugh  H. 
Smiley,  who  was  the  originator  of  the  Nursery  and 
took  a  great  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  children. 
She  hoped  the  Committee  would  at  the  same  time 
see  their  way  to   raising  an   endowment  fund. 


MIDWIFERY  IN  THE  DOMINION  OF  NEW 
ZEALAND. 
The  Inspector-General  of  Ho.spitals  and  Charit- 
able Institutions  reports  that  the  names  of  1,028 
midwives  are  on  the  register,  viz.,  trained  283, 
and  iintrained  74.").  Last  year  74  trained  midwives 
were  registered.  There  are  nine  training  schools 
for  midwives  in  the  Dominion,  and  there  were  883 
liatients  treiite<l  in  the  St.  Helens  hospitals  last 
year.  There  were  4  deaths,  829  babies  were  born 
alive,  13  babies  were  stillborn,  4  babies  dietl.  There 
were  3.53  mothers  treated  by  St.  Helen's  Nurses  as 
out-patients.  Each  baby  born  in  the  St.  Helen's 
hospitals  costs  the  country .  about  £2. 


No.  1,187. 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 

iME.  mamsmG  mecomb 

EDITED  BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 

SATURDAY,     DECEMBER      31,      1910. 


IWursino  in  lOlO. 

The  year  just  closing  is  one  across  which  the 
shadow  of  death  Ues  heavily,  and  we  have  had 
to  record  with  sorrow  the  passing  of  great 
leaders  in  our  profession,  both  at  home  and 
abroad ;  it  is  also  one  in  which  events  of  great 
importance  to  the  nursing  profession  have 
taken  place. 
The  X.\tiox.\l  Couxcil  of  Trained  Nurses. 

The  National  Council  of  Trained  Nurses  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland  is  slowly  and  surely 
becoming  consolidated,  and  now  includes  16 
self-governing  societies  of  nurses,  with  a  com- 
bined membership  of  nearly  6,000.  During 
the  year  two  new  Leagues  have  been  aiBliated 
with  it,  viz.,  the  Cleveland  Street  Branch  and 
the  Hendon  Branch  of  the  Central  London 
Sick  Asylum  Nurses'  League.  One  of  the  most 
important  pieces  of  work  undertaken  by  the 
Council  has  been  the  formation  of  an  Inter- 
national Nursing  Library,  through  which  it  is 
hoped  to  provide  a  record  of  the  evolution  of 
trained  nursing  in  the  various  countries  for 
future  generations  of  nurses. 

.\t  its  annual  meeting  in  November  the 
■Council  gave  its  hearty  approval  to  the  Reunion 
and  Nursing  ^Masque  to  be  held  in  London  in 
February  nest  in  support  of  the  Nurses'  Eegis- 
tration  Bill,  and  the  delegates  of  the  con- 
stituent Societies  present  agreed,  on  their  be- 
half, to  do'  all  in  their  power  to  make  the 
scheme  a  success,  and  the  Reunion  will  be 
held  under  its  authority. 

In  the  National  Council  the  nurses  of  the 
United  Ivingdom  possess  a  Society  in  which 
they  can  take  counsel  together,  which,  through 
its  Standing  Committees,  concentrate  and  can 
pass  on  expert  information  concerning  the 
various  branches  of  nursing,  and  through 
which  they  can  enter  into  professional  rela- 
tions with  the  organised  nurses  of  other 
countries  by  affiliation  with  the  International 
Council  of  Nurses. 

The  Interx.\tiox.\l  Council  of  Nurses. 

The  work  of  the  International  Council  of 
Nurses  is  steadily  increasing,  and  already 
there    is    a    likelihood    of    several    new    Na- 


tional Councils — Sweden,  New  Zealand, 
Japan,  Cuba,  and  India — applying  for  admis- 
sion to  membership  at  Cologne  in  1912,  thus 
the  Xursing  Jmirnal  of  India  states:  "  One  of 
the  fii-st  duties  of  our  Trained  Nurses'  Associa- 
tion will  be  to  seek  admission  to  the  Inter- 
national Council  of  Nurses." 
The  M.vrRoxs'  Council  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland. 

The  Matrons'  Council  has  sustained  an  irre- 
parable loss  in  the  death  of  its  President  and 
Founder,  the  late  Miss  Isla  Stewart,  who  con- 
sistently used  her  great  influence  and  talents 
in  support  of  freedom  of  co-operation  among 
^Matrons  and  nurees. 

The  new  President,  Miss  M.  Heather-Bigg, 
Matron  of  Charing  Cross  Hospital,  whose  elec- 
tion was  unanimous,  was  one  of  the  earliest 
members  of  the  Council,  and  it  could  not  have 
made  a  happier  selection. 

At  the  instance  of  Miss  MoUett,  Hon.  Secre- 
tary, a  new  departure  was  made  by  holding 
the  summer  meeting  of  the  Council  in  the 
provinces.  At  the  invitation  of  INIissMueson.  the 
Council  met  in  July  at  the  General  Hospi- 
tal, Birmingham,  where  the  members  had  the 
pleasure  of  meeting  many  of  their  colleagues 
in  the  Midland  Counties.  The  following 
papers  of  practical  interest  have  been  pre- 
sented to  the  Council  during  the  year: — "  Hos- 
pital Kitchens,"  Miss  E.  M.  Musson;  "Hos- 
pital Laundries,"  Miss  Helen  Todd;  and  "  The 
Supply  of  Probationers,"  by  Miss  Mollett. 

It  has  been  decided  that  the  Council  shall 
hold  meetings  in  the  provinces  during  each 
summer. 

Professional  Associations  of  Nurses. 

In  other  directions  there  is  evidence  of  the 
desire  for  co-operation.  The  Poor  Law  In- 
firmary Matrons  have  their  own  Association 
and  hold  regular  meetings,  and-  the  Fever 
Nurses'  Association,  combining  Matrons, 
nurses,  and  medical  practitioners,  is  organising 
the  nurses  trained  in  infectious  hospitals. 
The  Superintendents  working  in  connection 
with  Queen  Victoria's  -Jubilee  Institute  hav.> 
also  professional  Associations  in  which  they 
take  counsel  together.  _ 


526 


Zbc  Brltigb  Journal  of  IWurslng. 


[Dec.  31,  1910 


Nursing  in   the  Government    Services. 

Nothing  could  demonstrate  more  clearly  the 
value  of  the  work  of  trained  nurses  to  the 
Empire  than  the  fact  that  they  are  employed 
in  connection  with  a  number  of  Government 
Departments  and  are,  indeed,  indispensable 
to  theLr  efficiency.  Nurses  now  work  in  con- 
nection with  the  Admiralty,  the  War  Office, 
the  India  Office,  the  Home  Office,  the  Foreign 
Office,  the  Colonial  Office,  and  the  Local 
Government  Board  Office,  all  of  which  have 
definitely  established  nursing  departments  of 
their  own,  or  engage  the  services  of  nurses; 
in  the  case  of  the  Colonial  Office,  through  a 
voluntary  agency,  the  Colonial  Nursing  Asso- 
ciation. 

The  W.\r  Office. 

The  War  Office  is  still  the  only  Govern- 
ment Office  the  nursing  department  of  which 
has  a  Matron-iij-Chief  as  its  executive  officer, 
and  the  extraordinary  increase  in  the  efficiency 
and  i^opularity  of  the  Seiwice  since  this  step 
was  taken  amply  demonstrates  the  wisdom 
and  necessity  for  the  supervision  of  the  mem- 
bers of  a  skilled  profession,  such  as  nursing, 
by  an  experienced  member  of  that  profession. 

The  Nursing  Board  at  the  War  Office  is 
further  distinguished  as  the  only  body  in  this 
country  which  has  instituted  a  course  of  in- 
struction and  practical  examination  for  Sisters 
before  they  are  eligible  for  promotion  as 
^Matrons  in  the  Service.  How  necessary  such 
a  test  is  events  during  the  past  year  in  con- 
nection with  a  civil  hospital,  to  which  we  shall 
refer  in  due  course,  have  shown. 

Miss  Hamilton,  ^Matron  of  St.  Thomas's 
Hospital,  has  been  appointed  a  member  of  the 
Nursing  Board. 

The  Army  Nursing  Service  Reserve. 

The  members  of  Queen  Alexandra's  Imjjerial 
Military  Nursing  Service  Reserve  are  organised 
to  supplement  the  regular  Service  in  the  event 
of  war,  either  at  home  or  abroad.  They  -n^ork 
like  that  Service  under  the  direction  of  the 
]\Iatron-in-Ghief. 

The  Territori.\l  Force  Nursing  Service. 

The  War  Office  has  also  demonstrated  its 
wisdom  by  the  establishment  on  a  voluntai-y 
basis  of  the  Territorial  Force  Nursing  Semce, 
which  owes  much  of  its  success  to  the  energy 
of  Miss  E.  S.  Haldane,  LL.D.  The  re- 
sponse of  the  nurses  to  the  invitation  to 
volunteer  for  this  Sci-vice  has  resulted  in  the 
enrolment  of  a  most  efficient  and  patriotic 
nursing  staff  for  the  23  general  hospitals  pro- 
vided for  in  the  event  of  invasion,  who  could 
be  mobilised   immediately  if  necessity  arose. 

Early  in  the  year  the  nurses  of  the  Territorial 
Service  in  the  Citv  and  Countv  of  London  were 


gratified  by  a  summons  to  Buckingham  Palaci- 
to  receive  their  badges  from  Queen  Alexandra. 

A  new  office  has  been  created  at  the  War 
Office,   that  of  Matron-in-Chief  of  the  Terri- 
torial  Force    Nursing    Service,  to  which  2kli*& 
Sidney  Browne,  E.R.C.,   has  been  appointed. 
The  Local  Government  Bo.\rd. 

No  less  than  7,000  nurses  work  under  the 
Local  Government  Board  in  England  and 
Wales  at  the  present  time,  and  in  London  alone 
there  are  more  beds  in  the  Poor  Law  infirmaries 
than  in  all  the  general  hospitals  south  of  llic 
Tweed.  The  Local  Government  Board  has 
not  yet  emulated  the  War  Office  by  creating 
a  definite  nursing  department,  with  a  Matron- 
iu-Chief  at  its  head,  but  a  most  important 
step  forward  was  taken  by  the  President,  the 
Eight  Hon.  -John  Burns,  M.P.,  early  in  the 
present  year  in  appointing  Miss  Ina  Stansfeld, 
Assistant  General  Inspector  in  the  !Metro- 
politan  District,  as  Chief  Woman  Inspcctoi- 
and  creating  three  new  posts  for  inspectors 
to  which  a  fourth  was  subsequently  added,  to 
which  he  appointed  experienced  nurses,  viz., 
Mrs.  Lancelot  Andrews,  Gold  iledal'list  of  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital,  who  had  also  had 
experience  as  Lady  Inspector  of  boarded-out 
children,  Aliss  Helen  Todd,  also  trained  at  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital,  ^latron  of  the 
Wandsworth  Infinnary,  Miss  Margaret  Lea, 
trained  at  the  London  Hospital,  and  an  Inspec- 
tor under  Queen  Victoria's  -Jubilee  Institute, 
and  later  Miss  E.  M.  Jones,  Lady  Superinten- 
dent of  the  Royal  InfirmaiT,",  Liverpool,  as  In- 
spector for  Wales.  All  of  these  ladies  are  of  •• 
high  standing  in  the  nursing  world. 

The  duties  of  the  new  officers  include  tlie 
inspection  of  the  maternity  wards,  nurseries, 
infirmaries,  and  nursing  arrangements  in 
Poor  Law  Institutions,  and  the  wisdom  of  Mr. 
John  Burns,  in  appointing  trained  nurses  to 
these  positions,  is  already  amply  justified.  A 
further  instance  of  Mr.  Bums'  care  for  the  effi- 
ciency of  his  department  is  to  be  found  in  the 
opening  of  the  Park  Hospital,  Hither  Green  (in 
addition  to  the  Children's  InfimiaiT,  Carshal- 
ton)  as  a  hospital  to  which  the  sick  and  infirm 
children  of  the  JMetroiJolitan  infinnaries  can 
be  drafted.  It  is  one  of  the  most  humane  and 
hygienic  actions  to  the  credit  of  any  Cabinet 
Minist'Cr,  involving  the  removal  of  the 
children  from  the  mixed  wards  of  Metro- 
politan infirmaries  to  pure  country  air,  in  sur- 
roundings in  which  their  special  needs  can  be 
carefully  considered. 

.\  Sr.vNUARD  for  Poor  Law  Nurses. 
Evidence   that  the  need  is   felt  for  greater 
uniformity  and  system  in  the  training  and  cer- 
tification of  nurses    is    to    be    found    in  the 


Dec.  31,  l'.no] 


Z\K  Kiitlgb  3ournal  of  IRurslug. 


527 


scheme  proposed  and  circulated  by  the  Ful- 
ham  Guardians,  on  the  initiative  of  the  In- 
firmary JMedica!  Superintendents  Society,  in 
regard  to  the  training  and  examination  of  pro- 
btvtionere  in  ^Nletropohtan  Intirmaiies— the  In- 
firmary Matrons'  Association,  by  wiiom  the 
scheme  was  discussed  considered  that  it  should 
apply  to  the  whole  country.  It  is  proposed 
that  before  i-eceiving  their  certificates  proba- 
tioDers  should  be  required  to  pass  an  examina- 
tion conducted  by  a  Board  consisting  of  three 
Medical  Superintendents,  three  inHnnary 
Matrons,  and  four  persons  nominated  by  the 
Local  Government  Board,  two  of  whom  may 
be  women. 

The  Tr.\ising  of  Fever  Nurses. 
The  Metropolitan  Asylums  Board  in  the 
early  part  of  the  year,  after  taking  expert  ad- 
vice from  the  Medical  Superintendents  and 
Matrons  of  the  Board's  Hospitals,  and  after 
conference  with  the  ^Matrons  of  ten  of  the  large 
general  hospitals  of  London,  decided  to  amend 
the  wages  scale  in  respect  of  the  nursing  staff 
in  the  hospitals'  senice,  and  with  the  object 
of  improving  the  standing  and  character  of 
the  Board's  nursing  staff  to  create  the  grade  of 
Sister  in  place  of  that  of  Charge  Nurse,  with 
increased  duties,  responsibilities,  privileges, 
and  pay.  To  create  the  grades  of  Staff 
Nurse  and  probationer,  and  to  abolish  the  posi- 
tions of  permanent  Superintendent  of  Night 
Nurses  (employing  Sisters  in  this  capacit/ 
for  not  more  than  twelve  months  consecu- 
tively) ;  Assistant  Nurse  (Class  I.),  and,  in  the 
acute  fever  hospitals,  that  of  Assistant  Nurse 
(Class  II.).  The  Board  also  adopted  for  use 
in  the  Managers'  Hospit^als  the  schedule  of 
ward  instruction  and  the  syllabus  of  lectures 
drawn  up  by  the  Fever  Nui-ses'  Association, 
and  decided  to  give  a  certificate  of  proficiency 
in  fever  nursing  to  pi'obationei-S  who  had  spent 
two  years  in  the  Managere'  Fever  Service, 
provided  their  work  and  general  conduct  had 
been  satisfactory,  and  they  had  passed  the 
necessary  examination. 

C0I.OXI.\I,   NURSIXG. 

The  Colonial  Nursing  Association  continues 
to  do  good  service  in  providing  trained  nurses 
for  British  Colonies,  and  Dependencies,  and 
3ther  British  Communities  abroad,  both  for 
private  and  hospital  work,  and  the  reports  re- 
ceived by  the  Home  Committee  of  the  work  of 
many  of  these  nurses  show  h<;>w  great  a  boon 
is  coufeiTed  on  Colonies  where  British  resi- 
dents, but  for  the  good  ofiBces  of  the  Associa- 
tion, would  be  without  the  assistance  of 
trained  nui-ses  in  siclcness. 

JMextal  Nursing. 

New  regulations  have  been  drawn  up  by  the 


Medico- Psychological  Association  in  connec- 
tion with  the  examination  for  its  Narsing  Cer- 
tificate, including  a  preliminary  examination, 
the  first  to  be  held  in  May,  1911.  The  new- 
regulations,  which  involve  two  examinations, 
will  not  apply  to  candidates  who  commenced 
their  training  before  November,  1910. 
Priv.\te  Nursing. 
The  private  nursing  world  still  continues  in 
a  condition  of  chaos,  including  on  the  one  hand 
some  of  the  most  highly  trained,  skilful,  and 
trustworthy  nurses  in  the  profession,  on  the 
other  all  sort«  and  conditions  of  women,  whose 
professional  knowledge  and  personal  character 
will  not  bear  investigation,  and  who  are  only 
able  to  puisue  their  profitable  exploitation  of 
the  public  because  so  far  no  standard  of  profes- 
sional education  is  demanded  of  nurses  by  the 
State,  and  no  Governing  Body  has  been  con- 
stituted to  exercise  disciplinary  control  in  the 
ranks  of  trained  nurses.  The  sick  pubHc  are 
thus  at  the  mercy  of  any  specious  woman  who- 
possess&s  sufficient  assurance  to  be  able  to 
impose  upon  them. 

District  Nursing. 

The  most  important  and  iniiuential  associa- 
tion concerned  with  the  nursing  of  the  sick 
poor  in  their  own  homes  in  the  United  King- 
dom is  Queen  Victoria's  Jubilee  Institute  for 
Nurses.  The  nurses  accepted  as  Queen "^ 
nurses  must  now  have  a  three  years'  certifi- 
cate of  training,  besides  special  district  train- 
ing, before  enrolment,  and  a  midwifery  certi- 
ficate is  also  desirable.  But,  in  addition  to 
this  body  of  highly  skilled  workers,  the  Insti- 
tute throws  the  mantle  of  its  protection  in 
England  and  Wales  over  a  large  number  of 
women  (as  a  rule  naidwives,  with  a  short  temi 
of  training  in  general  nursing),  who  rank  as 
Village  Nurses,  an  an-angement  which,  to 
many,  has  always  been  a  subject  of  regret. 

As  the  work  of  the  Institute  grows,  fresh 
openings  for 'the  woi-k  of  the  nurses  constantly 
occur :  thus  in  combatting  tuberculosis  the  ser- 
vices of  Queen's  Nurses  have  been  largely  re- 
quisitioned, while  a  number  are  Inspectors  in 
connection  with  the  [Nlidwives'  Act. 

In  Scotland,  the  work  of  Queen's  Nurses 
is  being  sought  by  the  ^Medical  Officers  of 
Health  in  connection  with  the  inspection  of 
school  children. 

In  Ireland  the  reports  of  the  Inspectors  con- 
tinue to  show  the  special  value  of  the  nurses' 
work  in  improving  the  general  conditions  of. 
healtii  among  the  people. 

School  Nursing. 

The  development  of  the  Medical* Inspection 
of  School  Children  has  caused  a  simult-aneous 
development  in  the  nurnber  of  School  Nurses- 


o28 


Zbc  Britisb  3ournaI  ot  iRursing. 


[Dec.  31,  1910 


employed  both  by  the  London  County  Council 
and  the  Educational  Authorities  connected 
with  other  County  Councils.  It  is  difficult  to 
over-estimate  the  importance  of  the  work  of 
these  nurses  in  the  relief  of  sufiering,  in  in- 
culcating lei?sons  in-  hygiene,  in  securing  rela- 
tive cleanliness,  in  impressing  upon  parents 
their  responsibility  for  the  health  and  cleanli- 
ness of  their  children,  as  well  as  in  relieving 
suffering  in  a  number  of  small  ailments,  and 
in  recognising  and  reporting  at  an  early  stage 
symptoms  of   infectious  disease. 

The  School  Nurse  in  a  special  degree  needs 
tact  in  relation  to  the  parents  with  whom  she 
has  to  deal,  and  a  personality  which  commands 
confidence  and  respect.  She  should  thus  be 
selected  from  nurses  of  the  highest  type,  and 
should  command  a  higher  salai'y  than  that 
which  she  is  usually  paid. 

The  Nurses'  Missionary  League. 

The  Nurses'  Missionary  League  is  doing  good 
service  in  keeping  before  the  nursing  world  the 
high  motives  and  aspirations  which  must 
always  accompany  technical  skill  in  the  pro- 
duction of  the  ideal  nurse,  and  by  uniting  in 
the  League  those  ;svho  desire  to  translate  aspira- 
tions into  practice.  Further,  it  aims  at  secur- 
ing the  co-operation  of  all  nurses,  of  whatever 
scliool  of  thought,  who  hope  to  ofier  themselves 
for  sen-ice  in  the  foreign .  mission  field,  and, 
in  the  autumn,  organises  a  dismissal  meeting 
for  those  of  its  members  who  are  proceeding  to 
the  foreign  field.  Thus  a  bond  of  union  is 
established  between  those  who  have  common 
int-erests,  but  whose  work  lies  in 'far  distant 
directions.  It  is  sometimes  brought  as  a 
reproach  against  nurses  that  there  are  more 
medical  practitioners  at  work  in  the  mission 
field  than  trained  nurses,  but  it  must  be  re- 
membered that  it  is  only  comparatively  of 
recent  years  that  the  Missionai-y  Societies  have 
shown  any  appreciation  of  the  work  of  trained 
nurses,  or  made  it  possible  for  them  to  offer  for 
service  abroad. 

Scotland. 

In  Scotland  we  record  with  pleasure  the  for- 
mation of  the  Scottish  Matrons'  Association, 
with  Miss  A.  W.  Gill,  E.E.C.,  Lady  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Royal  Infinnary,  Edinburgh,  as 
President,  and  Miss  Graham  as  Hon.  Secre- 
tary. 

The  Association  for  the  Promotion  of  the  Ee- 
gistration  of  Nurses  in  Scotland,  and  the  Scot- 
tish Nurses'  Association,  conjoint  societies  of 
medical  men  and  nurses,  are  both  working  for 
educational  improvement  and  State  Eegisti-a-. 
tion.  Until  the  last  two  years  there  was  no 
co-operation  amongst  nurses  in  Scotland  of  any 
kind,  and  the  formation  of  three  societies  in  so 


short  a  time  is  iiroof  that  the  need  for  organi- 
sation is  being  felt  in  Scotland,  and  will  en- 
courage the  nurses  to  take  an  interest  in  the 
questions  affecting  their  profession  as  a  whole. 

Ireland.      • 

In  Ireland  the  Irish  ^Matrons'  Association  and 
Irish  Nuivies'  Association  are  consolidating 
their  forces  and  enlarging  their  borders,  the 
membership  of  the  latter  Association  during 
the  past  year  having  considerably  increased. 

Miss  Haughton,  ^latron  of  Guy's  Hospital, 
and  formerly  Matron  of  Sir  Patrick  Dun's  Hos- 
pital, Dublin,  has  been  appointed  an  Hon. 
Member  of  the  Irish  Matrons'  Association. 

Our  Dominions  Beyond  the  Seas. 

In  hidia. — In  India  good  progress  is  being 
made  in  organisation,  and  the  Superinten- 
dents, and  the  Nurses,  have  both  their  well  or-  . 
ganised  Associations — the  Association  of  Nurs- 
ing Superintendents  of  India,  and  the  Trained 
Nurses'  Association  of  India — working  with 
dutiful  enthusiasm  for  the  organisation  and  up- 
lifting of  their  profession  in  the  great  Indian 
Empire,  and  the  Annual  Conferences  at  which 
subjects  of  professional  interest,  and  problems 
especially  affecting  nursing  in  India,  are  dis- 
cussed, are  of  great  benefit. 

A  most  ini]iortant  step  forward  has  been 
taken  by  the  foundation  of  a  professional  jour- 
nal, The  Nursing  Journal  of  India,  the  first 
nuinber  of  which  appeared  in  Februarv  last, 
ably  edited  by  Mrs.  W.  H.  Klosz. 

An  Association,'  which  is  doing  excellent 
work  in  India,  amongst  the  European  popula- 
tioU;  is  Lady  Minto's  Indian  Nursing  Associa- 
tion. The  Association  maintains  centres  in 
India,  and  Bui-ma,  and  the  services  rend-rcj 
by  the  Nursing  Sistere  to  the  commimity  are 
of  the  utmost  value. 

In  Canada.— ^In  Canada  the  nurees  of  On- 
tario are  activelj-  working  to  obtain  a  Registra- 
tion Act  in  the  near  future,  led  by  the  Provin- 
cial Graduate  Nurses'  Association.  They  are 
maintaining  tlieir  solidarity  through  The  Cana- 
dian Nurse,  which  is  the  official  organ  of  every 
Association  of  nurses  throughout  the  Dominion. 

In  Australasia. — In  New  South  Wales 
and  in  Victoria  the  professional  Associations  of 
nurses,  which  have  effected  a  high  degree  of 
organisation,  both  of  education  and  registra- 
tion, on  a  voluntary  basis,  are  working  for 
legal  registration. 

InNewZcahind. — Tlie  reportsof  thelnspector- 
General  of  Hospitals  and  Charitable  Institu- 
tions in  the  Dominion,  and  of  Miss  ]\LTclean, 
Assistant  Inspector,  prove  that  the  Eegistra- 
tion  Acts  for  both  nurses  and  midwives  are 
having  an  excellent  effect.     Examinations  are 


Deo.  ;n,  1910        ^|;,e  55riti5b  3ournal  ot  HAursino. 


held  pei-iodically,  prior  to  the  granting  of  eerti- 
ficiitfs  under  tlie  Nurses  Registration  Aet, 
and  ft  scheme  of  reciprocal  training  has 
been  defined  which  must  benefit  both  the 
hospitals  and  the  pupils  in  training. 

The  nurses  of  New  Zealand  have  now  their 
own  professional  Association  and  journal, 
Kai-Tiiiki,  and  recently  when  an  eight-hour 
daj-  was  imposed  by  tlie  Hospitals  and  Ciiarit- 
able  Iifftitutions  Act  on  nurees,  the  nurses 
of  the  Dominion  through  their  Association 
protested  successfully  against  the  inclusion  of 
the  registered  nurses  in  such  limitation  of 
their  houre  of  work,  an  instance  of  the  value 
of  a  pi-ofessional  association  through  which 
they  can  take  conjoint  action. 

Abro.\d. 

In  the  United  States  of  America. — In  the 
United  States  there  is  splendid  solidity  in  the 
Nursing  Profession,  through  fhe  National  As- 
sociation of  Superintendents  and  Nurses.  The 
nurses  of  Massachusetts  after  a  hard  and  coura- 
geous struggle  at  length  won  their  legal  status, 
making  the  twenty-fifth  State  in  which  regis- 
tration is  in  force. 

Owing  to  the  generous  endowment  of  the 
Hospital  Economics  Course  at  Teachers'  Col- 
lege, New  York,  by  Mrs.  Helen  Hartley 
Jenkins,  a  reorganisation  <pf  the  Depart- 
ment became  necessary.  Its  title  is  now 
the  Department  of  Nursing  and  Health,  and  it 
includes  four  distinct  divisions  of  work,  viz.  :  — 
(1)  Preparation  for  teaching  and  supen'ision  in 
training  schools  for  nurses.  (2)  For  general 
administration  in  training  schools  and  hospi- 
tals. (3)  For  public  service  as  teacher  nurses, 
visiting  nurses,  and  school  and  home -visiting. 
(4)  A  preparatoiw  department  leading  to  ad- 
mission to  nuree  training  schools. 

In  Germany. — In  Germany,  under  the  able 
guidance  of  Sister  Agnes  Karll,  the  German 
Nurses'  Association  is  working  for  high  profes- 
sional ideals  and  just  economic  conditions.  The 
great  work  upon  which  Sister  Karll  has  been 
engaged  this  year  is  the  translation  into  Ger- 
man of  "  A  Histoi-y  of  Nursing,"  by  ^Miss  Nut- 
ting and  Miss  Dock,  a  task  of  great  magnitude 
and  far-reaching  importance. 

In  France. — In  Paris  Mme.  Jacques  has  re- 
tired from  the  ^Matronship  of  the  Training 
School  of  the  Salpetriere  Hospital  to  take  up 
once  more  the  work  of  midwiferj-.  Her  term 
of  office  has  been  marked  by  the  organisation 
on  educational  lines  of  the  training  of  the 
nurses  in  the  new  school,  for  which  she  has 
done  much. 

In  July  last  the  first  number  of  La  Soi^naHfe, 
the  monthly  journal  of  the  Association  of  the 


certificated  pupils  of  this  Nursing  School,  wuf. 
published.  It  is. an  excellent  paper,  and  beau- 
tifully produced. 

Ill'  Bordeaux  the  inestimable  work  of 
training  probationers  under  the  Florence 
Nightingale  system  .of  nursing  inaugurat.-d 
there  by  Dr.  Anna  Hamilton  is  becoming 
increasingly  far-reaching  in  its  results,  and  the 
pupils  of  the  different  schools  now  in  positions 
of  responsibility  are,  in  their  turn,  passing  on 
the  lessons  they  have  learnt  and  introducing 
the  best  practical  and  theoretical  methods  of 
nursing  in  many  localities,  to  tlie  great  benefit 
of  the  sick. 

The  iiigh  repute  of  the  Bordeaux  standards 
is  being  widely  recognised,  and  the  devot-ed 
work  of  Dr.  Hamilton  and  Miss  Elston  esti- 
mated at  its  true  value. 

In  Italy. — This  year  has  seen  the  fulfilment 
of  many  hopes  by  the  opening  by  the  Queen, 
who  has  given  the  movement  her  strong  per- 
sonal support,  of  the  "  Seuolo  Convitto.  Pie- 
gina  Elena."  at  the  Policlinico  Hospital.  Rome. 
At  the  beginning  of  April  the  sc-liool.  with  Miss 
Dorothy  Snell  as  Matron,  and  trained  Sisters, 
for  the  iiiost  part  EngUsh,  working  under  her. 
took  over  the  nursing  of  a  surgical  pavilion 
of  aliout  80  beds.  Like  the  Bordeaux  schools, 
the  aim  of  the  school  is  to  train  probationers 
on  "Florence  Nightingale  lines.'"  Since  that 
time  the  nursing  of  a  medical  pavilion  has  been 
entrusted  to  it,  which  not  only  increases  the 
facilities  for  training,  but  proves  that  the  work 
of  the  nurses  has  commended  itself  to  the 
authorities  and  the  medical  staff.  The  founda- 
tion of  this  Roman  school  must  be  a  great  hap- 
piness to  Miss  Turton,  who  for  so  many  years 
ploughed  a  lonely  furrow  in  circumstances  of 
great  difficulty. 

In  HoUand. — lu  Holland  the  Dutch  Nurses' 
Association  is  working  steadily  to  arouse  public 
opitiion  in  favour  of  State  Registration  of 
Trained  Nurses,  and  is  still  hoping  for  a  favour- 
able reply  to  the  petitions  addressed  by  it  to 
the  Government  in  1907.  Meanwhile,  the 
Association  has  been  doing  useful  work  in  in- 
stituting a  course  of  training,  of  eight  months' 
duration,' for  certificated  nurses  in  maternity 
nursing,  with  an  examination  at  the  end  of  this 
time.  The  training  is  gratuitous,  the  pupils 
maintaining  themselves. 

In  Belgium. — In  Belgium  we  have  to  record 
the  foundation  of  L'Infirmiere .  the  organ  of  the 
lay  nursing  schools  in  Belgium,  which  includes 
on  its  Editorial  Committee  Mme.  Cavell,  of 
Brussels. 

In  Denmark. — In  Denmark  the  provisions  of 
the  Bill  for  the  State  Registration  of  Nurses 
have  met  with  the  appioval  of  the  Commission 


530 


tbc  Brldsb  3ouinaI  of  IRursing. 


[Dec.  31,  1910 


appointed  to  consider  them.  Among  the  prin- 
ciples Incorporated  are  the  restriction  of  the 
teiTD,  "  registered  sick  nurse,"  and  the  hmita- 
tion  of  State  recognition  to  those  who  have 
obtained  the  State  certificate,  also  that  only 
women  holding  the  State  certificate  may  be  ap- 
pointed to  resjKDnsible  positions  in  institutions 
which  are  training  schools  for  nurses. 

In  Finland. — In  Finland  Regulations  for 
Nurses,  including  a  State  examination,  and 
the  publication  of  a  State  Register,  have  been 
approved  by  the  Medical  Board,  and  have  been 
before  the  Senate.  So  far  the  assent  of  the 
Czar  (of  Russia),  which  is  necessary  before 
these  regulations  can  become  law,  has  not  been 
notified. 

In  Sweden. — In  Sweden  the  Swedish  Nurses 
Association,  with  headquarters  at  Stockholm, 
has  been  formed,  with  Sister  Emmy  Lindhagen 
as  President,  and  a  Governing  Body  consist- 
ing of  nine  nurses. 

In  Spain. — The  hospital  and  training  school 
for  nurses,  estahlished  in  ^Madrid  in  1896,  and 
called  after  its  founder.  Dr.  Eubio,  the  Rubio 
Institute,  has  now,  been  placed  in  charge  of 
Sister  ]\Iarie  Zomak,  a  member  of  the  Gennan 
Nurses'  Association.  It  is  the  first  secular 
school  for  nurses  in  Spain,  and  up  to  the  time 
Sister  Marie  took  up  office  the  nuiises  had  been 
required  to  shave  their  heads  and  wear  pui-ple 
caps  with  yellow  strings,  and  also  to  wear  only 
sandals  on  their  stockingless  feet.  Forty  or 
more  hours'  continuous  duty  every  fourth  or 
fifth  day  was  also  the  rule.  Now  all  this  has 
been  altered,  and  regular  day  and  night  duty 
established. 

In  China. — The  trained  nunses  in  China  have 
foniied  an  Association  which  is  known  as  the 
"  Nurses'  Association  of  China."  The  editors 
of  the  Chijia  Medical  .Journal  have  offered 
space  for  a  iiurses'  department,  and  plans  are 
being  made  for  similar  departments  in  some  of 
the  Chinese  papers. 

In  Japan. — In  -lapan  nursing  is  highly  or- 
ganised through  the  Red  Cross  Society .'^  the 
hospitals  of  which,  in  time  of  peace  are  used 
for  civil  pui-poses.  Each  Red  Cross  nurse  is 
required  to  undergo  thi-ee  yeare  'training,  after 
which  she  is  free  to  imdert'ake  other  work,  but 
is  bound  to  the  Society  for  fifteen  yeaw  should 
her  services  be  required. 

.  Thk  EnucATKix.\L  .Movement. 
The  most  important  event  connected  with 
the  Educational  Movement  has  been  the  fonna- 
tjon  of  the  Central  Committee  for  State  Regis- 
tration of  Nurses  composed  of  delegates  from 
tile  British  Medical  Association,  the  Matrons' 
Council  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  the 
Royal  British  Nurses'  Association,  the  Societv 


for  the  State  Registration  of  Trained  Nurses, 
the  Fever  Nurses'  Association,  the  Associa- 
tion for  Promoting  the  Registration  of  Nurses 
in  Scotland,  the  Scottish  Nurses'  Association, 
and  the  Irish  Nurses'  Association.  This  Com- 
mittee held  its  first  meeting  on  January  25th, 
under  the  joresidency  of  Lord  Ampthill,  and, 
as  a  result  of  the  Conference,  all  united  to 
support  one  Bill  in  the  place  of  the  three 
previously  before  Parliament,  thus  concentrat- 
ing all  the  forces  in  favour  of  State  Registra- 
tion on  its  promotion. 

One  of  the  strongest  proofs  of  the  need  for 
the  organisation  of  nursing  education,  and  for 
the  estabishment  and  maintenance  of  profes- 
sional standards  by  an  expert  authority, 
aualagous  to  the  General  Medical  Council,  was 
afforded  in  connection  with  the  recent  vacancy 
in  the  Matronship  of  St.  Bartholomew's  Hos- 
pital. 

When  applications  for  the  vacant  Matron- 
ship  were  invited  by  advertisement  the  only 
conditions  imposed  were  that  "  candidates 
must  be  certificated  nurses,  and  of  an  age  not 
exceeding  40  j^ears."  Thus  every  young  staff 
nurse  holding  a  certificate  of  an  in- 
definite length  could  apply  for  the  post,  while 
distinguished  pupils  of  the  school  from  amongst 
whom  the  Governors  of  the  hospital  would 
have  secured  a  Matron  who  had  already  given 
evidence  of  her  ability  in  this  capacity,  were 
excluded  by  the  age  limit. 
.  The  Governors  neither  required  that  can- 
didates for  appointment  as  the  head  of  this 
great  educational  establishment  should  be 
gentlewomen,  that  they  should  have  fulfilled 
the  tenii  of  training  required  of  every  nuree 
graduated  from  their  own  school  for  the  past 
30  years,  or  that  they  should  have  given  proof 
of  administrative  ability  by  holding  success- 
fully the  position  of  Matron  of  a  hospital,  or 
Superintendent  of  a  Nurse  Training  School. 

Incredible  as  it  seems,  the  Treasurer  and 
Governors  appointed  to  this  honourable 
position  a  lady  holding  the  inferior  qualifica- 
tion of  a  two  years'  certificate  of  training,  who 
had  never  held  the  {X)sition  of  ^Matron.  When  a 
standard  of  education  for  nurses  and  matrons 
is  legally  defined  such  a  gross  depreciation  of 
professional  standards  by  unprofessional  per- 
sons will  be  rendered  impossible. 
•  .\  second  instance  is  that  to  which  we  have 
referred  in  recent  issues — of  the  deplorable 
effect  of  the  new  General  Powers  Act  of  the 
London  County  Council  in  regard  to  Nurses' 
Employment  Agencies.  The  Act,  as  legally  in- 
terpreted, classes  co-operations  of  highly 
ipialified  private  nurses  with  agencies  for 
variety  stage  purposes,  and  lay-managed 
domestic  agencies,  which  supply  luicertificated 


Dec.  31,  lOlCr 


^bc  UBritisb  Journal  oX  IRurstno. 


-.31 


persons  as  traiued  uurses  Iv  the  public,  thus 
uudermining  the  work  of  such  professional  co- 
operations for  the  protection  of  the  piibhc  from 
semi-trained  persons  posing  as  "  trained."  The 
economic  stabihty  of  professional  co-opera- 
tions is  also  attacked,  as  the  employers  of 
private  nursing  labour  for  profit  arc  not  re- 
quired to  take  out  a  licence  and  submit  to  in- 
spection, and  are  therefore  free  to  sweat  both 
the  nurses  they  "  employ  "  and  misguide  the 
public  thej'  exploit. 

Wixile  the  insecurity  of  their  professional 
position  as  unprotected  women  workers  is  thus 
jiainfuUy  brought  home  to  trained  nurses,  the 
lk>gistratiou  movement  is  gaining  force  all  over 
the  woi-ld,  and,  if  on  the  honourable  giounds  of 
protection  to  the  sick,  and  of  according  to  a 
skilled  profession  that  recognition  which  is 
its  due,  a  Xui-se«'  Registration  Act  is  not 
enacted,  its  necessity  will  be  forced  upon  the 
attention  of  the  Legislature,  as  it  cannot  be 
long  before  the  authorities  in  those  countries 
where  Registration  Laws  are  in  operation  will 
refuse  to  recognise  the  credentials  of  nurses 
trained  in  the  United  Kingdom,  the  value  of 
whose  certificates  is  an  unknown  quantity.  As 
many  nurses  take  up  work  abroad  on  the  com- 
pletion of  their  training  such  a  position  would 
be  most  prejudicial  to  their  professional  and 
national  reputation. 

The  Professional  Press. 
In  striking  contrast  to  the  time  when  this 
Journal  was  the  only  one  edited  by  a  trained 
nurse,  the  monthly  mails  from  abroad  now 
bring  us  a  number  of  Journals  from  all  parts 
of  the  world  which  discuss  nureing  matters 
from  a  professional  standard,  and  at  home 
there  is  a  constantly  increasing  number  of 
Nurses'  League  Journals.  The  production  of 
these  Journals  reflects  great  credit  on  all  cou- 
eemed.  and  indeed  it  is  somewhat  extra- 
ordinary that  a  profession  so  young  as  that  of 
nursing  should  already  have  produced  so  many 
capable  editors.  One  characteristic  which  all 
such  papers  have  in  common  is  that  they  are 
ethically  sound.  Indeed,  it  is  easy  to  see  at 
once  when  a  journal  is  under  the  influence  of  a 
pi'ofessional  mind,  and  the  touch  of  a  profes- 
sional hand,  by  the  quality  of  its  ethics. 
Ix  IIejioriam. 
We  cannot  close  our  short  review  of  the 
Nursing  World  without  reference  to  the 
grievous  los.ses  which  our  profession  has  sus- 
tained by  death  in  the  past  year.  The  names 
of  Florence  Nightingale.  Isla  Stewart,  and 
Isabel  Hampton  Robb  are  names  which  will 
for  ever  be  cherished  by  nui-ses  of  succeeding 
generations.  It  is  notable  that  the  memorials 
raised  to  the  memory  of  both  Miss  Stewart  and 


.Mrs.  Uoi>b  t)y  A.ssocialKju.s  ot  Niu-.-.s  nn-  of  an 
educational  nature.  The  League  of  St.  Bar- 
tholomew's Hospital  Nurses  are  maintaining  " 
scholar  at  Teachers'  College,  t'ulumbia  Univer- 
sity, New  York,  wherf  she  is  taking  the  Nurs- 
ing and  Health  Course,  which  has  for  its  pur- 
pose the  preparation  of  trained  nurses  (who 
have  the  necessary  qualificationsi  for  teachers 
in  training  schools  for  nurses,  and  the  National 
Council  of  Nurses  is  raising  a  Fund  to  provide 
annually  for  an  "Isla  Stewart  Oration." 

The  Nui-ses  of  the  United  States  have  as- 
sumed the  obligation  of  raising  a  fund  of  50,000 
dollars  for  a  memorial  to  Mrs.  Robb  to  estab- 
lish a  fund  for  post-gradiuite  work,  to  be  avail- 
able for  the  use  of  students  either  in  the  course 
of  Nursing  and  Health  at  Teachei-s'  College,  or 
in  any  other  properly  equipped  school. 

The  memorial  to  iNIiss  Florence  Nightingale 
is  to  include  a  statue,  to  be  erected  in  London, 
of  our  great  Lawgiver. 

Good  Wishes. 

As  the  current  issue  of  'the  .Journal  appears 
on  the  last  day  of  the  present  year  it  is  the 
bearer  of  our  good  wishes  to  all- its  friends  near 
and  far,  for  the  year  upon  which  we  are  about 
to  enter.  We  hope  it  may  have  in  its  keeping 
much  happiness,  and  the  fulfilment  of  many 
cherished  desires  for  all  our  reader's. 


2)istnfectants,  tbeir   IRctatlve 
IDalues  anb  tlses. 

(Conclinhd   from  page  508.1 
Sulphur  Disinfection. 

Objections  have  been  raised  against  the  use 
of  sulphur,  principal  among  which  are  the 
bleaching  action  of  the  fumes  upon  vegetable 
colouring  matters;  its  destructive  effect  upon 
certain  fabrics;  its  tarnishing  action  upon  all 
metals;  the  lack  of  penetration  of  the  fumes, 
and  the  danger  of  fire  from  its  use.  As  a  disin- 
fectant and  antiseptic,  its  use  dates  back  to  a 
remote  period  in  the  world's  history,  and,  by- 
reason  of  its  cheapness  and  the  ease  with  which 
it  may  be  used,  it  is  still  popular,  more  espe- 
cially in  the  smaller  centres  of  population.  To 
secure  the  best  results  from  its  use,  and  to 
minimise  the  danger  from  fire,  the  following 
method  is  suggested:  — 

Place  the  sulphur,  in  the  proportion  of  at 
least  three  pounds  for  each  one  thousand  cubic 
feet  of  air  space,  in  a  strong  iron  kettle,  and 
this  in  an  iron  pail,  tub,  dish,' or  pan,  some- 
what larger  than  the  kettle,  and  pour  sufiBcient 
water  iu  the  outer  vessel  to  reach,  say  half  way 
up  the  sides  of  the  kettle.  The  use  of  a  small 
quantity  of  alcohol   poured  over  the  sulphur, 

♦  Repriiitotl  froi^»/,/;c   ffraTfX  iTsTa. 


53-. 


Sbe  Brifisb  Journal  of  IRursnio, 


[Dec.  31,  1910 


or  a  few  live  coals  of  fire  placed  in  the  same, 
will  facilitate  the  ignition  of  the  sulphur.  A 
portion  of  the  water  in  the  outer  vessel  will  be 
vaporised  by  the  heat  from  the  burning  sulphur 
and  accelerate  the  germicidal  action  of  the 
fumes,  and  the  spread  of  fire  from  the  kettle 
to  articles  in  the  room  rendered  practically  im- 
possible. Owing  to  the  fact  that  the  germicidal 
action  of  sulphur  fumes  is  slow,  and  that  this 
action  is  impeded  more  or  less  by  leakage 
through  porous  surfaces,  cracks,  and  other 
openings,  in  large  rooms  it  is  best  to  distribute 
the  sulphur  in  two  or  more  kettles,  so  as  to  fill 
every  part  of  the  room  with  the  fumes  in  equal 
volume  and  in  the  least  possible  time.  "Fabrics 
that  would  be  bleached  or  damaged  by  the  sul- 
phur fumes  should  be  removed  from  the  room 
previous  to  the  fumigation,  after  being  liberally 
sprinkled  with  a  40'per  cent,  solution  of  formal- 
dehyde and  rolled  into  a  tight  bundle.  A  coat- 
ing of  vaseline  upon  metallic  surfaces  that 
could  not  be  washed  with  a  disinfectant  and 
previously  removed  from  the  room,  will  prevent 
discoloration.  The  room  should  remain  closed 
from  six  to  eight  hours,  then  opened  and  ven- 
tilated freely.  Eemove  contents  in  the  outer 
air. 

Preparatiox  of  a  Room  to  be  Disinfected. 

One  or  more  of  the  windows  should  be  left 
imlocked,  so  as  to  open  from  the  outside,  to 
air  the  room  after  fumigation  is  over.  All 
registers,  fireplaces,  cracks,  or  openings  of  any 
kind,  which  would  permit  the  fumes  to  escape 
from  the  room  to  be  disinfected,  should  be 
closed  up  and  tightly  sealed.  Paper  pasted 
over  cracks,  door,  and  window-sills,  would 
answer  to  prevent  the  escape  of  fumes. 
Preparatiox  of  the  Contexts  of  a  Room. 

In  the  disinfection  of  a  room,  it  is  necessary 
not  only  that  the  disinfectant  should  come  in 
contact  with  the  walls,  the  ceiling,  and  the 
furniture,  but  it  should  be  made  to  penetrate 
every  crack,  the  upholstery,  the  mattress,  bed- 
ding, hooks,  the  contents  of  bureau  drawers, 
and  trunks,  etc.  For,  unless  these  be 
thoroughly  disinfect3d  also,  and  the  germs 
killed,  the  disease  may  spread,  causing  further 
sickness  and  death.  All  articles  which  cannot 
hf  boiled  or  injmersed  in  a  disinfecting  solution, 
should  be  spread  out  and  well  exposed  to  the 
action  of  the  disinfecting  fumes.  Stuffed  bed 
coveiis  that  cannot  be  boiled,  mattresses,  silks, 
lieavy  wooUen  clothmg,  furs,  should  be  spread 
fMit,  and  contents  of  bureau  drawers  and  trunks 
should  be  taken  out  and  unfolded,  so  as  to  ex- 
pose as  nnich  surface  as  possible  to  the  action 
^'f  tiie  disinfectant.  The  pOckets  of  garments 
siiould  be  tui-ned  inside  out.  books  should  be 
rested  on  their  open  front  edges:  carpets  sho\ild 


be  fumigated  on  the  floor,  but  may  afterwards 

be  removed  to  be  sunned  and  aired.    Draperies 

should    be  left    hanging    until    disinfection   is 

complete. 

DisiXFECTiox    OF    Clothixg,    Bed    Linen, 

Discharges,  Hands,  Hair,  Etc. 

Disinfection   by  Bichloride  of  Mercury. 

Bichloride  of  ^lercury,  being  a  poison,  should 
be  used  with  great  caution.  The  necessary 
strength  to  be  used  is  1-.500  and  1-1000,  this 
being,  approximately,  two  drams  to  one  gallon 
of  water,  and  one  dram  to  one  gallon,  respec- 
tively. 

Soiled  clothing,  bed  linen,  flannels,  blankets, 
cotton  handkerchiefs,  napkins,  etc.,  should  be 
immersed  in  a  1-1000  or  1-500  solution  by 
])lacing  in  a  wooden  pail  or  tub,  and  covering 
with  the  solution.  Allow  articles  to  remain 
immersed  for  from  one  to  two  hours,  then  re- 
move and  boil  and  wash  in  the  ordinary  way. 

Cups,  glasses,  spoons,  knives  and  forks,  and 
in  fact  all  dishes  used  about  an  infected  person, 
,  should  be  subjected  to  this  fluid  before  being 
washed. 

After  exposure  to  any  contagious  disease,  the 
person  exposed  should  take  an  antiseptic  bath, 
sponging  the  entire  surface  of  the  body  with  a 
1-1000  solution  of  bichloride  of  mercury,  in- 
cluding hair,  and  beard,  if  any. 

After  disinfection  of  a  room  and  contents,  it 
is  well  to  go  over  the  woodwork  with  a  1-500 
solution  of  bichloride  of  mercury,  washing  out 
all  cracks,  openings,  and  crevices. 

The    use    of    mercury     (being    one    of    our 
strongest    mineral   poisons)    as   a    disinfectant 
should  be  with  the  utmost  caution,  and  directed 
by  the  attending  physician  or  health  officer. 
Disinfection  by  Carbolic  Acid. 

Carbolic  acid  is  useful  as  a  disinfectant 
only  in  a  limited  degree,  and  for  specific 
pui-poses. 

For  use  in  the  sick  room,  as  a  wash  for  disin- 
fecting hands,  or  surface  of  body,  a  from  8  to 
5  per  cent,  solution  (4  ounces  or  6i  ounces  of 
carbolic  acid  to  one  gallon  of  water)  should  be 
used.  This  solution  should  be  used  by  nurses 
and  others  for  washing  the  hands  after  handling 
the  infected  patient.  Cuspidors,  slop  bowls, 
and  other  receptacles  for  receiving  discharges, 
should  contain  a  liberal  supply  of  this  solution. 
Discharges  from  the  bowels  should  be  covered 
with  this  solution,  the  vessel  cover  put  on  and 
allowed  to  remain  for  an  hour  before  disposing 
of  the-  same.  Bedding,  soiled  linen,  and  other 
soiled  articles  of  clothing  that  have  come  in 
contact  with  the  patient,  should  be  placed  in  a 
tub  or  pail  containing  this  solution,  and  allowed 
to  remain  immersed  for  two  or  more  hours  be- 
fore going  into  the  wash. 


Dec.  31,  vno 


Zbc  Britisb  Sournal  ot  iHuvsino. 


rj33 


TRcciuicgcat  tu  pace. 

The  Sisters  ot  St.  Baitlioloiiiew's  Hospital 
sent  a  lovely  basket  of  poiusettias,  and  the 
nurses  n  fine  wreath  of  holly  and  white  heather 
tied  with  crimson  ribbon,  to  Moffat  last  week 
to  be  laid  on  the  grave  of  their  late  ilatron, 
Miss  Isla  Stewart,  on  Christmas  Eve.  The 
offerings  were  as  bright  as  possible ;  she  was 
not  one  to  encourage  sadness.  The  lovely  spot 
in  which  all  that  was  mortal  of 'this  deeply- 
loved  woman  now  rest  has  been  during  the 
year  visited  by  several  of  those  to  wliom  slip 
was  so  kind  a  friend  in  life. 


Zbc  iRursinG^nDasque. 

Now  that  the  extra  work  in  connection 
with  "  A  Happy  Christmas  "  for  rich  and  poor 
is  over  we  must  do  all  in  our  power  to  make 
the  Registration  Reunion,  to  take  place  on 
February  18th,  a  great  success,  and  those 
taking  part  in  the  Pageant  cannot  have  their 
costumes  ready  a  day  too  soon. 

At  least  one  rehearsal  will  be  necessary, 
especially  for  the  Immortals,  and  Mrs.  Walter 
Spencer  has  most  kindly  placed  her  spacious 
rooms  at  2,  Portland  Place,  W.,  at  the  dis- 
posal of  the  Committee  for  this  purpose.  We 
hope,  therefore,  all  our  kind  helpers  will  be 
cap  a  pie  by  the  1st  of  Februai-j". 

Those  who  are  unable  to  take  part  in  the 
processions  can  further  the  cause  we  all  have 
eo  much  at  heart  by  selling  tickets,  and  even 
if  duty  keeps  them  away  tickets  can  be  given 
to  influential  friends,  so  as  to  arouse  their 
sympathy  in  the  Registration  movement.  The 
Large  Hall  at  the  Connaught  Rooms,  where 
the  Pageant  will  be  held,  will  be  arranged  with 
a  platform,  on  which  the  Immortals  will  be 
grouped.  A  limited  number  of  chairs  will  be 
provided  for  those  buying  tickets  at  10s.  6d., 
7s.  6d.,  and  os.,  but  as  the  Reunion  will  be 
held  in  the  Large  Hall  after  the  Pageant  has 
passed  to  and  fro,  sufficient  space  must  be  left 
for  circulating  around,  for  conversation,  and 
general  amusement. 

Tickets  are  the  most  important  items  for  the 
present,  and  can  be  procured  from  the 
Secretary,  Nursing  Pageant,  431,  Oxford 
Street,  W.,  by  Matrons,  on  sale  or  return, 
and  at  the  office  of  the  British  Journ.\i. 
OF  Nursing  (first  floor),  11,  Adam  Street, 
Strand,  W.C.,  on  and  after  -Januarv  2nd  next. 


We  hear  that  the  Queen  Victoria's  -Jubilee 
Institute  has  taken  over  the  management  of 
the  Queen's  Nurses'  Magazine,  and  that  an 
Assistant  Editor  has  been  appointed  to  help 
Ladv  Hermione  Blackwood. 


CleausiiiG  Stations. 

"  Sakes  aliv.'  !  eliild,  wherever  have  you 
been'.'  What  have  they  done  to  you?  "  so  sur- 
prised was  an  anxious  mother  one  day  to  see 
her  little  girl  come  in  from  school  looking  so 
rosy  and  bright. 

"  It  was  Nuss  what  done  it,"  replied  the 
little  one;  "  she  took  me  off  to  the  Baths." 

'*  Well,"  at  last  ejaculated  the  JMother,  "  if 
its  a  bath  what  makes  you  look  like  that,  I'll 
just  out  and  buy  one  this  vei*}'  minute ! 

This  pathetic  little  tale,  which  did  actually 
take  place  after  one  of  my  visits  to  a  school  in 
my  district,  shows  too  plainly  how  it  is  chiefly 
ignorance  of  the  right)  way  to  do  things,  not  so 
much  neglect  of  them,  which  is  to  blame. 
Hereafter  mothers  living  within  the  areas  of 
the  cleansing  stations  of  London  will  not  be 
able  to  put  forth  this  plea,  as,  surely,  but 
slowly,  they  are  being  taught  how  "  Preven- 
tion is  better  than  cure."  What  is  a  cleansing 
station  ?  you  ask  !  At  present ,  thej"  are  only 
too  few  and  far  between.  We  are  only  at  the 
beginning  of  this  new  scheme — but  already 
each  station  is  doing  good  work,  and  each  sur- 
rounding neighbourhood  is  beginning  to  "wake 
up  to  the  fact  that  the  children  must  be  clean 
now,  or  wo©  betide  the  luckless  mothers.  The 
ideal  station  consists  of  three  rooms — 
nurse's  room,  a  waiting  room,  and  the  bath 
room.  They  hardly  require  any  further  intro- 
duction, except  the  bath  room,  perhaps,  which 
contains  a  slipper  bath,  the  water  for  which  is 
heated  bj"  a  geyser,  and  a  good  sized  steamer 
or  destructor,  where  the  clothes  are  baked  by 
means  of  high  pressure  steam  power.  The 
child,  who  is  found  to  be  vemiinous  by  the 
School  Nurse,  is  given  a  sealed  envelope  con- 
taining a  warning,  and  also  instructions  of  how 
to  cleanse  the  child  forthwith.  Within  forty- 
eight  houm  he  is  seen  again,  and  if  clean  then, 
all  is  well :  if  not,  a  second  notice  is  sent  to  the 
mother,  giving  her  the  option  of  herself  cleans- 
ing the  child  or  of  taking  him  to  the  station. 
If  this  notice  is  again  ignored,  the  nurse  takes 
the  child  to  the  station,  and  he  is  given  a  bath. 
He  is  undressed  and  wrapped  in  a  brown  blan- 
ket whilst  the  bath  is  prepared.  The  clothes 
are  all  put  into  the  destructor  aqd  baked  for 
twenty  minutes;  during  this  time  the  child's 
hair  is  combed  and  paraffin  rubbedon.  Then 
comes  the  bath,  which  is  usually  very  much 
enjoyed  aftor  the  first  few  minutes  of  horror 
are  over,  and  the  comfort  of  hot  water  and 
soap  is  realised.  Then  out  the  lilitle  glowing 
body  is  lifted  and  wrapped  in  a  white  blanket 
to  await  the  cleansed  clothes  hot  from  the 
sti  riliser.  '-,. 


534 


Zhc  :Bi*itt6b  Journal  of  TRursfno. 


[Dec.  31,  1910 


Thus,  perhaps,  tlie  child  has  its  first  ex- 
perience of  a  pure,  clean,  bodj-  and  raiment, 
and  if  then  the  careworn,  overburdened  mother 
would  continue  the  work  thus  begun  for  her, 
what  a  difference  it  would  make  to  the  health 
and  strength  of  her  little  ones ;  but,  alas  I  not 
only  once,  but  twice  and  three  times,  has  the 
process  to  be  gone  through  before  the  fact 
filters  through  the  bedrugged  and  ignorant 
minds  of  our  present  day  mothers,  that  neglect 
of  cleanliness  is  cruelty. 

This  is  no  instance  of  "  Where  ignorance 
is  bliss,  etc.,"  but  where  little  by  little  the 
children  of  today  are  taught  how  they  may  be 
good  mothers  and  father.s  in  the  future,  as,  in 
loving  cleanliness  themselves,  it  may  become 
second  nature  to  the  children  of  the  next 
generation.  A.   G.  L. 

Iprogrcss  of  State  IRegistratton. 

STATE   REGISTRATION    IN    NEW  ZEALAND. 

The  Report  on  Hospitals  and  Charitable  Aid 
in  the  Dominion  of  New  Zealand,  by  Dr. 
T.  H.  A.  ValLntine,  the  Inspector-General  of 
Hospitals  and  Charitable  Institutions,  pre- 
sented to  both  Houses  of  the  General 
Assembly,  states  that  882  trained  nurses  are 
on  the  Eegister.  Last  year  112  trained  nurses 
were  registered,  89  of  whom  were  trained  in 
the  Dominion  and  23  were  registered  on  over- 
sea certificates. 

In  a  note  addressed  to  Hospital  Committees, 
the  Inspector-General  states  that  "  an  officer 
is  only  worth  keeping  so  long  as  he  Inioivs 
that  he  has  something  to  learn.  The  '  indis- 
pensable '  officer  does  not  exist ;  at  any  rate, 
no  institution  can  afford  to  retain  him." 

Another  statement  worthy  of  note  is:  "  It  is 
a  significant  fact  that  some  of  the  best  man- 
aged "  Homes  "  (for  the  comfort  and  care  of 
the  aged)  are  controlled  by  women,  and  it  is 
to  be  hoped  that  Boards  will  gradually  replace 
the  '  Master-Manager  '  and  his  wife  by 
Matrons,  who,  as  trained  nurses,  have  had  ex- 
perience of  men  and  women  and  the  manage- 
ment of  institutions. 

In  conclusion,  the  Inspector-General  directs 
the  attention  of  those  interested  in  the  training 
of  nurses  and  midwives  and  the  conduct  of 
Maternity  Hospitals  to  the  appended  report  of 
the  Assistant  Inspector,  Miss  Maclean,  and 
takes  the  opportunity  to  specially  thank  Miss 
Maclean  for  relieving  him  of  much  work  in  con- 
nection with  the  St.  Helen's  Hospitals  and 
XnrsfS  and  Midwives  Registration  .\ct<^. 
Tm;  Nurses  Eeoistr.\tion  Act. 
In  her  report  on  the  administration  of  the 
Nurses  Registration  Act,  Miss  Maclean  states 


that  the  receipts  of  fees  for  examination  and 
registration  were  ±94,  and  the  expenses  in  con- 
nection with  examiners'  and  supervisors'  fees 
£212.  This  is  interesting  to  those  who  are 
promoting  legislation,  as  pointing  to  the  neces- 
sity for  providing  for  fees  which  will  cover 
expenses. 

^liss  Maclean  also  writes  :  "A  very  excellent 
innovation  in  the  training  of  our  future  nurses 
will  be  made  "possible  by  the  combination  under 
one  Hospital  Board  of  the  various  institutions 
of  a  district.  The  chief  hospital  of  the  district 
will  be  the  training  school.  All  the  pupils  will 
he  on  the  roll  of  that  hospital,  and  will  serve 
part  of  their  term  of  training  in  a  Consumptive 
Sanatorium  or  Fever  Hospital,  a  Chronic 
Ward,  a  Cottage  or  Emergency  Hospital. 

"  The  varied  experience  of  working  in  these 
different  institutions  (which  should  all  be 
under  the  supervision  of  one  ^Matron)  will  oe 
of  great  benefit  to  the  nurses,  and  there  will 
not  be  so  many  girls  who  cannot  be  qualified 
for  State  registration,  or  who,  if  they  can  get 
sufficient  teaching  in  a  Cottage  Hospital  to 
come  up  for  examination  and  be  registered,  are 
still  of  limited  experience. 

"  It  will  be  like  one  large  hospital,  the  out- 
side institutions  being  so  many  detached 
wards,  to  which  a  nurse  is  sent  on  duty  for  a 
certain  period,  no  pupil  being  allowed  to  spend 
more  than  six  months  out  of  her  three  years 
away  from  the  main  hospital. 

"  The  post-graduate  training  of  our  future 
Alatrons  will  also  be  greatly  aided  by  a  term 
in  charge  of  outside  institutions.  The  work 
will  not  be  so  monotonous,  and  nurses  will  be 
enabled  to  keep  up  their  knowledge  of  up-to- 
date  surgery  by  returning,  after  a  year  as 
Sister-in-Charge  of  a  Cottage  Hospital,  to 
charge  of  a  hospital  ward  again.  The  staffing 
of  the  small  hospitals  and  chronic  and  other 
institutions  will  no  longer  be  a  difficulty,  as 
young  women  will  be  satisfied  that  they  will 
get   adequate   training   and  experience. 

"  During  the  passage  of  the  Hospitals  and 
Charitable  Institutions  Act,  a  clause  regulating 
the  hours  of  nurses  in  training  was  incorporated 
in  the  Aci'.  Fortunately,"  says  IMiss  Maclean, 
"  the  eight  hours  limit  was  confined  to  tlie 
pupils  of  the  hospitals  of  100  beds.  .  .  . 
The  nurses  of  the  Dominion  protested  strongly 
against  the  inclusion  of  the  registered  nurses 
in  such  limitation  of  their  hours  of  work.  They 
considered  ns  professional  women,  whose  work 
concerned  the  sick  and  suffering,  they  slKiuld 
be  at  liberty  to  work  for  longer  hours  when 
needed  by  the  exigencies  of  their  patients." 

.\11  good  nurses  the  world  over  will  heartily 
support  tliis  demand. 


J1.C.  31.   I'.ilii 


Cbc  aSrltisb  3ournal  of  IHursing. 


Suooc5tc^  1l\UlC9  for   IRmsino 

Hiii?ociatioii5. 


Tlie  following  rules  for  infliision  in  the  rules 
of  Nursing  Associations  have  been  formulated 
by  the  Britisii  Meilieal  Assoeiation  and  aj)- 
proved  at  the  Ainuuil  Representative  Meeting, 
held  In  London  in  1910:  — 

1  The  nurse  shall  in  every  case  carry  out  the 
directions  of  the  Registered  Me<lical  Pra<'titioner 
in  attendance. 

2.  The  nurse,  when  requested  in  an  emergency, 
may  visit  and  render  first  aid  to  any  person  without 
awaiting  instructions  from  a  medical  practitioner. 

3.  if,  in  the  nurse's  opinion,  the  attendance  of 
a  medical  practitioner  is  necessary,  she  must  insist 
that  he  be  sent  for ;  and  if  for  any  reason  his  ser- 
vices are  not  immediately  available,  she  must,  if 
th")  case  be  still  one  of  urgenc.v,  remain  with  the 
patient  and  do  her  best  until  he  arrive,  or  until 
the  emergency  is  over. 

Should  the  advice  to  call  in  a  medical  practi- 
tioner be  not  acted  upon,  the  nurse  must  at  once 
leave  and  rex)ort  the  case  to  her  Secretary,  and 
must  not  attend  again  except  in  case  of  fresh 
emergency. 

4.  Should  any  further  attendance  be  requested 
b.v  tlie  patient  after  the  emergency  is  over,  the 
nurse  must  explain  that  the  medical  practitioner 
will  decide  whether  or  not  this  is  necessary. 

o.  Xo  attendance  after  a  first  visit  shall  be  given 
by  a  nurse  unless  she  has  informed  a  medical  prac- 
titioner and  received  his  instructions  with  regard 
to  the  case,  if  any. 

6.  Apart  from  her  duties  as  a  certified  midwife, 
a  nurse  must  on  no  account  prescribe  or  adminis- 
ter on  her  own  responsibility  such  drugs  for  her 
patients  as  should  only  be  prescribed  by  a  medical 
practitioner. 

7.  Xo  midwife  in  the  emplo.vment  of  a  Xursing 
Association  should  accept  an  engagement  without 
first  asking  the  patient  to  state,  and  herself  regis- 
tering, the  name  of  the  medical  practitioner  to  be 
called  in   should  an.v  emergency  arise. 

8.  A  nurse  shall  in  no  case  attempt  to  influence 
a  patient  in  the  choice  of  a  medical  practitioner  or 
of  an  institution. 

9.  Xo   iierson  shall  be  employed  by  the 

Association  as  a  midwife,  or  received  for  training 
as  a  midwife,  without  having  first  signed  an  agree- 
ment not  to  practise  as  a  midwife  within  a  radius 

of miles    from within    a    period    of 

after  leaving  the  service  of  the  Associa- 
tion, without  the  consent  in  writing  of  the  Asso- 
ciation. 

Note. — It  is  desirable  to  obtain  the  co-operation 
of  all  the  medical  practitioners  in  the  district, 
and  to  secure,  if  })Ossible,  their  assistance  on  the 
Committees  of  the  Xursing  Associations.  (Atten- 
tion is  drawn  to  the  fact  that  the  machinery  of  the 
local  Divisions  of  the  British  Medical  Association 
is  available  for  this  purpose.) 

We  could  have  wished  that  the  British  Medi- 
cal Association  had  suggested  to  Countv  Nurs- 


ing .Vs.NociatioHs,  whieli  are  iiitireiy.  governed 
by  lay  u-onanittees,  the  objection  oi  reg'.<.tered 
medical  practitioners  to  covering  untrained 
and  semi-trained  nurses.  When  alluding  to 
midwives,  the  difficulty  does  not  arise,  as  they 
are  certified  by  the  Central  Midwives'  Board". 
Yet  surely  if  midwives  ix>se  as  "  traiued  " 
nurses,  and  undertake  "general  nursing"  if 
they  are  not  qualified,  they  are  transgressing 
every  ethical  law,  and  should  not  be  covered 
by  medical  practitioners. 

Every  way  the  question  is  regarded  the 
Nurse  lx)th  in  status  and  reputation  is  the 
scapegoat  and  is  made  to  suffer.  The  most 
higlihj  qualified  and  certificated  nurse  has  no 
legal  xtatus — thenjore  she  has  neither  profes- 
sional nor  personal  rights. 


Hppointntents. 

Matron. 

Colony  for  Epileptics,  Chalfont  St.  Peter. — Miss  Lucy  -\. 
Parry  hai>  been  appointetl  Matron.  She  was  trained 
at  the  Birmingham  Infirmary,  and  has  been  Sister 
at  the  Infirmary,  Kingston-on-Thames;  Surgical 
Sister  at  the  Birmingham  Infirmary,  Xight  Superin- 
tendent at  Fulham  Infirmary,  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent Xui-se  at  the  -^shton-uuder-Lyne  Hospital, 
and  Assistant  Matron  at  the  MonyhuU  Colony  tor 
Epileptics. 

Boston  Hospital,  Lincolnshire. — Miss  Hilda  Stack  lias 
been  appointed  Matron.  She  was  trained  at 
University  College  Hospital,  London,  where  she  has 
held  the  positions  of  Ward  Sister  and  Xight  Super- 
intendent . 

AsSIST.iXT  M.iXKOX. 

West      House,     Royal     Edinburgh     Asylum,      Edinburgh 

Miss  Annie  K.  Howard  has  been  apiwinted  .\^5sistant 
Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  Queen '.s  Hospital. 
Birniiiigham.  and  been  Sister  at  Kasr-el-Aini 
Hospital,  Cairo:  Ward  and  Theatre  Sister  at  the 
General  Infirmary,  Tiuro,  and  Sister  at  the  Infants' 
Hospital,  London.  She  is  also  a  certified  mid- 
wife and  a  member  of  the  Amiy  Xursing  Service  Re- 
serve. 

Miss  Agnes  Fletcher  has  also  been  appointed 
Assistant  Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  Royal  In- 
firmary, Perth,  the  James  Murray  Ro.val  Asylum, 
and  the  British  Lying-in  Hospital,  Endell  Street! 
London.    She  is  a  certified  midwife. 

Sisters. 
St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital,  E.G. —  MisfS  E.  M.  Han- 
sard has  been  apixjiiited  Sister  of  the  new  Elizaljeiu 
Maternity  Wartl.  She  was  trained  at  St.  Bar- 
tholomew's and  was  trained  in  midwifery  and 
maternity  work  at  the  Xew  Hospital  for  Women, 
Euston  Road,  X.W.  Miss  Hansard  is  a  certified 
midwife. 

Miss  X.  B.  Hodgson  has  l)een  appotute<'  ""ister  of 
Stanley  Ward.  She  was  trained  at  St.  Bartholo- 
mews, and  has  recently  held  the  position  of  Out- 
patient Sister  at  the  Ro.vnl^Free  Hospital,  W.C. 


536 


Zbc  Sbvitieb  3ournaI  of  murefng. 


[Dec.  31,  1910 


Superintendent  Nukse. 
West  Ham  Workhouse. — Miss  E.  A.  Gilbert  has  been 
appointed  Siipcriuteiuleut  Xurse.  She  was  tramod 
at  the  Holboru  I)ifiiniary,  Highgate,  London,  X., 
and  has  l>een  Staff  Nurse  at  the  County  Hospital, 
Newport,  J  [on.  ;  Ward  Sister  at  tlie  North  Eving- 
ton  Infirmary,  Leicester;  Superintendent  Nui-se  at 
the  Wallingford  Infirmary,  Berks;  Night  Superin- 
teiKlent  at  tlie  Bagthoi-pe  Infirmary,  Nottingham. 
.She  has  also  done  private  nursing  and  is  a  certified 
midwife.  

QUEEN    ALEXANDRA'S     IMPERIAL    MILITARY 
NURSING     SERVICE. 

Appoinimcnts. — The  following  ladies  have  re- 
ceived appointments  as  Staff  Nurse: — Miss  E.  M. 
Whittall  and  Miss  M.  M.  Roberts. 

Transfers  to  Stations  Ahmad. — Matrons:  Miss 
J  Hoadley,  R.R.C,  to  Malta  ;  Miss  E.  A.  Cox,  to 
South  Africa. 

Promotions. — The  undermentioned  Sisters  to  be 
Matrons : —Jliss  M.  Mark  and  Miss  I.  G.  Willetts. 
The  undermentioned  Staff  Nurses  to  be  Sisters: 
Miss  M.  Davis  and  iliss  E.  K.  Kaberry. 

WEDDING  BELLS. 
Miss  Pate,  Lady  Su[)erintendent  of  the  Adelaide 
Hospital,     Dublin,     has     resigned   the   ixjsition   on 
account  of  her  approaching  marriage. 


PRESENTATION. 
Mi.ss  Clarkson,  who  for  over  fourteen  yeare  has 
been  on  the  .staff  of  the  Nureing  Association  in 
connection  with  the  Lees  Nui-ses'  Home,  I'nion 
Street  West,  Oldham,  has  been  presented  with  a 
suhstantial  chetjue  in  recognition  of  her  valuable 
services  during  that  period. 

The  presentation  was  made  by  the  Mayor,  Mi-s. 
Councillor  Lees,  who  spoke  highly  of  Miss  Clark- 
.son's  woi-k,  and  said  that  in  her  new  jxist  as  Nurse 
at  the  Soattere<l  Homes,  under  the  Oldham  Board 
of  Guardians,  she  would  have  a  very  important 
position,  foi-  she  would  have  30  motheile.ss  chiiuren 
under  her  care. 

Dr.  Godson  spoke  of  the  medical  appreciation  of 
Miss  Clarkson's  services,  and  said  that  30  medical 
practitioners  in  the  town  had  sub-scribed  to  the  gut. 
Miss  Clarkson  expressed  her  sincere  thanks  to  tne 

donors.  

MEMORIALS  OF  MISS  DUFF. 

The  pre.scnt  and  former  nur.si^s  of  the  Dundee 
Royal  Infirmary  have  .sulxscriljed  a  sum  of  £60  tor 
the  purpose  of  providing  a  memorial  to  the  late 
Mation,  Miiss  Duff,  and  permis'jion  had  Ijecn  given 
to  place  a  6tain€<l-gla.ss  window  in  the  Dalgleish 
Nui-ses'  Home. 

A  separate  fund,  amounting  to  tloS.  has  also 
been  rai,se<l  to  commemorate  tile  memory  of  Miss 
Duff,  by  a  few  friends  wlio  were  closely  associated 
with  her  work  in  the  Infirmary.  .A  small  part  of 
this  .sum  will  1m-  spent  in  pioviding  a  tablet  bearing 
a  suit«ble-insei-i|>tion  to  lie  placetl  in  one  of  the  cor- 
ridors of  the  Infirmary,  and  the  balpnce  will  tie  in- 
ve-sted,  and  the  inter«>Kt  therefrom  devoted  to  the 
purchase  of  priws  to  be  awarded  annually  to  the 
nur.ses  in  their  fii-st  and  second  year's  training.  The 
Directors  have  expre.s,se<l  approval  of  tlie.se  arrange- 
ments. 


IHursing  lEcboes. 

Once  uiore  the  great 
festival  of  Christmas  has 
come  and  gone,  and  as  year 
succeeds  year  those  who 
have  give  more  and  more 
bounteously  to  those  who 
have  not.  Never  have  those 
twin  spirits  of  compassion 
and  generosity  held  higher 
revels.  The  hospital  wards 
were  like  fairyland,  bowers 
of  flowers  and  twinkling 
lights,  and  from  off  the  lovely,  glistening 
Christmas  trees  such  toys  and  sweets  for  the 
children,  such  channing  gifts  for  the  "  grown- 
ups "  I 

"  Christmas  fever  "  one  Matron  called  it, 
who,  laden  with  gifts,  was  evidently  suffering 
acutely  from  the  benevolent  impulse  to  give — - 
give — give  !  .\s  in  the  hospitals  so  throughout 
the  land — kindness  and  goodwill  made  a  bright 
and  happy  world.  And  yet  the  terrible 
calamities  in  mine  and  train,  by  which  so  many 
awful  deaths  have  left  broken  so  many  hearts, 
cast  a  gloom  over'  the  whole  country.  How 
fleeting  is  joy  I 


It  will  comi'  a.s  a  surprise  to  many  Guy's 
nurses  that,  as  a  result  of  the  use  of  armorial 
bearings  on  their  certificates,  the  authorities 
of  the  hospital  have  been  fined,  at  the  instance 
of  the  local  taxation  branch  of  the 
London  County  Council,  at  the  Tower 
Bridge  Police  Court,  Mr.  Watson  explained 
that  armorial  bearings  were  granted  to  the  hos- 
pital in  1725,  within  a  year  of  its  foundation, 
more  especially  for  the  purpose  of  being  en- 
graved on  the  tomb  of  their  founder,  Thomas 
Guy.  The  arms  were  displayed  outside  the 
hospital  and  printed  on  the  nurses'  certificates 
to  show  they  had  graduated  from  a  first-class 
hospital.  He  claimed  that  the  exemption  to 
any  person  who  "  by  right  of  office  shall  wear 
or  use  the  arms  of  any  corporation  "  applied 
to  the  Governors.  The  Magistrate  decided  in 
the  negative,  Init  said  that  as  the  custom  liad 
been  going  on  for  so  long  a  nominal  fine  \\ould 
meet  the  case,  and  imposed  one  of  10s.,  with 
2s.  costs. 

Upon  the  application  of  the  Matron,  the 
Managers  of  the  Poplar  and  Stepney  Sick 
.'Vsylum  have  agreed  to  apjioint  five  more  Pro- 
bationers owing  to  the  heavy  work  in  the 
wards,  and  the  overwork  at  present  when  the 
nurses  are  off  duty  or  sick.  It  is  to  be  hoped 
thai    the    TiOcul  Govcnuuent   Board   will   sane- 


Dec.  31, 1910]       ^i3c  Bcltlsb  3ournal  of  IRarslno. 


537 


tion  the  increase  of  staff  as  soon  as  possible, 
so  that  the  night  nurses  may  be  given  two 
nights  off  every  fortnight  inst-ead  *  of  every 
three  weeks.  The  large  majority  of  Poor  Law 
infirmaries  are  understaffed  in  the  nursing 
depai-tment,  and  nurses  must  in  the  near 
future  be  steadily  increased  if  the  class  of 
woman  desirable  is  to  he  encouraged  to  con- 
tinue this  indispensable  work  for  the  vei-y  ./oor. 


commencement    of    the    second    teething — it 
would  be  still  more  effectual." 


F.  J.  Sykes,  :Medical  Officer  of  Health 
Boroucrh   of 


Dr.  J 
for  the 
St.  Pancras,  has 
presented  a  rejwrt 
to  the  Borough 
Council  on  the  sub- 
ject of  measles, 
which  is  arousing 
much  interest. 
Measles,  as  is  well 
known,  is  a  most 
dangerous  disease  to 
very  young  children, 
and  fomierly,  if  an 
outbreak  occuiTed 
in  a  school,  the 
whole  school  was 
closed;  more  re- 
cently it  has  only 
been  considered  ne- 
cessary to  close  the 
class  room  where 
the  outbreak  oc- 
curred, .  and  those 
class-rooms  where  a 
large  number  of  chil- 
dren are  infected, 
ilany  Medical  Offi- 
cers of  Health,  how- 
ever, including  Dr. 
Sykes,  consider  that 
all  very  young  chil- 
dren should  be  ex- 
cluded entirely.  Dr. 
Sykes  says:  "When 
it  is  definitely  known 
by  notification  that 
measles  has  entered 
the  infants'  depart- 
ment of  a  school  it 


As  an  alternative  to  young  children  remain- 
ing at  school,  Dr.  Sykes  advocates  that  a 
systematic  attempt  be  made  to  _train  mothers 
in  mothercraft.  He  says:  "  The  desideratum 
for  infants,  and  very  young  children,  is  not 
education,  but  training  upon  material  and 
domestic  lines,  training  of  the  functions,  the 
habits,  the  senses,  and  the  physical  actions 
and  mental  ideas  in 
'   due     sequence, 

through      the      first 

early  yeai"s  of  life." 


is  too  late  to  take  any  effectual  precautionary 
measures,  and  temporary  total  exclusion  (or 
closure)  of  the  department,  or  of  a  class,  will 
probably  only  temporarily  delay  further  ex- 
tension of  the  disease.  .  .  I  am  further 
of  opinion  that  nothing  short  of  the  permanent 
exclusion  from  school  of  children  under  five 
years  of  age  at  least  will  help  to  reduce  the 
mortality  from  measles,  and  if  extended  to 
:six  or  even  seven   vears  of  age — that  is,   the 


A  pathetic  head- 
line, "  Nurses' Dull 
Time,"  caught  the 
eye  in  a  Sheffield 
paper.  It  is  reported 
that  the  nurses  at 
the  Conisbro'  Isola- 
tion Hospital  have 
plenty  of  work,  but 
little  to  amuse  them 
in  leisure  hours.  To 
this  condition  of 
affairs  the  Commit- 
tee recently  gave 
kindly  consideration. 
The^Iatron  proposed 
a  gramophone  to 
cheer  them  up,  and 
the  Medical  Super- 
intendent said,  "  it 
was  all  bed  and 
work  for  the  nurses, 
and  they  had  no 
papers  to  read !  " 
The  Board  decided 
to  spend  2s.  a  week 
on  literary  food  for 
the  mind.  We  hope 
they  will  add  a 
g  r  a  m  o  p  h  one  ;  it 
really  is  a  most 
cheery  iustniment, 
and  sick  people  just 

ON  THE   LAIRD    RIVER,   CANADA.  \oXe    it. 

In  this  connection  we  are  reminded  of  the  im- 
mense pleasure  deiived  from  a  gramophone  by 
the  little  convalescents  at  the  iluii-field  Home 
at  Gullane  during  a  recent  visit  we  paid  to  that 
institution.  The  Pied  Piper  was  rfothing  to 
it.  Just  turn  on  a  tune  and  all  the  chicks  were 
drawn  towards  it  as  if  by  magic.  ]\Iaimed  and 
halt  it  mattered  not,  they  clttstered  round,  and 
how  sweetly  they  joined  in  eliorus.  There  was 
••  Wee  Wullie,"'  his  Httle  gelatinous   legs  like 


538 


Zbc  BrltlsD  3ouinal  of  IRursino. 


[Dec.  31,  1910 


glorified  tallow  candles,  had  never  been  known 
to  support  his  scrap  of  a  body.  Yet  one  fine 
day,  when  the  exhausted  "  grammie  "  gave 
forth,  by  way  of  "  I'm  tired,"  "  God  Save  the 
King,"  behold  "  Wee  Wullie  "  on  his  wobbly 
pins  !  and  See  him  totter  towards  Sister — three 
strides  at  least — before  she  caught  him  and 
saved  a  fall. 


How  about  new  treatment,  ^Muf^ic  for 
Muscles?  By  all  means  let  dull  nurses  have  a 
gramophone,  and  change  the  records  as  often 
as  can  be. 


Dr.  T.  0.  Gordon  gave  a  most  interesting 
lecture  on  "  The  Spine  "  to  the  members  of 
the  Irish  Xursas'  Association  last  week.  He 
showed  a  number  of  lantern  slides,  tracing  the 
developments  of  the  spine  in  different  types  of 
animals  and  reptiles,  going  back  to  what  might 
be  called  pre-histoiic  tiiyies  with  photographs 
of  animals  no  longer  in  existence.  He  finished 
his  lecture  with  the  human  spine,  and  had  a 
number  of  photos  with  different  curvatures. 
The  members  present  were  very  enthusiastic, 
and  gave  Dr.  Gordon  a  cordial  vote  of  thanks 
for  his  kindness  in  taking  so  much  trouble,  and 
giving  them  such  an  interesting  lecture.  J\Iiss 
Eeed  presided,  and  the  attendance  was  good. 


©Ill*  IWew  piisc  Competitions. 

In  the  present  number  we  publish  the  last 
of  the  Coupons  of  the  Prize  Puzzles,  which 
have  given  our  readers  pleasure  for  so  many 
years.  The  result  of  the  December  Competi- 
tion will  be  announced  in  our  issue  of  January 
7th,  1911,  and  in  the  same  issue  the  coupon 
will  appear  for  -the  firet  of  the  new  competi- 
tions. 

As  pi'evJously  announced,  a  prize  of  5s.  will 
be  awarded  to  the  writer  of  the  first  letter 
opened  by  the  Editor  on  January  9th,  1911, 
naming  the  favourite  Novel  of  the  Year,  1910, 
as  proved  by  its  mention  by  the  largest  num- 
ber of  competitors. 

All  competitors  for  this  Prize  must  cut  out 
the  coupon  published  on  page  xii.  of  our  adver- 
tisement supplement,  in  our  issue  of  January 
7th,  insert  her  full  name  and  address,  and 
post  li  with  her  letter,  naming  the  novel,  to  the 
Editor,  20,  Upper  Wimpole  Street,  London, 
W.,  not  later  than  January  7th,  marked  "  Prize 
Competition." 

The  name  of  the  Prize  Winner  will  appear 
iii  our  issue  of  January  14th,  1911. 

The  following  will  be  the  subjects  of  the 
competitions  during  the  remaining  weeks  in 
January ; — 


■liiinianj  Jitli. — "  How  to  Succeed  as  a 
Private  Nurse." 

January  21st. — -"Describe  the  Happiest 
Hour  of  your  Life." 

January  SSth. — "  Describe  a  Baby's  Cries 
and  what  they  Indicate." 

In  each  case  the  answer  of  the  competitor 
should  be  from  800  to  400  words  in  length. 


St.  3obn'5  Ibouse. 

The  Cliristmas  Entertainment  at  St.  John  s 
House,  Queen  Square.  AV.C,  is  always  one  of  the 
most  enjoyable  of  the  parties  of  the  season,  and 
this  year,  as  usual,  there  were  carols  in  the 
Chapel,  and  tlien  Mr.  A.  M.  Heathcote  and  Miss 
Ruth  Heathcote,  who  for  iso  many  years  have 
charmed  similar '  audiences,  gave  some  of  their 
inimitable  dramatic  sketches,  "  Little  Arthur  at 
the  Seaside"  and  "Martha  on  Husbands"  being 
specially  appreciated.  The  central  hall,  which 
had  been  drai)ed  in  blue  and  white,  and  decorated 
with  flags,  greenery,  and  fairy  lamps,  was  crowded 
out,  and  pri^nleged  i>ei^sons  found  a  point  of 
vantage  on  the  staircase. 

All  too  soon  pame  supper,  after  the  hospitable 
fashion  of  the  House,  and  then  good-byes,  and  the 
turirnp:  of  one  more  pase  in  its  records. 


'\B; 


®ur  jforeion  Xetter. 

A  VERY  SUPERFICIAL  GLANCE  AT    NURSING 
IN    INDIA. 

I  am  now 
ending  mj» 
term  of  ser- 
vice with 
Lady  JNtinto's 
Nursing  As- 
^.-.-A      -^iata.      ^M     ,-,^g-  sociation, 

^^^\\^sSSllKK^^~^  and     a     very 

~  pleasant   five 

years  it  lias 
been.  For 
the  information  of  those  who  know  little  of  this 
scheme  I  must  tell  them  it  is  one  for  providing 
efficient  nurses  for  Europeans  residing  in  India  and 
Burma. 

I  believe  before  the  origin  of  the  "  L. M.I.N. A.," 
with  the  exception  of  two  small  nursing  homes. 
Calcutta,  Bombay,  and  Madras  were  the  only 
places  from  which  a  trained  nurse  worthy  of  the 
prefix  could  be  obtained.  In  England,  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  realise  what  this  meant  to  our  fellow  coun- 
trymen here,  isolated  in  all  parts  of  India,  where 
disease  is  much  more  rapid  and  acute  in  its  cour.se, 
and  where  the  distances  are  so  great.  Still,  with 
these  five  opntres  doing  their  best  the  demand 
greatly  exceeded  the  supply.  Now,  the  Minto 
Nursing  Association  has  centres  so  localised  that 
two  days  is  about  the  longest  wait  a  patient  need 
have  for  a  nurse.  From  the  Anglo-Indian's  point 
of  view,  one  knows,  if  by  nothing  else,  by  tTie 
warm  welcome  and  the  grateful  leave-taking  what 
a  boon  to  the  uninitiated  it  is  to  have  a  skilful  and 


Dec.  31,  1010' 


Zbc  British  3oiirnal  of  ir^ursino. 


539 


knouledgoable  person  at  tho=.»-  times  of  strain  iiiul 
anxiety. 

Should  any  of  my  readers  think  of  doing  private 
work  abroad,  I  should  strongly  reeoinmcnd  them  to 
join  our  staff,  on  which  the  most  careful  attention 
is  paid  to  health  and  comfort,  and  where  all  are 
treated  as  individuals,  and  not  as  mere  nursing 
machines,  as  is  so  oft<"n  the  case  when  belonging  to 
a  large  public  body,  especially  when  the  members 
of  it  are  so  widely  .scattered.  But  do  not 
imagine  that  owing  to  the  latter  reason  the  slackers 
and  defaulters  escape  reproof,  and  quite  possibly 
dismissal,  for  all  are  kept  closely  in  touch  with  the 
Chief  Lady  Superintendent,  whose  far  reaching 
personaliiy  and  wide  minded  sympathy  have  now 
won  the  confidence  and  affection  of  the  whole  Staff, 
many  of  whom  slie  has  never  met. 

Of  hospital  work  in  India  ray  knowledge  is  small, 
but  I  have  at  times  been  called  to  take  special  cases 
in  hospitals.  They  are  practically  all  built  and 
more  or  lass  provided  for  by  (Sovprnraent. 

A  purse's  training  begins  at  once,  with  a  respon- 
sible work  and  not  by  cleaning  brasses  and  tidying 
her  hand  on  convalescents,  as  in  England.  After 
six  montlis,  she  is  generally  considered  fitted  to 
take  her  i^lace  at  intervals  on  the  private  staff, 
and  really  .seems  to  give  astonishing  satisfaction. 
I  often  think  it  must  l>e  on  the  theory  that  ■'  .\ny- 
body  is  l)etter  than  Nol>o{Iy."  At  the  door  of  these 
'•  speedily  traim-d"  nurses  we  must  lay  the  blame 
of  the  frequent  kind  offer  of  the  medical  officer,  to 
remain  and  see  the  simnging  di-e,  or  to  return 
at  9  p.m.  to  give  the  hyi>odcr  .  %yeCtion,  etc., 
etc.  The  wave  of  indignation  v>  !i  eh  passes  throiigh 
the  mind  of  a  fo>ir  years'  trained  nurse  from  home 
and  quite  pewsibly  late  Sister  of  a  hospital  ward! 

More  attention  to  detail  seems  to  be  required  ill 
the  training  of  the  Eurasian  nurse,  also  very  much 
more  attention  to  professional  etiquette,  especially 
on  two  points — (a)  Too  much  discussion  of  cases 
and  doctors  and  work  in  general  in  public,  (b)  Too 
intimate  a   footing  between  patient  and   nurse. 

The  mission  trained  native  nurses  are  very  much 
to  be  admired:  the  patience  and  rare  in  training 
them  required  on  the  part  of  the  Mission  Hospital 
Matrons  is  second  to  none.  Tliink  of  the  rough 
material  they  work  upon  and  the  disadvantages 
of  a  foreign  language  in  which  one  must  be  fairly 
advanced  to  give  most  elementary  instruction.  The 
natural  lack  of  order  and  neatness  and  incapability 
to  think  and  act  independently  make  it  difficult  to 
turn  out  a  native  girl  capable  of  acting  methodi- 
cally or  in  emergencies.  Again,  their  custom  of 
early  marriage  makes  it  almost  impossible  to  get  a 
girl  to  train  long  enough  to  acquire  experience  of 
much  value.  Rut  with  all  the.se  drawbacks,  the 
Zenana  Hospital  Matron  has  cause  to  be  very  proud 
of  the  trained  Indian  nurse — trained,  of  course, 
onlv  in  midwifery  and  work  for  women,  India 
being  still  too  much  under  the  purdah  system  tn 
allow  her  women  to  nurse  their  male  relations. 

I  must  sav,  in  closing,  all  these  <'onclusions  are 
drawn  from  my  own  observations,  and  are  quite 
open  to  contraliction. 

ANONYMOrs. 


©utsibc  tbe  Gates. 


WOMEN. 

The  x>i>I^'''s  read  at  a 
private  conference  held 
at  the  Caxton  Hall, 
WcsUniuster,  on  Novem- 
ber 24tlr.  and  arranged 
by  a  Subcommittee  of 
the  Preventive  and 
Kcscue  Committee  ot  the 
National  Union  of 
Women  >\'orkers  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  are 
now  published  in  i)amphlet  form  at  the  office  of  tne 
Union,  Parliament  Mansions,  Victoria  Street,  S.W., 
price  Is.,  or  7s.  jjer  dozen,  post  free. 


■'  The  Administration  of  the  La^v."  a  little  ijajier 
read  by  Mi.ss  E.  JIacDougall  to  Kcscue  Workers 
at  a  meeting  held  at  Lincoln  by  the  National  Union 
of  Women  Workere,  refei'S  to  assaults  uiK)n,  and  the 
corruption  of,  children.  The  esi>erience  of  the 
writer  ha.s  been  gainetl  a,s  a  Southwark  Diocesan 
worker.  A.s  the  law  stands,  "any  jierson  who 
'criminally'  assaults  a  girl  under  the  age  of  13  is 
guilty  of  felony  "  ;  to  ravish  a  child  of  that  age  and 
un<lcr  16  is  merely  a  mi.sdemeauour.  For  the  first 
heinous  crime  a  man  may  be  kei>t  in  penal  servitude 
for  life,  or  Ix;  imprisoned  for  any  term  not  exceetl- 
ing  two  yeai's.  For  the  ruin  of  a  child  over  13  he 
cannot    be    imprisoned    for   more   than   two   yeai-s! 

Mi.ss  ilacDougall  gives  a  heart-rending  picture 
of  these  x^oor  'iicienie  children,  during  their  ordeal 
of  prosecuting  the  horrible  brutes  who  have  violated 
them,  in  our  Police  Coui^«,  and  also  of  the  con- 
temptuously inadequate  sentences  passed  by  the 
representatives  of  the  law. 

"  Early  this  year  a  girl  of  14i,  expecting  confine- 
ment, appeared  in  the  Central  Criminal  Court 
again.st  a  man  of  4o  yeai-s.  He.  a  coloured  man, 
pleaded  "  guilty."  The  Judge  heard  no  evidence, 
gave  the  jx)lice  no  opiwrtunity  of  sayuig  theie  was 
much  against  the  man  abroad.  The  .sentence  was 
".six  months'"  hard  labour.  Why  not  two  years, 
which  the  law  allows?  " 

The  life  of  this  gill  is  ruined  and  her 
suffering,  both  physical  and  mental,  extends  over 
many  months — nay.  even  years.  To  the  death  there 
will  be  the  reproach  of  the  fatherleii>  child. 

The  writer  here  jwiuts  out  ''that  the  Rescue 
Worker  finds  a  precious  opportunity."  and  adds 
"that  a,s  Rescue  Workere  we  can  do  little  to  alter 
or  set  right  what  seem  to  us  the  evils  in  adminis- 
tration, but  we  can  ponder  silently  the  high  ideals 
of  Clirist's  Law." 

It  is  not  given  to  every  soul  to  burn  -wfth 
righteous  iiKlignation — to  long  for  a  flaming  sword 
with  which  to  defend  the  w-eak — but  we  would 
urge  every  Rescue  AVorker  to  realise  the  very 
urgent  duty  of  resting  neither  night  nor  day  in 
helping  to  awaken  a  .sen^e  of  justice  in  the' hearts 
of  .ludge  and  Jury  when  administering  the  law  to 
the  ravi.sher  of  little  children.  It  is  useless  to  len- 
der .silently  the  high  idt>als  of  Christ's  Law:  '-(Jo 
forth  and  fight  the  good  figlil^n  defence  of  these 
Mv  little  ones." 


640 


Zl)C  Brittsb  3ournal  of  IRurslng. 


[Dec.  31,  1910 


Boof?  of  tbe  Meef?. 


THE   DOCTOR'S  CHRISTMAS  EVE* 

This  volume  is  most  delightful.  It  abounds  m 
delicate  touclies  and  chairuing  description. 

The  story  opens  on  the  morning  of  the  24th  of 
December,  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  upon  the 
vast  plateau  of  Central  Kentucky.  .  .  .  Tjie 
whole  visible  heaien  «as  receiving  the  incense  of 
Kentucky  fires;  the  whole  visible  earth  was  a 
I>anorama  of  the  common  i)eace. 

Of  Elsie,  the  doctor's  little  daughter,  we  are  told 
"that  the  instant  she  sjwke  you  recognised  ch<> 
I>ertness  and  precocity  of  an  American  chifd — 
which,  when  seen  at  its  }>est  or  its  worst,  is  mthou' 
precedent  or  parallel  among  the  world's  ohildreu. 
Her  speech  was  new.  her  ideas  were  new,  her  im- 
I)ertineuce  was  new — except  in  this  country."  Llie 
boy  Harold  is  something  of  a  dreamer,  and  findm..? 
his  father  sitting  Ix'fore  the  fire,  and  looking 
gravely  into  it.  he  a.sks: — 

"Is  .somelxKly  very  .sick?  " 

The  head  under  the  weather-roughened  hat 
nodded  silently. 

"  I  wonder  how  it  liapjiens  that  all  the  sick  are  in 
our  neighbourhood?  '' 

A  smile  flitted  across  the  doctor's  mouth. 

"The  sick  are  in  all  neighbourhoods,  little  won- 
derer." 

"  Not  all  over  the  world?  "  asked  the  boy.  enlarg- 
ing his  vision  in  space. 

"  All  over  the  world,"  admitted  the  doctor. 

"  Not  all  the  time  ?  "  asked  tlie  boy.  "  Isn't  there 
a  single  minute  nhen  everybody  Ls  well  every- 
where ?  ' ' 

"Not  a  .single  solitary  minute." 

The  chatter  wa.s  persistent. 

"There  ought  to  be  a  country  wlieie  nobody 
suffers,  and  there  ought  to  be  a  time;  a  large 
countrs-  and  a  long  time." 

"  There  is  such  a  country  and  there  is  such  a 
time,"  said  the  doctor. 

"  Then  I'll  warrant  ,vou  it's  part  of  the  United 
States,"  .said  tlie  boy.  "  Texas  would  liold  them, 
wouldn't  it  ?  Why  don't  you  doctors  send  your 
])atients  to  that  country?  " 

"  Perhaps  ive  do,  sometimes!  "  The  doctor 
laughed. 

"  AVhen  I  grow  up  we'll  practise  together  and 
send  twice  as  many,"  the  lx>y  said,  looking  into  nus 
tathov's  eyes  with  the  flattery  of  professional 
imitation. 

"So  w^e  will!  Tliere'll  be  no  trouble  about  that. 
Twice  as  many ;  perhaps  three  times.  No  trouble 
whatever!  " 

The  tragedy  of  the  doctor's  life  lies  in  his  love 
for  anotluT  man's  wife,  and  in  consequence  his  own 
loveless  marriage. 

"  111  .somewhat  a  darkened  corner  of  the  doctor's 
library"  hung  n  framed  photograi>h  of  his  wife  in 
lior  bridal  dit\-.s.  Once  his  own  photograph  nod 
liiiiig  l)esidc  it.  The  plaster  where  the  nail  nad 
been  driven  ill  had  either  fall<Jn  out  or  had  been 
torn  out.  H«  never  Icnew.  He  knew  enough 
not  to  ask.     As  for  the  photograi>h  there  stood  a 


young  bride  looking  into  her  future,  and  trying  to 
conceal  from  hei'self  what  she  saw  awaiting  her — 
the  life  of  a  woman  %vedde<l  but  not  loved.  And 
there  was  recollection  in  her  eyes,  too:  that  the 
man  who  had  married  her,  perhaps  in  the  very 
breath  of  his  wooing,  had  wished  she  wei'e  another; 
that  at  the  altar  he  had  j)eiuaps  wishe<l  he  were 
putting  the  ring  upon  another's  hand  ;  and  that  it 
there  were  to  be  children  he  would  always  be  wish- 
ing for  thcni  by  anotlier  mother. 

The  book  is  largely  retrospective. 

"  The  doctor  sat  that  morning  trying  to  work  at 
the  books  of  the  j-ear.  The  rooms  were  comfortable  ; 
the  children  were  away  at  the  fireside  of  another 
man's  wife ;  the  servants  did  not  dare  disturb  liim ; 
his  horses  waited  in  their  stalls;  it  was  the  daj-  on 
which  he  could  begin  to  reap  his  golden  harvest ;  a 
plea.sant  day  tor  most  men  ;  but  he  could  not  see  the 
blanks  Ijefore  him,  nor  remember  the  names  he  tilled 
in,  nor  the  figures  for  value  received. 

"  Because  there  lay  open  before  him  the  Book  ot 
the  Years." 

Mr.  AUeu  at  times  touches  the  heights,  but  m  a 
great  deal  is  tiresome,  and  does  not  fulfil  v.ie 
interest  promised  in  his  opening  chaptera. 

H.    H. 


Janies'  Tiflne  Allen..     (Macmillan  and  Co.) 


COMING     EVENTS. 

December  SOth. — East  London  Hospital  for  Chil- 
dren, Shadwell,  E.-  Christmas  Entertainment  for 
the  Patient.s,  3  to  6  p.m. 

December  ulst. — St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital, 
Rochester.    Concert  and  Christmas  Tree,  4.30  p.m. 

January  1st — New  Year's  Day,  1911. 

January  ,ind. — Metropolitan  Hospital,  N.E. 
Children's  Christmas  Tree.     3  p.m. 

January  ord. — Cliaring  Cross  Hospital,  entrance 
King  AVLlliam  Street.     The  Nursing  and  Resident 
Staff  "  At-Home."     Music,  tea,  and  coffee.     7.30  to  * 
11. 

January  5th. — Alexandra  Hospital  for  Children 
with  Hip  Disease.  Queen  Square.  Bloomsbur.v. 
Children's  Chri.stmas  Party,  3.30  to  5.30  p.m. 

January  5fh. — Nursing  Pageant.  Members  of 
Committee  at  431,  Oxford  Street,  for  consultation. 
11.30  p.m.  to  V  p.m. 

January  7th. — The  Italian  Ambassador  opens  the 
extension  of  the  Italian  Hospital.   Queen  Square. 
Reoistr.mion    Reunion. 

February  Iflfh.  1911. — A  Reunion  in  support  of 
the  Bill  for  the  State  Registration  of  Trained 
Nurses,  under  the  authority  of  the  National  Coun- 
cil of  Nurses  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  will  take 
place  in  the  Connaught  Rooms.  Great  Queen 
Street,  London,  AV.C,  8  p.m.  to  12.  Reception. 
8  p.m. 

A  Nursing  Masque  of  the  Evolution  of  Trained 
Nui-sing  will  be  presented  at  8.30  p.m. 

Music  and  Refreshments. 

Tickets: — Reserved  seats  (limited),  10s.  Cd.  and 
7s.  6d. ;  unreserved,  5s. ;  Nurses,  3s.  6d. ;  Per- 
formers, 2s.  6d. 

Tickets,  on  :ind  after  January  2nd,  on  sale  at  431. 
Oxford  Str<'et,  London,  W.  ;  at  the  office  British 
JouuNAL  OK  NuRSiNo  (first  floor),  11,  Adam  Street. 
Strand,  W.C. ;  and  from  Matrons  wlio  offer  to  have 
them  on  sale  or  return. 


Doc.  31, 1010]       ^ijc  Britisb  3oumal  of  HAuriJino. 


511 


IcttcviJ  to  tbc  CMtor. 


U"/ii/s*  cordially  inviting  com- 
munications  upon  all  lubjecti 
for  these  columns,  tee  wish,  it 
to  be  distinctly  understood 
that  ire  do  not  in  any  WAt 
hold  ourselves  responsible  for 
the  opinions  expressed  by  our 
correspondents. 


THE   RESULTS  OF   MAN-MADE   LEGISLATION. 
To  fh.    Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  yursinfj.'' 

Dk.vh  ^I.U).\m. — Your  ai  ticU'son  Xuiiiiug  Agencies 
will  be  widely  read  with  interest,  and  the  result 
of  the  new  General  Powei-^  Act  of  the  L.C'.C'..  iirso 
far  as  trained  private  nurses  are  concerned,  is 
nothing  short  of  disastrous.  Once  and  for  all  't 
breaks  up  their  independent  right  of  co-operation, 
for  wlio  for  the  future  (or  until  this  unjust  Act  is 
amended)  will  encourage  and  help  nurses  to  co- 
operate on  just  economic  lines?  You  call  its  pro- 
visions ''the  apotheosis  of  the  exploiter,"  and  this 
very  clearly  describes  the  provisions  of  the  Act  as  it 
affects  traiuetl  nurses.  God  knows,  it  is  hard  enough 
at  present  for  us  to  get  out  of  the  clutches  of  the 
middleman,  and  this  ill-considered  bit  of  legislation 
will  batten  us  down  altogether.  It  is  to  be  hoped 
that  after  New  Year  private  nurses  wiU arouse  pul> 
lie  feeling  on  this  question.  Nothing  can  be  more 
unjust,  and,  voteless,  nothing  can  be  more  hope- 
less than  the  position  of  women  workers  in  this 
country.  I  enclose  card,  and  am  ready  to  take 
part  in  any  form  of  public  protest  against  this 
despoiling  Act.  For  years  we  have  worked  for  the 
protection  of  the  public,  by  adopting  high  stand- 
ards of  professional  efficiency,  maintaining  good 
discipline,  and  now,  unless  we  sink  to  the  level  of 
a  lay-managed  agency — which  more  often  than 
not  foists  semi-trained  and  undisciplined  women  on 
the  public  as  "trained  nurses  " — we  are  forbidden 
to  exist.  As  to  the  disreputable  so-called  Nursing 
Homes — sinks  of  iniquity  as  many  are  known  to 
be — which  admit  questionable  cases,  and  send  out 
questionable  nurses,  they  are  to  be  excluded 
from  licence  and  inspection,  and  sweating 
Hospital  Committees  are  also  protected  by  the  Act. 
How  absolutely  man-like  such  legislation  is  where 
women's  labour  is  concerned ! 
I  am. 

Dear  Madam, 

Yours  faithfully, 
An  Indignant  Co-opekative  Nurse. 
[Nuiises  are  no  worse  off  than  other  x>oor  worKing 
women,  in  that  they  have  no  power  in  making  the 
laws  they  are  compelled  to  obey.  As  a  public  offici.Tl 
remarke<l  in  connection  with  this  new  Act.  which 
penalises  the  co-oi>erative  worker  (tlie  private  nur^e 
who  claims  her  own  fees):  "'If  you  don't  explain 
it  to  the  nur-ses  they  will  know  nothing  ot  it!" 
No  doubt  true,  as  the  lay  nursing  press,  with  its 
natural  lack  of  ethical  standards,  fails  to  grasp  as 
usual  the  nurses"  as  apart  from  th(>  ein]il' y.r-' 
point  of'view. — Ed.] 


THE  REINCARNATION  OF  SAIREY  GAMP. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  ''British  Journal  of  Sursing." 
Ukak  -Madam, — The  reincarnation  of  Sairey  Gamp 
much  intere6te<l  me,  and  I  felt  I  would  like  to  tell 
you  what  happened  to  me  only  last  winter.  I  was 
Matron  at  a  Cottage  Nurses'  Home,  and  wo.-,  often 
very  short  of  nurses,  owing  to  the  women  having 
nur>es  for  weeks  Ijeforo  they  were  needed,  being 
■•cheaper  than  a  chai-woman!"  But  a  woman 
living  just  opposite  the  home  did  the  reverse.  I 
called  on  her  near  the  date  she  had  booked  to  find 
hei-  almost  ready  for  the  nurse.  I  made  her  send 
tor  the  doctor,  and  promised  to  .send  a  nurse  it  I 
could  get  one,  but  none  could  come  until  the  fol- 
lowing week,  so  1  had  to  go  myself.  I  was  called  up 
the  next  morning,  and  the  doctor  was  there  in  good 
time,  and  the  baby  born  quite  normally.  I  kept  on 
wilb  the  case,  running  over  several  times  a  day  for 
a  fortnight.  I  only  did  the  nursing  and  baby  and 
kept  the  room  nice.  When  the  Committee  lady 
visited  the  mother  she  tola  her  she  had  had  many 
nurses  "  but  had  never  "been  nursed  before."  Cot- 
tage nursing  has  ruined  trainc(l  nursing  in  this 
county.  It  is  very  sad  to  see  it.  I  could  tell  you 
many  instances. 

Youi-s  faithfully, 

E.  E.  P. 


SELF-MANAGING    BENEVOLENCE. 
To  ihc  Editor  of  the  "  British  Journal  of  yursing." 

De.ar  Madam, — The  various  memorials  which  are 
now  being  api)ealed  for  and  organised  to  Miss 
Florence  Nightingale,  and  the  late  King,  are  to 
take,  I  understand,  in  some  cases,  a  charitable 
form  for  the  benefit  of  nurses. 

Your  admirable  journal  has  frecjuently  warned 
nurses  against  the  ''  professional  philanthropist," 
but  with  your  permission  I  should  like  to  repeat  that 
warning  and  to  point  out  the  folly  of  multiplying 
institutions  all  having  the  same  ultimate  object — 
viz.,  the  relief  of  distress  and  misfortune. 

A  Benevolent  .Society  is  doubtless  a  necessity  for 
the  unfortunate  members  of  our  profession,  but  why 
cannot  the  promoters  of  such  schemes  amalgamate 
to  form  one  Central  Institution,  having  local 
branches  where  required,  and  administered  by  mem- 
bers of  our  profession,  who  have  a  pi-actical  ex-  ■ 
perieiice  of  business  as  well  of  philanthropy.  Such 
Benevolent  Institutions  as  already  exist  are,  in 
inauj-  cases,  staffetl  by  highly-paid  officials,  and  the 
heavy  cost  of  admiuistration  is  out  of  all  proportion 
to  the  average  income  of  the  class  they  are  in- 
tended to  benefit.  Tlie  large  sums  of  money  dis- 
sipated in  the  administration  of  the  numerous  ind 
flourishing  benevolent  schemes  will,  when  ascer- 
taine<l.  surprise  those  who  are  .still  unacquainted 
with  the  methods  of  the  "  in-ofessional  philan- 
thropist." His  attitude  towards  t hope  who  hope  to 
benefit  by  the  charity  of  the  subscribers  is  fre- 
quently such  that  one  is  reminde<l  "of  Ruskin's 
description — viz.,  "  As  much  charity  as  you  please, 
but  no  justice." 

Believe  me  to  be, 

Dear  Madam, 

Melba. 


542 


^bc  Bvitisb  3om*nal  of  IWursino  Supplement,  t^'^c-  3i,  i9io 

The    Midwife. 


trbe  flDlDwife  in  lOlO. 

An  Amending  Bill  of  the  Midwives'  Act  was 
introduced  first  by  Viscount  Wolverhampton, 
when  Lord  President  of  the  Council,  then  with- 
drawn, and  a  second  Bill  introduced  by  Earl 
Beauchamp  as  Lord  President.  The  late  Parlia- 
ment was,  however,  dissolved  before  any 
amending  Bill  became  law,  which  is  not  en- 
tirely matter  for  regret  as  there  is  a  general 
consensus  of  opinion  that  the  Bill  as  introduced 
needs  amendment  in  several  particulans,  and 
especially  do  associations  of  midwives  desire 
that  provision  shall  be  made  in  any  new  Bill 
for  the  du-ect  representation  of  the  certified 
midwives  on  their  governing  body. 

The  Central  Midwives'  Board  has  continued 
its  work  of  examining,  enrolling,  and  maintain- 
ing discipline  amongst  midwives.  The  large 
number  of  midwives  (2,683)  who  entered  dur- 
ing' the  year  prior  to  the  last  report  issued  by 
the  Boa'rd,  of  whom  2,219  satisfied  the  ex- 
aminers, and  were  added  to  the  Roll,  proves 
that  a  large  number  of  women  are  willing  and 
able  to  pay  substantial  sums  for  this  special 
training  and  to  maintain  themselves  while  re- 
ceiving it,  besides  paying  the  requisite  entrance 
fee  to  the  Central  Midwives'  Board. 

After  many  years  of  strenuous  work  as  Pre- 
sident of  the  Midwives'  Institute,  iliss  Jane 
Wilson  has  resigned  this  position,  and  Miss 
Amy  Hughes,  General  Superintendent  of 
Queen  Victoria's  Jubilee  Institute,  has  ac- 
cepted nomination  as  her  successor,  a  nomina- 
tion wliich  will  give  general  satisfaction,  as 
Miss  Hughes  is  a  certified  midwife  and  highly 
qualified  nurse. 

There  has  been  ample  evidence  during  the 
year  that  ^Midwives  are  realising  the  need  of 
organisation,  a  number  of  provincial  associa- 
tions are  now  affiliated  to  the  Incorporated 
Midwives'  Institute,  the  National  Association 
of  Midwives  in  Manchester,  also  with  af&liated 
branches,  recently  demonstrated  its  value  to 
its  members  by  successfully  defending  two  of 
their  number  cited  to  appear  before  the  Central 
Midwives'  Board,  and  secured  their  complete 
exoneration  from  the  charges  against  them. 

The  Union  of  Midwives  established  in  Lon- 
don during  the  present  year  is  like  the  National 
.Association  working  on  trade  union  lines; 
Liverpool  has  also  its  own  ,\ssociation,  and 
there  is  further  a  Certified  Midwives'  Total 
Abstinence  League,  which  aims  at  securing 
tlif  co-operation  of  every  enrolled  midwife. 


Zbe  Da\)  IRursci^,  llllt>itfiel& 
Street,  m. 

Passing  up  and  down  the  mean  streets  of  the 
Metropolis  we  find  here  and  there  houses  which 
are  centres  of  sweetness  and  light ;  they  may 
be  noted  by  the  flowers  which  "  mark  as  with 
a  little  broken  fragment  of  rainbow,  the  win- 
dows of  the  workers  in  whose  heart,  rests  the 
covenant  of  jjeace  ' ' ;  thej-  may  also  be  differen- 
tiated by  the  polished  panes  and  snow^y  cur- 
tains, which  form  an  inviting  contrast  to  the 
surrounding  dinginess. 

Such  a  centre  is  to  be  found  in  the  Day  Nur- 
sery at  Whitfield  Street,  Tottenham  Court 
Road,  W.,  recently  opened,  and  which  not 
only  opens  its  doors  to  the  children  of  the 
neighbourhood,  while  their  mothers  are  at 
work,  but  is  also  an  educational  agency,  giving 
to  the  mothers  in  the  couree  of  friendly  inter- 
coui'se,  lessons  in  regard  to  the  reaiing  and 
training  of  their  children  which  they  willingly 
absorb. 

The  Home,  which  was  opened  in  October 
last,  with  Miss  Tait,  who  has  received  training 
iu  the  nursing  of  children,  as  Matron,  is 
charminglj'  fresh  and  dainty,  green  predomina- 
ting in  the  colour  scheme  throughout. 

Every  child  is  bathed  each  morning  on 
arrival,  and  put  into  clean  clothes,  children  up 
to  five  years  of  age  are  received,  and  the 
toddlers'  room  on  the  ground  floor  has  been 
furnished  with  great  consideration  for  their 
needs. 

On  fine  and  warm  daj-s  they  may  be  taki?n 
out  to  the  small  open  space  at  the  back  of  the 
house,  wliere.  with  a  table  and  chaire  under 
shelter,  they  can  play  happily  in  such  fresh 
air  as  the  neighbourhood  affords. 

.\bove  is  the  nureery  for  the  small  babies 
with  its  pretty  white  cots,  and  vegetable  down 
quilts  covered  with  green  sateen.  Here  also 
is  every  convenience  for  preparing  the  food  for 
the  babies.  The  milk  is  not  sterilised,  but 
every  care  is  taken  that  it  should  be  pure,  and 
scrupulous  cleanliness  is  the  rule  in  its  prepara- 
tion. The  staff,  besides  the  Matron,  consists 
of  a  Sister,  a  paying  and  a  paid  probationer. 
and  a  cook. 

Surely  for  all  their  lives  the  children  who 
spend  their  early  days  in  the  Home  must  feel 
its  influence  for  good. 

The  Home  is  in  close  touch  with  the  Whit- 
field Sisters,  who  live  in  the  next  house,  but 
lias  an  entirely  distinct  organisation. 


Dec.  31, 1910]  ^i5e  Biitisb  3onrnal  ct  iRursino  Supplement.        543 


Schools  ot  flDi&\vtfcr\?. 

ROYAL  MATERNITY   HOSPITAL,  COPENHAGEN. 

lu  couuiiemoiation  of  the  Koyal  ^lateiTiity 
Hospital,  Copenhagen,  the  site  of  which,  is  now 
to  be  clianped.  a  set  of  papers,  so  we  learn  from 
the  Brifisli  Midicnl  Journal,  has  been  pub- 
lished by  Professor  Leopold  Meyer  and  his  staff 
dealing  with  the  work  of  the  hospital  in  recent 
years.  It  is  satisfactory  to  learn  that  the  death 
rate  from  true  puerperal  fever  is  now  so  low- 
that  man}-  of  the  niidwives  ti'ained  in  the  hos- 
pital have  never  seen  a  case  at  all. 

The  following  is  the  technique  observed  on 
the  admission  of  a  patient,  which  admission 
takes  place  when  labour  pains  have  begun. 

The  whole  body  is  washed  with  soap  in  a 
wanii  bath.  The  patient  is  then  put  to  bed, 
and  the  external  genitals  are  washed  first  with 
sterilised  jute,  soap,  and  tepid  water,  then 
with  sterilised  water,  and  finally  with  1  in 
1,000  perchloride  or  2.5  per  cent,  carbolic.  Be- 
fore washing  the  genitals  or  making  an  explora- 
tion, the  operator's  hands  undergo  a  series  of 
antiseptic  rites  lasting  t«n  minutes.  No  vaginal 
douche  is  given  unless  an  exploration  has  been 
made  before  admission,  and  even  then  it  is  not 
always  given.  Local  treatment,  such  as  curet- 
ting and  douching  of  infected  cases,  has  been 
abandoned  in  favour  of  a  masterly  inactivity, 
which  is  much  to  the  patient's  advantage,  ac- 
cording to  Professor  Meyer,  who,  on  this  point, 
has  the  support  of  the  Gynaecological  (Congress 
,at  Strassburg  in  1909. 

Dr.  Oluf  Thomsen  supplies  an  interesting 
paper  on  the  need  for  testing  candidates  for 
wet  nursing  with  Wassermann's  reaction.  He 
found  the  milk  of  fifty-three  syphilitic  mothers 
give  a  positive  reaction  with  but  one  exception, 
whereas  only  thirtv-three  of  the  mothers  gave 
a  positive  serum  test.  The  milk  should  be  ex- 
amined before  birth,  or  within  a  couple  of  days 
after  birth,  as  the  reaction  is  less  cer- 
tain later.  A  positive  reaction  with  0.05  c.cm. 
or  less  of  milk  is  certain  proof  of  syphilis.  With 
larger  quantities  of  milk,  that  is  0.1  or  0.2,  a 
positive  reaction  may  be  given  by  a  healthy 
mother. 

It  is  manifestly  important  that  midwives  and 
maternity  nursing  should  receive  instruction  in 
the  course  of  their  training  on  the  points  to  be 
obsei-ved  in  nursing  eases  of  syphilis  in  relation 
to  the  mother,  and  infant,  and  the  care  of 
their  own  health.  At  present  in  the  majority 
of  maternity  hospitals  we  fear  that  there  iis 
almost  complet*  silence  on  this  subject.  Yet 
considering  the  prevalence  of  the  disease,  its 
infectiou.s'and  persistent  nature,  and  its  loath- 
some consequences  surely  such  knowledge  is 
the  right  of  every  nurse  and  midwife. 


Schools  for  (TDotbcrs. 

Wo  linve  iect"ivo<l  from  the  Xational  League  of 
Pliysioal  Kdiioation,  4,  Tavistock  Square,  AV.C.  a 
report  on  existing  schools  for  mothers,  end  similar 
institutions,  by  Mr.  I.  C.  Gibbon,  issued  in  pamjihlet 
form,  price  3d.,  which  contains  a  most  interesting 
account  of  this  new  branch  of  social  service.  The 
writer  |>oint.s  out  that  "the  school  for  mothers  is  of 
recent  <levelopmeiit.  Host  of  the  in.stitutions  of 
t.his  kin<l  which  at  present  exi.st  have  been  «>etab- 
lished  witliin  the  last  three  years.  Tliey  have  arisen 
mainly  from  a  desire  to  reduce  the  high  rate  of 
infantile  mortality  which  generally  prevails,  a  de- 
sire intensified  by  disquiet,  sometimes  perhaps  not 
very  well  informed,  at  the  declining  birth-rate. 
Accumulated  evidence  of  the  ignonance  of  infant 
needs  prevalent  among  a  large  proportion  of  modem 
mothers— an  ignorance  due,  amongst  other  cau.ses, 
to  the  fact  tliat  during  adolescence  they  have  had 
little  experience  of  domestic  life^has  also  playetl 
its  part  in  the  establishment  of  the.se  '  sdiools. 
AVhat   is   a    "School   for   Mothers"? 

"  '  School  for  Mothers  '  is  perhaps  a  somewhat 
grandUoquent  term  for  many  of  the  institutions 
which  exist.  It  implies  a  degree  of  systematic  in- 
struction which  is  not  attained.  But  it  is  useful  as 
indicating  that  the  central  idea  of  such  institutions 
is  the  instruction  of  the  mother  how  best  she  may 
perform  her  duties,  both  to  herself  and  to  her  ui- 
fant,  for  the  welfare  of  the  latter.  The  essential 
of  a  School  for  Mothers  is  that  there  should  l)e 
available  an  exftert,  a  doctor  or  at  least  a  nurse, 
from  whom  instruction  and  advice  should  be  obtain- 
able. The  infant  should  be  regularly  inspected  by 
the  expert.  Around  this  central  notion  many  other 
activities  may  cluster — home-visiting ;  classes  in 
hygiene,  cookery,  and  cutting-out  ;  provision  of 
dinners  to  expectant  and  nursing  mothers;  pro- 
vident clubs,  etc.  Tlie  best  developed  'schools.' 
such  as  St.  Pancras.  one  of  the  most  active  pioneers, 
and  Stepney,  are  busy  hives  of  multifarious 
activities,  and  are  constantly  finding  new  opening.s 
— the  openings  being  generally  found  much  more 
plentifully  than  the  necessary  funds. 

"  The  treatment  of  sick  infants  is  beyond  the 
scope  of  a  School  for  Mothers.  When  a  baby 
Ls  in  need  of  medical  attendance,  the  mother 
should  be  referred  to  a  private  doctor,  dispensary, 
or  other  agency  for  the  treatment  of  sickness,  ac- 
cording to  the  circumstances  of  the  case.  If  a 
"  School  "  undertakes  the  treatment  of  sickness,  it 
will  very  probably  ultimately  be  drawn  away  from 
its  main  purpose. 

Home- Visiting. 

"  Systematic  home-visiting  should  \>e  an  integral 
part  of  the  work  of  a  School  for  Mothers.  What 
is  taught  in  a  class-room  seems  ofteii  somewhat 
dead  and  unreal  to  the  poorer  (and  often  to  the 
well-to-do)  classes;  it  is  necessary  to  apply  it  in 
the  actual  conditions  of  their  home  life  to  make 
it  living  for  them,  where  an  old  bottle  may  have 
to  serve  for  .a  rolling-pin,  and  an  old  ^am-pot  as  a 
pie-dish,  while  one  decrepit  saucepan  must  serve 
for  boiling  the  whole  dinner.  There  should  also 
bo  systematic  provision  Tox^  looking  up  mothers 
who  fail  to  attend  regularly  at  consultations. 


a;be  Btitisb  3ournal  ot  mursino  Supplement. 


[Dec.  .31,  1910 


'^Practically  all  societies  make  a  point  of  home- 
visiting.  Some  confine  themselves  to  this  work.  At 
a  tew  places  all  cases  ot  child-biith  in  the  district 
;imong  other  than  the  well-to-do  classes  are  visited 
tor  some  time  after  the  birth.  Effort  confined  to 
a  few  cases  will  probably  be  found  more  profitable 
l)y  most  '  schools.'  " 

CONCLTJSIONS. 

The  writer  considers  that  "  A  central  society  is 
necessary  which,  while  leaving  full  initiative  and 
responsibility  to  the  local  societies,  should  l>e  always 
ready  to  supply  them  with  the  best  and  latest  in- 
formation. It  should  be  a  oo-ordinating  and 
guiding  centre  of  enlightenment,  to  which  all  local 
'schools'  should  be  affiliated.  Propaganda  work 
could  be  carried  on  by  such  a  society,  and  it  niigiit 
well  also  undertake  to  supply  leaflets,  charts,  pic- 
tures, and  other  things  of  the  kind  required  by 
•  Schools  tor  31othei-s.'  One  of  its  principal  dunes 
should  lie  the  collection  of  information  as  to  ine 
methods  and  results  of  '  schools  '  already  at  work. 

"There  should  b^  a  great  future  for  such  a 
society.  The  need  has  akeady  been  felt,  and  a 
society,  which  it  is  proixised  to  call  the  '  British 
Association  of  Schools  of  Mothercraft  '  is  already 
in  course  of  formation.  (Organi.sei-s,  Dr.  .J.  F. 
Sykes,  Town  Hall,  St.  Paneras;  and  Mies  Bunting.) 
It  is  intended  that  this  society  shall  embrace  all 
sides  of  the  question;  and  that  it  .Jiall  tecome  a 
potent  source  of  infomation  and  inspiration  for  all 
efforts  towards  the  betterment  of  the  upbringing 
of  infants  and  young  children.  The  field  lies  reauy, 
and  it  needs  but  steady,  well-informed,  and  dis- 
creet energy  to  reap  splendid  results.  Another 
gociety— the  Society  of  Infant  Consultations — has 
already  Ijeen  formed  (Hon.  Secretaries,  Dr.  Ronall 
Carter,  11,  Leonard  Place,  Kensington,  W  .,  an<l  Or. 
J  Lane-Claypon)  for  furthering  certain  branches 
of  the  work,  and  it  is  hoped  that  this  society  will 
work  in  conjunction  with  the  other,  which  will 
liave  a  wider  scope." 


SUBVENTION  OF  A  MATERNITY  ASSOCIATION. 
The  Local  Government  Board  has  sanctioned  a 
subscription  of  £.5  .5s.  for  the  ensuing  year,  by  the 
local  Guardians,  to  the  funds  of  the  Maternity 
Nursing  Association,  63,  Myddelton  Square,  Clerken- 


Morbs  from  Mbtttier  for  lOU. 


In  the  economy  of  God  no  effort,  however  small, 
put  forth  for  the  right  cause,  fails  ot  its  effect.  No 
voice,  however  feeble,  lifted  up  for  truth,  ever  dies 
amidst  the  confused  noises  of  time. 


Truth  should  be  the  firet  lesson  of  the  child  and 
the  last  aspiration  ot  manhood;  for  it  has  been 
well  .said  that  the  inquiry  ot  truth,  which  is  tiie 
love-making  ot  it,  the  knowledge  ot  truth,  which 
is  the  presence  of  it,  and  the  belief  of  truth,  wJiich 
is  the  enjoying  of  it,  is  the  sovereign  good  ol  huuiau 
nature. 


It  it  is  not  permitted  us  to  believe  all  things  we 
can  at  least  hope  them.  Despair  is  infidelity  and 
death.  Temporally  and  spiritually  the  declaration 
of  inspiration  holds  goo<l — "  We  are  saved  by  hope." 


Nature's  mighty  miracle  is  still  over  and  around 
us;  and  hence  awe,  wonder,  and  reverence  remain 
to  be  the  inheritance  of  humanity;  still  are  there 
beautiful  repentances  and  holy  death-l)eds;  and  still 
over  the  soul's  tlarkne.ss  and  contusion  rises,  staV- 
like,  the  great  idea  of  duty. 


EiN  Feste  Burg  1st  Unser  Gott. 
God,  give  us  peace, 
Each  in  liis  place 
To  bear  his  lot, 
And,  murmuring  not, 

Enduie  and  wait  and  Labour! 


My  Soul  .ind  I. 
What  hast  thou  wrought  for  Right  and  Truth, 

For  God  and  Man  ; 
From  the  golden  houre  ot  bright-eyed  youth 

To  life's  mid  span? 


The  Reformer. 

Take  heart  I — The   Waster   builds  again — 

A  charmed  life  old  Goodness  hath  ; 
The  tares  may  j«;rish — but  the  grain 

Is  not  for  <ieath. 
God  works  in  all  things;  all  obey 

His  fimt  propulsion  from  the  night : 
Ho,  wake  and  watch !    Tlie  world  is  gray 

With  morning  light! 


AN  EXCELLENT  RECORD. 

At  the  annual  meeting  ot  the  Sus.sex  County 
Nursing  Association  at  Brighton,  the  report  hav- 
ing contained  a  reference  to  the  Midwives'  Act, 
Dr.  Foulerton  mentioned  that  in  January  it  was 
.  expected  that  72  per  cent,  of  the  midwives  prac- 
tising in  East  Sussex  would  be  trained  women. 
East  Sussex  midwives  last  year  attended  1,803 
women,  and  there  was  only  one  death.  That  was  a 
result  not  equalled  in  the  very  best  ola,ss  of  Lon- 
don hcspifals.  Dr.  Foulerton  also  spoke  of  infant 
mortality.  Taking  the  v.hole  of  England  and 
Wales,  107  <-liildren  out  of  every  1,000  which  were 
lK)rn  died  within  twelve  months.  Districts  com- 
])arable  with  East  SiL-^sex  sliowe<l  an  infantile  mor- 
tality of  97,  where  the  East  Sussex  figure  was  57. 


The  ^Iantle  of  St.  John  de  Maiha. 
Sail  on  !   The  morning  cometh. 

The  i>c>rt  ye  yet  shall  win  ; 
And  all  tlie  bells  of  Gotl  shall  ring 

The  g<xKl  ship  bravely  in! 


The  New  Year. 

The  wave  is  breaking  on  the  shore, 
The  echo  fading  from  the  chime  ; 

Again  the  sha<low  nioveth  o'er 
Tlie  <lial-plate  of  time. 


LAST  WORDS  1910. 

But  on   the  river's  farther  side 
Wo  saw  t>he  hill-tops  glorified,— 


1  I 


THE  HOSPiTAL  Fg.,^ 


RT        The  British  journal  of  nur- 

1  sing 

B75 

V.45 


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&  Medical 
Serials 


PLEASE  00  NOT  REMOVE 
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UNIVERSITY  OF  TORONTO  LIBRARY 


OS  Lt». 

FAS, 

exc. 
Cam.